Chapter 63

Dalei: "The pattern on the screen I brought back? You deduced I was the governor based on that? You really guessed right by chance."

Captain: "This isn't a guess. The screen was originally designed specifically for behind the emperor's throne, known as 'fu yue,' symbolizing the emperor's power. Therefore, the pattern on the screen behind the governor's throne is not for decoration but represents the governor's authority, which is your coat of arms."

Dalei: "I didn't expect you to know Eastern culture. I underestimated you."

Acting Governor: "It is precisely because of his extensive knowledge, outstanding abilities, and excellent performance in the mission to capture the snail village's spies that I personally promoted him from the bottom ranks to be my direct subordinate, serving the governor's office." — Walking from the military to the front to greet Dalei

Dalei: "Hmm, you have good judgment. You've done well, and what's more, you haven't become arrogant after becoming the acting governor."

Acting Governor: "I dare not. After you landed on the island, I followed the information you sent from the ship and went to the ruins of Snail Village to meet you, reporting recent developments and receiving your latest instructions." — Respectfully

I (narrator): "So the mysterious person who met Dalei at the ruins of Snail Village was him... This means those conversations were not about liberating Paradise Island but about suppressing the revolution."

Liu Hailan: "No, no, it can't be true? You're not Princess Diana, but the governor who ordered the destruction of our village and our capture? You've been deceiving and using me all along?" — Deeply shocked

Dalei: "How could I be deceiving you? I never said I was Princess Diana. I repeatedly denied it, even without implying it. You were the one who misinterpreted it. Besides, I never ordered the destruction of your village; it was the mercenaries who acted on their own. I'm helping you get revenge this time, so I don't owe you anything." — Protesting

Liu Hailan: "Lies, you even swore by the princess's honor that you wouldn't abandon me..."

Dalei: "I did swear by a princess's honor, but not Princess Diana's. I am the daughter of the new empress Persephone and the god of war Ares, so I am a princess too. You misunderstood."

Liu Hailan: "So you really aren't Princess Diana?"

Dalei: "Indeed, you followed my advice to 'never give up until the end.' Since you still refuse to give up hope, I will break the rules and reveal my true identity to you, so you can feel even more despair. (Taking off her helmet to reveal her true face) My real name is Enyo, not your Princess Diana. Do you understand now?"

Snail Village residents: "The destroyer of the village..." — Fearful

Regular army soldiers: "The goddess of destruction..." — Afraid

Liu Hailan found it hard to believe that the person who was her savior a moment ago had become the enemy of all the Tidal people, making almost everyone look at her with fear (except for Gao Dun and the captain), regardless of friend or foe.

Dalei: "Ah, ah, this is the look, this is the expression. Your fear of me is the source of my power. I finally achieved the effect I was hoping for." — Like a drug addict who just took a hit, overly excited

I (narrator): "Hey, hey, female villain who has been deceiving my innocent feelings for a long time, mind your image. You are still a princess."

Liu Hailan: "So the prophecy hasn't come true, we acted too early..." — Dazed

Dalei: "Prophecy? Hahaha, you still believe in prophecies at this point? You are indeed a naive child, believing everything others say." — Laughing

Liu Hailan: "Ah? Could it be..." — Suddenly enlightened

Dalei: "Exactly, the prophecy is fake. It was a strategy we (mainly me) used to lure out you rebels. You believed it so much. Now, the regular army, secretly deployed across the island, is ready to crush you rebels who have exposed yourselves, hahaha..." — Maniacally laughing

Liu's mother: "Is all this Ares' plot?"

Acting Governor: "What plot, it's a strategy! The governor's office never acknowledged the authenticity of this prophecy. It publicly declared it a rumor and arrested those who spread it as agitators and troublemakers. You chose to believe unofficial information (not the people's newspapers, but the enemy's radio). Lord Ares 'responded to public demand' by giving you unrealistic hopes and expectations, then used reality to show you that the prophecy is false, making you completely give up and accept Lord Ares' rule." — Overconfident, attributing all credit to Ares

Dalei: "..." — Suddenly stopped laughing upon hearing this

Gao Dun: "This is what they call 'the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.' The purpose of this plan is to completely destroy the Tidal people's resistance in both spirit and body. And the prophecy ability of the witch Circe was exaggerated by you to enhance the credibility of the false prophecy?" — Offering an insight

Dalei: "We didn't exaggerate Circe's prophecy ability. She is a genuine witch, and I used her reputation to make the false prophecy more credible. You don't need to worry that our knowledge of witchcraft can't guide the research of the Shield organization. The longevity method you verified as true (Dalei traded the longevity method for the Shield organization's assistance and alliance)."

Captain: "The Shield organization?" — Staring intently at Gao Dun, his previous nonchalance gone

The captain's subordinates also instinctively went on alert upon hearing this.

I (narrator): "What's wrong? What happened? The captain was always casual, but now he's suddenly serious. Did you recognize Gao Dun as your enemy? No, Gao Dun is masked, and you never recognized him before. Or do you have a grudge against the Shield organization?"

Dalei: "..." — Noticing the captain and his subordinates' unusual behavior

Gao Dun: "Let's not worry about them for now. Let's talk about your plan. You don't think that one operation will lure out all the 'snakes,' right? There must be smart ones who didn't fall for it and are still hiding."

Dalei: "Of course I know that. To be honest, we didn't plan to stop after one operation. We intend to do it every year, every season. This way, even if the real Princess Diana or the former queen Hippolyta returns with the royal army, no Tidal person will believe or assist them immediately, making my rule more stable."

Gao Dun: "Do you plan to continue lying and deceiving them in the future?"

Dalei: "Yes."

Gao Dun: "Do you know the fable of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'?"

Dalei: "Hahaha, do you think I will end up like the boy in the story, with no one believing me and then facing danger? I want them to disbelieve these 'rumors.' The more they disbelieve, the safer I am."

Gao Dun: "Yes, if you lie multiple times and they are all proven false, it would be better. But what if the first lie isn't well executed and instead becomes true, turning the false prophecy into a real one, helping the other side to rally and gain momentum? (Turning to the captain) What do you think, man with the seven stripes and star emblem, the vanguard of the royal army—Steve Rogers (steve_rogers), or should I call you Captain America (captain_america)?" — Removing his scarf and cloak

Captain America: "Gao Dun..."

I (narrator): "You are indeed old acquaintances. But Captain, why didn't you recognize him in Snail Village, but instead first discovered the true identity of this female villain, Dalei? He recognized you."

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