[Monday Morning, the White House]
The President's expression was grim as he looked at the officials in front of him.
"Have you still not found Wilson's killer?"
The officials looked at one another before finally turning their eyes to the newly appointed Secretary of Defense.
Looking awkward, the secretary said, "The Bureau is investigating, sir, but so far, we haven't found anything."
The President rubbed his face, "That's not good news, gentlemen."
"Wilson's death is one thing. Someone has started assassinating former Secretaries of Defense. That's the truly dangerous part."
One official quietly said, "Could Homelander have done it?"
The President immediately shot him a sharp glare, "I don't want to hear that kind of talk outside this office. If I find out anyone can't keep their mouth shut, I'll charge them with treason against the Federation."
Everyone immediately straightened their backs.
"Yes, sir."
Only then did the President continue.
"Besides Wilson, has anything happened in the Pacific?"
The Secretary of Defense quickly replied, "I've had our military satellites monitoring the area. There haven't been any abnormalities in the Pacific these past few days, sir."
"Then that's troublesome," The President's face darkened.
"It means the Swordbearer Plan has failed."
"Although I've done my best to distance myself from it, we still need to prepare for retaliation."
He didn't have to say whose retaliation he meant. Everyone in the room already knew.
Just then, the President's secretary knocked and entered. His face was solemn, and he walked quickly to the President's side before leaning down to whisper, "Sir, Homelander has requested a meeting with you."
The President shot to his feet, his entire body going rigid. After several seconds, he finally said, "Tell him to wait a moment. I'll see him after this meeting."
"Yes, sir."
After the secretary left, the President said, "Homelander is here. He wants to see me."
A chorus of sharp breaths filled the office, "Why is he here? What's he here for?"
"Mr. President, you need to leave immediately. I'll escort you to the airport. Air Force One can take off at any time."
"I'll deploy the military right away."
"Calm down, gentlemen," the President said as he stood, "If I leave now, or if we mobilize the military, we'll only make things worse."
"Besides, if Homelander wanted to do something, he wouldn't have requested a meeting. He would have broken through the door."
"So I think there's still room to negotiate."
"You can all leave now. I'll meet him alone."
The Secretary of Defense exclaimed, "Sir, that's too dangerous."
"How about sending your double to meet Homelander in your place?"
The President shook his head, "It's too late."
"And I don't think a double could fool Homelander."
"Looking at everything he's done over the past year, gentlemen, if you still think he's the same Homelander as before, then we've already lost."
"He's completely different now."
"The old him was an overgrown child."
"But now?"
"He's calm, cautious, crazy, bold, and stronger than ever before."
"We have to understand our opponent clearly before we can make the right decisions."
No one said a word.
"That's enough. You may leave."
"If something happens to me, this country has contingency plans. Even if I die, the Federation won't collapse."
The President had made up his mind.
The others could only give up trying to persuade him and filed out of the office.
When they reached the reception room, they saw Homelander standing with his hands behind his back, facing the window.
Hearing their footsteps, the man turned around, a faint smile on his handsome face.
A moment later.
Alex met the President in the office.
Smiling, he said, "I'm glad you didn't avoid meeting me. That means there's still room for discussion between us."
Alex pulled over a chair himself and sat down across from the President.
The President smiled, "Homelander, what would you like to discuss?"
With a cheerful smile, Alex said, "First, I hope no gentleman will invite me to another hearing in the future."
"Second, I think I've made significant and outstanding contributions to the Federation since taking office. It's time for me to become a general."
"Third, I'd like to recommend a congresswoman for a position in the Department of Defense. I believe she's fully qualified to serve as the Secretary of Defense's secretary. Her name is Victoria Neuman."
"That's all."
Alex slapped his thigh, stood up, and gave a slight nod.
"Have a pleasant day, Mr. President."
From beginning to end, Alex never gave the President a chance to respond before simply walking out.
The President sat in silence for a moment.
Then he gritted his teeth, "What kind of discussion was that?"
"That was an order!"
"Not only does he want to make himself a general, he also wants to plant one of his own people inside the Department of Defense!"
"That arrogant bastard!"
He growled under his breath.
As the most powerful man in the world, yet during those few short minutes, he had been no different from a helpless ordinary man, not daring to say a single word of refusal to Homelander.
The humiliation left him furious.
"Bastard!"
The President yanked off his tie, undid his collar, and took several deep breaths to steady himself.
After a while, he finally calmed down. Once his emotions had settled, he picked up the phone on his desk, "Send them back in."
"I have an announcement to make."
———
That night, Victoria returned home in high spirits.
Earlier that afternoon, she had suddenly received notice.
Starting next month, she would become the Secretary of Defense's secretary.
She was over the moon.
It almost felt like a dream.
Victoria walked into the house and saw her daughter, Zoe, drawing. A figure stood behind the little girl.
The man turned around, wearing a bright smile beneath the lights.
Looking at Victoria, Alex said, "Zoe has a talent for drawing. Maybe you should consider hiring her a private art tutor."
Then he walked over to Victoria, "You look especially beautiful today. It seems something good happened."
Holding back her excitement, Victoria whispered, "Sir, next month I'll be the Secretary of Defense's secretary."
Alex chuckled, "The President moves pretty fast. They announced it internally already."
Victoria's eyes lit up, "It was you?"
Alex lifted her chin, "Who else?"
Her breathing quickened.
"How should I thank you, sir?"
"The best thanks is carrying out every order I give you."
Alex withdrew his hand, "Besides, you've done well this time. This is your reward."
Victoria stepped closer and rested a hand on Alex's chest, "What if I said... I want another reward? Would you give it to me?"
A short while later, Zoe looked up at the ceiling, then asked the nanny, "Is Mommy sick? She's crying out so loudly."
Suppressing a laugh, the nanny replied, "She's fine. Don't worry."