We Are Invincible

In just one day, Lin Qi miraculously united most of the Federal people.

In this society where the economy is in severe recession, people lack job opportunities, and most are barely making ends meet, someone needs to slap them in the face and make them cheer up.

Lin Qi's words had this effect: when material things cannot satisfy people's needs, satisfying their spiritual needs is also a very appropriate way. People need to shift their focus, while rulers need to shift their contradictions.

"I watched this young man's impromptu speech. Do you know what changes his words have brought about?" In the Presidential Palace office, the president's face showed a long-lost smile.

He casually fiddled with a small ornament on the table. "Military personnel have been coming to the Department of Defense since this morning, and they've also submitted some documents to me."

He pointed to some file folders on the table, "Especially the navy, they volunteered to wipe out the pirates roaming the East Ocean, and some conglomerates are even willing to pay for this operation."

Logically speaking, no matter how arrogant capitalists are, they cannot interfere with the military's actions. However, the Bayer Federation is a free country, and phenomena that would be absolutely impossible in a monarchical country are commonplace in the Bayer Federation.

There have even been cases where people have sued the president because the president uttered a swear word during a speech, which his young son then picked up and started swearing all the time. When the father tried to discipline him, the son said that it was the president who said it, and that as an ordinary father, he couldn't criticize him. So the father took the president to court.

There are only two places in the Federal where politicians at the level of president can be tried: the first is the Supreme Court, which represents the symbol of Federal justice and is presided over by at least three Chief Justice for Life; the second is in Congress, presided over by the Speaker.

The president, who was later sued, apologized to the Federal people on camera and promised never to use profanity again—"I will never fucking swear again, I swear!"

Although such assurances are actually useless, some people find him to be very individualistic and genuine because of his use of profanity, and therefore like him.

This might be the epitome of a successful persona, but ordinary people don't know or care about it.

If this had happened in a monarchical country, not only would the father have been executed, but his entire family would likely have been hanged in the square as a reminder to the common people that the monarch's authority was not to be challenged.

This is also the biggest difference between monarchical states and the Bayer Federation. They use oppressive regimes and reigns of terror to force people to respect them, but in the Federal, the rulers simply throw money on the ground, and people naturally bow down.

Some financial groups seemed to be attacked by pirates overnight, as they transferred money to a military-designated account through the legitimate means of "funding Military Expenditure".

As long as the navy operates, whether it succeeds or fails, this money will eventually be transferred to the navy's Military Expenditure account. This is the most typical example of the military and civilians sharing the benefits in the Bayer Federation.

The president did not show any negative expression when he said these words; he just found it interesting. "The Minister of Defense also came to consult me personally on how to deal with provocations from foreign powers. It seems that they have reached a consensus."

Truman keenly noticed the president's somewhat pleased expression when he mentioned the word "Minister of Defense." "His attitude?"

"Attitude?" The president looked up at Truman and quickly realized, "Oh yes, his attitude is excellent. He speaks like a docile lamb. Perhaps I've found the key!"

He said with some emotion, "You were right, Truman, I should have listened to you sooner!"

The president's biggest problem right now is that the military is not pandering to him, but rather to a more extreme and radical candidate, who is also the Progressive Party's primary candidate.

In the words of the Committee Chairman, this candidate was only there to highlight the president and help him win the election, but in reality, this kind of backstabbing by a runner-up has happened more than once.

Some politicians who claim they won't stand until the end have managed to bring down one opponent after another without anyone noticing, and have reluctantly accepted the people's choice. This time will surely be the same.

The military liked his aggressive attitude and his talk of expanding the military and upgrading all military equipment. Arms dealers and conglomerates within the Federal also liked it, as it meant countless orders that would not only boost their stock prices but also allow them to make a lot of money.

With money comes the motivation to support.

Is the President indifferent to all of this?

He did have his own ideas. He hired Truman as the Chief of the International Policy/Affairs Research Office to show his stance. However, once a political stance is established, it cannot be easily shaken, otherwise those who followed him before will abandon him.

Even if he really wanted to tell those people in the Department of Defense that he was willing to expand and upgrade the military, he couldn't express it.

The situation has changed somewhat. The problem that had been troubling him has suddenly been resolved. If the military wants to launch a military strike, it will definitely need the Department of Defense's approval.

Whether the Department of Defense agrees or not, it must first consult the President. Only if the President does not object—if the President objects, then the military operation must be stopped. But he can neither agree nor object, which means that the responsibility will be borne by the person in charge of the Department of Defense, and of course, the President will not get any credit.

