"You're the first person bold enough to gamble with the life of the American President."

'Miles' couldn't help but comment

"If we'd been any slower earlier, we'd both be dead."

If it hadn't been for her possessing Sianweistan, and immediately rushing to the basement after entering the office, even hesitating for just a few seconds would have left them in pieces.

This central machine room in the basement was specially reinforced to withstand massive impacts from the surface without collapsing.

"No, it wouldn't have."

Lin Miao smiled and said

"The missiles were sent by you, you know exactly when they'd explode and when they'd fly over us. Just a few seconds could make the difference; otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to bet."

It seemed like a colossal risk, but in reality, everything was within New America's control.

"Haha, next time something this deadly comes up, better not call me, I can't afford to play this game."

'Miles' didn't look at Lin Miao again; she poured a bit of alcohol on herself to cover the smell from her breath, then ran to the door and smeared some dust on herself, making her expensive military uniform dirty, and even messed up her hairstyle with her own hands.

Lin Miao followed suit, making herself look like she'd just escaped from Syria, just short of stabbing herself with a knife.

About half an hour later, the sound of digging above became increasingly close, and the blocked air began to move. The two exchanged a glance and shouted towards the sound of digging

"We're here!"

Their voices traveled through the rubble and were quickly heard by those above, delighting the citizens who kept digging with renewed vigor.

It was only then that Night City's firefighting team arrived on the bombing zone's perimeter.

Soon, Lin Miao and the American President 'Miles' were rescued by Night City's citizens from the collapsed office. As citizens helped them out of the basement, many reporters took the opportunity to capture the scene.

This was going to be the news headline for the week, only a fool would worry whether Cuba Drug Trafficking Group might go crazy and send another missile their way.

Unlike the citizens who didn't think much of it, upon seeing Lin Miao and Miles unharmed, and the digging site with not a single corpse or injured person found, many realized.

These two bastards were putting on a show here in Night City.

Their target was clearly the Cuba Drug Trafficking Group.

That bunch was likely severely infiltrated; not only was their assassination plan known, but even the missile model, attack time, and infiltrators into Night City were completely leaked.

Yet, no media or large corporation was willing to stand up and point this out at this time.

Whether it was Kangtao or Zeta Technology, Huang Ban, or Lasaru Group, they were all standing by, enjoying the spectacle with titles like

[Shocking! The American President was hit by a missile, and the perpetrator is him]

[Shocking! The untold secrets between the American President and Horizon Corporation's director]

[Shocking! What really happened in the missing half hour—an old bull eating young grass or a young horse pulling a heavy load?]

[Shocking! Why did Horizon Corporation's director look pale when rescued?]

Journalists mastered the art of sensational titles, but ultimately pointed their fingers at the Cuba Drug Trafficking Group.

The European Community is strong, even stronger than the United States in 2024, and there was no one in the world capable of challenging them—that was a pure unipolar, multi-power structure.

But one thing for sure, no corporation surviving in the cyber world of 2076 is soft, none of them are dough to be kneaded. Any chance to tear a piece from the European Community, they would not pass up.

Especially when so far the target wasn't even the European Community, just one of their tentacles reaching into North America.

Opportunities to undermine the European Community are rare.

And when 'Miles' left the Trauma Team Hospital unharmed the next day, taking a hovercar back to the White House, the first thing she did was hold a press conference.

She changed into a menacing military uniform, and her makeup was more fierce

"This was a premeditated murder targeting New America."

Miles announced powerfully, setting the tone for the matter as soon as she came on stage.

Don't ask why I was in Night City, or how it all happened so coincidentally. I say it's murder, and that's what it is.

"Those drug manufacturers, just a sea's distance from Florida, are not only plundering New America's wealth with drugs but corrupting our citizens' will and bodies. They've taken countless money and lives from us, and now these greed-driven drug lords can't stand seeing New America grow stronger. They fear New America, they fear order, they fear me, and hence, resorted to using missiles....."

"But in the face of New America's manifest destiny, it's all futile!"

"Also, our New America's people's entrepreneur, Horizon Corporation's director Lin Miao, if it wasn't for him this time, I might not be able to attend today's press conference. I must thank him and those Night City citizens who dug us out of the ruins, each of them is a hero....."

"This is a war, a war provoked by the drug traffickers of Cuba, and New America will respond with the hardest iron fist!"

"The first code of humans 'Hammurabi Code' said—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. They have carved nearly a hundred years of scars on New America's body, and the blood they've left, now it's time to pay back."

"This is a war concerning the health and survival of people worldwide, a war that should have ended seventy years ago, but its continuation till today is an error."

"And today, the ignorant drug dealers have chosen to restart this war, but when it ends will be decided by the American people."

"If they want to fight, we'll fight as long as it takes, until complete victory!"