signingbooks Chapter 313 The Era of Universal "Pay-to-Win"
Chapter 313 The Era of Universal "Pay-to-Win"
Beijing, Command Center No. 1.
Li Zhenguo had just finished a call with Lin Xiaotian of the Northeast Theater Command, a satisfied smile on his face.
The first phase of the Battle of Changbai Mountain was a resounding victory. Not only were the first wave of monsters wiped out, but more importantly, the feasibility of the new combat system of "cultivation techniques + technology" was verified, setting an example for the whole world.
Moreover, through this battle, the "Dragon Fang" Special Operations Brigade amassed a massive amount of personal merits and national achievement points, and China must already be far ahead on that yet-to-be-released "ranking list".
"Secretary, an urgent communication request from the White House, highest level of encryption, from the President himself."
A communications officer strode over and handed over a red telephone receiver.
Li Zhenguo raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
Why would that overwhelmed president call at this time? To boast about their mere 0.01% achievement?
He took the phone, his tone indifferent.
"I am Li Zhenguo."
"Minister Li! It's me! It's me!" The President's voice came from the other end of the phone, more enthusiastic than ever before, even carrying a hint of barely suppressed excitement and agitation.
This made Li Zhenguo even more confused. Wasn't the North American battlefield in complete chaos? Had he taken the wrong medicine?
"Minister Li, first of all, please allow me, on behalf of the United States of America, to extend my warmest congratulations to you on your great victory in the Battle of Changbai Mountain!" The President's opening remarks were full of the flavor of mutual flattery.
"You're too kind, Mr. President. Defending our homeland is our duty," Li Zhenguo replied indifferently.
"No, no, Minister Li, you are too modest! You have not only protected your own home, but also shown us, all of humanity, a path forward!"
The president's flattery was deafening.
Li Zhenguo got goosebumps listening to this and interrupted the other person's flattery.
"Mr. President, please speak frankly. I have a lot of military matters to attend to."
"Okay, okay, then I'll get straight to the point." The voice on the other end of the phone instantly became serious and earnest.
"Minister Li, we want to place an additional order!"
"Additional order?"
"Yes! We need ten thousand! No! One hundred thousand 'wartime supply packs'! We need as many as you have!"
"We also need employees! We want to hire 10,000 Taoist priests from Kunlun Taoist Academy as instructors for our army! Name your price!"
"And also, those mercenaries from the Sky Dome Martial Alliance! Yes! You know, the really powerful mercenaries! We need to hire them too! Send all their mercenary groups of A rank and above to North America! We'll pay for it!"
Mr. President, in one breath, rattled off a series of what could only be described as an insane list of purchases.
Li Zhenguo was stunned when he heard this.
The senior generals and strategists around him exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Mr. President," Li Zhenguo frowned, "you may not be aware of the price of these items. One hundred thousand 'wartime supply packages' would require one hundred million national merit points. And that doesn't even include the cost of hiring instructors and mercenaries. As far as I know, your country currently has all its national merit points combined, and I'm afraid it can't afford such a massive expense."
"Hahahaha!" The president suddenly burst into laughter on the other end of the phone.
"Merit points? Minister Li, who said we were going to use merit points to pay?"
"Then what do you use to pay?" Li Zhenguo was even more puzzled.
"Use our most precious treasure, that of the United States of America!"
The president's voice suddenly became incredibly solemn and dignified.
"We are willing to use all of our gold reserves in Swiss banks to pay!"
"We are willing to pay with all of our Alaskan oil extraction rights for the next fifty years!"
"We are willing to pay for it with our permanent naming rights to Yellowstone National Park!"
"We are even willing to use our veto power in the UN Security Council as collateral!"
"As long as you can provide everything we need!"
"Minister Li, please convey this message to that great being: We, the United States, are willing to put everything we possess on the table of this game!"
"We're going all in!"
"boom!"
The president's words were like a nuclear bomb, exploding in Command Center One!
Everyone was stunned and dizzy by this unprecedented and enormous bet!
Using national sovereignty, the future, and everything that can be traded to exchange for "equipment" and "level" in the game?
This is beyond insanity!
This is simply outrageous!
Li Zhenguo's hand, holding the phone, was trembling slightly.
For the first time, he felt so clearly how this "game" was disrupting and impacting the old order of this world!
Money, power, territory...
These things, which have been fought over in human society for thousands of years, have become so cheap and ridiculous in the face of this new rule where "merit and honor" are the only hard currency.
"Mr. President... are you sure you can make such a decision on behalf of your country?" Li Zhenguo asked with difficulty.
"Of course I'm certain!" the president's voice was resolute. "Just ten minutes ago, our Congress passed the National Emergency Survival Act with an unprecedented unanimous vote!"
"The bill grants me supreme power, during wartime, to manage all national assets!"
"Minister Li, we have no time to waste. Every minute, every second, countless brave American soldiers and innocent civilians are dying."
"Now, please give me an answer."
"This is the largest deal in human history. Will you, China, accept it or not?"
Li Zhenguo remained silent.
He slowly put down the phone.
He raised his head and looked at his colleagues in the command center, who were also in a state of great shock.
All eyes were focused on him.
His decision awaits.
catch?
This means that China will, in effect, become a "creditor" of the United States of America.
They will use virtual items from the game to exchange for the core assets and part of the sovereignty of the world's most powerful industrial nation.
This deal sounds like an absolute steal, like it's from heaven.
However, this also means that China will be completely tied to the already shaky chariot of the United States.
They will have to use their limited strategic resources to fill the bottomless blood hole in North America.
Could this drag us down?
Will this affect the course of our war to defend our homeland?
Countless thoughts flashed through Li Zhenguo's mind.
He remembered what He Yuzhu had said to him.
"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."
"Merit and achievements are the same."
He seemed to understand the deeper meaning of those words.
"Merit" is not just about power and wealth.
It is also a responsibility and a shackle.
When you have the power to set the rules, you also take on the responsibility of maintaining the balance of the entire game world.
If North America truly, completely, falls.
If humanity truly loses the North American continent.
Therefore, for the entire "Earth Online", it will be an irreparable and enormous loss.
This is probably not the ending that the high and mighty "game designer" wanted to see.
"We are here to save them."
"But we are also saving ourselves."
Li Zhenguo said to himself in his heart.
He picked up the phone again.
"Mr. President." His voice became incredibly calm and clear.
"I agree to your conditions in principle."
"However, the specifics of how the transaction will proceed and how the pricing will be determined require our professional team to conduct detailed negotiations with you."
"Moreover, I have one prerequisite."
"What are the conditions?"
"From this moment forward, all military operations in the North American theater must be subject to the unified coordination and command of the Earth Alliance Command."
Li Zhenguo said, emphasizing each word.
"In other words, from this moment on, I am the supreme commander of your U.S. military."
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
A full minute passed.
Then, the president's voice, tinged with bitterness and helplessness, rang out again.
"...Yes, Commander-in-Chief."