"I know, of course I know."
"Technology is the primary productive force."
"A bunch of people carrying bows and spears every day, even if they are made of special metal with divine properties, how can you win an interstellar war with just ancient style weaponry without sufficient firepower?"
"Even the Parademons of Apokolips know to carry laser guns and blasters that shoot like bullets."
"You are still in the era of archers ruling the world."
Garfield gently patted Diana's nervous hand and said to her, "Little wife, do not fight in close combat. It is actually quite simple. Integrate with the universe. Accept the latest universal technology."
"Advance your own tech tree. Increase your combat population. Then, without a population cap, mass produce troops and then F2 and A over there."
Integrate with the universe.
Diana herself had not even left Earth yet.
As for advancing their tech tree, although the Amazons had technology, it was limited to things left over from before the destruction of Olympus.
There were still many things they did not understand.
Diana, looking helpless, told Garfield about the predicament of Paradise Island.
Garfield rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before telling Diana, "Solving these problems is not difficult. I have a batch of Star Destroyers and the necessary production lines and troops. But they are not in this world. Getting them here will not be easy. Unless..."
Peggy interrupted, "Unless what?"
Garfield replied, "The bad news is that I will have to eat them and bring them back. I have plans for that world, so I can only bring back a heavy Star Destroyer along with the necessary engineering equipment and personnel."
"As for large scale production, it will have to be done piece by piece."
Old James asked, "And the good news?"
Garfield pointed to the sky. "The good news is that we still have enough time to expand our military."
Old James sensed a glimmer of hope for the rise of the British Empire.
His eyes lit up.
He stood up and asked Garfield, "Should we contact our authorities?"
Old James's intention was clear.
He wanted his authorities to intervene and obtain advanced technology from Garfield to reverse their declining fortunes.
The idea of the British Empire rising to power was simply impossible.
They could not even directly help the East.
They had to take away Japan's gold reserves and secretly instruct Howard to restrict arms sales to Japan.
In turn, they supported that major power with military and financial aid.
A roundabout way of achieving their goal.
What were they dreaming of with a mere little British Empire?
"You cannot get involved in this kind of thing. Besides, overly advanced technology will only disrupt your policy development. The advanced civilization alliance in the universe has clear regulations prohibiting the provision of technological support to lower level civilizations. Do you know why?"
Old James shook his head.
Garfield explained to him, "This is to protect their civilization's technology tree from suddenly breaking down at a certain stage. That could cause their civilization to stagnate or even perish."
"Furthermore, races that provide such technology will be sanctioned by higher civilizations. At best, they will have to pay compensation for many planets. At worst, they will be wiped out. At that time, the number of deaths will not be tens of thousands, but hundreds of millions."
Old James, Peggy, and Diana gasped.
They had no idea that the laws of survival in the universe were so strict.
Diana was the most worried about the consequences Garfield mentioned.
Diana asked, "Garfield, is this the right path for our Amazonian race? Will we not be wiped out?"
Garfield shook his head. "You Amazons are a special race created by Zeus for warfare. Furthermore, you are a single sex race and cannot reproduce naturally. You are not a naturally born civilization, so these rules do not apply to you."
"As for Old James, you are not exactly useless. Right now, you have not even finished your own tasks. Greed is the original sin, you know. Finish your own problems first."
Old James and Peggy both understood what Garfield was referring to.
The mustachioed man in Europe who was aggressively expanding his territory.
Grindelwald in the wizarding world.
Hydra hiding behind the scenes.
The European Dark Council.
And some hidden forces hoping to take advantage of the chaos.
These were the things they should be worrying about.
As for Darkseid, that idiot Kal El would handle him.
Garfield was just throwing these threats out there to scare them and casually getting closer to his little wife.
"My little wife, with me here, you do not need to worry about so much. Just focus on cultivating your strength. Oh, by the way, when are you going to take me to Paradise Island to meet your mother? We can arrange the marriage later."
At the mention of marriage, Diana suddenly realized something.
She shook Garfield in her hand and fiercely questioned him. "Tell me honestly. Why do you always call me little wife? Tell me."
Garfield blushed and shyly told Diana, "Little wife means you and your sisters."
Diana punched Garfield in the eye, then threw him onto the table. "Pah, you pervert."
She turned to Peggy and said, "Let us stay away from this pervert."
"Diana, be gentle. Be gentle. My arm is broken."
Peggy was naturally not as strong as Diana and was easily pulled away by her.
After the two women left, Garfield rubbed his face and complained to Old James, who was watching the commotion.
"Old James, you see. All women are like that. So what if they are a little fickle?"
Old James replied, "Garfield, it is actually very simple. You can do it, but you cannot say it. Unless you are incredibly charming."
Old James lit a cigar and handed it to Garfield.
Then he lit one for himself, reminiscing about his past life of indulging in women.
Garfield, puffing on his cigar, looked at Old James's lewd and dreamy expression.
He took a puff and asked, "Old James, what are you reminiscing about?"
Old James said, "The scent of flowers I smelled when I was young."
Garfield, seeing the knowing look on Old James's face, instantly realized that this seemingly respectable Old James was quite the expert back in the day.
"Old James, where have you been?"
Old James replied, "England, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Austria, Hungary, North Africa, Greece, Tsarist Russia, the United States. Dozens of countries."
Garfield's cigar fell from his mouth onto the table.
He quickly picked it up, put it back in his mouth, and looked on with envy.
Old James continued, "Garfield, do not think so much. I went there because I had official business to attend to. You know, many evil creatures lurk among people."
Old James went on and on, trying to explain to Garfield that he was a good person.
But Garfield was a smart man.
How could the orange cat, already in the car, believe the old driver's lies?
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
While Garfield and Old James chatted, Diana, who was pulling Peggy along, was pondering another question.
Could she trust Garfield?