Actually, I'd rather start with China. Arthur thought, his blue eyes tracing the vast landmass on the holographic map. It's a one-party dictatorship. Controlling its leader would be enough to control the entire country.
And they also have abundant natural resources, unlike Japan.
Arthur sighed inwardly, an exhale no one could see. The surface logic is so tempting. A perfect target. But… that's precisely why I must avoid it.
His mind raced, analyzing variables with the speed of a supercomputer. First, China is a mysterious 'black box.' In a democratic country like Japan or the United States, information flows—even if it's filtered—through the media, political opposition, and civil society. I can read its pulse. But in China? All information is centrally controlled. Controlling its top leader might feel like I have control, but what if I'm only controlling a puppet, while hidden factions within the party continue to move beyond my reach? It's a blind gamble.
