"Randy, just leave this to the Staff Headquarters to monitor, let's go out and take a look."
"The mountains of gold, coal, and iron ingots over there... it's time to have people move them out."
"Since the first step into Other World has been cleared and a stable rear base established, it's time to let these infinite resources completely transform the whole the USA."
Hearing this, an uncontrollable flush instantly appeared on General Randy's usually serious face.
Fighting zombies was only for the future, but transporting resources was for the current takeoff.
He took a deep breath, his voice becoming slightly rough due to the excitement.
"Good, it's high time we moved. I'll have someone contact the people at the National Resource Bureau right away."
The two walked out of the Command Hall, one after the other.
Just after stepping out, General Randy stopped a communications officer who was monitoring the perimeter security.
"Steve."
General Randy's tone was urgent.
"Go, immediately use the encrypted dedicated line to contact Pedro at the US Resource Bureau."
The communications officer stood at attention.
"Yes, what are the specific instructions?"
General Randy glanced at Steve, then waved his hand and said with great vigor.
"Tell Pedro Pascal not to sit around drinking tea in his office."
"Tell him to prepare immediately and empty out all their bureau's transport teams and all their storage centers."
"Tell him to bring everyone, along with all their heavy-duty trucks, and rush to the Fortress immediately."
"Just tell him one thing: tell him to bring people to load the goods, and they are not allowed to leave until everything is loaded."
General Randy's mood at this moment was practically manic.
As a high-ranking military official, he knew all too well what the blocks piled up in Overworld meant.
Those weren't virtual data; that was 100% pure gold, smokeless coal with terrifying combustion efficiency, and refined iron that could be forged directly without smelting.
Once these things flowed into the USA's industrial bloodstream, the entire country's industrial situation would experience an earth-shattering surge.
"Yes."
Although the communications officer was utterly confused, not understanding why the dignified Director of the Resource Bureau had to personally come and act as a mover, he immediately carried out the order...
USA National Resource Bureau.
In the Director's Office, Pedro was wearing reading glasses and frowning deeply while looking at a report in his hand.
"The export quota for rare earth elements this quarter is blocked again? And the price of imported iron ore—have those foreign wars raised the price again?"
Pedro sighed and rubbed his temples.
"When will these days of being choked by resource shortages ever end..."
Just at that moment.
Ding-a-ling!
The red telephone on the desk, which rarely rang and represented top secret communication, suddenly emitted a piercing ring.
Pedro was startled, his hand trembled, and the report almost fell to the floor.
His expression instantly changed; this was an SSS-level Readiness Phone Call.
It only rang when a major event concerning the life and death of the country occurred.
He snatched up the receiver, his voice tight.
"This is Pedro Pascal, no relation."
On the other end of the line came the serious and unquestionable voice of the Fortress communications officer.
"Director Pedro, you are receiving a joint directive from the Military Commission and the Fortress."
"Please immediately mobilize all available heavy transport forces under the Resource Bureau, including but not limited to heavy truck convoys and the right to dispatch dedicated railway lines."
"And please lead the team personally and proceed immediately to the Fortress on the outskirts of the capital."
Pedro was stunned and asked subconsciously.
"Mobilize everyone? Is there some major strategic material that needs to be moved? Is it rare earth elements or oil?"
The voice on the other end paused, then relayed General Randy's original words.
"The Chief said to have you bring people to load goods."
"L-load goods?"
Pedro was completely bewildered, his eyes nearly popping out.
Using an SSS-level red phone and mobilizing national-level transport capabilities just to load goods?
Which Chief is playing this international joke?
But the next second, the other party added.
"Director Pedro, this is an SSS-level Top-Secret Mission, concerning the country's industrial lifeline for the next hundred years. The Chief said, if you don't finish loading, you are not allowed to leave."
Hearing the words 'industrial lifeline for the next hundred years,' Pedro trembled all over, and his initial confusion instantly turned into shock.
He was a smart man and knew that at this level, no one would joke around.
Since they said it was loading goods, then these goods must be world-shattering.
"Understood."
Pedro suddenly stood up and roared into the phone.
"Please rest assured, Chief. As long as there are enough goods, even if I have to mobilize all the trucks in the country, I will haul them back."
Hanging up the phone, Pedro yanked off his tie, rushed out of the office, and spoke to the secretary and department heads outside.
"Stop working, put down everything you're doing."
"Immediately requisition all heavy-duty trucks; I want the kind that can haul tanks."
"Empty the three nearest National-Level Strategic Reserve Depots in the capital for me; don't even leave a mouse behind."
"Everyone, follow me."
"What are we going to do? Don't ask. If you ask, we're going to move mountains of gold and silver."
Outside the Command Hall, the flush on General Randy's face had not completely faded, filled with excitement and anticipation.
He rubbed his large, calloused hands, turned back to look at Steve, who also walked out of the hall, his voice still booming.
"Steve, that old boy Pedro is probably jumping up and down right now. I told him to bring all his best equipment to ensure all our goods are loaded and taken away."
Hearing this, a slight smile appeared on Steve's face, but immediately, he looked around the heavily guarded underground base, which exuded an aura of strict entry-only security, and raised a crucial question.
"Randy, the people from the Resource Bureau are coming, but doesn't our Fortress have the highest security clearance?"
"I saw it when I came in earlier. Director Pedro and his people can't just drive their trucks directly into the base, can they?"
The existence of the Fortress itself is the country's top secret, not to mention its current role as the first base for developing Other World. Forget letting a bureau's transport convoy enter; even Pedro himself couldn't touch the base's main gate without the highest authorization.
The entire base is like a giant one-way valve. For absolute safety, external materials and personnel are only allowed to enter after multiple layers of screening.
As for any information, materials, or even personnel inside, trying to get out is nearly impossible.
These stringent security regulations had now become a huge obstacle to transporting massive amounts of resources outward.
"Haha, you hit the nail on the head."
General Randy nodded approvingly, displaying a proud expression that seemed to say, 'Did you think we hadn't considered this?'
"That's right, the Fortress currently has an SSS security clearance. Let alone Pedro, even I couldn't take a single document out of here without an autograph order from Kennedy."
"The entire base is an entry-only steel fortress to the outside world; nothing is allowed to leave."
Speaking of this, General Randy changed the subject and mysteriously pointed to the metal floor beneath his feet.