I built an armada.

Takahashi traveled in secret this time, fearing that his whereabouts would be discovered.

Before coming, I communicated with the Eagle Tribe and they told me to be careful to keep my whereabouts confidential.

Judging from this person's appearance, he wasn't afraid at all that his whereabouts would be photographed by others.

"Mr. Takahashi."

Miller sat down opposite Takahashi, without shaking hands, his tone slightly drawn out, and his attitude very casual.

“Mr. Miller.” Takahashi nodded slightly. His speech was slightly accented, but relatively fluent.

"To survive in the cracks, one has no choice but to be active."

He gestured to the bartender to bring Miller a cup of black coffee as well, without asking about Miller's preferences.

Miller raised an eyebrow, didn't touch the coffee, and went straight to the point:

“We have a general understanding of the ‘concerns’ and ‘requests’ that you have conveyed.”

Miller emphasized the last two words with particular force.

"To be honest, we were quite surprised."

"Especially at a time when the regional situation is quite sensitive."

He leaned forward slightly.

"A blurry photograph of unknown origin should not shake the strong alliance we have built over decades."

Takahashi picked up his coffee, took a slow sip, and felt the bitter liquid slide down his throat.

"Vague and unclear?"

“Mr. Miller, I think you haven’t forgotten the crushing defeat we just suffered.”

"You and I both know this might be a smokescreen put out by Long Xia, but are you willing to take the gamble?"

"At least... the Eastern Wilderness tribes cannot afford to lose another gamble."

"If they really do possess sixth-generation fighter jets, what does that mean? I think you must be aware of that."

Takahashi put down his cup, his voice calm.

"They may even have the capability to destroy such a fleet beyond visual range, before your Aegis system can react."

Takahashi raised his chin and pointed to the poster of the aircraft carrier fleet hanging on the wall.

"I don't believe that any country in the world can withstand such air power."

"Even if we take a step back and look at the design of this fighter jet, it is very likely that it involves some brand new technologies."

Takahashi leaned forward slightly.

"Is it possible that the reason those few photos have been circulating online is because Long Xia's stealth technology has achieved a new breakthrough?"

"If this possibility truly exists, the detection range of existing radar and infrared detection systems could be reduced to the tactical level!"

"This means that the warning time will be reduced from minutes to seconds."

"Do you really think your air defense capabilities can withstand an attack by such fighter jets in just a few seconds?"

Miller's casual expression vanished, his eyes sharpening: "Can I take this as a sign that you are questioning our Eagle Tribe?"

Takahashi shook his head slightly.

"That's not what we meant."

"But we have to admit that the Eastern Wilderness Tribe is too close to the Dragon Summer Tribe."

"It's so close that we can't afford to take any risks."

"To deal with us, they don't even need to send out fighter jets. They can easily attack our homeland by simply setting up missiles on the coast."

Miller narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Why are you so certain that Longxia has broken through the technology of sixth-generation fighter jets?"

"Where did the technical briefing you mentioned come from? Was it your own intelligence... or something else?"

Miller was implying something.

He is now beginning to wonder why Donghuang is so certain that Longxia has made a major technological breakthrough.

"We cannot confirm."

Takahashi said frankly, "If we had already confirmed it, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you right now."

"We will now have a deeper cooperation with Longxia."

Takahashi emphasized the word "deep" very much.

Miller's expression changed several times.

He understood what Takahashi meant.

In other words, if they had already confirmed that Longxia possessed sixth-generation fighter jets, they would probably have already joined Longxia's ranks.

Instead of sitting here negotiating with the Eagle Tribe and seeking their support.

"So you've come to seek our support?"

Miller looked at Takahashi with a half-smile.

Got it, those stinky outsiders have come all the way to the Eagle Tribe to beg for food.

"Speak, what are your demands?"

Seeing this, Takahashi didn't stand on ceremony and listed a few terms.

As Takahashi continued his narration, Miller's expression gradually turned somewhat grim.

This is no longer a request for support; rather, it seems more like they're using this as an excuse to come and empty the Eagle Tribe's coffers.

