After the funeral everyone consoled the family one last time and after paying respects everyone went back to their home. The team that was built for invading the special universe in the Wall was already on its way and they would have to await any kind of back information they could get their hands on.
And even if they failed it wouldn't matter as they would start their campaign with or without. It all depended now when the war would start and it wasn't the question if there would be a war. John already knew that even if he wanted to avoid the war, it was too late now. The chess pieces were already in their positions and everyone was eager to see who was going to move first.
Are all the enemies clear? Or are they still hidden?
John was in his own world and even Emma was a little distracted as they reached home but was surprised to see the parents of Emma and John's father having a laugh at the front porch of the House of Mysteries with Audiono serving them beer bottles.
"Son, you are back and have a seat." Jameson said as he offered a seat. John and Emma were able to squeeze out a smile as they joined their parents. Their parents had no idea what was going on with the world. They have been under the safe protection of the Avengers and SHIELD and they wanted to leave it that way. For the first time in their lives Earth has seen such global peace and people were happy and those who were not happy and more ambitious had already left for the universe in search of their own adventure.
"Honey, you both look sad. Anything happened?" the mother of Emma said. They normally never come to the home of John as they have their own life but today Jameson asked for a family get together at the home of John and they couldn't say no and thus they were here. But the glaring black outfit and a little sad face on both of their faces were apparent.
"We had to attend a funeral as one of our people from the organization had an accident."John lied right through his teeth. He didn't want to speak about the war and other problems that the Avengers were facing. The mother-in-law didn't poke more on this topic as she could feel that John and Emma didn't want to speak about it. Emma had been a Green Lantern for quite a long time so they knew that she, like John, had their own secrets.
The family then changed the topic and spoke of other things to lighten up the mood and everyone was having a laugh and a smile. Their families stayed for dinner before leaving and at the end it was only John, Emma and Jameson. This family gathering even had the children of John and they were called to attend.
After there was total quiet at the home, Jameson asked.
"How deep is the problem?"
"What do you mean Dad?" John was confused.
"The death!! It wasn't a normal funeral was it? What happened? Tell me? Few months ago we saw a huge spaceship coming to Earth. Normally, people here don't care about it as the Earth now is too advanced. But I could recognize the Harvester easily. So tell me, is the huge spaceship and the funeral related?" Jameson asked. John was surprised that his father even noticed the Harvester and was thinking that this was foul.
Though the death and the Harvester were linked, it was not the way Jameson was thinking. John was just surprised that even after all these years, his father was as sharp as ever. BUt then again, he didn't want to speak about the problem too much.
"It's fine Dad. We have handled the problem. You don't have to worry so much."
"You might be a great and powerful person but a parent would always worry about his son no matter what."
"Well, everything is handled and we are on the right track." John said. Jameson didn't ask more as he could see that whatever was bothering John and his daughter in law was something too serious to be shared with others, so he just left it in that way and later that night went home with the help of Guilty.
"Reporters are really something." Emma mumbled as she saw Jameson vanishing.
"He has been an investigative reporter all his life and never trusts anyone so of course he would be able to tell that something is wrong." John replied.
"I hope Orochimaru's team will return with results." Emma prayed in her heart and said.
"If they return!!" John said as he tried to peek at the images of Orochimaru's team with the help of the system but only to see darkness.
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Read 60 chapters ahead on my p@treon.com/thelightedghost