Chapter 64: The Chain Reaction Triggered by the F-22

Inside the command post.

Colonel Wen and Li Wenshan were no longer standing in front of the large screen; instead, they stood behind the researchers, staring intently at the data displayed on the instruments.

On the instruments before them, the data metrics were skyrocketing at a blistering pace.

"2 Mach... 2.1 Mach... 2.2 Mach!" exclaimed a researcher in shock.

Immediately afterward, as the value stabilized at 2.26 Mach and held steady, the researcher opened the communication channel with the utmost speed.

"Aircraft 001, this is tower control, immediately cease supersonic flight mode!"

Following that, the data on the instrument began to drop rapidly, plunging at an equally high speed.

However, at this moment, no one paid any attention to the plummeting numbers. Everyone simply stared at the instrument display interface, completely dumbfounded.

Colonel Wen and Li Wenshan exchanged glances, both seeing astonishment and disbelief mirrored in each other's eyes.

The researchers were no different. One of them said with utter bewilderment, "The supersonic flight performance of this fighter... its performance is simply too incredible. Its top flight speed actually... actually reached 2.26 Mach..."

"This is faster than... faster than the top flight speed of a genuine F-22 fighter!" the researcher exclaimed, his expression a complex mix of emotions—uncertain whether it was excitement or shock—while his eyes were filled with profound awe.

Colonel Wen swallowed hard and muttered to himself, "The top flight speed of the J-8 fighter is 2.2 Mach, and the J-20's top flight speed is 2.5 Mach... The top flight speed of this fighter is 2.26 Mach..."

"In other words—" Li Wenshan picked up the thought, hesitating for a moment before pondering aloud, "In other words, the performance of this fighter far exceeds the J-10 and approaches the J-20?"

Just as his voice fell,

the researcher immediately retorted, "No, that's not it, Chief Li, Colonel Wen. Current data indicates that this may not be an ordinary fighter at all. It is highly likely—extremely likely—to be a genuine F-22 fighter!"

"What!"

"Huh?"

Colonel Wen and Li Wenshan blurted out in unison, their faces full of astonishment.

A genuine F-22 fighter?

How could that be possible!

After thinking for a moment, the researcher added, "No, saying it's just a genuine F-22 might be slightly inaccurate. It should be an F-22 fighter that is even more powerful than the real thing!"

"What on earth do you mean?" Li Wenshan immediately asked.

Fumbling for words, the researcher explained, "It's like this, Chief Li. After comparing the test results across other parameters, I found that in most aspects, the test data of this fighter roughly matches what we know about the F-22."

"However, regarding the stealth coating, engine performance, and top supersonic flight speed, these metrics are all somewhat superior to a genuine F-22 fighter!"

"Therefore, I have concluded that this F-22 fighter is very likely the latest generation of the F-22!"

"This... how is that possible!" Li Wenshan's eyes widened, his mouth agape wide enough to fit an apple.

At this moment, the shock in the hearts of the two men was beyond measure, rolling on endlessly like surging river waters.

They simply could not fathom how a fighter that appeared to be built and assembled by civilians, using what were surely outdated technologies and merely mimicking the exterior shape of an F-22, could actually outperform a real F-22 during flight tests!

This completely defied common sense and was something they simply could not accept right away.

If the performance of this fighter had merely rivaled the J-8, they could have accepted it. But surpassing a genuine F-22 was utterly absurd.

One had to know that Kyushu currently possessed no fighter capable of matching the F-22. Even the J-10 fell slightly short of the F-22 in terms of performance and military combat strike capabilities.

What's more, this fighter not only looked like an F-22 on the outside, but its performance matched—and even exceeded—that of the F-22.

It was hard to imagine what kind of person could manufacture such a fighter.

Compared to this, Li Wenshan cared more about how the person named Wang Yang had managed to acquire these two fighters.

If this truly was the latest generation F-22, it would inevitably have been developed by the military of some Western power. But how could any Western power sell an unreleased, latest-generation F-22 fighter to a merchant from Kyushu?

It simply made no sense.

Most absurdly of all, Wang Yang had managed to sell fighters publicly and high-profilely on the internet, completely disregarding the United States.

That was even more absurd and inexplicable.

"Quick, Chief Li, report to the superiors! We must report this matter to the superiors as soon as possible!" Colonel Wen forced himself to calm down.

Deeply aware of the gravity of the situation, Li Wenshan nodded heavily. "Right, and we also need to find Wang Yang—no, we can wait. We'll find Wang Yang after the superiors' instructions come down."

"Exactly. Our primary objective right now is to inform Chief Zhang of this matter," Colonel Wen agreed with a nod.

Exchanging glances once more and seeing the lingering astonishment in each other's eyes, the two men hesitated no longer and immediately sprang into action.

Meanwhile.

In the country of Shenzhao, Nagasaki Port.

Within the military garrison, inside the radar reconnaissance command post.

A mustache-wearing, slightly sinister-looking officer of the Sakura military stared at the screen before him. The expression on his face went from puzzlement to blankness, and finally morphed into astonishment.