"Using your imagined threats to demand technology and privileges that don't belong to you?"

"I prefer to call it risk management, sir."

Takahashi corrected him.

"If we don't feel secure enough, in order to ensure our own safety, we will be forced to completely side with Longxia."

"If things really do turn out that way, we hope you can understand our actions."

Takahashi was utterly helpless.

"We must also ensure our own survival."

Miller looked displeased, almost pointing his finger at Takahashi and yelling at him, but Takahashi showed no displeasure.

"I hope you can understand that I have come here at considerable risk."

Takahashi put on an innocent look.

"It was you who decided to withdraw from the Eastern Wilderness. If it weren't for the strong advocacy of our leader, I'm afraid your military base would not have been able to be preserved."

"At that time, we will truly be completely at the mercy of Longxia."

"Moreover, if Long Xia discovers my secret visit, I'm afraid they will immediately tighten their surveillance of the Eastern Wilderness."

"You have no idea how difficult our lives are right now..."

Takahashi poured out his grievances.

In his words, Long Xia was simply the embodiment of evil!

Miller interrupted Takahashi's grievances with a dark expression.

"Don't think we're fools. As far as I know, your cabinet leader is actually living quite well these days, isn't he?"

Miller adopted a businesslike attitude.

"That's just a superficial phenomenon!"

Since things had come to this point, Takahashi stopped rambling on about irrelevant matters.

"Let me be frank with you. If the lobster's sixth-generation fighter jet technology is real, then we only have one option."

"To become Longxia's dog completely." "Neither you nor I want to see this happen."

"Therefore, the technical support we are asking for is not extortion, but a guarantee that we will not immediately side with Longxia!"

Takahashi leaned forward slightly, his shoulders taut beneath his clothes.

“Mr. Miller, I am not a diplomat. I will not use flowery language to paint a rosy picture of the future for you, or use sweet talk to swindle you out of subsidies.”

"I was a soldier before, and I've always liked to look at things from a soldier's perspective."

He paused for a moment: "If we don't get enough security, then I'm afraid it won't be long before we consider a deeper cooperation with Longxia."

"Your Excellency should understand that surrendering now and surrendering when you are about to be defeated are two completely different concepts."

A bitter expression appeared on Takahashi's face.

"We've already lost once, we can't afford to lose any more."

He was referring to the recent war.

In that war, the Eastern Wilderness tribe lost its aircraft carrier fleet and completely lost its sovereignty.

If it weren't for the Eagle Tribe supporting them, they would probably have become complete vassals of Dragon Xia by now.

Gaoqiao's attitude was already very clear: if the Eagle Tribe didn't help them, they would completely side with Longxia.

Miller's face was so dark it looked like it could drip water.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table.

The Eagle Tribe's current attitude can be described as quite ambiguous.

The Eastern Wilderness Tribe, which served as the vanguard for the Eagle Tribe, has now lost its value.

Although it still has a little value left, it is far from enough to warrant the Eagle Tribe investing too many resources.

The attitude of the men, especially the chief, during this meeting with Takahashi was both good and bad.

While it might be said that the Eagle Tribe doesn't value it, at least for now, the Eastern Wilderness Tribe still holds a very important position in the Eagle Tribe's plans.

But if they are important, the Eagle Tribe would never, and would never, give up any more resources to keep the Eastern Wilderness Tribe from side with the Dragon Summer Tribe.

Miller had heard some rumors.

It seems that the authorities intend to continue with the peaceful evolution approach, or to stir up trouble between Europe and the Longxia tribe.

It even went so far as to incite conflict between the Longxia tribe and the Baixiong tribe.

This is not impossible.

It's hard to say about Europe, since it's quite far from the Longxia tribe.

There is actually no direct conflict of interest between the two sides, so it is not so easy to incite them to be at odds.

But the White Bear tribe is different.

Theoretically speaking, the relationship between the White Bear Tribe and the Dragon Summer Tribe should be quite good.

