Chapter 500: Naiveté That Overestimates One's Own Abilities

“Oh, right,” Su Hao added, as if remembering something,
“Please convey our regret and sorrow to the US side.
Tell them that despite this tragedy, Fanghuan Investment's determination to cooperate with the investigation remains unwavering.
If they require further investigation, we welcome it at any time.”
“Yes! We will convey it accurately!”
Su Hao stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the city below.
The torrent of technology surges forward, and humanity believes it has entered a new era of artificial intelligence.
But in the face of true natural disasters, it remains as insignificant as dust.
This is truly heartbreaking.
He paused, as if making a decision.
"Contact our charitable foundation again to donate to the disaster area in Turkey and send our rescue team there.
Also, compile a list of all the world's top earthquake research institutions. I plan to invest in them for non-profit, charitable purposes."
"Yes! I'll take care of it right away!"
Su Hao had only one "simple" wish in his heart:
He hoped that science could advance as soon as possible, freeing all of humanity from the fear of natural disasters.
Until then, the only thing he could do was invest his seemingly endless sum of money in various places;
to contribute a tiny, insignificant amount to the scientific progress of humanity and the well-being of all humankind!
***
Country M, the Oval Office.
"Lina...how is she?" Aiden asked wearily, rubbing his temples.
"Reporting to the President... Director Lina went into shock on the spot after hearing the news from Turkey."
"So, she's in the hospital now?"
"Yes. But the more serious problem is:
After she went to the hospital, all the allies who had previously cooperated with Director Lina scattered like birds.
Some simply vanished without a trace; they can't even be reached by phone."
"What? Did Fanghuan Investment kidnap them all?"
"Probably not. We've verified that several people fled the US on private jets immediately after the incident.
The rest found the most remote corners to hide in, as if fleeing the apocalypse."
Actually, Aiden didn't want to accuse those people of cowardice at all.
They just wanted to do the right thing, but their "justice" seemed laughable and pathetic in the face of an absolutely powerful entity.
Their biggest mistake was mistaking Fanghuan Investment, this financial behemoth, for a cat they could manipulate at will.
That was an entity even the president of the United States couldn't handle. Did they, a few people, really think they could shake its foundations?
That was nothing but naive overestimation of their own abilities.
"Sigh, perhaps... I should have stopped her that day," Aiden said, his voice filled with regret.
But he knew it was just self-deception.
Back then, hadn't he also harbored a sliver of hope and illusion?
Because Lina's plan did seem flawless.
With internal support, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to strangle Fanghuan Investment.
However, reality once again ruthlessly proved that Fanghuan Investment was always in a higher dimension, above them.
This incident not only instantly shattered Lina's alliance but also stirred up a massive upheaval within the Communist Party.
"But, Mr. Aiden..." the Secretary-General asked in a low voice,
"Is this really... done by Fang Huan Investment?
I heard that with modern technology, it's impossible to artificially create an earthquake of that magnitude..."
"So you mean, all of this is just a fucking coincidence?" Aiden abruptly raised his head, his eyes sharp as knives,
"When the 'Wildfire' organization happened to have a mole;
When Fang Huan Investment happened to mercifully open its doors to our action team;
When everyone happened to be gathered at that location, at this incredibly precise time,
a once-in-a-century earthquake just happened?
You call this a fucking coincidence?!"
"..." The Secretary-General was speechless.
Yes, Aiden also found it unbelievable; it was almost beyond human comprehension, bordering on supernatural.
Artificial weather manipulation is a well-known fact.
But artificial earthquakes, especially those of this magnitude, are practically straight out of science fiction.
This time, however, he was forced to confront a terrifying conclusion:
Fang Huan Investment might actually possess the kind of world-destroying technology that only exists in science fiction!
They were deliberately making this appear like a "miracle" to warn the world—
Those who submit will prosper, those who oppose will perish!
This was no ordinary threat, no nuclear blackmail.
This was a dimensional attack that directly used natural disaster as a weapon!
Ten thousand times more terrifying than a nuclear threat!
With a nuclear threat, at least you could see where the warhead was.
But this was an attack using natural disaster!
It was a kind of unpredictable, and unstoppable… world-destroying divine punishment!
This fear was deeper and more despairing than any known weapon.
"Any findings from the surrounding seismic monitoring stations? Any traces of deliberate detonation or energy injection?"
"No, Mr. Aiden. The report says it's as clean as a blank sheet of paper.
If it were man-made, it wouldn't have escaped the eyes of the global seismic monitoring network."
It's like a neighboring country conducting a nuclear test; the shockwave would be instantly detected by the global monitoring network.
The world's surveillance has reached this level of precision.
However, before the Turkish earthquake, there were no abnormal, unnatural tremors.
This was an event that, from any scientific perspective, could only be attributed to a pure, unfortunate, damned natural disaster.
"So… all the agents we sent, confirmed dead?"
"Yes, not a single one. And those inside agents who cooperated with us, they too turned to dust."
However, what truly chilled Aiden to the bone was the Secretary-General's next sentence.
"And... Fang Huan Investment, it's like they were all prepared beforehand!
Almost immediately, they sent huge sums of compensation to the families of every victim in the company's name!"
"..."
Aiden's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. He forced out a few words through gritted teeth:
"These...these heartless freaks!"
They kill, but they also destroy the spirit.
They're always so ruthless!
They always dance wildly beside their opponents' corpses after a victory!
And they don't forget to plant a blood-stained victory flag, smeared with mockery, on their opponent's grave, utterly humiliating them!
Imagine the scene: receiving a sum of "consolation money"—enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives—from the murderer of their loved ones.
The family will never know the truth, and may even be moved to tears by this "humanitarian care."
What an irony and humiliation!
Fang Huan Investment enjoys this:
Playing the role of a merciful God while reveling in the sorrow and gratitude of the unsuspecting lambs—what a morbid and twisted sense of humor!
"..."
But now is not the time to pity others.
Lina was the planner, but Aiden was the one who ultimately signed off on it.
Given Fang Huan Investment's vengeful nature, would he let it go so easily?
“Go, bring John here.”
“You mean… the former secretary?”
“Yes, tell him I want to see him.”
For some reason, Aiden suddenly recalled a famous quote from a certain basketball star.
The quote went something like this—
“If you can’t beat them,
then join them!”