Chapter 486: The Flower of Death

Meanwhile, off the coast of Guyana.
Exploration vessels and work platforms, emblazoned with the enormous Jackson Mobil logo, dotted the sea like steel islands.
Workers bustled about among them, a scene of bustling activity.
Major drilling platforms roared, pumping the "black gold" buried deep in the seabed.
Not long ago, Jackson Mobil discovered an astonishingly large offshore oil field here, and after preliminary exploration, it had officially entered the trial production phase.
Although the current production wasn't phenomenal, everyone harbored immense expectations:
Once fully developed, the crude oil gushing out here would be enough to reshape the global energy market!
"Nothing unusual today?" the platform manager asked.
"Reporting to the supervisor, those Venezuelan guys sent another ship for a stroll, but they didn't dare get too close. They just made a couple of noises and left."
"Again? Ha, I can't even be bothered with them anymore."
For over a century, Venezuela had ignored Guyana. But ever since they heard about the oil and countless mineral deposits discovered there, they've been like sharks smelling blood, instantly baring their greedy fangs.
Especially after receiving covert support from a major Eastern European power and expanding their military strength, they frequently send warships to the border to provoke them.
But they only dare to talk; they never dare to cross the line.
Because everyone knows that behind that line are naval warships flying the Stars and Stripes.
"But supervisor, I heard that things are really messed up in the US right now, with internal strife and chaos.
The white building is just a makeshift, leaky structure. If a war really breaks out here, they might not even be able to help us, right?"
A young worker asked worriedly.
"Hey, stop worrying! No matter how chaotic things get, it's still the world's superpower. Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse!
How could it not even get back on its feet?"
"Really, the rumors say the situation is ridiculously serious.
The entire US government is said to have completely shut down, like a vegetable."
"So what? Even if the government is paralyzed, the navy is still there, isn't it?"
The manager waved his hand dismissively.
"Haven't you seen their warships loitering in the nearby waters every day?
If those Venezuelan bastards dare to lay a finger on us, those big guns' cannons aren't just for show!"
For the Jackson Mobil employees, the Venezuelan provocations had become so numb they were almost indifferent.
At first, they would be tense, on high alert at the slightest approach of an enemy warship.
But after hearing this "boy who cried wolf" story so many times, they couldn't even be bothered to lift an eyelid.
"Is this month's production target okay?"
"Don't worry, I guarantee we'll meet this month's task!"
"That's good. Everyone, get your spirits up!
In two more months, the second phase of development will be completed. Oil production will be dozens of times higher than it is now. You'll all be very busy!"
At that time, this place will become Jackson Mobil's cash cow, a fighter jet among money-printing machines.
Everyone was relaxed and carefree, looking forward to a bright future.
Before that, let's enjoy the calm before the storm...
However, at that moment!
BOOM—!!
A deafening roar, seemingly tearing the sky apart, suddenly exploded!
"W-What's going on?!"
The entire offshore platform shook violently, as if struck by an invisible deep-sea monster!
Everyone was thrown about by the sudden explosion, their faces filled with horror!
Immediately afterwards, a piercing alarm, like the shriek of death, echoed across the entire sea.
"W-What happened?!"
"I-I don't know! One of our drilling rigs exploded!
On the sea...a group of armed men appeared on the sea, rushing towards us in speedboats, they're firing heavy machine guns at us!"
"What did you say?!"
The person in charge, pale-faced, scrambled to the window and looked out.
Sure enough.
One glance, and his soul plummeted into an icy abyss.
The once tranquil azure sea had transformed into a burning hell!
An oil rig was being consumed by raging flames; the towering flames and billowing smoke resembled a gigantic flower of death blooming in the depths of hell!
***
Oil tycoon, Rockefeller.
This family, which once controlled the world's destiny with its black gold, was later forcibly broken up into thirty-four companies under the heavy hand of antitrust laws, most of which had vanished into the annals of history.
However, Jackson Mobil, as the legitimate heir to the empire, survived like an unkillable cockroach.
Now, they are attempting to reclaim their former glory, unleashing a wave of mergers and acquisitions sweeping the energy industry, preparing to rebuild an oil empire.
Wall Street, the top floor of a skyscraper.
“Congratulations, Mr. Speaker. This acquisition is yet another perfect victory.”
“This is just the beginning; we have a long road ahead.”
A man sitting behind a large desk, his eyes gleaming with an ambition beyond his years, was Jonathan Rockefeller, the current head of the Rockefeller family.
“Any new developments at the White House?”
“Rest assured, Mr. Speaker. The current ‘Eden administration’ is in a state of utter chaos, completely sidelined, and struggling even to protect itself.
They simply don’t have the resources to use antitrust laws against us.
Even if they wanted to, a fractured Congress couldn’t pass any effective sanctions.”
Just now, Jackson Mobil spent $60 billion to acquire a shale oil giant called “Natural Resources.”
This series of aggressive acquisitions has already caused Wall Street analysts to exclaim in alarm:
The specter of Rockefeller is returning, attempting to rebuild the oil empire that once dominated the United States!
"So, we really have to thank 'Fanghuan Investment'," Jonathan said with a cold smile.
"If they hadn't turned the M country government upside down, we'd probably be dealing with all sorts of hearings and investigations right now."
"Yes, the lobbying funds just for smoothing things over would be astronomical."
But now, the once powerful government that could dismantle them with a single decree has become a toothless paper tiger.
Both parties are busy attacking each other, and the Communist Party's energy is focused on ousting the current president, dragging the government into a quagmire of infighting.
Everyone is turning a blind eye to the actions of these business giants.
This is precisely the golden opportunity for a behemoth like Jackson Mobil to prey on its prey!