Chapter 338 - 313: Internationalism

The trial ended, but Frank did not look happy—

"Billy... he was my brother."

Billy Russell, Frank’s best brother since joining the armed forces, was an orphan, and so Frank treated him almost like his own child.

The taste of betrayal by a loved one is bitter.

It’s not that Frank hadn’t tried to find Billy to testify in court.

"I looked for him, but he said there was a lot of business at the company and for the company’s sake, he couldn’t afford to openly conflict with the CIA, NSA, and the damn Mei Country military, damn it!"

Frank cursed softly, and Lille just patted his back, "Although it’s costly, it helped you see someone’s true colors."

"Maybe..."

"No maybes." Lille interrupted Frank’s wishful thinking, "Maybe he couldn’t bear to betray you directly this time, but think about it—he started a company and got involved with those inhumane people."

Now, he has to leave this country he’s strived in for so many years and watch his assets and efforts go down the drain...

Don’t harbor any illusions. He will only hate you more, regretting he didn’t personally take you and your family down."

Frank walked out of the building beside Lille. Beneath the stairs, there was a crowd waiting to celebrate this victory—media, officials, and even military officers.

The joy of victory and the sorrow of betrayal washed over him. Seeing these people congratulating him, his feelings grew complicated...

How many among them truly believed in this so-called "judicial victory"?

"Don’t overthink." Lille told him, "Regardless, we won, and all that’s left is to embrace your true family and friends, and then tell the world who you are and how you wish the world to be.

Rest for a couple of days, as there will be much more to do afterward."

Frank followed behind Lille, reflecting on his words, unconcerned with what his boss and those people were discussing.

When he looked up again, he had already walked down the steps and stood before his family.

His two children clung to his legs, looking up at him expectantly.

Frank smiled, the gloom cleared from his mind, and he easily hoisted both children onto his shoulders.

Then he looked up, seeing beyond the security line, a crowd holding banners, cheering and supporting him...

Some of them were even in military uniforms, and he even recognized some acquaintances!

Only, many of his acquaintances were using crutches, wearing medical masks, or even missing an arm...

Those who returned to the country with good luck and enough merits could enter sanatoriums, but most would only receive a pension.

Faced with a penniless life, many chose to numb themselves until they spent it all, living in disarray.

If Lille hadn’t stepped into this situation, would he be living that life too?

This scene made him pause, and Lille’s previous words echoed in his mind again.

Before 38, he truly only joined the military for his family—it was merely a job for him.

Working to support his family, he enlisted because he was good at fighting. Who he killed and what he did didn’t concern him.

But from today on, he suddenly realized... all these things mattered.

Previously, he scoffed at the so-called laws and order, but not anymore; he genuinely felt something indescribable and abstract.

The reporters waiting outside the courthouse captured this moment perfectly:

Frank carried his two children on his shoulders, beside his wife, looking at the old soldiers and demonstrators supporting him, with politicians and military officers all around.

This would make a great headline photo.

...

At International Genetic Cooperation Ltd., Lille convened a meeting.

This meeting would determine the company’s future focus.

Venturing into atomic energy was the next sector Lille’s small team planned to conquer, and this was no secret.

However, nuclear research required multiple approvals. Dr. Otto had some bad news:

"Lille, the Nuclear Energy Commission said they need to hold a seminar on our application. As for the end time..."

Lille decisively put down the documents, "Don’t even think about it. They’re not fools; they just plainly don’t want us to do this."

Politicians are not fools most of the time, but when they act like fools, there’s always a reason, usually a solid benefit involved.

Dr. Otto was perplexed, "Why? We have the qualifications and capability. I publish more papers in a year than their entire commission does in a lifetime, and they’re more substantial..."

"They’ve been bought off," Lille shrugged.

Hammond immediately understood what was going on, "Those oil tycoons! They don’t want us to get involved. Even if it involves nuclear power plants, they want to manage it themselves!"

Everyone present quickly grasped the implication.

What’s the greatest obstacle to developing new energy sources? Is it only the technology?

Human beings are not a network of robots with a unified mindset.

The biggest obstacle to new technologies is often the old monopolies; they would probably cry themselves to death if nuclear power replaced the energy attributes of oil.

This also fully confirmed Lille’s speculation.

