The Australian government’s tit-for-tat response to the actions taken against their sea and air corridors by "City of Stars" drew intense scrutiny from global media, which began analyzing the trajectory of the conflict, with some voices even fearing the onset of war.

It was at this precise moment that the Italian government, situated far away in Europe, made a startling move. They enthusiastically answered the call made by the Prime Minister of Australia in his closing remarks, deciding to restrict the sale of "City of Stars" products domestically and threatening to impose heavy taxes on Star Group products to halt their erosion of the Italian domestic market.

While the rest of the world was analyzing the potential extent of the conflict between "City of Stars" and Australia, they watched in disbelief as Italy eagerly jumped into the fray, seeking to suppress the sale of Star Group products within its borders.

Even the Australian government, currently hostile toward "City of Stars," dared not suppress the domestic specialty stores or the products sold within them. In fact, they had stationed a large contingent of police outside these locations to maintain order, fearful that any incident could provoke a truly irreconcilable confrontation.

Before the United States and the United Nations had officially declared their stance, and before Australia had made its final, definitive break with "City of Stars," Italy seemed utterly blind to the situation. Believing that Australia, backed by the US, was certain to prevail, Italy rushed forward to oppose "City of Stars," hoping this decisive reaction would restore its former glory on the European continent.

Nations around the world had long recognized the immense military might of "City of Stars," understanding that even with potential military intervention from the US and the UN, Australia stood little chance against them. Though these nations saw this reality clearly, none offered a warning to the rash Italians, as they had long grown tired of the thoroughly degraded ancient nation. Furthermore, they were keen to observe how "City of Stars" would react to external provocation.

Upon seeing Italy’s irritating interference, "City of Stars" showed no outward strong reaction. They simply notified the procurement team—the group waving colossal sums of US dollars while purchasing equipment and supplies across international markets—to immediately cease all major procurement operations within Italy. Moreover, they stopped paying the final balances for materials already acquired by "City of Stars."

When this decision from "City of Stars" was announced, immediate uproar erupted across Italy. Countless business owners began pressuring the Italian government to instantly improve relations with "City of Stars." The government's foolish decision had instantly cost their factories the majority of their orders, and their sales were jeopardized by the inability to collect payments. Furthermore, numerous ongoing procurement negotiations with "City of Stars" ground to an immediate halt.

The Italian government was genuinely shocked only at this juncture. They immediately launched domestic investigations and statistical reviews, yielding results that stunned them. While the sales revenue of "City of Stars" products in Italy amounted to fifty billion Euros, the value of equipment and materials "City of Stars" procured domestically in a single year reached a far more terrifying figure of one hundred billion Euros. Italy had enjoyed a trade surplus of fifty billion Euros annually from its trade with "City of Stars."

This year, in particular, after selling massive quantities of oil and accumulating colossal funds, "City of Stars" had ordered over two hundred billion Euros worth of various equipment and materials from within Italy, with another fifty billion Euros in procurement contracts currently under negotiation with domestic enterprises. Now, due to the Italian government's foolish decision, "City of Stars" was withdrawing all procurement contracts. This decision was already inflicting a massive shock on Italian factories, explaining why domestic enterprises were seeking recourse against their government.

Thus, strictly speaking, Italy could less afford to lose the market of "City of Stars" than the other way around. If Italy lost the enormous market supplied by "City of Stars," the negative impact on its domestic economy would be profound, leading to more factory shutdowns, increased unemployment, and further popular protests against the government.

Other nations, witnessing Italy's predicament, were greatly surprised. They began examining the operational status of their own domestic economies, leading to even greater astonishment. They discovered that while "City of Stars" had earned substantial profits by monopolizing certain products, they had not entirely extracted these profits; instead, they had reinvested them into purchasing equipment and materials within those host countries. It was precisely the sales and massive procurement activities of "City of Stars" that had ensured these nations received ample tax revenue, kept factory operating rates high, and maintained a degree of economic growth. If "City of Stars" were to treat their nations the same way it was treating Italy, their own economies would face serious trouble.

These nations finally realized that in an era of deepening international integration, any attempt at unilateral market protectionism was profoundly foolish. Only by actively adapting their outlook and integrating into the tide of globalization could they secure greater benefits in the international market. Having recognized the inescapable reality that they could no longer do without "City of Stars," these nations significantly altered their posture regarding "City of Stars" and Australia; at the very least, they ceased the previously one-sided condemnation of "City of Stars."

