Steel torrents pioneering a different world

Chapter 211 Oil Cannot Grow Mold! The End. I'm convinced that Easterners will definitely master nuclear fusion! (Please Subscribe)

Oil is the lifeblood of industry!
Every 1% increase in its price means that the costs of the petroleum-dependent chemical industry will fluctuate by several percentage points.

The Earth has now entered the era of the global village, and human beings' use of resources is far greater than it was hundreds of years ago.

This is why countries that rely on oil, mineral, and other resources can live very well.

Just like Africa, they are located in a very fertile place, with abundant mines and various resources. Even though they are currently in a state of chaos, they can still make a living by relying on their own resources.

In contrast, resource-poor places like Haiti are in dire straits.

If we were to create a ranking of countries most sensitive to oil production and prices on Earth, Russia would undoubtedly be number one, followed by the United States, and then the various emirates of the Middle East.

Of these forces, the half-dead Russians need to rely on their massive oil-supplyed army to carry out military operations.

The Eagles have suffered repeated setbacks in the new energy sector, and now they're making money from shale oil. They certainly don't want to see oil prices drop.

As for the sheikhs of the Middle East, they are attempting to influence the world. Their ambitions, however, don't quite match their status.

The cold front from distant Siberia has begun to awaken, and that bone-chilling cold is starting to spread.

Fortunately, the offices near the Kremlin were warm and cozy.

Vladimir refused his secretary's help and personally drank a cup of piping hot black tea with four sugar cubes in one gulp. The sweet warmth slid down his throat into his stomach, dispelling the last trace of sleepiness in the morning.

Secretary Laki stood at the table, reporting energy intelligence gathered from around the world in a calm and even tone.

"...Our crude oil production is expected to increase by another five percent this year, and the supply price to the East will remain stable... In addition, according to the latest news, the Easterners have discovered several new oil fields."

Vladimir's hand, which had just picked up the teapot, froze in mid-air. He raised his eyelids, his deep eyes revealing no emotion.

"An oil field? They discovered it themselves? What's its size?"

This question is critical.

It's important to understand that since the complete falling out with the European powers, energy exports have become the lifeline of the Russian bear.

The East is the thickest and most crucial artery on this lifeline.

As for that comical, capricious Bharat, although he's quite adept at resale trade, he's been facing a lot of trouble lately.

The strategic cooperation between the two parties is almost entirely based on the premise that "you need energy and I need urgently needed industrial goods."

Of course, Vladimir did not believe that the East would break the agreement over a few small oil fields; their strategic resolve was quite strong.

But... any variable that might shake this foundation is enough to make him wary.

This is a basic quality of a qualified politician!
“These are all small, scattered oil fields, mainly deep-well oil and shale oil. The technology is extremely difficult, and the extraction cost even exceeds that of the Eagles.” Secretary Raqi turned a page of the document and showed Vladimir pictures of Peng Daqing and the others. He then added, “Preliminary estimates suggest that the total reserves will not exceed 100 million tons, and it will take a long time to achieve effective production.”

"Ha~"

Only 100 million tons!
Vladimir's tense shoulders relaxed, and he poured himself another half cup of strong tea.

"That's good, it's not something that will shake the whole situation."

He blew on the steam from the tea, then gulped it down in one go, as if trying to suppress the turmoil that had just passed through his heart.

Raki, however, was somewhat indignant: "Sir, what a bunch of damned vampires! Why are these guys always so lucky! Sukabul! Their energy resources should all be depleted, and then they should treat our Siberian oil pipeline as their lifeline!"

Vladimir waved his hand, signaling him to stop.

“Laki, don’t have such unrealistic and naive ideas. Let’s talk about something else.”

Vladimir was quite exasperated by Raki's childish behavior, but what could he do when Raki was someone he trusted?

The foresight and strategic thinking of the Easterners far surpasses that of his team.

Recent news indicates that Eastern scientists have made another breakthrough in the field of nuclear fusion.

It is estimated that their thorium-based lava reactors will be fully commercialized soon.

