Chapter 91

Twenty minutes later, outside the waters of Jilin City, on the bridge of the USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, General Thaddeus Ross, the commander-in-chief of the American People's Volunteer Army, was waiting for the response from the government of Queen Persephone to the ultimatum.

General Ross: "How is it? Has the enemy not responded yet?"

Aide: "Yes, we have not received any response."

General Ross: (looking at his watch) "There's less than ten minutes left. What is the witch Circe thinking? If the deadline passes, even if she surrenders, I won't dare send the special forces to seal the Gate of Doom."

Aide: "Maybe she won't admit defeat until she sees the coffin..."

General Ross: "That's impossible. I issued the ultimatum after sending the coffin (Decapitation Operation)."

Aide: "Then maybe our terms are too harsh..."

General Ross: "Harsh? I only asked the witch Circe to hand over the dying Ares and the puppet queen as war criminals for us to judge and dispose of. How could she refuse? These terms are already generous."

Aide: "Maybe the witch Circe didn't understand the implications of the ultimatum? She might think we will also hold her accountable after the war..."

General Ross: "No, she has many cards in her hand (war criminals plus the method to reverse Hippolyta's petrification). She should be confident enough to save her life and wouldn't miss the implications of the ultimatum. Something must have happened within the enemy. (thinking for a moment) Order the front-line volunteer army units to retreat three kilometers to prevent being caught in the chaos caused by the Gate of Doom losing control."

Aide: "Retreat three kilometers? Isn't that too cautious? According to the information provided by Queen Hippolyta, the chaos caused by the Gate of Doom losing control won't reach the position of the front-line units..."

General Ross: "Hmph, the information provided by Queen Hippolyta? Can you trust it 100%? It can be used as an excuse to persuade the higher-ups to start the war, but to really rely on it in battle? It's better to keep your own life. The casualties of our volunteer army soldiers don't concern her."

I (narrator): "General Ross is quite shrewd, foreseeing that Queen Hippolyta didn't tell the whole truth. However, he didn't realize that the hidden information was too deadly. Retreating three kilometers is far from enough."

A naval soldier enters the command room.

Naval Soldier A: "Report, General. After the doctor's emergency treatment, Captain Rogers has regained consciousness and is waiting outside the command room."

General Ross: "Rogers? What is he doing here? He should be resting after being injured."

Naval Soldier A: "He says he has important information to report to you."

General Ross: "Important information? If it's about the pseudo-princess Eris and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents returning to Paradise Island, Wolverine has already reported it to me."

Aide: "Is it information that Wolverine doesn't know? You know that Deputy Captain Bucky has already been killed, so some things might only be known by Captain Rogers."

General Ross: "Hmm, that's possible. Let him in."

Naval Soldier A: "Yes, sir."

Captain America: "General Ross." — salutes

General Ross: "Captain Rogers, at ease." — returns the salute

Captain America: "Yes, General."

General Ross: "What important information brings you here in such a hurry? You are injured and should be resting."

Captain America: "It is indeed very important information..."

Communications Officer: "Report, General, there is activity from the enemy." — interrupts Captain America's report

General Ross: "Oh? Have they accepted the ultimatum?"

Communications Officer: "This... (listening) it seems to be the [Jewel Voice Broadcast] read by Queen Persephone herself."

General Ross: "[Jewel Voice Broadcast]? Hahaha, it looks like the war is over. They are surrendering like the Japanese. I will become the second MacArthur, the supreme ruler of Paradise Island..." — smug

Aide: "Cough, cough, cough!! (quickly pretends to cough, interrupting General Ross) General, don't forget that the [Scientific Special Investigation Team] of Japan and the Amazonian Ronin forces led by Princess Diana are on the USS Blue Ridge. You shouldn't say such things. If they are misinterpreted, it could have a bad impact." — reminds

General Ross: "Ah, right. I got carried away and spoke without thinking. They are our allies, and we need to stand united. (to the communications officer) Connect that [Jewel Voice Broadcast] to all the speakers on the USS Blue Ridge and play it loudly. Let all the soldiers hear it. They are all heroes in this victory." — happy

I (narrator): "General Ross, you are too happy too soon. Be careful not to be overjoyed and then suffer a setback."

Communications Officer: "...Report, General, this [Jewel Voice Broadcast] doesn't seem to be a surrender declaration." — awkward

General Ross: "What? Not a surrender declaration? Don't broadcast it to the whole ship yet. Give me the earpiece... (listening carefully) Damn! It's an evacuation order. They are asking all civilians to evacuate the capital, New Thera, and are determined to fight to the bitter end."

Aide: "They are abandoning their capital? Has the Gate of Doom already lost control?"

Captain America: "No, Paradise Island hasn't disappeared, which means the Gate of Doom hasn't lost control yet." — suddenly interjects

General Ross: "Paradise Island hasn't disappeared? What do you mean?" — sensing the implications, his expression turns serious

Captain America: "Princess Diana told me in the medical room that Queen Hippolyta didn't tell us the whole truth. She concealed the extent and range of the damage caused by the Gate of Doom losing control. This is the important information I wanted to report to you."

General Ross: "What is the actual extent of the damage?"

Captain America: "The damage isn't limited to the capital, New Thera, but likely covers the entire Paradise Island."

General Ross: "These women... Wait, why did Princess Diana tell you this now and not before? How can you be sure she is telling the truth?"

Captain America: "Because Queen Hippolyta was ambushed and turned into a stone by the witch Circe during the raid. Diana took over and now feels safe to tell us the truth."

General Ross: "Who else knows this information?"

Captain America: "Not many, and they are all on the USS Blue Ridge. Don't worry, the information hasn't leaked."

General Ross: "Good that the front-line soldiers don't know. Otherwise, there would be chaos. If that happens, not only would the war be impossible to continue, but an organized retreat would also be impossible." — relieved

Aide: "Although the front-line units can still maintain organization and discipline, if the damage really covers the entire Paradise Island, the volunteer army soldiers who have landed might not have enough time to retreat..." — anxious

General Ross: (to the aide) "Don't panic. Since they can lie about the extent of the damage, the estimated time of the Gate of Doom losing control might also be inaccurate. We might still have time to retreat. Quickly work with the staff to formulate a retreat plan. (to Reconnaissance Team Member A) Immediately launch unmanned reconnaissance drones to New Thera to gather real-time intelligence. (to Reconnaissance Team Member B) It has been half an hour. What are the latest images from the spy satellite..." — calm and composed, issuing orders and assigning tasks, the command room instantly becomes busy

I (narrator): "No wonder he is the commander-in-chief of the volunteer army. He immediately stabilized the situation in the command room. He is indeed capable."

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