The Italian government found itself mired in trouble, but "City of Stars" paid it no mind. For the time being, they saw no need to deal with Italy, as Liu Hui’s attention was now fixed on Australia's sea and air corridors.

After formulating his strategy against Australia, Liu Hui quietly dispatched two super-submarines, each displacing one hundred thousand tons, from "City of Stars." These submarines headed toward the seabed near Sydney on the east coast and Perth on the west coast of Australia, awaiting Liu Hui's command.

Following Liu Hui’s official declaration regarding the Australian sea and air corridors, the two super-submarines rapidly surfaced. They opened the hatches on their tops, revealing internal aircraft hangars.

Sixteen large, hovering fighter jets then launched from these two submarines. Guided by data received from satellites, they flew to patrol regions near Australia's surrounding waters, maintaining their designated cruising zones. After deploying their hovering fighters, the two super-submarines swiftly submerged, disappearing back into the ocean depths.

The orbital space station simultaneously altered its trajectory, deploying a specialized military satellite. Once in space, this satellite continuously adjusted its flight path until it stabilized at a fixed position five hundred kilometers above Australia, monitoring every movement below and relaying reconnaissance images and data back to "City of Stars."

Since announcing the restriction on Australia’s corridors, Liu Hui had taken command from the central command and control center aboard "City of Stars," overseeing the progress of the entire operation.

The command center continuously received space images and data transmitted by the military satellite. An intelligence analyst reported, "Boss, our satellite imagery shows eight cargo ships preparing to depart Australia, about to enter our restricted line. Should we destroy them?"

Liu Hui observed the eight cargo ships specifically highlighted on the space image and asked, "Can you confirm the nationality of these vessels?"

The intelligence analyst immediately zoomed in on the photographs of the cargo ships and reported, "Boss, based on the flags displayed on the bows of these ships, three are Chinese, one is South Korean, two are Panamanian, and two are Australian. The largest vessel has a deadweight tonnage exceeding one hundred thousand tons; the smallest is under five thousand tons."

Liu Hui stroked his chin and remarked, "We have issued warnings and informed them of the risk of violating our line. Have we not fulfilled our responsibility? If they choose to ignore our warning and force a breach, it is not unreasonable for us to teach them a lesson, is it? Otherwise, they might think we are bluffing! Immediately notify the forward fighter jets to sink those eight cargo ships. However, give them advance notice—allow time for evacuation—and try to avoid excessive bloodshed."

Liu Hui's order was immediately relayed. The eight hovering fighters, positioned near Australian waters, left their patrol stations and sped toward the locations where the eight cargo ships were emerging. In less than twenty minutes, the eight hovering fighters reached the designated area and could see the cargo ships moving forward below. However, due to modifications incorporating dynamic simulation arrays, the hovering fighters successfully blended into the sky’s background, rendering them completely invisible to the ships below.

Back on "City of Stars," the intelligence analyst stated, "Boss, the latest satellite images are in. One cargo ship has turned back upon reaching our line, choosing to return to Australia. What should we do?"

Liu Hui replied, "Since this vessel did not attempt to breach our line, let them go! As for the other seven cargo ships, sink them immediately!"

The hovering fighters, which had already reached the ships attempting to breach the line, began firing electromagnetic railgun shells. These sudden projectiles struck the water surrounding the cargo ships, resulting in violent explosions. The intense waves generated by the blasts caused the ships to heave and pitch violently, nearly capsizing them in the ocean.

Immediately afterward, the communication systems aboard these vessels received an unencrypted message sent from "City of Stars." In this message, "City of Stars" informed the ships that they had entered the restricted line and commanded them to abandon ship immediately, using the lifeboats to return to Australia, or the crew members would sink with their vessels into the abyss.

The moment this unencrypted message from "City of Stars" was broadcast, it was received not only by the ships but globally.

At this point, the captains of the ships who harbored any lingering hope finally understood that "City of Stars" was entirely serious. The hovering fighters in the sky were attacking the sea around their vessels in an unknown manner, keeping the ships perpetually on the verge of overturning. Left with no choice, they hoisted white flags on their bows. The hovering fighters instantly ceased bombarding the surrounding water.

Thus, while the ships were momentarily stable, the captains ordered immediate abandonment. They lowered their lifeboats, and all crew members, donning life vests, boarded the small craft. Following instructions from "City of Stars," they began rowing back toward Australia.