From the fuel found in the Vulture Battle Suit and Death Warrior’s specialty bullets, it’s likely that it was fossil energy, which almost verifies Lille’s previous conjecture—

Hydra’s extremely wealthy supplier is almost certainly the Rocksen Oil Company.

In the entire Marvel Universe, no other company related to this kind of energy can be found.

Speaking of wealth, in most Marvel stories, this company is background-level, not overtly flashy with wealth like Iron Man or the nouveau riche vibe of Wakanda with its Vibranium.

This company is unreasonably wealthy, given that even Stark Industries has gone bankrupt before, but it hasn’t.

Moreover, it isn’t just a "villain company," without any ideas of avenging society or unspeakable tragedies...

Its goal has always been to monopolize global energy in any way possible and to maximize profits.

It can be said that unless a major event in the comics reaches a point of total collapse, this company will always exist.

After numerous confrontations, Lille now is the rising star of hope, but still on the rise; Rocksen, although not overtly, has had a tremendous influence on the world situation, not to mention their infiltration into Mei Country.

As a company aspiring to monopolize energy, it is only qualified if it closely watches all technologies and industries that might become new sources of energy.

After monopolizing energy, it’s all other avenues; this time it’s nuclear energy, who knows what it will be next.

Parker raised his hand and said, "But what about the antitrust laws..."

"Was there no human activity before the Hammurabi Code was created?" Lille shook his head, from the current situation, antitrust has already completely failed.

"An individual who breaks the law is called a criminal, a group of people is called a crime gang, but if you can sway the entire society, then it’s different, they are the legislative committee."

Martin finally spoke, "And your solution is to go to Africa, not striving for a legal victory this time?"

"Yes," Lille nodded, "Change strategy."

It is impossible to gauge how far Rocksen has gone; plunging headfirst into this pitch-dark field is simply suicidal.

Energy monopolization is the foundation; through it, control the economic lifeline, and through controlling the economic lifeline, exert control over Mei Country, thereby exporting a monopoly order using the world’s most powerful nation.

Following this logic, in places without oil, where interests are less, their control exerted will correspondingly weaken—

The industries of the European Union are definitely in Rocksen’s grip; they might not want to be restrained, but the situation is stronger than the people, so it’s not possible to directly go to Europe.

Then eliminating the heavily disputed Middle East, the cramped Oceania, the unclear situation in Russia, the only choice left is Africa.

Although it is significantly underdeveloped there, the advantage is that it indeed has more freedom.

For the locals, these relatively weaker controls are still insurmountable peaks, but it would be different if Lille brought in high technology.

While Rocksen vigilantly watches Middle East oil, he will start a new front.

Everyone mulled over Lille’s words.

When Africa is mentioned, people think of endless savannas, and people in grass skirts hunting...

But that is actually the wilderness; if one speaks of danger, it should be the complex maze of urban alleys, where poor blacks hide behind cover, aiming AKs without looking at people.

"Africa... It’s much more dangerous than New York," Martin looked out the window, the area he had planned in his mind, he had always wanted in this prosperous city, to enable the poor to also become affluent.

Lille looked at Frank, "So we have our own security company."

Martin still seemed reluctant; after all, it was the city chosen by his parents, the city he had strived in for many years.

"You’re saying, we are to abandon the prosperous New York headquarters, and concentrate our resources on that fiercely fighting Africa just for food..."

So poor and backward, to leave the world’s richest places to invest resources into the world’s most barren places...

That is madness.

Lille understood Martin’s thoughts, and he also knew what others were thinking now.

Others might waver under this atmosphere and reevaluate, but Lille wouldn’t.

He knew, the person making decisions cannot doubt themselves—if even he doesn’t believe in himself, then it’s the biggest letdown to those who believe in him.

It had to be done both logically and morally; he had already convinced himself, now was the time to convince others.

Lille gently tapped the table, and everyone’s gaze turned to him.

He supported himself on the tabletop and said word by word:

"Our enemies plunder resources from wealthy lands, then leave behind ruins and debris.

We will build a magnificent city in the backward world and show the future to the world.

It is easy to physically defeat a person, but to completely prevail, you must crush his ideology.

All subsequent strategies will be readjusted. Does anyone have any questions?"

Frank was the first to raise his hand, "I do, when does my next job start?"