Episode 8: Tariffs, Greenland, and Global Games
The world was still reeling from the disappearance of the seven richest billionaires, but attention quickly shifted to new chaos. Political tension between the U.S. and its neighbors escalated, fueled in no small part by the absurd antics of televised pundits.
The Media Circus
A top-rated U.S. morning show dominated the news cycle with an outrageous discussion: the idea that the U.S. could “simply buy Greenland” to secure Arctic resources.
Host 1: “Well, we’ve got the money, don’t we? Greenland’s just sitting there, perfect for the U.S. to control.”
Host 2: “And don’t forget the resources beneath the land—oil, minerals, everything. Why not make it official?”
Host 3: “But can we just… buy it? They have a government, a people. This isn’t Florida real estate.”
Host 1 shrugged. “We could always throw money at the problem. Make Canada enforce tariffs, and watch Greenland fall into our lap.”
The Tariff Debate
Across another studio, hosts discussed pressuring Canada with tariffs, treating international economic tension as a trivial game.
Host 3: “Canada’s due for a lesson. They’ve been too comfortable for too long. A little steel and aluminum heat, and they’ll feel our power.”
Host 4: “Push hard enough, and maybe they’ll hand over Greenland. Perfect trade deal.”
Host 3 chuckled. “Exactly. Just apply economic pressure, and they’ll cave.”
The Fallout
In the real world, the consequences spread quickly. Canadians were outraged. The government, already weakened by Trudeau’s resignation and the appointment of Governor General Carney to stabilize leadership, faced heightened strain.
Global markets reacted. Stocks of key industries plunged as businesses braced for escalating tariffs. In Greenland, citizens mobilized politically, resisting foreign claims on their territory. The alien warnings about Earth’s inability to adapt seemed eerily prescient.
The Billionaires’ Perspective
On the alien world, the billionaires watched the turmoil unfold. They had been learning to survive together, but now they saw the fragile reality of Earth’s systems.
Elon Musk: “If this continues—buying and bullying—the planet itself could collapse. Maybe that’s what the aliens wanted us to see.”
Zhou Wei: “These people don’t understand the gravity of their words. Tariffs, acquisitions—they’re not just games. They affect real lives.”
Vanessa Ward, overseeing the group’s survival efforts, looked out at the alien landscape: “We’re learning cooperation the hard way. And the media… they’re showing everyone exactly how not to lead.”
Cliffhanger
As the billionaires contemplated Earth’s unfolding chaos, the alien voice cut through the chamber:
"The leaders of your world have failed. The time for games is over. The next phase of your trial begins now."
The screen flickered and went black, leaving the group in tense silence.
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