Chapter 528: Silence in the Cold

The earth trembled and the sky collapsed!
The earth roared in agony as a terrifying 6.8 magnitude earthquake, like a colossal beast awakened from the primordial chaos, tore Morocco's territory to shreds with its merciless claws!
A disaster report from Morocco lay silently on Antony's desk; every word seemed forged in blood and lamentation!
Over ten thousand casualties, utter devastation!
Forty thousand buildings were reduced to rubble and dust in an instant!
Nearly three thousand villages were brutally wiped off the map!
Economic losses—hundreds of billions of dollars in wealth evaporated in a flash!
Even more devastatingly, the seemingly impregnable military bases, along with the US troop camps stationed within, were severely damaged!
Missile silos were twisted and deformed, resembling broken skeletons.
This meant that for a considerable period of time to come, the country's armed forces were paralyzed!
"..."
Anthony stared at the disaster report from Morocco, each word like a hammer blow, making his vision blur.
After a long pause, he managed a complex expression—a mixture of despair and absurdity—like when you realize your opponent has abandoned conventional methods and is resorting to drastic measures, like summoning a meteorite.
"So... how long will it take to rebuild that hellhole?"
"Boss, aside from the capital region where we can still manage, other places... don't even think about it for at least three to five years.
The local Moroccan construction companies are just so-so; they'd take two days to fix even a toilet for the royal family.
The royal family is in complete chaos right now, barely able to take care of themselves.
Their only thought right now is to prioritize the repair of military facilities, giving them everything they have."
"What?! The people's houses are all destroyed, they're displaced, and they're already thinking about their own guns?"
"That's right, boss. The stability of the throne is always more important than the lives of the common people."
Anthony could understand this logic.
This is royal power, a cold and naked law of survival.
The collapse of ordinary people's houses is nothing; the screws on the throne cannot be loosened.
Is it selfish? Of course, it is.
But from the perspective of maintaining rule, it is the self-evident "political correctness."
"Moreover, the report points out that this is the strongest earthquake Morocco has experienced in 268 years."
268 years—a long period enough for generations to forget the wrath of the earth.
Morocco, this country has long since erased the word "earthquake resistance" from its dictionary. Their buildings are as fragile as sandcastles, collapsing with a single wave.
Any country, after such a long period of peace and tranquility, would probably make the same choice.
Time is the best anesthetic, and also the most potent poison.
“But…” Anthony’s gaze seemed to pierce through the back of the report,
“It just so happened that this natural disaster… precisely struck after Morocco openly defied Fanghuan Investment’s will?”
Coincidence?
This time, can they still use such a clichéd excuse as a fig leaf?
Once is a coincidence, twice is accidental, but when coincidences happen again and again, that’s fucking “inevitable,” that’s “divine retribution”!
The subordinate seemed to have considered this as well, adding:
"According to intelligence, the Moroccan royal family has harbored extreme hostility towards Fanghuan Investment from the very beginning, labeling them 'Dajjal' and strictly forbidding any Fanghuan forces from entering the country."
"Dajjal...in Islamic doctrine...the Antichrist, Satan's agent on earth?"
"Yes, boss. That's how they define it in their cultural context.
In their eyes, Fanghuan Investment is the ultimate boss who uses lies to deceive the masses, hindering their path to truth and salvation.
Their ultimate goal is to personally ascend the altar, play God, and exercise divine authority!"
Normally, Anthony would have laughed out loud at such mystical talk, dismissing it as the ravings of a fool.
But today, every word felt like a poisoned icicle, piercing his very soul with chilling force.
"Don't you think... the nonsense spouted by those old fogies in the Moroccan royal family, damn it...
is like they're doing a reading comprehension exercise with a standard answer key, so accurate it's chilling!"
Isn't Fanghuan Investment doing the same thing?!
Anthony's thoughts raced like a runaway dog:
"They control the global media meat grinder, capable of whitewashing even Satan from hell into Athena!
They've packaged Su Hao and Huang Fengwen, the two masterminds behind it all, as living Buddhas more holy than Mother Teresa!
Conversely, they portrayed French President Cameron as a demon who exploits the people, thus bringing down his entire regime!
As for that guy in the white building? He's long been sidelined, reduced to a mere mascot; now he even has to defer to Fanghuan when signing documents!"
From its inception, Fanghuan Investment has been pouring astronomical sums of money into the media industry.
Those cunning old foxes saw through the fatal flaw of modern society from the very beginning—whoever controls information holds the reins of the times!
Now, they can manipulate public opinion at will, mixing the thoughts of the masses like a cocktail.
Through social media algorithms, they precisely implant antagonism and hatred into the crowd;
They incite overwhelming discontent against a ruling group, igniting social unrest;
Then, by fabricating a few convincing "dirts," they can ruin any public figure's reputation, causing social death and preventing any chance of recovery!
"And look at Su Hao, the core operator of Fanghuan Investment! He's practically been 'canonized'!
The world's media sing his praises 24/7, practically interpreting every fart he utters as a benevolent act of compassion!
Are those media people blind? Do they not know the darkness behind Fanghuan Investment?
But has anyone dared to write a single negative report? No! Not a single one!"
On Wall Street, an ironclad rule has long been ingrained, becoming the nightmare of all financial giants:
"No matter what happens, no matter the circumstances, never be an enemy of Fanghuan!"
To date, every single reckless fool who dared to challenge Fanghuan Investment has been wiped from the face of the earth.
Along with their families and wealth, they vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.
The Wall Street elites knew this better than anyone, and the media, living off Wall Street's resources, were naturally steeped in this fear, utterly silent.
"But what's truly terrifying is this!" Anthony's eyes were practically overflowing with fear.
"It's that no matter which institution, which country, you could turn Fanghuan Investment upside down, you wouldn't find a single trace of their wrongdoing!"
That was the crux of the problem!
Accusations without evidence are defamation!
They are baseless slanders!
Fanghuan Investment is not so easily dealt with.
That "legal dream team" composed of top global lawyers is bored out of its mind and itching for action!
Any defamer will face a lawsuit high enough to bankrupt a small country!