Deep in the ocean, a group of armored soldiers, armed with steel forks and strange firearms, followed a red-haired woman.
The woman appeared to be the leader of the squad, wearing a special, simple helmet and battle armor, with a very eye-catching cleavage.
Kevin didn't know the identity of this red-haired woman yet, but from the goal of the 'Legendary trident,' combined with these people's ability to move in the sea, it was enough for Kevin to determine the world he was currently in.
Undoubtedly, it was the DC Universe.
It was just uncertain which DC Universe it was.
Just as the Marvel Universe is infinite, the parallel worlds of the DC Universe are too numerous to count.
The comic world alone has countless parallel universes, not to mention movies, TV series, and animations.
And like the Marvel World, the closer to the comic universe, the more dangerous the DC World becomes; conversely, if it's a movie universe, Kevin's strength would allow him to thrive.
Whether it was a movie universe or some other world, Kevin needed to confirm it himself.
Conveniently, these people in front of him could help Kevin confirm his location.
However... these people in front of him didn't seem very friendly.
"Who are you? Why are you here?"
As soon as they met, they surrounded Kevin, pointing their weapons at him.
One of the armored soldiers stepped forward to question Kevin.
The language he used was very peculiar; to a normal person's ears, it wasn't really a language, just a sharp, distinct cry.
But Kevin could understand it.
Because this language was very similar to dolphin language, and fortunately, Kevin could communicate with all marine animals, a language he had used before.
So, facing the interrogation, Kevin easily replied:
"I'm just a traveler passing by accidentally..."
"Travelers don't come to this place, and ordinary Atlanteans don't come here either."
The soldier said with a frown.
After speaking, he looked back at the woman.
The woman also frowned; she gave a look to the soldier next to her, who immediately understood her meaning, swam forward to Kevin's side, and said to him:
"We are going to search you now. You have the right to appeal to the Senate afterward, but you do not have the right to refuse now."
"Uh... no way, I was just casually walking around, is it really necessary..."
"Casually walking into a military stronghold? I don't find that joke funny."
The soldier said coldly.
Kevin's expression was strange as he surveyed his surroundings.
The environment here could hardly be called a 'military stronghold' because it was full of ruins and debris, with architectural fragments scattered randomly on the ground, some of which had seaweed growing on them, and fish could be seen swimming through them.
And not far away, behind the soldiers, a tower-like structure, even more tilted than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, stood crookedly.
It was clear that was what they referred to as their 'stronghold.'
Kevin couldn't understand what kind of stronghold would be placed in such a godforsaken (or rather, fish-forsaken) place, and his expression became strange because of it.
There was no mockery in Kevin's expression, only appropriate confusion.
But this confusion, in turn, made the soldier's face darken. He forcefully distorted Kevin's body, picked up the bag of trash Kevin had discarded, and unceremoniously dumped its contents.
Instantly, various crushed fragments scattered across the seabed.
"What is this...? Why are you carrying a pile of trash?"
Seeing these completely useless fragments, the soldier was also momentarily stunned.
Kevin shrugged: "Just some things from the land. I was curious, so I collected them. This... isn't illegal, is it?"
"Why would an Atlantean noble collect things from land dwellers?"
The soldier showed obvious disgust.
But Kevin's eyebrow twitched upon hearing this.
Atlantean noble?
They actually took me for a noble? No wonder their attitude wasn't as tough as I imagined.
"Forget it."
As Kevin pondered, the red-haired woman spoke:
"It's probably just another kid who lost a fight and came here to 'adventure.' If there's nothing suspicious, let him go."
Hearing the red-haired woman's words, the soldiers no longer crowded around Kevin.
The soldier who had searched Kevin threw away the trash in his hand and said to Kevin:
"Don't come near here next time."
"...That's it?"
The soldier's casual warning left Kevin very confused.
If this was truly a military stronghold, then he, as an intruder, should at least be arrested and interrogated thoroughly, right?
Perhaps he was a spy sent by someone?
But these people merely conducted a simple check, confirmed Kevin had no weapons, and then let him go, even advising him only to 'not come here again,' without mentioning the consequences of returning or issuing any warnings or threats.
Was this protection too lax...?
Kevin, still confused, wanted to ask more, but he saw that the group of soldiers, led by the red-haired woman, had already returned to the 'leaning tower' in the distance to continue their guard.
Kevin didn't want to conflict with them. He stroked his chin, thought for a while, swam a bit further, and stopped in the shadow behind another ruin.
Once he stopped there, Kevin closed his eyes and fully used his Deep Sea Senses to probe the contents of the leaning tower.
His senses followed the ocean currents, entering the interior of the leaning tower.
