Invasion of America

Chapter 54 Going crazy
In the office late at night, the desk lamp emits bright light.

Xiao Jinlang rubbed his sore temples, and the blue light from the computer screen cast a shadow on his tired face.

The strong tea on the table had already gone cold, but he was completely unaware of it. He was concentrating on reading the latest intelligence sent by his comrades on the front line.

'Troublemaker'—that was the nickname he gave the young man. Clicking on the file, a vibrant face jumped into view.

The 19-year-old young man had delicate features and a sunny smile. Anyone who saw him would think he was an ordinary student.

The first thing is naturally to check his identity and background - there is nothing much to say, he came from Qidian Orphanage, and he is a carefree person who seems to be harmless.

Judging from semi-public information, he won a jackpot of more than one billion US dollars and has connections with many forces in the United States.

The people around him are very complicated, like an asylum, with all kinds of backgrounds.

The family of a former small town sheriff, the family of the chairman of a Miami investment bank, former CIA and Secret Service employees, and this is just the surface.

I really don't know what's going on in secret.

As for the case of Chris's family and the terrorist attack on the Caribbean cruise ship, both the government website and the media reported on it in great detail.

What is giving Xiao Jinlang the most headache right now is 'Apocalypse Biology' - in order to keep it secret, the university teams that received the information have to suspend their projects.

The academician who was only in name only in the team took the lead in cursing and scolding, and the whole team worked overtime to read the dozens of TB of data sent back by Zhou Qingfeng.

Fortunately, most of these materials are videos of the experimental process - in the past, experiments were recorded with pens, but now they are recorded with cameras.

After reading the materials for a few days, the academician wrote a preliminary report himself, and a copy of the report was on Xiao Jinlang's desk.

".Based on analysis of existing data, Virus X is highly variable, has a moderate transmission rate, and has a very high mortality rate for the elderly and the infirm. We recommend immediate activation of the emergency plan."

This means that the US military's Project X is real. Judging from the experimental data, they are not far from success and may even have succeeded.

Pandora's box has been opened
However, the academician team only had data, not the original virus X, and was unable to replicate the experiment. The experimental team had decided to start verification from scratch, but their progress would definitely not catch up with the US military.

Unless the pathogen can be obtained.
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Comrades on the front line lurk around the "evil spirit" as security personnel, and can observe this mysterious young man closely every day.

What is puzzling is that the guy casually threw out a piece of information that was enough to shock the top management, and then he devoted all his energy to his "electric flight".

Xiao Jinlang also conducted an in-depth investigation into 'electric flight'.

This was a key city-level startup that had bought media coverage and boasted of being a "rising star." However, after two or three years of operation, it failed to capitalize on the boom in the "low-altitude economy."

Just last month, the funds in the company's account were barely enough to pay employees' salaries, and suppliers' payments had been overdue for several months, leaving the founding team anxious and frustrated.

This is not a problem of enterprise technology, but a market problem. However, the turnaround came unexpectedly.
'Holy Light', controlled by 'Evil Spirit', suddenly injected capital to acquire the company as a foreign investor, which not only paid off all debts but also brought in a steady stream of orders.

The bank managers were overjoyed. The suppliers were even more delighted. All the debts that were about to become bad debts were settled overnight, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

In just half a month, the staff size of Electric Flight doubled, and the R&D team worked day and night.

But Xiao Jinlang keenly noticed that the company's technical strength was not outstanding.

The so-called "uniqueness" is nothing more than some minor innovations in the eyes of industry experts.

What is really interesting is the operating model after "Holy Light" took over - it is not stingy with labor costs, but is very frugal to the point of being almost harsh in R&D and manufacturing.

What made Xiao Jinlang laugh and cry the most was the new aircraft model that was developed under the personal guidance of the "Evil Spirit".

When he first saw the design drawings, he almost thought he was looking at a prop from a science fiction movie.

The plane was code-named "Warthog" and its appearance really looked like a pig with wings. Its angular fuselage and short, thick wings made it uniquely ugly.

While other models pursue a streamlined appearance, this one goes the other way—it’s so ugly that it feels a bit silly and cute.

The "Evil Spirit" didn't focus on the domestic market, nor did he bet on the European and American markets. After having his R&D team streamline the design, he turned his attention to the needs of underdeveloped regions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

According to reports from frontline comrades, many South American customers have come to the test farm located in the far suburbs of Miami.

Since the customers looked like they were not from a legitimate background, the farm increased security but did not refuse their visit.

Farm workers were also hired as ground staff and pilots to join the testing of the verification aircraft, which was considered to be a training of "reserve forces".

In addition, the "evil spirit" also contacted overseas Chinese in South America - overseas Chinese have chambers of commerce, and most of them actually stick together, and if you know one person, you can get to know a group.

Although the 'electric flight' demonstration in Miami was very successful, local public opinion was not optimistic about its development prospects.

Some "friendly competitors" are secretly instigating and promoting the idea that "electric flight" threatens the national security of the United States and demanding its forced acquisition.

