CIA Director Cote’s voice cut through the meeting room, drawing everyone’s attention.
Every face was filled with an urgent sense of concern.
The current state of the Soviet Bear Alliance was a complete blackout for the Eagle’s leadership.
From official channels to their embedded spies, everyone had vanished without a trace, leaving no information whatsoever.
This uncertainty made it impossible for them to send reinforcements to their internal contacts in the Soviet Bear Alliance, as they had no idea where to send them or what supplies to send.
They were even more worried about the sudden emergence of Konev, wondering if he had already employed radical measures to control all the members of the Dissident faction.
Had he even eliminated them all?
If that were true, then the control of the Soviet Bear Alliance might already be in Konev’s hands.
Even if Yelu Qin could rally a hundred million people to support him.
Konev, with his control of the military, could still easily take down Yelu Qin and solve the problem at its root.
With these thoughts, Old Bush’s anxiety escalated.
In this state of utter isolation, he even thought back to the days of the Soviet Bear’s armored behemoth, a million strong.
A suffocating sense of oppression made it difficult for him to breathe.
Cote said he had made contact with the Soviet Bear, and Old Bush ten instinctively rose from his seat and rushed over, asking, "Where? Who did you get in touch with? Take me there now."
Cote replied excitedly, "It's the president's office of the Soviet Bear Alliance. We got through on the national presidential hotline we established during the Cuba crisis."
Hearing this, Old Bush ten's eyes widened. He thought to himself, the presidential hotline got through, doesn't that mean Yelu Qin has succeeded?
As he processed this, the tension in his shoulders eased, and he sighed in relief, "Yelu Qin is not bad, he handled it so quickly."
"I told you, Gorbachev himself is incompetent, how could his son have such great abilities."
With those words, the two of them rushed to the phone.
"This is President Old Bush ten of the Eagle, I need to make an emergency call to your country in accordance with the terms of the Cuba treaty agreement."
But the next moment, the voice on the other end of the line wasn't Gorbachev or Old Bush ten.
The voice was youthful but sounded quite steady.
"President Old Bush ten, this is Konev, current Chairman of the National Emergency Committee and now the temporary President of the Soviet Bear Alliance."
The moment Konev's words left his mouth, Old Bush ten and CIA Director Cote were stunned.
The name Konev was like a thunderbolt, making their heads buzz.
The mastermind behind the coup in the Soviet Bear Alliance was now in the president's office of the Soviet Bear Alliance!
Didn't that mean...
"Konev, I'm asking you very seriously, where is President Gorbachev? And where is President Yelu Qin?"
Konev listened to Old Bush ten's urgent questioning, simply responding calmly, "This is a matter of internal affairs in our Soviet Bear Alliance, none of your business."
"You can deceive those two, but you can't deceive me."
"Keep your hypocritical democracy and freedom, your hypocritical dealings of interests, in your Eagle and North Alliance. We don't need them in the Soviet Bear Alliance."
As Konev spoke these words, Old Bush ten knew this man was unyielding, impossible to entice with benefits or lure with temptation.
The carrot approach was clearly not working, so Old Bush ten immediately changed his tone, softening his voice as he spoke:
"Mr. Konev, I think you may have some misunderstanding."
"Although there are some differences between our Eagle and the Soviet Bear Alliance, as the two most powerful ideological entities in the world, we should both consider the well-being of all the people of all nations."
"You see, now that you are facing economic difficulties and a shortage of supplies. Haven't our Eagle and North Alliance provided you with a lot of resources, a lot of loans?"
"There is no need for such hostility between two major ideological entities, you don't need to be so wary. We are all working for the sake of the people."
Old Bush ten spoke with a condescending tone, trying to persuade him, while cursing inside.
This little brat dares to ruin our plans!
Even if your dad is Gorbachev, you won’t escape punishment!
Konev had heard these softening tactics countless times in textbooks.
He summarized them with one phrase:
Whoever believes them is a fool.
After clearing his throat, Konev calmly said, "President Old Bush ten, you can fool Gorbachev and Yelu Qin, but please respect the intelligence of the Alliance faction."
"As you said, the Eagle and North Alliance have indeed provided assistance to the Soviet Bear in terms of materials and resources."
"But all your aid comes with exorbitant costs, trading cabbages for airplanes? Flour for oil fields?"
"Do you really think Gorbachev can hide it from the people, from me?"
"Incidentally, after I officially become president, all agreements you have made with Gorbachev's government will be null and void!"
"Don't even think about using those garbage agreements to buy our mineral resources at cabbage prices."
"Incidentally, you have planted a total of 16,712 moles in those companies, and 2,536 moles in the government."
"I believe there are more spies besides these. But as long as I am in power, those worms you've planted will be hunted down one by one."
Initially, Old Bush ten thought perhaps he could fool this young Konev, making him gradually accept the West.
But now it seemed he was stubborn and resistant, with no hope of assimilation.
Konev's voice on the other end of the line was calm, even tinged with a hint of disdain.
"Old Bush ten, listen carefully, Gorbachev and Yelu Qin are no longer presidents. The Soviet Bear Alliance will not dissolve, and I will be the new president of this alliance."
Old Bush ten's face turned instantly grim, anger burning like a rising flame in his chest.
"Are you joking? You?"
"Joking?" Konev's voice was unwavering, as if stating a matter of fact.
"Your conspiracies in the name of freedom are just daydreams. Just wait, the wrath of the Soviet Bear people will descend upon you."
"Want to persist in carving up the Soviet Bear Alliance? Then let me fire the first shot of Season 3!"
"Our long-range missiles will target every city of yours!"
Old Bush ten tensed upon hearing this.
Konev was far more violent than he imagined!
From seizing power by force to now threatening to start Season 3, it all indicated Konev was truly willing to fight!
If Konev had indeed achieved what he had with his own ability, he would be a major threat to the entire West!
His heart clenched, he instantly cowered, but still sneered in his voice: "Heh, you want to challenge the entire free Western world? Do you know what that means?"
"Your troops can't even afford salaries right now, and you want to fight us in the West?"
Old Bush ten forced himself to sound calm, but his voice gradually rose.
His gaze was firm, conveying an attitude of unwavering defiance.
"If you dare ignite the flames of Season 3, then the Western world will respond with force without hesitation."
On the other end of the phone, Konev's cold laughter pierced Old Bush ten like a needle of ice.
"Old Bush ten, I know whether you dare to fight, and you also know whether I dare to fight."
"I won't yield to your pressure. My first act will be to reclaim all your property in the Soviet Bear Alliance and arrest all your spies."
"Let the Soviet Bear people see the true face of you Westerners!"
PS: Update is here, 600 flowers for an extra chapter, 60 review votes for an extra chapter, please give me some flowers, collections, and data points!