More powerful controlled nuclear fusion will also be achieved within the next 15 years.

Luckily, I was ready to retire by then!

"Yes!" Laki composed himself. "Regarding the oil field exploitation in the East Asian waters, the Easterners have already reached joint development agreements with several small countries to the south. Should we contact the Jiaozhi people and create some trouble for them?"

“No, there’s absolutely no need,” Vladimir decisively rejected. “Our western front is already troublesome enough; now is not the time to create further complications. We need a stable rear, and the East needs us too, so… let’s not provoke them.”

"Understood. Now... on the Arctic route, the construction of the new port is nearing completion. Would you like to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony in person?"

"The shipping route must be opened; it's a major boon for both us and them, and it'll poke a small hole in the pockets of those gold-digging pirates in Malacca. As for the ceremony, let someone else handle it; there's no need to publicize it too much for now," Vladimir leaned back in his chair. "By the way, I heard that the new newspapers in New Haven are complaining about environmental issues again?"

Raki curled his lip slightly. "Yes, sir. They say our icebreaker will disturb the polar bears' sleep. It's not environmentally friendly!"

"Heh, a bunch of people who practically live on the equator, worrying about whether polar bears are sleeping well?" Vladimir sneered. "Ignore them. Let's talk about military news."

"Militarily... the Easterners, as usual, packaged up a batch of outdated and obsolete equipment and sold it to the Barbarians. Shit! The speed at which they upgrade their equipment is simply unreasonable!"

Inside the office, the fatigue that had just been dispelled by the black tea seemed to resurface from some corner.

Vladimir's eyes dimmed, and a trace of worry and weariness appeared on his face.

Once upon a time, they were also one of the two poles of the world, and the Iron Curtain made the entire Western world tremble.

But in just a few decades, the student who once followed behind and learned from him has quietly moved ahead.

And... they've left them further and further behind.

Although their media still promote the idea that "the East has inherited our technology," using this rhetoric to fool ordinary people and maintain their pitiful self-esteem and pride.

But those who truly understand know that it wasn't inheritance at all, but a complete transcendence!
Just like the wing-backs they sold!
Don't be fooled by the fact that flankers look exactly the same; well... they're not the same anymore.

The avionics, radar, and engines of the older Flanker models have been modified so much that even their original owners wouldn't recognize them.

The thought of their elite pilots, flying their prized Flanker variants, suffering a humiliating defeat of zero to ten in previous joint military exercises made Vladimir's heart feel as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, so heavy that he could hardly breathe.

The Air Force is one thing, but the Army is in an even worse situation.

He thought of their BTR combined arms units with the Easterners, and he thought of how the enemy's self-propelled mortars had already fired a full round while their infantry were still building mortar positions.

In a state of bewilderment, their simulated troops were completely wiped out.

He was even more convinced when he thought about how their expensively built team was wiped out almost effortlessly by the combined arms battalions of the East, which made him even more...

pain!
it hurts!

He stared silently at the cup of black tea on the table, which had stopped steaming.

After swallowing a cup of bitter wine, my heart ached again.

The sugar cubes didn't seem to alleviate the bitterness of the black tea; instead, they made it even worse.

"Oh... Suka!"

The balance of the world is tilting irreversibly.

Fortunately... fortunately they still need Siberian natural gas and oil.

Fortunately, we haven't lost the technique of growing mushrooms.

That was the only way he could console himself!

Unlike the bittersweet and wistful mood inside the Kremlin, the atmosphere in the desert thousands of kilometers away was much more relaxed.

Inside the luxurious palace, air conditioning kept out the scorching heat.

Prince Salle folded up his tri-fold screen phone, turning it into a delicate metal plate, and casually tossed it onto the table. The energy news from the University of Tokyo on the screen disappeared as the screen went black.

He patted his busy secretary beside him, signaling her to stop.

"Only 100 million tons, and that's deep shale oil; the extraction cost is terrifyingly high." Prince Sale squinted, his tone carrying a hint of lazy contempt. "Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning!"

