Power Plays

The recent arrests of Geria's spies sent political shockwaves through the Kingdom of Macro. Initially intrigued by the sudden operation of the national police, the media quickly published articles detailing the dismantling of a vast infiltration network. Headlines directly accused the Gerian government of orchestrating these subversive activities.

At the royal palace, an emergency meeting was convened. Seated around a long table adorned with the royal seal, the king and his security council listened intently to the detailed reports.

"Fifteen spies, including two high-level operators, have been captured," declared the head of intelligence. "We also uncovered multiple weapon caches and surveillance equipment in the contested region."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"The spies had precise plans to sabotage our power grid, infiltrate our military bases, and disrupt our strategic communications. These discoveries confirm that Geria was preparing a coordinated operation against us."

The king furrowed his brow, tapping the table nervously with his fingers.

"How is this possible? Have these activities been fully neutralized?"

The chief of police, present at the meeting, responded calmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Thanks to reliable intelligence we received, we were able to act with precision and speed. However, Geria may still attempt further operations. Their main network has been dismantled, but this doesn't mean they don't have other plans in reserve."

The foreign minister intervened, his tone serious.

"Your Majesty, it is imperative to respond quickly on the diplomatic front. Geria will deny everything, but these arrests are undeniable proof of their aggression."

"And if we publicly denounce these actions, don't we risk escalating the conflict?" asked the defense minister.

The king remained pensive for a moment before responding.

"We cannot remain silent. Prepare a public statement. We will firmly denounce Geria's actions while reaffirming our commitment to defending our sovereignty. But stay vigilant. If Geria responds with retaliation, we must be ready."

---

In Geria, the situation was equally tense. The president, surrounded by his top advisers, held a closed-door meeting in a dimly lit crisis room. On a large table, top-secret documents and maps showed the now-compromised plans.

"How did this happen?" roared the president, slamming his fist on the table. "We invested years and millions in this network, and now it's annihilated!"

Geria's intelligence chief, visibly uncomfortable, responded cautiously.

"We still don't know how they obtained this information. All our security protocols were in place. Someone must have gained access we can't explain."

The president fixed him with a cold stare.

"Find the source. Whether it's a traitor or outside help, I want to know who's behind this."

A strategic adviser intervened.

"We suspect Macro benefited from advanced technological assistance. The operation was remarkably precise, far beyond their usual capabilities."

The president frowned.

"Are you thinking of an international agency? Or a private actor?"

"Possibly a mix of both," replied the adviser. "But for now, we have no direct evidence. We're continuing to investigate."

The president straightened up, his tone cutting.

"I want results. Make sure this doesn't happen again. And start planning an appropriate response. We cannot show weakness."

---

On the international stage, the affair attracted significant attention. Major powers issued public statements calling for calm and restraint. Behind the scenes, intelligence agencies became particularly interested in Macro's mysterious effectiveness.

In a CIA office, an analyst presented his findings to a group of senior officials.

"Macro acted with unusual speed and precision. They uncovered an entire network in just a few days, suggesting they had access to extraordinary resources or intelligence."

One of the officials asked directly.

"Are you suggesting they had outside help?"

"It's a possibility," the analyst replied. "Perhaps private hackers or advanced technology. But it's also possible they've developed a new internal capability we hadn't anticipated."

The meeting's director nodded thoughtfully.

"Keep monitoring the situation. If Macro has indeed acquired a new resource, we need to know more."

---

At the office of Macro's national police director, a tense atmosphere lingered. Following the operation's success, he decided to summon three of his most trusted colleagues for a private meeting.

Seated around his desk, the men waited for him to begin. The director twirled a USB drive in his hand before speaking.

"Gentlemen, I'll be direct. What I'm about to tell you must not leave this room."

The three men exchanged glances before silently nodding.

"The information that allowed us to dismantle this network… I didn't obtain it through conventional means."

One of his colleagues, a seasoned inspector, furrowed his brow.

"Are you implying we had outside help?"

"Not exactly," the director replied. "I received it from an individual. Someone who calls himself Monsieur X."

A heavy silence fell. The three men stared at the director in disbelief.

"Monsieur X? As in... the one who solved the Collatz conjecture?" one of them asked, visibly skeptical.

"Yes. And he's here, in the Kingdom of Macro," the director replied calmly.

"Wait, wait… You mean this mathematical genius, this mysterious figure, gave you this information? How is that possible?" another asked, clearly shaken.

The director placed the USB drive on the table.

"I met him. He is… let's say, unique. But he proved he had access to information no one else could obtain. This drive contains everything he provided. And so far, every detail has been accurate."

The men exchanged glances, oscillating between incredulity and fascination.

"Why would he do this?" one of them finally asked.

"He says he's a patriot. That he wants to avoid a war disrupting his peace. I don't know how sincere he is, but what I do know is that he is incredibly powerful."

One of the men sighed, shaking his head.

"And if he decides to turn against us? A man like that… it's terrifying."

The director gave his colleagues a firm look.

"I know. That's why we need to remain cautious. But for now, he's on our side. And thanks to him, we achieved what we thought was impossible."

Another silence settled, each man reflecting on the implications of this revelation. The director, however, resolved to keep a close eye on Monsieur X while hoping he would remain a shadowy ally.