The Tyrant Billionaire

"Buzz~~!"

A massive formation of fighter jets flew over Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital.

They didn’t drop bombs, but their presence alone sent crowds scrambling into air-raid shelters, screaming in terror. Only long after the jets had passed did people cautiously emerge, visibly shaken.

At the presidential palace, the president and his officials emerged from the shelter, their faces filled with frustration after the aircraft had left.

In recent days, tensions between Indonesia and Hardy Dominion had reached a boiling point.

With Indonesia’s navy and air force nearly obliterated, Hardy took full advantage by deploying dozens of aircraft daily. Today they would fly over one city, tomorrow another. The proximity of Hardy Dominion and Indonesia—just over a hundred miles at the narrowest point and no more than 2,000 kilometers at the farthest—meant bombers could easily make two trips in a day.

They targeted not only cities but also military camps.

The timing and locations of these operations were unpredictable.

Sometimes, they even dropped bombs.

Although Indonesia retaliated with anti-aircraft guns, Hardy’s planes flew at high altitudes, avoiding the need for precise bombing runs. Most bombs were dropped haphazardly and often hit unimportant targets.

Yet even this left indonesians in a constant state of anxiety.

Normal work and daily life became impossible.

Indonesia had no means to counter Hardy’s harassment. With its air force decimated, it could only watch helplessly as Hardy’s planes dominated the skies.

Indonesia sought aid from the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union agreed to supply a batch of aircraft, but this news was leaked by a spy and subsequently published in foreign newspapers. The revelation sparked widespread debate. During a United Nations assembly, representatives questioned whether the Soviet Union intended to involve itself in the conflict.

The Soviets, caught off guard, hesitated.

If the Soviet Union admitted its involvement, the United States and Britain would undoubtedly respond, leading to a new round of tensions.

In the end, although the Soviet Union didn’t withdraw its promise of aircraft support, it delayed taking any concrete action.

Meanwhile, Indonesians continued to live in fear and disruption, unable to find a solution.

If Hardy intended to invade and occupy Indonesian territory, Indonesia might have had some countermeasures, such as resorting to guerrilla warfare.

After World War II, when the Japanese withdrew and the Dutch attempted to reassert colonial control, Indonesians demanded independence and waged a war against the Dutch. Despite deploying 100,000 troops, the Dutch eventually withdrew, unable to sustain their campaign against Indonesian guerrilla tactics.

But Hardy had no intention of occupying Indonesia.

He was focused solely on harassment.

Bombing.

More bombing.

And even more bombing.

Hardy ensured that Indonesia could never have a moment’s peace.

And there was nothing Indonesia could do about it. With no external allies willing to intervene, Hardy’s actions, though blatant bullying, were calculated and strategic. He knew exactly how to deal with these opponents.

Had it not been for concerns about international reputation and constraints imposed by Britain and the United States, Hardy might have escalated to daily bombings of Indonesian cities rather than just intimidation.

This localized conflict between Hardy Dominion and Indonesia also revealed Hardy’s strength to the world.

Though Hardy’s territory was small, its military prowess was formidable. While not on par with the great powers, Hardy was undoubtedly the dominant force in Southeast Asia.

No, it should be called the "Southeast Asian Overlord."

The conflict between Hardy and Indonesia has been ongoing—neither escalating nor ceasing. Hardy’s mercenary fleet patrolled the Strait of Malacca daily, and fighter jets frequently appeared in Indonesian airspace. The war of words also showed no signs of stopping.

August 1953

In Jakarta, a car accident occurred involving a military officer named Suharto. On his way home from work, Suharto’s vehicle was hit by a large truck, which overturned and crushed him. By the time people found him, his head was unrecognizable.

The truck involved in the incident fled, and the perpetrator remained unidentified. Read exclusive content at NovelBin.Côm

At the time, Suharto was a mid-level officer in the Indonesian military’s General Staff. He had previously attended the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Cadet School in Central Java’s Gombong, joined the Dutch colonial army, and later, during the Japanese occupation, became a part of the Japanese-formed "Defenders of the Homeland" army, serving as a staff officer at its headquarters.

After Japan surrendered in 1945, Indonesia launched the August Revolution. Suharto joined the People’s Security Army and was now a lieutenant colonel in the Army General Staff.

Initially, the event did not attract much attention. Suharto’s family hastily buried him after his death.

When Hardy received the news, he chuckled lightly and nodded.

Although he wasn’t sure if Suharto would have risen to power or carried out notable actions in the future, Hardy wasn’t interested in finding out. Eliminating him early was much simpler. @@novelbin@@

Perhaps another Indonisian great leader or two might emerge later, but that would be a matter for the future. For now, Hardy was only aware of this guy future achivements so he had Suharto dealt with. It wasn’t a difficult task—sending two intelligence agents to carry out the assassination sufficed.

During this period, Hardy returned to the United States.

He left the situation in Penang and Malacca to his subordinates, as he needed to focus on his businesses in America. After all, earning more money was essential for supporting a larger army.

Not long after, Hardy received a call from the White House. President Eisenhower invited him for discussions about the situation in Indonesia.

Hardy’s position was rather intriguing at this point.

Primarily, he was recognized as an American businessman. Additionally, he was married to a British princess. He was also the Governor of the Cayman Islands. Lastly, he held the title of Governor of the Hardy Dominion.

Because of this unique mix of identities, Eisenhower couldn’t regard him merely as a businessman or a member of the British nobility. Diplomatically, Hardy’s status was equivalent to that of a regional leader.

At the White House

Eisenhower and Hardy dined together and later strolled through the garden for a conversation. They discussed various topics, including the political landscape in Southeast Asia, the Malayan issue, economic investments in the Hardy Dominion, and its influence on regional control and political leanings.

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