The system is four years ahead of schedule, but Weird is still a cub.

The fleet's command channel was in complete chaos, filled with panicked reports and incredulous roars.

However, this is only the prelude.

Shen Ge hovered between the three disabled warships and slowly closed his eyes.

He unleashed his own domain of mystery, "piercing" the fleshy walls of the "deep-sea wriggling nest" on the seabed, releasing the strange creatures that coexisted within those nests.

In an instant, the entire sea came alive!

"Warning! A large number of high-intensity eerie signals have been detected rising rapidly from the deep sea! The quantity... is uncountable! God! What is that?"

The remaining detection equipment emitted a piercing alarm.

In the deep sea below, countless enormous, scarlet eyes suddenly opened!

The strange creatures in the deep sea, disturbed by Shen Ge's eerie aura and driven into a frenzy, awoke from their slumber like a swarm of sharks that had smelled blood!

A giant, bizarre octopus, tens of meters long, brandished its fleshy tentacles, tightly binding a destroyer; a group of strange, fish-shaped creatures covered in sharp bony spikes, like living torpedoes, frantically rammed the immobilized hull of the USS Connecticut...

The American fleet instantly transformed from an invincible "hunter" into the "prey" being hunted.

Flames soared into the sky on the sea, and explosions echoed one after another.

Amidst this chaos, Shen Ge quietly appeared on the bridge of the fleet flagship.

Inside the bridge, senior officers, gazing at the horrifying scene outside the windows, were utterly terrified. They couldn't understand how a submarine from the Great Celestial Empire could dare to venture so deep into such "dangerous" waters.
When they discovered that a strange Eastern man in a black combat uniform had suddenly appeared beside them, they couldn't even scream.

Shen Ge ignored the officers who were terrified.

Amidst the horrified gazes of everyone present, he walked as if no one was there, slowly approaching the captain's command platform and picking up the detailed operational plan for the "Deep Sea Lookout" operation, which was marked with the ACIA's highest level of secrecy.

He flipped through it, then gave the captain, who was already paralyzed with fear, a gentle smile: "Give my regards to your general."

After saying that, Shen Ge's figure vanished into thin air before everyone's eyes.

With his most direct actions, he declared a fact to the world:
I can come and go as I please. Your blockade is nothing but a joke.

There's no need for Shen Ge to "introduce himself." Everyone knows that only "China's No. 1 Pair of Ghost Detectives"—Shen Ge—can achieve this level of expertise.

……

The sudden "horrific encounter" in the deep western Pacific Ocean instantly ignited global military and intelligence circles.

The United States Pacific Fleet's most elite task force was paralyzed in an incomprehensible way without any effective engagement or even knowing who the enemy was. It was then subjected to a large number of bizarre deep-sea attacks and finally withdrew from the area in a sorry state after suffering heavy losses of two destroyers.

News cannot be blocked.

Through the pervasive spy satellites and intelligence analysis of various countries, a chilling "fact" was pieced together: a world-class fleet was utterly powerless against the "first pair of spies from the Great Celestial Empire."

The European fleet, which had initially sailed aggressively towards that area, decisively stopped and turned back when it was still 500 nautical miles from the "restricted zone." Within the GOC, the hawkish voices advocating for strong intervention vanished overnight.

The whole world fears the existence of this "first pair of supernatural agents of the Great Celestial Empire".

Just as global intelligence agencies were racking their brains over this issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Celestial Empire, contrary to its usual "calm and restrained" approach, issued a concise "invitation" to both the International Coalition Against Deception (GOC) and the United States in an extremely tough stance.

Reason for invitation: To hold emergency consultations on "the joint management and security maintenance of high-risk and mysterious energy anomalies in the deep sea of ​​the western Pacific Ocean".

Recommended location: Great Celestial Empire, Beijing.

This "invitation," when translated, has a very clear meaning:

I've crippled the people you sent to cause trouble. Now, please come over calmly, let's sit down and talk about the rules.

Three days later, at the headquarters of the Special Affairs Department of the Great Beijing, in the highest-level foreign affairs conference room.

