I Have Infinite Skill Points-Chapter 517: Haven’t Even Warmed the Seat Yet
"Friends from the global news media, I am Moka, the pitiable victim whom General Ma Eiman of South Summon Kingdom has said was brutally murdered by the Star Martial Warrior from Jade Country. Yes, it is I, the Great Prince of South Summon Kingdom.
"Today, I stand here to expose the lies of Ma Eiman, the biggest deceiver and the most shameless traitor in the world. Jade Country did not kidnap me, nor did they harm me.
"As everyone knows, South Summon Kingdom and Jade Country have always been friendly neighbors and close partners. I studied in Jade Country for three years, and I love Jade Country dearly. Sensing General Ma Eiman’s plot to stage a coup, my friends Major General Wang Lan and Princess Yu of Jade Country rushed thousands of miles to rescue me.
"However, Ma Eiman still launched the coup, murdering my father the king, and my second brother, while propping up my naive younger brother as a puppet on the throne.
"Hereby, I declare to all the countries of the world that I, Great Prince Moka of South Summon Kingdom, as the first in line to the throne, do not recognize the legitimacy of Ma Eiman’s regime. He is a coup plotter, a traitor, and a terrorist.
"At this moment, I urge the citizens of South Summon Kingdom to be brave, strong, and united. I will request assistance from the United Nations to rescue you. I hope you can courageously unite and resist the illegitimate government, but on the premise that you must ensure your own safety and avoid senseless sacrifices.
"The Ma Eiman government is merely a setting sun; it cannot leap about for many more days..."
BOOM—
In a fit of rage, Ma Eiman hurled a chair and smashed the television to pieces.
"Convene another press conference immediately! Announce that Prince Moka is under Jade Country’s control, that he has been manipulated by them!"
"Yes! But... But what about the United Nations..."
"I told you to go!" With a bloodthirsty and ferocious expression, Ma Eiman looked to his attendants like a demonic wolf from ancient times. Instantly, an attendant shuddered and dashed out of the office.
Did Ma Eiman not know? He knew, clearer than anyone else. Had Moka and the others been blown to bits from the start, he could have twisted truth with his bare words. Even if the United Nations did not believe him, they would have had no evidence against him.
But now, Moka was alive, openly exposing Ma Eiman’s coup and his schemes. Forget the United Nations; neither Jade Country nor Vine Country would let him off the hook.
Even though he now controlled South Summon Kingdom, it was already one of the weakest nations on the Asian continent. The earlier nuclear explosion had also killed thousands of Moka’s loyal Star Martial Warriors.
Never mind Jade Country; even a slap from Vine Country would leave him powerless to retaliate.
He was finished, definitely finished. Although ruin was his destiny, Ma Eiman was unwilling to accept it just yet. His only option now was to stall—stall until the fervor passed, stall until the dust settled.
Although Ma Eiman knew the situation would escalate severely and swiftly, he had never imagined it would reach such a grave extent, nor so quickly. Barely half an hour after Moka’s press conference ended, the United Nations issued a statement.
"After a vote by all member states of the United Nations, I formally announce that the Ma Eiman government of South Summon Kingdom is designated an illegal armed terrorist regime and a target for international security strikes.
"The five permanent member states of the United Nations Security Council collectively declare war on South Summon Kingdom to assist Prince Moka in restoring his nation."
This announcement, once issued, sent shockwaves across the globe.
It wasn’t the outcome that was shocking, but the speed. Instantly, the internet erupted with jokes.
"The weakest country in the world, simultaneously declared war upon by the five strongest. This experience... it’s simply ’refreshing’!"
"I thought Ma Eiman had everything arranged before launching the coup. Turns out he just went for it with no prep? Is he that reckless?"
"It’s hard to imagine General Ma Eiman’s mood right now. This isn’t dancing on a knife’s edge; it’s disco dancing amidst a dozen Gatling guns."
"General Ma Eiman played a beautiful David-versus-Goliath, but unfortunately, he fumbled it."
"I always thought tempting fate was a European and American specialty. Now I know I was wrong. Here on our Asian continent, we have the grandmaster of courting death."
"All extreme sports enthusiasts, pay your respects to the grandmaster!"
"All extreme athletes, respectfully petition the grandmaster to ascend to heaven!"
The jokes were lighthearted, but the nations’ actions were swift. The White Eagle Country’s Pacific Fleet rapidly converged on the South Sea region. As this was a coalition operation, Jade Country’s gateway to the South Sea was wide open.
Jade Country bordered South Summon Kingdom. The fighter jet units and missile forces of its Southwest Military Region were all on war footing. To deal with South Summon Kingdom, there was no need for all five major powers to exert their full might; any one of them could obliterate South Summon Kingdom with a single volley of missiles.
While the major powers might opt for long-range strikes, Vine Country was poised for a combined land and air assault. They already held a grudge against South Summon Kingdom; now that their State Preceptor had been treacherously killed by South Summon Kingdom, their hatred was irreconcilable.
In the office of the Ministry of Defense’s Military Committee, Jin Committee Member demanded sternly, "Wang Lan, others can escort Prince Moka back to his country. Why are you and Yu Ruoyun joining the fray?"
