Harvey Dent, startled by Lucas Reed's words, slowly lifted his head to look at him.
"You knew this would happen?" Harvey blurted out instinctively.
"If you want a vague answer—yes," Lucas replied calmly.
"I knew something like this would happen."
He sat down opposite Harvey, picked up a bottle of concentrated nutrient drink, took a sip, and continued:
"But to be precise—considering all the dirty things humanity has done over the years, this kind of disaster was bound to come sooner or later."
"They claim to be from Atlantis. Don't tell me you don't know what humans have done to the oceans all these years?"
Harvey took a deep breath. Suddenly, everything seemed to connect.
"They told me to release you," Harvey said quietly.
"Then do it," Lucas sneered.
"Why come here to see me? Don't tell me you can't get past that so-called 'justice' in your heart."
"No!" Harvey snapped, gritting his teeth.
"I didn't do anything wrong back then! You killed people—you deserved to go to prison!"
Lucas tilted his head back and drained the bottle in one gulp.
With a casual squeeze of his fingers, the metal container crumpled flat.
"Didn't your superiors teach you anything?" Lucas said coldly, rubbing his hands together.
"This world isn't black and white. Justice is not absolute."
"Right now, the longer you hesitate, the more civilians and soldiers will die."
"By your own logic, those deaths will be on your head."
"So according to your worldview, you would be the truly unforgivable criminal."
Harvey shook his head frantically.
"No… no, that's not how it works! You're twisting things—you're talking nonsense!"
Lucas opened his palm, revealing a small steel bead that shimmered like a glass marble.
"You know I'm right, Harvey Dent."
"Go on—cling to your justice."
"Otherwise, what reason do you have to exist at all?"
Watching Harvey stumble away, his spirit clearly shattered, Lucas smiled faintly and took out his phone.
---
"Luthor," Lucas said into the phone, "do you have any weapon systems that are already usable?"
"Not mass-produced yet? That's fine. Even prototypes will do—as long as they're strong."
"Yes. I need you to use your latest and most advanced technology to build a full combat set—armor and weapons—for Floyd."
"You need a test subject anyway, and you know that guy."
"Good. I'll send him over right now."
Lucas hung up and immediately called Deadshot.
---
"Hey, Floyd, what are you up to?" Lucas asked lazily.
"I'm guarding your company and assets, Lucas," Deadshot replied with a yawn.
Lucas could tell just from his voice—this guy had been sleeping all day.
"If you're done sleeping, get moving. I've got a job for you."
"Oh?" Deadshot straightened up instantly.
"How big?"
"Big enough to let you kill to your heart's content," Lucas laughed.
"Pack your things and head to Lex Luthor's place. He's making you a custom loadout."
"Oh—thank God!" Deadshot laughed loudly.
"LexCorp gear is top-tier stuff. You have no idea how expensive their tech goes for on the black market—custom-made, too!"
"The cost comes out of your salary," Lucas said flatly.
"Lucas, that's cold!" Deadshot protested.
"I'm raising a daughter!"
"Just go," Lucas replied, hanging up.
---
After a moment's thought, Lucas made another call.
"Hey, sweetheart. Miss me?" he said with a grin.
"You're being slick again," Kara replied.
"What do you want?"
"Let me guess," Lucas teased.
"You're about to put on that sexy skirt-battle-suit of yours and fly to Gotham to check out the Atlanteans, right?"
"How did you know?" Kara asked, surprised.
"Easy. I know you very well," Lucas chuckled.
"Stop flirting," Kara scolded.
"So—are you calling to help me, or to stop me?"
"Neither," Lucas said smoothly.
"I'm calling to remind you to be careful. If you get hurt, I'll be heartbroken."
"Well, if you're so worried, why don't you come yourself?" Kara snapped.
"Oh, you know me," Lucas replied lightly.
"When I step in, people tend to die."
"I'd hate for them to label me an 'undersea serial killer' on top of everything else. After all, I'm already in prison because of that."
"Fine! I'll go myself!" Kara said angrily.
"Alright, alright," Lucas said quickly.
"But remember—if you can't handle it, or if you so much as lose a single hair, call me."
His voice turned cold and absolute.
"Anyone who hurts you—no matter who they are, no matter how far—I'll tear them apart."
"Hmph!" Kara snorted and hung up.
Lucas shrugged.
Kara wasn't as powerful as Clark yet, but the Atlanteans shouldn't be able to seriously injure her either.
Still—if they really dared to hurt her, Lucas wouldn't mind teaching Atlantis what a fist the size of a cooking pot felt like.
"Arthur, what the hell are you doing?" Lucas muttered, shaking his head.
"How did you let Orm take full control of the military?"
---
Meanwhile…
"Tony, what are you doing?" Pepper Potts asked in confusion.
She had driven over from the company, intending to discuss stock prices, only to find Tony suiting up with mechanical arms—wearing the Mark II armor.
"The Atlanteans are attacking," Tony said casually.
"As someone responsible for protecting public safety and private property, I've gotta make an appearance."
"They crushed the military!" Pepper shouted.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
"Relax. If I can't win, I'll run," Tony replied.
"I can't let people call me a coward."
"This is what you get for being so high-profile and running your mouth in front of the media all the time," Pepper snapped.
"Now you're paying for it!"
"Hey, that wasn't bragging—that was the truth!" Tony protested.
"And it was great PR! Look at the stock price! The shareholders love me—hey! Stop twisting, that hurts! Do that again and I'll donate you to MIT!"
"Just go," Pepper said helplessly.
"But make sure you come back alive."
"Don't worry," Tony laughed.
"I'm not done enjoying life yet!"
Fully suited up, Tony rocketed out of the villa toward the airport.
Flying all the way would burn too much energy—better to take the jet.
Pepper could only stomp her foot in frustration as she turned and left the workshop.
_____
T/N:
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