My whole family is involved in diplomacy, so you dare to flex your muscles?

The Blue Hall exploded.

It really exploded.

The suffocating silence was instantly shattered. Hundreds of reporters went wild, not even bothering to raise their hands, bombarding the podium with questions.

"Director Gu! The recording you just played mentioned Frédéric Company. Does this mean that the United States is attempting to acquire core French assets through illegal means?"

Is the "Scott" in the recording the same person from the US State Department? Is this conclusive evidence held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

Is this an asymmetric retaliation against the US's technology sanctions?

The flashes of cameras created a blinding white light, and the shutter sounds were as dense as machine gun fire.

Gu Yun stood in the eye of the storm, but showed no sign of panic.

He raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"Everyone, everyone!"

Gu Yun raised her voice a few decibels, "Please watch your wording. I reiterate, what just happened was a 'playback accident'."

We do not make any official endorsement of this recording of "unknown origin".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a place that values ​​precision; we won't act like some countries that claim a tube of laundry detergent is a biological weapon.

A low murmur of laughter rose from the audience.

This is such a biting satire; it's like dragging out Powell's infamous moment at the United Nations years ago and whipping him out of his grave.

Peter from Reuters looked ashen-faced.

He knew that the more Gu Yun tried to distance himself from the "accident," the more real the matter seemed.

This is a classic case of "protesting too much," but you just can't find anything wrong with it.

They've already apologized, saying they put it in the wrong place. What can you do? Do you think you can lay a hand on them?

"but--"

Gu Yun abruptly changed the subject, and that chilling transition word came again.

He placed his hands on the podium, leaning slightly forward; that imposing posture was back.

"Since the 'misoperation' has already occurred, as a responsible major country, we cannot pretend we didn't hear about it."

If... and I mean if, the contents of this recording are true, then this is not merely a case of commercial corruption, but a blatant trampling on the spirit of international rule of law and a brutal violation of the sovereignty of an ally.

Gu Yun used the word "rape".

In diplomatic settings, this would be considered vulgar, but in this moment it was so precise that it was breathtaking.

"We have always believed that the relationship between the two sides of the Atlantic is rock solid."

But now it seems that beneath this rock, worms called 'profit' and 'betrayal' are crawling everywhere. Gu Yun shook his head, a look of profound compassion on his face.

"I feel sorry for what happened to Frederick Company, and I am also worried about those countries that may be being schemed against by their 'allies' at this very moment."

As he spoke, he looked at the AFP reporter, his gaze softening.

"Madam, after all, the truth is the lifeblood of journalism, isn't it?"

The female reporter seemed to wake up from a dream, and without even realizing that the press conference was not over, she grabbed her phone and rushed out.

Once there's a first one, there's bound to be a second.

In less than two minutes, half the people in the Blue Hall were gone.

The remaining reporters were frantically typing on their keyboards or yelling into their phones.

"Quick! Front page! Pull out the original article! The Chinese have dropped a nuclear bomb!"

"This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill! US-France relations are about to collapse!"

Looking at the chaotic scene below the stage, Gu Yun's lips curled up in a very subtle way, but it was gone in an instant.

He turned to the pale-faced host beside him and said in a low voice, "That's enough, let's end it here. If we keep asking questions, I'm afraid I'll 'technically disconnect' too."

The host, feeling relieved, quickly announced the end of the press conference.

Gu Yun turned and left.

That dark blue figure appeared incredibly tall and sinister in everyone's eyes at that moment.

Back in the backstage dressing room, as soon as the door closed, Xiao Wang plopped down on the floor, panting heavily.

"Gu Si...you scared me to death...If you had cut it off a second later, it would have looked too deliberate; if you had cut it off a second earlier, the word 'consultation fee' wouldn't have come out. You're such a master of timing, I almost had a heart attack."

Gu Yun unbuttoned his shirt collar, walked to the water dispenser, filled a glass with cold water, and drank it all in one gulp.

"This is called the art of 'leaving blank space'." Gu Yun put down the paper cup and leaned against the table.

"If I don't cut off the supply and keep releasing it, then we're launching an attack."

But I cut it off and apologized, so that was an "accident".

As for the rest, that will have to be filled in by the imagination of people all over the world.

Sometimes the truth you imagine is more terrifying than the truth you speak.

"But the US will definitely deny it, saying it's AI-generated or something," Xiao Wang said with some worry.

"Denied?" Gu Yun sneered. "That idiot Scott explained the details of the transaction so clearly in the recording, even the operating mode of the Cayman Islands account."

As long as the French authorities follow the trail, they'll find the answer immediately. This is an open conspiracy; unless he blows up the entire banking system, the evidence is irrefutable.

Just then, Gu Yun's personal phone vibrated.

It was sent by Pierre, just one line of French: "(Absolutely brilliant!)"

Then came another message: "Crowds are starting to gather on the Champs-Élysées. The Presidential Palace has just canceled its scheduled call with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce tomorrow. Gu, you've started a fire."

Gu Yun replied with a "handshake" emoji.

"Gu Si, look online." Xiao Wang got up from the ground and handed over the tablet computer.

It's trending on social media in China.

The hashtag #MinistryofForeignMinistryTechnicalGlitch# shot straight to number one, followed by a dark red "Explosion".

The comments section is full of funny people:

[Hahaha, what the hell is this technical glitch! I'd call it a "strategic slip-up"!]

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Oops, I accidentally let the truth slip out. Sorry, I'll be more careful next time (doge emoji).]

Gu Yun's innocent little expression cracked me up; his acting was phenomenal! He should definitely go into the entertainment industry!

This isn't a mistake; it's practically handing a knife to our French brothers! That stab was chilling!

I just checked some foreign websites, and French netizens have gone crazy, using all sorts of slang we don't understand to hurl insults at the people of the "beacon of light" on Twitter.

Is this the legendary "killing someone by breaking their spirit"? I love it!

Gu Yun swiped the screen twice and turned off the tablet.

"Don't get too excited yet." His voice calmed down.

"The propaganda war is just an appetizer. The purpose of tearing a hole in the Western alliance is to buy time and space for our 'Wallbreaker' program."

As long as we don't achieve a technological breakthrough, we will always be on the defensive and vulnerable to attack.

He walked to the window and looked at the sky outside, which was gradually darkening.

"Next, it's time for the real main course to be served."