Chapter 67

Captain America: "Exile from Paradise Island? That's just as good as killing them. Stop putting on that fake righteous act."

Liumu: "Indeed, our property has been confiscated by the Governor's Office, leaving us with nothing. After this prison ordeal, everyone is injured and temporarily unable to work. You're exiling us to slowly torture us to death. It would be better to just kill us quickly."

Dai Li: "Temporarily unable to work? You're lying through your teeth..." — pointing at the villagers who were raising their weapons against the regular army, about to burst into anger.

Gordon: "That's the truth. You were indeed illegally interrogated and abused in the dungeon, although it was done by the acting governor and the spies. But Governor Dai Li loves her people like her own children and will compensate you." — quickly interjecting to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

Dai Li: "Compensation?" — surprised.

Liumu: "What kind of compensation?"

Gordon: "Enough survival essentials and some household items for each person in the village for a month, to help you through the initial difficulties."

Liumu: "Hmph, sounds good, but when will we get it? Not after we're captured, right?" — sarcastic.

Captain America: "Don't believe his lies. This is just a false promise to deceive you."

Gordon: "How could that be? You're not that foolish. You can tell the difference between a false promise and real benefits. Besides, the compensation I mentioned is available now."

Dai Li: "Now?" — surprised.

Liumu: "Now?"

Gordon: "Yes, right now. Here..." (throwing a device that looks like a phone to Liumu) "This is an electronic map. The yellow dots indicate the locations of the compensation. Governor Dai Li has already prepared it for you."

Dai Li: "I already prepared it?" — confused.

Liumu: "The locations of the compensation... (looking at the electronic map) in the sea?"

Gordon: "Yes, the supplies are on rubber boats at the yellow dots. You can press the video button on the map to verify the truth of my words."

Dai Li: "You mean the compensation is..."

Gordon: "Yes, it's part of the supplies you obtained from S.H.I.E.L.D., so it's technically your compensation."

Dai Li: "You..." — speechless with anger.

I (narrator): "I see, the old man is being so generous because he's using someone else's resources. Of course, it's easy to be generous with other people's things."

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Gordon: "Don't look so upset. I'm just helping you win the hearts of the people." — in a low voice.

Dai Li: "Is that so? Should I say 'thank you'?" — gritting her teeth.

Gordon: "Thank you? That's too formal." — magnanimous.

Dai Li: "I'm not being formal with you!!"

Liumu: "..." — watching the video to verify the truth.

Captain America: "Don't fall for it. It's definitely a trick. The compensation is either an illusion or a recording from the past..."

Liumu: "..." — not an illusion, the waves and the splashes on the rubber boats are real. The position and angle of the sun are the same as now (the same time). We, the Tides, have an unbreakable connection with the sea and can tell the difference between real and fake waves. Besides, I recognize this area of the sea; it's not far from our village, where I've played and worked all my life. It's definitely not fake.

Captain America: "But, those supplies might be fake, just empty boxes..." — running out of arguments.

Liumu: "The depth of the rubber boats shows they're not empty. Some of the boxes are even open, and they contain the survival essentials and household items as he said..."

Captain America: "..." — unable to come up with any more counterarguments.

Gordon: "Steve (Captain America), stop trying to twist the facts. You're a soldier, not a politician, and sophistry is not your strong suit. Let these innocent civilians go. Don't drag them into your war. They are ordinary people. Do you want to plunge us into a people's war? Leave the fighting to us professional soldiers."

I (narrator): "Want to plunge us into a people's war? In the old man's meddling, it's your army that's already stuck in the quagmire of a people's war."

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Liu Haiblue: "Hmph, you're trying to use us as cannon fodder and sacrifices. I won't fall for it again."

Captain America: "That's not true. Why are you still holding a grudge? I've let you go several times..."

Liu Haiblue: "Several times? You clearly wanted to kill me before..."

Captain America: "That was because you injured my team members several times, and they beat you up to vent their anger. Later, I deliberately missed the shots to let you go, not to kill you..." — trying to explain.

Liumu: "No need to explain. You and Dai Li are the same. One is a hypocrite, the other a true villain. Neither of you is any good. We won't be used by either side anymore. We're leaving."

Villager A: "Village Chief, are we really leaving Paradise Island?" — sad.

Villager B: "This is our homeland." — reluctant.

Liumu: "Homeland? It's already in ruins. But it's for the best. The things that bound us no longer exist. This is the perfect opportunity to leave and start a new home."

Villager C: "Aren't we waiting for Princess Diana to return? With the army here, maybe our hard times are coming to an end..."

Liumu: "Hmph, I've learned my lesson. There's no savior in this world. Relying on others is worse than relying on yourself. You are your own savior! As for the army and Princess Diana, if this is the army she's brought, I can only say she has poor judgment and has chosen the wrong people. Even if they overthrow Ares and end his brutal rule, do you think you'll have a good life under their rule? Don't delude yourself."

After saying this, Liumu turned and walked away, ignoring the hesitant villagers. Seeing no other safe or feasible option, the villagers reluctantly followed her, leaving the central square.

Gordon: "Hey~~! The electronic map also marks several uninhabited islands in the Xisha and Nansha areas where you can settle..." — shouting.

I (narrator): "Old man, you've succeeded. Stop shouting. Can't you see Dai Li is about to explode with anger? (reveling in her misfortune) Hahaha."

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