Hogwarts in the shadows

Everyone in the conference room echoed this.

The United States has never suffered an attack of this scale since its founding. This is simply a great humiliation.

Havis was also angry, but anger could not solve the problem.

"We will definitely fight back and will never let the wizard go, but what is more important now is how we can properly handle the subsequent events."

He looked around the conference room and continued, "Twenty-seven military bases were attacked. This kind of thing cannot be concealed.

Reporters may already be on their way to the scene, perhaps even faster than our intelligence agents.

I don’t think any of you here want to be impeached.”

Harvest's words were like a bucket of cold water, bringing everyone back to reality.

Now is not the time for them to vent their emotions.

Only by responding calmly can we ensure our own political security.

There are still some reporters out there who are eager to watch the fun and a bunch of ignorant people.

The last time the Octagon was destroyed, there were hundreds of public marches and protests in the United States.

Some people even raised the banner of "divine punishment" and demanded that they step down.

This incident is more serious.

If handled improperly, any of them could become scapegoats for public anger.

Those soldiers are dead, so the Ministry of Finance just needs to give them more pensions.

If the base is destroyed, just rebuild it. Maybe you can get more money from the consortium and fill your pockets.

But if they fail to handle the follow-up and public opinion well, no one will end up well.

Secretary of State Stevens' face became increasingly gloomy, and he cleared his throat to break the silence.

“The president is right, what we need now is calm and strategy.

We must speak with one voice and ensure that the country’s image and the public’s emotions are properly addressed when releasing news to the outside world.”

Chief of Staff Howard nodded in agreement: “Indeed, we need a consistent storyline.

The nature of this attack is so unique that we cannot allow people to panic or be seen as unable to respond."

As the discussion progresses.

The focus of the meeting room gradually shifted from how to fight back against the wizards to how to control public opinion.

Everyone present knew it.

Once public opinion gets out of control, their political careers may come to an end.

As for the fate of those twenty-seven bases.

They have sent support and done their part.

However, just as the top executives were arguing over how to shift the blame and weave the story line.

Intelligence continued to come back, and the seriousness of the situation became increasingly apparent.

The flames spread across the night sky, illuminating half of the United States.

Thick smoke billowed, creating a doomsday-like scene.

More and more American people are awakened.

They looked at the sky that was illuminated red by the fire in confusion, their hearts filled with anxiety and fear.

The meeting lasted for several hours, and the sky was gradually turning pale.

However, the top leaders remained at odds over how to explain this sudden disaster to the public and no consensus was reached.

They simply mechanically deployed rescue operations and a series of measures to appease the public.

But this is far from enough to calm the coming storm.

Reporters gathered in front of Baigong Gate early in the morning, like sharks smelling blood.

They have learned about the destruction of the military base through various channels.

Like hungry hunters, they awaited an official response so they could make this explosive news public.

They are also expecting buck-passing and mistakes from the top.

Because it will make their reports more eye-catching and more explosive.

Kate Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Baigong, stood at the microphone.

Facing flashing cameras and frantic questions, she tried her best to maintain her calm demeanor.

"Last night, our country suffered an unprecedented attack. The president has called an emergency meeting of high-level officials, and we will update the public as soon as possible."

As soon as she finished speaking, she wanted to slip away.

After all, she also knew what kind of people these reporters were.

But how could the reporters let her go so easily?

Relying on their numerical advantage, they directly broke through the soldiers' blockade.

Questioning and asking questions loudly, trying to get more information out of Kate.

"It is said that twenty-seven bases were attacked last night. How many people died?"

"Have we been attacked by another country? Does this constitute a declaration of war?"

"How will the government respond to this attack?" Questions came one after another, like a barrage of bullets.

Anderson sighed, knowing that he couldn't escape, and could only answer the reporter's questions helplessly.

She began to ask questions.

"Ms. Anderson, can you tell us who launched this attack? Which country?" a reporter asked pointedly.

"We are currently investigating and cannot confirm the identity of the attacker." Kate answered without any loopholes.

"Is the government hiding something? Why are you so slow to give an explanation?" a reporter asked aggressively.

Anderson took a deep breath and maintained a professional smile.

"I understand your concerns, but please be assured that the government is doing its utmost to deal with this incident. We will announce the results of the investigation as soon as possible."

"But some witnesses said they saw attackers using magic. Is this true?" another reporter pressed on.

Anderson frowned slightly. “We are also verifying the witnesses’ statements. Reporters, please remain calm and do not spread unconfirmed news.”

The reporters were obviously not satisfied with this answer. What they wanted was not only an official statement, but also an exclusive news that could cause a sensation.

They kept asking questions and even began to speculate, trying to find flaws in Anderson's expression.

"Should we understand that the US military strength can no longer protect us and that our future will always be under threat?" a reporter's question was full of provocation.

Anderson remained calm. "The United States has military bases all over the world. This is just an emergency. I believe the government will do a good job of protecting the safety of the people."

Just then, a senior official quietly walked up to Kate and handed her a note.

Anderson took a quick look and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I just received news that the President will hold a press conference at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

Further details will be released at that time.”

Anderson said, turned around and left in a hurry.

Although the reporters were dissatisfied, they knew they couldn't get any more answers.

But there is some news today.

After all, he knows nothing about anything, isn't that exactly the point they can criticize him for?

And reporters on the front line had already obtained relevant photos.

The rest they can make up...

wrong.

Guess!

Inside the Bai Palace at this time.

Top officials are still discussing fiercely how to turn this disaster into political capital.