Gazing at the imagery displayed on his computer screen, he remained completely frozen in his seat.

Without a moment's hesitation, he stood up and strode toward the office of the director of the radar reconnaissance command.

Ichiro Hiroshima, dressed in full military uniform, sat in his office reviewing documents.

Just as he finished reviewing a document and raised his hand, the office door was pushed open directly.

He jerked his head up. Upon seeing that it was one of his subordinate officers, his expression darkened drastically, and he cursed angrily, "What is the meaning of this panic! Have you forgotten Prime Minister's instructions? Have you forgotten military discipline?"

Startled, the officer retreated sheepishly out of the office, then knocked on the door.

At Hiroshima's curt "Come in," the officer pushed the door open again, wearing a grave expression as he reported, "Reporting, reporting to Commander Hiroshima, above the high seas, there have been suspected sightings of an F-22 fighter!"

Hiroshima's hand trembling slightly as he held his teacup, he raised his head in disbelief to stare at the officer. "Impossible!"

"It's true, Commander Hiroshima. Please take a look at this footage first."

With those words, the officer stepped forward and transferred the newly copied footage directly onto the computer screen before Hiroshima.

Upon seeing the radar reconnaissance system display the image of a suspected fighter flying at an altitude of around 8,000 meters in the airspace where the high seas met Shenzhao's territorial waters, he froze completely.

"Judging by the radar reconnaissance data, this is indeed an F-22 fighter. For some reason, however, this F-22 did not activate its stealth function and just flew straight across like this!" the officer added.

Hiroshima's lips parted slightly as if to say something, but in the end, no words came out.

After all, this matter exceeded his comprehension.

From his position, if their Western master had dispatched an F-22 fighter—whether for patrol or military exercises here—they would have notified Shenzhao in advance to avoid misunderstandings that might affect the Western master's military operations.

Yet he had received no prior notification whatsoever.

Could it be a secret exercise? Was his rank too low to need to know?

That didn't make sense either. In the event of a genuine misunderstanding where they scrambled fighters to intercept without knowing the full picture, offending their Western master's military would be a catastrophe of massive proportions!

"Commander Hiroshima, that's not even the most important part. The most critical point is that, according to our recent detection, the flight direction of this F-22 fighter was clearly abnormal. It ultimately—ultimately flew into the eastern waters!" The officer adjusted the footage.

At that moment, Hiroshima saw the target—suspected of being an F-22—flying straight toward the eastern waters, leaving him even more bewildered.

An F-22 fighter in Kyushu's territorial waters...

That was impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Surely an F-22 would be intercepted by Kyushu the moment it approached their waters.

Yet, judging from the radar reconnaissance system, Kyushu had made no response whatsoever, acting as though they hadn't seen it at all. That simply defied logic.

Most crucially, Hiroshima had keenly noticed that the direction from which this F-22 had flown toward Shenzhao's waters seemed rather strange.

That direction made it look as though it had flown straight out from Kyushu's direction.

And that was even more impossible. If it had flown from the direction of Kyushu, Kyushu would have detected it long ago, reacted swiftly, and dispatched their own fighters to intercept.

Something was wrong. This was thoroughly wrong!

Regardless, none of this was something someone at his rank should be pondering. The most urgent task for him now was to report the matter immediately to his superior officer, leaving higher authorities to decide how it should be handled.

With this thought, he dismissed the officer from his office, picked up the landline telephone on his desk, and dialed a number.

Before long, the call connected. Without the slightest hesitation, Hiroshima cut straight to the point: "Reporting, Commander Kanai, just moments ago, the radar reconnaissance system at the Nagasaki military garrison detected a target suspected to be an F-22 fighter speeding across the high seas toward our waters."

"However, right as the target was about to enter our territorial waters, it suddenly made a U-turn and flew toward Kyushu. Current projections suggest it has already entered Kyushu's waters!"

He summarized the entire event using the most concise language possible.

Commander Kanai on the other end of the line was also startled, pausing for nearly ten seconds before exclaiming in shock, "What? Is the information accurate? Can you confirm that it was indeed an F-22 fighter?"

Hiroshima nodded heavily. "Based on current radar reconnaissance data, it should be an F-22. After all, that fighter engaged supersonic flight, reaching a top speed of 2.25 Mach. It's just that this particular F-22 did not activate its stealth function."

"Hiss..." Commander Kanai drew a sharp breath on the other end. "I understand. Continue monitoring this F-22, but under no circumstances should you attempt interception. Even if the target enters our territorial waters, do not intercept."

"Understood!" Hiroshima answered decisively, then hung up the phone.

Sitting in his chair, Hiroshima breathed heavily, his chest heaving with increased frequency. He stared at the computer screen with astonishment in his eyes, his face still frozen in shock.

He had no idea what lay behind all of this, but he knew one thing: since an F-22 fighter had been deployed, it was painfully clear that their American master might be making a major move.

And he, as the commander of the radar reconnaissance department at the Nagasaki military garrison, might well be dragged into this incident.

The mere thought made his breathing grow even more rapid.