Two Realms Shuttle Gate: Don't Call Me a Demon!

"The so-called assassination is nothing but baseless talk from certain individuals. If Siam continues its provocations, it will bear all the consequences," Su Jie declared.

On November 25, Jieke Group formally responded to the assassination allegations by the Siam officials.

At the press conference, facing journalists from around the world, Liu Yingying of the Jieke Group delivered a speech, taking a firm stance.

On the same day, the King of Siam, Pupeng, once again made a televised speech, centering around a single point: Jieke Group must apologize and make reparations, or they would consider imposing sanctions including war.

The response from Siam surprised many countries and their citizens globally.

Jieke Group, which even dared to challenge Beautiful Country, left many wondering who had emboldened Siam to provoke Jieke Group in such a manner.

"Jieke Group must be held accountable for the assassination attempt. You thought to destabilize Siam from within, you've miscalculated," they asserted.

The following day, major newspapers within Siam, the Public Opinion, Manager Newspaper, Star Siamese Daily, Manchester Post, and National Newspaper, started relentlessly maligning Jieke Group in their reports.

On the other hand, prominent newspapers in Chan Country, such as Zen Country New Light Newspaper, Chan News, Chan Times, Seven-Day Weekly, Voice Weekly, and Jieke New Force Weekly, also responded fiercely.

Online, citizens from both sides were embroiled in a massive argument, accusing each other of either plotting assassination or fabricating lies.

The two parties clashed not only within their own borders but also on the global stage in terms of public opinion.

From global social media platforms to meetings at the United Nations Security Council, they argued relentlessly.

With the rapid development of the internet, the speed of information dissemination was unprecedented—everything was known worldwide through a phone or a computer.

As both sides used the media to actively shape the narrative for war, garner sympathy, and rally public support, many countries began sensing the smell of gunpowder from the war, a sign that actual conflict might be imminent.

Under such media influence, an armed conflict broke out at the border a few days later, further deteriorating relations between the two sides.

On November 28, Jieke Group announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Siam and the evacuation of all its diplomatic staff within Siam.

On the same day, Siam also declared the severance of diplomatic ties and the withdrawal of their diplomats.

The establishment of diplomatic ties is a significant event; severing them is grave, indicating irreconcilable differences and the breakdown of normal communications.

As if to assert their stance on justice, on December 1, Siam announced a military exercise at the border adjacent to Chan Country, codenamed 'Black Cobra.'

A total of 120,000 troops participated in this exercise, deploying three infantry divisions, two armored divisions, two special forces divisions, and two artillery divisions, including a massive naval deployment in Siam Bay to intimidate Meng State and Delin Province within Chan Country.

These provinces are very close to Siam Bay, the shortest distance being just over a hundred kilometers.

Siam consists of 77 provinces, including districts and villages, with 10 provinces bordering Chan Country. The exercises were set up in the southern Beibi Prefecture, known for its flat terrain, bordering Keren State and Meng State of Chan Country.

On December 3, Jieke Group announced a major military exercise in Keren State, codenamed 'Hawk.'

Several units notorious for their distinguished service in Chan Country's civil war, such as the First Heavy Composite Brigade from the Jiwei City Campaign, the Sixth Mountain Division from the Twin Peaks Campaign, and the famous Steel Camp, appeared on the list of participants, amounting to over eighty thousand personnel staging a confrontation against Siam.

It was clear that this exercise was aimed at Siam—your exercise code name is Cobra, mine is Hawk, and Hawks eat snakes, which infuriated many within Siam.

However, a small portion of the Siamese public, seeing the tense situation between the two countries, began to feel fear.

Siam had been at peace for many years and had not experienced war for decades.

As the conflict between the two nations intensified and seemed to be heading toward a full-scale war, many people started to feel apprehensive, and voices of opposition gradually emerged.

In Chan Country, having just unified after a civil war led by the Jieke Group, many citizens were no strangers to war, having experienced it firsthand.

With Su Jie and Jieke Group commanding high respect within Chan Country, their call to arms was widely supported, with most people favoring the war.

However, the opposing Siamese public was in the minority; many were swayed by various propaganda campaigns, clamoring for Jieke Group to pay a price.

On December 12, during the military exercise, Jieke Group officially initiated an evacuation operation, extracting its citizens who were traveling, working, or doing business within Siam.

Siam carried out a similar evacuation and cut off all trade ties between the two countries, mobilized its reserve forces, and canceled all military leave.

This was almost a clear signal that a war was about to erupt; both leaderships felt the pressing threat of conflict.

The new King of Siam, Pupeng, began to frequently coordinate with neighboring countries, seeking external support.

With the support of Beautiful Country, countries from the Southeast Region also reacted, condemning Jieke Group and mobilizing their armies.

Such as An Nan, Lancang, and Zhenla; these three countries amassed troops at the border, ready to enter and support at any moment.