My Ultimate Sign-in System Made Me Invincible Chapter 463 Hands Are Tied

The United States government discovered itself facing a scenario beyond their wildest dreams.

Even though Whitlock had provided them with prior notice, the surprise didn't fade despite the early alert when the clock struck midnight.

Particularly as Nova Technologies released the Studio reveal initially, followed by over ten minutes of complete quiet.

Just like everyone else globally, they hadn't entertained the idea of two world-shaking disclosures occurring the same evening. The expectation was straightforward: nanites perhaps next month. One big unveiling per period. That seemed to be the routine. Or so it ought to have been.

In that tense ten-minute pause, certain officials started questioning if Whitlock's intel was off. Perhaps he'd gotten it wrong. Maybe Nova Technologies shifted their strategy. Could be they'd overhyped a non-issue.

However, Whitlock wasn't just any informant. As CEO of JP Morgan, the planet's biggest bank—a entity secretly labeled under Strategic Infrastructure Protection—people like him didn't pass off guesses as truths.

Thus, they held steady and prepared.

The Studio reveal by itself offered heaps to digest. Trillions in sector worth. Countless jobs. Unions would push for government involvement soon. Lawmakers from California and New York would insist on responses. The political heat would hit hard and fast.

True, there wasn't a lot they could truly accomplish, since outpacing rivals wasn't against the law.

Yet, it remained a handleable mess. Tough, no doubt. But handleable.

Then the Medical Nanites reveal hit, and 'handleable' lost all relevance to the situation.

What Whitlock outlined—impressive enough—proved to be an understated recap. The real reveal was more extreme. Or superior. It all hinged on whether you led a country or battled terminal illness.

The features exceeded the warnings. The subscription system was more advanced. The extraterrestrial site was bolder. The rule-skirting was clearer.

And the schedule—90 days until clinical tests, live public broadcast, global watchers invited though optional—signaled that Nova Technologies wasn't seeking approval.

They were notifying the authorities of choices already finalized. That difference outweighed every other detail in the reveal.

***

Inside the fortified meeting room in the West Wing at 12:30 AM, seventeen individuals appeared as if years had piled on them in mere moments.

The President occupied the table's head, tie relaxed, coat slung over his seat. He'd learned of Nova Technologies' crucial evening reveal and opted to remain alert for it, planning to view from his quarters and receive updates later.

That intention vanished once the Medical Nanites update appeared online.

Presently, he was encircled by his Chief of Staff, the Secretaries of Health, Commerce, and Defense, the Attorney General, the FDA Commissioner, the CDC Director, the National Security Advisor, plus several top aides roused from sleep.

The Director of National Intelligence displayed a laptop with LucidNet's homepage, featuring the nanites update prominently and a response tally surpassing 4 billion, still rising.

"Alright," the President declared, shattering the hush after the group had scanned the reveal thrice. "Somebody explain what we're truly facing here."

The Secretary of Health and Human Services responded first. "Mr. President, should just ten percent of these assertions hold true, we're staring down the total downfall of the pharmaceutical sector as we recognize it. Cancer care alone rakes in $200 billion worldwide. Alzheimer's studies, diabetes control, organ replacements, ongoing illness management—realistically, that's $2 trillion yearly in health costs vanishing in a flash."

"That's the financial hit," the Commerce Secretary chimed in. "But the job losses sting more. Healthcare stands as America's top employer. Seventeen million positions. Should hospitals fade, drug firms crumble, insurance turn pointless—we face joblessness dwarfing the 2008 crisis."

The President's jaw clenched. "And we learned of this how many hours ahead?"

"Five hours, sir," the Chief of Staff replied. "A CDC contact got a polite heads-up from Whitlock around 1:45 PM. She raised the alarm right away. Response teams have been active since 3:00 PM."

"Five hours," the President echoed. "They handed us five hours' warning before making the whole U.S. healthcare setup redundant."

"That's more heads-up than anyone else received," the Attorney General noted. "The world beyond got none."

"How kind." The President eyed the CDC Director. "Your take. Expert view. Do these claims ring true?"

The CDC Director, a veteran of thirty years in disease tracking who seemed utterly worn out, nodded deliberately. "Sir, drawing from Nova Technologies' actions over the last four months... yes. I trust them."

"You trust they can heal cancer? Restore organs? Undo Alzheimer's?"

"I trust they wouldn't proclaim it without the means to follow through. Their history shows they avoid unsubstantiated boasts. The Lucid gadget achieves feats our elite experts deem impossible. Its wireless links defy established science. Its computing strength tops our finest setups. If they claim medical nanites possess these powers, I'll accept it until evidence says otherwise."

The National Security Advisor leaned in. "That's my biggest worry. Where does this tech originate? The intel agencies have watched Nova Technologies since Lucid's debut. Zilch. No documents, no studies published, no patents, no traceable suppliers. They emerged four months back with tech decades ahead of ours, and we still lack info on the true operators or R&D sites."

The President massaged his temples. "What of the off-world base? Conducting trials in orbit? When did that become feasible?"

"Evidently now," the Defense Secretary stated. "Which sparks roughly sixty unanswered queries. How old is it? How built without detection? What's else orbiting? Crucially—how do we oversee health experiments beyond U.S. borders?"

