Inside a massive cozy-looking conference room, a group of people were seated around the conference table.
The group of people in the conference room aren't just your everyday people or business men and women trying to strike a deal, but the top heads of governments and major companies around the world.
If the news of such a meeting is to get out to the general public, it would spark a lot of speculations, discussion and even tension.
This type of meeting isn't exactly a regular occurrence or something that can be casually dismiss. And to make things worst, there was no public announcement of such a meeting would be holding, which means it's secret and closed door meeting.
The reason for the meeting being a secret and closed door is simple. If the public is to know that such a meeting was held, there's no way that they won't ask questions and answers would have to be given. Well, it depends on the attendees to give an honest answer.
The atmosphere inside the conference room was solemn and slightly tensed. Everyone was looking at each other and studying even the slightest movement of those around them.
"It's been nearly eight decades since the last world war," one of the figures in the room said with a voice filled with authority.
"We've grown complacent. The balance of power has stagnated, and the global economy is on the verge of collapse. A war could reset the scales and breathe new life into the markets. And of course, bring us the benefits we wants to see."
Another figure, seated at the far end of the table, nodded in agreement and leaned forward.
"I agree. Our military-industrial complexes have been stagnating. Production lines idle, weapons systems collecting dust. Though there has been some very little profits from the current ongoing small scale conflicts, the profits can be called very minuscule.
A large-scale conflict would not only revitalize the defense sector, it will also create more demand and allow us to establish dominance in emerging markets.
There was nods of agreement around the table, causing the last person that spoke to smile.
"We should also not forget that war has always been a tool for population control. The world's current population is reaching unsustainable levels.
8.2 billion and rising! If we don't do something about it very soon, we all know what will happen. I know that we used the previous pandemic but that wasn't enough," a third voice, deep and gravelly said.
"We need to reduce the population by atleast 10% to reduce numbers and ease the burden on resources. And the only way we can achieve that is through this upcoming war."
Everyone in the conference nodded in agreement, while murmuring of the problems the world is currently facing. But their voices were devoid of emotions.
"But," a softer voice interjected, "we must ensure this war serves all our interests. We each have a stake in this, and we cannot afford missteps. We must make sure that each of us get what we want or we all know that there will be a problem on the future."
To this, everyone nodded once again in agreement.
With that, the discussion immediately shifted to what each of them stands to gain from the upcoming war.
"Modern wars require not just traditional weapons, guns, tanks, and planes but also drones, autonomous systems, cyber tools, and advanced surveillance," the second figure spoke up, clearly outlining the potential benefits the war holds for him.
The display on the screen changed to that of medical patents flashed across the table. Stay connected through mvl
"My organizations already own the rights to several cutting-edge treatments and therapies.
We'll control the supply chain, dictating which nations receive aid and at what cost. The sick and the injured will be a steady source of revenue for decades. Just like it has always been."
"Technology will be our ultimate leverage. Cyber warfare will target critical infrastructure, creating chaos that only we can resolve.
Nations will pay dearly for our solutions, AI-driven defense systems, and autonomous repair protocols.m." Another figure, this one younger but has the same emotionless face, spoke up.
He turned to look at the man that talked about unveiling their new AI technology during the war and smiled.
A brief pause followed, then he added, "And let's not forget surveillance. Post-war societies will clamor for security, giving us free rein to implement mass monitoring systems. With these, we'll not only profit but ensure absolute control and we will be able to gather as much information as we want."
The room grew quiet for a moment as they all reflected on the scope of their plans. These weren't just profits. They were the foundations of a new world order. Yet, one voice broke the silence with a note of caution.
"We mustn't underestimate the price of this endeavor. The war cannot spiral out of control. We must ensure it remains balanced, with no single nation or entity gaining enough strength to challenge our collective goals."
There were murmurs of agreement before going silent.
"Where do we spark this war?" one of them asked, breaking the silence.
"Several options," another replied. "Eastern Europe remains a powder keg. We could reignite tensions there, 'provoke' old rivalries.
The Middle East is another reliable choice. So much divides that makes it too easy to escalate conflicts in that region."
A figure seated near the center of the table tapped his fingers on the polished wood. "Asia should not be ignored. There's a rising tide of nationalism there that could be exploited. The South China Sea, for instance, is a perfect flashpoint."
"And Africa?" another asked. "Its resources are ripe for the taking, and its governments are easily manipulated. We could manufacture conflicts that destabilize entire regions, allowing us to step in as 'saviors.'"
"And," another added, "we must account for the outliers. Venezuela has already demonstrated what happens when the system is disrupted. Their rise is... concerning."
"In less than two years," the voice continued, "Venezuela has gone from economic ruin to a leader in global development.
Their infrastructure rivals that of the most of us, their healthcare system is unmatched, and their energy sector is said to be decades ahead of the rest of the world. This level of progress is... something unprecedented."
"And dangerous," another voice interjected. "If their model spreads, the balance of power will collapse. They've achieved what the world was told was impossible. In just a few years, they've gone from economic ruin to almost surpassing first-world nations in almost every metric. Their abysmal GDP has skyrocketed and is now being rubbed in our faces."
A pause, then a third voice added, "And we believe it's all tied to one man: Silas."