Chapter 399: Secret Operation

“Our negotiations with the European Union were actually in their final stages, just waiting for the final signing; it was practically a done deal,” Li Huilin added.
“But recently it suddenly stalled, and now it seems the root of the problem lies here.”
“So, it’s the other side that’s dragging their feet, refusing to sign?”
“That’s right. Once they reach a new agreement with the major powers, there’s no need for them to pay three times the price to buy natural gas from us.”
This means that Fang Huan Investment’s grand scheme is very likely… going to fall apart!
"What's worse, this news has already started spreading in the market, causing a huge impact on natural gas futures prices.
There are rumors in the market that prices could plummet within days!"
"So, your advice is... to sell all your holdings now before the natural gas market collapses?"
"Yes, Chairman Su. This is probably the best way to cut your losses.
Our daily storage and maintenance costs are a huge sum.
If we drag this out any longer, forget about making a profit; we might not even recover our principal!"
Once Germany and the major powers really reach a new agreement and the pipeline valves are fully opened, the entire market's supply and demand relationship will instantly reverse.
Then, Fanghuan Investment will face huge losses.
"..."
Su Hao's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table.
Selling now and cutting losses is indeed the most rational choice.
But... his gaze fell on the natural gas position report.
"...!"
Just then, a bizarre image flashed through his mind without warning!
It was a vast ocean surface, countless enormous bubbles churning and bubbling from the depths, as if some deep-sea monster was struggling and roaring on the seabed.
"Chairman Su, what should we do next? Sell it off, or continue holding?"
Su Hao knew, of course, that from a rational perspective, selling now was the only correct answer.
However, although he didn't understand the specific meaning of the image he had just seen, his intuition, his almost supernatural sixth sense, was frantically pointing to a completely opposite answer!
If natural gas was truly destined to collapse, how could his uncanny intuition have led him to invest heavily a year in advance, placing such a huge bet?
Su Hao spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable determination:
"We...wait and see!"
***
Small Country, Headquarters.
Gunfire and smoke have long been a daily occurrence on this land.
The cruelty of war has reduced countless vibrant lives to cold statistics.
Faced with the encroachment of a powerful nation, the morale, which had once collapsed, was miraculously rekindled by the fighting spirit of the small nation's president.
But morale alone cannot win a war.
Their opponent is that colossal superpower.
Even though this tiger is now somewhat aged, a tiger is still a tiger.
Even without teeth, its claws remain sharp.
"This news... is it true?"
"You mean...?"
"Damn it! Those bastards really intend to reopen the pipeline?"
Commander-in-Chief Valery slammed his fist on the table, making the chess pieces on the map jump.
“Yes, Commander-in-Chief. We’ve verified it repeatedly; the intelligence is accurate.
The government of that country has already made secret contact with the major powers, preparing to restart natural gas supplies.”
Commander-in-Chief Valery’s face contorted with rage.
“Economic sanctions? Economic sanctions my ass! Are they handing us a knife while simultaneously colluding with the major powers?!”
“Commander-in-Chief, European countries… have long been energy slaves to the major powers, haven’t they? They can’t live without natural gas.”
A surge of anger burned fiercely in Valery’s chest.
Here, on the front lines, countless young soldiers, to hold back the armies of the major powers, fell every day, their blood staining the black earth.
But those European “allies” who swore to support smaller countries and sanction the major powers stabbed them in the back!
"This way, the major powers won't be affected by sanctions at all!
They'll use the money from selling natural gas to replenish their military budgets, and then they'll bombard us with even more intense artillery fire!"
After the plan for a quick victory failed, the major powers have adopted a posture for a protracted war.
What does war need most?
Money!
That's why they're in such a hurry to make peace with the European powers, selling natural gas for money.
This means that the money of European countries will soon become bullets fired at the soldiers of smaller nations, missiles used to destroy their cities!
"This kind of thing... absolutely cannot be tolerated!"
A cold, resolute glint flashed in Valery's eyes.
He realized it was time to make that crucial decision!
On one side is the European nation completely controlled by natural gas; on the other is the major power that relies on energy sales to fund its military.
There's only one way to completely sever this dirty connection between them.
"Re-evaluate our previously planned 'Baltic Operation'!"
"Commander-in-Chief, you mean... Operation 'Sabotage'?" A staff officer's face instantly changed.
Sabotage, a French word meaning deliberate sabotage and destruction.
"That's right!" Valery's voice was as cold as ice.
"Since they refuse to kick their addiction themselves, we'll help them out and completely destroy the drugs!"
Inside the command center, everyone's face turned deathly pale.
Executing Operation "Sabotage" in the Baltic Sea meant something everyone knew perfectly well.
Blow up that undersea natural gas pipeline connecting Germany and a major power!
"Commander! This plan has been rejected by the President!
Especially from Country M, they gave us a stern warning that it absolutely cannot be implemented! That's why it's been indefinitely postponed!"
"Of course I know! But they were the first to break their promise!" Valery roared,
"Those politicians, they shout 'Stand with small nations,' but behind our backs they're plotting how to send money and blood to the enemy!
Are we just going to stand by and watch?!"
"But...if we're exposed as the ones who did it, what will the European Union, especially Country M, do?
We will face condemnation from the whole world!"
“That’s why it’s called a ‘secret operation’! When it’s carried out, the operation must be swift and clean, leaving no evidence pointing to us!”
Valery’s eyes hardened.
“Even if it’s discovered in the end, we must deny it to the death, insisting it was a ruse orchestrated by the Great Powers themselves!
Listen, it’s not that we wanted to do this; they… they forced us to this point!”
The Commander-in-Chief’s words struck like hammer blows, leaving no room for argument.
Because what he said was true. It was the Great Powers that broke the alliance first.
“Get it done immediately!” Valery stood up, surveying the crowd, his eyes filled with a resolute determination.
“All the responsibility… I’ll take it all!”