In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

Hall took a breath.

"possible."

"There may be flying aliens, marine symbiotes, floating spore colonies, or even unknown migration methods."

"Our current understanding of the speed of cataclysmic evolution may be at least two months behind Great Xia."

"Two months?"

Hegeseth's face darkened. "The intelligence department has so many resources, and this is the conclusion they give me?"

Hall glanced at him but did not argue.

"Minister, we do not have a surface control zone for Great Xia. All information can only be obtained through monitoring satellites and research reports from the Academy of Sciences."

The Minister of War was speechless and didn't say anything more.

Hall pressed the remote control, and several blurry coastal videos appeared on the screen.

"This is satellite imagery of the South Pacific that we intercepted three days ago."

In the image, a huge shadow is seen moving beneath the surface of the sea.

A flock of mutated birds skimmed low along the ocean current, some of them with wingspans exceeding ten meters.

Hall said, "Some of the mutated organisms have already shown a tendency to migrate. They may not be able to cross the sea now, but the rate of evolution is accelerating."

"If Da Xia predicts that a transoceanic animal tide will occur in the future, then Australia will not be an isolated island."

"It's a super arsenal."

No one spoke in the meeting room.

If Hall's judgment is correct, it means that Great Xia has seen a future that they could not see.

Jopden stared at the video.

"You mean, the Great Xia bombed Australia not because they were crazy?"

Hall nodded.

"They are very clear-headed, extremely clear-headed!"

Jopden's face twitched.

A sober person pressing the nuclear button is more terrifying than a madman.

Because he knows what he is doing.

"The Academy of Sciences immediately updated its disaster assessment model."

Jopden slowly sat back down in his chair.

"Include the variable of Great Xia as well. Every military operation they undertake must be treated as high-value intelligence. I need to see three reports."

"First, why does Great Xia dare to do this?"

"Second, can they do the same thing in North America?"

"Third, if they really do it, what means do we have to survive?"

Hall nodded: "Yes, Mr. President."

Jopden turned his head and looked at the old man in the white coat at the end of the conference table.

"Dr. Steven."

Dr. Steven looked up.

The nuclear destruction of Australia left him completely unmoved.

"Mr. President."

Jopden stared at him intently.

"How's the mass production of the super-army's potions going?"

All eyes were on Steven.

This is Eden's true trump card.

Nuclear weapons should not be used casually.

The army cannot emerge from underground.

But if they possess supernatural powers, they could redefine war.

"The Academy of Sciences has devoted all its resources."

Steven opened the tablet.

"Currently, we have successfully extracted stable mutant fragments, namely divine factors, from the bodies of seven special survivors."

"After more than 3,000 animal experiments and 300 human experiments, we have confirmed that the divine factor can enhance muscles, bones, and nerve responses."

Jopden leaned forward.

"Sounds good. But what happened?"

Steven pushed up his glasses.

"The result wasn't good enough. The success rate was only 2.7%."

Hegeses's face darkened. "Is this what you call an achievement?"

"Mr. Minister, the Wright brothers' first flight only lasted twelve seconds."

Steven ignored his questioning and continued,

"Failed individuals typically exhibit hemolysis, brain tissue liquefaction, and organ proliferation; a small percentage may develop into irrational aberrations."

Hegeseth's lips twitched, and Jopden tapped the table.

"Doctor, the entire Federation is waiting for your results."

"Your potion will lead the newly formed Beautiful Federation back to the surface."

"What else do you need?"

Steven closed the tablet and stated bluntly, "Sample."

Jopden squinted.

"Hasn't the allocation of housing in the lower-class working-class areas already been opened up?"

Steven shook his head.

"Ordinary people can only serve as test subjects. I need more special survivors. The more the better."

His eyes lit up when he uttered the word.

"Only they possess divine factors within them. We currently have too few samples, and their quality is insufficient."

"The cost of capturing special survivors from outside the country is getting higher and higher."

Hegeses immediately said,

"Last month, the third capture team lost 47 people in the ruins of Kansas, and only brought back one fire-type ability user."

"Before entering the lab, that man detonated himself, burning twelve researchers to death."

