America, Union Headquarters, Multimedia Room.
Over a dozen solemn figures of various ethnicities sat in rows, wearing suits, sipping coffee, and silently watching the projected screen.
The massive screen displayed silent footage.
Dark green metallic behemoths streaked through the sky with blazing trails like meteors, descending towards the earth before deploying mid-air.
Some revealed humanoid sci-fi mecha within, while others directly dropped massive silver metal spheres.
The mecha soared amidst brilliant blue flames, while the deployed silver spheres crashed into the ground like meteorites, creating enormous craters.
The shaky footage then focused on one such impact crater.
Within the pit, the landed metal sphere began to twist and transform. Through a series of mechanical transformations, a gigantic metallic spider abruptly emerged from the ground.
Seeing this, the Chinese representative in the main seating area suddenly inquired:
"Is this the 'Autonomous Anti-Sorcerer Armament' publicly disclosed by the SDS?"
The person being questioned was Colonel Campbell, head of the intelligence centre at Union Headquarters.
With his impeccably groomed blonde hair, he stood beside a massive projection screen, responding to the Chinese representative's inquiry:
"According to the SDS's disclosure, the two unmanned units appearing in the footage are designated as 'VIVU1 Autonomous Mechanoids' and 'Multipurpose Space Armament IS'."
"Field reports indicate both armaments demonstrated extraordinary performance during cleansing operations against Truth Astronomy branches and Desire Faction cells across EU territories."
At this point, Campbell turned towards the projection screen and pressed his remote control.
Instantly, the footage transitioned to show three giant silver spiders standing in formation, extending their forelimbs to emit visible light beams. Like harvesters, they sliced through buildings and human bodies at terrifying speed.
The gruesome display of capability made representatives from various nations frown in discomfort.
As the footage paused, Campbell flicked his teaching rod towards the mechanoids' forelimbs:
"Field technicians confirmed the VIVU1's forelimbs are equipped with stable beam generators, creating what we're tentatively calling 'Beam Sabres'."
"These weapons showed exceptional performance during orbital drop operations against the Desire Faction."
"Observe this gentleman."
His rod indicated a bald, bronze-skinned man with facial tattoos.
"Primary enforcer for Milan's 'Hungry Wolves' syndicate. Possessed special steel-skin abilities - his body once withstood direct hits from British Challenger 2 tank rounds without injury."
"Within the mystic side's publicly known ranking system, he held at least Elite Rank status."
"Yet here, this defence-specialised Elite was diced into pieces by a VIVU1 unit in a single encounter."
The footage showed the tattooed man being silently bisected by a charging mechanoid, his severed limbs twitching violently on the ground.
Pointing at this brutality, Campbell stated impassively:
"This conclusively proves VIVU1 units can surpass the maximum defensive capabilities of Elite Rank mystic combatants."
"Additionally, these autonomous armaments demonstrated exceptional resistance against sorcerous bombardment. Even witches present struggled to destroy them with spells."
"Few individuals beyond exceptionally powerful specimens can single-handedly eliminate a VIVU1 unit."
"Using Challenger 2 tanks for comparison: computer simulations indicate one VIVU1 could neutralise 882 tanks in open combat without sustaining damage."
"This data undeniably confirms the age of tanks has become obsolete!"
Hearing this description, the British Union representative's face darkened immediately.
'I don't care if you use people to showcase the SDS unmanned weaponry's capabilities, but using our main battle tanks as a comparison makes me very unhappy.'
However, among the Five Great Powers present, four remained silent, so the British Union representative could only grumble internally, sitting aside with a sour expression.
In contrast to the British Union, the French Union representative showed keen interest:
"So you're saying the SDS's cutting-edge magical technology has developed epoch-making magitech weapons capable of rendering mystic-side elites obsolete, even replacing tanks?"
"Has this intelligence been verified? Is it replicable?"
"Probably using Aldegian technology, right? Hasn't Aldegia's crown princess always been quite close with the SDS's chairwoman?"
When the Russian Union representative mentioned this, he couldn't help but snort:
"Clearly, Aldegia's magitech doesn't necessarily require their so-called royal blood."
Hearing this, the Chinese Union representative waved his hand, and the Russian representative immediately fell silent.
After silencing his junior ally's outburst, the Chinese representative turned to Campbell:
"What remote control methods do these autonomous robots use? Any intelligence on that?"
Campbell seemed to have anticipated this question, shaking his head directly:
"Regrettably, field investigators employed all feasible communication jamming methods, yet none definitively disrupted these killing machines."
"So it's proprietary communication technology!" The Chinese representative gave a bitter laugh. "Another case of crossing the river by feeling the stones?"
Hearing this, the American representative's face darkened.
'Little brother, you've already rubbed me bald, and now you want to feel stones while crossing? That's downright wicked!'
At that moment, the Chinese representative turned to the American:
"By the way, hasn't your American Union already decided to ban sales of these two autonomous models?"
"Of course..."
The American representative answered instinctively, then, remembering the SDS's current independent status, his face darkened:
"We have never banned any equipment sales to your side - not in the past, not now, not ever."
Gritting his teeth, he added:
"Moreover, the SDS doesn't fall under American Union jurisdiction anyway."
The American representative finally understood - this Chinese bastard deliberately wanted him to admit the SDS wasn't under American control, rubbing salt in the wound!
That damned two-faced snake!!
"I see, I understand now."
The Chinese representative nodded as if suddenly enlightened, then shot a glance at Campbell.
"Speaking of which, the other weapon hasn't been introduced yet?"
Campbell wiped cold sweat from his brow with a silk handkerchief before continuing his explanation:
"What I'm about to introduce now is this piece of equipment called 'IS' - the 'Multipurpose Space Combat Armament - IS'."
"As the name suggests, this is combat equipment designed for space operations. You could even think of it as the mecha from science fiction."
"Based on frontline intelligence reports and expert research, we've confirmed that this equipment operates via artificial piloting, meaning remote-controlled combat operations."
"Considering the SDS's naming conventions for armaments, experts strongly suspect the command centre for this remote-controlled combat system is likely located in space."
"Hiss!!"
Hearing this, all representatives present immediately thought of the SDS's civilisation-class weapon built in space.
If the IS were also remotely controlled from space, the SDS would be essentially invincible.
Unless someone could destroy that space city, which of their forces, apart from the Chinese Union and American Union, could withstand an attack from such troops?
At this thought, the American representative's face darkened further. The mere idea of the SDS becoming essentially independent from the American Union made him feel sick to his stomach.
Meanwhile, the China Union representative muttered to himself:
"So they've truly become the sixth permanent member now..."
As they watched the two formidable armaments dominating the screen, peculiar expressions appeared in the eyes of the various national representatives.
...
Simultaneously.
Hidden Management Department - Underground Level 5.
Luo Shu gazed at Lana, submerged in green liquid, breathing through a respirator, an odd look passing over his face.