Chapter 197: The

At this moment, three levels underground in an inconspicuous gray building in Minato Ward, Tokyo.

Six men in suits or military uniforms were sitting around a long table, their expressions growing uglier one by one.

"So, what you gentlemen are saying is—"

The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table put down the intelligence briefing in his hand, took off his glasses, and wiped them, his movements as slow as if he were polishing an antique.

"The Longguo people have not only left us far behind in the field of mechs, but now they are even about to make a breakthrough in energy technology?"

His name is Sato Kenichi, a senior counselor at the Technical Research and Development Institute of the Ministry of Defense.

Nominally a civil servant, he actually controls over one-third of the military scientific research budget of the Gappon Chicken country.

Across the table, an officer with the rank of Major General wore a gloomy face:

"According to data from our satellites and ground monitoring stations, over the past ten days, there have been unusually active electromagnetic signals from the energy laboratory of the Longyin Research Institute."

"Spectrum analysis shows... that it might be a brand-new fusion reaction signature."

"Brand-new?" Sato put his glasses back on.

"Is it even newer than the Sakura fusion reactor we are currently developing?"

"It's not even on the same level." The technical expert pushed up his glasses; he was a scholar in his fifties, already mostly bald.

"The theoretical output limit of the Sakura reactor is 1.3 times that of existing reactors, while this one from Longguo... just judging from the leaked signals, is at least 3 times higher, if not more."

A sound of gasping echoed through the conference room.

"What does the Eagle Country side say?" Sato asked.

"They are more anxious than we are." The intelligence officer pulled up an email on his tablet.

"The CIA Asia-Pacific Division sent an emergency contact yesterday, proposing a joint technical assessment."

"To put it bluntly, they want us to send people to the site to take a look."

"The site?" Sato sneered.

"The site of the Longyin Research Institute?"

"That place is now one of Longguo's highest-security military research bases."

"The perimeter is patrolled by the Dragon Cavalry Guard 24 hours a day, not to mention the interior; it is said that even a fly flying in would be identified and registered by AI."

"How are we supposed to get in?"

"We aren't going directly into the research institute." The intelligence officer zoomed in on a nautical chart.

"Intelligence sent by Eagle Country shows that the Longguo Navy plans to conduct a sea test of a new energy system in a certain area of the East Sea early next month."

"The test platform is the Type 056B frigate, the Jiujiang."

He marked a red dot on the map: "This sea area is only 12 nautical miles from the boundary of international waters."

"Theoretically, international vessels are allowed to conduct scientific observations in adjacent international waters."

Sato stared at the red dot for a full minute.

"So Eagle Country's meaning is, we provide the ship, they provide the intelligence, and we go observe Longguo's new toy?"

"They call it technical cooperation." The intelligence officer paused.

"And they promised that if we obtain valuable data, they can share some technical information from the 'Ares Project' with us."

The conference room suddenly became restless.

The "Ares Project" is Eagle Country's latest military mech project, and it is said that its performance is already approaching the level of Longguo's early "Iron Wolf" models.

If we could get that technology...

"What about the risks?" The official from the Ministry of Finance, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"If we are discovered by Longguo, we will be in a very passive position diplomatically."

"And our recent relationship with Longguo..."

He didn't finish, but everyone understood.

Ever since the defeat in the plateau conflict last time, after the Gappon Chicken country was forced to sign that humiliating treaty, the relationship between the two countries has been at freezing point.

Although there is still some trade on the surface, in the fields of military and technology, Longguo has implemented a near-total blockade against the Gappon Chicken country.

"Therefore, this operation must be completely unofficial," Sato said.

"Just disguise it as a civilian scientific research ship, and use only retired personnel or civilian contractors as crew."

"If something goes wrong, the government can completely distance itself from the situation."

"Then what if..." the Major General hesitated, "what if a conflict occurs?"

Sato was silent.

The conference room's air conditioner hummed, but the atmosphere grew increasingly stifling.

"How is the refitting of our latest Sea Mist reconnaissance ship coming along?" he suddenly asked.

The technical expert replied: "The stealth coating and electronic camouflage system upgrades have been completed; it can simulate the signals of five different types of civilian ships."

