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Chapter 80 - Chapter 81: Jack Kadere Who Doesn’t Play by the Rules and the Tricked Element Woman

"Bang!"

Jack Kadere placed the unconscious Soldier on the table, far away from Laura, before casually turning and walking off on his own.

Laura froze, her body tense with confusion.

What… what is going on?

For a long moment she simply stared at the Soldier, unable to move. Eventually, with a trembling breath, she gathered her courage and tried to step forward. But the faintest sound at the door made her flinch, shrinking back instantly like a startled bird.

The door creaked open.

Jack entered, holding none other than the Lasso of Truth in his hand. He gave Laura a quick glance before kneeling down to thoroughly search the Soldier. Whoever this woman was, she had come prepared—her military uniform was stripped of anything that might give away her true identity. Satisfied, Jack bound her with the golden rope and tossed her onto the ground.

"Ugh…"

The Soldier stirred, groaning faintly as consciousness returned. Her eyes fluttered open, locking instantly on Laura—ragged, pale, and broken.

"You… you're Silk Spectre, Laura, right? Don't worry," she croaked, "I'm here to save you!"

Laura didn't answer.

Save me?

She looked at the woman blankly. How could someone in this state—captured, tied, and tossed on the ground—claim to save anyone?

Jack, unfazed, tilted his head curiously. "Speaking of which… Laura, why didn't you try to escape? The door wasn't even locked."

She lowered her gaze, silent.

Escape? Even if she stumbled out of here and somehow found her way back to America… what then? Could she really face her mother after everything? Could she face the Comedian? The man who had done such terrible things to her mother… the man who was also her father. A twisted knot of rage, grief, and blood-bound loyalty churned inside her. The contradiction paralyzed her.

So she chose not to leave.

Jack only shrugged, as if her silence were answer enough, and turned his focus back to the Soldier.

The poor woman struggled against the golden rope, her body shifting unnaturally as she tried to use her strange powers. But even shapeshifting had limits—the Lasso of Truth was not something one could easily escape.

For a fleeting moment Jack thought of Diana. Now that Wonder Woman had ascended as the new God of War, the Lasso's sway over her would be minimal. He chuckled faintly to himself. Maybe his earlier worries had been pointless. If anything, he hadn't thought of Diana in a long while—perhaps a sign he had finally moved past her.

He crouched beside the Soldier with a sly grin. "What's your name?"

"Emily… Emily Sung," she answered reluctantly, the rope forcing the truth from her lips.

"Identity?" Jack pressed.

"Codename: Element Woman. Operative of the CIA."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Element Woman, huh? Interesting. Does the Agency know the full extent of your powers? How exactly did you get them?"

Emily's jaw tightened, but the Lasso glowed faintly, compelling her to answer. "I was recruited into a covert program—'Project M.' It was one of the Agency's experiments… they wanted to give ordinary humans abilities. I… was one of the few survivors."

Jack's smile widened.

Of course. Government-sanctioned experiments, trying to play god by manufacturing superhumans. Nothing new. What intrigued him most, however, was her mention that Project M had ties to the Justice Society of America.

The JSA—heroes born in the crucible of World War II. Hourman, Commander Steel, Obsidian, Stargirl, Doctor Mid-Nite, Vixen… legends in their own right. But history had not been kind. In 1956, most of their roster had been wiped out on a mission, forcing the team to dissolve. The truth, however, was stranger. Some members, like Vixen, found new paths—joining splinter groups like the second iteration of the Legends. Others were scattered across different eras, safeguarding fragments of the Spear of Destiny.

Though the JSA had fallen, their legacy lived on—twisted into experiments like the one that birthed Emily Sung.

The Soldier lowered her gaze. "The success rate was almost zero. Most who entered the program… died. But I lived. I became… Element Woman."

Jack smirked, loosening the rope.

"You?" Emily blinked in confusion, staring at him as though she hadn't heard correctly.

"You came here for Laura, right? Then take her away," Jack said, as casually as if he were dismissing a cab.

Emily blinked again, suspicion flickering in her eyes. Was this some kind of trick? Why would he just release them? Still, she could sense he meant it.

Turning to Laura, she offered her hand. "Come on. Let's go."

But Laura didn't move.

Emily frowned, thinking maybe the girl was too weak or too injured to stand. She leaned down, trying to help her up. But Laura recoiled instantly, dodging her touch.

"You…" Emily's eyes widened in confusion.

Laura shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you… thank you for risking your life to save me. But… I can't leave. Not yet."

Emily's eyes widened. "Are you insane? Why would you stay here? Do you want to keep being at his mercy?"

Laura stayed silent, her gaze fixed on Jack, before answering in a low voice. "I need answers. I need to figure out what's happening… and why."

"You're really not coming with me?" Emily asked again, almost pleading.

Laura shook her head once more.

Emily clenched her fists in frustration, then spun to face Jack. "Fine. If she insists on staying, then I'll go. That's allowed, right?"

"Of course." Jack gestured casually toward the basement door.

Emily didn't hesitate. She darted upstairs and out of the villa. For a brief moment, she thought he might stop her, but he didn't. Outside in the icy Soviet air, Emily inhaled sharply. Her mission wasn't over—not even close. Jack Kadere wasn't just dangerous, he was impossible. A man who could Copy powers at will, wield them instantly, and even amplify them beyond their original limits… no one like that should exist.

She moved quickly, vanishing into the night and racing for the nearest contact point. Within days, she was back in the United States, filing her report to the CIA. She laid everything out—the villa, Jack Kadere's abilities, the lasso of truth, and Laura's strange refusal to leave.

But instead of commendation, Emily was met with cold suspicion. Her superiors didn't issue orders to move against Jack. Instead, they imprisoned her.

The accusations came swiftly. They claimed her story was fabricated, that she hadn't completed her mission, maybe even that she had turned traitor.

Absurd, wasn't it?

Yet, to them, Laura staying behind willingly was unbelievable. So was Jack's supposed ability to steal powers and surpass their rightful owners. And the lasso that compelled truth? That sounded like pure fantasy. If a man like Jack Kadere truly existed, they reasoned, there would be evidence—whispers, sightings, something.

And most damning of all: why would he let Emily Song walk away unharmed? He hadn't silenced her, hadn't locked her up—he had simply let her go. It didn't add up.

But the truth was simple. Jack Kadere didn't care. He wasn't concerned about secrecy or exposure.

What if the world found out? What if governments, heroes, or even the Justice League came after him? Jack would just take more powers. Copy more abilities. Grow stronger.

Emily sat alone in her cell, bitterness twisting in her chest. She had risked everything, only to be betrayed by her own agency. Jack Kadere had broken every rule she thought she understood.

And the most terrifying part?

He wasn't playing their game at all.

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