The Savior of American Comics? I'm the Subspace Evil God!

Chapters 487, 890, and 891: [GBU-57 Bunker Buster]? You're doomed!
"Secretary Ross..."

The Middle Eastern representative's voice carried a hint of obsequiousness and admiration as he spoke in an almost fawning tone:

"If I remember correctly, didn't the United States successfully develop a 'massive bunker buster' codenamed GBU-57 two years ago?"

"Doesn't the publicly available information claim that it can penetrate reinforced concrete structures 60 meters underground, or 40 meters of hard rock, or even penetrate super-reinforced concrete structures with a diameter of more than 8 meters?"

His words were like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, instantly creating ripples throughout the meeting room.

The other delegates' eyes lit up as they turned to look at Secretary Ross.

"Ah! Yes, yes, yes..."

Another representative from an island nation excitedly slammed his hand on the table, exclaiming, "I remember now! It was reported in the news that this super bunker buster is capable of destroying the world's most fortified underground bunkers. It's a 'bunker buster' specifically designed to deal with deep bunkers!!"

"My esteemed Secretary of State, could your country provide this weapon immediately?"

"All we need to do is use a super bunker buster to drill a large hole above the underground base where Albert Wesker is located, leading directly to the core area, and then..."

The representative with the small mustache excitedly made a downward chopping gesture, his eyes flashing with frenzied flames, "Let's throw H-bombs into that hole again. This way, we'll attack from both inside and outside, a double insurance, and we'll definitely turn that virus-releasing demon and his secret lair into ashes!!"

"Hehehehe..."

In the end, as if his plan had succeeded, he burst into laughter.

However, that laughter, no matter how you look at it, doesn't sound like something a 'respectable' person would have.

In an instant, all the eager, expectant, and even pleading gazes were focused on Thaddeus Ross like spotlights.

The elderly Secretary of State, known for his tough approach since taking office, still wore his signature dignified smile.

But in reality, Ross was internally screaming with anger and wanted nothing more than to flip the table and curse!

[GBU-57] A super-massive bunker buster?!
Yes, it exists in the United States!

And there was more than one.

The key point is that this thing is a "vanity project" jointly created by those "vampire-like" military-industrial complexes and certain high-ranking officials in the Pentagon.

It's a legendary 'strategic weapon' that's written in PowerPoint presentations and congressional budget reports to deter potential global adversaries!

Although the cost of a single GBU-57 super bunker buster is only about $350 million, if research and development costs, testing costs, and related facilities and indirect costs such as the development of the guidance system and the development of the projectile materials are all included, the total cost of the GBU-57 super bunker buster is at least $1600 million.

This doesn't even include the subsequent maintenance, and the exorbitant costs of the 'money-burning' escort formation consisting of B-2 bombers, EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft, F-35 fighters, and F-16 fighters required for bombing missions...

Furthermore, in order to prove the value of the GBU-57 super bunker buster, those shameless military-industrial complexes put a lot of effort into test reports and promotional materials.

Almost all the data was written in a 'shocking' way... such as what could penetrate a reinforced concrete structure 60 meters underground?

Or 40 meters thick hard rock?

It could even penetrate super-reinforced concrete structures with a diameter exceeding 8 meters.

These impressive figures might have a slim chance of being achieved under ideal laboratory conditions.

But in actual combat... all I can say is, 'Dude, you're overthinking it!'

As a former high-ranking member of the Department of Defense, Ross was far more aware than others of how much of this was fabricated.

Complex battlefield environments, subtle differences in geological structures, guidance accuracy errors caused by extreme weather, and the actual strength of the projectile materials, etc...

Even the slightest problem in any part of the process could turn this expensive "weapon of mass destruction" into a "firecracker" that can only leave a big crater on the ground!
Not to mention using it to drill through the underground base, which is more than 50 meters underground and made of high-strength concrete walls, as described in the S.H.I.E.L.D. report.

In Ross's view, the greatest value of the GBU-57 super bunker buster bomb was that it gave the high-ranking officials of the Department of Defense a reason to request huge budgets, so that they could make a fortune together with the military giants, while also gaining an impressive bargaining chip at the international negotiating table.

This is a win-win-win situation!
But who would actually treat it as a lifeline?

Then I can only say one thing to you: You idiot, with that level of intelligence, you're doomed!

However, what could Ross say when faced with dozens of pairs of expectant eyes, some even carrying a hint of moral blackmail?
Exposing the emperor's new clothes on the spot?
Tell the world that America's 'ultimate weapon' is actually just a pretty but useless counterfeit?
Does this mean that the GBU-57 super bunker buster might not even be able to penetrate the outer wall of the bunker where Albert Wesker was hiding?
Doing so would not only trigger a crisis of trust among allies, but would also give domestic political enemies ammunition to attack him relentlessly.

Even the military-industrial complex, which had previously been trying to curry favor with him, would turn against him and join the opposing camp.

Unless Ross wants to quit his job as Secretary of State, he wouldn't do something so foolish as to ruin his career!

In a flash, Ross had already devised a plan. He cleared his throat and said in a tone tinged with helplessness and consideration for the national interest:
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your trust in American military technology... The GBU-57 super bunker buster is indeed a major strategic weapon developed by our country to counter threats from deeply hardened targets!!"

He first affirmed the 'existence' and 'significance' of the weapon, then changed the subject, "But... as Chairman Pierce just emphasized, the underground base where Albert Wesker is located has an extremely unique structure and an unprecedented level of defense... and the deployment of the [GBU-57] super bunker buster is by no means as simple as pressing a button."

