Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 216 Assassination and Betrayal (Fourth Update)

The Mokuryo carrier battle group from Arasaka continued to patrol the waters off Night City, maintaining significant military pressure.

However, the actual evolution of the battlefield did not develop in the direction that Arakasaka had anticipated.

In the direction of the abandoned town, the armored forces commanded by Shintaro Takayama were unable to break through the energy shield's defenses, and instead suffered heavy losses of troops and equipment in the ongoing war of attrition.

At this critical moment, news from other war zones came one after another, putting Arasaka in a passive situation of fighting on multiple fronts.

The situation in Southeast Asia has changed particularly significantly.

After clearing away internal interference from its North American branch, Comtasia's China headquarters began to fully commit to military operations.

Thanks to the connection established with Chen Yu, the equipment level and combat capability of Kangtao's troops have been substantially improved.

In the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, Kan Tho deployed well-equipped special forces.

These units are equipped with advanced intelligent weapon systems, demonstrating excellent fire control and battlefield coordination capabilities in actual combat.

Contau's air power frequently launched sorties, systematically destroying Arasaka's communication hubs and energy facilities.

Ground troops, relying on upgraded individual equipment and improved tactical coordination, cleared out Arasaka's strongholds one by one.

These military operations precisely targeted Arasaka's core interests in Southeast Asia.

Chip manufacturing plants and biological resource collection sites in the region have been repeatedly damaged, forcing production activities to be suspended.

The Arasaka board of directors is receiving urgent reports from Southeast Asia, a region that has historically been a major source of revenue for Arasaka, and is now facing the risk of complete collapse.

At the same time, the new United States also took note of this change in strategic posture.

President Miles and her team of military advisors saw this as an opportune moment and began actively deploying troops.

The new United States not only issued political appeals to other areas of the West Coast, but also stepped up troop deployments in an attempt to further advance its unification plan while Arasaka was under pressure on both the eastern and western fronts.

Arakawa is indeed facing a strategic dilemma.

Its forces on the front lines in Night City were thwarted by a strong defensive system, while its industrial bases in Southeast Asia were being relentlessly pressured by Contau.

This situation of being attacked from two sides is continuously depleting Arasaka's strategic resources and affecting the overall strategic layout.

The predicament of being attacked from two sides put immense pressure on the already strained front lines caused by the defeats at the front. The Arasaka leadership in Tokyo was forced to struggle to cope with the situation and was caught in a dilemma.

While the Arasaka leadership was preoccupied with fighting on two fronts, the new United States was closely watching this strategic window.

In the White House Situation Room in Washington, D.C., President Rosalind Myers stands in front of a giant electronic map.

The screen displayed real-time battle scenarios around Night City, as well as the dynamics of the offensive launched by Kangtao in Southeast Asia.

She braced her hands on the edge of the control panel, her sharp gaze sweeping over every flickering light.

“The time is ripe.” Miles’ voice broke the silence in the war room. “Arasaka’s attention has been diverted, and his military forces have been tied up on various battlefields. This is an opportunity that history has given to the new America, and we must seize this chance to complete the great cause of unification.”

Three days later, Miles's private plane landed in Night City's military technology control zone.

Instead of going to the underground command center, she went directly to the temporary podium set up in front of the city hall.

Below the stage, a crowd of anxious citizens stood, their faces a mixture of fear of war and uncertainty about the future. Countless camera lenses were pointed at the president, who was determined to change the landscape.

"Fellow countrymen!" Miles' voice boomed through the loudspeaker, echoing across the entire square and simultaneously broadcast live to all the free states and independent cities on the West Coast via news networks. "We were once a unified nation, a united people! But the expansion of corporate power and endless conflicts have cost us dearly. Look at this scarred city, look at our fragmented land—this is the bitter fruit of division!"

She pointed to the still-smoking ruins of the Arasaka Tower in the distance, the faint sound of gunfire in the distance providing the most authentic background sound for her speech.

"But today, we see a glimmer of hope! The new America will inherit the spirit of the old United States and end the chaos and division on this land! Hereby, I formally declare: the new America will restart the war of unification! We call upon all our brothers and sisters on the West Coast to return to the embrace of our motherland! Let us join hands to rebuild a strong, prosperous, and inviolable America!"

As the speech reached its climax, the crowd's emotions were fully stirred. However, at this crucial moment—

"boom!"

The crisp gunshot tore through the air, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the bulletproof glass on the side of the podium.

President Miles swayed violently, her left shoulder instantly stained with blood, and Secret Service agents immediately formed a human wall to protect her.

"Sniper! High-rise building at three o'clock!" A rapid alarm sounded in the communication channel.

The scene immediately descended into chaos, with terrified people scattering and fleeing.

FIA agents, positioned at a high vantage point, engaged in a fierce firefight with the attackers.

In the chaos, FIA agent "Nightingale" Song Zhaomei quickly broke away from the escort team.

This Korean-American agent, familiar with the terrain, moved quickly along a pre-planned route.

She clutched a data chip in her hand, which contained test data on new military energy weapons and details of frontline deployments that she had stolen by abusing her position.

In a secluded corner, she handed the chip to a seemingly inconspicuous figure.

The handover lasted only two seconds before she disappeared into the intricate alleyways of Night City, like a drop of water flowing into the ocean.

The agent codenamed "Nightingale" has now completed her last mission.

Just minutes later, the intelligence department of the Arasaka White Whale received this generous gift from the traitor.

Accompanying the intelligence was a concise message: "The target 'Sage' has been confirmed to be located in the core workshop of the abandoned town. This target possesses the core technology of the shield system and an unknown energy weapon."

Almost simultaneously, President Miles, wounded in the left shoulder, was escorted into an armored vehicle under the close protection of Agent Solomon Reed.

Despite her bleeding wounds, she resolutely shouted into the communicator: "Don't back down! Keep fighting! For unity! For a new America!"

Li De's expression was solemn as he directed the evacuation while cautiously scanning his surroundings.

This experienced veteran knew very well that the real threat might have only just begun.

Song Zhaomei's betrayal and this meticulously planned assassination were undoubtedly a deadly counterattack launched by Arakasa from the shadows after suffering setbacks on the front lines.

This incident not only dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the new United States, but also allowed Arasaka to obtain crucial intelligence that would determine the course of the war.

As for the name "nightingale," it will become an indelible stain on the FIA's reputation and a target for persecution.

(End of this chapter)