The Light wasted no time executing Arias's plan, launching it the very next day. It began unsuspectingly, with Fredrick Delamb declaring that the nation of Markovia wanted to create an initiative to help victims of meta-human trafficking, calling for support. He even named the initiative after his niece, "The Tara Markov Initiative," in honor of the princess who had been kidnapped two years prior. His brother-in-law, the king, fully supported this effort and was the first to contribute funds.
Shortly after Delamb's announcement, another major donor emerged—Terra Markovic—who revealed she would be donating $20 billion to the cause. Of course, this wasn't entirely Terra's own decision. The instructions came from Slade, who was following orders from Arias.
Arias had originally planned to keep Terra under wraps a little longer to strengthen her loyalty, but events were moving too quickly. Still, despite Terra not spending much time with Arias, Slade had groomed her well. Her lack of memory from her previous life meant that all she knew was this new life, making it unlikely for her to fail in her task.
Along with the instructions, Arias had Slade inform Terra of her real identity and what was expected of her. Contrary to Arias's concerns, she didn't hesitate to accept her role. Though Arias suspected she harbored some lingering, unstable emotions, he could only trust Slade to monitor her and act if necessary.
After Terra's substantial donation, other organizations and nations quickly followed suit, contributing generously. They weren't just trying to win favor—they were paying close attention to Arias's moves. Anyone with half a brain suspected Arias was behind this, and many believed he was planning something significant. Despite their suspicions, many were willing to stake their claims.
This reaction played into the Light's favor, making the operation appear even more legitimate.
Inevitably, the internet was abuzz with talk about the striking resemblance between Terra Markovic and the presumed-missing Tara Markov. It didn't take much to connect the dots—the timing of Tara's disappearance matched the time Terra was reportedly rescued by Slade Wilson under Arias's orders.
Terra released a public statement, saying it was entirely possible she was Tara Markov, but she had no memory of her life before being kidnapped. This revelation sent shockwaves across the internet, dominating headlines as people eagerly awaited definitive proof.
The king of Markovia, surprisingly, was the first to publicly confirm that Terra was undoubtedly his daughter. He emotionally stated that he didn't need a test to prove it. In a public address, he expressed his eagerness for her return and confirmed that they would know for sure when she visited the country alongside other contributors to attend the official launch of the initiative.
...
While this news rocked Europe, the United States remained focused on its own affairs. The president launched an aggressive campaign as Slade Wilson gained traction rapidly, despite his seemingly cavalier attitude.
The Justice League, however, remained deeply invested in Arias's actions. Superman, still recovering from his unique injury, was taken to Cadmus, where they had managed to extract the kryptonite bullet using specially-made surgical tools. Acquiring and preparing the necessary tools was costly, but the government viewed Superman as an invaluable asset and spared no expense in saving him.
Currently, the surgery was underway, and the members of the League gathered in a lone hall far from the operating room. Green Lantern leaned against the wall, playing a game he had manifested from his ring. An awkward silence filled the air.
The League hadn't spent much time together yet, and they weren't particularly close. While they understood the importance of Superman's recovery, they didn't feel the need to be present. But without knowing of any family members, Batman had urged them to stay in case anything happened. He was the only one granted access to oversee the surgery, ensuring that nothing unnecessary was done to Superman.
Boredom eventually got the best of Green Lantern, and he stopped playing his game to speak. "Okay, I get that the big guy needs someone here, but Batman's got that covered, so why are we still hanging around?"
Martian Manhunter, or J'onn, glanced at Green Lantern but didn't speak. Instead, he communicated telepathically, **"Batman mentioned that this place's primary purpose is to create countermeasures against meta-humans and aliens like me. It wouldn't be wise to leave Superman's vulnerable body in their hands."**
Green Lantern narrowed his eyes, thinking of a response. "First of all, could you not do this weird mind thing without a heads-up? Secondly, I'm neither of those, so…"
J'onn saw no need to explain further and simply shook his head.
The brief exchange ended just as Batman appeared in the hall. He addressed the group, "He's stable and healing fast. He should be awake any moment now, so if you have other matters to attend to, you can leave. We'll deal with everything once he's recovered."