black queen hypothesis

"This is Smitz's gauntlet."

When Silvio said that, he was standing in the middle of the conference room with his back to everyone.

The rest of the post-war committee had just been summoned to the presidential residence urgently, and they looked at each other in dismay.It is very likely that the spiritual guide of the pirate leader escaped the security guards and approached the president himself. This matter is not a joke.To put it mildly, it is a mockery, but to put it more seriously...it is a naked|naked|naked|naked provocation at all.

Union's complexion couldn't be more ugly. "It's too lax," he gritted his teeth, "I'll immediately add three more protections!"

Although this is a late remedy, it is better than nothing, and everyone nodded cautiously.

"So what do the pirates want to express through this kind of action?" Seeing that Union had already started issuing instructions on the virtual screen, the vice president spoke. "Demonstration?"

Heathcote scowled. "Isn't that a given?" he said, turning to Silvio. "I suggest that we act immediately. Because if Smitz did show up on Capitol, he must have taken him with him." I think it is enough chips to get out of the way-this is our great opportunity to defeat them!"

Sounds right, but the question is... "Are we going to war on Capitol?" Ilea asked in amazement, and the Speaker nodded beside her.Even if they don't know tactics like them, they still know that the battlefield should not be set on their own territory.

Heathcote answered without the slightest hesitation. "Of course not! No matter how powerful Smitz is, he can't bring too many men into Capitol. In addition, the mothership network group we deployed on Capitol orbit is normal. This also means, His large army is still farther away. As long as we find their traces—" He dragged his voice slightly, and his words were full of murderous intent, "We can wipe them out in one fell swoop!"

The prospect is very attractive.Ilea, who does not advocate war, was also persuaded, but she still hesitated: "If we succeed, will we provoke a crazy counterattack from the remnants of the pirates?"

"Then I will definitely thank them." Heathcote said, his white beard flicked, his eyes were squinting, and his contempt was almost cold, "Because this will bring permanent peace to our border!"

The meaning inside and outside the words is nothing more than one to kill one, two to kill one pair, and everyone understands it.Union, who had issued the order, couldn't agree more, and the vice president, speaker of the House of Representatives, and prosecutors basically didn't object.Only Bacall did not speak; he sat there, frowning, not looking at anyone.

"Then arrange it according to Heathcote's suggestion first." Silvio, who was silent at the beginning, finally spoke again. "Union, please cooperate with him. There will be an emergency cabinet meeting soon, and I hope everyone can hear a preliminary battle plan by then."

"No problem, Your Excellency." Union immediately assured.He and Heathcote exchanged glances and got up at the same time.On the other side of the conference room was a virtual projection device prepared for emergencies. They connected with their respective staff officers and generals and started a tense discussion.

Bacall looked over there, then looked away, and turned to Sylvie. "You really see this as a signal for war?"

Silvio glanced sideways at him. "Otherwise, what do you think?"

Due to the inconvenient number of people, Bacall could not speak too directly. "I thought maybe they had other plans?"

This remark confused the vice presidents, but Silvio understood.In fact, before Bacall spoke, he knew what the other party was worried about——

Maybe Smits was after Villars after all.If so, Smits would not bring too many people, because it would be too big for the goal of kidnapping.Capiter is not the outskirts of Cape Sounion, it is as easy as not allowing pirates to come and go.

In other words, what they should prepare for may not be an encirclement battle with more attacks and fewer attacks, but an effective assault to capture the thief first and capture the king first.These are two completely different directions, and doing it wrong is half the effort.

Although Silvio basically agreed with this point of view, he only said: "Be prepared." His tone and expression were very calm.

Not so with Bacall.Because few people know that Villas is still alive, which means that they can't blatantly place members of the Special Forces next to Villas.But if the pirates are allowed to take Vilas away right under their noses, then the Federation will lose its face completely, and the subsequent development will be very dangerous.

...so they only have one choice?

Facing the pressure of other people's eyes, Bacall pulled Sylvie to the other side and lowered his voice to the lowest. "Are you going to go it alone? Again?"

Silvio looked at him knowingly. "Quin has my promise."

