Chapter 304: Collared Lies Part 2

As Diana called out to Arias, it prompted him to wave back before starting to walk over in her direction. The rest of the security detail eyed Arias with intrigue. 

What they had assumed to be nothing but rumors about him was now seeming to be true. No high-ranking official even spoke out against it. Even the people who liked to express discontent with his decisions remained silent. Arias was the reason their country was at war in the first place. 

It didn't change the fact that other nations were the ones who attacked them first, killing many of their loved ones. What they believed was their counterattack dealt an unusually severe blow to the most powerful military in the world and to the world as a whole. Because of this, outside of Markovian territories, his reputation was rapidly declining, especially in countries where governments could easily control the media and what it said to their citizens.

Because of that fact, Arias went to great lengths to ensure that his reputation remained solid within. He had set enough measures in place that the greater blame fell onto Darkseid, who was none the wiser. However, he would also equally look diabolical for taking advantage of such a cruel situation. 

The disadvantage of that was that there was no telling which people would remain against him after this decision. After all, his plans required him to admit that he knew something strange had been going on but kept the information to himself. This was a decision he knew would likely affect people's stances, especially those people he wasn't very close with, but he was also sure that it likely wouldn't shake the foundation of those he kept very close. So, why bother?

Diana was approached Arias with vigor and excitement before embracing him in a fairly strong hug. "How have you been?" she asked just as Arias reciprocated the hug.

"Some troubles here and there, but I try to manage,"Arias responded. His demeanor immediately showed a look of concern.

"What troubles you? If it's those men and women with flashing lights, let me know, and I shall immediately strip them of those damn machinations."

Arias inwardly sighed at this. Diana wasn't quick to take his bait. While she did misinterpret what he was referring to, his aim was to have her show concern and express interest in the obvious matters surrounding the Markovian war. He then wanted to lead up to a conversation where he would confess to what he'd done and why. Showing that perhaps he was feeling internal guilt, and thus the look of deep thought he was currently carrying was evident.

Diana, sensing something was amiss, shifted from smiling to showing a look of worry. After all, having been on the frontlines herself, she experienced war for the first time. And though incredibly easy for herself, the emotional turmoil that came with it was great. 

Arias had sent her to the frontline not simply to throw tanks and repel bullets but to have her gain experience and understanding of war. She had made it clear to Arias that though she had been thoroughly trained as an Amazon warrior, she herself hadn't experienced war like those much older, like her mother. 

To Diana, war in her mind involved glory and honor. And from how she spoke about it, Arias was sure that her mother had definitely hidden some things surrounding war among gods, demigods, and even humans.

With that in mind, what better place to have her experience it than in a country with a lackluster army, waging war against numerous powers with better military and tactics? 

The devastation during the initial attacks were enough for Wonder Woman to witness firsthand the gravity of war. Having been so thoroughly taught the ways of the warrior, it didn't break her the same way it would mentally to those with an entirely different principle, like Batgirl and/or Supergirl.

For Diana, even though the tragedies weren't inherently spoken of, she got through them by sticking to her principles. After being on the losing end of a fight she felt was just, he knew she would likely be ecstatic if Arias managed to turn the tides in their favor, not doing so in the way their enemies did by massacring children and women. And by instead targeting their wealth and military it made her feel even more vindicated.

Despite the great impact he knew the war would have on Diana, it wasn't the main factor. Adding in Supergirl's presence and Batman's observance, Arias had chosen an exact day to act to leave a scene using one of his shell terrorist organization and apokaliptian technology. 

By the time the false truth he wanted out was known, he knew his reputation would plummet significantly, especially in the U.S. But so long as he made his own version of the truth known to Diana, she'd stand with him, that he was sure of.

He remained confident in his other assets as well, and though he may look like a terrible person, that was only the bait for the elite who truly controlled the governments and the media to jump on.

Because he was sure that after his confession, the advantages they had in the war would fade. Because once it was revealed that the attacks on the US weren't by them, it would basically gave away their biggest advantage to becoming the next superpower and the other warring nations would likely strike back, perhaps even considering war again after twisting the story with legal sophistry to their people.

They didn't really care whether or not they agreed with his actions so long as at the end of it all, they reaped a little profit. What did matter to those involved? 

For Arias, he felt the worst-case scenario for those who were puppets to the elite was losing their jobs but retiring with millions. Still, rarely did they ever get left to rot by their masters, even getting away with more significant crimes over time due to manipulation of the legal system. For so long as their loyalty remained clean, chances were high that they'd would walk free, someway somehow. 

So, war was a given if Markovia lost its advantage, but Arias was already preparing for that, and part of that plan involved securing Diana's trust on the matter.