Chapter 356: A Meeting That Wasn’t Going Well
Children don't understand these worldly troubles.
They only know that by becoming a wizard they can feel the magnificent magic and even have the chance to save the world.
Although the elderly understand the interests involved, they choose to pretend not to understand.
The average lifespan of a wizard is 200 years, which is too great a temptation for people like them who only have a few years to live.
They were unsure what the wizard's standard of piety was.
But for that opportunity that was vague but real, they chose faith.
And for those who are familiar with the church, they also understand one thing.
Just believing in something does not make you pious.
One must also make efforts on one's own to make more people believe in it in order to be considered pious.
Then a frenzy of faith swept over.
The family became the first stop for them to spread their faith, and the first people to receive their education were their own children.
Hence family conflicts arise.
The conflicts of ideas between parents and children, and between couples, are becoming increasingly intense.
All of this is the third step in Hefes' five-step strategy:
Promise huge benefits to undermine the enemy from within and shake off its foundation.
The top government officials in developed countries are well aware of the hidden purpose behind the actions of wizards.
They are aware of the stakes of this series of actions.
However, faced with such a situation, they also found it difficult to deal with it.
Nowadays, wizards no longer operate in their territories, but have all fled to developing countries.
In the past these countries were manipulated by them to a certain extent.
But now the wizards have completely eradicated their influence.
If this happens in only one or two countries.
Perhaps we can find an excuse to send troops to suppress it quickly.
But now it involves 137 countries with a total population of nearly one billion.
In this situation, no one dared to act rashly, because that would mean a war that could sweep the world.
But no one dares to take on this responsibility.
And privately, many of them actually aspire to become wizards.
After all, who doesn't want to live longer, especially those at the pinnacle of power?
But precisely because of their status, they dare not act rashly.
If wizards became the dominant force in this world, their power and status would not be guaranteed.
Inside Baigong's conference room, there was also a gloomy atmosphere and the air pressure was extremely low.
President Jack Harveys sat at one end of the long table, his face filled with worry.
The wizards' mind invasion has become a problem that cannot be ignored, and they must find a solution as soon as possible.
Secretary of State Michael Stevens was the first to break the silence: “Ladies and gentlemen.
We have to face the reality that the power of wizards has exceeded our expectations.
Their activities in those developing countries have posed a serious threat to our international influence.
We can’t just sit back and do nothing.”
Chief of Staff Michael Howard followed up by saying: “We are facing an unprecedented challenge.
The existence of wizards is not only a military threat, but also an ideological infiltration.
We have to find a way to protect our interests without sparking a large-scale conflict.”
Time passed slowly and the meeting continued.
Harveys listened to the discussion and heard that it was all repetitive talk without any substantive solution proposed.
He finally couldn't help but knock on the table.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what we need now is not a repetition of these obvious problems, but concrete solutions."
The meeting room suddenly fell into silence.
The silence was broken by the voice of Maria Gonzalez, Minister of Intelligence.
“Perhaps we could consider an economic lockdown.”
No one responded, even Harvest fell into deep thought.
The idea of economic blockade has appeared in the mind of each of them.
They do have the ability to impose a complete economic blockade on 137 countries.
Even do well.
After all, this is their usual method to suppress their opponents, and they are very familiar with it.
But no, it's too involved.
Because the interest groups behind them will not allow it.
The United States has always maintained a trade surplus with these developing countries.
Once a blockade is imposed, it would be equivalent to cutting the flesh of these interest groups.
And no one would allow cutting off a large piece of fat meat.
Gonzalez is certainly aware of this.
But as a pawn planted by the Shadow in the U.S. Congress, she certainly would not give up this proposal easily.
Although this is a means of attacking those countries, it is very beneficial to wizards.
“Perhaps we can try it on a small scale first, and if the effect is significant, then consider full implementation.”
Harvest still didn't dare to agree.
After all, a small area is very small, and too little will not cause any harm.
Too many may upset the financial backers behind the scenes.
"Any other suggestions?"
Defense Secretary Newland Johnson said solemnly: “Should we consider military intervention?
Send aircraft carrier fleets to conduct military exercises around these countries.
Through the use of force, perhaps they will be wary of cooperating with wizards."
Stevens shook his head, his tone revealing helplessness.
“The drill can be arranged, but I don’t think the effect will be very good.
Wizards have infiltrated the top levels of government in those countries, and they are not afraid of such a painless exercise."
Chief of Staff Michael Howard offered.
"Do you want to try to communicate with the wizard and seek the possibility of peaceful negotiations?"
Johnson was immediately unhappy and slammed his palm on the table.
"Peace talks? Have you forgotten the 170,000 soldiers who died at the hands of wizards? Peace talks, I strongly oppose it."
Howard closed his mouth helplessly. He didn't want to provoke this hawkish madman.
The meeting room fell silent again.
Suddenly, the president's personal assistant, Emilia, raised her hand, indicating that she had something to say.
President Havis nodded encouragingly.
Although Leah is nominally only his assistant, she is actually one of his think tanks.
"We have too little intelligence about wizards right now, mainly because we know nothing about their actions."
Leah looked at Gonzalez with a slightly apologetic look, indicating that she was not targeting him.
Gonzalez waved his hand to indicate that he didn't mind.
Leah continued, “We still have quite a few wizard prisoners.
They can be organized into a special operations team.
Let them infiltrate the shadowy organization and bring us more timely intelligence."
Everyone's eyes lit up when they heard this; this was indeed a good suggestion.
They have always been led by the wizards and can only passively defend themselves every time.
If we had gotten the news in advance, the situation would have been very different.
