Invasion of the United States

More than half a month after the outbreak, Fauci, the chief medical advisor of the White House, announced at a press conference that Washington D.C. has successfully achieved "herd immunity".

More than 90% of the people now have antibodies and can safely go out, no longer needing to stay at home.

The news brought a huge sigh of relief among the healthcare workers on the frontline, the National Guard enforcing the lockdown, and the over 700,000 residents who had been under strict quarantine.

Fauci almost entirely adopted more than a dozen emergency plans drafted by Zhou Qingfeng — providing subsidies, gradually lifting restrictions, and recruiting medical volunteers for aftermath management.

The White House acknowledged this and did not raise excessive doubts or make significant changes.

All the bureaucrats in this power center knew well how chaotic and terrible their response had been in the early stages of the pandemic.

Conflicting decisions, hesitant delays, and constantly changing orders had pushed the entire country to the brink of collapse.

A prolonged period of high-pressure work had exhausted everyone, and they desperately needed a breather, a reason to temporarily lay down the heavy burdens.

As for whether there would be a larger and more ferocious wave of the pandemic later, no one cared at the moment.

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

However, in the Oval Office of the White House, Fauci put on a different face, gloomily reporting to the Vice President and the cabinet bureaucrats:

"I have terrible news: the 'X' virus, which my National Institute of Infectious Diseases oversees, has mutated.

We originally anticipated the first mutation to occur at least in half a year, or three months at the earliest. But in just half a month, this virus has produced a new 'Beta' variant.

The good news is that the 'Beta' variant is less virulent, with its fatality rate significantly reduced compared to the original strain.

The bad news is that the existing vaccines have greatly reduced effectiveness against it. Including ourselves, anyone can be infected by it."

The Oval Office is where the U.S. President resides. It's not very large, just 70 to 80 square meters with only two sofas.

After Fauci announced the end of the 'pandemic', several cabinet ministers who were previously unwell suddenly recovered.

Robert, the Minister of the Ministry of Health, reappeared with a refreshed face, accompanied by other permanent deputy ministers and assistant ministers who all came out in droves.

As soon as this bunch returned, they immediately suppressed the temporary officials at the Ministry of Health who were promoted by Zhou Qingfeng under the name of 'Harden'.

But 'Harden' was also credited for effectively dealing with the pandemic, and at this moment, he was following by Fauci's side, reporting to the esteemed Vice President. He stood at the back of the office, looking around curiously and nervously.

The White House security really wasn't up to snuff, allowing an imposter to sneak in.

Zhou Qingfeng wasn't listening to Fauci's words at all, only scanning the people in the office back and forth, pondering if with his current skills, he could eliminate all these guys if he suddenly attacked?

Listening to Fauci talking about the 'Beta' variant, all the bureaucrats present became extremely agitated — as a man-made virus, the original 'X' was terrifying enough, and now it had mutated. ThefullseriesishostedonMyVirtualLibraryEmpire,knownasMV7LEMPYR.

Especially upon learning that no current vaccine could defend against the 'Beta' variant, no one maintained a pleasant expression.

"Harden, do you have any solutions?" A sudden voice forcibly pulled Zhou Qingfeng's wandering mind back.

Seeing seven or eight gazes turning towards him, the one asking was the 'countryman' Vice President. Zhou Qingfeng instinctively replied, "No solution, just wait for death."

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

The meeting ended without any conclusive results, with the Vice President keeping a few cabinet members in the office to continue discussions.

Zhou Qingfeng strolled out like a 'street rogue', continuing his fantastical tour around the White House — he came with Fauci. Since Fauci wasn't leaving, it seemed he couldn't leave either.

Outside the Oval Office, numerous officials were gathered on both sides of the corridor, waiting to report work to the Vice President. Standing in groups of threes and fives, they spoke in low voices. Most of their discussions revolved around the fields they were responsible for, with the air filled with a mix of anxiety and bureaucratic scent.

Zhou Qingfeng, inherently a 'social phobic', found himself exhilaratingly brave in such an extremely unfamiliar environment as if invisible.

Others naturally regarded him as a high-ranking government official upon seeing him exit the Oval Office, without any suspicion of his identity.

This allowed him to wander freely in the corridor, get close to any discussion group, drawing merely a few scrutinizing glances, with no one stepping in to drive him away.

Thus, he looked around with great interest, pricking up his ears, trying to catch some valuable information.

A few senior military officers in neat uniforms and with shining stars on their shoulders caught Zhou Qingfeng's attention. They stood together with serious expressions, seemingly discussing some important matters.

Zhou Qingfeng curiously moved closer, wishing to hear their conversation.

Yet these generals were extremely vigilant, already speaking softly, and upon sensing a strange face approaching, they immediately ceased their discussion, casting their gaze simultaneously upon Zhou Qingfeng.

A general adorned with four dazzling star insignias turned his head, scrutinizing with sharp eyes and asked suspiciously, "Who are you?"

"Oliver Harden." Zhou Qingfeng replied with a smile, extending his hand nonchalantly, "I just came out of the President's office, and could be called back anytime.

I can't leave, so I'm just wandering around outside.

Sorry to disturb you all, believe me, it wasn't intentional, I'll just move somewhere else." He made an apologetic gesture as he spoke, turning to leave.