United States.
Capitol Hill.
Tommy lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Ever since the audio file, inadvertently leaked by his precious illegitimate son, was exposed by Admiral William, a US Navy Vice Admiral, two weeks ago.
Tommy had been essentially under house arrest.
All he could hope for now was that the joint exercise fleet, still under his command, would find Meng Hao's whereabouts.
He was even starting to regret it now.
Why had he fathered such a "brilliant" illegitimate son?
Relying on his father, the boy thought he could disregard everyone in the world!
However, it was true.
If it weren't for this colossal mess, Vice Admiral Tommy could indeed have smoothed over ordinary matters for this foolish son of his.
But.
When it involved Meng Hao.
When it involved America's prestige.
When it might concern the future destiny of the United States.
Then, Vice Admiral Tommy could no longer protect him.
Everyone knew.
The United States was a community of interests.
To put it bluntly, it was a country controlled by various powerful business families from behind the scenes.
Including military, healthcare, or any other sector, they were all manipulated by capital groups.
And Vice Admiral Tommy.
Was also a member of these capital groups.
It was just that.
Compared to those behemoths hidden beneath the surface of an iceberg.
Tommy, who was solely responsible for the military and the specialized field of equipment research, was nothing, a mere speck of dust.
Damn it.
The problem now was.
Not only could he not save his foolish son, but he himself was practically dragged down with him.
Charles.
This old fox, whom Vice Admiral Tommy had nurtured and brought up from the intelligence department into the military, found Tommy with some food.
"This is truly rare."
"Those who used to curry favor with me, they all shunned me now."
"It's truly rare for you to visit me at this time."
Vice Admiral Tommy forced a smile, looking extremely dejected.
Charles said nothing.
He simply placed the food on Tommy's table.
"Your Excellency."
"Frankly, we all foresaw that your beloved son would eventually drag you down."
"We just didn't expect him to cause such a massive incident this time."
Charles sighed.
He still felt some affection for his former superior, Vice Admiral Tommy.
However, in the face of absolute interests, absolute emotions didn't seem to matter much.
Vice Admiral Tommy gave a wry smile and shook his head... His Vice Admiral rank was still retained, until a final decision was made... Well, enough said. Since you're here, have a drink with me.
Vice Admiral Tommy.
Essentially, he was not a drinker.
But after half a month of monitored confinement, he was habitually tipsy.
Apart from receiving daily situation reports from the joint exercise fleet, his entire being was in a daze.
Facing Vice Admiral Tommy's invitation, Charles did not move.
He even pressed down on the beer bottle in his hand, preventing Tommy from taking it.
Then.
Under Tommy's puzzled gaze, Charles changed the subject.
"My former intelligence department often conducted deep infiltration missions..."
"If sent to a country like Great Xia, even if exposed, at most we would be repatriated or imprisoned in Great Xia..."
"But if we were to infiltrate the bear country or some barbaric African nations, our intelligence personnel would usually be tortured to death..."
Vice Admiral Tommy seemed to sense something.
He stopped reaching for the beer in Charles's hand, his eyes growing colder.
"So, what are you trying to say?"
Vice Admiral Tommy signaled Charles to stop beating around the bush and say what he had to say directly.
Charles sighed.
Then, his gaze turned hard and cold.
"So, our intelligence department would usually hollow out their innermost tooth and bury a highly poisonous chloride..."
"If the mission failed and they were discovered, they would immediately bite their teeth, swallowing the poisonous chloride..."
"This would be the best explanation for themselves and their families..."
Vice Admiral Tommy understood.
He looked with slight panic at the unopened bottles of beer.
For Charles, who had worked in the intelligence department.
Finding a way to inject highly poisonous chloride into an unopened beer bottle was a simple matter.
"So."
"Are you advising me to commit suicide?"
Vice Admiral Tommy, no longer wanting to waste words, brought the topic out into the open.
Charles nodded with difficulty.
"Vice Admiral Tommy, as you know, this incident has become too big..."
"If Meng Hao truly returns to Great Xia and spills all the beans, given the character of Great Xia's top brass, they will definitely demand an explanation from us Americans..."
"And the United Nations will undoubtedly form a special investigation team... Times have changed, the UN is no longer a place where America has the final say. Great Xia, as the second-largest economy in the world, its influence in the UN is no less than ours..."
"Once an investigation team is formed, everyone on your end, including myself, will be in trouble..."
"Therefore, if it's confirmed that Meng Hao has returned to Great Xia, your sudden death is the best outcome..."
Good heavens.
As expected.
In the end.
These subordinates he had once promoted were primarily concerned with their own safety.
And he, Vice Admiral Tommy,
Once a figure who commanded respect in the US military, was now just a scapegoat for them.
"Meng Hao's whereabouts haven't been found yet, have they!"
Vice Admiral Tommy said with a bitter smile.
A flicker of panic and pleading flashed in his eyes.
In the face of life and death.
The former glory and prestige, the former commanding presence, seemed so insignificant.
Charles nodded.
"Indeed, Meng Hao's whereabouts are still unknown..."
"However, according to reports from our intelligence personnel embedded in Great Xia, Meng Hao has been back in Great Xia for several days..."
"And tomorrow's press conference, which is aimed at the entire world, will publicly reveal his detention by our United States..."
"Of course, you can still hold onto a sliver of hope... However, before the press conference concludes, and before Great Xia demands an explanation from us, and before the UN investigation team is formed... you must provide a resolution..."
Charles spoke euphemistically.
But as an old hand who had been entrenched in the US military for decades, Vice Admiral Tommy naturally understood the subtext.
Which meant.
At the latest, before the UN investigation team was formed.
He had to take the blame and "commit suicide out of guilt."
This was the best outcome for the United States and for stakeholders like Charles.
As for Vice Admiral Tommy's fate.
For the entire US interest group, it was utterly insignificant.