The Dictator

Earth.

On this day, the world continued as usual. Billions of people lived and died as usual, some were rich and some were poor, some were exploiting and some were being exploited. Some were confused, some were clear-headed but powerless, some were struggling and some were submitting.

It has remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Ordinary people are so pathetic that they know nothing of the truth of the world and are powerless over their own destiny. But whether they are living a life of debauchery, struggling to make a living, or born into wealth and comfort, almost no one knows that something happened on this ordinary day.

Today marks the first time in human history that a superhuman has used extraordinary power—powerful enough to overturn the current scientific system—to threaten a nuclear superpower that possesses ultimate destructive power and controls the world order.

After the Kang De embassy in Comora issued a military threat to the leaders of the Fifth Republic of Fr*nce through its communications channels, the global military superpower immediately activated its war machine.

Radar, satellites, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, missiles, armor... the entire national defense is on high alert.

The unknown is the most terrifying thing.

The France are on edge to an unbelievable degree.

It's important to understand that the defenders often suffer greatly before the hidden attackers fire the first shot.

The second time, they encountered an enemy whose attack would come from an unknown location.

This was the second time they encountered an enemy employing novel tactics never before seen in history.

These two kinds of thrills combined are enough to remind the France of the dreamlike performances of seventy or eighty years ago.

Especially in recent years, the trend of criticizing France has become prevalent. With the help of its old rival United Kingdom and the United States, which holds the power of discourse, this trend has spread all over the world, to the point that even the France themselves are becoming neurotic.

--Especially since it was a Germany, it was a China person this time!

The intense sense of shame and crisis made Fr*nce extremely excited, as if they had been injected with chicken blood. A secret cabinet meeting was immediately convened. After more than an hour of arguing, discussing, roaring, and shouting, under the persuasion and pressure from China, Russia, Britain, and the United States, France Fr*nce declared that they could not sit idly by and wait for their doom!

It's important to understand that the defenders often suffer greatly before the hidden attackers fire the first shot.

This is a profound lesson that Fr*nce learned from his shameful past.

There is only one way to deal with it.

Fire first.

A series of orders were issued, along with tense and fierce international exchanges. The company expressed its position firmly, proposed solutions tactfully, gained the recognition and cooperation of Britain and the United States, secured Russia's neutrality, and won China's acquiescence. At the same time, actions were taken at the negotiating table.

The president condescended to speak personally with the King of Comora.

"If this continues, there will be no winners."

He earnestly told Chakat II, "Kang De has lost control; his extraordinary power has inflated his ego. But he is not the only one, nor even the most special. You know, the world is changing, and we are striving to maintain the balance and preserve the hard-won peace... We must not allow this peace to be destroyed by a madman."

The president's expression was sincere and earnest, as if he were addressing the entire nation, his eyes revealing compassion, responsibility, a longing for peace, and anger at evil.

The king's expression remained blank.

He said slowly, "Mr. President, when I went to study in the West, my major was your history, the history of all the countries in the world—those that perished, those that survived, those that were powerful, those that were weak, those that declined, those that revived... I tried to understand the reasons why every country and every Civilization was powerful or weak, and the root causes of their demise, so that I could learn lessons from them and see the future of my country."

"In the rise and fall of these Civilization, war is an ever-present shadow. I also understand war. For example, the wars waged by you Western gentlemen are usually accompanied by a great and sincere vision: for the happiness of the people, for the future of the nation, for justice, and for righteousness."

Chakat I smiled faintly at the Fr*nce ruler, "It seems it will be the same this time."

The president's face darkened.

While it's true that nations are equal, and there's no hierarchy among heads of state, that's just empty talk to fool children. If nations were truly equal, what would be the point of nuclear weapons and aircraft carriers?

In front of television and international media, he can have cordial conversations and friendly embraces with the head of any Africa country, whether the other party is a bloodthirsty dictator or a disobedient elected leader. But this does not mean that he must maintain a humble attitude in closed-door talks.

His expression turned serious, and he leaned forward slightly.

"You are a wise man, Your Majesty, and you should know what is to come. No sovereign nation will accept threats and provocations from any individual or organization. For the sake of national dignity and interests, we will retaliate with all our might, regardless of the consequences or the means."