The atmosphere on both sides of the long negotiating table was so heavy it was almost palpable.

The delegation from the Great Celestial Empire, led by General Zhao Xinhong, appeared calm and composed.

Meanwhile, the delegation led by the US Deputy Secretary of State and a senior ACIA official all looked grim, their eyes a mixture of anger, humiliation, and barely concealed fear. Several representatives from the GOC sat awkwardly in the middle, attempting to play the role of "mediators."

“We deeply sympathize with the misfortune your fleet encountered on the high seas,” General Zhao Xinhong said, breaking the silence. His tone was flat, revealing no emotion. “But this also proves that the danger in that sea area far exceeds our imagination.”

“Unfortunate?” The US Deputy Secretary of State, a typical hawkish politician, sneered and said forcefully.

"Your Excellency, we do not believe in coincidences. We have reason to suspect that your country conducted some extremely dangerous and bizarre experiment in that area, which led to disastrous consequences!"

"Where's the evidence?" Zhao Xinhong countered.

"Our fleet has been paralyzed by an unknown supernatural force, and this is the proof!"

"Oh?" A subtle smile appeared on Zhao Xinhong's lips. "Then perhaps you could describe in detail how you were 'paralyzed'? After all, according to our observations, your fleet doesn't seem to have captured even a decent image of the enemy."

These words were like a resounding slap across the faces of all the representatives from the United States. Their faces flushed red, but they couldn't utter a single word. Yes, this was the most humiliating thing; they were crippled, yet they didn't even know who their enemy was.

Seeing the atmosphere reach a stalemate, the GOC representative quickly tried to smooth things over: "Generals, gentlemen, our purpose today is not to assign blame. The most urgent task is to establish an effective international cooperation mechanism to jointly address this unknown threat..."

Just as he was still rambling on and on in his official rhetoric, Zhao Xinhong raised his hand and interrupted him.

"Cooperation is certainly welcome." The old general's gaze swept over everyone present. "But before cooperating, we need to be frank with each other. It's better to put some 'small actions' that might cause misunderstandings on the table first."

As soon as he finished speaking, his assistant behind him displayed a document clearly in the center of the conference table through holographic projection.

The document's title, written in bold English, reads: 【TOP SECRET - OPERATION: DEEP LOOK】

When the American representatives saw the contents of the document, from the detailed deployment of the fleet, weapon configuration, and rules of engagement to the personal psychological assessment reports of each commander—everyone's face instantly changed from ashen to deathly pale.

This top-level operational plan, which they had been discussing in the Pentagon's underground bunker before their departure, was now on the negotiating table in the East, completely intact!

The Deputy Secretary of State's body began to tremble slightly, unable to stop himself.

Zhao Xinhong did not specify who sent the document. He simply said in an almost indifferent tone, "It seems that some 'supernatural phenomena' are not only very powerful in combat, but also have a great passion for international relations. They even take the initiative to help us collect some documents that may cause misunderstandings in order to promote mutual understanding and trust."

The entire conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone understands.

The "Shen Ge" who was not present was the real protagonist of this negotiation.

This report is like a mirror, reflecting all the pretense, anger, and ultimately utter powerlessness on the face of the American delegation.

The previously assertive Deputy Secretary of State now moved his lips, but couldn't utter a single word. Any explanation seemed pale and laughable in the face of this irrefutable evidence.

The atmosphere at the negotiating table underwent a fundamental reversal at that moment.

The initiative has completely changed hands.

General Zhao Xinhong did not press his advantage, nor did he utter any humiliating words. He simply waved his hand calmly, signaling his assistant to turn off the holographic projection.

His sharp eyes swept over everyone present: "Now, I think we can really have an open and honest discussion about how to 'co-manage' this sea area."

The so-called "joint management" is naturally no longer the kind of scheme that GOC previously proposed, which was led by them.

Zhao Xinhong directly pushed a document drafted overnight by the Chinese side to the terminal in front of each representative.

