Luke readily agreed to his little cousin's day off and specifically told him that boys should take good care of themselves when they were away from home.
Clark was confused when he left. He just studied equestrian with Lex and practised fencing with him at most.
'What was there to 'take good care of'?'
'Could Lex hurt me?'
'I really want to fast forward straight to my dear godson learning about Superman's true identity and then turning into the number one anti-fan and breaking up with Clark in anger ..."
Luke smiled, put away his inner mischief and looked at the newspaper on the table.
The title above, highlighted in bold letters --
'Missing for seven years, back from the dead! Wayne family's heir returns to Gotham!'
As Luke predicted, with Superman's debut, members of the Justice League would appear one after another.
'It seems Batman has successfully back-stabbed the ninja master and is ready to begin his plans to reform Gotham. '
Luke looked at the handsome young Bruce Wayne in the newspaper and thought that the ninja master was really unlucky. Backstabbed by his own student.
From his favourite student, his own daughter, his men, and finally even his own grandchild ran away.
This showed that the loyalty of the core members of an organisation like the League of Assassins, which had no real agenda, was a big issue.
'Let Batman play his cops and robbers game for a while. '
Luke shook his head and dismissed the idea of going to Gotham.
Batman wasn't as gullible as his simple-minded cousin.
The latter was perhaps the most vigilant person in the world, verging on ruthless paranoia.
It's important to know that Clark had forged a deep friendship with Batman after so many years in the Justice League, surviving and fighting alongside him.
Even so, there was still a chunk of kryptonite in the other party's belt.
'Speaking of kryptonite, the excavation work is not going well. '
Luke tapped his fingers on the table. In order to collect the kryptonite around town, he had organised an archaeological team and launched an extensive search.
In this period of time, quite a lot of green kryptonite was found.
It was one of the most common types, capable of rendering Kryptonians incredibly weak, incapacitated and even causing fatal damage.
But there were many types of kryptonite.
For example, the red kryptonite that made Superman lose his sense of morality, become evil and hallucinate.
Gold kryptonite that permanently eliminates superpowers.
Black kryptonite that causes split personalities.
White kryptonite that kills all the plants around it.
There's even pink kryptonite that made Superman change his sexual orientation.
As a qualified collector, Luke felt that he should get some of every type.
That said if his younger cousin was affected by pink kryptonite...
'Would he choose Lex Luthor or Bruce Wayne?'
Luke hastily shook his head, shaking off those 'philosophical' scorching scenes in his head.
He flicked a switch on his desk, and a global map with the various members of the Justice League was presented.
'Batman has appeared, so who's next?'
'Midtown?'
'Amnesty Bay?'
'Or ...'
Luke's eyes slightly softened as he looked towards the location of Paradise Island.
He took out a photo and thought about how his encounter with Wonder Woman in Flashpoint might lead to Diana in the main universe being affected.
Dr Manhattan stole a decade from the multiverse, thus changing the original trajectory.
Most creatures were kept in the dark, unaware.
The only ones who felt that something wasn't right were the Flash - Barry Allen, Batman, who got a letter from Thomas Wayne, and ... Wonder Woman.
In fact, there was the first Kid Flash, the third generation Flash, and after Barry Allen, the most frequently sacrificed man, Wally West.
He discovered this secret through his connection to the Speed Force.
But unfortunately, Dr Manhattan simply broke the rules and deleted the other party's existence.
If not mistaken, Wally West had been swept into the Speed Force and was gradually forgotten by all.
Luke kept moving while he was sorting out his thoughts, holding the red lynx.
He decided to return to the Marvel Universe temporarily after training his little cousin.
It was a long timeline, without much room to play with.
There was nothing else to do but wait.
...
...
Earth-1024.
S.H.I.E.L.D's Headquarters.
"How is the Academy's enrollment going this term?"
Peggy Carter, with her gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose and her head bowed as she flipped through papers, asked.
Thanks to the Infinity Formula, youthful vitality in terms of physical fitness and appearance was guaranteed.
S.H.I.E.L.D's Commander, who should have aged, still looked great to this day.
After Luke left, Peggy took over.
This time, unlike the last time, where he was abruptly taken away by Kang the Conqueror's time machine.
Superman made every preparation for the trip and arranged everything properly.
