Chapter 43: The Deal
All the news reports screamed about the sudden incident, showing footage of many places that had been completely destroyed. The anchors spoke about terrorists and the inaction of the police. But what could they do? Two people using jetpacks and bulletproof suits, while all the police had were pistols and shotguns.
I turned off the news, tired of listening to reports about the incident. What mattered to me was whether they had found any clues or not. It seemed they hadn't, otherwise, they would have tried to calm the city's residents by providing some information.
The Call
The melody of my phone rang, and an unknown number flashed on the screen. Answering the call, I brought the phone to my ear.
"Hello," I said.
"You've stirred up quite the chaos, like you were at home," said an anonymous voice with a chuckle.
"Do you need my services?" I asked, suspecting he wasn't calling without reason.
"Not yet. I'll try to handle it myself for now, but if I can't, be ready to head to a city five hundred miles away from you," he said. Five hundred miles? Why couldn't he ask for something closer?
"Understood. What am I supposed to do there?" I asked.
"What you do best burn sinners," he said.
"You promised not to ask me to kill people," I said. That was a condition of our agreement.
"And who said anything about people?" he replied, laughing softly.
"What do you mean?" I asked, not understanding his implication.
"You'll see. It'll be a surprise for you," he said and hung up.
Maybe making a deal with him was a mistake. No, everything was done correctly: if I don't like what he asks for, I can always refuse. He always seemed strange to me, like he wasn't of this world. His intonations, the slips in his speech... More and more, it feels like he's definitely not human.
Returning to my tasks, I started reviewing the reports and saw the results of my plan. Almost the entire network had been destroyed, and many were already sitting in police stations, awaiting trial. I had shaken up the foundations and disrupted the order of things. This led to a surge in petty crime while the police were busy with major cases.
I hope Green Arrow wasn't too hurt and will manage to handle them.
As I prepared to head to Metropolis to meet with Lex Luthor, he had proposed an intriguing project. One day, Elizabeth received a letter with a business proposal from LexCorp. They wanted to create a project to develop a cancer cure, and our research had caught their interest. They had their own developments and wanted to collaborate with us, offering very favorable terms for both sides.
I accompanied Elizabeth just in case. She would handle all the negotiations, while I would remain nearby as a precaution. The meeting was scheduled for two days later, which is why I had to wrap up my dealings with crime quickly to start a new chapter of my life.
Reviewing all the reports on the research conducted at our company, I tried to figure out on my own what we were missing for success. For some time, I had been attempting to use my antibodies to develop a structure capable of destroying any virus or malfunction in the body.
Yes, they worked effectively; whenever cancerous formations appeared in my blood, the cells would immediately destroy them. All damaged cells repaired themselves to their original state. This was both good and bad good because of the potential to improve cells to a state where cancer simply couldn't develop, and bad because it was almost impossible to derive a medicine from my blood.
We had made progress in developing immune cells that could prevent cancer from developing, but they were incapable of curing it.
LexCorp was a relatively recent addition to the market but had quickly carved out its niche, producing a vast array of technological products. Behind the company's success stood Lex Luthor a true genius who was propelling it forward at breakneck speed.
It seemed he was filled with limitless ideas and, most importantly, the ability to bring them to life. His prosthetics, capable of restoring limbs, were groundbreaking in this field. These prosthetics, functioning as a seamless part of the body, received nerve impulses from the brain and behaved just like real limbs.
Although the company's main focus was on the military industry, where they supplied a wide variety of advanced weaponry, their ventures into other areas were equally impressive.
Collaboration with them could allow us to make significant strides forward, but it was too early to make any conclusions negotiations were still ahead, followed by further developments.
*************************************
Two days flew by rather quickly. Immersed in research and experiments, I completely lost track of time. During these experiments, I even discovered new directions for myself: if I can regenerate cells, why not restore entire organs? Well, that's something to think about later.
Gathering my notes into a briefcase, I stepped outside my secret base. Approaching the door, I opened it and found myself in an unremarkable warehouse filled with all sorts of junk. Exiting the building, I got into my car and headed to the office where Elizabeth and I had agreed to meet. Starting the car on the first try didn't work, so I made a mental note to replace it soon.
Finally, arriving at the skyscraper that belonged to us, I looked up it had been a while since I'd seen it up close. Entering the building, I immediately approached the reception desk. I had never been inside before, so I didn't know where to go.
"Could you tell me where to find Elizabeth Olsen?" I asked.
"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked, giving me a skeptical look. At the moment, I was wearing slightly worn-out clothes and didn't look particularly presentable.
