Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2488 You're Next (Third Update, Please Subscribe)

News of Halberstam's kidnapping spread to every corner of the world in just a few hours.

The New York Times headline, etched in bold, somber font, read: "Pulitzer's Light Falls on the Battlefield: American Journalist Kidnapped by Armed Men," accompanied by a photograph of Halberstam reporting from the Vietnam War. Television news broadcasts looped Halberstam's professional resume, from his reporting on the Korean War to his exposés of the Vietnam War. As a world-renowned journalist, his kidnapping naturally drew global attention.

The international press has reached a rare consensus. The French Journalists' Association launched a global protest demanding the immediate release of the hostages; the German press condemned the militants' barbaric acts; and the British Press Club directly contacted its government, strongly demanding intervention in the rescue.

"Haberstam is not just an American journalist; he represents all truth seekers," the International Federation of Journalists also stated. "When the safety of journalists is not guaranteed, any so-called 'truth' will become subservient to violence."

A torrent of public opinion surged forth, and the White House could not remain silent. On the morning of the fourth day after the kidnapping incident was exposed, the White House spokesperson, with a somber expression, stated at a routine press conference:

"The U.S. government is highly concerned about the safety of Halberstam and Mr. Daniel and has activated the highest level of emergency response, using all resources to ensure the safe return of its citizens."

At the same time the statement was released, Washington issued an emergency directive to U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Mark Stanton.

That afternoon, Stanton's convoy drove straight into Beirut International Airport, and then took a helicopter to the sea—to the "Mount Kinabalu" command ship where the coalition headquarters was located.

The American ambassador soon met with the commander of the coalition forces, General Gu Changchuan, whose office was chilled to the bone by air conditioning.

Stanton's tone was urgent:

"General, this is Washington's request. Considering the safety of the hostages, the White House hopes that you can suspend all operations against terrorists around the coalition-controlled area to avoid provoking them to harm the hostages; secondly, the coalition must send special forces to search for and rescue Halberstam and Daniel with all their might."

General Gu Changchuan leaned back in his chair, an unlit cigar between his fingers, his gaze sweeping over the American ambassador before him. He remained silent for a full half minute before speaking slowly, his voice low and firm:
“Mr. Ambassador, I understand the White House’s anxiety, but the coalition’s military deployment is no joke.”

He continued:

“We have already amassed a large number of troops here. All our military operations are ready to be launched at any time, with the aim of completely destroying this militant group’s lair and fundamentally ending the terrorist threat to the civilized world. Therefore, I cannot give you any guarantees.”

"What about the lives of American citizens?"

Stanton raised his voice excitedly and said:

"Haberstam is a world-renowned journalist, and his safety is a matter of global concern!"

"I have never neglected the safety of the hostages."

Gu Changchuan's tone remained firm: "Our intelligence department is doing everything in its power to track their whereabouts and will do everything possible to ensure their survival. But as the commander of the coalition forces, I am first and foremost responsible for the entire operational plan and the lives of tens of thousands of coalition soldiers."

He paused, his expression becoming even more serious:
"Moreover, we both know that the terrorists' core demand is for the coalition forces to withdraw from Lebanon. This is the bottom line, and there is absolutely no possibility of compromise."

Stanton's heart sank. He understood Gu Changchuan's unspoken meaning—the Allied forces would not abandon their established strategic objectives for two hostages. This emergency meeting ultimately ended with a tactful yet firm refusal.

After the ultimatum expired, the hideout of the "stubborn" terrorists who refused to withdraw from the coalition forces was an underground tank filled with mold and dust.

Halberstam and Daniel were tied up and sitting on the ground, their wrists bleeding from the ropes.

When the militant leader learned that the coalition forces refused to compromise, his face twisted into a ferocious expression.

"Since they don't care about American lives, let's teach them a lesson."

The leader waved his hand, and two masked gunmen immediately walked in carrying a video camera.

The camera's red light flashed, and the cold lens was pointed at Daniel. One armed man pressed a gun to his temple, while another shoved a note filled with writing into his hand, ordering in broken English:
"Read it! Read it according to what's written on it!"

Having never experienced anything like this before, Daniel's body trembled violently, his face ashen. He looked at the camera, his lips quivering, tears mingling with sweat as they streamed down his face.

"I want to tell everyone..."

His voice was hoarse and tense.

"The coalition's invasion of Lebanon is a violation of international law, and everything they have done is doomed to failure... Please help us... Please let the coalition withdraw from Lebanon... I want to go back alive... Please..."

He mumbled incoherently, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his throat, filled with despair.