But if the president agrees, the responsibility will be his, and the credit will also go to him.

In order to avoid the president's objection, the Minister of Defense spoke to him in a very gentle tone and manner, unlike a soldier, which gave the president an opportunity to win over the military.

That candidate wouldn't be able to sit in that chair and sign anything for at least two years, but he can do it now, so he still has an advantage.

"It's not too late, Mr. President!" Truman added promptly.

"Yes, yes, it's not too late..." he said, looking at Mr. Truman. "I have a question. Are we really as powerful and invincible as Lin Qi says?"

As a radical military figurehead within the Moderate Faction president and a leading figure in military reform, Truman would certainly support this view.

With unwavering determination and a touch of excitement, he uttered his heartfelt words. "We are invincible!"

While the President and Mr. Truman were discussing upcoming tasks, changes in the situation, and how to adjust their negotiation strategy with Nagaril, their hypothetical enemy, Mr. Preton, whom they used as a shield—and whose claim wasn't entirely unfounded—was chatting with an old friend.

"... Did you receive the things I sent you last time?" Mr. Preton was speaking not in Common Language, but in Gefra's official language, and he was speaking to Navy Admiral Gefra, who was also the First Navy Minister.

Mr. Preton had served in the military and was a naval officer. He later went into trade for various reasons, but his relationship with the Gefra Navy never ended.

Some of his mentors and friends now hold high positions after the war, and officers and generals who did not die in the World War have been significantly promoted, which has broadened his network within the Gefra Navy.

Upon hearing Mr. Preton's words, the Navy Minister of Gefra chuckled. "I've received it. My wife likes it very much. What brings you here this time?"

The question was very direct, which is typical of their relationship; soldiers don't waste time with small talk.

Preton hesitated for a moment, not speaking immediately. The Navy Minister on the other end of the phone then asked, "This isn't like you. Tell me, what trouble have you run into?"

"The Bayer Federation intends to cripple my influence in the East Ocean, and I'm worried I might not be able to withstand it," Mr. Preton said with a sigh. "No one, whether an individual or an organization, can stand against a rising and powerful nation!"

"The Bayer Federation?" The Navy Minister, somewhat puzzled by the adversary his old friend had provoked. "Tell me what happened between you two..."

Mr. Preton gave a brief account, and the whole process was very neutral and impartial, because he knew very well that the powerful figure on the other end of the phone would verify the truth of what he said in more than one way the moment he hung up.

Lying at this moment would be like punching himself in the face; he's not that stupid.

After listening to what Mr. Preton had to say, the Navy Minister remained silent for a moment before giving Mr. Preton the answer he wanted.

"We all hate the Bayer Federation. It did nothing when the war started, but it jumped out when we started to reap the rewards of our victory."

"Whether in China or abroad, many people are very dissatisfied with it, so perhaps this is an opportunity."

"I can't give you any guarantees, but I can help you in some ways. It's not just me; many people have long wanted to see the military strength of this so-called technologically free country."

"Take care of your safety. I'll let you know when there are further developments..."

After hanging up the phone, Mr. Preton didn't show much of a smile, nor did he appear frustrated, which was exactly what he expected.

As an international businessman, he provided countless intelligence reports to Gefra every year, not to mention the benefits he secretly gave to high-ranking officials in the country.

He is very sensitive to international politics. Although the Bayer Federation has now joined the Allied Powers of the Victorious Country and become one of the winners, there are still some people who don't like the Bayer Federation.

They achieved their current status only after enduring the baptism of war. For a country that has never even experienced war to start talking about distributing international interests is nothing short of a joke. On the surface, everyone is chatting and laughing, but in reality, they are all plotting to stab each other in the back. This diplomatic incident is a good opportunity. Gefra and his people will definitely take this chance to clash with the navy of the Bayer Federation to determine the future trend of some ongoing negotiations.

Mr. Preton was well aware that if the Gefra Navy won, he would not only be spared from death and his position would be secure, but he would also gain more practical benefits as a result.

But if the Gefra Navy loses, he will lose his life, and someone has to pay the price.

As for whether the Gefra Navy would lose? He chuckled and shook his head, then turned and walked to the balcony, looking at the free people on the streets that had not been ravaged by gunfire.

How could we possibly lose?

Last month's bonus chapter for donations is over, I'm so tired!