The king's smile still carried a mocking tone.

"Don't think this is empty talk. I can tell you clearly that Kang De's words and actions are not only intolerable to us, but also to the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, and even China!"

He said coldly, "This world is changing. Strange things are happening all the time, and people are gaining amazing abilities. Scenes from comics are unfolding. But we won't be as foolish as the governments in those stories. Nations are forged with honor, sweat, and blood, and will never succumb to the force and evil magic of mutants. Kang De's threat will not succeed because no nation will allow it!"

"We will not allow a superhuman to threaten a nation through acts of terrorism."

We can't let him succeed.

"We can't let him set this precedent; we can't let him become a successful example."

The president's tone even carried a hint of ferocity. "You know what I'm saying. You are also a king, the ruler of the country... You also know what taboo Kang De is violating."

Chakat II's expression changed almost imperceptibly.

"Think about what will happen. He may achieve short-term success, but the greater the destruction and deterrence he causes, the less likely we are to allow him to succeed. Missiles, even nuclear weapons, and our super-powered forces, and even the super-powered forces of other countries—he is at odds with the world, Your Majesty. At that time, not only him, but his family and friends will be within the scope of our retaliation and repercussions."

"He cannot protect himself, nor can he protect his family and friends, much less your country."

"The final outcome was that the world was thrown into chaos, the secrets of the superpowered were exposed, there were heavy casualties, countless people lost their homes and loved ones, and the world was left with eternal scars... all because of his mania and rage, thinking we would submit, thinking we would submit to his threats."

"But no, he underestimated us, and he underestimated the way of thinking at the national level."

"If he takes action, then there will be no winners."

The president softened his tone, looking at the king on the screen, his voice returning to sincerity. "Therefore, Your Majesty, in the name of President Fr*nce, and in the name of a father, I implore you to cooperate with us, to join us in stopping Kang De, to stop this disaster that can certainly be avoided."

"This is for the good of everyone, for Kang De, for his family and friends, and for you, for your country, for the more than 800,000 innocent civilians in Comora, and for the innocent people of Fr*nce and the world—white people, black people, Asian people, the elderly, children, women, everyone..."

He repeated, "We must stop Kang De, stop what is about to happen."

The king suddenly gave a cold laugh.

He said, "It was Big Bob who wanted to harm him and his family, it was Big Bob who harmed my people, it was Big Bob who colluded with you, and now you want me to stop Kang De, to stop him from taking action against you... So, stopping him means letting him obediently wait to die?"

"Big Bob is a terrorist. We will not agree to his demands, much less force Kang De to do anything," the president said solemnly. "I don't know what misunderstanding he has about this, but I can promise that no one can harm him. We are here to protect, not harm. We have already had the strongest negotiations with Big Bob, and he has promised to abandon that condition and will not cause Kang De any further trouble..."

"Everything is negotiable; enemies can become friends. Kang De didn't need to make things this way; it benefits no one."

The president said sincerely, "Let's do it for Kang De's sake, Your Majesty. Aren't you friends?"

The king was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "I don't know where Kang De went."

A hint of joy flashed in the president's eyes.

He nodded and said, "Yes, we don't know where he went, which is the most troublesome thing. But we are not helpless. We just need you to do a little... action."

What operation?

"Based on my advisors' deductions, to stop Kang De's sabotage, we must make him wary. Only when he is deterred by fear will there be room for further negotiations."

The president paused here, apologetic, and said, "This may be difficult for you, but it's the only way we can do it, Your Majesty. Kang De's father, I think that now, only a father can stop his impulsive son from acting and calm him down."

The King hesitated slightly. "This... I must discuss this with Kang Jinzhu. Only after obtaining his consent will I allow you to speak with him on the phone. Whether he will call to stop Kang De when he appears is up to him. This is all I can do."

The president's smile remained apologetic, "No, Your Majesty, you've misunderstood something. You know, a son going through a rebellious phase can't be calmed down by a father's long-distance phone call alone; only a father's presence in person can bring him to his senses..."

Beneath the smile, a chilling glint appeared.

"Therefore, what we hope for is that you hand over Kang De's father to us."

