Yang Ming was attending a high-level formal meeting of the Sherman Empire for the first time.
He always felt... except for everyone restraining themselves from cursing directly, the atmosphere was quite similar to a company meeting discussing targets for the next quarter’s KPI.
Several deputy directors of the Military Intelligence Bureau were lined up in a row at the head of the table, all with stern faces and an oppressive presence.
More than a dozen Imperial intelligence heads, bearing the ranks of lieutenant colonel and colonel, sat on both sides as the main speakers.
Yang Ming sat in a corner, in front of him a virtual sign that read "Special Invited Attendee."
He had not spoken yet, listening to them discuss the paper. The current issue focused on one point—they could not convince the top ranks of the Imperial Military Department to deploy such a large fleet formation based simply on one paper.
The meeting had been underway for half an hour when Yang Ming couldn’t help but yawn.
The major general chairing the meeting caught Yang Ming off guard, the elderly man with graying hair asked warmly, "You have gifted us this intelligence, and for that, we are grateful, but as you can see, we are unable to reach a unanimous decision."
Lieutenant Colonel Atro immediately added next to Yang Ming, "The general means to ask if you could provide more accurate intelligence information, better proof that this paper is credible, so we can convince the Military Department."
Yang Ming straightened up, his gaze contemplative.
He certainly believed in Hera’s capabilities.
Hera’s research on the Insect Race, based on her being infected with Insect Race microbes, had even directly led an army of the Insect Swarm to prove the existence of high-rank insect swarms in the outer regions of the Milky Way.
If there was anyone whose understanding of the Insect Race surpassed Hera’s, it would only be the team of Professor Pat from the New Federation, where her father Nardo belonged.
However, Hera’s existence could not be revealed to the Empire.
Yang Ming could only say, "Indeed, to ask the Empire to arrange a massive military deployment based solely on this paper was shortsighted of me."
The major general presiding over the meeting stated formally, "We believe in the conclusion of this paper, it lists many data points that match those in our database, and experts have validated them.
"But... as you know, many elders in the Elder Court are quite skeptical of science and technology and do not understand scientific proof; they require more direct evidence."
Yang Ming thought: Was this a roundabout way of calling the elders of the Elder Court idiots?
He smiled composedly and spoke in a calm voice, "Actually, everyone is making this too complicated. The reason I submitted this paper was to remind the Empire of the need to guard against a surprise attack by high-rank insect swarms.
"The Military Department can easily mobilize a few elite fleet brigades as rapid response teams. Should a high-rank insect swarm appear, they could immediately encircle and annihilate them.
"This really isn’t a big deal; we are merely suggesting a possibility, and what the Empire needs to do is to prevent potential threats."
Someone asked, "How do the high-rank insect swarms existing on the periphery of the Milky Way communicate with the insect swarms planted within the Empire’s territory?"
"I’d also like to add a question, Mr. Hanton, from what source did you obtain this paper?"
"We have conducted intelligence gathering around Professor Pat, but with little success. It involved many of our elite agents and considerable sacrifice."
"Yes, Mr. Hanton, where did you get all this intelligence about the New Federation planting insects?"
Atro frowned and said, "What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting Mr. Ghost has some kind of connection with the New Federation? That’s an insult to the White Ghost!"
Yang Ming couldn’t help but smile wryly.
This guy was probably playing the good cop, and a bunch of intelligence officers wanted to extract information?
Yang Ming calmly stated, "The Military Intelligence Bureau is several classes behind the New Federation CIA in intelligence operations."
Several senior officers’ expressions changed.
"Before I appeared in the Empire, I was constantly clashing with the New Federation CIA in various fields," Yang Ming continued evenly.
"You haven’t even figured out where the nickname ’White Ghost’ originated from; it was a codename set by a previous female director of the New Federation CIA. They wanted to catch me, hiding in the shadows, but instead, I turned the tables on them.
"How did I get this intelligence?
"I can tell you, I won over someone from the New Federation’s research team to get the first piece of intelligence.
"Then, the Ancient God genes in my body have a special sensitivity to the Insect Race, so I can sense the locations of some insect swarms.
"Let me ask you an overly simple question: how many levels of senior agents does the CIA have?"
The virtual meeting room was dead silent.
Yang Ming continued, "The Military Intelligence Bureau is extremely backward in foreign intelligence capability. You’ve been played by the CIA, and many of the secret lines you’ve developed are actually double agents from the CIA. They’ve infiltrated the Empire like a sieve, and the Imperial Military Intelligence Bureau simply doesn’t care."
"Hanton," a deputy director spoke up, "these are only your grand claims."
"Well then, let me give you a few more gifts."
Yang Ming’s fingers lightly swiped, and a list of names appeared on Atro’s network terminal.
Colonel Atro acted swiftly, immediately handing the list to the deputy director.
Yang Ming said, "This is two lists, one of three middle-rank officers from the Military Intelligence Bureau along with evidence of their communications with senior New Federation agents.
"The other list is of one hundred twenty-six suspected New Federation intelligence personnel currently on the planet I am on.