Fate's Choice: Livestream at the Start Summoning Billions of Ravens

Meanwhile, in a meeting room at the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Mark Thompson sat in the head seat, the table before him hard and cold, surrounded by the very heart of the United States' power.

The CIA director, the FBI director, the NSA director, and several suited men representing Wall Street financial capital and the massive military-industrial complex, respectively.

There was only one agenda item for the meeting.

To select a "Master" for the "Protector of the Nation," Roosevelt, who would be absolutely loyal to the United States.

"The candidates must be provided by the CIA," the CIA director began, placing his fingers interlaced on the table. "We have the world's top agents, experts in infiltration, subversion, and intelligence gathering. They know how to guide a strategic asset."

"No way," the FBI director immediately retorted. "Roosevelt is currently operating domestically, which falls under the FBI's jurisdiction. We need an agent who has an absolute understanding of the domestic situation and whose loyalty has been tested domestically, not a spy who is used to engaging in underhanded activities overseas."

"Loyalty?" The man representing the military-industrial complex sneered. "Your two families' records of loyalty aren't exactly glorious. This 'Master' will wield power that may far surpass nuclear weapons. This person must be a soldier, a soldier who absolutely obeys orders and whose sense of honor is etched into his very bones."

The Wall Street banker leisurely adjusted his cufflinks.

"Gentlemen, don't get the point wrong. Mr. Roosevelt's ability is essentially economics and finance. Are you trying to make a bunch of brutes who only know guns and wiretapping his master? Do you want him to wipe out Goldman Sachs as well? This person must understand finance and the operation of capital. We recommend the current CEO of Morgan Stanley."

"A capitalist? Let him command a heroic spirit that can forcibly collect taxes? Do you want a fox to guard a chicken coop?!" The CIA director raised his voice.

"It's better than letting a mad dog that only knows how to kill guide civilization!" the banker retorted without backing down.

The argument in the meeting room grew louder and louder.

The various factions were unwilling to yield to each other, each wanting to hold this power, which was enough to overturn the world, in their own hands.

Thompson slammed his fist on the table.

"quiet!"

No one paid any attention.

The argument turned into a roar, with accusations and threats echoing in the confined space.

Thompson banged on the table again, but it did nothing to calm things down.

Just then, a young assistant, disregarding all confidentiality clauses, barged in.

His uniform was soaked with sweat, and he was panting heavily from running.

The argument in the meeting room came to an abrupt halt.

All eyes were on this uninvited guest, and the atmosphere instantly turned icy.

The assistant didn't say anything, but quickly walked up to Thompson and placed a tablet on the table.

The screen was lit up, showing a global emergency live broadcast from an international news channel.

A news anchor's voice came from the tablet's speaker.

"Just three minutes ago, Archer Roosevelt released his second new executive order through all public network platforms, social media, and broadcasting systems around the world."

The tablet screen switched, and Roosevelt's gentle yet resolute face appeared on the screen.

He was still in his wheelchair, with the Washington Memorial Park in the background at dawn.

"Citizens of America, monopolies are a cancer on the free market, the abuse of data violates the dignity of every individual, and the old order cannot restrain itself. So, I will put an end to it."

The contents of the law are clearly displayed at the bottom of the screen, each word like a bombshell.

"Effective immediately, a 75% 'data monopoly tax' will be levied on seven tech giants, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, and Nvidia."

The meeting room fell into dead silence.

The representatives from all sides, who had just been arguing fiercely, all froze.

The banker representing Wall Street, his hand that had just adjusted his cufflinks, froze in mid-air.

The directors of the CIA and FBI had a look of utter absurdity on their faces.

The agent of the military-industrial complex instinctively looked towards Defense Secretary Thompson.

All eyes eventually focused on that small, still-glowing screen.

At the very moment Roosevelt announced the new law, the alarms at the Nasdaq data center in New Jersey hadn't even had a chance to sound.

Within its core server array, the massive data chain representing the total market capitalization of tech stocks was forcibly rewritten from its underlying logic by an incomprehensible force without any trading instructions or price fluctuations.

The Nasdaq Composite Index in the upper right corner of the screen, a number representing the pinnacle of human technology and wealth, didn't even have time to fluctuate.

It went directly from an astronomical number to a cold "0".

Trillions of dollars in tech stock market value vanished into thin air.

They did not disappear, but were forcibly transformed into the purest, invisible energy by Roosevelt's Noble Phantasm ability.

The next second, in the sky above the North American continent.