Abdul, sitting opposite him, bowed and remained silent.

“But… Abdul, how many more years can our oil burn?” Saleh suddenly asked, his eyes gazing at the boundless golden sea of ​​sand outside the window.

This question made Abdul's heart tighten; he knew the prince was deep in thought and worrying again.

"It can still be mined for about 70 more years!"

"No...we'll be mining for much longer soon. You see, thanks to the East's new energy technology and renewable energy, we've made a giant leap forward." Sall turned his gaze away. "We must accelerate our pace, shift our economy away from oil, and find new growth points besides oil!"

“Your Highness, your wisdom is as profound as an oil sea beneath the desert,” Abdul offered timely praise. “The progress made by Easterners in the fields of energy, medicine, and even high-end food cultivation is indeed rapid. We can strengthen cooperation in these areas.”

“Yes, their high-end food is indeed very good.” Prince Sale smiled as he mentioned this. “I really don’t know how they grow it. The taste is unbelievably good. My father likes it very much. The tomatoes and fish that were sent last time were simply divine! The key is the nutritional value of those foods.”

He changed the subject.

"However, the medical field is a tough nut to crack. Our neighbor has a very good supply chain. Medical experiments are strictly regulated in the East, unlike in the Barat region, where they'll try anything for money. The Eagles and the Sakura people hold onto their patents tightly. If we go in now, we'll just be handing them money and won't get anything in return."

The medical field may seem noble, but in reality, it is quite cruel.

Because modern medicine is based on the optimal solution derived from the collection, collation, and verification of countless patient data.

In this field, we can give a thumbs up to Xiao Rizi who was once inhuman, to the Eagle who was always inhuman, and to Bharat who never acted like a human.

These people have made truly significant progress in the medical field.

Oh, and there's also the wealthy Di family in the Middle Eastern desert.

This is a lawless area operating in the gray market, where telecom fraud and some service industries are also rampant.

Their organ transplant industry is very advanced.

There's no other reason than that there's too much darkness and bloodshed in the unseen darkness.

"Your Highness is truly visionary!"

"Haha, so, Abdul, you should spend more time in the East these days." Saleh said, his whole body becoming excited, leaning forward slightly. "Go see what good stuff they have! Especially what they sell to the Baba sheep! The new generation of laser weapons and radar systems are simply amazing! We need more, at least enough to equip some of our chieftain friends with them, to put some pressure on the squid!"

The thought of this, and the mention of squid, made Salle grit his teeth.

There's nothing I can do; that squid country not far away is just too annoying. They send drones over to harass us every few days, like flies.

And yet, despite paying so much protection money, the eagle, who is nominally their protector and ally, can't even control its own father, who only makes a phone call to smooth things over.

How abominable!

“Abdul. Remember the Squid’s drone last time?” Sall gritted his teeth, then laughed and said, “The Squid’s drone was singed by the laser fly swatter we borrowed from Baba Sheep as soon as it took off, and it crashed down! But Eagle’s radar barely detected it!”

"Fuck!!! The Eagles even called, indirectly asking if we had any new toys. I told them it was a miracle from the pearl! Hahaha!"

Saller laughed so hard he almost fell over, his hearty laughter echoing through the luxurious room.

If it weren't for the defense system from the East, they'd probably still be plagued by flies in the sky, living in constant fear that some kind of bunker-buster bomb might strike while they're sleeping!
Now that they have the defensive weapons that the East urgently acquired, at least they can sleep much more peacefully.

“Your Highness, I will definitely work harder to bring back more Eastern technology.” Abdul smiled as well.

"Yes, we must work harder!" Salle's laughter gradually subsided, and his eyes became sharp and profound. "The balance of this world has already shifted. We can no longer go back to the days when our ancestors only knew how to grow dates and raise camels."

"We have oil and money, now... we must sharpen our swords!"

He stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the city built near the desert.

"Abdul."

"Yes, Your Highness."

“Let’s go to the East again.” Saller’s voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable force. “The same old approach: technology first, then investment, and then products!”

