The White House
Half an hour later...
The underground Strategic Conference Room beneath the White House was filled with senior military and government officials seated along both sides of the long table.
The Secretary of Defense, the FBI Director, the National Security Advisor, and other key figures wore solemn expressions as they exchanged quiet conversations.
"What happened? Why did the President suddenly call an emergency meeting?"
"I'm guessing it has something to do with Superman attacking the military base today."
"General Ross's command is already in complete chaos. And Ross himself has disappeared."
The conference room doors swung open.
The President entered with a grim expression, carrying a thick document.
The room immediately fell silent.
Without a word of greeting, he tossed the file onto the table.
"The Superhuman Registration Act."
His voice was firm.
"Effective immediately, every superhuman within the United States must register with the government."
"They must report their identity, residence, family members, and the nature of their abilities."
"Anyone who refuses to register will be classified as a criminal and will be apprehended by a specialized enforcement unit."
The room fell into absolute silence.
The Secretary of Defense, Howard, was the first to react.
"Mr. President... are you saying we're going to regulate Superman?"
"Not just Superman."
The President's confidence visibly grew.
"The Hulk."
"Adam Bernard."
"The mutants."
"Every superhuman will be brought under government supervision."
The FBI Director frowned.
"But according to our assessments, superhumans possess power far beyond the capabilities of conventional law enforcement."
"Especially Superman."
"He doesn't follow the no-kill rule from the comics."
"Today alone, he completely destroyed General Ross's base."
The President tapped the tabletop with his fingers.
"Which is exactly why we need a force powerful enough to keep them in check."
Unable to hold back, the National Security Advisor asked,
"Mr. President... what exactly do you mean?"
"A specialized task force dedicated to handling superhumans."
"One made up of true professionals."
His gaze swept across everyone present.
Several officials exchanged uneasy glances.
"With all due respect, Mr. President," the Secretary of Defense said gravely,
"With our current level of technology, we have no way of confronting beings on Superman's level."
"Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless we somehow obtain Kryptonite—which is unrealistic—or create superhuman soldiers of comparable strength."
The Secretary spread his hands helplessly.
The President raised one hand with a knowing smile.
"Who says we don't already have them?"
Silence once again filled the room.
Secretary Howard looked puzzled.
"Then... who are they?"
Rather than answering directly, the President spoke slowly.
"They call themselves..."
"The Squadron Supreme."
"They come from a parallel universe that has already been destroyed."
"In that world, they were its rulers."
"And its judges."
The FBI Director shot to his feet.
"You're saying they aren't even humans from our world?!"
"Precisely."
The President's voice turned icy.
"And because of that..."
"They understand the weaknesses of superhumans."
"More importantly..."
"They're willing to cooperate with us."
His voice suddenly rose, echoing throughout the chamber.
"The existence of superhumans is a violation of the natural order."
"We will correct that mistake."
After observing everyone's reactions, the President pressed the intercom.
"Send them in."
The conference room doors slowly opened.
A squad of heavily armed Secret Service agents stepped aside, every one of them tense.
Although none raised their weapons, every finger remained poised near the trigger.
Then—
Seven figures walked into the room.
Leading them was a man clad in a crimson bodysuit.
Golden armor gleamed beneath the lights.
His perfectly sculpted physique resembled a living statue.
His eyes shone with brilliant white light.
The overwhelming pressure radiating from him instinctively forced everyone present to hold their breath.
Walking behind him was another figure.
Dark violet energy swirled around his fingertips while prism-shaped bracers reflected dangerous flashes of light.
His expression was utterly cold.
Then—
A streak of red and green flashed through the room.
One moment, the figure was standing by the entrance.
The next, he was already leaning casually against the conference table.
Several officials whispered nervously.
"Who's that? Wonder Woman?"
"Why is there someone dressed like a hooded skeleton?"
"Is that... the Flash?"
Hyperion stopped in the center of the room, folding his arms across his chest.
His booming voice shook the chamber.
"From this day forward..."
"Any superhuman who fails to register their identity, abilities, and movements with the government..."
"...will be considered a criminal."
His gaze swept over every official.
Not a single one dared meet his eyes.
"We will not tolerate such threats."
"Those who refuse to comply..."
"Will be arrested."
"Those who resist..."
"Will be executed."
Power Princess stepped forward and added calmly,
"That includes the one you call Superman."
The President took a deep breath before rising to his feet.
"I hereby officially declare..."
"The Superhuman Registration Act is now in effect!"
"The Squadron Supreme shall serve as the highest law enforcement authority..."
"...and carry out judgment."
The military and political leaders present turned deathly pale.
Not one of them dared object.
Long Island Villa
A golden holographic projection floated in the center of the living room, clearly displaying everything that had happened inside the White House conference room.
The arrival of the Squadron Supreme.
Hyperion's declaration.
And the moment the President signed the Act.
Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, Wanda scooped up another spoonful of ice cream.
"Wow..."
"They look ridiculously arrogant."
Kara stood before the hologram with her arms crossed.
Her golden hair rested over her shoulders as fighting spirit flickered in her eyes.
"So that's Hyperion?"
"He looks like a bargain-bin Kryptonian."
Leaning comfortably against the sofa, Xiao Han lightly tapped the armrest.
His expression remained calm.
"Nothing more than a counterfeit from another universe."
"I've already killed the genuine article."
"Why would I be afraid of this imitation?"
Turing's mechanical voice echoed from the ceiling.
"Sir, would you like me to retrieve Hyperion's combat data?"
"No."
Xiao Han waved dismissively.
"Just an Eternal who absorbs solar radiation."
"Nothing worth looking at."
Wanda immediately sat upright with excitement.
"So when do we make our move?"
"Do we just storm the White House?"
Kara frowned slightly.
"But if they really begin arresting superhumans..."
"A lot of innocent people will suffer."
Still calmly tapping the sofa's armrest, Xiao Han replied,
"There's no rush."
He looked at both of them.
"I want to see what the heroes of this world choose to do."
With a casual wave of his hand, the hologram switched to international news broadcasts.
Media outlets across the globe were already reporting on the passage of the Superhuman Registration Act.
The internet had exploded into chaos.
"Let them enforce the Act first."
Xiao Han spoke calmly.
"Let the entire world witness how their so-called enforcers administer justice."
"We'll wait until the first hero is arrested."
"We'll wait until this world realizes..."
"...that compromise earns no respect."
Kara walked over to him.
"And violence does?"
Xiao Han didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he picked up the bowl of ice cream from the table.
"When the time comes..."
"They'll see exactly how that pile of worthless trash called the Squadron Supreme gets beaten into scrap metal."
"And the world..."
"...will remember who truly stands at the top."