A golden rain of light, even larger and more dazzling than the one that had destroyed Wall Street last time, appeared from the sky.

The area covered by the rain of light was so vast that it almost enveloped the entire territory of the United States.

Like living GPS devices, they precisely avoided bustling commercial districts and wealthy villas, transforming into countless tiny streaks of light that plummeted vertically.

The target is all American families registered in the federal tax system whose annual household income is below the poverty line.

From dilapidated apartments in Brooklyn, New York, to the Rust Belt of Detroit, from humble cabins in the Appalachian Mountains, to trailer parks in the California suburbs.

Tens of millions of cheap phones, phones with cracked screens, and even phones that were already out of credit, were simultaneously ringing with bank notification messages announcing incoming funds.

Your account has received a transfer of $2,854.00 as a "new policy subsidy".

Your account has received a transfer of $4,128.00 as a "new policy subsidy".

Your account has received a transfer of $975.00 as a "new policy subsidy".

The "new policy subsidies," ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, were deposited directly into the personal accounts of every impoverished person without any delay or review.

After a brief moment of astonishment came a volcanic eruption of ecstasy.

Countless families were thrown into an incredible frenzy.

People rushed out of dilapidated apartments, moldy basements, and cramped trailers onto the streets.

They held up Roosevelt's portrait and the cell phone displaying his bank balance, as if they were holding sacred objects.

The cheers that erupted in the streets and alleys converged into a tsunami that engulfed the entire country.

They regarded him as a savior.

"God! Long live Roosevelt!"

"He really did it! He really is saving us!"

...

Inside a meeting room at the Pentagon.

The capital agent representing the Silicon Valley tech giant stared intently at the urgent report he had just received on his phone, sent by the group's CFO.

[Market value has been reduced to zero.]

All digital assets have been forcibly cancelled.

We... went bankrupt.

"Aaaaaaah!"

A piercing roar shattered the deathly silence.

The agent, his eyes bloodshot and looking like a madman, slammed his phone to the ground and yelled at Defense Secretary Mark Thompson.

"Kill him! Use every means possible! B-2 bombers, Tomahawk missiles, or even nuclear weapons! I don't care what methods you use, immediately! Right now! Eliminate this monster!"

At the same time, an unprecedentedly large-scale smear campaign against Roosevelt was launched instantly on the global internet.

Numerous mainstream media outlets, renowned economists, and scholars from Ivy League universities began publishing articles and videos in a frenzy.

"Roosevelt's actions are economic suicide! He will destroy the foundations of the free market!"

"This is not a new policy, this is utter tyranny! It's the red terror of the 21st century!"

"A spectre is haunting North America—the spectre of communism!"

...

However, these carefully crafted statements, which could have instigated social unrest at any time in the past, appear utterly pale and powerless in the face of tens of millions of people who received real money.

Any post or news article that smears Roosevelt will be flooded with a torrent of uniform comments within minutes.

"I received $2000, what about you?"

"My whole family received the money, and we can pay next month's rent. What about you?"

"Shut up, you piece of shit, I only trust my bank account."

"I received the money, what about you?"

This statement has become the most indestructible shield of this era, shattering all smears and attacks.

The information war ended in a crushing defeat for the elites within the first hour.

Switzerland, deep in the Alps.

Inside a secret manor that is not open to the public and has a security level comparable to a military base.

A dozen of the world's top financial oligarchs held an emergency meeting via encrypted video.

Their faces are hidden in the shadows, but each name is enough to shake the world economy.

"Public opinion has lost its effectiveness." A hoarse German accent rang out. "He used the most primitive and barbaric methods to buy off the lower classes."

"Conventional military methods have also proven ineffective," another British accent chimed in. "He seems to have a knack for controlling our army's equipment."

"He himself doesn't even have a fixed physical form; he can appear and disappear at any time."

After a brief silence, an aged but authoritative voice gave its conclusion.

"Gentlemen, we must admit that conventional methods are no longer sufficient to stop Roosevelt."

"We can no longer rely on the government, we can no longer rely on the media."

"The most extreme physical removal methods must be adopted."

Everyone understood the meaning of those words.

The video conference has ended.

An anonymous assassination contract worth up to one hundred billion dollars was simultaneously released through encrypted channels to the highest-authority mission lists of the world's top ten mercenary organizations and dark web assassin platforms.

The target field of the contract contains only one word.

Archer.

The task requirements section contains only one sentence.

Physical eradication, regardless of cost.