Halberstam looked at his colleague on the other end of the camera. Although he didn't know what the other person was going to do, he could sense the danger.

He tried to shout and stop it all, but an armed man held his shoulder down tightly. Although there was nothing in his mouth, he could only make muffled sobs, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

Just as Daniel finished reading the distress message, the leader made a gesture. The masked gunman suddenly drew a dagger from his waist, its cold light flashing. Daniel's eyes widened abruptly, filled with terror.

The next second, the dagger sliced ​​across his neck, blood gushing out and staining the ground red. Daniel's body twitched a few times, then fell still. Halberstam watched this scene unfold, his mind blank.

He never imagined any of this!
Daniel is dead!
Just die!
Even though he had been to the peninsula and Vietnam and had experienced the cruelty of war, he had never witnessed such a cruel side before—not just cruel, but barbaric.

The brutality here far exceeded his imagination. Without any sympathy, without any superfluous words, Daniel's throat was slit right before his eyes.

It convulsed there like a lamb being slaughtered, just as he had once witnessed.

“Daniel, Daniel…”

He struggled desperately, the sobs in his throat turning into desperate roars, but he could only watch helplessly as his colleague's body slowly fell, his eyes still wide open, as if he couldn't believe it was real.

“You killed him, damn it, you just killed him like that. My God, how could you do this?”

In response to his anger, the terrorist stepped on his face and said.

"You should think about yourself first; you could be next."

Two days later, the three-minute-long, bloody video was anonymously sent to the newsrooms of major television stations in Europe and America.

When the video was broadcast on those television stations, the entire Western world was thrown into an unprecedented shock.

On the streets of New York, pedestrians stopped in front of television screens, watching Daniel's final plea for help and his gruesome murder. Some gasped in shock, while others couldn't help but shed tears. In London pubs, the once noisy bars fell silent, with only the bloody images on the screen assaulting everyone's senses. In Parisian cafes, people slammed their fists on the tables in anger, condemning the terrorists' brutality.

Public opinion was in an uproar. Americans took to the streets, gathering in front of the White House to protest, demanding immediate government action to rescue Halberstam and severely punish the perpetrators. Large-scale protests erupted in several European countries, with journalists' organizations calling on their governments to intervene. Governments worldwide faced immense pressure, contacting the US government to condemn the bloody incident and offer assistance.

The atmosphere inside the White House was tense. The president urgently convened a National Security Council meeting; the meeting room was filled with smoke, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.

“We can’t wait any longer,” Carter said bluntly.

“Daniel’s death has already sparked public outrage. If something happens to Halberstam as well, we will face an unbearable political crisis.”

“But what about the coalition forces…” Secretary Vance looked troubled and said:
"General Gu Changchuan was adamant. Although he was willing to provide assistance, he was unwilling to send special forces for a rescue."

Where are our special forces?

"If we send in special forces, we'll likely get drawn into this war!"

Faced with the reminder, Carter frowned deeply—not getting involved in this conflict was a strategy and bottom line that the White House had long ago established.

Would you get caught up in a war over a hostage?

That's incredibly unwise.

"Then let's try a different direction."

Carter's voice carried an undeniable determination:
"Have the ambassador to the UK go to Downing Street immediately and request the British Prime Minister's intervention. The UK has a significant voice in the coalition, and as long as the British agree to help, Gu Changchuan will have no way to interfere."

Upon receiving the instructions, the US ambassador to the UK rushed to 10 Downing Street overnight. London was shrouded in a light fog late at night, but the lights at the Prime Minister's residence were still on. In the drawing room, the ambassador explained the current situation in detail.

The Prime Minister, of course, had also seen the video of Daniel's murder, and his face turned ashen.

Although he knew that the United States was unwilling to send troops because it didn't want to get involved in the war, he pondered for a moment before responding to the request from the US and said:

"This is no longer a simple kidnapping incident, but a provocation against the entire civilized world."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night view outside.
“We will rescue Mr. Halberstam, not only for the sake of America, but also to defend our shared values.”

The Prime Minister turned around and looked firmly at the ambassador, saying:
"Please inform the White House that the British government has agreed to allow our special forces to immediately launch a rescue operation. I will personally call General Gu Changchuan and request his full cooperation. We must let the terrorists know that barbarity will never succeed and that the civilized world will never compromise with violence."

The ambassador finally felt relieved. He immediately relayed the news back to the White House, and Carter naturally breathed a sigh of relief.

"The problem will be solved soon."

Carter was well aware that the simplest solution for the US would be to send in special forces for a rescue, but this could very well drag the US into a war it shouldn't be involved in.

Therefore, it's best to let the British do it.

(End of this chapter)