Chapter 579: Luo Yue’s Stance Translator: Timothy Editor: GlobeGlotter

The International Federation, a global organization with peacekeeping as one of its many functions, comprised all the world's countries. When the U.S. proposed forcibly removing Luo Yue from Sai Na, they did not anticipate the Federation's refusal to fully endorse their proposal. Of the five permanent members of the Security Council, China abstained, while Russia voted against any military action against Luo Yue. A single dissenting vote was enough to block the proposal, preventing the U.S. from openly sending troops to Sai Na.

Russia had only received some arms deals from Luo Yue. Were they willing to antagonize the U.S. over a few hundred million dollars? This wasn't the Cold War; there was no need to incur the U.S.'s wrath over a mere 200,000-inhabitant Luo Yue.

Russia's actions were perplexing. Three days later, at the U.S.'s behest, the International Federation held a second vote. To everyone's surprise, Russia abstained again, clearing the way for a U.S.-led military intervention in Luo Yue.

No one understood Russia's change of heart, but it proved inconsequential. A week later, a U.S.-led alliance, citing freedom and democracy, declared war on Luo Yue. The alliance comprised 26 countries and 120,000 troops, with the U.S. army accounting for 90%. Most countries hadn't voted and only deployed troops after receiving special concessions from the U.S.

The force included 50,000 ground troops, 30,000 marines, 10,000 air force personnel, and 30,000 special forces; 380 tanks, 600 armored vehicles, 350 jets, 200 helicopters, and 70 ships.

The battle plan, dubbed the "swing tactic," involved a two-pronged assault: the Union Army would approach Sai Na from the Indian Ocean, while ground troops would attack from the Ethiopian and Kenyan borders. This was designed to overwhelm Luo Yue's forces, trapping them in the middle and forcing a surrender. The U.S. aimed to prevent the escape of Luo Yue's high-level technical personnel.

Unconditional surrender might have been Luo Yue's best option.

On the day the Union Army mobilized, a major betting organization opened a market on the war's duration. The odds of Luo Yue winning were 1:100. No one believed Luo Yue could win; even odds of 1:1000 wouldn't have enticed bets on Luo Yue. Then, shocking news broke: an anonymous individual placed a 500 million bet on Luo Yue's victory.

This captivated the media, shrouding Luo Yue and the anonymous better in mystery. More shocking was Luo Yue's response to the war: a declaration of war against the U.S. On Luo Yue's news channel, Xu Yuehua announced Luo Yue possessed nuclear weapons and would test its first warhead near South Africa. Any attack on Luo Yue would be met with nuclear retaliation.

Luo Yue's declaration enraged the U.S. They hadn't anticipated Luo Yue's rapid rise to power. For short-sighted gain, they had allowed Luo Yue to become too strong. Simultaneously, fear set in. Even if they could obliterate Luo Yue, a single nuclear strike on U.S. soil would be catastrophic. The U.S. suspected China or Russia supplied Luo Yue's nuclear weapons.

The world was stunned. Smaller countries involved in the war panicked. They weren't afraid of U.S. nukes, but Luo Yue's possession of nuclear weapons terrified them. Pushing Luo Yue too hard might trigger a nuclear strike. Even if Luo Yue were annihilated, the losses would be unbearable.

Nine countries swiftly withdrew from the alliance.

The next day, a massive mushroom cloud appeared, silencing the world. Five more countries abandoned the alliance.

Though the army's size remained largely unchanged, morale plummeted.

The Union hastily convened another meeting. No one could believe a nation could acquire nuclear weapons within a year of its development.

Although the International Federation invited Luo Yue to the meeting, the request was flatly refused. Luo Yue would participate only if the Federation recognized its independence and withdrew its army.

The U.S. was furious. Retreating was unacceptable; being deterred by a single nuke would undermine their position as the Pacific's police.

So what if Luo Yue had nukes? The U.S. did too.

“We must eliminate them before they can react!” someone ordered.

The U.S. government was enraged, but public opinion was against the war. News of Luo Yue's nuclear arsenal and long-range detonation capabilities sparked mass protests. The public opposed sending troops across the ocean to invade a nuclear-armed nation with no connection to the U.S.

…

When the International Federation again invited Luo Yue to a meeting, Ye Mo merely sneered. This mirrored inter-sect conflicts on the Luo Yue Continent: a new sect's emergence prompted existing sects to pressure, then annihilate, it unless the new sect's leader proved overwhelmingly powerful, forcing a change to diplomacy.

Power, Ye Mo sighed, remained paramount; without it, peace was unattainable.

Despite Luo Yue's demand for the Union Army's withdrawal, the order never came. Meanwhile, the Union Army, under Sai's command, was already in the Indian Ocean, half a day from Luo Yue's territorial waters.

The world's gaze was fixed on Luo Yue. As news of the third meeting's failure spread, the Union Army's first fleet entered Luo Yue's waters. The war began with the first missile strike.