"With the improvement in the teaching staff, the number of top students had also increased, greatly filling the number of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and the number of spies."
The man sitting opposite her was none other than Nick Fury, who was sitting with a straight back.
He had hair and hadn't lost an eye.
"Taras, the guy the Director brought back from the Red Room, taught the trainees well."
Peggy slightly frowned. She stopped turning the files and spoke with a warning tone, "But equally, he is also the teacher who receives the most complaints."
"Fury, as you know, I've never been too keen on treating cadets with an overly ... cold-blooded approach. It could cause irreparable psychological trauma while crushing their potential."
Nick Fury didn't refute or agree.
Compared with Peggy's wishy-washy approach, he preferred a simpler and rougher style of doing things.
"Dr. Zola and Baron Strucker? How are they doing with the Hydra integration campaign?"
Skipping the unpleasant topic, Peggy brought up Hydra, which had been taken in by Luke.
After Superman left, these ambitious, motivated bunch, each with their own agenda, didn't quite settle down.
But there was the Invaders team composed of Captain America, Winter Soldier and Howard Stark's Iron Man.
Together with the Vampires, Werewolves, the three sanctums, and other forces from all sides.
Hydra, headed by Baron Strucker, were too afraid to do anything.
"Daniel Whitehall, whose lair has been discovered, launched a surprise attack last week against the mutants, but the other party had the presence of the Inhuman with him and eventually escaped."
Nick Foley showed regret. He suspected that Hydra had deliberately let it slip but found no substantial evidence.
"With all due respect, Commander Carter, if the Director disappears for too long, it will shake up S.H.I.E.L.D's internal structure."
"More than one senator has suggested that S.H.I.E.L.D has too much power and that it should be decentralised."
"There are also rumours being spread privately that even the President could be replaced every four years..."
"But S.H.I.E.L.D never changes, and its trampling on freedom and democracy."
Peggy didn't look up but gently replied, "Who said that? Ask him to come to S.H.I.E.L.D for a cup of coffee."
"..."
Nick was silent.
"Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D is not a state apparatus, but a strong defence line to protect the world. Public opinion can't hurt us, but self-doubt will."
Peggy said, pursing her lips.
"About the distribution of commercial trade with Atlantis, the Magic Congress led by Kamar Taj and Superman, and Hotel Inferno in Las Vegas ..."
"All these need to be handled by S.H.I.E.L.D. The reason we have been given so much and so much power aren't because people gave it to us, but because Superman exists."
Peggy was clear-headed. It didn't matter how much discontent or opinions the Senators in Congress had or the President in the White House had.
Before they were sure Luke wouldn't come back, they had to keep it to themselves.
Without S.H.I.E.L.D, who will be responsible for those things?
The three sanctums would never acknowledge the secular government, let alone the devils in Hell, that had no regard for humans.
"With great power comes great responsibility -- have you heard of that saying?"
Peggy asked with a smile.
"This is something Luke often said. He says it's actually the other way around; the greater the responsibility, the greater the ability."
Nick Fury thought about it for a while but didn't say anything else.
S.H.I.E.L.D didn't exist because of the United States, nor the World Security Council.
It was based on a person who had disappeared for a long time.
Superman.
"Fury didn't seem to look too good when he left just now."
The female secretary walked over on a pair of high heels; she had short, uncommon burgundy hair and a pretty young, youthful face that exuded a charming aura.
"He's blinded by patriotism. S.H.I.E.L.D. was never in the service of the federal government or the White House."
Peggy faintly remarked.
"Natasha, any news from Howard?"
The lucky girl who just came out of the Red Room and was personally chosen by Peggy placed down the documents in her hand and whispered, "Mr Stark is busy holding the World Expo to promote his iron battle suit."
"However, he sent a message two days ago, saying that he found the place that the Director was talking about, the country called Wakanda."
"There is an extraordinary abundance of vibranium there. It's just rather hostile to outsiders, and the culture is conservative and closed."
Peggy covered her forehead, seemingly having a headache.
In Howard's usual fashion, he was probably already heading there with a team.
"Wakanda ... I've never heard of the country. I hope he doesn't get into any international disputes."
Peggy shook her head. She couldn't restrain Howard.
Since becoming Iron Man, that guy had been running around the world, and at one point, his fame was almost catching up with the semi-retired Captain America.
...
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