Facing Kara's ridicule, everyone was silent, including Veidt
Because Kara's doubts could not be refuted. If Dr. Manhattan were truly the enemy of the world, if he wanted to rule over it, then one attack would never be enough.
In fact, it would only be a matter of time before Dr. Manhattan struck again, especially with almost the entire world condemning him.
The world had openly declared war on Dr. Manhattan. If he were truly an enemy, why wouldn't he just wipe out millions of people?
Kara's question left the room in silence for a moment.
"At the very least, I solved the nuclear war crisis. I rewrote the ending of the world's doom. I brought peace," Veidt said stubbornly.
"Are lies considered peace?" Laurie asked.
Dan responded without hesitation, "I only care about justice."
The most fascinating thing about Dan was his unwavering principles. Even in the face of Veidt's so-called justification for mass murder, he refused to compromise or sacrifice others.
Even Kara gave Dan a thumbs-up. "Like it."
Dan, rarely flustered, lowered his head slightly and pressed the brim of his hat down.
Veidt glared at them, but he didn't care what they thought. Looking at Dr. Manhattan, he said, "Jon, try to look at the future again. See if my plan brings peace to the world."
Instead of showing hostility, Dr. Manhattan murmured, "Peace? I do see it."
Everyone, except Kara and Veidt, was surprised.
Especially Veidt. "I don't agree with this kind of compromise."
But Veidt didn't notice that Laurie and dan's expressions had softened slightly.
Veidt took the opportunity to press further. "If a nuclear war really breaks out, how many people will die? Tens of millions? Hundreds of millions? Even billions? The world itself could be destroyed.
But now, only a few million die, and the world will be at peace.
Jon, you understand me, don't you?"
Dr. Manhattan remained silent, but his silence made Veidt's blood run cold.
"Dan," Veidt turned to dan. Their relationship had never been bad, even though Laurie and Dan were original team members.
Under Veidt's gaze, Dan gradually lowered her head.
he had compromised.
Not to mention Laurie—she couldn't even lift the gun in her hand, even if her father's killer stood before her.
Veidt felt hopeless and deeply saddened.
Kara also put away her usual teasing demeanor and said exactly what Veidt was feeling. "It's really sad. The lives of millions of people are just cold numbers to you. They mean nothing."
Veidt was visibly irritated by her words. He raised his voice and shouted, "But I saved billions! I exchanged millions of lives to ensure billions could live! Isn't that worth it?"
Kara glared at him. "If you want to yell at me, why don't you get up first? Why are you still lying there?"
Veidt was still in his previous position, which made it look ridiculous that he was shouting at Kara from the ground.
Kara thought, It's not my fault you got knocked down. Why are you yelling at me?
Veidt wouldn't dare shout at Dr. Manhattan…
But what he didn't realize was that if Kara wanted to kill him, it would be effortless. Not even Dr. Manhattan could stop her.
Dr. Manhattan's power was his own, but if Kara went to war with him, no one knew what would happen.
However, if Kara wanted to kill someone else, Dr. Manhattan wouldn't be able to stop her—unless he froze time. But even then, who knew if time manipulation would even work on Kara?
Veidt quickly got up from the ground and looked at Kara coldly. "I'd like to hear your thoughts. Do you think there was any other way to prevent nuclear war? Any way to force all nations to unite without making Jon the enemy of humanity?"
Kara spread her hands. "No. But who told you to rely on Jonathan's power in the first place? If you hadn't depended on him to win a war you shouldn't have won, certain countries wouldn't have grown so arrogant as to start a nuclear war."
Kara knew that in her own universe, the Cold War had ended in a near-miss situation. But in this world, the Cold War had truly reached the brink of catastrophe.
It could erupt at any moment—possibly even tonight. She had literally overheard high-ranking officials planning to launch at midnight.
But Kara wouldn't be easily swayed by Veidt's rhetoric. "Even if we ignore whether Jonathan refusing to act now would raise suspicions, Laurie made a good point: peace built on lies is false peace.
Even if you make Jonathan the world's enemy now, what happens if he never acts?
What if Jonathan leaves Earth today and never comes back? Ten years from now, twenty, even thirty years later, people will start questioning.
Eventually, someone will figure it out, and the backlash will be even stronger."
Veidt sneered. "I've already thought of that. That's why I'll keep reminding the world of the threat—my way."
"Like making it rain octopuses?"
Kara found his logic amusing. What exactly did raining octopuses have to do with Dr. Manhattan?
"Well, you can barely justify that," Kara muttered, though she was more curious about Veidt's bizarre reasoning than anything else.
"Then let me ask you one last question."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and Veidt instantly felt a chill run down his spine. His instincts screamed at him that something was very wrong.
He suddenly realized that Kara was exuding an unmistakable killing intent.
Kara looked at him coldly and asked, "Why did you have to choose civilians? Why did you only sacrifice civilians?"
Veidt was caught off guard and was about to explain that while he had placed devices simulating Dr. Manhattan's power across the world, he never specifically chose who would die.
But Kara raised her hand, cutting him off.
"I once knew a lunatic. A clown."
She smirked slightly. "He was crazy and always spouted nonsense.
But there's one thing he said that I actually agree with. He said, 'If you kill enough civilians or soldiers, no one will care. But if you kill a leader—everyone panics.'"
Kara rephrased her question. "Why did you choose to sacrifice millions of civilians?
When you could've just assassinated a few high-ranking officials and dignitaries—even your own president?
I'm sure if you told Jonathan about the plan, he'd gladly play the role of executioner."
"So why did you sacrifice millions to protect the powerful? Are civilians' lives worth nothing?
How many people died in past world wars? Do you really think killing millions will bring peace?
Wrong.
The only reason your plan works is because Jonathan exists."