"We can't," the Attorney General stated bluntly. "That's the intent. They picked space deliberately to evade FDA oversight. The bureau lacks reach outside U.S. soil."

"International leverage?" the Commerce Secretary proposed. "Team up with EU, Japan, key economies. Joint rules setup."

The Attorney General shook her head. "Based on what? No laws broken. They're providing health services. People decide participation. We can't compel a firm to heed rules they're exempt from."

"So we simply allow them free rein?" The President's tone sharpened, causing unease around the table.

"Sir," the Chief of Staff said cautiously, "we must approach this wisely. Nova Technologies sidesteps usual authority, yet they're not antagonistic toward us. They shared early intel. They're welcoming trial monitors. Broadcasting live for openness. It indicates willingness to collaborate, to a degree."

"To a degree," the President restated. "Their degree. Not ours."

"Yes, sir."

The President rose and approached the window, gazing at the White House lawns. The room held its breath.

"What baffles me," he said at last, still turned away, "is how a private firm gained supremacy over the U.S. government in a field we've guarded as vital national duty for a hundred years?"

Silence lingered before a reply.

The National Security Advisor ventured, "Sir, it's not superior power. It's superior tech we lack. There's a gap."

The President spun around. "Is there? From my view, they can deliver to Americans what we cannot: curing all illnesses, mending all wounds, maybe eternal life. When hordes demand why their leaders deny access, what response? 'Apologies, Nova Technologies refuses to share'?"

"We speak honestly," the Attorney General said. "That we're chasing all legal paths for secure, fair entry. Joining trials as watchers. Teaming with global allies for fitting guidelines."

"That's code for 'we lack control and pray for their goodwill.'"

"Yes, sir. That's the truth."

The President sat back down. "The Lucid Studio reveal. Discuss that. How severe?"

The Commerce Secretary accessed a file on her tablet. "Global entertainment hits $800 billion. Film and TV jobs support 2.5 million Americans including spillover roles. Lucid Studio renders much of it outdated. Not tomorrow, but in five to ten years."

"Union backlash?"

"They'll seek safeguards. Job security. Skill upgrades. Government steps to curb Studio's rollout. Pressure mounts in California and New York especially."

"Can we restrict it?"

"No, sir. Mirrors the nanites dilemma. Private service. Absent labor violations or unfair tactics, we can't halt them from providing what sidelines old methods."

The President scanned the group. "Thus, in entertainment and health alike, no regulation power, no access control, no bargaining chip. Correct?"

"Correct, sir," the Chief of Staff affirmed.

"When people question our inaction?"

"Stress safety," the CDC Director urged. "Stress rigorous trial necessity. Note that hasty tech rollout endangers lives. We cast as the prudent guardians."

"As they beam wonders to 3 billion viewers."

"Yes, sir."

The President paused deeply. "What's our true aim? Beyond spin. What do we seek?"

The Chief of Staff replied. "Tech access. Some supervision. Avert unrest as millions grasp nanites require Lucid gear they can't obtain. Sustain the image of government holding sway in citizen-critical areas."

"That final bit could prove toughest," the National Security Advisor murmured.

"Any advantages? Leverage points?"

"Whitlock," the Attorney General offered. "Their banking ally. Direct line to Nova's heads. U.S.-rooted, so under our laws unlike the firm."

"Threatening Whitlock?" the President queried.

"No, sir. Building ties. His nanite tip shows he's open as intermediary when it suits. Keep that link."

The President nodded thoughtfully. "Global teamwork? Others grappling similarly?"

"Yes, sir," the Secretary of State reported over secure video. "I've conferred with UK, France, Germany, Japan leaders. All mirror our stance. No hold, no authority, no roadmap. EU mulls urgent rules, but hits same barriers."

"China?"

"Banned Lucid four months prior. Sticking firm, but whispers of underground trades. Rich locals snag units via back channels."

"So their prohibition crumbles."

"Yes, sir."

The President regarded his Chief of Staff. "Prepare a statement. Highlight health dedication, trial watching role, ally cooperation. Frame as if we're steering, despite not. I'll deliver when ready. A month remains till volunteer picks."

"Yes, sir."

"Set a Whitlock call. I need his insights on their future moves."

"I'll set it up."

The President rose. "We're navigating unknown waters. A firm just unveiled tech nullifying our health system and entertainment sector, with zero legal reins over either. That's trouble. Yet we'll tackle it cautiously, for forcing obedience from an entity beyond our reach with mysterious prowess could backfire disastrously."

He eyed the assembly. "All grasp this? No clash with Nova Technologies. Patience, tactics, adaptation to their world. It's our sole viable path."

The session ended at 1:47 AM.

***

In the corridor later, the Secretary of Defense drew the National Security Advisor apart.

"You truly believe we should yield to this?" he whispered.

The National Security Advisor appeared drained. "I believe extreme caution in battling groups with space bases and baffling tech. Push excessively, mark ourselves foes, and victory isn't assured."

"Chilling notion."

"Yes. Utterly."

They headed to the door wordlessly.

Behind, West Wing lamps burned late. Endless tasks, contingencies, enigmas loomed.