"understand!"
-

Inside the Star Anise Building, in the office of a special intelligence gathering center for the East.

Peter took a sip of the scalding hot oriental tea, the bitterness of the tea spreading across his tongue.

"If only the people of the East could stay two hundred years in the past and only provide us with tea and silk, how wonderful that would be."

He put down his teacup, his tone carrying a lingering sense of nostalgia.

“Sir, as you know, time cannot be reversed.” Arno, the subordinate beside him, handed over a donut. “I just ordered some ancient Eastern dishes! They’re quite delicious! They’ll be here soon, would you like to try some?”

“I was just saying. Thanks, Arno! I’ll try it.” Peter took the donut, took a big bite, and the sweet frosting instantly neutralized the bitterness of the tea. He held up the remaining half of the donut like it was a medal: “Come on, let’s toast to our success in thwarting the Easterners’ plan to acquire the Warhammer IP!”

"cheers!"

Inside the office, a dozen intelligence analysts smiled and raised their coffee cups and beverage cans, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

In their view, this was not just a business deal that was ruined, but also a brilliant demonstration.

They want to make those Easterners understand who the real God is in their rules, in their home arena.

If they so choose, they can thwart any cultural expansion plans by Easterners.

Of course, something else made Peter even happier.

Some of the funds for this operation have been secured.

After receiving his share of the profits, he will receive at least $70,000.

After deducting that damn tax, there's still about 3 left.

That's enough for him to exchange his current apartment for a wooden villa with a lawn in the suburbs with several toilets.

He's even started considering whether to hire someone to mow the lawn or buy an Oriental brand lawnmower himself.

The atmosphere of the gathering gradually dissipated as people envisioned a bright future.

Everyone returned to their workstations, where a new intelligence briefing was already piled up on Peter's desk.

The top item is about energy news from the East.

The Star Anise Building has always been highly sensitive to this kind of news, and any slight movement that may affect the global energy landscape will be captured immediately.

"A new oil deposit with reserves of 100 million tons has been discovered..."

This number made Peter's brow twitch.

He quickly calculated in his mind: 100 million tons. It sounded terrifying, but given the terrifying industrial consumption of the East, even if they mined day and night, it wouldn't last more than two months.

“One hundred million tons. Although it’s not even one-seventh of their annual consumption, this stuff might be useful in wartime.” Peter circled it in red on the report, his expression turning serious. “Initiate an A-level investigation to find out more about this oil field.” He paused, looked up, and glanced around the now quiet office.

“Add it to the doomsday strike target list.” Peter thought for a moment. “Let’s set the level as A, or B+!”

Both the Eagles and the Big Cats have a doomsday plan.

That is, after some kind of apocalyptic war, it is necessary to destroy all of the enemy's modern industry as much as possible.

As technology advances and time changes, their focus shifts from attacking and paying attention to the big cat to targeting Tokyo University.

The core urban clusters of the University of Tokyo, various industrial cities, important military bases, energy plants and nuclear power plants will all be highlighted.

Regardless of whether an apocalyptic war occurs or whether we should launch an attack, it's always good to keep a record!
“Sir, a reserve of 100 million tons is no small amount. Given the efficiency of the Easterners, I estimate that the first barrel of oil can be produced within six months! Shouldn’t we send someone infiltrate to get more specific information?” Arno leaned closer, his face filled with eager excitement.

Peter tapped the report on the table lightly with his knuckles, making a dull sound.

"Infiltration? Arno, have you forgotten where that is?" He raised his eyelids and glanced at the other person. "The East, a land where mold cannot grow, an absolute no-go zone for our troops!"

These words silenced everyone in the office.

The casualties from decades ago remain a lingering pain in their hearts.

Arno, young and impetuous, was clearly unconvinced: "Sir, but we are number one in the world! Our military strength is so strong, why don't we find an opportunity to clash head-on with them and let them know who's the boss!"

“And then?” Peter scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “A lose-lose situation? Let that bear in the north, who’s about to freeze to death, reap the benefits? Arno, don’t be so naive. Those Easterners aren’t the same as they were two hundred years ago.”

