Gin acted quickly; almost before Su Ming had finished his drink, the latest intelligence was laid in front of him.
The scope of Hydra's activities hadn't changed much; for now, they were still confined to Europe, which was currently the center of the world and somewhat beneath the notice of the United States.
They had already gotten mixed up with Xiaohuzi, who had a great love for mysticism. To appeal to his interests, they concocted some supernatural tricks for him, which led to Hydra being heavily utilized within the Nationalist Party.
There was also news from the Hellfire Club, currently established in London. On the surface, it appeared to be a private entertainment club, but there seemed to be something odd about it.
As for reports about Mutants, there was an abundance of information, though mostly fragmented. Through his network, Gin learned that Superpower Users were appearing worldwide, but they were very secretive; finding them in this era was almost impossible.
Wakanda still eluded discovery, seeming as though it didn't exist in the world. It was supposed to be in northern Africa, but it was nowhere to be found, forcing Su Ming to postpone his plan to upgrade his Divine Gold 47 with Vibranium Bullets.
Over the years, Su Ming's business had penetrated every aspect of ordinary life; he had now become what was known as a daily goods tycoon...
Crash!
Once he burnt through the savings from the future, in a few decades, there probably wouldn't be any military contracts left for him.
Su Ming had shared all the principles he knew with his subordinates, yet they couldn't even manage to develop a rocket, producing things that weren't even as good as a bottle rocket.
As a fallback, he tasked them with developing a new type of aircraft engine, not jet engines, just conventional piston engines would suffice, yet what they came up with wasn't even as good as the one in Su Ming's car.
This might be the difference between a scientific genius and an ordinary researcher.
It's unbearable to think about; in the future, all these scientists should focus on researching household goods. Their potential is limited to this extent.
.............
Another year passed, and in 1938, Xiaohuzi fulfilled the promise he made during his inauguration 'to win land for the German people with the sword.' Through a series of daring diplomatic maneuvers, he managed to reclaim the Sudetenland without firing a single shot.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, influenced by the prevalent appeasement policy and its longstanding approach of maintaining continental balance, adopted a tolerant attitude towards Xiaohuzi.
France, facing domestic economic decline, was powerless to intervene and could only fortify the Maginot Line to prepare for any eventuality.
At the start of 1939, Xiaohuzi signed a non-aggression pact with Da Huzi, and on September 1 of that year, Germany blitzkrieg attacked Da Bobo, forcing Britain and France to declare war on Xiaohuzi.
However, Xiaohuzi's blitzkrieg strategically outmaneuvered them, leading to the surrender of Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and even France within the following year.
Prime Minister Chamberlain of the United Kingdom resigned in disgrace, and Fatty Qiu, once the First Lord of the Admiralty, took office as Prime Minister, declaring that he would fight Xiaohuzi to the end.
World War II had begun.
But by this time, the United States had passed the 'Neutrality Act,' indicating a disinterest in the European conflict, merely choosing to watch.
Old Luo at the White House was only interested in doing business, as the domestic economy was still struggling to shake off the Great Depression. Products could be sold to anyone, whether Fur Bear or the British, as long as they paid; the US would sell anything.
Wilson Enterprises also joined the bandwagon. Due to its geographical disadvantage combined with Xiaohuzi's submarine warfare blockade, Britain's situation was dire. Out of generosity, Su Ming decided to relieve the impoverished British populace by dumping goods on the British Isles.
The military supplies, clothing, and food from Wilson Enterprises crisscrossed the Atlantic by the shipload. To prevent them from being sunk by submarines, he even enlisted the navy to send warships to escort them.
The wealth accumulated over centuries from the British Empire now rapidly transferred into Su Ming's pockets.
Grab everything you can; the good days might not last...
By now, the people of London were well accustomed to the black and yellow W logo everywhere.
There was no escaping it; go out to buy noodles, and the noodle bags bore the W; go to a store to buy liquor, and the bottles had the W; join the military, and the weapons had the W. Even at home in bed, one's wife's lingerie and stockings had the W on their labels.
If it weren't wartime, they would certainly have developed a fear of the black and yellow warning colors, given how this company's products permeate every aspect of life, subtly changing their lives.
American goods, American goods everywhere.
Fatty Qiu sensed something was off, but with the current situation, there were no other options; he had to accept it.
The UK needed support; without American aid, they couldn't hold out for long on their own.
Fatty Qiu was drowning his sorrows in his office while Su Ming set up safe houses worldwide, and Yamamoto Isoroku inspected the carrier-based oxygen torpedoes on the warship...
Old Luo in the White House plotted well; others waged war, while he made a fortune, rapidly improving the American economy.
Little did he know that Little Japan was gearing up for a southward advance.
The campaign towards the Celestial Dynasty had been a complete failure; in past years, those Superhumans had utterly defeated the misguided army, leading to cries of anguish from the troops.
"We can't provoke them, we can't beat them, the sovereign nation is too strong; retreat, retreat, bullying demonic Americans is easier."
Yamamoto knew that making achievements still relied on the noble Imperial Navy; the misguided army soldiers might as well commit seppuku.
On December 7, 1941, they launched an air raid on Pearl Harbor without a declaration of war, sinking half of the US Pacific Fleet's warships at port.
The telegrams from the pilots contained just three words:
"Tiger, Tiger, Tiger."
Yamamoto felt confident about this move; with carriers dominating, how could they lose?
If the fleet could just hold Hawaii, the key point in the Pacific Ocean, he could buy enough time.
But the US 8th Task Force, delayed by a typhoon for a day while en route to deliver new aircraft to Wake Island, was still adrift in the Pacific.
Halsey remarked about the strong wind on Enterprise's deck, saying he couldn't hear what Yamamoto was saying clearly.
Not to mention the events in the Pacific, the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor forced the United States into the war.
The day after, Old Luo delivered his famous nationwide address.
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan...."
"No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people will, in their righteous might, win through to absolute victory..."
"Victory shall be ours; may God bless us..."
...............
"....click."
Su Ming turned off the radio, turned to look out the window from the top of the skyscraper in New York, and realized the story had just begun.