"Hold on, but…"
In an apartment in Seashore City, a man wearing a pilot's jacket is talking to himself, he paces around the room with his hands on his hips, saying, "I know, I know where my responsibilities lie, but…"
"Okay, if it's really as serious as you guys say, then I'll go check it out, but I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill."
"When I first joined the Green Lantern Corps, you guys told me that the Green Lantern Corps is the strongest of all the lantern corps, and I've experienced this, but I don't quite understand what's making you so nervous…"
"...Alright, if you insist on this approach, I won't oppose it. After all, Earth is also my home and protecting it is my responsibility."
"Do you guys have the exact location of where the Yellow Lantern has landed? I was sleeping just now and didn't sense anything unusual."
The man scratches at his tousled brown hair. As he mentions, he has just woken up and is still rather groggy.
"What? Gotham? Why would it be in that hellhole? Well...not surprising, they say the Yellow Lantern represents fear, and the environment there surely is scary."
"I'll teleport over now and see for myself. If the situation is as serious as you guys say, I'll deal with it as soon as possible."
"Listen, right now, I, Hal, Hal Jordan, am the only Green Lantern on Earth. I can't let my hometown down. If I asked for backup before the fight even begins, that would seriously damage my image in the Corps, wouldn't it?"
"Oh, right, I know, you mean well. I know that the Yellow Lantern you guys are talking about might be tough to deal with, but you guys need to trust me, trust my willpower. I've been doing okay as a Green Lantern so far, right?"
The man who identifies himself as Hal says with his hands on his hips, "You know, not all Earthlings have the kind of acceptance and willpower that I do. Although I haven't been wielding the power of the lantern ring for very long, I think I can handle these troubles on Earth just fine…"
After a while, he takes a deep sigh, then pets the dog at his feet, "Sorry, looks like I can only take you out for a walk later. I've got some things to deal with, but trust me, I'll be back soon…"
With that, a flash of green light and Hal disappears. However, when he reappears, he is not directly in Gotham, but on a road in Brude Haven. He stands on the road looking at the sky, somewhat puzzled, "What's going on? Am I lost?"
The weather in Brude Haven is nice, and the sky is clear. So even in the daytime, stars can be seen. Hal checks his bearings and realizes he shouldn't be lost.
If he followed the normal direction, when he teleported here, he should have landed right under the signpost marking the entrance to Gotham. But now all there is just an endless road, with nothing else in sight.
Where did such a big city go?
Hal, utterly bewildered, twirls around on the spot. He thinks perhaps there's a problem with the stars' directions - it's not impossible, given that unusual phenomena often occur when a ring descends. So he teleports back to Brude Haven and buys a local tourist map.
Walking towards Gotham according to the tourist map, Hal doesn't find it bothersome, given he's now the lantern bearer who inherited the Green Lantern Ring. He doesn't have any issues with physical stamina, he walks fast, and moreover, the distance between Brude Haven and Gotham isn't far.
But as he follows the map, he only becomes more confused. He holds the map in front of his eyes, saying, "Damn it! Isn't it written here? Just go over here, cross the pine forest on the right and you should see Gotham's tallest building, the Wayne Building… where's the building?"
After crossing the pine forest planted beside the right side of the road, Hal sees nothing. But there's a faint smell of alcohol in the air. Assuming it's leftover from some campsite party, he pays it no mind.
He keeps on walking. Only after a considerable distance does he finally see a sign post.
What's strange is, there's a man standing under the signpost, holding an umbrella. Hal approaches him and asks, "Hello, I'm trying to get to Gotham. Do I just keep following this road straight?"
The man shakes his head and asks, "You're Hal, aren't you? Hal Jordan?"
"You know me?"
"I not only know you, I also know who you are. You're a pilot, and at the same time, the holder of the Green Lantern Ring, a Green Lantern, right?"
Hearing the first part, Hal is already quite puzzled. He's not some famous celebrity. It shouldn't be possible that every ordinary person knows him. But when he hears the second part, he narrows his eyes and looks at the man, "Who are you? How do you know about the Green Lantern?"
"Do you remember when you obtained the Green Lantern Ring not too long ago, you posted a thread on a forum related to aliens? Only one person replied to you, that was me…"
"You're that.. .My God! I sent you so many messages, why didn't you reply to me?!"