The 'evil spirit''s' attention began to shift, and its second batch of fifty-member test team completed recruitment and flew to Miami.

After receiving security training, the first group of personnel were divided into two groups and sent to Mexico and Brazil respectively.

Five verification aircraft also left with the two teams, preparing to conduct flight tests locally.

At the same time, the domestic supplier of "Electric Flight" received an order to produce 500 accessories, requiring the delivery to be completed within one month and airlifted to Miami or a South American country.

According to the "Evil Spirit"'s own statement - the Asian, African and Latin American markets are indeed dangerous, but there are so many Chinese and overseas Chinese doing business and making money in the local area, which shows that these markets are still worth going to.

The European and American markets offer good profits, but they are subject to trade barriers and even sanctions. Without developing markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the company will have no future.

"This kid has a clear mind and is developing very quickly, but what on earth does he want to do?" Xiao Jinlang stared at the ugly-looking aircraft on the computer screen and fell into deep thought.
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"You ask me what I want to do? Actually, I just want to make money!"

Zhou Qingfeng wasn't just interested in electric flight. He called Marcos and urged him to find a buyer for the 72 NVL cabinets as soon as possible.

He had no intention of doing this business, but the people from the "Tree of Justice" wanted to make money, and there were "logistics channels" within the US military.

Money is essential for an organization to grow and maintain. The $30 million he donated saved the "Tree of Justice" from collapse.

But as a terrorist organization, the other party had no gratitude at all. The biggest reward they received was that they did not kill Zhou Qingfeng directly.

If he did not participate in the smuggling, the "Tree of Justice" would be eyeing his billion-dollar capital, and even his life.

Marcos was also complaining. He was now Zhou Qingfeng's subordinate and was about to go to Miami to serve as Congers' deputy. But he couldn't leave now.
"Mr. Zhou, it's not that I haven't found a buyer. But not everyone can afford one hundred NVL72 cabinets.

Now the country emphasizes independent security, and many units would rather support domestic products with lower performance than take the risk of buying imported ones.

Even if there are companies with this kind of demand, $400 million in funding isn't something that can be readily available. Whether it's a private or state-owned enterprise, approving such a large sum of money requires a process.

Besides, this is smuggling, so accounting is difficult."

Zhou Qingfeng was annoyed. "Go to the authorities. Didn't you say that the director of the Provincial Department of Science and Technology wanted to see you? Ask them, push them."

"Hey, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, you have absolutely no power. I asked him a few days ago, and he told me not to rush. That line of work is definitely not going to work. I've contacted several major manufacturers, and they're all interested, but they have to inspect the goods before they arrive and pay."

Marco also felt the hardship. It was his first time doing smuggling business and he didn't expect it to be so troublesome.

Zhou Qingfeng is even more miserable. "I've already spent all my money, and the goods have been shipped for four or five days. If no one buys them when they arrive at Hong Kong, it will become a joke."

The US military charged the fee in advance, 20 million US dollars, not a penny less.

The purchase price of one hundred NVL72 cabinets is US$ million. I don’t know if there is any discount. Anyway, it was Monica who did it, and Zhou Qingfeng couldn’t get involved, so he could only pay the bill.

If no one buys it, he will be the one who gets cheated.

"Think of a way and call all possible customers."
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Zhou Qingfeng hung up the phone, feeling as if he was holding back a breath of anger, with the feeling of crying out to heaven and earth but getting no response rushing from his chest to his forehead.

If this smuggling business succeeds, he can make a net profit of 40 million US dollars. If it fails, he will lose a full 360 million US dollars!

That is an abyss where even if you throw billions of assets into it, there will be no echo. Who the hell can afford such a loss?

"I plan to spend my billions enjoying life, not lose them!" he muttered to himself, his teeth gnashing. "No, I can't just sit there and wait for death."

He went online to check the latest developments of the USS Ronald Reagan carrier battle group.

The fleet is speeding across the Pacific, far exceeding the slow-moving merchant ships pursuing low fuel consumption.

It has now crossed half of the Pacific Ocean and docked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After replenishment and rest, it will head towards Southeast Asia.

Its route is as clear as a straight line drawn on a map.

According to the public plan of the "Cobra Gold" exercise, after arriving near Guam, the "Reagan" will turn towards Tokyo and reunite with the "USS John C. Stennis" aircraft carrier of the Seventh Fleet.

The dual-carrier battle group headed south, crossed the Philippine Sea, and headed straight into the South China Sea, and finally conducted a joint military exercise with the navies of neighboring countries in Thailand.

After the exercise, the fleet will dock in Thailand, and the ten heavy trucks loaded with cargo will also be unloaded at that time.

Just send someone to the Thai port to pick up the goods and the job will be done.

"It's impossible to mess up something so simple."

Zhou Qingfeng leaned back in his chair, thinking that at worst he could use the name of "electric flight" to send someone to Thailand to pick up the goods, ship them back to China, and then slowly look for buyers.

"In short, no one can expect me to lose 360 ​​million in vain. No way!"

