Translator: _Min_  Editor: Caron_

The joint military exercise in the Asia-Pacific region gradually began to escalate tension in the area and the situation in Asia seemed to be hanging on a knife’s edge.

The location of Guam was too sensitive, just on the northeast side of Xin. The UA sent a carrier battle group and the latest Ford-class aircraft carrier to participate in this exercise. In this critical time, a lot of people sensed something was out of the ordinary.

Nippon, Australia, and New Zealand, which were originally discussing joining the Earth Defense Alliance, began to take cautious attitudes once again.

The countries that had joined the Earth Defense Alliance naturally stood on the same side as Xin. The dictator of MLL Island, Santos, denounced the move in front of the media to show his support for Celestial Trade.

Malaysia and other countries took a more civil approach and used relatively mild rhetoric, but they still expressed doubts and dissatisfaction with the UA holding so-called “routine military exercises” at this critical time “when the world must unite”.

Hua and Russia also showed off the comradeship with both countries by sending foreign ministers to visit Coro Island. They jointly held a press conference to question if the UA’s action was an attempt to curb the Earth Defense Alliance, and disregarded the interests of mankind in order to strengthen regional control.

Not only external pressure, but internal pressure was also building up inside UA. However, the country’s hegemony couldn’t be challenged. Regardless of the scale of opposition, the position of the Capitol and Congress remained firm. The military exercise must take place.

Regardless of whether the parties involved were willing, an East-West confrontation quietly unfolded.

At Coro International Airport, a beautiful figure stepped out of the gate with quick steps. In the envious and hateful gazes of male creatures, the beautiful figure was watched as she stepped into a car at the airport.

Her sunglasses were hung onto her collar, her wavy blonde hair swished in the air, Natasha smiled and looked at Jiang Chen in the driver’s seat.

“Did you miss me?”

“Of course.” Jiang Chen grinned as he started the car. “Finally done your sentence?”

“What do you mean done my sentence?” Natasha rolled her eyes. “You make it sound like I’ve done time.”

The inspection period of half a year had passed, and now, she had completely separated herself from the Russian Security Service and transferred to the diplomatic system. In fact, she originally intended to resign and immigrate to Xin but later changed her mind.

Compared to just being a trophy, she wished to be someone who could help him out in her career like Ayesha and Xia Shiyu. Only by being helpful could he be inseparable from her, and that was the advice her father gave her.

Given the friendly bilateral relationship between Xin and Russia, becoming a diplomat was the best choice.

When she saw that Jiang Chen seemed to be in a good mood, Natasha said in a sly tone, “You don’t seem to be worried at all? The aircraft carrier is already at your doorstep.”

“What’s there to worry about?” With his hands on the steering wheel, Jiang Chen laughed. “Do they really want to go all-out with me? I shouldn’t be the one worried; they should be.”

Natasha chuckled, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and mocked him.

“I like it when you’re being arrogant.”

Jiang Chen’s lips curved up.

“It seems you’re not using the right word. This isn’t arrogance—this is called confidence.”

“Is there a difference? Right, where is your little follower? How come she’s not here? Or is she now being invisible in the back?” Natasha said, looking back at the seat as she waved her hand in the air.

Obviously, Ghost Agent’s optical stealth technology left a deep impression on her.

“Stop waving your hand; Ayesha’s not there. Also, can you use a more normal name for her?” Jiang Chen sighed helplessly.

“Then what? Your little tail?”

“…”

Through the mirror, looking at Natasha’s expression full of maliciousness, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but start to worry about the harmony and stability of the future harem life.

Although the relationship between her and Ayesha was no longer as stiff as before, the two women still weren’t on good terms.

It had nothing to do with jealousy. Ayesha never learned how to be jealous and Natasha didn’t seem to mind much. If there really was a reason, then it must be that their fates were meant to clash…

The magnetic levitation mode was activated, and the car entered the cruise track. The two quickly flew back to the mansion at the north end of the island.

Because it was during the workday, when Jiang Chen pushed the door open, Ayesha and Xia Shiyu weren’t there.

Natasha kicked off her high heels and put on slippers. Before she dropped the sentence “I’m going to shower”, which filled his imagination, she winked at him then went upstairs.

Just as Jiang Chen was debating if he should be a gentleman and bring her suitcase up for her or be a “gentleman” and help her shower, an untimely phone call arrived on his watch.

“Did I disturb you?” As soon as the call was connected, he heard Xia Shiyu’s slightly jealous teasing.

“How come?” Jiang Chen touched his nose with his empty hand and said without blushing, “I’m planning to unpack her luggage. I’m not as perverted as you think.”

“Hmph, I understand you too well!”

Xia Shiyu was unconvinced. Obviously, she had timed her call.

Jiang Chen decided to change the topic. He went to the sofa and sat down.

“Was there anything important?”

When Jiang Chen began to discuss an important matter, Xia Shiyu immediately put on her aloof expression, and said in a serious tone,” Under the UA government’s diplomatic intervention, Exelon Nuclear Power and Westinghouse received orders for nuclear power projects in Colombia and Peru through non-standard bidding process.”

When Jiang Chen heard the names “Colombia” and “Peru,” Jiang Chen’s pupils suddenly constricted.

As for why, it was mainly because the location of the two countries was too sensitive. One was located above Ecuador and the other was below it. The two countries tightly covered the small mass on the west coast of South America.

Now that half of the trans-Pacific submarine cable was built, the UA was exporting nuclear power to Ecuador’s two neighboring countries at this juncture. There was no doubt that they intended to stop Celestial Trade’s Global Grid Plan to reach South America on the beach.

“What’s the attitude of Ecuador now?” Jiang Chen asked.

“There’s no reaction for the time being, but we noticed that Westinghouse is in contact with their government,” Xia Shiyu said.

Jiang Chen frowned at the words.

Now the situation seemed to be out of his control.

In the strategic layout of his Global Grid Plan, Ecuador was a crucial first stop on the west coast of South America. However, South America was, after all, the back garden of the UA. Even though Ecuador’s relationship with UA wasn’t as close as Colombia and Peru, politics would inevitably be affected by the influence of the UA.

UA had realized the threat of the Global Grid Plan and made up its mind to block the project. South America was, after all, the home court of the UA. Jiang Chen didn’t have the confidence to compete “fairly” with UA companies.

“Do you have a plan?” Seeing his long silence, Xia Shiyu asked.

Jiang Chen touched his chin and said, “Now it all depends who will have the best bid… but the problem is this—we can give them benefits and the UA can give the same benefits or give even more than us. And before the submarine cable is completed, the low cost of electricity is simply not enough to give us an advantage. Unless…”

A glimpse of realization flashed through Jiang Chen’s eyes, and an idea suddenly emerged in his mind.

If he couldn’t t offer them tangible benefits…

Then he could just draw a cake for them!

“Release news that Celestial Trade is studying the ‘feasibility’ of building a space elevator in the Western Hemisphere.”

When Jiang Chen said this, he had a smirk.

He heavily emphasized the word “feasibility”