Chapter 202

A destructive tsunami, like billions of rampaging wild oxen, surged with unstoppable force and slammed into the composite breakwater surrounding the New Era—hastily built yet packed with countless efforts and cutting-edge technology!

Boom—!!!

The entire world seemed reduced to this deafening roar!

The massive impact shook the entire city-state violently, like a leaf in a storm; the pale blue energy shield flickered erratically, emitting agonized whines, and the outermost breakwater instantly warped and shattered, torn apart and swallowed by the furious waves!

Inside the Command Center, alarms shrieked as data bars representing structural integrity plummeted wildly on the screens!

Everyone held their breath, eyes locked on the live feed transmitted to the main screen, captured by the Lingxiao platform high above.

The image looked like the end of the world!

"Report! Breakwater damage in Zone A exceeds sixty percent!" "Support structures in Zone B have fractured!" "Energy shield overloaded by four hundred percent—about to collapse!"

Bad news came one after another.

The tsunami's power far exceeded even the most pessimistic estimates!

Gao Yuan clenched his fists, his nails nearly digging into his flesh; Sun Zhe turned pale; Su Wenqian shut her eyes, unable to watch any longer.

Only Qin Feng remained seated calmly before the main console, his gaze sharp as a hawk, fingers dancing across the virtual keyboard as he issued command after command:

"Activate backup power—prioritize maintaining the core zone shield!" "Abandon outer Zone B—concentrate forces to reinforce Zones C and D!" "Lingxiao, calculate the tsunami's peak impact timing—prepare to initiate counter-thrust!"

His voice was utterly calm, devoid of even a tremor, as if the apocalyptic chaos outside had nothing to do with him.

Under his command, the crumbling defense line somehow held firm against another wave of impact!

But the tsunami did not end with one wave. After the first colossal surge came an even higher, more furious second, then a third…

The New Era stood like a grievously wounded giant refusing to fall, struggling to endure the gales and towering waves. Sections of the breakwater were destroyed one after another, buildings damaged, parts of the city began flooding…

Yet, even after the main waves passed and the energy began to wane, the city—though scarred, trembling, on the verge of collapse—still floated atop the sea!

It had not shattered instantly, as the outside world had expected!

It had held! Against near-impossible odds, it had withstood the direct assault of this apocalyptic disaster!

When the tsunami's aftershocks gradually subsided and the raging waters began to recede, revealing the city's battered but still-standing silhouette…

Everyone watching the livestream—whether gleeful observers, cold bystanders, or the few who felt sympathy—fell into deathly silence.

Then came a global roar of shock and uproar!

"They… they held?! How is that possible?! That was a VEI-6 volcanic eruption-triggered tsunami!" "That city… is it a monster?!" "Qin Feng… how the hell did he do it?!"

A miracle! A true miracle!

A privately built sea city-state had withstood a natural disaster capable of destroying a small nation—and survived!

The names "New Era" and Qin Feng, propelled by this earth-shattering feat, exploded across the entire world with unprecedented force!

All prior skepticism, mockery, and denial now appeared pale and laughable before this ironclad fact.

…

After the tsunami, the New Era entered a tense phase of post-disaster assessment and repair.

Although the core structure had been preserved, losses were still catastrophic: nearly all outer defenses were destroyed, multiple buildings damaged, some research equipment and data submerged—direct economic loss amounted to a astronomical sum.

Yet every survivor's face bore not only the relief of having survived, but also… an indescribable pride!

They had made history! They had defied the wrath of heaven!

While Qin Feng was busy coordinating repairs and responding to a flood of messages and cooperation offers—each with a 180-degree shift in tone—a formal Invitation Letter arrived at his doorstep, sent directly from the highest levels of Dragon Country, its wording exceptionally courteous, even tinged with… reverence.

The invite came from a coalition of powerful departments that had previously participated in the crackdown on the Wind Rising System. The content: an invitation to Mr. Qin to attend a "non-official, small-scale"… dinner.

Looking at the gilded invitation, Qin Feng's lips curled into a wry smile.

Dinner? How familiar, Eastern wisdom.

This wasn't a meal—it was the defeated side's… peace banquet.

It seemed his defiance against the tsunami had shattered the last illusions and psychological advantages of certain people. They finally recognized a reality—Qin Feng, and the New Era he represented, had become a force they could no longer suppress by conventional means, and now needed to look up to… and compromise with.