He pointed to a photo in the report's attachment.

In the photo, several dark-skinned, simple-looking men are posing for a picture in front of a huge drilling platform; they are Peng Daqing, Han Linchuan, and others.

“We don’t need to confront them head-on. We just need to control this oil field, or rather, control these people.” Peter pointed to the face of the technician in the photo. “These are the core survey experts. We need to find a way to get in touch with their network. We need to know the actual production of the new oil wells, the specific production time, and how the entire petrochemical network will be laid out afterward.”

In reality, these things are very easy to obtain.

I solemnly told Arno that it was all for the sake of... obtaining event funding!
Arno immediately understood, his eyes lighting up: "Sir, how about starting with their families? These people's faces are as black as charcoal, they're definitely never home! Their families must have needs, we can create some emotions, see what they think of the LGBT community, try money and advertising, we'll eventually find a breakthrough to get information!"

"Hmm, that's a good idea," Peter responded noncommittally, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.

He suddenly seemed to remember something, put down his teacup, and his eyes became somewhat strange.

"Arno, do you think the Easterners will build so many production lines around the grasslands after they discover oil? I look at the map, and the newly discovered oil field is very close to the Zhu River! Do you think... this place might become their new military fortress?"

"Uh, it shouldn't be that bad, right?" Arno was a little confused by his train of thought.

“How could it not be?” Peter’s lips curled into a strange smile. “They’ve been digging massive underground tunnels everywhere lately. Who knows, before long, this grassland might not only be producing oil, but also tons of gold and rare metals!”

Arno was completely stunned, his face filled with astonishment: "Sir... why did you use the word 'grown out'?"

"Because just two days ago, the Eastern authorities announced that they had discovered a gold mine in a remote, desolate mountain area nearby! Well, not a big one, forty tons."

Peter held up four fingers and shook them.

"I thought to myself, this is nothing, not even enough to fill a tooth gap. Who knew they would announce a new discovery yesterday! Shit, they said that after further exploration, the gold reserves of that gold mine have increased to 360 tons!"

"Three hundred and sixty tons?!" Arno gasped.

His colleague couldn't help but interject, "Perhaps...perhaps people from the East are dissatisfied with the current international gold price and want to dump it?"

"Haha!" Peter burst into laughter, as if he'd heard the funniest joke of the century. "Trying to disrupt the international gold market with a mere few hundred tons of gold? These Easterners' financial thinking is laughable to the point of being pathetic! Do they really think there's going to be a world war? Can gold fill your stomach?"

"Ladies and gentlemen, their mysterious Eastern aunties no longer favor gold! I've heard they've started to have a particular fondness for bride price."

“Oh, shit, this dowry is very similar to some of the wedding assets here. I have a feeling that I’ve seen it before.”

Peter shook his head with a laugh, then changed the subject, his voice full of sarcasm: "Let's not talk about that. Those Easterners have very advanced technology. The tax lord is nervous and cowardly, only thinking about making money all day long. He won't go to war with them."

Grandpa Taxpayer?

Damn it!
“Sir, you are truly full of wisdom!” Arno immediately offered his compliment.

“I learned it all from Mr. Johnson.” Peter waved his hand, casually flipping through other briefings, and asked as if in conversation, “By the way, Arno, how’s your sister doing lately? Has she graduated?”

"Not yet, my grades aren't very good, and I'm worried about finding a job. I recently mentioned wanting to work in the federal government."

"Come over here! I'll set her up here and have her do some clerical work."

Arno was overjoyed: "Sir! That...that's so kind of you!"

“However,” Peter’s tone shifted, his smile becoming meaningful, “as you know, our work here has been a bit unstable lately, and there are some things that need to be taken care of. You’ll have to prepare the expenses for those activities yourself.”

Arno's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered and nodded vigorously.

"Uh, that's easy, easy."

Seeing Arnold's attitude, Peter's desire to make money off him diminished considerably.

