Axel, meanwhile, was undoubtedly enjoying the warm hospitality of Marvel's Black Pearl.
At that very moment, back in Gotham, General Zod was becoming increasingly accustomed to his newfound power.
He floated above the ground with his arms spread, allowing Gotham's cold wind to wash over him.
Gotham was notorious for its rain and overcast skies. Even summer rarely brought pleasant weather, so the chill at the end of autumn was naturally even more pronounced.
After savoring the sensation of the wind for a while, Zod reluctantly descended and approached Alfred.
The moment he saw General Zod coming, Alfred took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the kryptonite concealed within his armor.
According to Master Bruce, Kryptonians would be affected as soon as they were exposed to kryptonite radiation.
If these Kryptonians made any hostile move, Alfred would immediately open his gauntlet and expose the kryptonite.
For now, all he could do was hope Bruce's method worked.
Otherwise, Alfred doubted that three suits of armor would be enough to stop these already powerful Kryptonians, especially after their abilities had been further enhanced.
Of course, there was another possibility.
Even now, General Zod showed no intention of attacking him or the others.
Alfred carefully watched every change in Zod's expression.
Coincidentally, Zod was doing the same. Even after stopping in front of Alfred, his attention remained fixed on the two mages in the distance.
Compared with the trio in armor, those two simply dressed mages were the truly formidable presences.
Only after Zod confirmed that neither mage intended to act did he finally ease his guard.
"Hmph. Mr. Alfred, is that correct?
"I'm glad we've reached an understanding. I bear no hostility toward you, and you have not caused further harm to my people.
"As I've already emphasized, we do not necessarily have to become enemies. I did not come to Earth to destroy a planet filled with intelligent life.
"I'm simply looking for something extremely important to my people.
"That object concerns the legacy of Krypton. I imagine you understand what legacy means and can sympathize with my urgency to recover it, correct?"
As his voice faded, Zod lowered his head, his expression becoming slightly more solemn.
The next moment, his vision pierced through the layers of earth, locking onto the Kryptonian scout ship hidden inside the underground research facilities of S.T.A.R. Labs.
The abrupt change in perspective made Zod squint slightly.
Alfred, meanwhile, involuntarily pursed his lips.
Indeed, these Kryptonians really were related to Clark. Master Clark possessed vision capable of penetrating solid objects as well.
However, Alfred couldn't help wondering about something.
Why had flight apparently become one of the Kryptonians' natural abilities after their transformation, while Clark still couldn't fly?
Was Clark simply too young?
While pondering the matter, Alfred answered Zod.
"I'm glad you're willing to explain your intentions and share your concerns with us. That's the beginning of a friendship, isn't it?
"As long as visitors to Earth don't arrive carrying weapons of war, we're more than happy to show them some hospitality.
"Once your people have recovered from that rather painful transformation, perhaps I could even invite you for a drink.
"However, regarding the object you're searching for, I must be honest. I'm merely a butler.
"If you only intend to search the scout ship, I certainly won't stop you.
"But if you intend to remove anything from it, you'd better discuss the matter with my master before making that decision.
"Let me warn you in advance. My master does not have a particularly pleasant temper, and he's extremely powerful.
"Even standing here and looking at you, I can easily perceive the difference between your strength and Axel's.
"That gap is not one you should attempt to close."
Alfred glanced toward the ground beneath his feet before continuing.
"So, you suspect the object you're looking for is inside that spacecraft?
"It is indeed a Kryptonian ship, but if I'm not mistaken, it belongs to the House of El. Its systems are currently maintained by an artificial intelligence called Jor-El.
"If you promise not to remove anything until Master Axel returns, I can take you there and allow you to conduct a search.
"However, I must emphasize this again. You may search, but you are not permitted to take anything without authorization.
"Is that acceptable, General?"
"No problem."
Zod nodded without hesitation.
Being granted permission to search was already enough.
As long as he could inspect the ship, he could determine whether the Codex was hidden there.
If it wasn't, Zod had no intention of wasting his military strength fighting a mysterious mage over an ancient spacecraft.
But if the Codex was inside the ship...
Then regardless of what he had promised, would those words truly matter?
