Chapter 643: The Last Piece of the Puzzle

If the legendary secret line truly exists between "Wildfire" and Su Hao, then all of this, including dragging both countries into a civil war...
is undoubtedly a script woven by Su Hao's manipulative hands!
"What about the remaining nuclear briefcases? Have they been found?
If these things are scattered abroad, they're ticking time bombs. Holding them all is the best policy, right?"
"'Wildfire' is still searching everywhere. Current intelligence indicates,
the other briefcase belonging to Gao Li is in the hands of the rebels, and the other one belonging to the Empire is in the hands of Sergei. But the problem is..."
The subordinate paused, his expression turning strange,
"Each country originally had three briefcases, but two of them have gone missing. Now, besides the one in Fang Huan's possession, each has one unaccounted for, vanished without a trace."
This is a terrifying story that would drive intelligence agencies worldwide mad.
It's like going out with two guns, only to find you only have one left in your pocket; the other might be in the hands of some lunatic.
"Disappeared into thin air?" Zhou Yi frowned.
“Yes, the previous speculation was that the holder hid it in a top-secret location known only to themselves before their death, or simply destroyed it. But…”
“But what? Stop beating around the bush!”
“‘Wildfire’ seems to have a different opinion.” The subordinate lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard,
“They suspect that the two nuclear briefcases that disappeared first from both countries actually fell into Chairman Su’s hands long ago.”
“Holy crap?!”
Zhou Yi really couldn’t help but blurt out a national treasure.
"Chairman Su? How did he get them? Who else besides 'Wildfire' could do this?"
"The Shadow Force." The subordinate uttered this name, long circulated in intelligence circles like an urban legend.
"'Wildfire' shares our suspicions:
Besides 'Wildfire,' Chairman Su also controls a completely independent 'Shadow Force,' a force we can barely even detect!
'Wildfire' speculates that these ghosts probably intercepted the two boxes before the chaos even began!"
Hiss—
Zhou Yi gasped.
The Shadow Force.
That ghostly department whose presence everyone can sense, yet none can be touched.
You can clearly feel its presence, like feeling the wind, but you can never grasp it.
If this is true, it means Su Hao not only relies on 'Wildfire,' but also possesses a more secretive and deadly weapon of violence!
Even the arrogant elite soldiers of "Wildfire" are starting to fear this shadow force, which shows how terrifying they are!
"...How should we report this to our superiors?" the subordinate asked.
"Report? Report my ass!" Zhou Yi slammed his fist on the table, cold sweat pouring down his back.
"Are you stupid? Since Chairman Su didn't tell us, and even kept it from 'Wildfire,' he doesn't want anyone to know!
What did I just say? Curiosity killed the cat!
Also, immediately send a message to 'Wildfire.' If they're investigating this shadow force, tell them to stop immediately, right now!
Warn them that at this level, they shouldn't be so cunning!
Curiosity can kill them all!
"Once they touch the forbidden zone, even they will be utterly destroyed!"
"Yes! I'll go pass on the message right away. So, let's just drop this matter and not report it to any higher-ups?"
"Why tell them? What will the board think if they know Chairman Su holds two nuclear buttons?
They might have a heart attack on the spot and die instantly!" Zhou Yi sneered.
"Besides, if Chairman Su really has control over the lifelines of two countries through the Shadow Force, it means he's already in control of the entire situation.
Our little tricks are laughable in front of him."
Su Hao, Shan Huo, the Strategic Department, and that invisible ghost hand—the Shadow Force.
This isn't just the setup of a business empire; this is a fucking Earth-on-Online domination!
Zhou Yi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling a strange sense of dread.
This game of chess is only for the player to oversee; everyone else should just close their eyes and obediently be pawns!
***
"Immediately stop the investigation? 'Don't know too much'? Is that really what headquarters said?"
On the other side of the world, in a dimly lit command center, Anthony pondered these words with amusement.
"Yes, boss. The Strategic Department's wording is very harsh. They want us to immediately cease all investigations into 'Shadow'."
This was a warning.
Rather than a warning from the Strategic Department, it was more like Su Hao's will being conveyed through Zhou Yi's words.
Like telling a hunting dog trying to sniff out its master's secrets:
Be a good guard and don't stick your nose into your master's bedroom!
The reason they didn't investigate before was because they hadn't yet grasped the core.
The sudden drawing of the red line means they're very close to the truth!
Or rather, the level of that "shadow force" is far above theirs!
"Looks like we were right, there really is a shadow force." A glint of fervor flashed in Anthony's eyes.
"Our previous investigation wasn't in vain?"
"Hard to say, boss. The current investigation results are still a complete blank, shockingly clean."
Even so, this "ban" itself is the highest form of approval!
Anthony suddenly felt a strange sense of pride.
For that god-like man to personally draw the red line means that "Wildfire's" abilities have reached a point where they need to be restrained!
"Then do as ordered. Halt all investigations into the 'Shadows'."
"Boss, are we really just going to let it go like that?"
"Of course! This is an order from above, and more importantly, a lifeline!" Anthony scoffed.
"I may be a madman, but I'm not stupid.
If Chairman Su has drawn a line, then that line means the other side is a real minefield.
I've crossed countless red lines in my life, but I wouldn't even dare to look through binoculars into the line Chairman Su has drawn.
If you want to die, go yourself, but don't drag the brothers down with you."
"No, no, no, how could I dare..."
Although curious about who those "Shadows" really were, staying alive was clearly more important.
In Fang Huan, even if the "Wildfire" had swelled into a behemoth, with just a flick of Chairman Su's finger, they would still be wiped out like dust, dying silently.
"Boss, what about the mission to find the remaining nuclear briefcases..."
“It’s stopped too. Is there even a question?” Anthony lit a cigarette, took a deep drag,
“Since the warning came, the meaning is clear:
Those two missing boxes have been 100% taken by the 'Shadow Force.'
Chairman Su is telling us: 'I've already taken care of things, you bunch of noobs shouldn't bother.'”
Anthony exhaled a smoke ring, a hint of admiration in his eyes.
“As expected of Chairman Su, so far-sighted and meticulous.
While watching us stumble around like headless flies, he already had his cards in his hand…
This feeling of being completely controlled is truly… chilling.”
“Boss, doesn’t that mean the situation is completely set?”
“Exactly. The two countries will be plunged into eternal chaos and division.”
The core lifelines of America, Europe, and Asia are all under Fang Huan’s control, and now the two biggest destabilizing factors have been dismantled.
The world Fang Huan desired—no, the new world Su Hao desired—has completed the final piece of the puzzle!