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

Chapters 488, 892, and 893: Sanctions [Daily Horn] or the Right to Freedom of Speech
"Get me the Daily Bugle call right now..."

Alexander Pierce said furiously, "I want to ask that arrogant bastard John Jameson myself who gave him the audacity to defy the UN Security Council's global press censorship ban and leak top military secrets?!"

"Does he even realize how many people he's going to kill by doing this?!"

Alexander Pierce's chest heaved violently, and as he spoke, his bloodshot eyes, like poisoned knives, stared intently at Thaddeus Ross, who sat in the corner of the conference room.

The message conveyed in those eyes couldn't be clearer: behind all this, it's most likely that your [Subspace Group] is behind it all!

Although he deliberately kept his voice very low, his assistant could still hear the thunderous rage contained within it, like a volcano about to erupt.

However, faced with his angry gaze, Ross simply adjusted his posture slightly, shifting to a more comfortable position, and leaned his slightly thin but still upright back comfortably into the wide leather chair back.

He even picked up his coffee cup, paused slightly in Alexander Pierce's direction, gestured "please" from afar, then slowly brought it to his lips, took a small sip, and an exaggerated expression of enjoyment immediately appeared on his face.

He exuded a calm and detached air, as if the screen wasn't showing a UN Security Council scandal, but a boring documentary.

Son of a bitch!!!
Alexander Pierce felt like he was about to explode with anger.

If he hadn't taken his identity into consideration, he would have really wanted to rush over and hit the opponent with a combination of punches on his stinky face that needed a beating.

Damn it, there isn't a single good person in the [Subspace Group] faction!
You just wait, the day the "Insight Project" is completed, I'll definitely make you the first one I deal with...

Σ(°△°|||)︴

Huh? Why does this sound so familiar?
The call connected quickly, and as soon as John Jameson lazily uttered a single "Hello?", Alexander Pierce unleashed his pent-up anger, unleashing a torrent of roars and fury:

"I am Alexander Pierce, Chairman of the Security Council. John Jameson, who gave you the audacity to... beep beep beep???"

Σ(⊙▽⊙“a???

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, with only a short, cold busy tone coming from the other end of the phone, clearly transmitted through the receiver and echoing in the suddenly silent conference room.

Alexander Pierce's expression froze instantly, like a duck about to burst into song but suddenly having its neck grabbed by an invisible hand. All the anger and rebuke he was brewing got stuck in his throat, leaving him with only a comical, abrupt, stiff posture with his mouth half open.

Dozens of eyes focused on him, filled with shock, sympathy, and a hint of barely perceptible schadenfreude.

A moment later, Alexander Pierce, regaining his senses, stared incredulously at his now-black phone screen. Veins bulged on his forehead, his cheeks flushed crimson with extreme shame and anger, and he roared in exasperation:

"He...he actually dared to hang up on me?"

"That bastard actually dared to hang up on the Chairman of the Security Council?!"

He practically roared the last few words out of his throat, his voice filled with a profound sense of incomprehension.

It's clear that Alexander Pierce was genuinely on the defensive this time.

He, Alexander Pierce, the head of the highest authority in global security affairs, was dismissed on the phone like a salesman by a mere newspaper editor-in-chief in such an important setting, in front of representatives from dozens of countries?!

Is there any more royal method?
Is there any law anymore?
Where is the most basic respect for the international order?

Is this a slap in the face only for Alexander Pierce?
no! !
This is a slap in the face to the entire Security Council!
They have trampled on the authority of the entire Security Council!
Alexander Pierce could almost imagine that the news would spread among the highest levels of government around the world within ten minutes...

This "phone gate incident" will forever be an indelible stain on his political career!
An unprecedented and utterly humiliating disgrace!
"Lawless! Absolutely lawless!"

Alexander Pierce was trembling with rage when he slammed the phone down on the table with a loud thud.

John Jameson, oh John Jameson... Fine, you win. Just you wait, you'll see if I don't ruin you next!

