"Brother, something's happened on Wang Miao's end."
Hearing Shi Qiang's slightly anxious shout over the phone, David understood immediately. In the end, Shi Qiang had still chosen Wang Miao to assist him in investigating the Three-Body game.
"Wang Miao?" David asked, his tone laced with feigned surprise.
"He's a researcher from the China No. 2 Nanotechnology Research Institute... but that's not important. What matters is that he's currently assisting me in investigating the Three-Body game and the mastermind behind it."
Shi Qiang's voice from the other end sounded hurried. "Just now, he went off the grid. His last known location was the cafeteria of a chemical plant on the outskirts of Beijing."
Shi Qiang was panting slightly. "I need you to send an action team. I have a hunch—this time, we might really have hooked a big fish."
"..."
Sometimes David truly admired Shi Qiang's terrifying intuition. The Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO) headquarters, Ye Wenjie... Shi Qiang's instinct was spot on. If the Trisolarans had a "big fish" on Earth, this was indeed the biggest one.
"I understand."
David hung up the phone. He then dialed the UN number listed next to the phone in Chang Weisi's office.
"I wish to speak with our national action representative."
Following the unified counter-terrorism operations, the nations of the world had confirmed that an extremely formidable and evil organization was lurking on Earth. Furthermore, it was highly likely they possessed "illegal nuclear technology." Consequently, the major powers had united, demanding that all actions of the Earth Defense Security Department be conducted under UN supervision to ensure complete strategic and operational transparency between them.
In return, the major nations would provide every possible support whenever the Earth Defense Security Department conducted an operation.
Upon identifying the call as originating from Chang Weisi's office, the UN Security Department headquarters in Sweden immediately sprang into action.
"This is Jiang Sihan, Plenipotentiary Representative to the UN Headquarters." A pleasant young female voice came from the other end.
"We may have discovered the Earth headquarters of the Trisolaran organization. I require military support from the United Nations."
After discovering the close link between this evil organization, the Three-Body game, and the Three-Body Problem, the Earth authorities had simply begun referring to them as the Trisolaran Organization (ETO).
To an outsider, David's statement would seem like a massive risk. But only David knew for certain that what Shi Qiang had discovered was indeed the headquarters of the Trisolaran rebels on Earth. Don't ask why—just know that Wang Miao and Shi Qiang were extraordinary.
"I understand."
Sounds of low, intense conversations in English, Chinese, Russian, French, and German drifted from the other end. After a moment, Jiang Sihan's voice returned.
"Following discussion and authorization by the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council: Second Lieutenant David, you now have at your disposal a mechanized combat group stationed approximately 45 kilometers from you in Khuruldai. It consists of roughly 450,000 personnel across 162 synthetic brigades. Additionally, a carrier strike group equipped with Earth's most advanced nuclear-powered submarines is currently cruising the Pacific and is available for your use."
The UN's efficiency was staggering. This meant the major powers had made up their minds to eradicate this "illegally nuclear-armed" terrorist organization at any cost.
David clearly heard the UN operator's voice trembling on the other end. This military force wouldn't just sweep through a few small African nations; aside from the two superpowers of Earth, any other country—including a military power like Russia—would be like clay chickens and pottery dogs before it. The only difference would be how long they could resist.
"I understand."
David took a long breath as he looked at the anonymous number calling his mobile.
"Second Lieutenant David," Jiang Sihan's slightly trembling voice came through the phone. "Take care."
"Thank you," David replied, then hung up.
Jiang Sihan's "take care" wasn't just about the physical danger of the mission. More importantly, the UN had mobilized such a gargantuan military force based on the intelligence David provided.
Setting aside the "war monsters" that claimed ten synthetic brigades could fight their way to Moscow along the Siberian Railway in the information age without using radiation zones, a small-scale exercise by the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Pacific in '04 cost nearly $510 million. Now, the entire U.S. Pacific Fleet was steaming toward the coast, fueled by a thirst for vengeance.
Following the previous hydrogen bomb attack, U.S. overseas bases were currently on full alert. The Americans undoubtedly viewed that attack as a provocation and threat from the jihadists. Although this was a hidden war, the American war machine was already running at full power, silent and lethal, stopping just short of a WWII-style total mobilization of ten million soldiers.
It was easy to imagine: if David's intelligence was wrong, or failed to meet the UN's expectations...
In the Stockholm headquarters in Sweden, Jiang Sihan dejectedly put down the phone. Beside her, Zhou Yu, another Chinese UN staff member, was equally pale.
"I really didn't expect the superiors to be so decisive," Zhou Yu said bitterly. "We've ruined him."
"Although Second Lieutenant David is young, he has just performed significant merits and has never made a mistake in tracking the Trisolaran organization," Jiang Sihan managed a bitter smile. "It's not incomprehensible that the superiors place such importance on this."
But both knew these were just formal words. No matter what David discovered, unless this single operation could wipe out the Trisolaran terrorist organization in one fell swoop, the UN would never be satisfied. Under such circumstances, being "quietly sidelined" would be the best possible outcome for David.
Jiang Sihan shook her head, put her monitoring headset back on, and continued her duties. After all, unless they encountered actual aliens, she truly couldn't imagine what kind of enemy could make the two united superpowers feel their expenditure was justified.
"So... how did the Trisolaran organization develop to this scale?"
Looking at Ye Wenjie, Wang Miao asked. His shock had momentarily made him forget the danger and fear he was currently experiencing.
"That starts with Evans. However, everyone knows that history. I will tell you personally when we have time."
Ye Wenjie nodded to the young girl beside her. The girl, wearing tactical boots, hummed a light tune as she walked to a safe and took out a silver orb.
"Let's talk about your nanomaterials, Wang Miao. Your friends will be here soon."
Ye Wenjie spoke calmly, as if she knew Wang Miao's true identity. "Our time is running out."
As soon as Ye Wenjie finished speaking, several loud bangs erupted as the two main doors were blown open. A group of soldiers carrying the most advanced automatic rifles of Earth's civilization rushed in, rapidly surrounding the Trisolaran rebels present.
"Wang Miao!"
"Shi Qiang!"
Seeing the familiar criminal investigator, Wang Miao breathed a sigh of relief. However, when he saw the young man beside Shi Qiang, his expression froze as he recalled their first encounter at China No. 2.
How can it be him!
Wang Miao stared blankly at David, that inexplicable tremor rising in his heart once again.