Darkstone Code

Chapter 1354: Chapter 1353: You Actually Fell for This?

The news Sanchez sent back to the homeland left the Strategic Analysis Research Unit a bit confused, unsure whether he was speaking the truth or fabricating lies.

As for Sanchez, considered by the Mariluo people to be a loyal lackey of the Federation, he didn’t quite earn absolute trust from the Federation people!

Some believed Sanchez’s information was true because, according to intelligence gathered by the Federation itself, the period around August would be a turning point for the entire matter.

August 15 fell roughly within their predicted range.

However, others believed the intelligence was fake; Sanchez had already betrayed the Federation people, and the Grand President and his companions were likely to complete final negotiations before this date.

Sanchez merely stepped forward to release some smokescreens to confuse the Federation’s perspective and pacify certain emotions, thus couldn’t be trusted.

The authenticity of Sanchez’s reported news couldn’t be confirmed and was treated as false, leading the Military to even decide on executing the assassination of the Grand President and others ahead of schedule.

That night, the Federation’s television began broadcasting some intriguing news segments, such as the "World’s Top Ten Extremist Organizations" or "Armed Forces Active in the World’s Shadows."

These reports gave many Federation people a more vivid understanding of the chaotic global situation, and many naively believed that places outside the Federation were as safe as within the Federation.

Although there were frequent shootings, gangs often engaged in fierce battles late at night, the Federation Government frequently exposed cases of alleged official misconduct, and so on...

But compared to those countries caught in civil unrest, the Federation was apparently much better.

The most attention-catching segment detailed some introductions about Mariluo.

This might be the Federation’s first comprehensive introduction to its neighboring country on such a scale.

From the Mariluo people’s brutal rule to the overthrow of the rulers, then to the warlords’ fragmentation.

Mariluo under the lens was like a hell on earth, where children had to learn to use weapons and shoot from a young age, and people lived in constant fear from birth till death.

According to "official" statistics, the average age of death in Mariluo has recently neared over forty.

Great numbers of young and middle-aged men perished in wars between warlords. Poverty, hunger, backward medical, and sanitary conditions became Mariluo’s biggest "killers"!

There were also mentions of some "active" terrorists in Mariluo.

The Federation Government had previously defined "terror," so people knew what terrorist organizations and terrorists were, though they were unaware that these had little presence in Mariluo.

For Mariluo people planning ethnic conflicts, massacres were quite normal; it was either you slaughter me or I slaughter you. However, in the eyes of Federation people, this became terrorism.

Mass media allowed Federation people to witness a bloody Mariluo and worry about it—Mariluo being the only neighboring country of the Federation, also suggested the possible invasion of terrorist forces into the Federation.

That’s precisely the intended effect of these programs.

When the Federation wanted to achieve something significant, the first to be convinced were not Mr. President or the venerable Congress legislators, but the populace.

As long as the people did not oppose it, the achievement was basically halfway through.

The relentless reports gave Federation people a clear understanding of the chaos in Mariluo, combined with some footage and textual records on the border, the madness of Mariluo smugglers was also depicted.

The attitude of Federation people towards Mariluo quickly shifted from curiosity to vigilance and even resentment.

With the people’s backing, whatever actions followed, even if exposed, wouldn’t trigger public resentment.

During July, a crucial period for both the Federation and Mariluo, another major event occurred.

Peng Jieao’s sudden enlistment and preparations for a new round of war led the Allies of the World Development Committee to suspect him of possessing a "warfare process deciding" strategic weapon.

Consequently, both the Federation and Gafura, entrenched in internal conflict, along with other minor member states, intensified infiltration and espionage activities on Peng Jieao.

Peng Jieao also began purging potential spies within the country, and due to societal differences, a significant number of deep-cover agents were apprehended by the Peng Jieao people.

These individuals didn’t even have the opportunity to confess before being executed!

However, some managed to achieve unprecedented progress in their espionage work!

Koskao was one such deep-cover agent, having lived in Peng Jieao for over thirty years and currently posing as a university math teacher, a professor.

In those deep-cover years, he never contacted any handler, nor did anyone ever contact him, as if abandoned by the nation and organization.

He didn’t change his current life proactively but worked diligently, just as if he really were a Peng Jieao person, working earnestly and steadily.