The king's gaze froze for a moment, then he abruptly stood up.

He said firmly, "That's absolutely impossible!"

"Calm down, calm down, Your Majesty, please calm down. We have no ill intentions. In fact, no one cares more about his father's safety than we do. Would we harm his father? What we fear is Kang De losing control. We want him to calm down and have a proper talk. How could we possibly do anything to his father?"

The president advised, "Please consider what I said before. Think about it; this is just a necessary price, a bit of risk, a bit of responsibility. And the reward is peace, precious peace, the continuation of countless people's happy lives, no one will be hurt, war will not break out, secrets will not be revealed, and everyone will be fine."

That politician-like sincerity was always on his face.

"Of course, we will never fail to appreciate your commitment and courage. The permanent members of the Security Council will appreciate your efforts, Kang De will understand your good intentions. We will reward you and your country handsomely, whether in a personal way or in a way that benefits the entire nation. Please do not doubt our capabilities and sincerity."

"Huge interest-free loans, direct economic aid, attracting investment, development, construction— Comora has only over 800,000 people and a few thousand square kilometers. We can even forcibly create a prosperous land, allowing your citizens to live like Europe... We will do it, and we can even sign an agreement now. Trust us, compared to the potential damage that Kang De could cause, this price is insignificant."

"And Big Bob, we guarantee Big Bob won't advance an inch into the Comora. All the missing people are safe, people will be released, and secrets will remain secrets forever."

The president's expression was friendly and sincere; he even extended his hand. "Please agree, Your Majesty. This is the mission and responsibility of those in power. We should be responsible for world peace and the happiness of our people."

The king remained silent, expressionless.

The president's smile showed not a trace of impatience.

"If you're still worried," he said, "You can go to the China ambassador and have China vouch for you, what do you think? My China friends are also very troubled by Kang De's unauthorized actions, and they also hope to control the situation and prevent it from escalating to an irreparable point... In this matter, everyone's position and demands are the same, even his parents and relatives."

The president patiently advised, "You could even talk to his father first."

The king slowly sat back in his chair, remaining silent.

The president waited for about five minutes, then grew impatient.

"Trust me," he said sincerely, "This is for everyone's good."

These words caused the king's eyes to flicker slightly.

He lowered his head and said, "Yes, I think everyone shares the same attitude towards this matter: to prevent the situation from escalating, to stop Kang De. Not only you, but even his homeland doesn't want him to fight you to the death, let alone his parents."

His parents would never want their son to do something so dangerous.

"I know Kang Jinzhu."

"If you just tell him about this, he will definitely agree to cooperate with you without hesitation..."

"You're right, the whole world wants to stop him."

A look of delight appeared on the president's face.

But the professionals in the Fr*nce government, watching the king through other screens, all inwardly cried out in alarm. Knowing the nuances of micro-expressions, they recognized this as a sign of rejection.

Sure enough, the king raised his head and smiled faintly, "I imagine how lonely and heartbreaking it must have been for Kang De, upon arriving in Fr*nce, to find the whole world on his side..."

His expression turned solemn.

"Therefore, Comora will be on his side."

The president's expression changed from joy to astonishment.

He was even somewhat exasperated. "Didn't you hear what I said? Do you know what he's going to do? Do you know what the consequences of his actions will be?"

"I know all that, Mr. President, but I do know that before you said those words, he told me before he left, 'Trust me,' and since I promised, I must keep my word."

At this point, a smile appeared on the king's face.

Meeting Kang De must be the best thing that has happened to me recently.

"Because I'm sure he knows what he's going to do, I know he has his reasons and purposes, I know he's my chief, he's my friend, he saved us during the darkest and most dangerous time in this country, I believe in him, I believe he's so kind that he wouldn't put innocent people in the flames of war, much less put the people of Comora in danger."

The king said calmly, "Ultimately, it is the more than 800,000 people of this country who are the reason he drew his sword against Big Bob and went to find you... How can we betray him?"

The president slammed his fist on the table, slowly stood up, and stared at the leader of one of the world's five strongest nations, a global military superpower with Africa weapons and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, issuing a low and menacing threat.