Then, his gaze froze on the tablet screen, his fingertip hovering over a newly translated news item from Dongda University: "The first phase of the Dongfang Artificial Sun project has begun construction."

His brows furrowed into a knot.

The fragments of intelligence sent by the external informant were rapidly pieced together in his mind. Those scattered guesses, such as the Easterners still holding a few trump cards that they hadn't played yet, now seemed to be confirmed.

He let out a long breath, carrying a lingering weariness.

“Our scientists are still arguing heatedly over research budgets, like a pack of hyenas fighting over food,” Peter said in a low voice, with a hint of self-deprecation. “Meanwhile, the money from the East has already been poured into the ground, and they’re launching their decisive charge towards the sun! Perhaps it won’t be long before they’ve mastered nuclear fusion!”

Peter's expression changed upon thinking about this.

Given the nature of Easterners, it seems... probably... it seems... the other party might actually have made new breakthroughs in these areas.

Those guys are different from them; they prefer to get things done first and then show them off!
When Arno saw that his boss's teacup was empty, he quickly picked up the teapot and carefully refilled it with hot water. The water flowed into the cup, making a soft sound.

"Sir, our technological foundation is the most profound. We can catch up with them anytime we want. It's just nuclear fusion! Their technology is not advanced. Our nuclear fusion technology is number one."

Arno's words also carried the blind confidence and clear... folly unique to young people.

"is it?"

Peter twitched the corner of his mouth, but didn't look at him. He just stared at the tea leaves floating in the cup and didn't continue the topic.

Twenty years ago, he would have believed this.

Because at that time, they truly had the strongest military power on Earth.

And now...

The longer Peter stayed within this massive Eagle regime, the clearer he became of its internal corruption, and the greater his anxieties grew.

Technology, military, and culture were once the three driving forces that propelled them to control the world, but now each one is lame and failing.

The greedy nature of financial capital has hollowed out the once-proud industrial system.

Now, their bills are filled with bags and bags of screws worth 91,000 US dollars, devoured by countless Mr. Smiths!

Peter sometimes even absurdly wondered if that screw was handcrafted by a top Virgo craftsman using extraterrestrial meteorite iron, then blessed by the cardinal himself, and finally shipped over by FedEx in an insulated box via express air freight.

Otherwise, why would this bag of screws be worth 90,000 yuan?

The East is moving forward at a rapid pace, while their funding for aerospace and controlled nuclear fusion, which represent the future, is being chopped off piece by piece by those congressmen like slicing a sausage.

future?

Does their battered and wrecked ship really have a future?
Is it possible for scientists to have their salaries and research funding available?
Hmm, perhaps we can use screws instead of scientists' salaries!
Peter believed that if this were done, the scientists would definitely cause an uproar.

The $90,000 screws are not the snail rice noodles of the East.

You can't eat it, and it'll hurt your teeth!
Just as he was sighing, more news arrived.

This is news about new progress in Dongda's solid-state lithium battery.

It was actually released by an official media outlet of East Asian origin.

The breakthrough achieved in all-solid-state lithium metal batteries will double the performance, allowing a range of over 500 kilometers, or even over 1,000 kilometers, for a 100-kilogram battery.

He gasped in shock.

"Shit! Has God really stopped favoring us?"

"While our energy giants are still fighting tooth and nail over the ownership of oil fields, people in the East have not only looked up at the sun in the sky, but are also searching for things that can convert the sun into electricity..."

Peter murmured softly, his voice tinged with helplessness.

What can he do?
Can a lowly figure in the middle of a vast intelligence system stop a sinking ship?
He couldn't even touch the rudder.

Mom, I really can't do it!

Like Peter, there are many visionaries in the Eagles.

But the Eagles' left and right brains are too fiercely at odds!

The noise here is too chaotic.

Once upon a time... they also placed their hopes on the tax collector.

They thought that rising star could lead them back to their peak.

The results of it?
Two setbacks resulted in fluctuating policies and endless internal friction.