He saw scattered soldiers stationed inside the leaning tower, and he also saw a towering cylindrical pillar in the very center of the leaning tower, and even more, a square box placed on top of the pillar.
"...A mother box?! This is Justice League!?"
Upon seeing the box, Kevin finally confirmed which DC World this was.
It was indeed the DC movie universe, the world of "Justice League."
It was just unclear if it was the trash Justice League or the Snyder Cut Justice League.
However, judging from the conversation with a few soldiers just now, it was highly likely to be the Snyder Cut version of the Justice League world.
If that was true, then the red-haired woman just now should be Mera, the princess of the Xebel Kingdom who was still responsible for guarding the mother box, and Aquaman Arthur's future wife.
Mera... mother box... Steppenwolf?
Kevin connected everything into a single line.
Kevin's current mission was to find and touch the legendary trident, a lost weapon of the Atlantis Kingdom.
And according to the movie's plot, finding this item was very difficult, requiring decryption and traveling to very distant places.
Kevin was unfamiliar with the place and desperately needed a guide to help him.
Mera was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.
But approaching Mera now would likely make her wary and hostile, seeing him as someone with ill intentions. Therefore, Kevin needed to find a suitable opportunity to approach her.
This suitable opportunity was the upcoming invasion by Steppenwolf.
Steppenwolf would come here to find the mother box, and at that time, he would snatch the mother box from Mera.
Kevin could use this opportunity of Steppenwolf's attack to greatly improve his favorability with Mera, gaining her support and help.
Having decided on his course of action, Kevin planned to temporarily stay here, always ready to help Mera.
As soon as Steppenwolf arrived, Kevin would rush out and give Steppenwolf a good beating, perhaps even trying to kill him there to gain skill points.
Kevin felt that his current strength should be not much worse than Superman's, and killing a Steppenwolf should not be a problem.
So, all that was left was to wait for Steppenwolf to arrive.
Kevin rubbed his fists, made all preparations, and waited for Steppenwolf's arrival.
...
However... after staying in the seawater for four or five days, Kevin's packaged liquid food was almost gone, and Steppenwolf still hadn't arrived.
It was then that Kevin realized a very serious problem.
That was time.
He had no idea what time it was currently!
If the skill tree had transported him here during the period before the Justice League was formed, when Steppenwolf came to Earth to collect the mother box, Kevin might quickly meet Steppenwolf, then complete his plan, and gain Mera's help.
But what if...
This was a very, very, very long time ago, a period when Superman hadn't even appeared. Kevin would achieve nothing here except wasting time.
Not being able to immediately determine the current time was Kevin's miscalculation.
"So, should I go to the land to confirm the time now?"
Kevin was hesitating when his Deep Sea Senses suddenly activated, sensing a team of people approaching.
Upon sensing the presence of high technology, Kevin instantly hid, using his Deep Sea Senses to scout the situation.
Then he saw several special submersibles, capable of traveling in the deep sea, coming from a distance and landing at the leaning tower where the mother box was located.
Mera, who was guarding the place, came out with a few people to greet them. Several people disembarked from the convoy, and one man, whose identity was clearly high-ranking, swam out and came before Mera.
"Princess Mera."
The man met Mera and respectfully saluted her.
But Mera's brows were deeply furrowed; she whispered:
"Minister Vulko... why do you have time to come here?"
Vulko?
Kevin, hearing the name, recalled slightly.
Could the person who came be Aquaman's mentor, Nuidis Vulko? What was he doing here at this time?
Nuidis Vulko, in the movie, was Aquaman's mentor, quietly teaching Aquaman and raising him from a young age.
He taught Aquaman many things, including combat skills, and he was also the one who told Aquaman his identity.
It was perfectly fine to say he was half of Aquaman's father.
But what was he doing running here at this time?
At this moment, Kevin had the same question as Mera.
"King Xebel... has decided to unite with our King, Princess Mera. From today onwards, you no longer need to guard useless things. You will become our King's wife, the Queen of the Atlantis Kingdom."
Vulko said seriously.
Kevin nodded upon hearing this. It seemed this was the time when the current King of Atlantis, Orm, was marrying Mera's father, the King of the Xebel Kingdom.
It was also at this time that Mera was officially confirmed as Orm's fiancée, right?
Although she later became Aquaman's wife.
"You go back and tell Arthur that I will not leave here. What he wants to do is his own business; don't bother me."
Mera said coldly, seemingly having no intention of becoming a queen.
Well, Mera doesn't like Orm after all.
Hmm?
As Kevin was casually listening to the gossip, he suddenly felt something was off.
Wait a minute.
Who did Mera just tell Vulko to go back and tell?
The King of Atlantis?
Arthur???
Hold on, isn't that Aquaman's name?! Is he the King of the Atlantis Kingdom now?!
Huh huh huh??