Alexander Pierce's eyes flashed with a sinister and ruthless light as he began to sketch in his mind how to use all the resources at his disposal to crush this arrogant newspaper editor into dust.

However, the more fiercely this thought came, the faster it went away.

Alexander Pierce knew very well that he couldn't rashly take action against John Jameson before dealing with Karl Mara and the Subspace Group.

Otherwise, it could seriously affect his "Insight Project".

and so……

Alexander Pierce whirled around, his gaze sharp as a blade as he shot towards Ross in the corner, his voice slightly distorted by suppressed rage:
"Mr. Secretary of State, you must have just witnessed this outrageous scene... John Jameson, editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, has not only acted rudely, but has also openly challenged and insulted the authority of the Security Council!"

"Their reports were full of malicious speculation and serious misrepresentation, which not only severely damaged the international reputation and public credibility of the Security Council, but also created incalculable obstacles to our subsequent military operations to eliminate the Albert Wesker threat."

"If the outside world's opinions get out of control, we will find it impossible to move an inch..."

At this point, Alexander Pierce slowly stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned slightly forward, exuding an extremely powerful aura of pressure, and said in a deep voice:

"Therefore, I strongly recommend, and formally request, that the White House immediately intervene in this matter... and use all necessary means to immediately impose the most severe sanctions on the Daily Bugle and its head, John Jameson!!"

"Including but not limited to freezing his assets, revoking his license, and pursuing his criminal liability for leaking national (international) security secrets... In short, he must pay the most painful price to serve as a warning to others!!"

Wow, this is going to be interesting.

Most of the delegates in the conference room, including Nick Fury, wore expressions of schadenfreude.

His gaze darted back and forth between Alexander Pierce and Ross, seemingly wanting to see how the newly appointed Secretary of State, who clearly bore the label of the [Subspace Group], would respond to the former's powerful offensive.

However, the heated argument that everyone had anticipated did not occur.

Faced with the indignant Alexander Pierce, Ross remained remarkably calm and elegant.

Ross slowly put down his coffee cup, shook his head, and let out a barely audible sigh. His face still wore that inscrutable calm expression, even carrying a perfectly measured hint of 'sympathy'.

That seems to be the compassion of the strong for the weak!

"Chairman..."

Ross's voice was very calm, with a politically astute smoothness that was impeccable. "First of all, please allow me to express my understanding of what you have just experienced and... well, my deepest regret."

"I am equally outraged by Mr. John Jameson's behavior, which is indeed lacking in basic etiquette and professional ethics."

Upon hearing this, Alexander Pierce's anger subsided slightly.

Damn it, at least you said something sensible!

Otherwise, I would definitely...

However, Ross suddenly changed the subject, his gaze sweeping across the room, his tone becoming as formal as if he were reciting the Constitution, as if he were giving an impromptu civic lecture, and he said in a forceful and clear voice:

"However, to some extent, the Daily Bugle's report does not seem to have violated the previous injunction issued by the Security Council..."

"Because they didn't report any information related to the complete annihilation of the F Continent by the biochemical virus; they only revealed information about the subsequent failed capture operation of Albert Wesker by the BSAA organization. I think everyone here can distinguish the huge difference here, right?!"

“Ah…” Alexander Pierce was taken aback, but before he could think further, Ross raised his voice slightly and continued:

"Furthermore... we must clearly recognize that the United States of America is a sacred nation founded on the First Amendment to the Constitution, and one that cherishes and defends freedom of speech!!"

"The Daily Bugle is a legally registered news organization, and Mr. John Jameson is a lawful citizen and taxpayer of our country..."

"He and his newspaper legally enjoy the right to freedom of speech granted by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution."

"The White House, as an executive branch, cannot... and absolutely will not, simply because a citizen displayed 'low manners' in a private phone call, or because a newspaper published a report that displeased or was even controversial to some, use the state apparatus to impose extra-legal 'sanctions' on him, thus stifling his rights as a citizen and taxpayer of the United States!!"