"It requires extremely precise intelligence support, ultra-detailed modeling of the target's geological structure, and also requires the B-2 Spirit bomber carrying it to take off from a specific base, traverse complex airspace, and be deployed in an absolutely safe airspace environment..."

"The entire operation requires meticulous planning and close coordination among numerous departments, and the preparation time is at least 48 hours... or even more."

After a pause, Ross feigned a worried expression and asked, "Gentlemen, what is our biggest need right now?!"

Before anyone else could answer, he pointed to the frozen image on the big screen and answered himself, "It's time!!!"

"I believe everyone is now familiar with Albert Wesker's methods... In my opinion, he is an extremely cunning terrorist with superhuman abilities."

“We have just lost more than three thousand brave soldiers. Albert Wesker must be on alert... If left unchecked, he could easily be transferred to some other secret base within 48 hours or more.”

"If we expend enormous resources, employing strategic weapons, only to destroy a bunker that may already be empty... or if Albert Wesker manages to successfully relocate with the Ouroboros virus and those mutated monsters to a more densely populated area..."

Ross paused again at just the right moment, leaving everyone with a chilling sense of anticipation, and then spread his hands in a helpless manner.

"Then, not only will we fail to achieve our goal, but we may also trigger an even greater disaster, rendering the deaths of those three thousand brave warriors meaningless..."

"The risks involved are something that everyone here needs to carefully weigh!"

By the end, Ross's gaze had fallen on Alexander Pierce, clearly indicating that his last words were specifically addressed to him.

However, his words were eloquent and logically sound, demonstrating his concern for the country, the overall situation, and the potential for 'greater risks'.

The glimmer of hope on the faces of the representatives from various countries quickly faded, replaced by deeper disappointment and helplessness.

After all, even Secretary of State Ross said so, so who would dare to question it?
Who can take responsibility for 'the pressure that led to Albert Wesker's escape and a greater disaster'?

Although some people in the room might have thought that Ross was deliberately shirking responsibility and was reluctant to use that expensive "weapon of mass destruction".

But what good will it do to guess it?
No one dares to question it openly.

After all, Rose's current status is incredibly high.

A heavy silence fell over the meeting room once again.

Just as the representatives and officials from various countries were frowning and racking their brains to find a new, even slim, breakthrough, the heavy door of the conference room was suddenly pushed open.

The usually efficient and composed bald-headed Sitwell hurried in from outside, his face looking rather grim. He jogged up to Alexander Pierce, completely disregarding the proper etiquette for the occasion.

He was gripping a tablet computer tightly in his hand, but anyone with eyes could see that the tablet computer in his hand looked like a red-hot branding iron.

"Mr....Chairman!"

Hitwell's voice became slightly shrill due to excessive shock or tension. He shoved the tablet screen directly in front of Alexander Pierce, pointing to the content on it and saying:
"No...this is terrible! The Daily Bugle has somehow gotten wind of this and is starting to break news again!!"

"what?!"

Alexander Pierce's expression changed drastically, and he quickly turned his gaze to the tablet computer in front of him.

He was immediately confronted with an explosive headline from the online edition of the Daily Bugle.

The bold, scarlet title at the top is as striking and eye-catching as fresh blood:
Shocking Scandal? The UN Security Council Feeds Monsters with Soldiers' Flesh and Blood? Three Thousand Elite Soldiers Die in France, the Decision-Making Level Cannot Escape Blame!!!

Below the title were several photos that, even after being processed, were still extremely bloody and remarkably clear.

The instant dark red, snake-like tentacles emerged from the ground and coiled around the soldiers;
A gigantic aggregate, formed from the fusion of numerous corpses and wielding tentacles, was roaring silently to the sky.

There's also a close-up of a soldier wearing a BSAA combat suit, his body melting away as he's enveloped by dark red tentacles...

The angles and clarity of these photos are far beyond what the pixel count of ordinary drones can achieve.

It looks more like footage from a soldier's personal recorder on the battlefield.

The main body of the news article was even more scathing, directly targeting a number of high-ranking officials in the Security Council.

Questioning their incompetent command, intelligence failures, and hesitant decision-making during the operation... ultimately led to the annihilation of the soldiers.

It even boldly suggests that the top brass of the Security Council or the BSAA might be deliberately using soldiers' lives to 'test' the capabilities of those Ouroboros virus variants!
WTF? ? ?

How can this be?

Which bastard leaked it?
How did the battlefield footage end up in the hands of the Daily Bugle?

And... who gave John Jameson the audacity to disregard the Security Council's orders and report on this military operation on his own?

Alexander Pierce's face instantly turned terrifyingly grim.

On the screen, the glaring scarlet headlines and bloody battlefield photos of the Daily Bugle were like resounding slaps to his dignity as the chairman.

Just like the calm before a storm.

Alexander Pierce forcefully resisted the urge to smash the tablet in front of him to pieces.

His worst fears came true in the worst possible way.

However, what he cannot yet determine is who was responsible for this 'leak'?
Is it the Subspace Group, which is secretly colluding with the Daily Bugle?
Or... a blatant provocation from Albert Wesker?
It shouldn't be the former, right?

After all, this time, the [Subspace Group] has already made a fortune just from selling the 'universal vaccine'.

There is absolutely no need to risk offending the Security Council and a host of member states by getting involved in this mess.

Wait a moment?
Is that bastard Karl Mara trying to have his cake and eat it too?
Damn, he shouldn't be that bold, right?

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Alexander Pierce's lips trembled slightly.

But whether it's the former or the latter, for him and the Security Council, the situation is now precarious.

For some reason, Alexander Pierce suddenly had a feeling that something unseen was manipulating the fate of all of them...

(End of this chapter)