CHAPTER 74(BONUS)

Kaius smiled at President Abraham's question and replied, "Not only am I human, but I'm also Chinese. You should be able to tell from my appearance."

President Abraham's eyes lit up with interest. "Chinese! I've always admired Chinese culture. Let me guess … was your mother Chinese?"

"My father is," Kaius corrected, his tone casual. Then, deftly switching the subject, he added, "But Mr. President, surely you didn't summon me here just to ask about my family background."

Kaius's redirection didn't go unnoticed by Abraham, who smiled knowingly. Politicians, after all, excel at extracting meaning from the smallest details. Even this conversation, Kaius knew, would likely be dissected by a team of analysts later. For someone like Kaius—carrying the weight of universal power—it was crucial to reveal as little as possible.

Recognizing the shift, Abraham gestured toward the two men seated beside him. "Mr. Avengers, allow me to introduce General Swanwick, from the North American Air Defense Command, and Colonel Sam Lane, representing the Seventh Military District. Colonel Lane was also directly involved in the Metropolis incident."

Kaius's eyes narrowed as he made the connection. "Ah, so you're the one who fired a missile at me!"

Colonel Lane stiffened, his expression turning grim. "I wasn't aware you were on our side at the time," he said defensively. "Had I known—"

"Stop right there," Kaius interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "Don't try to make yourself look better. I wasn't on your side—I was on humanity's side! Let's not forget, I was out there protecting Metropolis with everything I had, while you sent six Tomahawk missiles aimed right at my face. And let's not even talk about how I saved one of your pilots from being crushed under a Kryptonian Destroyer. Is this how you repay people?"

Colonel Lane flushed under Kaius's sharp critique, but before he could respond, Abraham stepped in with a calm, professional smile. "Mr. Avengers, let's not dwell on past misunderstandings. Colonel Lane has already submitted a full review of that incident and expressed his regrets. In fact, he has shown his full support for your proposed Justice League. He's even offered to contribute 20% of his district's budget toward its establishment."

Colonel Lane's shoulders sagged as if the wind had been knocked out of him. Twenty percent of the Seventh Military District's funding? That was a blow likely to leave them scrambling.

Kaius's eyes gleamed with amusement. Abraham was shrewd—he'd managed to placate Kaius, resolve the tension with Colonel Lane, and strengthen his own standing, all without spending a dime from the federal budget. By framing Lane as a financial supporter of the Justice League, Abraham turned an adversary into a contributor while earning goodwill from Kaius.

"So," Kaius said, leaning forward slightly. "Does this mean you officially recognize the legitimacy of the Justice League, Mr. President?"

Abraham nodded. "We do recognize that you and your team are far more capable than any government when it comes to handling certain extraterrestrial threats. While I can't unilaterally override the World Security Council's jurisdiction, I believe that after the alien spacecraft situation is resolved, they'll have no choice but to acknowledge your legitimacy."

Kaius nodded thoughtfully. He didn't entirely trust Abraham—politicians always had ulterior motives—but the President's words were at least a step in the right direction.

Naturally, the conversation shifted to the pressing issue: the alien spacecraft. Abraham's tone grew serious as he leaned forward, clearly eager for details.

Kaius didn't hold back. "The alien ship belongs to Kryptonians. General Zod and two of his loyal followers are on board. Kryptonians are not just advanced—they're exponentially more dangerous when exposed to a yellow sun like Earth's. It enhances their physical abilities to a superhuman level."

He paused, his expression darkening. "Zod isn't here for peace. He believes Earth is the perfect place to rebuild Krypton, and he'll stop at nothing to achieve that goal."

As Kaius continued to explain Kryptonian history, technology, and Zod's motivations, Abraham listened intently. Kaius could see the wheels turning in the President's mind. This wasn't just about stopping Zod—it was about understanding and, perhaps, controlling extraterrestrial threats for the future.

Kaius was fully aware of what this conversation meant. Abraham wasn't just preparing for Zod—he was already strategizing for what might come after.

With Superman's existence confirmed and General Zod's intentions revealed, Kaius had shared only what was necessary. The critical detail about Kryptonite—the one substance capable of weakening Kryptonians—was deliberately left out. Kaius couldn't risk this group of politicians misusing such knowledge or, worse, weaponizing it indiscriminately.

"An alien has lived on Earth for years, his home planet is gone, and now its remaining survivors want to destroy Earth to rebuild … Krypton?" General Swanwick said incredulously, narrowing his eyes. "Mr. Avenger, are you sure this isn't some elaborate science fiction plot?"

Kaius resisted the urge to smirk. If only they knew, he thought. Most of his knowledge of these events did feel like they came straight from a blockbuster movie.

Still, the alien spacecraft hovering over Earth made disbelief impossible. The room's tension was palpable. President Abraham turned the conversation to practical matters. "How do you suggest we respond, Mr. Avenger? I'd like to hear your plan."

Kaius leaned back in his chair. "I'll coordinate with Superman. Tomorrow, the two of us will approach the Kryptonian ship and attempt to negotiate. If that fails…" He mimed an explosion with his hands. "You'll have to launch a nuclear strike."

General Swanwick perked up at the mention of nukes. "Do you think a nuclear bomb can destroy their ship?"

Kaius shook his head. "Unlikely. Their energy shields are far beyond anything we've ever encountered. But it might weaken them, or at least delay their next move. It's better to fire your missiles while they're still in orbit—once they land, it'll be too late."

Kaius's blunt assessment hit hard. Earth's conventional military forces couldn't match the Kryptonians, and the prospect of being entirely outclassed stung. Swanwick's pride visibly faltered, but President Abraham remained focused. "Alright. Proceed as you've outlined. I'll have a shuttle prepared for tomorrow."

Kaius waved the offer away. "No need. Superman and I can fly up there ourselves."

The room fell silent. The idea of flying into space without a shuttle was almost incomprehensible to them. General Swanwick's expression shifted from skepticism to something close to awe.

"Space?" Colonel Lane asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You can survive in space?"

Abraham echoed the question, more curious than accusatory. "Mr. Avenger, are you really human?"

Kaius patted his chest confidently. "Of course! One hundred percent human."

The incredulous stares from the gathered officials didn't faze him in the least.

The next day, the U.S. military established a temporary base on the outskirts of Metropolis under the guise of routine military exercises. The sparse population and desolate surroundings made it an ideal location for coordinating their response. Kaius and Clark Kent—Superman—planned to meet at noon to finalize their approach to the Kryptonian spacecraft.

While Kaius waited, something unexpected happened.

"Ding! System upgrade complete. Functions optimized. Expansion card slot unlocked…"

The voice echoed in his mind, signaling an upgrade to the mysterious system that had been his constant companion. Curious, Kaius accessed the system interface with a thought.

The changes were immediately apparent. The interface now had a sleeker, more advanced design. In addition to the two existing card slots, there was a new vertical column of expansion slots on the right-hand side.

"System, what's with the update?" Kaius muttered internally. "What's this new expansion slot for?"

As usual, the system remained silent, refusing to acknowledge his questions. But after a moment, a small dialog box appeared on the interface, seemingly in response to his query. It contained explanations for the new features and optimizations.

Though the system's enhancements intrigued him, Kaius knew the current mission was more pressing. With Zod and his followers threatening Earth, he'd need every advantage he could get. Shutting the interface for now, Kaius refocused his attention on the task at hand: preparing for what could be the most important negotiation of his life—or the first battle in a war for Earth's survival.

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This chapter is dedicated to Robert Jefferson.

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