"Sir… should we go to this dinner?" Su Wenqian asked softly, her eyes filled with concern. She feared it was a trap.

"Of course we go," Qin Feng tossed the invitation casually onto the table, his tone light. "They've laid out the red carpet—we should at least show them the courtesy of stepping down."

"But…"

"No buts," Qin Feng stood, straightening his collar, his gaze deep. "Besides, I've got a few 'dishes' I'd like to savor with them properly."

Several days later, in the Capital, at a private garden clubhouse with extremely high security, not open to the public.

Inside a room of classical elegance, yet radiating quiet luxury.

Around the round table sat several distinguished figures, often seen on news broadcasts; their expressions carried varying degrees of subtle embarrassment and… unease.

When Qin Feng entered on time, accompanied only by Gao Yuan, every pair of eyes instantly locked onto him.

No youthful arrogance. No victor's haughtiness. The Qin Feng before them was calm, his steps unhurried—as if attending an ordinary dinner. Yet the invisible aura he exuded, as if separated from the entire world by a thin film, pressed upon everyone in the room with an inexplicable weight.

"Mr. Qin, your presence honors this humble place!" A major official overseeing economic affairs rose first, beaming as he stepped forward, extending his hand warmly.

Qin Feng shook his hand lightly, his gaze sweeping the room, then smiled faintly: "Gentlemen, I apologize for keeping you waiting."

After polite greetings and seating, exquisite dishes arrived like a flowing stream.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, the atmosphere remained strangely tense. No one dared mention the past conflict, nor risk probing Qin Feng's stance.

Finally, the economic official, after careful deliberation, broke the silence:

"Mr. Qin, earlier… certain domestic departments and comrades may have developed… misunderstandings regarding the Wind Rising System. Their methods were inappropriate. Here, on their behalf, I offer you our sincere apologies."

This was, effectively, a veiled surrender and apology.

The others at the table quickly echoed their agreement, lowering their postures drastically.

Qin Feng held his wineglass, gently swirling the amber liquid within, saying nothing, merely watching them in silence.

That calm gaze made each of them feel a pang of guilt and pressure.

After a long pause, Qin Feng finally spoke slowly, his voice low but clear to every ear:

"Misunderstandings… can be resolved. Methods… can be improved."

He paused, set down his wine glass, and his gaze sharpened.

"But I hope all of you understand. I, Qin Feng, have my own rules and boundaries. 'New Era' is my city-state, not anyone's subordinate. The technology within it is my asset, not a cake anyone can covet at will."

Each of his words struck like a hammer against the hearts of those present.

"I can overlook what happened in the past. But from now on…" Qin Feng leaned forward slightly, his gaze solid as physical force, sweeping over every face now stiff with tension:

"Cooperation is welcome. Mutual benefit is the model I favor. But if anyone dares to lay hands on me or 'New Era' again…"

He did not finish his sentence, but the cold killing intent that radiated from him made the temperature in the private room seem to drop several degrees.

Beads of sweat broke out on the foreheads of those seated.

They had no doubt that if there was a next time, Qin Feng's retaliation would no longer be mere exposure—it would be… true, unbearable destruction.

"Mr. Qin, you're too modest! Too modest!" The economic magnate quickly intervened, raising his cup. "We come with the utmost sincerity, hoping to establish comprehensive, in-depth cooperation with Mr. Qin and 'New Era'—to develop together, for mutual benefit!"

"Yes! Yes! Develop together!" Others quickly raised their cups in agreement.

Watching this group of men who had just shifted from arrogance to obsequiousness, now desperate to prove their loyalty, Qin Feng felt no emotion—not even a flicker. He found it all utterly dull.

He raised his cup and lightly clinked it against theirs.

"I hope so."

This highly anticipated "banquet" ended under an atmosphere of surface harmony, while one side held absolute control.

Leaving the club, he stepped into the car.

Gao Yuan couldn't help asking: "Leader, are they… trustworthy?"

Qin Feng gazed out at the rapid-flowing night scenery of the Capital, and smiled faintly:

"Whether they're trustworthy doesn't matter. What matters is that they're afraid now."

"That's enough."

He closed his eyes.

The banquet was over. But the real struggle had only just begun.

And he already held absolute initiative.

Now, it was time for 'New Era' to truly soar.