"He is only responsible for drawing out Smitz, and then you let him go, and even take away the special neutralizer!" Bacall was a little annoyed, "If I can barely bear this, but I still want you to do it for him." Bodyguard——I firmly oppose it! Even if you don’t think about yourself, you still have to think about the Federation!” He emphasized, “The Federation hasn’t reached the point where the President needs to risk his life!”

"You mean like I'm bound to lose."

"I mean you can't have an accident! Even if it's just a little bit!" Bacall immediately retorted him, with a fierce tone, "Think about it, the news of Quinn's death was announced by Smits, and he knew that Quinn was not dead. Come on, it is also expected by Smitz that the federation will have limited means to deal with Quinn. Now, assuming he already believes that you and Quinn are combined, then if he wants to attack Quinn, it is equivalent to wanting to attack you! With this premise, he must have already figured out how to deal with you!"

However, Silvio's reaction was flat enough to make him despair. "I'm looking forward to his trap."

"You know you still..." If Bacall's mental barrier was not quite stable, everyone present at the moment would feel his anxiety.

Seeing the expression on his friend's face that wanted to hit the wall, Silvio finally breathed a sigh of relief. "You'd be wise to want me to stay out of it. But what if I can't get over it in the first place?"

"What do you mean? What do you mean 'you can't get rid of it from the beginning'?" Bacall almost jumped up, almost terrified. "Could it be that you and him..."

Silvio nodded and added: "Unexpected spiritual connection, A-level strength."

Realizing that the torment caused by forcibly disconnecting such a connection is unimaginable, Bacall's eyes widened and he was speechless for a moment. "I just said, why did you make such a damn proposal of 'pretending to be married'..." he murmured, "It's really over...how could this happen?" Shouldn't it be a good thing that Quinn didn't seem to use this connection to blackmail them? ?

"I don't like to hear that." Silvio curled his lips slightly, "Do you think a pair of super S-rank sentinel guides are not enough to deal with Smits?"

"But you and Quinn are not a couple yet!" Bacall retorted reflexively, and hurriedly made amends after recovering: "I was wrong, it was either 'return' or 'no'! Moreover, even if Quinn didn't Smits is so perverted, he is also the prince of the empire!" The subtext is still untrustworthy.

This time Silvio said nothing.He was silent for a while, and suddenly said: "I'll go out."

Outside, Vilas was lazily drinking water on the most comfortable sofa in the living room, and the movement of Silvio going out didn't even make him raise his eyelids. "I think I heard my name more than once," he said, casually, "so I came down to check."

"Routine discussion." Silvio didn't blink, "You know that."

Vilas turned the water glass in his hand and smiled lightly: "You seem to have a big|trouble."

"The federation's big | troubles are indeed not missing."

Vilas stared at Silvio from above the water glass.He didn't deny it, but let it pass lightly... "Forget it, don't make a fuss." He sat up straight and put down the water glass at the same time, "To be honest, do you think the conditions you offered me are too favorable?"

"Don't you think it's too superior?" Silvio asked back.

"After returning from Utimo, I can basically move around freely, and I can use regular neutralizers," Vilas counted with his fingers seriously. "I also have a presidential suite for one month, free food and lodging... um," he said. Looking around, he nodded and pouted, "I'm really satisfied."

"Then what should I say?" Sylvio asked with a smile in his eyes, "Have a good cooperation?"

Vilas couldn't bear it any longer, and rolled his eyes helplessly. "Is it that difficult for you to ask me for help?"

Silvio blinked his eyes and followed suit. "Does that mean you're willing to help?"

"Of course, it's best to have rewards." Vilas added without losing the opportunity. "I don't mind staying in the presidential suite for another month, after all—" he drawled teasingly, "Athena is such a good and understanding AI."

"It is my honor to serve you, Your Highness." The artificial intelligence really cooperated very well.

Silvio couldn't help laughing.Just as he was about to say something, the door opened, and the ministers who had come to attend the cabinet meeting filed in.The two people at the head saw their president looking at the person they liked at a glance, and they stood there in shock——

What about the emergency?He was blinded as soon as he entered the door, and he was doing something?