Seeing that the Emperor was unwilling to discuss Wanda Maximoff, Regent Victor von Doom did not press the matter further. "I should be able to conclude the negotiations and return to Latveria tomorrow. The War Council can operate independently now, so there is no need for excessive concern," he said. "All strategic facilities remain in communication. We will not accidentally trigger a world war, nor will we be unable to strike back after being attacked."
"I never worry." The Emperor rose from the throne. As though he had foreseen it, Hammurabi entered the Throne Room the next second. "My Assault Transport is ready. I'll call Stephanie Malik and have her accompany me to Washington. Congress happens to be passing an environmental bill and a sanctions bill against Latveria. I'm going to Washington to meet Gideon Malick and General Hale. Oh, and—" The Emperor paused just as he was about to leave the Throne Room. He turned back to look at Victor von Doom. "—if you are willing, you can bring that woman back. Latveria and the City of Immortals are both safe. No one can harm her or her family."
"No, Valeria is already in the past. That woman is too foolish and selfish to understand how important what I am doing is to Latveria. She only wants there to be no war—no war of any kind—even if every Latverian must suffer oppression."
The Regent's projection suddenly flickered. This was one of the few subjects capable of stirring him.
During the Latverian Liberation War, Victor von Doom had met with the woman who had grown up alongside him. At the time, they had already pushed the front line to the place where he had once grown up. Yet that meeting ended with the two parting on bad terms, because Valeria