As Kian returned to his desk, he allowed his thoughts to settle, his mind still lingering on the strange, new feeling he'd experienced—the notion that his telekinesis might be evolving into something beyond just moving objects. The idea of sensing people through their mental or physical presence was tantalizing. But as compelling as it was, he knew he needed to focus on the here and now.
After a few moments of reflection, he keyed in the secure line to Jason. The line clicked, and Jason's voice came through, slightly distorted but sharp.
"Yeah, Kian?" Jason said, his tone as steady as ever.
"Status update. How's Blüdhaven?" Kian asked.
"Solid. No issues so far. We've got three of the main gangs under our thumb, and I'm negotiating with the fourth," Jason replied. "They're a tougher crowd, but they'll come around once they see our resources."
"Good," Kian said. "We need them to fall in line smoothly. No more incidents than necessary, at least until our position is fully established."
"Understood. Oh, and by the way, I caught word that Nightwing might be getting curious. He's sniffing around a bit," Jason added, his tone taking on a slight edge.
Kian paused, considering. Nightwing was not the type to let any underworld expansion go unnoticed, especially one in Blüdhaven, his self-proclaimed territory. Still, if Kian's plans went as intended, they'd be subtle enough to keep Nightwing's attention scattered.
"Keep tabs on him," Kian instructed. "But don't engage unless absolutely necessary. Our priority is getting our foundation in place."
"Got it," Jason confirmed before signing off.
Satisfied, Kian turned his attention to Deathstroke, who was operating in Star City. A quick call confirmed that his plans were progressing smoothly, with a few local groups showing signs of willingness to cooperate in exchange for the resources Kian's team could provide. Deathstroke's methods were effective, ruthless when necessary, and strategic otherwise, which kept their operation quiet enough to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
As he ended the call, Kian leaned back in his chair, taking in the bigger picture. Gotham, Blüdhaven, Star City—each was starting to fall into line, piece by piece. But he knew this was only the beginning.
He picked up a file on Lex Luthor, the notorious businessman and criminal mastermind from Metropolis. Kian had tasked his team with compiling as much intel on Luthor as possible; they'd managed to put together a comprehensive profile, covering everything from his legitimate business dealings to his covert operations with Intergang and the various criminal organizations in Metropolis. Luthor was a dangerous man, but also one who valued power and ambition above all else. If Kian played his cards right, he could perhaps leverage Luthor's ego and drive toward his own ends.
A faint knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts, and he looked up to see Deadshot entering the room, his demeanor uncharacteristically solemn.
"Kian," Deadshot greeted, nodding. "Thought you'd want to know—I caught wind of something in Metropolis."
Kian raised an eyebrow, motioning for him to continue.
"Rumor has it that Intergang's interested in the recent… fluctuations in the kryptonite market," Deadshot said. "They've been sourcing it for their own reasons, and Luthor's their main supplier. They're being quiet about it, but I think they're preparing for something big. Something to do with Superman."
Kian's interest piqued. Kryptonite was a scarce commodity, and Intergang's activities with it could either be an advantage or a risk to his plans.
"Any way we can intercept their supply line?" Kian asked, his voice thoughtful.
Deadshot shrugged. "Could be risky, but if we play it right, we might be able to snatch a shipment or two. Would send a message to Luthor, make him aware that he's not the only one with eyes on the prize."
Kian smirked, his gaze sharpening. "Good. We'll give them something to think about, then. Put together a small team, intercept one of their shipments—quietly. Let them know we're here, but don't let it escalate. Not yet."
Deadshot nodded, his face breaking into a smirk of his own. "Consider it done."
As Deadshot turned to leave, Kian's mind was already whirling with possibilities. An intercepted shipment of kryptonite could serve as leverage, both against Intergang and as a potential bargaining chip with Luthor. With each step, his influence over Metropolis was growing.
