"Thank you for your kind words, I can't accept this."
In the study, Luke sat in a chair and waved his hand to refuse the cigar handed over by the President.
As many people know, the Lieutenant General didn't have any bad habits.
He doesn't smoke, and the wine was only superficial.
The only thing that deserves criticism was probably his private life.
But this little fault, in young people and high society, was really insignificant.
Even the nominal leader of the country, the President in the White House, may not have a much better private life.
Not to mention the Pentagon's Lieutenant General.
"Well, it's good to have good habits. Few young people are like you, actively refusing small habits that destroy their bodies."
Instead of being annoyed, the President complimented him.
"Yes, I am very conscious of my personal health."
Luke smiled slightly, he would do some warm-up exercises every day before going to bed to promote blood circulation.
Then go on sleeping until dawn, never leaving the fatigue and stress until the next day.
Like Malèna, Peggy, Emma the White Queen ...
All the women who have spent the night with him have said that the Lieutenant General's lifestyle was very normal.
"This is one of the few personal hobbies I have. I can't change it all at once, and I don't want to change it. The smell of tobacco helps me calm my mind and concentrate on my thoughts."
The President took a fine cigar out of the box, played with it for a moment, and lit it patiently with a long match, showing how much he enjoyed the process.
"This box was given to me by Churchill. We share a common taste in cigars. Despite my personal doctor's advice to cut back on tobacco and alcohol, most of the meaning in our short lives would be lost without cigars and whiskey."
Luke nodded. Although he wasn't interested in tobacco and alcohol, it was because he had other hobbies.
"The Prime Minister also gave me a box. I'll bring it over another day and give it to you, Mr. President."
He wondered if Churchill gave cigars to everyone, as the late Roosevelt was said to have received them as well.
"That's a shame."
The President chuckled twice, then lowered his voice and said, "Don't let Bess know, she doesn't like me smoking cigars."
"That's for sure. It's a secret between men."
Luke winked and replied quite eloquently.
A few minutes later, after the small talk was over, the conversation was back on track.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has received intelligence that the Soviet Union has been making frequent moves recently. Not only are they developing a nuclear industry, but they are also planning to revive the World War II Super Soldier program -- as far as I know, they have a secret organization called 'Leviathan' that is actively recruiting biologists to produce superior soldiers."
In order to delay time as much as possible and create opportunities for Howard.
Luke opened his mouth and talked about the latest developments in the Soviet Union.
The President sitting across the table wasn't a mediocre politician.
On the contrary, he was very ambitious and aggressive.
After the end of World War II, the President who entered the White House was the first to put forward the strategic goal of seeking global hegemony.
The defeat of the Axis countries was tragic, coupled with the weakening of the British and French recession.
Relying on the developed military strength and economic accumulation, the Bald Eagle began to covet the throne of world domination.
If Atlantis hadn't come out of nowhere, the White House and the Pentagon wouldn't have been temporarily blocked from interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries and from implementing global expansion.
At this time, perhaps the bipolar pattern would have been formed.
"Lieutenant General Cavill, the Red Empire really deserves vigilance. They may be the biggest enemy!"
The President exhaled a mouthful of smoke and spoke with a grave face.
"Sometimes I am amazed at the strength of these people's beliefs and their ability to act out of their collectivism."
The winner of World War II wasn't just the silently developing United States, but also a Red Bear of Siberia.
Among the four countries of the Yalta Conference, the other country that entered the world stage and showed its mysterious power was China.
That was an unopened branch, which wasn't included in the world map for the time being.
"I'll have to ask you, Lieutenant General Cavill, about the Peace Summit in a few days and the distribution of benefits from Atlantis."
The President put down his cigar and solemnly said, "The future of the United States belongs to young people like you."
Luke smiled. He didn't want to be the new generation that replaced the old generation. It was easy to end up as a victim, shot down on the beach.
The bright future of the land of the free clearly belonged to an unborn real estate tycoon.