With that thought, Zod decisively shook Alfred's hand.
He didn't understand the significance of the gesture, but since he had decided to maintain the current situation, he had no reason to reject the hand Alfred offered.
After their hands separated, the Kryptonian soldiers behind Zod gradually recovered from their torment.
Fiona was the first to raise her head, staring intently at the sun overhead.
"Before coming to this planet, I never imagined that sunlight could give me such an incredible sensation!"
She strode toward Zod, her eyes shining as she clenched her fists.
"General, I've never felt this powerful before. We..."
Fiona suddenly stopped and cast a contemptuous glance toward Alfred.
The look immediately made Alfred wary.
There was no mistaking the hostility in her eyes.
All of them had become stronger.
Before their transformation, they had been forced to negotiate with the people of Earth.
Now they possessed vastly greater power, yet they still had to negotiate with Earth.
From Fiona's perspective, what was the point of gaining such strength if they still couldn't act?
Fiona was hardly the only Kryptonian thinking that way.
The remaining soldiers, having experienced the effects of their transformation, also glared at Alfred and the others.
Floyd snorted at their hostility and slammed his visor shut.
Victor, meanwhile, weighed the kryptonite canister Alfred had given him in his hand before flashing the Kryptonians a vicious grin.
The atmosphere between the two sides immediately became tense.
Yet the greater the tension became, the more composed Zod appeared.
Because even now, he had never seen fear in the eyes of the people of Earth.
What was even more absurd was that it wasn't merely the planet's protectors who refused to fear them.
After Alfred and the others appeared, even the ordinary civilians nearby had stopped being afraid.
In the distance, within the areas affected by the recent battle, some Gotham citizens had already abandoned their attempts to flee.
Instead, they were running back toward the battlefield to watch the spectacle.
To the people of Gotham, once the manor and the Dead Souls Gang had appeared, wasn't Gotham effectively safe?
They weren't merely watching, either.
Some civilians who had moved closer to Zod's group had already started livestreaming the encounter with their phones.
They shamelessly used Zod's appearance to generate views, attention, and money.
That fearlessness, combined with the excitement in their eyes, became the final factor that influenced Zod's decision.
Earth's ordinary people might have been physically weak, but they certainly weren't prey.
Especially after Alfred and the others arrived, those ordinary humans seemed to have transformed from frightened civilians into spectators.
And he and his people had become the spectacle.
Zod pursed his lips before raising a hand to stop his increasingly impulsive subordinates.
"Proceed as planned. Thank our Earth allies for granting us permission to search.
"Fiona, lead the team and conduct a thorough investigation of the ancient scout ship.
"As for me, I should have a conversation with Jor-El.
"Even if what remains aboard the scout ship is only Jor-El's AI projection, his consciousness is enough.
"I want to ask him how he could have made such a disastrous decision back then. Damn it!"
Zod's anger surged as he recalled the past.
The memory of Jor-El's opposition made him want to destroy everything in front of him.
This wasn't merely about having been defeated by Jor-El.
Jor-El had completely destroyed Zod's efforts to reform Krypton's political system and had even taken what Zod believed to be Krypton's final hope.
Jor-El might not have directly caused Krypton's destruction, but in Zod's eyes, that did not make him any less unforgivable.
Across from him, Alfred noticed how intense Zod's hatred became whenever Jor-El was mentioned.
It was even stronger than he had expected.
That realization eased some of Alfred's concerns.
He had already understood that Krypton had not been a united front.
Alfred pointed toward the damaged S.T.A.R. Labs building.
"General, you may begin your search at any time.
"However, please don't forget our agreement."
"I have no interest in anything except the Codex, Butler."
Zod waved toward Fiona and the others.
The Kryptonian soldiers immediately rushed into S.T.A.R. Labs.
Although they didn't understand their general's conciliatory approach, they knew better than to question his orders.
Even as they moved through the damaged facility, they refrained from damaging the stair railings.
Zod entered the laboratory with Alfred following behind.
Not long afterward, Alfred accompanied Zod into the command center, where the two stood facing an empty section of the room.
Elsewhere, human researchers were evacuating while the Kryptonian soldiers methodically searched the facility.
