Chapter 132: Impact Countdown, System Failure!

Shuang Ge's impassioned, righteous speech, broadcast through countless cameras, spread across the world.

However, to the citizens of Yanhuang Guo, this "good news" was like dousing a red‑hot iron plate with a bucket of cold water, instantly raising a cloud of steam and a sizzling fury!

Online, the previously overwhelming public opinion of "definitely not rescuing" erupted, after a brief shock, in an even more ferocious manner!

"What did I hear? Our officials decided to rescue them? On what grounds!!"

"Are they crazy? Truly crazy! Our ancestors are watching! How can this be justified to those dead wronged souls!"

"I can't accept it! I really can't accept it! Just a moment ago we were kneeling and cheering for Xiao Quan, and in an instant we become the saints ourselves?"

What the hell is this operation? I don't get it, but I'm deeply shocked!

"Heart‑breaking! So heart‑breaking! A petition from over a billion people just ignored? Is our public opinion that worthless?"

Countless people flooded the official account of the Foreign Ministry spokesperson's office, expressing their disappointment and anger with the fiercest language.

The likes and comments in the discussion area surged at an unprecedented speed, each one questioning this decision.

"Forgetting national shame is the greatest betrayal!"

"To bear the so‑called great‑nation responsibility, we must rescue an unrepentant enemy? I'd rather not take that burden!"

"Whoever made the decision, go rescue! Don't use our taxpayers' money, don't waste our soldiers' blood and sweat, to nurture a white‑eyed wolf!"

…

The anger spread like a virus, and many even declared that if the authorities persisted, they would stop following any official media as a protest.

Of course, amid the boiling fury, there were some relatively calm voices trying to interpret the matter from another angle.

A fairly well‑known online analyst blogger, under immense pressure, published a lengthy analysis:

【Everyone, please stay calm! The officials' decision may seem to go against public opinion, but it is actually a brilliant move! We must understand that Yanhuang Guo now stands at the center of the world stage.】

Every action we take reflects an attitude. Ying Jiang just staged a massive betrayal, and if we now choose to stand by, then in the eyes of other nations,

we would be no different from Ying Jiang, both labeled cold‑blooded and selfish.】

【We previously shouted "Human Destiny Community", and now is the time to prove the weight of that phrase with action!】

【Rescuing is to show the world our benevolence and righteousness, to seize the moral high ground! This move serves our longer‑term international strategic layout! Please trust the wisdom of the leadership!】

Although many people dismissed this analysis as "moderate" or "ground‑washing dog",

it did calm a small fraction, prompting them to contemplate the deeper meaning.

Regardless of the online debates, anger, or analysis, after Yanhuang Guo's officials announced the rescue, they fell into a strange silence, offering no further response to domestic public opinion.

This silence let time slip second by second in a scorching, oppressive atmosphere.

Soon, the final day of the meteor impact arrived.

On that day, the world seemed to halt.

Billions of people, wherever they were, followed the unprecedented global live broadcast via TV, internet, and phones.

On the screen, the meteor codenamed "Divine Punishment" was no longer a distant speck of light.

It was about 16,800 kilometers from the Blue Planet.

From the impact point—the Island Nation—only ten minutes remained. The countdown began.

The camera switched to the Island Nation.

The city was empty, with gale‑force wind swirling newspapers and trash through the streets.

Countless citizens gathered in shelters or at home, hands clasped, offering a final prayer toward the icon on the screen representing Yanhuang Guo's laser weapon array.

Xiao Quan and his cabinet members sat solemnly in the Command Center, staring intently at the massive countdown on the screen.

"Ten minutes left…"

A technician's voice trembled, breaking the dead silence.

Everyone's hearts rose to their throats.

Hope is right before them! They will be saved any moment now!

However, during the globally watched final ten minutes, an unexpected scene suddenly cut into the live feed.

It was the familiar press‑conference setting.

It was the familiar figure—Shuang Ge.

Only this time, his face no longer bore the previous fervor and confidence; instead, it wore an indescribably painful, weighty expression,

his eyes filled with deep "regret" and "powerlessness".

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply sorry. Here, I must inform the whole world, especially the people of the Island Nation awaiting rescue, of an extremely unfortunate news."

"Just now, our space‑based laser satellite array suffered a serious technical problem for unknown reasons."

Shuang Ge inhaled deeply, as if using every ounce of his strength, before uttering the death‑sentence words.

"Its core charging system suffered a fatal, unforeseeable severe malfunction. Our engineers are exhausting all efforts to conduct remote emergency repairs, but…"

He paused; that brief silence made the entire world hold its breath.

"But time… I'm afraid it's not enough."

"We deeply apologize. We have already done our utmost."

Finally, he looked at the camera and said, word for word, clearly:

"Island Nation citizens… please make final evacuation preparations."

Shuang Ge's declaration, full of "regret" and "powerlessness", was like God's hand pressing the world's mute button.

In the global broadcast, only his face, etched with "deep sorrow", remained.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Across the world, billions following the event collectively experienced a mental crash.

Technical failure?

Core charging system suffered a fatal, unforeseeable severe malfunction?

Time... it's too late?

How... how could this be?!

This is Yanhuang Guo!

It's that Yanhuang Guo which just displayed unparalleled space technology to the whole world, creating countless miracles!

Their laser satellite, how could it fail at this most crucial moment?!

Coincidence?

Accident?

Countless question marks, like a tsunami, instantly flooded everyone's minds.

Yingjiang Guo, Presidential Office.

President Wil's cigar fell onto the expensive carpet, yet he was completely unaware.

He had his mouth open, the expression of 'everything under control' on his face froze completely, replaced by utter bewilderment and incomprehension.

"No... not right..."

He muttered, "This doesn't make sense! This is absolutely not their style! Inside... inside there must be a ghost!"

Polar Bear Country, Presidential Palace.

That iron-fisted emperor stared at the screen, remained silent for a long time, then the corners of his mouth curled into an extremely cold arc.

He said nothing, merely refilled his own glass of vodka to the brim, then drank it all in one gulp.

……

And in Yanhuang Guo.

The surging anger that had built up due to the official decision to rescue also strangely subsided at this moment.

Online, those angry questions and fierce curses all came to a halt.

Dead silence.

A deathly silence before the storm.