In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

Time: Day 13 of the apocalypse countdown.

Across the ocean, deep in the Colorado Plateau.

This is one of the highest elevation areas in the United States, and also the location of the rumored "2012 doomsday bunker".

At this moment, this desolate Gobi Desert has been placed under military control, with heavily armed soldiers forming three layers of blockade.

The Pentagon acted swiftly, so swiftly it reeked of the bloody stench of capitalism.

The president slumped in his leather high-backed chair, twirling his Montblanc pen rapidly.

"Since the Great Xia people are already digging tunnels, it means this is not destruction, but a reshuffling of the deck."

The president sat bolt upright; at that moment, the greed of a politician overwhelmed his fear.

"This is our opportunity! If the whole world descends into chaos, and we hold the resources and the military, the new world will still be ours to call the shots!"

"Launch the 'Garden of Eden' project."

The president coldly ordered, "Reopen all the deep underground bunkers from the Cold War era. Use the national strategic reserves and move everything that can be moved in."

"But Mr. President..."

The chief of staff's Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke with difficulty, "Our bunkers are designed to hold a maximum of 20 million people. We, on the other hand, have 300 million citizens."

"Then let's screen them."

The president's voice was devoid of warmth: "Sell tickets to Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood. One hundred million dollars per ticket, no checks, only gold and hard currency. The remaining seats are for the military and top scientists."

"This is the end times, not a charity dinner. Resources are limited, and we must ensure the continuation of the United States' elite."

"As for the remaining 280 million people..."

The president paused, then made the sign of the cross on his chest. "God will bless them."

"Furthermore, we don't have enough resources."

The Minister of Defense interjected, his face grim, "For the past two weeks, Great Xia has swept through the global market like a mad dog, and now they've bought up all the food and rare metals on the market."

A cold glint flashed in the president's eyes: "If you can't buy them, then rob them. Doesn't Great Xia still have its last batch of evacuation ships and planes on the high seas? Especially that cargo ship 'Changfeng' carrying thirty top chip experts."

"That's their most cherished treasure."

The president grabbed the phone, his voice laced with the bloodthirstiness of a robber:

"Order the Seventh Fleet to intercept the 'Changfeng'. Tell Great Xia that if they want people back, they can exchange them for the supplies that Su Ran has! I want half! Don't give them to us? Then let those experts feed the sharks!"

……

Pacific Ocean, high seas.

The wind was high and the waves were rough, with dark clouds looming overhead.

The massive cargo ship "Changfeng" bobbed in the waves, while four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers clung to it like a pack of wolves, their gun barrels, now uncovered, coldly pointed at the ship's bridge.

Further away, a colossal vessel cuts through the waves.

Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan.

It is the absolute overlord of this ocean; its 90,000-ton steel body is itself a silent death sentence.

"Changfeng, this is the United States Navy."

Over the public address system, an arrogant voice boomed, accompanied by static, "No matter who you're carrying, stop immediately for inspection! I repeat, stop immediately! Otherwise, we will sink you!"

"Bullshit! We're civilian vessels! We're carrying scholars returning home!"

The captain of the Changfeng, his eyes bloodshot, gripped the walkie-talkie and roared, "This is international waters! You have no right to enforce the law!"

"This is the Pacific Ocean, and within our firing range lies the truth."

The other party responded dismissively, "You have five minutes to lower the flag and shut down the aircraft."

Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was extremely somber.

More than thirty elderly professors with gray hair, some holding hard drives, others protecting manuscripts, their hands trembling, but their backs were ramrod straight.

"Don't be afraid." Professor Lin, the leader, pushed up his glasses, his hands trembling but his eyes resolute. "The worst that can happen is death. I've already destroyed the backups of the data. I'd rather jump into the sea than make bullets for bandits!"

"Yes! I'd rather die than go back!"

……

Yucheng, command center.

"asshole!!"

Li Guodong slammed his fist on the mahogany table, shattering the teacup and spilling scalding tea all over the floor.

"They're blatantly robbing us! That's the team of chip architects we desperately need! Once the apocalypse begins, the revival of the electronics industry depends entirely on them!"

"Could we send the Liaoyuan?"

"It's too late."

The operations staff officer was ashen-faced. "The nearest escort fleet would take three hours to get there. But the enemy only gave us five minutes."

The old man sat at the head of the table, his face ashen, the rise and fall of his chest revealing the raging anger he was suppressing.

The whip is beyond reach.

At this distance and at this point in time, unless divine intervention occurs, we are at their mercy.

"Where is Su Ran?" the old man suddenly asked.

"Advisor Su said an hour ago that he had to take care of some 'personal matters' and cut off communication..."

Before he could finish speaking, the real-time satellite image on the big screen suddenly flickered.

"Look! What's that?!"

Everyone looked up.

Over the turbulent Pacific Ocean, a black, streamlined fighter jet without any markings was flying at an extremely low altitude, defying aerodynamics, skimming the sea!

It was moving so fast that it left a white shockwave several kilometers long on the sea surface.

"It's a 'Mysterious Maiden' verification machine!!"

A technical officer exclaimed, "Advisor Su took that demonstrator aircraft used for wind tunnel testing out?!"

over the Pacific Ocean.

Sitting in the cramped cockpit, Su Ran's enhanced body after awakening his superpower allowed him to completely ignore the terrifying overload of 9G.

He looked down at the invincible steel behemoth below, his eyes as calm as a stagnant pool.

In its previous life, the USS Ronald Reagan was a tyrant in the early days of the apocalypse. With its carrier-based aircraft and nuclear power, it plundered countless coastal bases and its hands were stained with the blood of survivors.