Less than two kilometers into their journey in the lifeboats, two fiery dragons suddenly shot down from the sky overhead. These fire dragons struck the now-stationary cargo ships, causing tremendous explosions. The force of the blasts fractured the vessels into multiple sections in a very short time, causing them to sink rapidly and vanish beneath the waves. If not for some lingering oil slicks and floating refuse, no one would ever know that ships had once been anchored there.

Swiftly, the hovering fighters of "City of Stars" destroyed the seven cargo vessels scattered across various Australian waters. Although all seven ships were sunk, because "City of Stars" had issued a prior warning and allowed ample time for evacuation, no lives were lost in this incident.

The unencrypted message sent by "City of Stars" to the cargo ships used a public channel, meaning the news of "City of Stars" intercepting ships leaving Australia immediately reached the entire world. As people speculated on the fate of those few vessels, Star Television suddenly aired an emergency broadcast, reporting that seven cargo ships had attempted to breach the line established by "City of Stars" that afternoon and had consequently been sunk. Fortunately, the crew members aboard the ships acted with understanding and voluntarily abandoned ship, thus preventing a tragedy resulting in loss of life.

Star Television then aired footage of the seven cargo ships being sunk individually following the news report. The violent explosions shown on screen not only sank the seven ships but also shattered the hopes of those who had been harboring (a, relying on luck). Only now did they truly grasp the power of "City of Stars’" warning.

At this moment, "City of Stars" revealed its ruthless nature to the world, and humanity finally understood a fundamental principle: "City of Stars" was entirely different from the Chinese of the past. While equally humble, they had learned to return an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and blood for blood. Once they set their minds on something, they would absolutely not cease until their objective was achieved.

It was also at this time that the moniker of Liu Hui as a "stubborn simpleton" began to circulate globally, causing those whose hands had been reaching out toward "City of Stars" to quickly withdraw them, fearing they might provoke the wrath of this "stubborn simpleton."

The sinking of the seven cargo ships by "City of Stars" quickly caused a massive uproar worldwide. The United States was the first to react, vehemently condemning "City of Stars’" inhumane actions and stating they would re-examine their relationship with "City of Stars" and might increase troop presence in Australia to safeguard their steadfast ally in Oceania.

The United Nations also convened an emergency General Assembly at unprecedented speed. Although no resolution was passed on how to deal with "City of Stars," a statement condemning them was issued, demanding that "City of Stars" immediately cease restrictions on Australia's sea and air corridors and refrain from sinking any more aircraft or vessels passing through the area, to prevent further escalation of the conflict.

China, South Korea, and Panama—nations whose cargo ships had been sunk by "City of Stars"—cried foul in the UN Assembly, demanding that the United Nations uphold justice for their lost vessels and require "City of Stars" to immediately compensate them for the damages incurred by the sinking.

Facing the flood of condemnation from the outside world, Liu Hui appeared completely unconcerned, as he was acutely aware that all of this was mere verbal condemnation and would not have any substantial impact on "City of Stars." If it had, the US and the UN would not have settled for mere condemnation but would have demanded immediate military action against "City of Stars."

Enduring this immense pressure, "City of Stars" issued another statement on television, asserting they would carry the action against Australia’s sea and air corridors through to the end until Australia met their demands and provided appropriate compensation. "City of Stars" then issued a renewed warning: all aircraft and vessels attempting to breach their lines without explicit permission would be destroyed; all parties were urged to think thrice before acting to avoid irreparable losses.

The world witnessed the unyielding stance of "City of Stars" once more. Combined with the overwhelming might demonstrated by the decisive sinking of the seven cargo ships, nations and organizations that had been contemplating a risky move temporarily paused their plans, instructing their aircraft and vessels not to provoke "City of Stars," lest they run headlong into the barrel of the gun held high by "City of Stars" and suffer unnecessary losses.

Australia, initially overjoyed by the sinking of the seven cargo ships, had hoped their long-awaited opportunity had arrived, believing the issue was about to become an international crisis. To their surprise, "City of Stars" utterly disregarded the condemnations from the US and the UN, instead adopting an even harder line, reiterating that their actions would continue indefinitely.

The Australian side grew increasingly frantic because, following "City of Stars’" renewed strict warning, international flights that had been planning to risk passage were forced into a complete cancellation, and deep-sea cargo ships moored in ports dared not set sail, lest they meet the fate of being sunk.

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～ Thanks to book friends: Tian Xia Hui (2 tickets), Zui Ai Yuan Chuang (2 tickets), and He Fu Zuo for their support! RO