Homo Sapiens

In Lucia, which had just begun to thaw.

Within a grand palace, inside a modest study.

The fire in the hearth was still burning. Caesar paused his writing and wearily looked up.

To the side, Chekov and the head of the Cossacks, Minsk Anthony, stood stiffly.

Caesar glanced at the documents on his desk. They contained the exact words Wu Wei had spoken to the media half an hour ago.

”It seems those vampires have been targeted. Your intelligence capabilities are no match for a commercial company.”

”My apologies. This was my failure,” Minsk immediately bowed his head and admitted fault.

Caesar’s gaze was calm. ”Intensify intelligence gathering on that company.”

”Yes, sir,” Minsk replied with a salute.

Suddenly, his secure hotline rang again. Caesar glanced at the caller ID, then picked it up. ”Hello…”

”Your Excellency Caesar, we have decided to cancel that…”

”Oh? I understand.”

”Furthermore, regarding that company, I believe it’s necessary to conduct…”

Caesar remained expressionless. ”In principle, I have no objections, but how does Your Excellency intend to handle this? The current situation isn’t exactly suitable, is it?…”

”We need to hold a small meeting and invite representatives from that company to come over. Everyone can sit down and talk.”

”No problem. You can arrange the meeting.”

”How about holding it in Persia?”

Caesar raised an eyebrow. ”Persia? Fine.”

Persia was indeed the most suitable location for the meeting. After all, America would never agree to meet on Homo Sapiens Company’s turf, and Homo Sapiens Company was unlikely to go to North America or Western Europe.

Moreover, Caesar could clearly see America’s intentions. Both sides were on the brink of conflict and needed a peacemaker to give them a way to de-escalate.

After some thought, only Persia was barely suitable to act as a third-party mediator.

「Meanwhile, in Xing Island.」

The atmosphere had fallen into an eerie, dead silence.

This was especially true for the man behind Temasek Investment, Li Gu Ming, and his retainers. As they watched the series of mushroom clouds broadcast on television, their eyes filled with panic, fear, and unease.

”Boss! The stock prices of our major enterprises are plummeting! The Xingdao Yuan has also depreciated 13% against the US Dollar, and the downward trend is continuing to spread…”

A chill ran through Li Gu Ming.

Li Peter, who had previously run errands for the Black Ship, looked as if he had lost his parents. As a member of the Li Clan, he understood that if Xing Island was doomed, his own fate would be no better.

As a think tank advisor, Huang Dayong racked his brains, but he could only conclude that the current situation was a complete dead end.

Xing Island was simply too small.

Although it had latched onto America’s coattails, Luzon, Hongsawaddy, and Siam were right on its doorstep. The crazed Luzon people had even dared to blockade the Malacca Strait, and now they had nuclear bombs.

Xing Island had no standing to demand the other side lift the blockade of the Malacca Strait; only America could negotiate with them.

And that was the problem.

If America insisted on holding out, Xing Island would suffer a terrible fate.

And this was without them knowing the results of the naval battle in the Badu Strait two hours prior. Otherwise, Li Gu Ming and the others would be even more despairing.

The international capital market’s anxiety about the future of the Malacca Strait and Xing Island instantly broke past the safety threshold. This manifested in the market as a frantic sell-off of Xingdao Enterprises’ stocks and the Xingdao Yuan.

After all, any discerning person could see that it would take several months to clear the artificial reefs and naval mines that Luzon had placed in the Malacca Strait.

For Xing Island, which had no arable land, mineral resources, energy, or strategic depth, surviving a few weeks would be difficult, let alone a few months.

It would be a miracle if international capital didn’t flee.

Siam.

Thonburi.

The ”sunrise” over the Kela Isthmus was being broadcast on every street and in every alley.

Inside a Thai restaurant.

”So beautiful!”

”Is this the power of the sun?”

”Do we have this kind of power now, too?”

”SOB SOB SOB…”

The local people were shouting with excitement.

Anyone with a bit of education knew that nuclear weapons were the foundation of a nation’s strength. For all these years, Siam had been walking on thin ice, not even daring to excavate the Kra Canal, all because it lacked sufficient power.

Xiaolin Yafu and his two colleagues, who were eating breakfast in the restaurant, stared at the replay on the television, dumbfounded.

He had spent the last few days considering whether to apply for a transfer back to East Japan to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Now, it seemed, that was no longer necessary.

At the same time, Sato Hideyuki put down his spoon. ”Senior Xiaolin, it looks like we don’t need to go back.”

”Unbelievable. They actually developed nuclear weapons.” When Yamashita Kunimitsu saw the footage on the Siam television station of the giant cannon on the Pacific firing, followed by the sunrise over the Kela Isthmus, the unique chuunibyou spirit of the East Japanese people nearly burst out.

The restaurant owner walked to the middle of the dining hall.

”Everyone, to celebrate the arrival of a new era, all dine-in meals at our restaurant are free today! Eat and drink your fill!”

”The boss is so generous!”

”I’ll have another pineapple rice!”

”Hahaha.”

”And an order of shrimp congee.”

A trace of envy involuntarily surfaced in Xiaolin Yafu’s heart. He wasn’t envious of the free meal, but of the fact that from this day forward, Siam would no longer have to live at the mercy of others.

Don’t be fooled by the people of East Japan calling America ”daddy” all day long; deep down, there was no shortage of resentment.

While some rejoiced, others despaired.

Inside Lu Gong Baiyu’s private estate.

He sat at the dining table, watching the broadcast on the television. Even though the table was laden with his favorite delicacies, right now, everything tasted like ash in his mouth.

’How is this possible...’

’How did they do it?’

’No! I have to get out of Siam as soon as possible...’

Countless thoughts flashed through Lu Gong Baiyu’s mind, and the more he thought, the more terrified he became. He no longer dared to think about the throne; all he wanted was to save his own skin.

After forcing down a few bites, he quickly arranged for his confidants to prepare for a trip to Kampuchea to ”inspect investment projects.”

However, before his men could even leave the estate, a large group of heavily armed personnel surrounded the entire property.

Domino appeared before Lu Gong Baiyu with a grin.

”Mr. Bayu, where might you be heading?”

”What is the meaning of this? Do I need to report my whereabouts to the Gui Palace now?” Lu Gong Baiyu retorted, feigning composure.

The grin on Domino’s face vanished instantly. ”Mr. Bayu, you great men are so forgetful. Have you forgotten about Mijate Island?”

What? Lu Gong Baiyu’s heart pounded wildly, his eyes filled with nothing but terror. A yellow puddle spread across his trousers.

Domino pinched his nose and sneered in contempt, ”With this kind of mental fortitude? You wanted to stage a rebellion? What a waste of my expression.”

The group of New Human employees also looked on with disdain.

Immediately after, the Banyu Clan was uprooted.

At almost the same time, Alok Loxia, Lapu Teisos, Sawa Wadi, and their families were also completely eradicated.

Their assets were also forcibly taken over by the Siam Royal Guard.

Qiu Yingle and Domino took the opportunity to conduct a thorough purge within Siam.

Those factions with treacherous intentions were snuffed out in their infancy before they even had a chance to act, contributing their assets and their bodies to the Homo Sapiens Company.

The various external powers did not dare to interfere with Siam’s internal movements, and could only watch helplessly as their pawns were devoured.

「At the same time.」

Across Southeast Asia and even the rest of the world, an intense game was being played.