The document title is concise and clear:
Draft Framework Agreement on Safety and Scientific Research Cooperation in the High-Risk, Mysterious Energy-Conducting Areas of the K-73 Shipwreck in the Western Pacific

The US Deputy Secretary of State opened the document, glanced at only the first page, and his pupils contracted sharply.

Article 1: In view of the existence of a highly unstable and bizarre ecosystem at the level of a "King of Monsters" in this sea area, in order to avoid triggering an uncontrollable global disaster, all parties present agreed to designate this sea area (coordinates attached) as a special observation zone of the highest level in the world.

Article 2: The Great Celestial Empire, as the primary responsible party with the closest geographical location in the region and having demonstrated effective control capabilities, shall be responsible for the long-term military supervision and deceptive stability work in the region.

Article 3: The International Organization for Countering Deception (GOC) and its member states are welcome to send "unarmed" scientific research vessels into the designated waterways of the region for "limited, cooperative" scientific expeditions, provided that they submit an application to the Great Celestial Empire half a month in advance and obtain written approval.

Article 4: All survey data must be shared with the Chinese government in real time and without reservation.

Article 5: Any unauthorized armed forces entering the region will be considered a “serious provocation against global security”, and the Great Celestial Empire has the right to take “all necessary measures” to warn, intercept, or even expel them.

……

Each clause clearly defines rights and obligations.

The translation is crystal clear:

From now on, I'll be in charge of this sea.

You can come if you want, but you have to report to me first. You can only come if I give you my approval.

Don't even think about making any trouble once you're here. I'll know everything you do. Anyone who brings troops here against the rules will have to bear the consequences.

“This…this is unequal! This is a disguised declaration of sovereignty!” The Deputy Secretary of State’s voice was hoarse with emotion.

Zhao Xinhong picked up the teacup in front of him, gently blew on it to cool it down, without even lifting his eyelids.

“Mr. Deputy Secretary of State,” he said calmly, “you can also choose not to accept. Then, your country can continue to send a more powerful fleet to confront that ‘supernatural phenomenon’ that can cripple your submarines and knows everything about your battle plans. We don’t mind.”

These words were like ice water, instantly extinguishing all of the other person's anger.

Yes, what can we do if we don't accept it?

Sending a fleet there would only be providing new toys for that "great Celestial Empire's number one pair of spies." Until a way to counter that "being" is found, any mobilization of military forces is meaningless.

The GOC representatives exchanged glances, and finally, the French representative broke the silence. He straightened his tie and smiled, saying, "In my personal opinion, this draft fully reflects the responsibility of a major power. It is in the common interest of all mankind to have the party that knows the situation best and is most capable lead the regulatory work."

With the first one "defecting," the rest is simple.

After ten hours of almost one-sided bargaining, the agreement was finally signed by all the parties present.

A crisis instigated by international forces in an attempt to carry out armed robbery ultimately ended with the Great Celestial Empire successfully establishing regional dominance.

At the end of the negotiations, just when everyone thought the meeting was about to conclude, Zhao Xinhong unexpectedly extended an olive branch.

"To demonstrate our sincerity in international cooperation, and to help all parties cope with the increasingly severe and insidious threats..."

He gestured to his assistant to distribute another document: "We have recently successfully developed a highly effective agent that can effectively suppress a new type of biocontamination-type 'deadly strain' (i.e., 'silent strain'). We are willing to provide the finished product of this agent and limited technology licenses to GOC member states that abide by the Convention on the Law of the Sea (CAL) for a fee."

“Furthermore,” he paused, then dropped the real bombshell, “through research on the outer tissues of the ‘Wriggling Nest,’ our biological laboratory has successfully extracted a biomaterial with super regenerative properties. This material has epoch-making significance in the repair of combat suits and the treatment of seriously wounded personnel. We are also willing to sell it to our ‘strategic partners’ in limited quantities.”

The meeting room instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone's breathing became heavy.

If the previous negotiations were a reluctant compromise forced by the threat of force, then what Zhao Xinhong is now offering is an irresistible temptation! (End of Chapter)