"The onboard Black Tide drone reconnaissance swarm has also finished testing—twelve vessels, each only three meters long, adopting a bionic design that looks just like large fish."

"What about the detection capabilities?"

"Each is equipped with a multispectral sensor, laser rangefinder, underwater sonar array, and..." the technical expert lowered his voice.

"A micro-sampler that can collect trace substances from seawater, air, and even the wake of ships without being detected."

Sato's fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop.

"If we send the Sea Mist, under the guise of marine environmental research, to operate at the boundary of international waters."

"Use the drone swarm for close-range reconnaissance to obtain the signature signals of Longguo's new energy system, and even... if we are lucky, collect cooling water samples."

He looked at the group: "What is the success rate?"

The technical expert calculated quickly: "The success rate for the drone swarm to approach stealthily is about 65%."

"The probability of obtaining valid data is only 40%."

"The probability of retreating unscathed... if Longguo uses conventional monitoring methods, there is still an 85% chance;"

"But if they use new technology we don't know about, then it's hard to say."

"Then it's settled." Sato made the final decision.

"The Sea Mist will depart in five days, with a mission cycle of two weeks."

"Remember, this is a completely independent 'civilian scientific research operation' and has nothing to do with the Ministry of Defense or the government."

He paused and looked at the Major General: "As for the crew, I want the best, but also those with the least connections."

"Understood." The Major General nodded.

"I will select them from retired special forces and intelligence departments, and everyone will sign a non-disclosure agreement."

"If they are captured or die, their families will receive a pension from a private foundation."

"Very good."

After the meeting ended, Sato remained in the conference room alone.

He watched the real-time view of Tokyo Bay displayed on the screen.

Cargo ships from various countries were docked in the harbor, and further out, several destroyers of the Maritime Self-Defense Force were slowly sailing out.

Those warships were once one of the most advanced maritime forces in East Asia.

But now?

Sato recalled the scene he saw when he inspected the Yokosuka base last month:

Two newly equipped "Maya"-class destroyers had been sitting at the pier, and the upgrades and refits that should have been carried out were indefinitely postponed.

The reason was that the new laser weapons recently demonstrated by Longguo had already greatly diminished the tactical value of traditional naval guns and missiles.

"We can no longer catch up."

A voice suddenly came from behind him.

Sato turned around and saw that the bald technical expert hadn't left yet.

"What did you say?"

"I said, we can't catch up to Longguo anymore." The technical expert gave a bitter smile.

"I'm not trying to deflate our own morale, but that is the fact."

"Whether it's from mechs to lasers, and now to fusion energy, Longguo is making breakthroughs at an exponential speed in every key field."

"And us?"

"We are still holding celebrations for improving the efficiency of the 'Sakura' reactor by 0.1%."

Sato was silent.

"Do you know what the most terrifying thing is?" the technical expert continued.

"It's not that their technology is advanced, but their... completely different R&D model."

"When we get a project, we first have to hold half a year of feasibility meetings, spend another year on the budget, and then go through bidding, subcontracting, and layers of review."

"But Longguo?"

"That Longyin Research Institute of theirs, it is said that from the idea to the prototype landing, the fastest record was only seventeen days."

"That's because they don't care about costs!"

"No, they care about costs, but they care even more about time." The technical expert shook his head.

"I have studied their public papers; many ideas come from the civilian sector, from those unconventional, wild paths."

"Then they are quickly verified and iterated upon by national-level teams."

"This model... we can't learn it, and we have no way to learn it."

Sato turned around and looked at the ships on the virtual screen.

"So this mission might be our last chance." he said softly.

"If we can get the core data of Longguo's new fusion technology, perhaps we can still... not be left too far behind in the next round of competition."

"But what if we can't get it?"

"Then we can only pray that Longguo won't use this technology against us." Sato said.

"After all, a warship with theoretically infinite endurance plus laser weapons that can fire infinitely... you know better than I do what that means."

The technical expert didn't continue speaking.

The two stood in silence for a while, then the technical expert turned and left.

When he reached the door, he stopped.

