Translator: _Min_  Editor: Caron_

“Nippon is discussing the possibility of joining the Earth Defense Alliance.”

A report was placed on Hill’s desk, and Secretary of State Kerry walked to the sofa in the office and sat down. He picked up the cup of coffee and took a sip to soothe his throat. “The issue doesn’t only involve Nippon being swayed—the same goes for Australia and New Zealand.”

“Ungrateful.” The chief of staff standing next to Hill cursed under his breath.

“What about our nuclear power assistance project?” Hill opened the document that Kerry tossed on her desk. She glanced at the report with a serious tone.

Kerry shook his head and said, “It’s useless. For now, our nuclear power project isn’t attractive to Nippon. Two months ago, the half-year discussion between Exelon Nuclear Power Company and the Eastern Power Company of Nippon was canceled, and it’s meaningless to talk about nuclear power at this point.”

“You’re right.” Hill squeezed her sore eyebrows and said, “Why’s Australia trying to get involved? When have they been interested in outer space resources?”

Australia itself was a big mining country, and its own domestic minerals weren’t fully developed. Naturally, it wasn’t necessary to mine in outer space. The defense tax of the Earth Defense Alliance had pushed up the average price of the global commodity market to their benefit. They should be the least interested in outer space resources? Instead, they were entertaining the idea of joining the alliance?

“Because of the Global Grid Plan.” The coffee cup was heavily placed on the table. Kerry walked over to Hill’s desk and said with a sullen look, “Half a month ago, the Australian Federal Parliament was discussing expanding power imports. The quota was used to replace all thermal power stations in Victoria and New South Wales to achieve the 2019 Carbon Reduction Plan.”

“We must immediately pressure Nippon and do everything possible to prevent them from joining the Earth Defense Alliance,” the chief of staff immediately said to Hillary Clinton. “I propose to immediately launch the 2019 Asia-Pacific military exercise and send two more aircraft carrier groups and two Marine Crops divisions to Guam and Okinawa. We must contain the influence of Celestial Trade in that region.”

“That would provoke Hua,” Hill said in a deep tone.

“The situation is different! Xin, or Celestial Trade, has replaced Hua and become the primary threat that may shake our global dominance! If we can’t stop them from continuing to expand their regional influence, they’re likely to subvert all our efforts since the Vietnam War!” The chief of staff was heated.

“If this triggers a new Cold War,” Hill looked sharply at her chief of staff, “Who will bear this responsibility?”

The chief of staff opened his mouth, but after he saw Hill’s eyes, he quickly closed his mouth.

Just now, he saw a hint of cautiousness from the president that shouldn’t be there.

Not cautious about the fate of the country but cautious about her political career.

The UA had already stood at an intersection, and external pressure had never been more severe. If she made the wrong choice, she might go down in history as the person who brought down the country.

Her eyes were tightly squeezed together. Hill closed her eyes and meditated for a long time before she slowly said, “We must win back dominance from the Earth Defense Alliance and bring the issue of extraterrestrial civilization back under the United Nations.”

“Contact our allies in Asia and inform them that the 2019 Asia-Pacific joint military exercise will be held next month. In addition, dispatch the Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Guam under the name of a military exercise.” Hill then looked at Kerry. “Also, I must trouble you to go to Xin. We must talk with Celestial Trade.”

“It’s useless.” Kerry shook his head. “It’s not the first time I dealt with that man. He isn’t the type to compromise. From the first time I saw him, I knew he would become a threat to our nation.”

“We don’t know unless we try. Since they’re a company, I believe there’s nothing that can’t be compromised in the name of personal interests,” Hillary said emotionlessly.

“Of course, there’s nothing that addressing their interests can’t solve.” Kerry was so angry that he actually laughed and exaggeratedly spread his hands. “But they want the crown on our heads and we can’t give it to them!”

After spitting out the last sentence, Kerry quickly left the president’s office.

He slammed the door shut and walked over to the map after he went to the office

With a gloomy expression, Kerry looked at the red line scattered across Asia that had begun to extend to South America. The red line was like a spider web, spreading from Coro Island and providing nutrients that created the despicable Celestial Trade.

“That stupid wire,” Kerry squeezed the words out between his teeth and muttered to himself in anger. “Their hands are reaching in South America! Reaching in our back garden. And our president…”

Our president…

Just then, a crazy thought suddenly formed in his mind.

This idea that had appeared before, but since he won the general election in 2004, the idea never formed in his mind again.

Once ambition was born, it would grow uncontrollably.

No.

This isn’t personal ambition.

This is for the nation.

He hesitated, and his eyes stopped at the phone at the corner of the desk.

He suddenly remembered a phone number.

That phone number belonged to an entrepreneur who once invested in him in 2004. That person had many titles, such as a well-known investor on Wall Street, such as the chairman of the Morgan Foundation…

Wall Street should be the most devastated party by the “Defense Tax”.

With that thought in his mind, he reached out to the phone.

In the Coro Island mansion, leaning on a lounge chair on the balcony, Jiang Chen put his mobile phone on the beach table, and a smirk formed on his face.

“2019 Asia-Pacific joint military exercise? It seems they’re starting to force their allies to make a choice.”

Just now, he received a message from a Ghost Agent.

The UA issued the 2019 Asia-Pacific joint military exercise document to its allies in Asia, which was scheduled to be held next month. At the same time, the 13 billion-US-dollar new-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier “Ford” would arrive at the Guam military base this month to participate in the exercise.

Guam was located northeast of Xin.

There was a silky swimsuit tied around her chest and waist that showed off her petite beauty. Ayesha, who carried a tray with iced orange juice, placed it next to Jiang Chen. She gently swayed her long brown hair gilded under the golden sunshine and she looked at him with her sapphire eyes. “Do you need me to do something?”

“Can you give me a massage?” Jiang Chen smiled.

Ayesha put her hands around Jiang Chen’s shoulders.

Whenever he had this expression, she knew he had the situation well under control…