Steven said calmly, "So I need live suppression devices, more tranquilizer darts, and higher-level combat teams."

"You make it sound so easy."

Hegeses stared at him. "Those special survivors on the surface are no longer minor figures in the early stages of the cataclysm; they will rebel."

"Minister, I am only responsible for stating the requirements."

Steven began, "As for how to get the samples into the lab, that's the military's job."

The meeting room suddenly felt cold.

Jopden raised his hand, interrupting the two.

"Hegeses".

"Yes, Mr. President."

"The War Department increased the budget for capture operations, and special forces prioritized the needs of the Academy of Sciences."

We can utilize swarms of drones and tactical missiles. We will spare no expense to provide samples to the Academy of Sciences.

He then looked at the Minister of the Interior.

"The screening process continues in the lower-class civilian areas. All those without technical positions, military value, or research background will be included in the Academy of Sciences' preliminary list."

The Interior Minister's throat moved.

"Mr. President, what is the maximum quantity?"

Jopden looked at him.

"We'll provide as many PhDs as they need."

Steven stood up and bowed to Jopden.

"The Academy of Sciences will remember your support."

After hearing the president's request, Hegeses remained silent for two seconds before speaking.

"Including actions against large survivor camps?"

Jopden's eyes remained unchanged.

"include."

"Mr. President, this will provoke the current ground forces. They might launch an attack against us," Rudio said, frowning.

Jopden smiled.

"Ground forces?"

He leaned back, his tone tinged with disdain.

"You mean the Free Beacon Federation?"

Inside the meeting room, many people's expressions shifted slightly.

The Federation of Free Beacon

This name has been appearing far too frequently lately.

The nation was founded through public broadcasting.

They actively sought to align themselves with Daxia.

For the American underground government, this was no longer a simple provocation; it was the most blatant attempt to seize power.

They are expanding.

Rudio said in a deep voice, "Our satellites have captured images showing that their strongholds have begun to spread throughout the country."

"Mr. President, we cannot underestimate them."

The Commerce Secretary began, "The survivors of the earth need a flag."

When the underground government remains hidden, the beacon of freedom will fill the vacuum.

Over time, North Americans will forget that a real federal government still exists.

"While the owner was away, the housekeeper put on the owner's clothes and sat in the living room. Then he told the neighbors that he was the owner."

Jopden looked at the flag on the screen and sneered.

"How ridiculous. The real federal government is here."

"Controlling nuclear weapons, controlling the Academy of Sciences, controlling the most complete power chain of the old era."

Rudio whispered, "Mr. President, they have Great Xia backing them."

Jopden's smile faded.

"So leave them alone for now. But remember, only temporarily."

He tapped the table with his finger.

"Once the Academy of Sciences deciphers the divine factor, and once the super legion is formed, the Beacon of Freedom will know who the true master of this land is."

Steven bowed slightly. "I will speed things up."

Jopden looked at him.

"Not just speed it up, but immediately. From today onwards, Eden enters Level Two War Preparedness."

"We will remain silent externally. Internally, we will fully support the Academy of Sciences."

"To carry out deep infiltration of the surface survivor organization."

He looked at Intelligence Officer Hall.

"Especially the beacon of freedom. They need to plant spies among President Luke's closest confidants."

"I want to know exactly how much equipment Old Luke took from Great Xia."

Hall nodded immediately.

"clear."

"Mr. President, should we take the initiative to contact Daxia?"

Just then, the press secretary asked cautiously.

Jopden glanced at him.

That look sent chills down the secretary-general's spine.

"No, contacting us now would be tantamount to surrendering! We haven't lost yet!"

He raised his hand and pointed to the charred Australia on the screen.

"They have nuclear weapons."

"We have that too."

"They have superpowered individuals."

"We'll have that soon too."

"This is not the final game yet."

He braced himself on the table with both hands and lowered his voice.

"Those wasteland refugees outside, the agents supported by Great Xia, and those monsters."

"They are just raw materials now."

"We'll return to the ground once we've mastered divine power."

North America is still ours.

Inside the meeting room, the high-ranking officials rose one after another.

"May God bless the Federation."

"May God bless the Federation."

……