That's the best person to make America great again in his lifetime -- with his a squinty-eyed pervy smile.
For the next 40 minutes, the two of them stayed in the study and talked a lot.
During that time, the President also asked Luke if he was interested in going to Moscow.
The most important thing was that, when the two sides started a third war and the Soviet Union launched a nuclear bomb, was he confident enough to intercept it?
Luke was naturally evasive and vague about such questions.
He's not Dr. Manhattan from the studio next door. He's not interested in any humanoid nuclear deterrence.
"Let's call it a day, Bess' T-bone steak should also be ready."
The President extinguished the cigar in his hand, waved his hand to disperse the smell of tobacco, and pushed the door out with a smile.
Then, he saw a very unsettling scene.
In the living room, Howard sat on the sofa, surrounded by the President's wife and daughter.
He appeared to say something funny, which made the other two people cover their mouths and laugh, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
"This is ... what's going on?"
The President looked confused and had mixed feelings.
Somehow it felt like the old farmer next door had raided his own wife and daughter.
Originally, he admired Howard's talent, and Stark Industries was also an important defense contractor for the Pentagon.
But now, the President was looking at the mustached man who was squeezing his eyebrows and trying his best to be funny. The more he looked at him, the more he hated him.
"What are you talking about? I could hear the laughter in the study."
The President asked in a dry voice, holding back his anger.
"Mr. President, I just said something about myself when I was in England."
Howard cleared his throat and spoke in a serious tone, "I used to live in London, before the war started. For a time, I wanted to grow a beard in order to show my masculinity. As a result, the owner of the inn laughed at me and said, 'Ha, your chin is just like my wife's before she shaves'. He said so at that time, it was really rude."
"Then how did you answer?"
Luke picked up the joke like an assisting audience member.
"I looked in the mirror and nodded my head, 'Well, you're right, it does look like that,' and then the innkeeper walked off proudly."
(Translator: I have no control over this cringe, there's so many things not okay with this joke, no... this whole chapter. God help me....)
Howard spoke seriously, as if it really happened.
The President's wife sitting next to him laughed out loud.
Women were always more receptive to colorful jokes than young girls.
"Mr. Stark has a rich experience."
The President smiled rather than laughed, and was very dissatisfied with his wife sitting so close to Howard.
"What else is interesting? I'd like to hear about it, too, to gain some insight."
"In London, the innkeeper was the same, and his wife was usually the assistant of the theater magician. Once, he came home early and found his wife naked and standing in the bedroom."
Howard stroked his moustache, and beautifully imitated the movements and tone of voice, and spoke seriously, "The innkeeper was puzzled, and then asked questions, and his wife stammered, not knowing how to explain."
"Later, under the innkeeper's questioning, his wife said she had recently learned a magic trick, and then shouted, 'abracadabra' and the magician, also without clothes, came out of the cupboard."
"This surprised the innkeeper. He didn't expect his wife not only to teleport a living person, but also to change the other party's clothes. It was incredible."
This time it was the President's daughter's turn to stifle her laughter, and her shoulders trembled. Her round cheeks revealed a blush.
After the warm-up jokes, the President's wife finally remembered the T-bone steaks and rushed into the kitchen.
The others also sat down at the table. Not long after, a tempting aroma wafted out.
"It's a great talent."
Luke wasn't interested in the President's daughter, but he was full of praise for the T-bone steak made by the President's wife.
One bite was full of meat juices and rich taste.
It didn't look greasy and didn't lose its tender flavor, reminding him of Young Sheldon's Memaw's brisket secret recipe.
"I'm glad that you like it."
The President's wife spoke modestly.
She was used to having her cooking skills recognized.
"What's the secret recipe? It's so delicious! I'm afraid I can't order any other steak when I go to a restaurant, especially after I've tasted beef like this."
Howard added. Even a big piece of beef couldn't stop his mouth.
...
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