Chapter 533: Superman on the Platform
The Evidence Mounts
"The powered armor will be classified as military-exclusive and banned from civilian circulation. Sam, you'll need to pay closer attention to these matters from now on."
Joel Nash patted his shoulder and walked away, completely missing the look of fury that crossed the old man's face the moment he turned his back.
Suspicion was slowly turning into reality.
Before today, Joel Nash had been an absolute supporter of Tesla, refusing to compromise even in the face of public pressure. In just one night, everything had changed.
He was no longer supporting Tesla; he chose to suppress it.
Once classified as military-exclusive, Tesla would lose its entire civilian market and become a military subsidiary. Given Luke Shaw's nature, he would absolutely not allow this to happen.
By issuing such an order without consulting Tesla, he was clearly prepared to become an enemy.
"Perhaps Luke was right."
Sam Lane turned, staring intently at the retreating figure.
"President? A puppet? Lex Luthor!!!"
"That damned bastard."
Killing intent boiled in his heart, refusing to subside. Defense Secretary Norman Gant walked over, looking puzzled.
"Sam, why are you here?"
"Nothing."
Sam Lane shook his head, forcing a smile. "I wanted to ask about the Tesla matter. I've got my answer."
When the topic of Tesla came up, Norman Gant's expression grew serious. He pulled Sam into his office, closed the door, and said sternly,
"During this time, pay close attention to Tesla's movements, especially Luke Shaw."
Sam hesitated. "You want me to surveil him?"
"Not surveil—monitor. Find him, keep eyes on him, and absolutely prevent him from leaving the country."
There was a fundamental difference between surveil and monitor. The former was preventative; the latter was treating someone like a violent criminal.
"You... you're planning to move against him?"
Sam couldn't help but ask, "Do you know what this means? Luke Shaw is not..."
"I know."
Norman Gant took several quick draws from his cigarette, his anxiety palpable. "I know the boy's background and power. If a conflict breaks out, it could be mutually destructive. But this is the President's order, and the Cabinet has approved it."
Hearing this, a strong sense of dread washed over Sam Lane.
"Is this what you were just discussing in the meeting?"
Norman Gant nodded.
"The President has issued a sanction against Tesla, ordering the FBI and CIA to closely watch Luke Shaw to prevent him from defecting abroad. Aside from that, there is also the Earth Guard Corps Plan."
He then pulled out a document and tossed it onto the table.
Sam Lane quickly opened the file. The more he read, the paler his face became. Finally, he couldn't help but ask,
"Is this... real?"
"The vote has passed. The press conference will be held soon."
Sam exaggeratedly said, "Are you all not going to stop this? This plan is too crazy! If you push it through, what will our allies think? Are we planning to wage war against the world?"
Norman Gant shook his head. "It's not as bad as you think."
Sam Lane's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but look at him. "You agreed to it too?"
"The Guard Corps Plan is indeed crazy, but it is feasible. If successful, we will dominate the future world."
Norman Gant spoke to himself, sounding both explanatory and persuasive, but he didn't notice the sudden hostility in his friend's eyes.
"I understand. I'll go back and consider it. You get back to work."
Sam Lane put down the document, stood up to leave, and paused at the door.
"I won't be at the party this weekend."
Norman Gant subconsciously waved his hand, just as he had done countless times before. Sam breathed a sigh of relief. There was no party this weekend, and the other man had given the correct, casual answer.
Was he the real Norman Gant, or a replaced clone?
Sam Lane couldn't be sure. He was suspicious of everyone now—colleagues, friends, comrades. The entire White House felt like a battlefield full of danger, with bullets flying from every direction. He couldn't tell friend from foe.
The Grand Announcement
After leaving the White House, Sam went to the Capitol Building to speak with friends in the Senate, asking for their opinions on the Guard Corps Plan. Surprisingly, members of both opposing parties gave a positive response, which was extremely rare in history.
His many years in politics allowed him to smell a conspiracy. The Guard Corps Plan was not just the President's decision; a vast interest group must be behind it.
Those people had reached a consensus to cooperate with Lex Luthor, or perhaps they had all been replaced by puppets.
The situation was becoming terrifying.
Sam Lane hurriedly left, unwilling to stay for another second.
Shortly after he left, Anders appeared in the hallway and asked an employee,
"Who was that just now?"
"General Lane."
"What did he want?"
"He seemed to be asking about the Tesla matter."
"Understood. Go back to work."
Anders turned and went to the office of Senate Majority Leader Pelosi, whispering,
"Luthor just messaged. Everything is ready. We're just waiting for the final step."
Pelosi took a deep breath, fighting his internal tension.
"Then let's begin!"
...
On the morning of December 17th, a bombshell report exploded across the media.
To protect Earth from alien invasion, the White House government decided to launch a protection plan called the "Earth Guard Corps" in conjunction with all allied nations.
The news shocked the entire world.
Reporters frantically swarmed the White House, using every means possible to verify the content. They didn't have to wait long. At noon, President Joel Nash and all Cabinet members arrived for a press conference.
He started with a passionate speech, focusing on the disasters the U.S. had faced over the years and the role aliens played in them. He then played the sympathy card, using conflict to ignite anger among the public.
When the groundwork was laid, he took out the prepared document and announced the Earth Guard Corps Plan in front of all the reporters.
The document was thick, over a dozen pages. Unnoticed, snow began to fall from the sky.
Everyone present was stunned by the plan's contents: integrating global powers to create a united force to protect the Earth. It sounded easy but would be incredibly difficult—almost impossible—to achieve.
Forget enemy nations; even allies wouldn't agree.
Too many factors were involved; simply the issue of command authority would be an insurmountable hurdle.
The press conference was silent. Everyone was waiting for the speech to end, at which point they would relentlessly grill him, throwing out every question they had.
However, the scene that followed left them dumbfounded.
"The Guard Corps Plan does not only concern the future of humanity but also all races living on Earth. They are part of this civilization and are willing to contribute to it."
"Now, please welcome a special guest."
With a piercing sonic boom, a figure descended from the sky—a powerful physique, a resolute face, the iconic red cape, and a blue battlesuit etched with an "S."
Superman?
He was actually appearing at the White House press conference!
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