Zod stared at the wall before him, suppressing his anger.
"Jor-El, are you afraid to face me?"
"Why would I be afraid, Zod? Many years ago, I already foresaw all of this.
"Your coup could not save our homeland from the traditions and rigid thinking that had consumed it. But sending you into the Phantom Zone at least gave you a chance to survive, my old friend."
"Shut up!"
Jor-El's projection had barely appeared before Zod cut him off.
Seeing the old friend he believed had betrayed him once again, Zod's eyes began to glow red.
Jor-El watched the growing anger in Zod's expression and remained silent for a moment.
Then he crossed his arms and spoke evenly.
"My old friend, anger cannot change what happened.
"Even if you hate me, I have already vanished from this universe alongside our homeland.
"And you, my friend, perhaps I once stood in the way of your ideals. But you still possess something I no longer have.
"You are alive.
"There is no comparison between us, because I am dead, while you still have a future."
A rare trace of emotion crossed Jor-El's face.
He slowly spread his arms as though offering Zod an embrace.
Zod recoiled in disgust.
But after stepping away, he suddenly found himself unable to respond.
Because Jor-El seemed to be right.
Back then, Zod truly might not have been capable of changing Krypton's fate.
Even if he had successfully overthrown the Kryptonian Council, he might still have been powerless to prevent Krypton's destruction.
And now...
Damn it.
His failure and subsequent banishment had actually allowed him to survive.
He had become one of Krypton's remaining hopes.
Could it be that his old friend, Jor-El...
"Zod!"
Before Zod could finish the thought, Jor-El suddenly leaned forward.
"Don't dwell on me. You have something more important to accomplish.
"Have you forgotten your mission?"
"Of course I haven't!"
Jor-El's question immediately pulled Zod's attention back to his purpose.
In the face of his mission, the loyal Kryptonian general once again displayed the conviction of a soldier who had dedicated his entire existence to Krypton.
Seeing that he had successfully redirected Zod's emotions, Jor-El allowed himself a faint smile.
My old friend, I know you better than you know yourself.
Jor-El continued in a solemn voice.
"Since you remember, then you should understand that your mission is not on this weak planet.
"Krypton's destruction has already proven that the Codex was a mistake.
"Only by allowing Krypton's genetic legacy to return to its natural course, as I chose to do, can Krypton have a chance to flourish again."
"That's impossible..."
"Silence, Zod. Let me finish.
"You are not the only remaining Kryptonian in the universe, my old friend.
"You spent all those years in the Phantom Zone, so you never witnessed Krypton's destruction. Because of that, you missed something extremely important.
"Remember every word I say.
"Just before our homeland completely exploded, a mysterious spacecraft suddenly descended upon Krypton.
"Then that damned spacecraft took the entire city of Kandor.
"You know Kandor. It was Krypton's most prosperous jewel.
"Even with our civilization on the brink of destruction, that city still contained at least one hundred thousand Kryptonians.
"My brother was among them.
"He and all our compatriots in Kandor were taken by that mysterious spacecraft."
"What?!"
Zod's heart seemed to roar like a sports car engine.
He strode toward Jor-El, repeatedly demanding confirmation.
"Is that true? Are you telling me the truth?
"Can you take responsibility for what you're saying, you bastard?
"Are you certain Kandor still exists? Are you saying we still have an entire hundred thousand of our people?"
"I would never deceive you about something like this, my old friend.
"Just as my decision back then preserved you as a hope for Krypton, I would never abandon an even greater hope."
Jor-El pressed his advantage and continued.
"From this moment onward, you must remember your mission.
"Find that city.
"Remember, no matter what happens, you must find Kandor."
"I understand, and I will never abandon the search for Kandor.
"But, old friend, if you think this will make me abandon the Codex, you're mistaken!
"Don't think you can deceive me with this, you bastard!"
"Hmm. My old friend, who cares about an old Codex?
"You'll understand eventually.
"Kandor is our last hope.
"Find that city. Bring our people home.
"The path to Krypton's salvation lies there, old friend."
___
Read ahead. Get early access to unreleased chapters on Patreon.
Patreon: _Zeph