"That’s a battlefield of modern weaponry, not a Different Dimensional Space. The destructive power of any modern weapon can rival an S-Class Star Martial Skill. On the battlefield, shells don’t have eyes. Even a Titled Strongman can’t guarantee they won’t be hit by stray fire. You should stay behind. Go after the Ma Eiman government surrenders."
"Mr. Jin, I have compelling reasons to go," Wang Lan stated.
"Hmph? Do you think our five allied nations can’t handle one South Summon Kingdom?"
"Of course not. We could obliterate South Summon Kingdom with the push of a few buttons. But Mr. Jin, have you forgotten about the Time-Space Gemstone that was unearthed? What if it’s in South Summon Kingdom and, in their rage, they try to activate it to open a Time-Space Gate?
"I’m the only one in the world who can prevent the Time-Space Gemstone from being activated. What if Ma Eiman, backed into a corner, makes a desperate move and I’m not on the front line?"
This reasoning left Mr. Jin momentarily speechless.
"I’ll report this to the higher-ups."
Mr. Jin hastily left the director’s office, leaving only Wang Lan, Yu Ruoyun, and Prince Moka, who was trembling like he was having a seizure.
Such a top-notch Star Sea Realm expert, and this is his mental fortitude? Wang Lan thought.
"Moka? What’s wrong? Even if you’re excited, you don’t need to be this overjoyed," Wang Lan said.
"Overjoyed? I’m scared to death! Your Highness Wang Lan, my dear friend, you must save South Summon Kingdom—"
"What do you mean? Isn’t the United Nations already saving it?"
"But your methods... they’re too brutal! If each of you launches a round of missiles, how can South Summon Kingdom withstand it? Won’t it be blown to pieces?"
"Not at all, we’re not using nuclear bombs."
"South Summon Kingdom is only so large! With your approach, not even a mosquito could survive in South Summon Kingdom, let alone its people! What will happen to them?"
"You’re overthinking it. We’re not butchers; we’ll only target your military bases. By the way, are the coordinates you provided for the military bases accurate? If we bomb the wrong place, we won’t take the blame."
"They’ll be accurate, unless Ma Eiman has relocated the military bases. But they’ve only had a day; they wouldn’t have had time to move them even if they wanted to."
Soon, Mr. Jin returned and finally approved Wang Lan’s request. Wang Lan wasn’t essential for the combat mission, but he was indispensable for preventing the activation of the Time-Space Gemstone. He was the only person capable of absorbing the Time-Space Gemstone’s energy and stopping a Time-Space Gate from opening.
Boarding a plane, Wang Lan arrived in Cloud Sea that afternoon. And just then, the countdown to war reached zero.
Instantly, from the Southwest Military Region, WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! Thousands of missiles soared into the sky. Simultaneously, thousands of missiles from the Pacific Fleet in the South China Sea also launched.
Viewed from a satellite, South Summon Kingdom would appear to be the meat filling in a baozi, as countless missiles converged from all directions, forming the wrapper.
"We will not yield to the tyranny of nations, nor will we bow to the bullying of the United Nations! We have the determination, the confidence to fight to the very end! Even if it means fighting to the last man, we will resolutely drive the invaders out of South Summon Kingdom—"
Ma Eiman was passionately delivering his pre-battle address, the rally still underway, when—
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM—
Countless missile trails streaked overhead towards their targets. Then, within minutes, a series of thunderous booms resounded.
Ma Eiman abandoned the rally and rushed back to the command center.
"General, it’s disastrous! All our military bases have been destroyed! All airports, all fighter jets, all armored vehicles, all artillery, all missile bases... completely flattened!"
"What?"
Modern warfare relied on mechanized weaponry? No, it was now a war of information and intelligence. Though South Summon Kingdom was weak, its annual military expenditure accounted for seventy percent of its fiscal revenue. This investment had built its air force, army, armored divisions, and missile forces.
Yet, before the war had even officially begun, these forces, painstakingly built over decades, were annihilated in an instant.
This wasn’t just decades of hard work undone overnight; it was decades of hard work vaporized in a moment. How could they fight? Was there anything left to fight with?
"General... what do we do now?" a Lieutenant General asked, his face a mask of sorrow.
"Report! General, bad news! Vine Country’s Ground-Air Troops have crossed the border and are advancing on Summoning City! Their air force is leading the charge, with armored divisions paving the way. They’re advancing irresistibly, unstoppable! They will reach Summoning City within an hour!
General, we’re finished! We can’t win! Let’s surrender!"
BANG!
With a finger-sword strike, Ma Eiman blew apart the head of the Major General standing before him.
"Anyone else who dares undermine military morale will be executed without mercy! Order the army to engage Vine Country’s armored forces and delay them for as long as possible! We still have reinforcements! We still have reinforcements!"
Upon this command, South Summon Kingdom’s fifty thousand troops were in an uproar. Hold off Vine Country’s armored forces? With what? Our fists? Our teeth? Block tanks with our bodies? What a joke! Without support from our own armored or artillery divisions to intercept their armored forces... The command center has gone mad! Stark raving mad!
After issuing the order, Ma Eiman hurried home to his study, pulled out a dedicated phone, and dialed. "I’m done for! I’m completely finished! What are you people doing? What are you playing at?"
"I know you’re done for," a mocking voice replied from the other end. "I knew it the moment the five major powers declared war on you. Your country was destined for annihilation in an instant, while they would merely lose a few missiles."