He said, "Do you know what this decision means? By siding with Kang De, you mean that the Fr*nce will also be unleashed upon your poor country, and you will become our enemy."

The king raised an eyebrow and said indifferently, "What an honor. I thought you considered us nothing more than a bunch of insignificant ants, not even worth a second glance."

The president said coldly, "You know we will respond quickly. Without your commitment, we can't even restrain Big Bob from taking action against Comora."

Chakat II replied, "I know."

"You will face the most terrible threats and disasters."

"I see."

"What a foolish thing to do."

I don't think so.

The ruler of Fr*nce said, "Just because of a personal decision, for the sake of so-called friendship, you're making your people pay the price? Do you think they'll approve of your actions? Do you think they'll be grateful to Kang De? No, when despair and destruction come, they'll hate you and Kang De."

A look of sadness flashed in the king's eyes.

He nodded. "I knew they would. I knew that in the face of death, gratitude meant nothing. I knew they would forget kindness, and even turn their backs on me. How grateful they were to Kang De and me before, they would now curse and hate me. But it's not their fault. They are too weak, only able to struggle to survive, unable to control their own destiny. How can people who can't even get enough to eat talk about gratitude and honor?"

Chakat II took a deep breath and said slowly, "But as a king, I know right from wrong, so I gave the order. This is the duty of a king: to see the bigger picture for his short-sighted subjects."

"I know what the price will be, but... ingratitude, greed, laziness, shortsightedness, baseness, filth, ignorance, backwardness, and utter lack of dignity—are the Comora People destined to live like this forever!?"

His eyes widened suddenly, and he shouted, "No! King Chakat II of Comora has decided that the entire nation should fight alongside the friends of Comora to the very end..."

"--If necessary, all of them can be sacrificed for this!"

The president of Fr*nce was even surprised for a moment when he heard this.

He may never have realized that beautiful French spoken by a Black man could be so powerful.

The president realized that things were beyond repair, nodded slightly, and the Department of Defense and the Secretary General of the Presidential Palace had already left. Fr*nce would not place his hopes on a black king.

If this path proves impassable, an alternative plan can be implemented immediately.

They were unable to persuade Kang Jinzhu to step forward.

Then let's kidnap him again.

Fr*nce also has people like Kang De... or even more powerful than Kang De, because they are a secret weapon cultivated and created by a country's top team and the richest resources.

The best customized training programs, the best combat instruction, advice from top experts, equipment support from the national defense industry, the best team and logistical support, and long-term rigorous training.

--Kang De, on the other hand, was merely someone who rose from humble beginnings by chance, only possessing slightly more complex and powerful abilities... But battles are not simply a matter of comparing abilities!

There's also the contest of experience, willpower, equipment, training, and many other factors.

How can Kang De be compared to the elites of the Fr*nce!?

Now, they can set off.

Negotiations failed, and communications were about to be cut off, but the president stopped his secretary from doing so.

He still had some questions in his mind... and feelings he couldn't quite put into words.

The king's decision puzzled him.

Why don't you surrender?

He said slowly, "You must be crazy."

"No, I feel only pride."

A slight smile appeared on the king's lips, "At the ceremony where Kang De was conferred his title, he said he would be proud of the decision made that day. My answer is, no."

"Because of my decision today, I will be proud of it for the rest of my life, and even kings will admire it—for after hundreds of years of being conquered by you, the Comora have finally chosen to stand up and refuse."

The president said coldly, "Even if the price is destruction? Not only you, but also the suffering of your people. King, you have betrayed your people. Your responsibility is to bring them a better life, not..."

"See, that's the biggest difference between me and you."

"--Mr. President, you are nothing but a dog wagging its tail for votes and interest groups, a smooth talker who keeps company with lies, who can be obsequious, kneel, compromise, and surrender, all for an expensive bone, yet you are a glorious and righteous elected leader."

The King of Comora smiled broadly at the screen.

Eight bright, gleaming teeth.

He pointed to himself, his expression sincere and earnest. "And someone like me, according to your definitions and perspectives, is called an evil dictator—I'm sorry, dictators can do whatever they want, but I think you'll never understand that level of power."

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: 6,000 words.

PS2: Ugh, the more I write, the more I want to kill him...