Since we've met in this life, let's settle both the old and new scores together.

"No matter how many times you are reborn, your pirate nature will never change."

Su Ran lightly brushed her fingers across the control lever. Since you've delivered the goods to my door, I won't be polite.

Su Ran lightly brushed her fingers across the control lever. Since you've delivered the goods to my door, I won't be polite.

"Want some chips?"

Su Ran pressed the communication button, directly switching to the US military's public channel.

"I am Su Ran."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was clearly transmitted to the command center of every US warship.

On the bridge of the USS Ronald Reagan, Admiral Smith, the fleet commander, who was smoking a cigar, paused for a moment, then burst into laughter:

"Su Ran? That porter from Great Xia? What, are you here to deliver the ransom?"

"No."

Su Ran's voice was as cold as deep-sea ice, "I'm here to collect interest."

"I've got my eye on your ship."

Smith laughed so hard his cigar almost fell off: "Kid, are you still asleep? Do you know who you're talking to? This is..."

"The Reagan, a 100,000-ton class, dual-reactor."

Su Ran interrupted him, "And those 70 F-18 Hornets up there, I really like them."

boom!

As soon as the words were spoken, the black "Mysterious Maiden" fighter jet broke through the clouds like a ghost and hovered directly fifty meters above the aircraft carrier deck!

This hovering technique left all US military pilots dumbfounded.

"Shoot him down!!" Smith felt a strange palpitation and roared wildly.

But it was too late.

Su Ran opened the canopy, and a gust of wind rushed in, making his hair dance wildly.

Instead of jumping, he stood high in the air and slowly extended his right hand towards the massive, mountain-like ship below.

A handshake across the air.

"Space, unfold."

Under the gaze of thousands of terrified eyes, the space of this sea area seemed to be violently crumpled by an invisible hand.

There was no explosion.

There was no fire.

There was only a dull "pop" sound, like the plug in the bathtub being pulled out.

next second.

A 333-meter-long, 100,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, along with nearly a hundred fighter jets on its deck... vanished in an instant!

Vanished into thin air!

The original location of the aircraft carrier was instantly transformed into a huge crater.

Immediately afterwards, thousands of American soldiers, who had not yet reacted, fell into the sea like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

"Splash—"

The surrounding tens of thousands of tons of seawater lost their support and rushed back to the center with a roar, forming a terrifying whirlpool and giant waves tens of meters high!

"My God..."

"What the hell! Where's the aircraft carrier?! Where's the USS Ronald Reagan?!"

The four destroyers around them were rocking wildly in the huge waves. The once arrogant American soldiers were now paralyzed with fear, and some even knelt down and began to make the sign of the cross.

This is a miracle.

It was also divine punishment.

Su Ran's face was slightly pale, but the extreme operations he had been performing over the past two weeks had already given his mental strength a qualitative leap.

Recapture an aircraft carrier, though strenuous, is no longer a cause for despair.

Su Ran piloted the fighter jet, gracefully circling over the towering waves, and reconnected to the public channel.

"Tell your president."

"I'll take the boat back; consider it compensation for emotional distress."

"If the Changfeng loses a piece of paint, the next thing to disappear will be the White House."

A deathly silence.

The four destroyers were like frightened quails, not daring to even raise their guns. In fact, to show goodwill, they turned their guns around and retreated in the opposite direction, giving the "Changfeng" a wide road.

Su Ran turned around and looked at the "Changfeng".

The old professor on the deck was already in tears, and with trembling hands, he gave a non-standard military salute.

"Professor, I am Su Ran, the special advisor of Peach Blossom Spring. I have been ordered to bring you home."

Su Ran's voice, transmitted clearly throughout the ship via mental energy, announced, "Weigh anchor! Full speed ahead back home! Our fighter jet squadron is already in international waters to meet us!"

"Go home! Quickly! Weigh anchor!"

……

Yucheng, conference room.

Li Guodong's mouth dropped open; he didn't even feel the cigarette burning his fingers.

The old man stared at the huge vortex on the screen for a long time before finally letting out a long breath.

"good!"

"What a clever way to collect interest!"

The old man slammed his hand on the table, the gloom in his eyes vanishing instantly. "This is the difference in civilization! They're still playing the pirate game!"

"Ministry of Foreign Affairs! Draft a draft immediately!"

The old man stood up, his demeanor imposing. "No need for protests. Just issue a statement: In light of the 'Bermuda Triangle-like' supernatural phenomenon appearing in the Pacific Ocean, for the safety of American personnel, we recommend that all US warships withdraw to the mainland! Otherwise, they will bear the consequences!"

"Oh, and one more thing: we express our regret regarding the losses suffered by the U.S. military due to unidentified flying objects."

……

White House.

Snapped!

The president slammed an expensive antique vase against the wall.

"Disappeared?!"

The president, grabbing his chief of staff by the collar, his face contorted like a wild beast, demanded, "You mean, our most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier vanished like magic by that Great Xia person?! Not a single hair left?!"

"Yes...yes..."

The chief of staff was deathly pale. "And...and the information has been leaked."

"What?"

"The exorbitant ticket prices for the 'Eden Project,' and the news of our setback on the high seas... have been exposed by hackers."

The chief of staff turned on the television with trembling hands.

CNN news footage showed Times Square in New York City engulfed in flames. Angry crowds, holding signs that read "We want to survive" and "We want votes," were storming police lines.

The looting, vandalism, and arson began ahead of schedule.

"Damn it! Damn the Great Xia people!"

The president collapsed to the ground, powerless. He knew that the order in the United States was over.