Chapter 186: Offended the Wrong Person

The "Wind Rising System" responded to the breakdown of cooperation with a forceful stance, announcing the launch of its technology substitution plan—a loud slap across the faces of the multinational giants and their behind-the-scenes powers who had tried to pressure it through supply cuts.

Especially when some industry experts analyzed that, given "Wind Rising"'s current technological reserves and R&D capabilities, it was highly likely to achieve self-sufficiency in key technologies within a short time—and even surpass them—a sense of awkward self-sabotage and creeping unease began to spread among certain circles.

But the arrow had left the bow; spilled water could not be retrieved. With things at this point, those powers and giants could only grit their teeth and press the suppression to the end, attempting to crush "New Era" in its cradle before it truly rose.

Beyond economic and technological blockades, more direct pressure began to emerge.

A few days later, Gao Yuan reported an emergency to Qin Feng with a grim expression.

"Leader, our construction site for 'New Era' in the South Pacific has been harassed by armed vessels of unknown identity," Gao Yuan said, his voice thick with suppressed fury. "The attackers disguised themselves as pirates, approached swiftly in speedboats, fired rocket projectiles at our construction platform, and attempted to destroy our perimeter buoy markers. Our Security Personnel issued warning shots, forcing them to retreat temporarily—but they did not leave, and continue to patrol nearby waters."

"Have you identified them?" Qin Feng's gaze turned cold. Of course—someone had finally lost patience and moved to act.

"Based on intercepted fragments of communications and subtle characteristics of their vessels, they are almost certainly a private military contractor from M Country, active in the gray zones, codenamed 'Sea Serpent.' They are well-equipped, ruthless in operations, and specialize in carrying out dirty work for nations and large conglomerates," Gao Yuan reported.

"Private military contractor?" Qin Feng's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "It seems someone thinks I, Qin Feng, am easy to bully—sending out such unsavory hyenas."

"Leader, give the order! 'Zhu Long' squad requests deployment to completely eliminate these harassers!" Gao Yuan pleaded, his battle spirit blazing. The team had been itching for real combat to test their training.

Qin Feng fell silent for a moment, but did not immediately approve.

"Sea Serpent" was merely a pawn on the surface; deeper hands must be pulling the strings. Simply wiping out these few hyenas would be treating symptoms, not the disease—and might alert the real predators.

What he wanted was a total deterrent—a deterrent that would make every hidden eye see clearly what fate awaited any hand reaching toward "New Era."

"Hold position for now," Qin Feng decided. "Raise the defense level at the construction site. Activate our deployed active sonar array and micro attack submersibles underwater. If they approach again, no warning—sink them immediately."

"Yes!" Gao Yuan obeyed, though a flicker of confusion passed through his eyes—it didn't seem like the Leader's usual sharp style.

Qin Feng saw his doubt and said calmly: "Beating the dog is satisfying. But more important is finding the dog's master—and beating the master too."

He turned and walked to the Command Center's main console, pulling up the 【Wealth Prediction】 interface.

The cursor's golden glow swept across the screen, finally locking onto a critical node intimately linked to the "Sea Serpent" PMC and its financial backers—a Cayman Islands-based offshore fund named "Abyss Investment." This fund was one of the White Gloves used by those several partners who terminated cooperation, and by certain official powers, to channel funds and direct gray operations!

Found it!

Qin Feng's eyes flashed with icy light.

"Sun Zhe." He activated the comm.

"Mr. Qin."

"Target: 'Abyss Investment.'" Qin Feng's voice was ice. "Deploy every financial tool we have. Short it. I want to see this fund… reduced to ashes within twenty-four hours."

Financial strike? Sun Zhe paused, then immediately understood: "Understood! I'll mobilize capital and contact partners immediately!"

With the terrifying capital Qin Feng now controlled, a targeted financial assault against a specific offshore fund, executed with surprise and precision, would be nearly catastrophic.

Vast sums surged into the market like bloodthirsty shark schools, launching precise, brutal strikes against "Abyss Investment's" entire portfolio, affiliated enterprises, and credit chains!

Short-selling, dumping, spreading negative rumors, cutting off liquidity—a coordinated barrage brought "Abyss Investment's" net value crashing like an avalanche!

