Chapter 87: A Choice

The room went completely quiet after John finished talking about Sato.

Miyuki looked down at the floor, her hands shaking. Hearing that Sato was dead was a heavy shock. Back on Earth, he was just a normal classmate who sat a few desks away from her. Now he was buried in the dirt on a different continent, killed by modern weapons.

Next to her, Ayanokoji did not show any emotion. He had already figured out that Sato was dead when the admiral did not mention his name among the living prisoners. For Ayanokoji, Sato was just someone who made bad choices and got eliminated because he fought an enemy with much better technology.

"You did not bring us all the way to this office just to tell us about Sato," Ayanokoji said in simple, clean English. "What do you actually want from us?"

John smiled a bit and leaned back in his leather chair.

"Straight to the point as always," John said. "You’re right. Sato’s story is just an example of what happens when you pick the wrong side. The real reason I called you here is because I have an important announcement to make."

John pushed his chair back and stood up. He walked around the mahogany desk and leaned against the front of it. The silver-haired elf beside him remained quiet, holding her folder and watching the two guests with her purple eyes.

"When Goddess Viona threw me down into the abyss, she made a huge mistake," John said, his voice turning cold. "She thought I was weak because of my status plate. She thought leaving me to die in a monster dungeon was the end of the story. But I survived."

Miyuki looked up at him, still nervous. "Everyone in the temple said the abyss had no way out."

"For normal people with swords and magic, maybe," John said with a shrug. "For me, it wasn’t the end. And living through that pit taught me what this world is really about. Goddess Viona is not a savior. She is a fraud."

John crossed his arms and looked right at Miyuki.

"She kidnaps high school kids from Earth to use as weapons," John continued. "She tells the Solarian Empire that they are superior to everyone else. She tells them it is okay to conquer, enslave, and murder other races just because they are different. She does all of this just to get more worship and keep her power. I despise her for it."

His tone was steady, but there was real anger behind it.

"I hate that goddess with everything I have," John said plainly. "I spent months surviving, building this military base, and working with the local people for one big goal. I am going to bring that goddess down. I am going to destroy her throne and kill her."

Miyuki took a small step back, her mouth open. "Kill the Goddess? But John... she is an actual god. The entire empire worships her. Her magic runs through everything in the east."

"A god made of flesh and mana can still be killed with enough high explosives," John answered flatly. "And because the empire protects her, the empire has to fall first. In forty-eight hours, the United States will officially declare war on the Holy Solarian Empire."

He pointed to a large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. The screen changed, showing a map of the ocean and the eastern coastline where the empire was located. Red arrows pointed toward the imperial ports and cities.

"We are not going to sit here and wait for them to send another fleet," John said. "Carrier Strike Group and our Air Force units will launch a full campaign. We will wipe out their navy, take down their coastal defenses, and push all the way to the imperial capital until they surrender."

John stopped talking for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. He looked between Ayanokoji’s calm face and Miyuki’s worried expression.

"That brings us to why you two are here," John said. "You are not from this world. You did not ask to be summoned, and you did not choose to serve the empire. Sato made his choice, and he paid for it. But I don’t blame the two of you for what the empire did. So I am giving you a clear choice."

John held up one finger.

"Choice number one: you join me and side with the United States," John said. "You give us intelligence about the imperial capital. Tell us about the city defenses, the layout of the palace, the top fighters, and what kind of magic the other summoned heroes have. In return, you get safety, modern food, clean rooms, and full protection. When we finish this war, I will find a way to send you back home to Japan."

Miyuki listened carefully, her chest feeling tight. Going back home was something she wanted more than anything else.

Then John held up a second finger.

"Choice number two: you stay loyal to the Solarian Empire," John continued. "If you still believe in the goddess, or if you feel you have to stand with them, I will not force you to stay here. I will put you on an unarmed transport boat, send you back to the eastern border, and let you go. You can pick up your staff and spear, join the imperial army, and fight for the Empire."

The room went completely quiet again.

"It is your call," John said, looking right into their eyes. "You are completely free to pick either side. But I need you to understand one thing clearly. If you choose the empire, you walk out of this door as enemy soldiers. And the next time my planes or ships see you on a battlefield, you will just be another target on a radar screen."

Miyuki looked over at Ayanokoji, clearly hoping he would say something. She did not want to fight a war, and she certainly did not want to stand in front of fighter jets and missiles.

Ayanokoji looked back at John, his expression unchanged.

"Giving us an honest choice is very generous," Ayanokoji said. "Most commanders would simply lock us up as potential spies."

"I am not interested in pointless cruelty," John answered. "I just want results. So, what will it be?"