"I'm a friend of hers. Could you contact her?" I said.
"Sorry, but I can't. You don't have an appointment, and the director is very busy right now," she replied.
"All right, I'll wait here," I said, moving to a nearby couch and sitting down. She would have to come down soon anyway, so there wasn't much point in going upstairs. I was still carrying a cane, not giving away the fact that I had recovered. People are less suspicious of a cripple than of someone who suddenly regains their health.
The receptionist glanced at me several times, then an officer approached her, and they started whispering to each other while occasionally looking in my direction. I figured I should ask her to notify Elizabeth about me.
"Could you introduce yourself and state the purpose of your visit?" the officer asked politely as he approached me.
"I'm Elizabeth's son. I'll just sit here and wait for her," I replied.
"Her son?" He scratched his head, then returned to the receptionist and continued whispering with her.
After that, they didn't take any further action and left me alone. About thirty minutes passed before the elevator doors opened, and Elizabeth burst out, slightly out of breath. She was dressed in a classic business suit with a skirt that reached her knees, her hair loose. She spotted me immediately.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I can't leave them for even a second they always need a push," my mother said with frustration.
"No, I should be the one apologizing. After all, I'm the one who made you the director," I replied.
"I'm just complaining. Honestly, I enjoy the work," she said with a small smile. Linking her arm with mine, we headed for the exit.
A car was waiting for us, and we got in almost immediately. Setting aside my cane, I made myself comfortable.
"Have you finally finished everything?" Elizabeth asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Yes, there's nothing left tying me to that world," I replied.
"That's for the best. I saw the news, and there were clips…" she said, her lips tightening slightly.
"Yes, that was me," I admitted, turning my gaze to the window.
"Couldn't it have been done differently?" she asked.
"It could've been," I said honestly. I lied to myself, saying there was no other choice, but I wouldn't lie to her.
"I see. Just know, I believe you only acted out of necessity. And as long as you don't do something horrible without reason, I won't turn my back on you," Elizabeth said reassuringly, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you," I replied. Her words meant a lot to me.
"How's Alice?" I asked. I tried to stay in touch with the family as little as possible, so I could go months without knowing anything about them.
"She's doing well. She's decided to write music. She's actually pretty good at it," Elizabeth said.
"I'm happy for her," I replied.
The car reached the airport fairly quickly. We were immediately escorted through a private security checkpoint, where we were swiftly cleared and brought to our private jet. Once seated across from each other, I handed her the case so she could review all the documents.
"How feasible is what's described here?" she asked.
"It's almost a finished prototype," I replied.
"That's good to hear," she said, continuing to go through the documents.
The flight was calm. I stared out the window, contemplating my next steps. Once the deal was finalized, I would complete the development and then head to Gotham. I couldn't leave my city to continue suffering.
Two hours later, the skyline of Metropolis came into view. This city seemed to scream for attention. We'll build more skyscrapers than anyone else, it declared, and indeed, a significant portion of the city was dotted with them.
The plane began its descent, and after a slight jolt, it landed smoothly on the runway. Once the aircraft came to a full stop, we rose from our seats and headed for the exit.
Outside the plane, a car was waiting, and next to it stood a man with a bald head and a smile on his face. To his right was a woman who looked like a secretary. Lex Luthor had sharp facial features and piercing green eyes that carried an air of danger the gaze of a true evil genius.
[image]
Strange. Why is he meeting us right off the plane? Does he really have nothing better to do?
"I'm delighted to welcome you to our glorious city of Metropolis, Miss Olsen," he said, stepping closer and lifting Elizabeth's hand to kiss the back of it. An old-fashioned gesture most people simply shake hands these days.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Luthor," Elizabeth replied.
"Please, call me Lex. We're business partners, which makes us friends already. Let's dispense with formalities," he said with a disarming smile.
"Very well, Lex. You can call me Elizabeth. You didn't have to meet us in person," she said, a bit flustered by his demeanor. His subtle flirtation wasn't hard to notice.
"Nonsense. Your project holds incredible potential, and it's worth every second of my time," he replied. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he lightly tapped his forehead. "Ah, forgive me. Where are my manners? You must be tired from your journey. Let's sit in the car and enjoy some refreshing drinks. By the way, who is the young man accompanying you?"
"This is my son, Brian. He helps me with my work from time to time," Elizabeth said.
"Wonderful. This is my secretary and bodyguard, Sarah," Lex introduced, gesturing to the woman standing beside him. He then motioned for us to enter the limousine first.
Inside, the vehicle was spacious and cool. Once we were seated, Lex and Sarah joined us, sitting across from us.