In just twelve hours, this once-powerful fund, which had manipulated tens of billions of dollars and ruled the shadows, declared bankruptcy, became insolvent, and was forced into liquidation!

Its behind-the-scenes backers suffered devastating losses—their massive investments vanished without a trace!

This hidden blow stunned the masterminds, leaving them reeling and agonizing. They had never imagined Qin Feng's retaliation would be so swift, so unreasonable—so utterly destructive.

But Qin Feng's revenge had only just begun.

At the exact moment "Abyss Investment" collapsed.

In a heavily guarded private estate on the East Coast of M Country.

Soros Vanderbilt, the actual controller of "Abyss Investment" and one of the core architects behind the campaign against "New Era," was screaming into his phone:

"Useless! All of you are useless! All that money just gone?! Find out—who's behind this?!"

The moment he finished speaking, the heavy solid-wood door of his study silently dissolved into a cloud of wood dust.

Amid the swirling powder, two bodies clad in black suits were thrown inside, crashing heavily onto the carpet.

Soros Vanderbilt looked up in terror—and saw a figure clad in dark gold and black, streamlined battle armor, stepping slowly through the broken doorway like a demon from hell. The armor shimmered with faint energy luminescence; cold tactical goggles locked onto him.

It was Gao Yuan.

"Y-you… who are you?! How did you get in?!" Soros screamed, his soul nearly leaving his body. His estate had the world's most advanced security system—how could anyone breach it so easily?!

Gao Yuan did not answer. He advanced step by step.

"Is it Qin Feng?!" Soros seemed to understand, his voice shrill with false bravado. "Did that yellow-skinned monkey send you?! Does he know who I am?! He's declaring war on the entire Western World!"

Gao Yuan stopped three meters away. His cold voice, filtered through the helmet, spoke:

"The Leader asked me to deliver a message to you."

Soros held his breath.

Gao Yuan repeated Qin Feng's words, each syllable heavy with endless killing intent:

"Next life, learn to open your eyes."

"Some people… you cannot afford to offend."

He raised his hand, palm aimed at the ashen-faced Soros.

"No—!!!"

A pale blue energy beam flashed—and vanished.

The estate fell silent again.

Almost simultaneously that night, several other top executives or shadow instigators who had actively planned actions against "New Era"—whether in heavily guarded offices or in mistresses' beds—met with "accidents."

Sudden cardiac arrest. Spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage. Mysterious car crashes… different causes, identical outcomes.

Clean. Precise. Left no direct evidence—yet radiated naked, chilling warning.

The news spread like plague through the highest circles.

All who knew felt a bone-deep chill surge from their soles to the crown of their heads.

They finally understood: the young man far in the East, building a Sea City-State, possessed not merely wealth and technology—but a terrifying punitive power that ignored rules, crossed borders, and struck straight at the heart.

He needed no evidence. No trial.

He deemed you guilty—and you were.

Retaliation came with shocking speed and ferocity!

Suddenly, all overt and covert attacks against the New Era ceased.

The "Sea Serpent" PMC vessel that had harassed the construction site vanished as if it had never existed, silently withdrawing from the relevant waters and never reappearing.

The previously defiant official bodies of various nations also suddenly fell silent and became "rational"; protest notes concerning the New Era dropped sharply.

The major corporations that had terminated their cooperation saw their stock prices plummet; their Boards of Directors descended into chaos, secretly reaching out through every possible channel to reestablish contact with the Wind Rising System, even at great cost.

The world, as if overnight, rediscovered the meaning behind the name Qin Feng.

Inside Yunding Mansion.

Qin Feng listened to Sun Zhe's report on the outside reactions, his face expressionless.

He picked up the tea Su Wenqian had just brewed and gently blew away the steam.

"It seems the lesson has been learned."

He took a sip of tea, his tone calm, as if he had merely handled a trivial matter.

"Notify the Construction Command Department: the harassment has been cleared. Proceed at full speed according to the original plan."

"Yes, sir!"

Su Wenqian bowed in response, gazing at Qin Feng's serene profile, filled with boundless awe.

She knew that, after this battle, the rise of the New Era would face no further obstacles.

And those who had once tried to block it were surely trembling in some corner, reliving those words:

To offend someone you should never have offended comes at a price.

And that price is often… more than life can bear.