"What impressive reflexes."
Sinestro appeared outside the building, suspended in the air. His narrow mustache twitched slightly as he regarded Adrian with an unreadable expression.
As he spoke, he casually walked forward through the sky.
The glass wall offered no resistance. Like a phantom, Sinestro passed through it effortlessly and entered the office.
"I expected you to stay in Gotham, playing hero alongside your brother and Batman."
His tone carried a trace of ridicule. It was obvious he had been keeping a close watch on Adrian's movements.
"I've always enjoyed reminding people that I haven't abandoned my humanity."
Adrian shot him a cold glance.
"If I were you, I'd be more careful. You're standing in someone else's territory."
"I am being careful," Sinestro replied. "Otherwise, you'd already be hearing my name on every news channel."
He stepped closer.
"If I were in your position, I'd have eliminated every opposing force in Gotham by now. Still, I understand why you haven't."
His eyes narrowed.
"You continue to spare Superman. Sooner or later, he'll become a problem."
"I don't need advice from anyone."
Adrian's expression darkened.
"Especially when it concerns Superman."
"Suit yourself."
Sinestro shrugged, completely unconcerned. He turned toward the window, staring into the distant sky.
His gaze seemed capable of piercing clouds, atmosphere, and space itself.
"Unfortunately, we have a problem. The Guardians have mobilized the Green Lantern Corps. Mogo is among them. This won't be like the last encounter."
Sinestro shared the intelligence he had gathered.
Over time, he had established several sources along the routes leading from Oa to Earth. Any major movement by the Guardians was reported almost immediately.
"Mogo?"
Adrian frowned.
He knew the name well. The living planet was one of the most unique members of the Green Lantern Corps.
He simply hadn't expected it to become involved directly.
"A sentient planet chosen as a Green Lantern," Sinestro said with open contempt. "The Guardians excel at convincing lonely fools that they're serving a noble cause."
"Are they preparing for a full-scale invasion?"
Adrian's voice became colder.
"Of course. I warned you before. The Guardians were never going to let this go."
Sinestro turned around.
His eyes shone brightly.
"We should work together and eliminate them."
Before Adrian could respond, a knock sounded at the office door.
Since it wasn't an emergency, Adrian already knew who it was. Hanna never interrupted him without good reason.
"What is it, Hanna?"
"Mr. President, Ms. Mera is here. She says she has urgent information."
Her breathing was slightly uneven, suggesting she had hurried over.
Adrian glanced at Sinestro.
"Send her in."
Sinestro made no attempt to leave and remained standing near the window.
A moment later, Mera entered the office.
Her eyes briefly widened when she noticed Sinestro's presence. She had clearly expected Adrian to be alone.
"Is something wrong, Mera?"
She hesitated and looked toward Sinestro before turning back to Adrian.
"Perhaps we should speak privately."
"What is this regarding?"
"The Green Lantern Corps."
"Then there's no need for privacy. Say whatever you need to say."
Adrian's meaning was clear. There was no reason to conceal information about the Green Lantern Corps from Sinestro.
Mera nodded and recounted everything she had overheard from the discussion between Hal Jordan and Arisia.
"I see."
Adrian listened quietly before giving a slight nod.
"I understand."
His reaction was surprisingly composed.
Mera blinked in confusion.
Had the information not been important enough to concern him?
"You seem unusually unconcerned," she said. "Have you already figured out a solution?"
"No."
Adrian shook his head.
"I've decided to make a televised address."
Mera paused.
A public broadcast?
Adrian had his reasons.
If conflict with the Green Lantern Corps was unavoidable, public opinion would become another battlefield. He intended to present the Green Lantern Corps as foreign aggressors threatening Earth itself.
At the same time, the broadcast would serve as a warning to those lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to move against him.
Once Hanna received the order, the entire government apparatus sprang into action.
She immediately contacted Betty, who had been working from home, and began coordinating with major television networks.
The government building transformed into a hive of activity.
This would be Adrian's first nationwide televised address since taking power, and it had been announced with virtually no notice.
Every department moved at full speed.
CBS quickly dispatched reporters, producers, camera operators, and technical staff to Metropolis.
Unlike previous presidents, Adrian rarely worked from Washington, D.C.
Most of his time was spent in Metropolis, handling national affairs from there. Unless absolutely necessary, he had little reason to visit the nation's capital.
As a result, Metropolis was gradually evolving into the true political center of the country.
Meanwhile, at CBS headquarters, reporter Thomas received an urgent assignment.
The President would be delivering a live national address.
Not only CBS, but ABC, NBC, and Fox had all received official notification requesting they reserve at least eight minutes of broadcast time at one o'clock that afternoon.
The notice suggested that the President might declare a nationwide state of emergency.
Normally, major television networks retained full discretion regarding presidential broadcasts.
Past administrations had often encountered mixed responses from broadcasters.
Interrupting scheduled programming carried financial consequences, particularly during premium advertising slots worth millions of dollars.
For network executives, every decision involved balancing public responsibility against commercial interests.
Yet this time, none of the networks hesitated.
Adrian's influence had grown enormously.
His decisive actions and overwhelming authority had gradually brought even powerful corporate interests into alignment.
Thomas knew all the industry gossip.
Before becoming a television reporter, he had worked for celebrity tabloids.
There, survival depended on three skills: moving quickly, enduring embarrassment, and securing the best position before anyone else.
Fortunately, Thomas excelled at all three.
The moment the assignment became available, he volunteered.
Thanks to a combination of persistence, professional competence, and knowing how to stay in his superiors' good graces, he secured a place on the production team.
Upon arriving at the government building, the crew was escorted to a waiting area.
Not long afterward, a beautiful woman in black stockings led them toward the President's office.
Thomas immediately recognized her as Hanna.
The closer they got, the more nervous he became.
Like most Americans, he hadn't cared much about politics before Adrian's rise.
His primary concerns had always been practical matters, salary, bills, and whether Social Security would still exist by the time he retired.
To him, Homelander had once seemed less like a man and more like an unstoppable force of nature.
The idea of such a being becoming President had initially made him uneasy.
After all, free people weren't supposed to be ruled by gods.
At least, that was what he had always believed.
His neighbor strongly disagreed.
The man often argued that humanity could only unite under a superior being, reducing internal conflict and allowing civilization to focus on exploring the universe.
Thomas had always dismissed those arguments.
Yet after witnessing Adrian defeat General Zod, repel Apokoliptian forces led by Kalibak, and protect Earth from repeated extraterrestrial threats, he occasionally wondered whether his neighbor might not be entirely wrong.
When Thomas finally entered the office, his attention was immediately drawn to Adrian.
Dressed in a black uniform, Adrian sat behind his desk with an air of unquestionable authority.
His features appeared carved from stone, sharp, flawless, and imposing.
Even seated, he radiated a presence that commanded respect.
A single glance from him was enough to make people's hearts tighten.
To Adrian's left stood Mera.
To his right stood Sinestro.
The three figures faced the cameras together.
Outside the office, Hal Jordan and John Stewart watched through the doorway with troubled expressions.
Originally, they had intended to warn Adrian about the Green Lantern Corps and persuade him to avoid escalating tensions into war.
Unfortunately, Mera and Sinestro had already delivered the same information.
As a result, Adrian showed little interest in hearing their concerns again.
"I hoped Arisia was wrong," Hal said quietly. "But whenever events start moving toward the worst possible outcome, they usually get there."
"There are some things beyond our control, Hal."
John placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Then the cameras activated.
The broadcast officially began.
Hal and John immediately turned their full attention toward Adrian as the President prepared to address the nation.
===
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