He gradually transitioned from a regular school teacher to an Empire National University faculty member—throughout his teaching career, he attained advanced qualifications through learning and had sufficient competence to tutor university students.

If nothing unexpected happens, he might continue to stay undercover until he spends the rest of his life in Peng Jieao, or gets exposed.

Sometimes once a decision is made, there’s no way back.

He wasn’t used in the last war, but this time, he can play a role.

Because he was a university math teacher, or one could say a professor of mathematics, he participated in a secret project.

At first, he thought it was just an ordinary secret project, like calculating data for certain structures, but this time, he noticed something unusual.

The first peculiarity was the large number of participants; the second was the involvement of many shipyard personnel, and later even more from military enterprises, making him vaguely aware that he might have access to some core secret of Peng Jieao.

He performed better than before to highlight his position and value, finally becoming one of the project group members, and ultimately discovering the true nature of the project—the Sea Fortress Plan!

Yes, the Sea Fortress Plan, doesn’t this plan sound familiar?

Of course, it’s familiar. This plan was used by the Gafura people to deceive the Federation people, inventing a kind of special vessel that could move on the sea and provide aircraft take-offs and landings, leading the Federation people in a mistaken research direction.

But the Federation people weren’t fools; they didn’t fall for it. Instead, it led to Lynch’s Island Chain Plan.

At the time, these things were quite significant news, whether for the Gafura people or the Federation people, claiming this new type of warship would change the shape of naval warfare.

Especially the role bombers could play in actual combat, which showed many military experts a highly effective way to counter the Gafura invincible fleet.

The publicity was intense, but neither side truly invested substantial financial resources or focus into this endeavor.

Not exaggerating to say, they only set up the project, but it didn’t progress further.

However, these news reports became difficult for Peng Jieao, who had always been weak in naval battles, to discern the authenticity. After losing many spies, they obtained the first design draft from Gafura.

The reason it was a draft was because it contained a lot of uncertain descriptions, and with Peng Jieao’s domestic advancements in bomber technology, the Emperor of Peng Jieao approved and secretly set up the project.

Even the name of the Sea Fortress Plan wasn’t changed!

They assembled domestic and allied renowned scientists, conducting repeated verifications in groups, ultimately finding a feasible design solution.

It was a type of trimaran, supported by three hulls forming a large platform unit, capable of detaching and recombining through some mechanics anywhere, anytime.

It possessed neither defensive nor offensive capabilities; its sole value was to provide a stable runway for aircraft on the sea.

This sea fortress could simultaneously accommodate 180 specially designed light bombers or 75 heavy bombers, and large-scale production had already commenced.

Because it didn’t require intricate and complex fire control systems or advanced military equipment, its production was actually much simpler than that of warships.

In two years, it is estimated that at least twelve complete trimarans could be delivered at once; in other words, once war erupted, these trimarans would be able to simultaneously support the operations of thousands of bombers!

This was a force to be reckoned with!

The Emperor of Peng Jieao knew that once the opportunity was seized, it should not be easily relinquished. Without waiting, he directly decided to launch a war as soon as these trimaran deliveries were made, sending the entire nation into a state of terrifying frenzy.

This was the feeling of the individual undercover!

Clearly, war should bring about the terrifying shadow of destruction, yet for Peng Jieao, from the homeless by the road to the empire’s high officials, they seemed to be anticipating war!

This was a strange, efficient, yet frightening country!

At night, after all the day’s work was over.

The professor and others began to undergo checks; they worked in a designated place, not allowed to take anything away, not even a scrap of paper.

They took off their work clothes, wearing only underwear, the men and women undergoing final checks in separate rooms, afterward, the professor dressed in his own clothes.

No one felt offended. Instead, they exuded a fanatic sense of honor, seemingly feeling it was glorious to be part of such a project.

Even though he had lived here for over thirty years, the professor couldn’t get accustomed to such a life, but he had long since learned how to blend into such an atmosphere.

After leaving the research facility, soldiers escorted him back to his home, then stood guard outside because he needed to verify some other data tomorrow, and he believed that Peng Jieao’s secret projects were definitely more than what he knew.

The question now was how to deliver the intelligence without alerting others.

As soon as he walked into the house, his daughter and wife were already standing by the door to greet him. His expression... was somewhat complex.