The voices of criticism grew around them, but neither Reid nor Luthor paid any attention.
They knew very well that some people truly believed these ideas, but the real push came from those last remaining financial giants fanning the flames.
Their reaction was quick.
Right after Hydra's failure and the assurance that Los Angeles was safe, they immediately set plans in motion, planting their men among the crowds to spread this narrative.
They were gambling, one last desperate bet.
They were betting that the man who had carried the Helicarrier beyond Earth in an instant would become the new hero, taking LexCorp's place in the hearts of the people. They hoped he was not tied to the company.
They didn't fear a single individual with godlike strength. What they feared was an organization like LexCorp, wielding overwhelming power.
But from the very beginning, their hopes had no chance of success.
Reid never intended to create an enemy just to hide his strength. He had long passed the stage of concealing his true power.
When Superman touched the ground, everything would be settled.
And now, the Kryptonian had returned to Earth.
He flew toward Los Angeles, slowing as he neared the ground, his figure finally appearing in the eyes of the people below.
"There he is! Who is this man really?"
"A superpowered being? Or maybe… like the Martian Manhunter, not human at all?"
Though the man looked no different from a human on the outside, everyone remembered Martian Manhunter: a pure alien who could perfectly disguise himself as a human. Naturally, they couldn't rule out the possibility that Superman was the same.
Then, before the world, he landed in front of Luthor and Reid.
The tycoons watching the scene through their screens felt their hearts tighten in their chests. Their future now rested entirely on this man.
But in the next second, their faces turned pale as their last hope shattered completely.
Under countless eyes, Reid and Superman exchanged a smile. Then they both extended their hands and shook firmly.
"Impossible! Is he… is he a LexCorp's superhero?"
"With powers like that, there's no way LexCorp could create such a being!"
The public erupted in disbelief, but the words that followed from both men gave the answer everyone had been waiting for.
"Kal, you're finally back. How is it? Does Krypton still exist?"
"Not anymore. It has turned to dust in the universe. My home is gone, Earth is all I have left now."
* * *
The Son of Krypton. A god among men. An alien raised on Earth.
Within days, the truth about Superman spread across the globe.
As for the man himself, he returned to Kansas. At his request, Reid arranged everything, bringing back his farm from the DC world along with his parents and wife. That filled the last missing piece of his identity.
The connection between him and LexCorp also became public knowledge. He was the alien Reid had encountered long ago.
Clark Kent's identity, however, remained hidden. Even in this world that Reid controlled almost completely, Superman chose not to reveal it.
He would fulfill his duties for Reid's mission, but he did not want his family who had been brought back to be affected by it.
Even if LexCorp's influence made it nearly impossible for harm to reach them, sometimes obsessive fans could be far more dangerous than the most notorious criminals.
Yet his small concern was nothing compared to what the rest of the world faced.
In the aftermath of Hydra's collapse, governments launched investigations into their political systems, determined to root out hidden agents.
But before they could dig out the infiltrators, an application for full cooperation from Vought landed on their desks.
They had no choice but to agree to grant certain levels of law enforcement power to high-ranking superheroes.
In exchange, they secured limited oversight over these heroes and an agreement to share intelligence with Vought. But everybody knew what this really meant. LexCorp, the company that had practically taken control of America, was now extending its influence to other nations.
* * *
While the world was in chaos, Reid arrived at a house on the outskirts of Los Angeles and knocked on the door.
Moments later, the door opened. A familiar face stood there.
"You? I can't imagine I'm important enough to warrant a personal visit from you," the man said.
The person living here was none other than Fury, who had been rescued by Superman when the Helicarrier was seconds away from exploding.
With S.H.I.E.L.D. gone, he had suddenly found himself unemployed.
"I thought life would get hard for you after losing your job. But looking at this place, it seems you know how to enjoy yourself," Reid replied casually as he walked in.
The house wasn't big, nor did it look extravagant at first glance. But his eyes caught the details. Many decorations were valuable, maybe not national treasures, but still expensive collectibles.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has been gone less than two months. Even if I lived recklessly, I wouldn't have burned through my savings yet." Fury gave a dry smile.
He had a reputation for secretly diverting funds to build hidden bases. But clearly, this world's Fury never got the chance to fully exercise his power as director.
Reid smiled faintly and took a seat on the sofa.
"You're not shy, I'll give you that," Fury said with a small laugh, sitting across from him.
"So, what does LexCorp want with me now?"
"The Avengers Initiative."
The words hit like a spark. Fury stiffened but relaxed just as fast. Considering the man in front of him, nothing should surprise him anymore.
"You dug through my memories?" He asked.
"Whether I read your mind or glimpsed the future doesn't matter. What matters is the plan."
Reid slid a file across the table.
Fury picked it up and flipped to the first page. Bold letters were printed on the top:
Hero Association.
"When did you start planning all of this?" He tightened his grip on the folder.
This plan, called the Hero Association, made his Avengers Initiative look small by comparison. What was once meant to be a single superhero team had now evolved into a global organization, one that would completely control every aspect of superhero activity.
While the plan still granted heroes some freedom, the creation of this association would change everything. There would be no need to worry about rogue heroes anymore. If a problem arose, the association could respond instantly.
And according to the plan, the person set to serve as president of the Hero Association was Fury himself.
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