The week passed in a series of covert meetings, meticulously planned maneuvers, and steady expansion across Blüdhaven and Star City. Kian's team carried out each directive with precision, establishing safehouses, forging alliances, and asserting control without attracting unnecessary attention. The sense of impending dominance was palpable, and Kian relished each new development, feeling the weight of his empire solidify around him.
On the night of the scheduled intercept, Deadshot led a handpicked team to intercept the kryptonite shipment from Intergang. Everything went according to plan: his team hit the convoy swiftly and efficiently, taking out the guards without so much as a whisper of warning. Within minutes, they were gone, the shipment securely in their possession.
Kian inspected the haul later that night, carefully studying the raw chunks of kryptonite glowing faintly green in the dim light of his chamber. The power they represented was almost intoxicating. Each piece was a weapon against some of the world's most powerful beings. With the kryptonite now firmly in his control, he could counter any threat, even one as formidable as Superman himself.
But the intercepted shipment had an immediate ripple effect, as he expected. Word reached him within days that Intergang was in a frenzy, scrambling to discover who had dared to challenge their operations. And not far behind, Lex Luthor himself took note, his interest in the mysterious "new player" sharpening.
Kian knew he'd have to tread carefully here. Luthor was no fool, and if he saw Kian as a threat, he wouldn't hesitate to retaliate. But Kian also understood that Luthor respected strength. If approached correctly, Luthor might see an alliance as an opportunity rather than a risk.
The next few days were spent finalizing their plans, refining their strategies, and watching the impact of their moves ripple across the criminal underworld. Gotham was tense, with whispers circulating of a rising power; Blüdhaven and Star City were falling steadily under his influence, and now even Metropolis was feeling the impact of Kian's reach.
It was during one of these late-night planning sessions that Kian felt a familiar presence in his mind—the same subtle sensation he'd noticed before, a faint awareness of someone nearby. This time, he focused intently, letting his telekinetic senses stretch outward, honing in on the faint pulse of consciousness he could feel nearby.
And then, just like that, he sensed it: someone was approaching his headquarters, moving with calculated stealth. Kian's eyes narrowed, his mind sharpening. Whoever it was, they were skilled enough to avoid detection from his standard security, yet not skilled enough to evade his telekinesis.
With a flick of his mind, he reached out, feeling the weight and position of the intruder. A grin spread across his face as he realized who it was.
Moments later, Jason Todd slipped into the room, his expression cautious but calm. Kian allowed himself a quiet chuckle.
"You're getting better at sneaking in," Kian said, his tone light but tinged with amusement. "But you still haven't quite mastered staying out of sight."
Jason gave him a wry look. "And here I thought I'd gotten past your security."
Kian shrugged. "The walls have eyes, Jason. Even ones you can't see."
Jason chuckled, shaking his head. "I should have known. Anyway, I have an update."
Kian leaned forward, intrigued. "Go on."
"Nightwing's getting closer," Jason reported. "He's asking questions around Blüdhaven, trying to piece together why certain gangs are falling into line so quickly. It won't be long before he realizes something bigger is going on."
Kian considered this, feeling the tug of opportunity. Nightwing's presence was a risk, but it also presented a chance to test the full extent of his abilities—and to see how far his team could go.
"Let him come closer," Kian said. "I want to see how he handles our defenses. And if he manages to make his way in, well… we'll have a chat."
Jason nodded, understanding the directive. "Understood. I'll make sure he gets just enough breadcrumbs to keep him interested."
As Jason left, Kian felt a deep sense of anticipation settling over him. Everything was falling into place: the intercepted kryptonite, the establishment in Blüdhaven and Star City, and the gradual reach into Metropolis. And now, even Gotham's heroes were beginning to sense the scale of his plans, though they still had no idea who was behind them.
In the quiet that followed, Kian returned to his thoughts, feeling the weight of his growing telekinetic powers. If he could sense Nightwing's approach from a distance, how much further could he stretch this power? What if he could detect the presence of any potential threat, feel the energy of an entire city, and control it as easily as lifting a single object?