The phrase "fighting with both sides" is no longer sufficient to describe the current chaotic situation.

Those men are practically using their own promises as toilet paper, a powerful weapon to disgust their competitors.

It was fine before I wiped it, but after I wiped it, it smelled bad and was disgusting.

And that self-proclaimed chosen one, the Tax Lord, ever since he almost became One-Ear, has regarded everything as his promised land.

He particularly likes to use business principles in governance.

Moreover, they acted with extreme recklessness, gradually making the holes in this dilapidated ship even larger.

Peter swiped away the news on the screen in frustration, a wave of hunger rising in his stomach.

After he gestured for Arno to leave, he picked up a takeout order wrapped in oil paper from the table.

It was delivered by a newly opened snack shop a few blocks away; Arno bought it especially for him! I wonder how it tastes!

Jianbing guozi with smoked bacon rolls?

He took a big bite, the crispy pancake, the smooth egg, wrapped in a sauce unique to the East and authentic eagle-smoked bacon and sausage.

The taste is surprisingly good!

what is this?
Are the diets compatible?
Peter thought to himself with a self-deprecating smile when his phone buzzed.

It was a message from his fiancée.

"Honey, my mom's third wedding is tomorrow. Can't you really come?"

Peter slowed down his chewing.

Is this the third wedding of my fiancée's mother?

Damn it!
He couldn't even remember what his mother-in-law's second husband looked like!

He quickly typed back: "Sorry, I have an urgent mission, you know. Send my best wishes for me. I've already prepared the gift, and I'll personally apologize in a few days."

His wife quickly replied with an "okay" emoji, followed by, "Then take care of yourself and don't eat junk food all the time."

Peter looked at the jianbing guozi in his hand and suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous.

He was deeply worried about the future of the country, but in reality, he couldn't even attend his mother-in-law's wedding and could only fill his stomach with food from the East.

He closed the chat interface and turned his gaze back to the tablet computer.

The news headline, "The first phase of the Eastern artificial sun project begins construction," stubbornly remained at the top of the screen.

"Damn it, I have to spend money again!"

"Anyway, the Eagle's big ship doesn't need another one of me to move things, so I'm thinking about how to get some good stuff?"

Thinking of this, Peter's expression suddenly changed.

He stared at the documents for a long time, then called to his subordinate, Arno.

"Sir?"

Peter looked at the other person, and his gaze gave Arno a strange chill.

"Arno, how long have you been with the intelligence department?"

“Uh, sir, it’s been sixteen months.”

Arno felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, unsure of what he had said wrong.

“You’ve done a great job over the past year!” Peter said, offering words of comfort. Then he added, “Arno, what if the Easterners really succeed in achieving controlled nuclear fusion…”

Peter's voice was very low, as if he were recounting a terrifying future and story for the eagle!
"A sun that can provide unlimited energy! An oil-producing region that can grow gold and rare metals, and even synthesize oil..."

He used his finger to connect these three seemingly unrelated locations on the map with an invisible line.

"By then, do you think they'll still need to care about international gold prices? Will they still need to play those pointless financial games with us?"

The color drained completely from Arno's face in an instant.

"Are you saying that Easterners have already mastered nuclear fusion? All the previous news was actually a smokescreen!?"

Peter concealed his greed and nodded with a smile: "Suddenly a new city was built on the grassland, and at the same time, a large amount of water resources were transported to the north. Suddenly, oil was discovered, and gold was found nearby."

"Easterners have made such rapid progress in recent years, and they have even announced to the outside world that they have mastered an artificial sun."

"Just as Sir Conan said—after eliminating all the impossibilities, what remains must be the truth!"

Seeing Arno's expression gradually harden, he smiled and said, "Arno, I'm giving you a task. Go and research these things, and then come up with an action plan! It's about nuclear fusion in the East, and the chain reactions that might occur once nuclear fusion is put into production, and the impact it will have on us."

"You must remember... the plan must state: if Easterners achieve a breakthrough in nuclear fusion, it will have a profound impact on all our various fields!"

(End of this chapter)