But once the Longxia tribe truly grows into a nation capable of dominating the world, can the White Bear tribe really sleep soundly beside them?
That's impossible!
Even if there is a huge strategic buffer zone between the two sides now, the result will be the same.

As long as the Longxia tribe continues to move forward, the White Bear tribe will surely change its attitude towards the Longxia tribe in the future.

Unless, before that, the White Bear tribe had already completely lost the possibility of competing with the Dragon Summer tribe.

Or the White Bear tribe could be dragged down and wiped out.

The Eagle Tribe will certainly not stand idly by and watch such a situation unfold.

Therefore, whether now or in the future, the strategic position of the Eastern Wilderness Tribe is no longer so high in the Eagle Tribe's plans.

But they couldn't just stand by and watch the Eastern Wilderness Tribe so easily and directly side with the Dragon Summer Tribe.

“You are playing a very dangerous game, Mr. Takahashi.”

Miller said, word by word.

"Hasn't our entire nation been gambling with its destiny since ancient times?"

Takahashi leaned back in his chair, a self-deprecating smile on his face.

The Eastern Wilderness Tribe has made it a habit to gamble on the fate of their nation.

From centuries of wars with peninsula tribes to the recent rash war against the Eagle Tribe.

And then there was the war that happened not long ago, which led to the complete defeat of their entire nation…

Every single time we've gambled with the fate of the nation, and every single time we've lost that gamble?

Oh wait, there are times when you actually win a bet.

Although it wasn't long before they vomited up everything they had eaten.

"Caught between two giants, one survives by understanding their thoughts, exchanging benefits, and playing both sides..."

Takahashi stood up.

“Mr. Miller, my mission is to convey our concerns and needs.”

"We can continue to discuss the specific terms, but I urge you to seriously consider our suggestions."

"Believe me, we're in this together."

Without waiting for Miller's reply, he nodded slightly and turned to walk towards the door.

Inside the club, Miller sat silently in his seat.

The two cups of black coffee in front of him had long since gone cold.

After a long while, Miller rubbed his nose.

"This is really... a headache."

An hour later, Miller reported the details of the meeting.

To be honest, he wasn't particularly optimistic about Takahashi's advice.

At least in Miller's understanding, the Eastern Wilderness Tribe was no longer the focus of the Eagle Tribe's plan.

He believes that in order to keep the Eastern Wilderness Tribe in check, the Eagle Tribe will probably offer some vague terms.

But the real benefits probably won't be given away too much.

But the result was far beyond Miller's expectations.

Although the specific terms still need further discussion and analysis, the higher-ups surprisingly agreed to Takahashi's proposal.

This puzzled Miller greatly.

At this point, less than four hours had passed since his conversation with Takahashi.

Given the nature of those people in Congress, the speed at which they made this decision is nothing short of miraculous!
Although it was late at night, Miller still called Takahashi back.

An hour later, the news reached the Eastern Wilderness tribe.

"Kato-kun, I have not failed you!"

Miller was completely baffled, but he never imagined that the generosity of those men in Congress had little to do with Takahashi's lobbying.

Miller's position was still somewhat low, and the information he possessed was quite limited.

Although the chieftain has concluded that this so-called sixth-generation fighter jet is a smokescreen released by the Dragonxia tribe.

But this did not prevent the congressmen and Commissioner Smith from using this issue as a pretext for their own purposes.

If the Longxia tribe already has such powerful weapons, shouldn't we increase our military spending even more?
Shouldn't we also provide more military support to our allies?
Could certain technologies even be used to support allies, or even in exchange for benefits?

Of course, how many people lined their own pockets and how many became complacent during this process is not something that outsiders can know.

Don't overthink it. All of this is legal, compliant, and fully in line with procedural justice in the use of the tribe!
With everyone eating their fill from top to bottom, how could anyone not want to do such a business?
Originally, these people would have needed to find an excuse to spend the money, but now that Takahashi has come to their door, they don't even need an excuse.

The great man was absolutely right.

He'd sell the noose that hanged him for a 300% profit!

Moreover, this is a business with virtually no investment and incredibly high profits! (End of Chapter)