"Sato-san, there is something I don't know if I should say."

"Speak."

"I had a dream last night." The technical expert's voice was very light.

"I dreamed that our ship was in the East Sea, being chased by a beam of light."

"That light was white, very bright, like the sun had fallen into the sea, and then I woke up."

Sato had his back to him: "Dreams are always the opposite."

"I hope so."

The door closed gently.

Sato continued to stand in front of the screen, watching the night view of Tokyo Bay.

On the virtual screen, a cargo ship slowly sailed past, with the large Chinese characters "COSCO SHIPPING" printed on its hull.

A Longguo ship.

He closed his eyes.

Five days later.

Nagasaki Port, Pier 3.

The "Sea Mist" was already quietly docked in the night.

The ship looked like an ordinary marine research vessel, with a white hull, a blue research institute logo, and various marine sampling equipment piled on the deck.

But if you looked closely, you would find that the sizes and shapes of those "sampling equipment" were somewhat strange.

And below the waterline of the hull, there were twelve hidden hatches.

In the captain's cabin, a man in his forties with dark skin was making final checks.

His name is Ono Jiro, a former commander of the Maritime Self-Defense Force special forces, who retired three years ago due to illness.

But in reality, he is one of the best underwater combat experts in the Gappon Chicken country.

"All systems normal." The deputy reported.

"The drone swarm self-check is complete, the camouflage system is online, and our current signal signature shows as 'Kyushu University Marine Research Institute - Sea Breeze'."

"What about the crew?"

"All in place, twenty-three people, all veterans." The deputy paused.

"However, a few people are very nervous; after all, this mission..."

"Tell them this is just an ordinary marine scientific research mission." Ono said expressionlessly.

"We are collecting seawater samples and studying ocean current changes, nothing more."

"They don't need to know, and shouldn't know, anything else."

"Understood."

At 3:00 AM, the "Sea Mist" slowly sailed away from the pier and entered the pitch-black sea.

In the wheelhouse, Ono looked at the receding land outline on the radar screen and took a photo out of his pocket.

In the photo was a seven or eight-year-old girl, smiling brightly.

On the back, a line was written in pen: "Daddy, waiting for you to come back and take me to Disney."

He looked at it for a long time, then carefully put the photo away.

"Course, northwest." He gave the order.

"Speed twelve knots, maintain conventional research ship mode, arrive at the designated sea area in three days."

"Yes!"

And at the same time the "Sea Mist" set off, at the Longyin Research Institute, Chen Guang stared at the monitoring screen of the "Torch Dragon" system, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Abnormal signal source detected, bearing southeast, distance about six hundred nautical miles." He pulled up the database for comparison.

"Signal characteristics... match the 'Sea Breeze' research ship, but there is a 0.3% deviation in the electromagnetic background noise."

Wang Hao leaned over to look: "Deviation? What does that mean?"

"It means, either the ship's instruments are aging, or..." Chen Guang pushed up his glasses.

"It's not just a simple research ship."

Feng Yan walked over: "Can you be sure?"

"Need closer data." Chen Guang pulled up the nautical chart.

"The research route announced by the 'Sea Breeze' does indeed pass near our test sea area, but if its real purpose is not research..."

"I have already notified the Navy." Feng Yan said.

"Let the 'Jiujiang' be prepared to respond."

"Also, Haozi, those new toys you prepared, shouldn't they be brought out for a walk?"

Wang Hao's eyes lit up: "Brother Feng, you mean—"

"The laser defense system of the 056B frigate uses the 'Dingyue' close-in defense version improved by your group, right?" Feng Yan asked.

"With infinite energy support, how many targets can it lock onto simultaneously?"

Wang Hao grinned: "Theoretically, as long as the heat dissipation can keep up, you can aim at as many as you want."

"In actual combat... shall we try it out?"

"There will be opportunities." Feng Yan looked at the moving light spot on the screen.

"I hope they are just passing by, otherwise..."

But everyone in the conference room knew that the East Sea is so big, and yet at this critical point in time.

A research ship coming to this sea area is unlikely to be just passing by. ===== CHAPTER 198 =====