The Commander-in-Chief shook his head, "This isn't an alien spacecraft. It's a mythical artifact, not something from outer space. It seems to be indigenous to Dragon Country, like something manifested by the immortals in myths and legends."
The Intelligence Chief said meaningfully, "Mythical artifacts, couldn't they be high technology? Couldn't they come from outer space? Commander-in-Chief, what superheroes can do, Dragon Country's immortals and gods can also do, and so can aliens."
The Commander-in-Chief's expression grew solemn, "In your opinion, is this the end, or just the beginning?"
The Intelligence Chief replied, "It could be the end, or it could be just the beginning. But in any case, for the sake of our beautiful country's interests, we cannot ignore this matter."
"Commander-in-Chief, Dragon Country has already acquired this Water-Repelling Pearl and is researching it in the laboratory. If they succeed in deciphering its principles and popularizing it, we might face over a billion superheroes."
"At that time, it will be our beautiful country's nightmare."
"Think about it, one superhero is already formidable. Billions of superheroes, what will the world become then? I dare not imagine, but I know that our beautiful country will fall into a true nightmare..."
The Intelligence Chief delivered this statement.
The Commander-in-Chief habitually tapped the table.
He felt that the Intelligence Chief's words were somewhat exaggerated.
From the pictures and videos, the Water-Repelling Pearl, this mythical artifact, only allowed one to survive underwater, like a fish.
It possessed no offensive or defensive capabilities.
Even if someone obtained the Water-Repelling Pearl, they would be no match for swords and guns. They would merely gain the skill of surviving in water—in no way could they be called a superhero.
In the movies, what superhero couldn't tear apart legions?
And the possessor of this Water-Repelling Pearl? A handgun could take him down.
The Commander-in-Chief understood that the Intelligence Chief was exaggerating the severity of the situation to secure more funding.
But exaggeration aside, the matter of the Water-Repelling Pearl still could not be underestimated.
The navy of the beautiful country relied on fleets of warships to traverse the oceans. If the people of Dragon Country only needed a Water-Repelling Pearl to roam the seas, it would be bad news from any perspective.
"Is there any way to obtain this Water-Repelling Pearl?"
The Commander-in-Chief asked.
The Intelligence Chief quickly shook his head, "Dragon Country is not the Dragon Country of decades ago. Its national strength is only second to ours, and it's not easy to invade."
"The reason we were able to obtain so much data and video this time is largely because the matter itself was too absurd. Initially, no one believed it, leading to intelligence leaks."
"By the time Dragon Country realized the truth later and imposed a gag order, classifying it as a state secret, too much had already leaked, rendering it useless."
"This time was an exception, a unique and unrepeatable exception."
"If, at the beginning of this incident's exposure, before the Dragon Country government could react, we could have snatched the pearl, it might not have been impossible."
"But now, the Water-Repelling Pearl has been classified as a national secret and sent to the highest academy of sciences, where the security is so tight that our people cannot infiltrate."
The Intelligence Chief's meaning was clear.
The emergence of the Water-Repelling Pearl was also a surprise to the Dragon Country government.
Just as the Commander-in-Chief himself did not believe it.
Officials in Dragon Country had to go through repeated explanations from lower-level personnel before finally believing the authenticity of the Water-Repelling Pearl.
If, before that, the people of the beautiful country had gone all out to seize the Water-Repelling Pearl, there would have been a chance of success because, at that time, the pearl had not received national attention or protection.
But now, the Water-Repelling Pearl was receiving attention and protection from Dragon Country. With the strength of the entire nation, it could not be taken away, not even by the beautiful country, the number one power on Earth.
"Then let's find another way."
The Commander-in-Chief made a decision, pointing to a picture depicting a remarkably handsome young man.
"Since he gave out the Water-Repelling Pearl, he must have something more important on him."
"Or rather, he himself is more important."
"This person is not yet under Dragon Country's control. If we find him, we will obtain everything."
The Commander-in-Chief directly shifted the target to the person himself.
The Water-Repelling Pearl was protected by national forces and could not be seized, but this so-called young sword immortal was not under state protection.
This meant that the beautiful country had a possibility of successfully finding him.
Even if Dragon Country was also looking for this person, as long as this young man was not under state protection at this moment, the beautiful country had a chance of succeeding.
As for the young man's own strength, whether he could surpass the beautiful country's power... the Commander-in-Chief had not considered these things.
Although his worldview had been shattered, and he had come to realize that there were mysterious forces in the world, his decades of technological worldview, coupled with holding world-class power, made him not believe how strong a transcended being could be when facing a military encirclement—it was merely a matter of insufficient firepower.
Moreover, no country, when facing an individual, could simply surrender without a fight—that was impossible.
It was not surprising that the Commander-in-Chief could make such a decision.
Find him, try to recruit him, and if he refuses, resort to force...
This was the Commander-in-Chief's decision.
Due to the beautiful country's system, when the Commander-in-Chief knew about something, and when the intelligence department knew about something, it also meant that the behind-the-scenes financial magnates of the beautiful country, the true power holders of this nation, also knew about it.
The Commander-in-Chief could at most serve two terms. In the hundred-year history of the beautiful country, the various financial magnates had always been the ones controlling the country's power from behind the scenes.
When some of the patriarchs and group leaders among these financial magnates learned about the Water-Repelling Pearl and the existence of a supernatural side to the world, many powerful but aging individuals showed hope and madness in their eyes.
Between life and death lay great terror. No matter how shrewd the power holders were, they could not escape the great terror of life and death.
This was not due to their incompetence, but human nature. Everyone yearned for immortality and to wield power forever.
Since ancient times, only those who felt that the suffering in life far outweighed the happiness did not wish for immortality. Clearly, the power holders of these financial magnates were not such people. They wished to live, and even to live forever.