"Germany is an exceptionally proud nation. They will never surrender."
"At present, the only viable path to ending this war and restoring peace to the world is to negotiate an armistice."
"To ease the collective trauma gripping every nation…"
On the stage—
Sir Patrick Morgan delivered his speech with measured composure.
But the situation was urgent.
Before the speech concluded, Steve Trevor stepped forward with Dr. Maru's so-called "death notebook" and approached the member of Parliament who was his direct superior.
Curious about how human governments actually functioned, Diana followed him inside.
She was immediately noticed by Sir Patrick Morgan—
And pointed out publicly.
A ripple spread through the chamber.
In this era, men dominated European political life. Women were rarely acknowledged as participants in governance.
Not long before this, they had not even possessed the right to vote.
They were regarded less as independent citizens—
And more as extensions of men.
"Steve! You brought a woman in here?!"
After the speech ended, the mustached colonel seized Trevor by the collar and barked furiously.
His subordinate spy had barged into a Cabinet session—bringing a woman with him.
It was humiliating.
"Listen, Steve. I'm glad you're alive. But that does not give you the right to do as you please!"
"Sir, please hear me out!"
"The intelligence I've brought back is urgent. This is Dr. Maru's research notebook. It must be deciphered immediately. It matters more than any hypothetical armistice—it could determine the course of this war!"
"Millions of lives are at stake!"
Trevor handed over the notebook he had guarded with his life.
He requested an audience with the rest of the Cabinet, hoping to explain the catastrophic threat posed by Maru's biochemical weapon.
"That's it?"
"You expect to address the Cabinet?"
The colonel's patience thinned. He was about to dismiss Trevor outright—
When Sir Patrick Morgan approached.
"Captain Trevor, I cannot pretend I didn't hear what you just said."
"I was informed you had perished in the field. Yet here you stand—returned from the dead, it seems—and with two companions."
"My apologies for the interruption, Sir," the colonel muttered quickly.
Morgan's status, wealth, and influence far exceeded his own. One did not offend such a man lightly.
"It's quite all right."
"In fact, thanks to this beautiful lady, the room has finally quieted enough for me to say a few words."
Morgan waved dismissively at the colonel.
His gaze passed over Trevor—
And settled on Diana and Leon.
There was appreciation in his eyes.
For their presence.
For their bearing.
"For the sake of peace," Morgan continued smoothly, removing his hat in a courteous gesture, "Patrick Morgan stands ready to assist."
Diana and Leon exchanged a glance.
"Diana Prince."
The surname had been decided beforehand at Leon's suggestion.
She quite liked it.
"Leon Stark Odinson."
Leon used his true name without hesitation.
Far subtler than introducing himself as some "Celestial Emperor of the Purple Star."
"Odinson?"
Morgan's eyelids twitched—just slightly.
But whatever flicker of suspicion arose vanished almost immediately.
To him, Leon appeared to be nothing more than an unusually handsome young man.
Diana, however—
She radiated something different.
Something heavier.
"A rare surname indeed," Morgan remarked lightly. "By Nordic naming tradition, your father would share his name with the Allfather himself. Quite an illustrious coincidence."
Leon shrugged.
"Not really."
"The old man's practically on his deathbed anyway."
"There's no 'Allfather.' Just a white-haired elder nearing the end."
He answered plainly.
After all—
That was technically true.
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