Invasion of the United States

Under the shadow of the rampant virus, the once bustling Washington D.C. seemed to have its soul extracted, with the previous bustling excitement replaced by a suffocating silence.

On the empty streets, only the traffic lights tirelessly alternated their cold glows.

The office buildings that once teemed with people now resembled abandoned giant stone coffins, with their windows reflecting lifeless pale light in the sun.

Clearly the core of this powerful nation, Washington D.C. at this moment is a silent world, filled with unsettling emptiness and dead silence everywhere.

The Department of Health and Human Services Building located in the city center is also shrouded in an unusual quiet.

As night fell, the floors that should have been brightly lit in the past now only had a few offices emitting weak light.

The office building was like a giant maze, with less than one-fifth of the employees silently holding their positions.

Many more have been either swallowed by the merciless virus or chose to flee under shadows of panic, leaving behind a scene of unease and low morale.

This copy was generated from content at MV|LEMPYR.

In an assistant minister's office, a few unsigned documents were spread out on the heavy oak desk, and a few pens stood lonely in the pen holder.

Hanging on the walls were several exquisitely framed oil paintings depicting historical figures from the United States' War of Independence and the Civil War.

A slight knock on the door broke the silence in the room. The door slowly opened, and Lady Deborah, the assistant to the minister, cautiously peeked in half her body.

She was dressed appropriately, yet her expression was anxious, her hands nervously wiping at her clothes, glancing around before finding the man who called her by the floor-to-ceiling window.

"May I ask… Mr. Harden, do you have any instructions?" Deborah's voice was very light, as if afraid of disturbing anyone.

Zhou Qingfeng turned away from the window. He could feel the tension and fragility emanating from the lady, a common trait among nearly all the personnel who chose to stay in the storm-tossed Ministry of Health.

"Lady, don't be nervous." Zhou Qingfeng motioned for her to come in and then said in an unquestionable tone, "I want you to immediately take over the position of assistant minister, responsible for 'emergency response'."

"What? Assistant minister?!" Upon hearing this, Deborah's already somewhat bewildered face instantly turned more confused.

She waved her hands repeatedly, speaking quickly, "No, no, this absolutely won't do! Mr. Harden, you must be mistaken.

I… I was just a regular office worker earlier, my daily job was organizing documents, recording meeting notes, handling some trivial affairs.

I have never managed any team, let alone a critical department! I have no experience in any high-level position.

My abilities are far from sufficient; I would only mess things up and end up delaying the whole 'emergency response' work!"

Perhaps the immense psychological pressure finally crushed her tightly wound nerves, and Deborah's voice began to carry a clear sob.

"I… I got to this minister's office as an assistant only because I'm not married, and have no children, have no burden. But that doesn't mean I have any ability!

In fact, I've been on edge these past few days, scared that I haven't done well enough, which would cause irretrievable disasters.

I'm… I'm really very afraid; I just want to go back to my little house, back to that quiet and safe little world, that's where I should be…"

Deborah's voice grew softer and choked up, tears finally began to gleam in her eyes, the shimmering tears threatened to fall.

She only wanted to be an ordinary person who could avoid the storm, not pushed by fate to the forefront, to take on a responsibility she believed she couldn't bear.

Just as Deborah was on the brink of collapse, Zhou Qingfeng stepped forward swiftly and embraced this fragile lady.

"Lady, you are very brave. When countless cowards and timid people chose to back off and flee, you are one of the few heroes who persisted.

Just for that, your courage has already surpassed that of most people in this world.

I have read the files, you have been in the public affairs department for eight years, always diligent and conscientious, long overdue for a promotion.

Those so-called 'ministers' are all bastards, busy with social engagements, parties, bragging, golfing, and women, how would their work experience compare with yours?

Now it's a state of emergency, someone has to step up and take responsibility. I believe you can definitely do your best."

-----------------

Shanni was sitting at an assistant's desk outside the office, facing a computer, preparing to take over the tedious work of a 'ministerial-level' secretary.

The office door was ajar; she could hear Deborah's cries and Zhou Qingfeng's encouragement, and, through the crack in the door, she could see Deborah crying her heart out in Zhou Qingfeng's arms.

Under the heavy pressure of this sudden epidemic, people like Zhou Qingfeng who could remain unaffected, calm almost to the point of being merciless, were indeed rare.

Washington D.C. was not devoid of officials loyal to their duties, willing to sacrifice for others.

It's just that when this group of passionate bureaucrats stood firm on the front line, they became like cannon fodder thrown onto the battlefield, consumed rapidly.

Some unfortunately became infected with the virus and fell ill, losing their lives; some collapsed completely due to overwork, unable to hold on.

For instance, Oliver Harden, whom Zhou Qingfeng replaced, once believed that because he was vaccinated, he would be safe, yet underestimated the 'immune escape' capability of the X Virus.