At this point, Ross shrugged slightly at Alexander Pierce, whose face had turned a deep purplish-red, displaying a helpless expression, and continued:

"Moreover, as far as I know, The Daily Bugle explicitly stated in its report that their source was 'a leak from an insider'."

"Therefore, before the truth comes out, it is difficult for us to arbitrarily conclude that this is a 'leak of military secrets'."

Ross's voice suddenly turned serious and full of warning, "If the White House rashly intervenes now, resorting to simple and crude suppression and censorship... it will only be interpreted as an attempt to cover up the truth, and will only provoke a greater backlash and more and more intense 'revelations'!!"

"When the public's right to know and right to supervise are forcibly suppressed, when trust completely collapses, the situation will truly slide into an abyss that we cannot control at all."

"Mr. Chairman, I think... that's probably the situation none of us want to see!"

Ross's words were grand and logically sound, raising the banners of 'freedom of speech' and 'procedural justice' so high that Alexander Pierce almost flipped the table and cursed on the spot.

Rose, you bastard who spouts nonsense about morality!

If you want to refuse, just say so. Why are you talking to me about 'freedom of speech' and 'procedural justice'?
Do you think any of these people present would not know what 'freedom of speech' and 'procedural justice' really are?
Over the years, haven't you Americans done plenty of dirty tricks behind the scenes?

Looking at Ross's sanctimonious, seemingly serious face, as if upholding the Constitution and truth, Alexander Pierce felt a surge of anger rising to his head, and he almost lost control of his fists, rushing over to have a one-on-one SOLO match with him.

Damn it, even though I knew beforehand that you were a hypocrite in cahoots with John Jameson!
But I never expected that you wouldn't even act anymore?
Very well, I hereby declare you the number one lackey of the [Subspace Group]!
However, years of political career forced Alexander Pierce to suppress his anger.

After all, even if he were the chairman of the UN Security Council, he wouldn't dare to directly confront the rising US Secretary of State without being absolutely certain of victory!

Most importantly, Alexander Pierce also gleaned a different meaning from Ross's words.

That is, although the Daily Bugle's report this time was about the BSAA's failed operation to capture Albert Wesker.

But John Jameson probably already has information about the entire F continent being infected by a biochemical virus.
It's no secret among their high-level circle that the [Horn Daily] is backed by the [Subspace Group].

Alexander Pierce hadn't thought of this before, not because he was stupid, but simply because he was a little 'frustrated' by being hung up on.

Now that he has calmed down, he has realized the risks involved.

Putting aside the fact that he's so blatantly and knowingly launching the "Daily Horn," the "Subspace Group" might get involved.

Simply by angering John Jameson, that old rogue in the press, he directly exposed the tragedy that occurred on the F Continent, and then revealed the Subspace Group's deployment of a 'universal vaccine' to save millions of infected people...

At that point, without any deliberate guidance from the other party, all the blame will automatically fall on his head as the chairman.

His dismissal is now a foregone conclusion, and even Jesus cannot save him!
All the honors will be exclusively enjoyed by the [Subspace Group], making them instant superheroes in the public eye!

Thinking of this, Alexander Pierce broke out in a cold sweat; this was not the outcome he wanted.

No wonder John Jameson dared to hang up on him; he was already confident in his abilities.
Fine, fine, I'll put up with this for the sake of Project Insight today, but it won't be long before I get my revenge. You just wait and see.

So, in response to Ross's question, Alexander Pierce unusually remained silent, his face ashen, like the dark clouds before a storm.

Seeing this, Ross, sitting in the corner, smiled slightly and thought to himself: You're not too stupid, are you?
His gaze then lingered on most of the conference room, landing on General Stark Pentecost, the head of the PPDC organization, who was sitting opposite Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

"But..."

Ross said with a half-smile, "I have a small suggestion that might help Chairman Pierce resolve his current 'practical' predicament more quickly."

(End of this chapter)