"You have been silent for over five hours, Mr. President. So you indeed watched the video file we sent. So why don’t we begin there? What have you noticed or observed?" Richard asked, his tone direct and to the point.

"First of all, it’s hard to believe the footage. Do they really have supernatural abilities? They are not edited, right? Like I’m not questioning the integrity of your organization, but this is beyond any known reality," President William expressed his skepticism.

Richard responded calmly, "Mr. President, the footage is unedited. The abilities you saw are real. This is the new reality we are living in. The supernatural has become natural in these times. You have satellites orbiting the planet right? Why don’t you check on those?"

"If only, most of our satellites were down due to the lack of personnel to maintain the ground stations and control systems," President William explained, his voice tinged with frustration. "We’ve lost significant surveillance capabilities, making it challenging to independently verify or gather intelligence."

Richard nodded in understanding. "That’s a predicament many are facing. However, Blackwatch has maintained a functional network of satellites and ground stations. We’ve been using them for real-time surveillance and reconnaissance, especially in monitoring Lin Feng’s activities."

"So you also have satellites and American hardware...this is too much for a private military firm...much bigger than Blackwater."

Richard chuckled at the compliment. "Well we are rich, that’s it."

"Now, this brings me to the question that we all agree we need to ask. How did you get our technology? Like where did you acquire it?" William asked.

Richard paused for a moment, weighing his response. Moments later, his tone shifted in a serious manner.

"Mr. President, the acquisition of your technology and hardware is a matter of confidentiality within our organization. While I understand your concerns, I must emphasize that our primary focus has always been on countering the global threat. The means we employed to equip ourselves were necessary under the circumstances."

"I appreciate the need for confidentiality, Mr. Gonzales, especially in a private organization. But you must understand, from a national security standpoint, it’s unusual for a private entity to possess such advanced military capabilities without government oversight," President William stated, his tone indicating both concern and curiosity.

"I understand your position, Mr. President. However, I assure you that our acquisition of these resources was not intended to undermine any government. Our sole purpose has always been to combat the extraordinary threats we face, like Lin Feng and the havoc he’s wreaking globally," Richard explained.

As soon as he said that, Richard clicked his tongue. The president really wanted to know where they got it. He can’t tell him that he summoned them from his military system, that would be ridiculous to hear. So it’s best to keep the confidential charade to mislead the President. Richard knew that revealing the true nature of their acquisitions could lead to more questions and potential complications.

President William sighed, "I see. Well, given the current global crisis, I’m willing to put aside these questions for now. The immediate priority is to address the existential threat at hand. Perhaps in the future, we can revisit this topic under different circumstances."

"Thank you for your understanding, Mr. President. I believe focusing on the imminent threat is the wisest course of action. Blackwatch is fully committed to collaborating with your administration and sharing our resources and intelligence for the greater good," Richard said, relieved that the conversation was steering back to the more pressing issue at hand.

"Very well, Mr. Gonzales. Now, I want to suggest a meeting with one another. You know, personal. Would that be okay for you? You know it’s going to be hard to communicate with a crumbling infrastructure in the Cheyenne Mountains."

"You want me to go there and see you in person?" Richard asked, clarifying his intentions.

"Yes, Mr. Gonzales. A face-to-face meeting would be beneficial. It will help us to establish a more concrete working relationship and discuss strategic plans more effectively," President William responded firmly.

Richard considered the proposal. Meeting the President of the United States in person would indeed allow both parties to establish a more solid foundation for collaboration. However, he was also aware of the risks involved in such a high-profile encounter.

"Alright, Mr. President, I agree to the meeting," Richard confirmed. "I’ll arrange for my travel to Cheyenne Mountain. Can we set a time and date?"

"We’ll make the necessary preparations on our end and provide you with a secure route. How about we schedule it for three days from now? That should give us both enough time to prepare," President William suggested.

"Three days sounds reasonable. I’ll have my team work on the logistics immediately," Richard replied, already thinking about the security measures and contingencies they would need to put in place.

"Excellent. We’ll send over the details and the security protocol. I look forward to meeting you, Mr. Gonzales. This is an important step towards a united front against the threats we face," President William said.

As he talked with the president, Richard noticed that he sounded like a politician, always speaking in a formal and diplomatic manner.

"Thank you, Mr. President. I share your sentiment. A united front is essential in these times," Richard responded, matching the President’s formality. "If there’s anything you need to ask, you know how to reach out to me. We’re open for further discussions."

"Of course, Mr. Gonzales. I’ll be in touch if there are any updates or additional queries before our meeting," President William replied.

With the call concluded Richard ended the secure line and turned to his team.

"Sir...you just set up an appointment with the president of the United States," Mark commented.

"Yeah...and it’s a one in a million chance. A normal dude like me would never think of that happening, but it is happening now, and it is three days. Now this is going to be our first diplomatic mission abroad and I want to make an impression. So Mark, Sara, you’ll come with me. While Graves will serve as the head of our security detail. Is that understood?"

"Understood, sir," Mark and Sara replied in unison.

Richard turned around, glancing at the monitor screens and then landing at one specific screen displaying the world map. From New Clark City to Colorado, the distance is over twelve thousand kilometers. They’ll need a huge plane to get there.

Richard opened his system and browsed for one. There is a Boeing 737 but to have that as an airplane and meeting the president would cause confusion. An Airbus A350 would do.