"This is Washington News, broadcasting an urgent message. I regret to inform all citizens... the great President Slade Wilson, unfortunately passed away two hours ago. Evidence proves that this was a shocking murder! The culprit is the familiar superhuman—Ultraman!"
Ten minutes after Wilson's assassination, emergency Doctor announced that he had already suffered physiological Death, and there was no need for further resuscitation.
General Ross instantly felt like the sky had fallen; she couldn't accept this reality!
Amanda Waller rushed to the White House immediately after the incident. After repeatedly confirming that Wilson was truly beyond saving, she promptly roused General Ross from her grief.
"General Ross, this is no time for sorrow. You have more important things to do!"
Waller directed her subordinates to collect the blood-stained dagger, then continued, "The most urgent task now is how to use this incident to prepare for your next steps."
General Ross's mind was in a haze. For a moment, she didn't understand what Waller meant. How to use this incident? Use what incident?
A few seconds later, she suddenly looked up, staring at Waller in disbelief.
"Don't look at me like that. If it were you who had been harmed tonight, I would have given Mr. Wilson the same advice," Waller said calmly.
"He just passed away!" General Ross shouted.
Waller's intention was to use the President's Death to create momentum for General Ross's ascension, meaning she wanted to politically capitalize on Wilson's Death!
In General Ross's eyes, such an act was tantamount to insulting her father, and furthermore, Waller's move implied that General Ross should also participate.
This was clearly unacceptable for General Ross, who was not yet thirty years old.
However, Waller did not see it that way.
Normally, someone like General Ross would never be able to become President, not only because of her age but also because of her gender.
But now things were different. If handled properly, they could completely portray Wilson as a hero, and General Ross's identity would not just be a presidential candidate; she would also be the hero's daughter!
By slightly embellishing the events that transpired, General Ross would undoubtedly garner sympathy from people across the nation and even the World. It was entirely possible she could succeed him as the next President.
Simply put, Waller hoped to bestow a 'buff' upon General Ross, preferably having her deliver a public speech to absorb all the aura originally focused on Wilson.
After all, she was the late President's only daughter, and the success rate of this plan was very high!
Before coming here, Waller had already learned that the Vice President was also working in the White House at the time.
However, he was very unlucky. When Ultraman cut off the power supply, because his position was directly above the underground cable, Ultraman killed him in passing.
This meant he couldn't directly assume the role of interim President like Truman, and in such a situation, General Ross, as a fellow candidate, had a glimmer of hope.
After all, in the previous elections, General Ross's vote count was far above that of other competitors. So, if today's events could be skillfully utilized, General Ross indeed had a chance to gain more support amidst the high public attention to this matter, ultimately becoming the new President.
But General Ross could not accept this. What was more chilling than eating 'human blood steamed buns' was eating 'a relative's human blood steamed buns.' Her father had just died, and she was supposed to use this event for sensationalism. If she did that, even she would despise herself.
"But the interests of the United States are above all else, and even above your feelings for your father!" Waller said sharply.
If Waller herself had encountered such a situation, she would have done it without hesitation, because she knew that only by doing so could losses be minimized, and they might even be able to turn this bad thing into a good thing.
"Do you want your father's sacrifice to be in vain? He painstakingly created the current situation. If this matter is not quelled, the public's fear of the Syndicate will resurface."
"Then why should I exploit this incident? Wouldn't it be enough to simply announce the true course of events?"
Waller once again felt General Ross's naivety, but it didn't matter. Even if she was still immature now, once she truly ascended to that position, she would grow rapidly at a speed no one could imagine.
Amanda Waller believed she wouldn't misjudge people.
So she asked a crucial question: "If the next President is not you, will the relationship with the Justice League still be your responsibility?"
This question stumped General Ross.
A new ruler brings new officials; this is a rule applicable everywhere.
Once a new President took office, they would certainly not re-employ General Ross or Waller. Waller might fare a bit better; she would only need to change her allegiance to continue being highly regarded, though it would require her to go through the path of career advancement again.
But General Ross would inevitably be removed from the center of power, away from everything related to superhumans. The new President would not allow her to continue engaging with these matters.
Unless the Justice League specifically requested it, that they specifically wanted to interact with General Ross, but was that possible?
Her relationship with the Justice League had been somewhat awkward recently, and it was a time when every means was needed to ease tensions. The Justice League would absolutely not speak up for her.
So, if the presidency fell to someone else, General Ross would definitely be kicked out of this organization.
Was General Ross at ease? Was she at ease entrusting everything she and her father had worked for to others?
She suddenly thought of her two other competitors: one a major capitalist, and the other a spokesperson for vested interests propped up by big capital. No! The country must not be handed over to these two people!
Waller saw that she had stopped speaking and her emotions had calmed down, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief.
As long as General Ross was willing to cooperate, this matter had a chance of succeeding.
As a direct descendant of the Wilson faction, Waller did not want them to collapse so quickly. She had thought all of this through on the way here.
If General Ross could rationally accept her advice, that would be good. If not, Waller would have to find a new patron.
After an internal struggle, General Ross ultimately agreed to Waller's suggestion, tears streaming down her face.
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