As Axel swaggered out of Little Italy with a pistol tucked in his waistband, reporters swarmed around him.
After three days of observing him, Gotham's media had begun to understand Axel. Despite being one of the most dangerous figures in the city's history, he treated reporters with surprising friendliness.
Aside from one outspoken reporter who had learned the hard way—nailed to the hood of an Aston Martin and later dragged to Evanston University by Victor—almost no reporters had met harm at Axel's hands. He even helped them scare off rival journalists from Metropolis trying to steal his scoops. Naturally, the reporters were enthusiastic.
The first group approached cautiously, not shoving microphones immediately, but offering hamburgers and Cokes instead.
"Axel, have you eaten?" one reporter asked in surprisingly fluent Chinese, extending a burger.
Axel raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh my, Buddy, did your teacher come all the way from Hunan?"
Joking, he slid his pistol back into his waistband and took the burger. The reporters cheered.
"Our team studied Chinese just for you, Axel! The teacher in Chinatown really went above and beyond—taught us greetings, even some slang!"
A female reporter handed him a Coke. "Here, some happy water, Axel!"
Axel grinned, giving a thumbs-up. "You guys found a good teacher. Learned all the way to Siberia, huh? Haha!"
He ate and drank casually, accepting their enthusiasm, then waved to them.
"You bought me food, so of course you get special treatment. Ask me anything, and I'll cooperate."
He slipped an arm around the nearest female reporter for a photo. She didn't flinch; her professionalism showed. She positioned herself naturally, smiling brightly.
"Axel, regarding last night—Gotham wants to know about you and the female warrior. Images of your battle have gone viral. Many in Europe insist she's a Valkyrie from World War I who personally defeated Hindenburg and Ludendorff. What do you think of that?"
Axel's grin widened. "They're right, she is old—but centuries-old, not just a Valkyrie."
Diana, watching from a hotel room, crushed the remote in frustration.
Reporters hesitated before asking the question they cared about most. "Axel, does that mean gods exist? Are you and she gods too?"
Axel laughed, shaking his head. "What nonsense! I'm human, just like you. All that talk about gods handling gods is bullshit. Humans can fight back too. If you cultivate strength and willpower, even gods would fear you."
He clapped emphatically at the camera. "Remember, humans are never inferior. I'm just a bit stronger, a bit faster, and more willing to evolve. Look at my genetics—you're the same. The difference is in effort and mindset. Strong humans will trample over gods and capital alike. We are the majority!"
Alexander Luthor, watching from Luther Group headquarters in Metropolis, applauded loudly. He wasn't entirely convinced Axel was just human, but the words resonated. Humans had always ruled Earth despite the existence of gods.
Turning to his assistant and childhood friend, still in shock, Luthor said firmly, "I need to reach Gotham before noon and arrange a meeting with this new King of Gotham. Whatever it takes, make it happen."
His assistant hesitated. "Lex, we haven't finished Axel's personality profile. Meeting him so soon could be dangerous."
Luthor's eyes gleamed. "This new King of Gotham shares my philosophy. That alone is enough reason to meet him."