But just as he was catching his breath, his phone vibrated and an encrypted message popped up - from a "friend" in the U.S. Navy.

Before he finished reading the message, Zhou Qingfeng's face turned dark.

The other party told him that after the "Reagan" arrived in Tokyo, all transported cargo would have to undergo a thorough inspection.

"What's going on?" he growled, almost crushing his phone.
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There are too many people in the U.S. Navy who want to make extra money, and Zhou Qingfeng is definitely not the only one who wants to use the extra tonnage of the fleet's voyages.

A "clever" person stuffed a ton of banned drugs into an oil supply ship, hoping to ship them to Japan to make a fortune - the black market prices in Japan are ridiculously high, and people can get rich overnight.

Unfortunately, no one knows who reported "Da Congming". The American media was in an uproar, and even the Japanese media heard the news and expressed their disapproval.

The U.S. Navy Department was humiliated. The Secretary of the Navy was furious and ordered a complete inspection of all the equipment used in the exercise.

This order was both a warning and a warning, and its meaning was clear: if anyone in the fleet was still hiding something shady, clean it up quickly and don't wait to be caught and embarrassed.

The "friends" in the fleet specifically reminded Zhou Qingfeng that he should either get the goods away before the fleet arrived in Tokyo, or wait for the ten heavy trucks to be thrown into the Pacific Ocean to feed the fish.

What’s even more infuriating is that this is considered “force majeure” and the $20 million in shipping fees that have already been paid cannot be refunded at all.

Zhou Qingfeng was so angry that his eyes turned red. He stood up suddenly and kicked open the door of Monica's office. With a loud "bang", the door hit the wall with a clang.

Monica was smoking on the windowsill. The sudden noise startled her, and her hand shook. The hot ash burned a hole in her clothes. She shouted angrily, "You kicked my door?"

Zhou Qingfeng strode up to her and demanded, "Explain to me, why are my three hundred million dollars being thrown into the sea to feed the fish?"

Monica was overwhelmed by his momentum and took a half step back, but she still insisted: "It's an emergency, and I can't control it. What do you want me to do?"

"What do you want? Of course, we need to find a way to get the goods ashore!" Zhou Qingfeng continued to approach. "Don't you have the Department of Homeland Security behind you? Are you really going to let the Navy throw my money into the sea?"

Monica bit her lip, knowing that the situation was difficult. She shook her head and lowered her voice a little: "That's on the sea, and none of us are there.

The carrier fleet's route is fixed and cannot be changed mid-route. We have tried our best to find a solution. If you have the ability, you can find a solution yourself."

"You have nothing to lose, so you are not in a hurry, right?" Zhou Qingfeng stared at her for half a minute, the fire in his eyes almost burning out. He sneered and turned away.

"I thought you, the 'Tree of Justice,' were quite capable, but now I see the truth—you're a bunch of losers, unable to come up with even a contingency plan.

Give me the contact information of the transport ship captain, and I'll take care of it myself." He slammed the door shut, knocking half of the wall decoration askew.

Monica sat on the chair, gnashing her teeth as she picked up the phone and called Dias behind her. Her voice was filled with uncontrollable anger:

"This kid is getting harder to control. He even growled at me."

Dias remained calm. "I already know the situation on the fleet side. We can't completely ignore it. We still need to cooperate."
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Zhou Qingfeng returned to his office, picked up the satellite phone, and called the captain of the USS Watson vehicle transport ship directly to inquire about the specific situation.

The captain remained calm. "I've just received notice that all cargo will be inspected after docking in Tokyo. If necessary, those ten heavy trucks will be thrown into the sea and destroyed."

The next stop is Guam. If you want to save the cargo, you'd better come up with a solution within a week, otherwise it will be too late."

After a pause, he added, "I do have an idea - use a heavy helicopter to lift the cargo away.

I can have someone help you move the cargo from the truck, and I can also contact a helicopter for you. But it will cost extra.

In addition, you have to find a large flat-deck ship that can accommodate helicopter takeoff and landing, and then arrange subsequent transportation."

"Okay, I got it. Thanks." Zhou Qingfeng hung up the phone, his mind racing. He turned to Jennifer and ordered:
"We need a ship to travel from Hawaii to Guam. We need a large, flush-deck ship that can land heavy helicopters. We can rent or buy one, but we absolutely need one!"

This order was not only given to Jennifer, he also gave it to Marco and Kelly.

Marcos, still just a vice president, was completely bewildered when he heard the news: "Buy a ship? And a large, flush-deck ship? But I don't even know anything about the shipping industry!"

Kelly is different. Having been in the financial circle for a long time, she never thinks of solving difficult problems on her own when she encounters them.

She had already guessed Xiao Jinlang's identity. When she encountered something she couldn't handle, she would call him directly.
"Do you want the goods or not? Victor was very angry at your perfunctory attitude. Don't blame me for not reminding you.

That kid has a very rich imagination and is also very wealthy. Don't let him use his money willy-nilly. Otherwise, the consequences will be difficult to control!"

(End of this chapter)