Sarah poured a few glasses of champagne. I hesitated, inspecting the drink visually before picking it up. After sniffing it, I decided to take a sip. A sweet flavor immediately coated my tongue, followed by the light fizz of bubbles, and then a subtle bitterness that left a pleasant aftertaste.
"This champagne is imported directly from Italy. A very fine vintage. This batch surpasses all the previous ones," Lex said, clearly proud of his refined taste.
"It's excellent," Elizabeth agreed.
"Let's get down to business," Lex said, shifting his tone slightly. "To be honest, we're in a rather difficult position. As you may know, our primary focus is on military development. For them, cancer treatments aren't as important as getting soldiers back on the battlefield as quickly as possible. So, when I saw the news about your breakthrough, I was inspired to support you in creating this drug. I'm truly impressed by your work."
"Thank you for your kind words. But since you've brought it up why are you so interested in this drug?" Elizabeth asked.
"A foolish question. To help people, of course," Lex said, his voice filled with feigned emotion. "There's so much suffering in the world. Why not alleviate it, even just a little?"
But I could tell he wasn't sincere. It seemed Elizabeth noticed it too.
"You manufacture weapons. Your words seem a bit contradictory," Elizabeth said, her tone sharp.
"All right, you've got me. I admit defeat," Lex Luthor said with a smirk. "Of course, profit comes first. This isn't just a drug it's the Holy Grail, the secret to human nature itself, and it's extremely dangerous. Did you really think you'd be allowed to release your medicine so easily? Sure, you could present it tomorrow, but the other pharmaceutical giants, the ones making billions off their treatments, won't let you enter the market. I can help you with that, of course, in exchange for your assistance with my research.
"Until recently, I wasn't particularly interested in the secrets of the human body. But some recent events have changed my perspective," he added, revealing his true motives.
"Superman," I said, catching his pensive gaze.
"Yes, exactly. Aren't you curious how a man can withstand bullets, fly, and move like a god among mortals?" he asked.
"Only a little," I replied.
"Brian, you're still young and have much to learn. But beings like Superman if we can even call them 'people' are a dangerous phenomenon. What if he decides to destroy my company? Or yours? And we'd be powerless against him. Any weapon we have is nothing more than a mosquito bite to him annoying but useless," Luthor said, his tone betraying his personal grudge. To him, Superman wasn't just a threat; he was an enemy.
"There's some truth to what you're saying, but so far, he hasn't given us any reason to worry," I replied, unafraid of the supposed threat and ready to stand my ground.
"For now," Lex countered, his tone sharp. "So, knowing my motives and goals, do you still want to create this medicine for the people?"
I glanced at Elizabeth, silently signaling that we might need to consider his offer. He was right. I understood that others could try to crush us, preventing our entry into the market. It would be easy just start rumors about the drug's safety, and doubts would arise. Doubts lead to delays, and delays lead to losses. It could go on indefinitely.
"We'll need to think about your proposal. First, perhaps you'd like to familiarize yourself with our work," Elizabeth said, handing him a small folder containing a presentation with the fundamentals of our drug.
"I see what's needed. My doubts about your competence are already dispelled; all that remains is an agreement between us," Lex said as he silently flipped through the folder. His eyes moved so quickly over the pages that I was astonished. Had he actually managed to read it all?
"I think we shouldn't make any hasty decisions. Let's postpone this until tomorrow," Elizabeth said, understanding how business works. If one side is eager to close a deal quickly, it's worth taking time to think things through.
"I'm not rushing you. Let me give you a little tour of my company and show you my laboratory. I've already booked you a room at the finest hotel for the night," Lex Luthor replied.
We agreed and arrived at his office, where the skyscraper nearly reached the clouds. Inside, there were countless people actively working. Seeing Luthor, they respectfully stepped aside in the corridor, waiting for him to pass. This kind of behavior toward leadership often comes from a mix of fear and respect, and it seemed he ran his business with a firm hand. In his domain, Lex seemed to transform slightly, as if everything was under his control. His tone of speech remained the same, but subtle details in his demeanor revealed his confidence.
The technologies he demonstrated were decades ahead of the market. He described them in great detail, as though he wasn't afraid of us stealing his ideas. Likely, by the time we'd attempt to replicate this technology, he'd already have developed an improved version.
After concluding the brief tour, we parted ways and finally, after an exhausting day, were able to rest in the hotel room. It wasn't just a room it was an entire house within the building: two floors, a luxurious living room, and even a pool. Putting my thoughts aside, I set about preparing dinner. My cooking had become increasingly exceptional.
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