The sudden appearance of Meng Hao.
Not just Daxia.
Netizens around the world watching this live press conference were in an uproar.
"What's going on?"
"Isn't that Meng Hao?"
"Didn't they say Meng Hao had already defected to the US?"
"Why did they suddenly bring out Meng Hao?"
It was evident.
Cognitive warfare was terrifying.
The most intense reactions.
Were not from the US or the Western Alliance countries, but from within Daxia.
More than half a year ago.
Under the leadership of Major General Tommy, a large sum of money was spent in Daxia on cognitive warfare. The direct consequence was that.
Many unsuspecting Daxia citizens, misled by propaganda, believed Meng Hao to be a complete traitor.
And now.
The seemingly dead memories resurfaced.
This group of uninformed bystanders, completely deceived by the US and Major General Tommy's paid cognitive warfare, began to attack Meng Hao fiercely.
How could a traitor like Meng Hao appear in the same frame as Major General Zhang Weimin of Daxia!
For example, Meng Hao appearing in front of global reporters was a complete insult to Daxia.
And "let Meng Hao scram back to his American father."
All sorts of nasty words created a smokescreen.
It proved.
The danger of the terrifying information warfare, cognitive warfare, to the citizens of a target country was no less than that of a war.
For the netizens who were completely unaware of the truth and had been swayed by propaganda.
Meng Hao did not show much surprise.
After all.
The victim is not to blame.
These netizens were simply misled by Major General Tommy's immense expenditure of US dollars.
Regarding this.
Meng Hao disdained it.
"Everyone."
"It's been more than half a year since we last met."
"Have you missed me so much?"
Meng Hao greeted them with a smile.
He, too, was a mischievous fellow.
As if he enjoyed seeing them dislike him but be unable to do anything about it.
Before the netizens could react to Meng Hao's "smugness," he continued.
"These past six months, I was indeed in the US... More precisely, in Australia!"
"As for why I appeared in Australia, do you think it was voluntary?"
"No, no, no, absolutely impossible. My blood flows with Daxia's blood. I would never willingly fall and join the US."
Immediately after.
Meng Hao narrated the entire story in detail.
The previously agitated crowd was instantly stunned into silence.
"So, Meng Hao didn't betray our country and people?"
"Damn the US, not only did they detain Meng Hao, but they also waged cognitive warfare here."
"I admit, I attacked Meng Hao before too, but no one knew it was the US's doing!"
"..."
As Meng Hao revealed the complete truth.
All the netizens finally understood the whole story.
A sense of being deceived, and anger towards the US for detaining Meng Hao, began to spread across major platforms.
Of course.
Besides the netizens in Daxia.
The reporters present were also dumbfounded.
This.
Was utterly astonishing.
The US gambled its national reputation and wove a lie that Meng Hao had betrayed Daxia and defected to them.
Such fabrication of lies was not only difficult for the US to tolerate, but even for ordinary people.
Finally.
A reporter stood up.
"Hello Meng Hao, you said you were detained by the US. Do you have any evidence?"
Meng Hao glanced at the reporter's nationality.
Oh!
It was from Maple Leaf Country.
One of the staunchest allies of the US.
Then the question, which was completely unintelligent, even anti-intellectual, could be explained.
However.
This was a global press conference.
Meng Hao naturally had to consider the issue from a national perspective.
He shrugged.
And did not retort directly.
"Speaking of which."
"I am the person involved."
"As the person involved, and I, a living person, say so, do I still need any evidence?"
"Are you doubting that I'm making up stories? ... Come on, do you think I'm as morally bankrupt as the US?"
Damn it.
What was the difference between this line of questioning and proving that your father is your father?
Meng Hao, as the person detained, personally admitted to being detained by the US, and yet was asked for evidence?
One really didn't know if this Maple Leaf reporter was an idiot or simply too lazy to think in order to defend the US.
After answering a few more questions from reporters who seemed less foolish, Meng Hao brought the topic back.
"Everyone, the main topic of this press conference is to debunk the rumor that I joined the US..."
"Of course, whether this rumor was artificially created, I cannot speculate further..."
"I, with my humble voice, naturally cannot represent Daxia in holding the US accountable... However, as an independent human being, I want to ask the US why they detained me for half a year..."
Hmph.
What Meng Hao said was a direct slap in the face to the US.
Humble voice?
Damn it.
Daxia had already held a global press conference on behalf of the nation to debunk the rumors about Meng Hao.
How the rumor of Meng Hao joining the US appeared... whether it was artificially created... he could not speculate?
Damn it.
The implication of Meng Hao's words was akin to pointing at the noses of US high officials and swearing.
You, the so-called world's strongest nation, the US, actually detained citizens of another country and even gambled national prestige to weave despicable rumors.
As Meng Hao finished speaking.
Zhang Weimin took the microphone back.
"In addition to debunking rumors for Mr. Meng Hao, on behalf of Daxia at the national level, I also want to present a few demands to the US!"
"First, we demand that the US immediately issue a statement explaining why they detained our legal citizen, Mr. Meng Hao..."
"Second, we demand that the US provide a reason for weaving lies at the national level to deceive the world..."
"Third, we will submit an application to the United Nations to establish a special investigation team, hoping that all personnel involved in this incident, including Major General Tommy, will be questioned..."
My goodness.
For Meng Hao's sake.
Daxia had become completely assertive.
And.
Most importantly.
Daxia was completely in the right this time.
Click, click.
The flashbulbs at the press conference flickered continuously.
By the time the press conference ended... no, not even waiting until it ended.
This news would soon fly everywhere.
The US would face its most severe reputation crisis in history.
The press conference was still ongoing.
And at this moment.
In the White House of the US, which was watching this Daxia press conference across the ocean, there was complete silence!