Chapter 450: The Justice League
The Military's Reservations
Half an hour later, an armed helicopter slowly ascended.
On the airfield, watching the helicopter depart, Sam Lane couldn't help but complain.
"Why did you agree to so many of his demands? Can't you see Luke Shaw is pulling all the strings? That Kryptonian girl, Linda Danvers, doesn't have this kind of scheming mind."
Norman Gant glanced at him and said unhurriedly,
"The President spoke to me before I came. As long as he can solve this problem, we can agree to any condition."
Sam Lane scoffed. "The President is too easily persuaded."
"I agree with his decision."
Sam Lane's body stiffened. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he sighed.
"Yes, if we can win the war, what do those conditions matter? But Luke Shaw—do you really know this person?" He shook his head slightly.
"I'd rather cooperate with Lex Luthor than him."
Norman Gant had a different view.
"Don't let prejudice dictate your decision based on background; that is a foolish idea. Luke Shaw certainly has countless ties to the underworld, but the Lex Luthor you favor is no different. The United States is a capital-driven country; as long as he doesn't touch fundamental principles, we close one eye.
"Furthermore, with the war against the Kryptonians, his willingness to take charge has certainly been a relief to us."
Sam Lane was displeased. "The Mech Corps can also win the victory." (Note: The Mech Corps is a new military organization established by the White House to deal with sudden, serious incidents. All members are specially enhanced soldiers who are equipped with conventional thermal weapons and a personalized Tesla military armor.)
Norman Gant understood his old friend's mindset.
"That decision is very risky. Are you sure you want to participate?"
"The soldiers need a chance to prove themselves."
"Fine, I will inform the President. You must also prepare thoroughly."
Assembling the Team
In Metropolis, at the Tesla factory.
Barry Allen, who had just finished his pizza and was ready to work hard, saw a sudden flash. Luke Shaw's figure appeared on a screen.
"Call your friend, The Flash, over. I need his help with something."
The message finished, and the screen returned to normal. Barry Allen was bewildered. He glanced around, and seeing no one paying attention, he secretly pulled out his phone and sent a text message. After getting confirmation, he couldn't help but mutter,
"Why does he want me? Is he planning to steal something?"
Remembering the promise he'd once made to Luke Shaw, Barry Allen felt terrible.
Meanwhile, inside the Washington History Museum, Diana received an anonymous letter while at work. After reading the contents, she quickly packed her things and boarded a flight to Metropolis.
At the Colorado Police Department, Chief Colón walked into Detective John Jones's office.
"You need to head to Metropolis immediately. Someone specifically requested to see you."
"Who?"
"Luke Shaw."
The Stark Reality
War is not a game. One cannot rely on the opponent being foolish, nor can one expect the Kryptonians to hide in their ships and let Clark just one-punch them.
Zod is a general, a military commander who has participated in over a hundred wars. He knows how to win and will undoubtedly formulate the most detailed strategy.
To win, one must rely on pure hard strength. Shortcuts won't work.
And there is H'el. Luke has never sensed such a resilient soul in any humanoid creature. He is a presence that cannot be ignored.
One H'el, one Zod, and over a dozen elite Kryptonian warriors.
This combined force is enough to destroy the world.
To achieve victory, they cannot rely solely on Clark and Linda; they need other help. There aren't many forces on Earth that can contend with the Kryptonians: Barry Allen counts as half, Diana (Wonder Woman) and John Jones (Martian Manhunter) count as one each. Shazam is still a child, Aquaman is non-essential, and as for Batman and Hal Jordan (Green Lantern)... the former relies on Kryptonite, and the latter is not worth mentioning.
The Final Summons
On the outskirts of Metropolis, inside a dilapidated factory.
Diana, wearing her cloak, glanced at John Jones walking through the main entrance and said solemnly,
"You called me here."
John Jones nodded slightly, appearing very polite.
"I apologize, beautiful lady. I am here for the same reason as you."
A flash of electricity, and a figure in armor—Barry Allen—suddenly materialized in the warehouse. While observing the two, he spoke at super-speed.
"Don't look at me, I'm not the main character."
John Jones asked curiously, "The Flash of Central City?"
Barry Allen's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.
"That's right, that's me! Who are you? Are you a superhero too?"
John Jones shook his head silently.
"I am a police officer."
Barry: "..."
The ground began to shake. With a crunching sound, an entrance appeared on the floor. Luke Shaw emerged from it. His gaze swept over the three, and he crooked a finger.
"Come with me. We'll talk inside."
He turned and walked down into the underground base.
The three exchanged glances and followed him in.
The underground base wasn't large. Past the tunnel, they walked straight into a brightly lit conference room. Two other people were already there: Clark and Linda.
The moment he saw Linda, Barry Allen instinctively shivered.
"Boss?" (Linda was famously tyrannical, notorious at Tesla as the 'female devil'.)
His gaze then shifted to Clark, and he dramatically clapped a hand over his mouth.
"Superman?"
John Jones and Diana were equally surprised. Superman, the central focus of news for the past two days, was here.
Luke Shaw walked to the main seat.
"My name is Luke Shaw. I won't give a detailed introduction. If the three of you are interested, you can look me up online. I stand here today with only one identity: the appointed agent of the military and the government."
Diana said cautiously, "Are you part of the government?"
"No."
Luke Shaw clapped his hands. A robotic butler walked in and placed a cup of coffee in front of each person.
"I'm much like you—an object of government displeasure. But there are some problems they can't solve, so they had to delegate them to me."
"Everyone, I called you here not for a partnership, not for a threat, and certainly not for recruitment. I have only one goal: to resolve the impending Kryptonian war."
Luke Shaw snapped his fingers. A 3D holographic image appeared on the table, displaying various intelligence reports regarding Zod's group. Luke recounted the entire situation in detail. When he finished, he took a sip of tea and continued,
"According to current intelligence, Zod will launch a full-scale offensive against Earth in a day at most."
"If they succeed, Earth's civilization will be replaced by Kryptonian civilization, and everyone, including those of you in this room, will cease to exist. This is a disaster concerning all humanity. No one can escape it, which is why I called you here."
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