Chapter 526: Superman's Battle (1)
The Clones are Revealed
"Th-th-this is impossible!"
"How could they be here?"
The assembled officials were in utter panic; some even wanted to turn and flee.
It wasn't because they were cowards, but because the people standing in the doorway were too shocking.
The figure on the left, dressed in a black suit, middle-aged, with a cold expression and steady gaze, was none other than President Joel Nash.
The figure on the right, clad in a blue bodysuit with a red cape and an 'S' emblem on his chest, possessed a powerful physique that seemed inhuman. His name was known to all: Superman, a being referred to as a god among men.
Two legendary figures had inexplicably appeared in this room.
Anders shouted,
"Luthor, what are you doing? He... he..." A realization struck him, and his face twisted. "Could it be that they are..."
"Correct!"
Luthor walked up to the two figures and stated expressionlessly,
"They are clones, and they are a crucial part of the Guard Corps Plan."
A general stood up and roared in fury,
"You dare to use the President's genes to cultivate a clone? You... you... you are completely insane!"
Luthor glanced at him and said coolly,
"The President was killed two years ago during the demon incident. The man sitting in the White House is nothing more than a puppet created by Luke Shaw. He's used the President to profit himself, allowing ShowMe and Tesla to become world-class corporations in just a few years. You've already verified this, so I don't need to explain."
"Power is a poison. Once tasted, it is never given up. What do you think Luke Shaw will do next? Discard this puppet? Or ensure Joel Nash wins a third term at any cost?"
The argument ceased. The officials' eyes flickered as they pondered his words.
Luthor continued,
"The Guard Corps Plan cannot succeed without the President's support. Since the President has become Luke Shaw's puppet, the best solution is to take him back and secure him in our control."
"All of you are intelligent people. You should understand what I mean."
A Congressman gritted his teeth and said,
"Lex Luthor, you truly are a maniac. Do you know what the consequences of this action are?"
"For the sake of human civilization, every sacrifice is worthwhile. Furthermore, I do not believe I am wrong. The source of the disaster is Luke Shaw; he was the first to break the rules."
"He has turned the United States into his private property, purged dissenters, suppressed talent, and continuously squeezed our living space. You have all seen the President's actions over the past two years: an arrogant, cold-blooded tyrant who uses sinister methods to eliminate his enemies. The tradition of the United States is a two-party system. Now, only one remains."
"Gentlemen, we have no choice. We must either fight back or wait for death."
The meeting room fell into silence again, longer than before. If the earlier silence was due to panic and unease, this was genuine fear. They finally understood why Lex Luthor was called a maniac.
Cloning the President! Covertly manipulating power!
Not even a psychopath or a maniac would dare attempt this.
Evans spoke gravely, "Why did you bring Superman in?"
Lex Luthor shook his head. "He is not Superman. He is the face of the Earth Guard Corps, the overt military commander. We need his reputation and his strength."
Some things didn't need to be said explicitly. No one present was stupid. They instantly understood the deeper meaning: Superman held immense influence in the United States and globally. If he joined the Guard Corps, other superheroes might follow suit.
"Then what do we do with the real Superman?"
Luthor stated flatly, "There is only one Superman in the world, and that is the one standing next to us."
What more could the officials say? The situation was clear. This meeting was a trap. That bastard Lex Luthor had used the clones to drag everyone down and cut off their retreat.
That damned lunatic!
Two military generals ground their teeth in frustration, but they were cornered. At this point, retreating was impossible; they could only commit fully to this dark path.
Luthor took a helmet and placed it on the table.
"This is the device to control the President. Congressman Evans, it is yours."
Evans shook his head. "I am too old. Let a young man do it."
"Anders, it's yours."
"..."
I must be dreaming.
The Trap is Sprung
With the plan confirmed, Luthor immediately put it into action.
That same evening, when Adam (Joel Nash) returned to his study after work, there was an extra person in the room.
The person looked exactly like him, but his eyes held a trace more humanity.
"Who are you?"
Adam's face changed drastically. Instinctively, he was about to shout when a figure shot toward him, dragged him out the window, and vanished into the night in the blink of an eye.
When the agents rushed in, the new President stood by the window and said calmly,
"Tell the First Lady I'm working tonight and won't be coming to bed."
Meanwhile, Adam, carried into the sky by the mysterious figure, narrowed his eyes. The cold gaze held no human emotion. He considered using his reanimated corpse strength to break free, but after a moment's thought, he stopped.
Joel Nash's identity was extremely important. Luke had issued a strict command: do not reveal the reanimated corpse's identity unless absolutely necessary.
With that thought, Adam suppressed the murderous intent in his eyes, returning to his calm, stoic state.
The mysterious figure took him to a mountain villa.
Standing at the villa's entrance was Anders. Seeing Adam, the Congressman, who was not yet fifty, looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Mr. President, please bear with us and stay here for a while. We will ensure your daily needs are met."
Adam stared at him coldly, without anger or shouting.
"Anders, you are betraying this country. I don't know why you are doing this, but you will regret it."
Anders' body stiffened, a feeling of inexplicable irritation washing over him. He waved his hand, and two subordinates escorted Adam into the villa.
At the same time, in Metropolis, the sleeping Clark received an anonymous call. The phone rang twice and disconnected. Immediately, a photograph was sent: a woman wrapped in time bombs—his mother, Martha Kent.
"The bomb will detonate in five minutes. Hope you make it."
The message included the exact coordinates.
Clark's face contorted in panic. He threw off the covers and bolted toward the window.
Lois groggily opened her eyes.
"What's wrong, Clark? What happened?"
"My mom has been kidnapped."
Lois was instantly wide awake. "Martha... what exactly is going on?"
Clark tossed his phone onto the bed. Lois quickly grabbed it. After seeing the photo, her expression became extremely serious.
"Clark, this might be a trap."
"I know, but I have to go."
Martha was his mother. She had worked tirelessly to raise him and had given him endless love. Clark would not allow anyone to hurt her.
After quickly dressing, Clark leaped out the window and vanished in an instant.
A blast of cold air hit Lois, making her shiver. For some reason, a powerful sense of dread rose in her chest. She felt as though something terrible was about to happen.
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