Chapter 536: Internal Conflict
The Consequences of Blackmail
Pelosi's entire dark life was now in Luke's hands. He was finished. If he didn't want to be ruined and disgraced, he had no choice but to obey.
The dignified Speaker of the House had been reduced to this state. Pelosi truly didn't know what to say. After a long sigh, he quietly asked,
"Luke Shaw, what exactly do you want?"
"What I want is already in hand. As for you, Mr. Pelosi, do your job. No one will use this to threaten you." Then, Luke looked at Barry.
"Take him back."
Barry nodded. He hoisted Pelosi, transforming into a flash of lightning that, with unimaginable speed, slipped past layers of security and placed the Speaker back in his bed before doubling back.
The whole process took less than two seconds.
The guards had no idea what happened, and the cameras captured nothing.
It had to be said that when it came to covert operations, the Speed Force was truly exceptional.
The Rift
After dealing with Pelosi, the three turned to leave. Barry's expression was grim. Pelosi was widely known as a good person and a good councilman, with an excellent reputation. No one expected that the supposedly just and kind man would have so many unknown, filthy secrets.
"Boss, are all politicians like him?"
Luke shook his head. "You have to analyze a person holistically. You can't just look at the good, nor can you just look at the bad. Take Pelosi, for example. He takes bribes, keeps mistresses, and cheats on his wife, but that doesn't stop him from doing his actual job, which he's very good at. Otherwise, he wouldn't have reached his current position."
"There are many temptations in the world, and few can withstand them. Pure people like Clark are rare. You're not bad either."
Diana suddenly spoke up.
"What about you? What kind of person are you?"
Luke frowned slightly, glancing at the golden rope in her hand. He said half-jokingly,
"A good man?"
Diana lifted the Lasso of Truth and said, word for word,
"The Lasso compels people to reveal the secrets buried in their hearts, Luke Shaw. It tells me you've been hiding many things and have been lying."
Luke narrowed his eyes.
"You want to bind me."
"It's the best way."
Luke sneered. "Do you think that's possible?"
The atmosphere instantly grew tense. The two locked eyes, neither willing to back down.
After a moment, Diana suddenly said,
"Decades ago, I met a person who manipulated war from behind the scenes, regarded everyone as mere ants, and severely wounded the world."
"I see his shadow in you. Perhaps you are the same kind of being."
"You're talking about Ares, aren't you?"
Diana's expression hardened. "You know about him?"
"I've heard of him, but haven't met him. Your lover, Steve Trevor, died by his hand, correct?"
Diana drew the Sword of Athena, her eyes radiating a feral intensity.
Green flames burned in Luke's eyes. Dark clouds began to gather in the sky. An extremely terrifying power was brewing overhead.
The tension immediately reached a fever pitch!
Barry Allen's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He quickly stepped between the two.
"Don't do this! We're allies. How can we turn against each other so easily?"
Luke scoffed. "Can't you tell? Ms. Prince is very dissatisfied with my actions. She thinks I'm a warmonger like Ares and intends to punish the wicked and maintain world peace."
Diana said coldly, "Your actions are unworthy of the word 'hero'."
Luke shrugged.
"I never claimed to be a hero. I sought you out initially only to prevent Earth from being destroyed by Kryptonians, not to become a superhero. I made that clear a long time ago."
"Luke Shaw, you disappoint me greatly."
Diana sheathed her sword and turned to leave.
"This is the last time we will work together."
Barry was speechless. He looked at her, then at Luke, unsure what to do. Things had been fine, and in the blink of an eye, they had deteriorated. They were all friends; couldn't they just talk things out?
Luke patted his shoulder.
"Go back for now. I'll handle the rest."
"Pelosi said Lex Luthor built a lab in Arizona. Should we go take it out?"
Luke shook his head. "We can't touch the lab until we find Clark's location. A forced attack could provoke Lex Luthor into extreme actions."
Barry thought about it. That was logical.
The situation had evolved beyond simple crime-fighting. It involved too many complex figures. It was like a vast, dense net, and he didn't know where to start unraveling it.
With a hint of disappointment and confusion, Barry returned to Metropolis. Luke, meanwhile, soared into the air and flew toward the mountains north of Washington.
Adam's Compromise
A villa sat in the mountains. This seemingly ordinary villa had the world's most robust security system. Cameras and guards were everywhere, including three masked Superman clones.
This villa was where Adam was being held. Perhaps out of consideration, the councilmen led by Pelosi did not follow Lex Luthor's advice to execute the President but chose to hold him under strict guard instead.
Luke didn't approach the villa. He stopped several kilometers away. Before long, a green-glowing wraith emerged from the earth. It was Adam, whom Luke hadn't seen in a while.
"Master!"
Adam bowed slightly, just as respectful as before. Luke looked him over and asked,
"How is the situation?"
"They are guarding me very closely. They also installed a micro-bomb in my body that will detonate if I try to leave."
Luke nodded, then suddenly asked,
"Did you ever think about switching to a new body?"
Adam lowered his head, a rare look of struggle in his eyes. Logically, this emotion shouldn't appear on a wraith.
Luke curled his lip, saying with a hint of sarcasm,
"I heard the First Lady is pregnant. Was that you?"
Adam nodded, then shook his head. He tried to explain but ultimately chose silence. He was a wraith, created by Luke, and everything he possessed was granted by Luke. Luke was his master.
"You're truly something!"
Luke coldly snorted, the sound like falling thunder. Adam clutched his head, emitting a silent wail. Intense pain radiated from the depths of his soul; he felt his spirit tearing apart.
"I warned you to do your job and not cause trouble. What did you do?"
Adam pleaded,
"Master, I have not disobeyed your will. Never."
"The child? Why did it happen? And you."
Luke stared intensely at him.
"Why didn't you use the contacts, the influence, and the subordinates I assigned to you over the past two years? You were captured and locked up like a pig without any resistance whatsoever."
"Adam, are you sure you're a wraith? Or are you worried about the child's safety and afraid to take risks?"
Adam was left speechless. He could only nod. He couldn't lie to his master.
Seeing his admission, Luke felt rage rush to his head. He wanted nothing more than to strike him dead.
As a wraith, he possessed another man's body, slept with his wife, had a child, and actually developed feelings.
Was it a flaw in the magic, or was it the effect of the Green Flame?
And that child—whose was it?
Adam's? Or Joel Nash's?
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