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69.33% Superman Comics In Great Depression. / Chapter 48: Chapter 44: Persuasion

บท 48: Chapter 44: Persuasion

POWER STONES ARE REQUESTED.

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Chapter 44: Persuasion

Although their publishing house had long been dominated by pulp magazines, Jack Leibovitz, as a seasoned publisher, had a fair understanding of the dynamics within the major newspapers of New York City.

Two or three months ago, the "Messenger" was merely an obscure local tabloid. However, everything changed with the serialization of the "Superman" comics. Jack was well aware of the recent developments.

Over the past few days, renowned publishing houses in New York City had flocked to the offices of the "Messenger" in a bid to acquire the re-copyright of the "Superman" comics.

Colin shrugged and addressed Jack, saying, "If there were no other "Messenger" in New York City."

Jack, seated behind his desk, hadn't responded yet, but Harry, who was beside him, couldn't contain his excitement and interjected, "Wait, the "Messenger" wants to collaborate with us?!"

Upon hearing Colin's response, Jack's initial shock subsided, and he replied with a smile, "My goodness, Jack, did you hear that? Or am I simply dreaming? 'Superman,' the very same 'Superman' that major publishers failed to secure the re-copyright for, has somehow landed in our hands. It feels surreal!"

"You're not dreaming," reassured Colin.

Underneath the desk, Jack's fingers, gripping the handle of his pen, trembled slightly. He took a deep breath, attempting to suppress his inner turmoil while silently hoping that Colin Luper, who claimed to be the "Messenger's" boss, was indeed genuine and not some kind of fraud.

After Harry's excitement had settled in the office, Jack Leibovitz finally spoke. He looked at Colin, the person standing before him, and said, "I apologize, Mr. Colin Luper, for my colleague's impolite behavior. This unexpected turn of events has taken us by surprise. It is truly hard to fathom that you would be willing to serialize such a popular work as 'Superman' in our publisher's magazine..."

Jack's words seemed to convey astonishment and gratitude on the surface. However, upon closer inspection, one would detect his underlying skepticism about the situation at hand. As he had mentioned, given the immense popularity of "Superman," there were numerous publishing houses that would be more suitable for such a venture than theirs.

Having discerned the implications behind Jack's words, Harry's initial elation turned into reluctant acceptance.

"Indeed, Mr. Jack is right."

Observing the reactions of the two individuals within the office, Colin acknowledged their response by nodding, signifying his comprehension of Jack's concerns.

He proceeded to elucidate, "Allow me to clarify my intentions. This visit is not merely about entrusting you with the printing of the 'Superman' comics; it serves as an opportunity to establish a cooperative alliance."

If Colin's aim was solely to publish the comics in magazines, he could have chosen from numerous publishing houses in New York City, many of which boasted superior resources and facilities.

"Cooperation?" Jack and Harry recollected the initial statement made by Colin upon their arrival, prompted by his reminder.

They exchanged glances, placed their firearms in its place, and rose from their seats. Jack observed the composed and collected demeanor of Colin and inquired further, "Mr. Colin Luper, could you elaborate on the nature of this cooperation you mentioned?"

With a quick glance at the towering pile of magazines accumulated in the corner, resembling a small mountain, Colin chose not to directly answer Jack's question.

"As far as I know, the current situation of your publishing house is not very good."

"Sir, it is no secret," he replied calmly.

Jack could only respond with a wry smile, "We are merely one of the unfortunate publishing houses."

Colin, however, remained skeptical, convinced that their misfortune stemmed not solely from chance but perhaps from their choice to publish crude magazines. At best, they could be considered opportunists affected by policy changes.

Naturally, Colin's purpose for visiting the publishing house did not revolve around criticizing their predicament.

Thus, after expressing his viewpoint, he swiftly shifted the focus and unveiled the purpose of his visit, stating, "Nevertheless, regardless of past events, my intention in coming here is to establish a collaboration between our publishing house and yours. We aim to jointly launch new magazines, with myself leading the endeavor."

Indeed, this constitutes Colin's primary objective.

Since they are all serial comic magazines, why should he delegate their serialization to others? Why not take the initiative himself?

"You're the leader?!" Colin's words left Jack and Harry finally comprehending the purpose of his visit. It wasn't solely about the magazine but the publishing authority they possessed.

"No, that's impossible..." Harry immediately dismissed the idea without a second thought.

"We established the publishing house with great effort. We can't simply hand it over," he added, displaying his strong disapproval.

In contrast, Jack remained noticeably calmer, his head bowed in deep contemplation. He silently pondered the situation at hand.

After Harry had finished venting his emotions, Colin calmly spoke up with a slight smile. "However, it's clear to all of us that, given the current circumstances, your publishing house will inevitably face closure without my involvement. Do you prefer witnessing its bankruptcy rather than giving it a chance to revive?"

Colin's words struck a nerve, especially when he highlighted the potential consequences for their families in the event of bankruptcy.

"So, what exactly do you propose we do?" Jack finally spoke up after a moment of silence.

Colin knew that his objectives had essentially been achieved upon hearing Jack's question.

With a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth, Colin responded, "As I mentioned before, this is a collaboration. I hope to become a stakeholder in your publishing house and release works that resonate with readers, rather than producing the crude magazines that teeter on the edge of criminality as before. This is beneficial for both of us..."

"From now on, you won't have to worry about legal troubles or fines resulting from the publication of those crude magazines. You can continue your work peacefully. I appreciate the publishing industry."

Harry, after listening to Colin's words in silence, couldn't help but interject, "I'm curious, which works do you believe readers will appreciate?"

"In this regard, Mr. Harry, I believe you know better than I do. Take 'Superman,' for instance—I presume you're quite familiar with it."

Upon hearing the name mentioned by Colin, Jack fell silent for a few seconds, then extended his right hand.

"Welcome to our publishing office, Mr. Colin Luper. Here's to a fruitful collaboration," Jack said, offering his handshake.

Colin looked down at Jack's outstretched hand and responded with a smile, firmly grasping it. "A prosperous collaboration indeed."

___________

(≧▽≦)

I would like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation and give a special shout out to an amazing individual who has recently become part of the VIP VAULT (ᵒ̤̑ ₀̑ ᵒ̤̑) wow!*✰ in our Patreon community- Varanys

(*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

Thank you for being an invaluable pillar of support,

-----------------------------------------

If you want to read up to 30!! chapters ahead go to

patreon.com/Lazy_Panda

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Want more chapters? Encourage me with your POWERSTONES 💎💎💎


บท 49: Chapter 45: Silent Whispers

Chapter 45: Silent Whispers

whoosh, whoosh—

The anti-world within the confines of the Dark Avengers' stronghold

There was a quiet, but rhythmic whooshing sound.

Hawkeye, Clint Barton, skillfully handled his longbow, its bowstring humming with tension.

With a swift motion, Clint released an arrow from between his fingers, its flight through the air punctuated by a crisp sound as it found its mark on the target's body.

However, despite witnessing the successful hit, Clint's eyes remained devoid of any joy.

Colin stood motionless, allowing the feathered arrows to strike his body, producing a resounding clang with each impact.

"This is precisely why I dislike engaging adversaries like you," Hawkeye nonchalantly voiced his complaint, though his hands continued their unwavering movements.

He reached out to retrieve another arrow, deftly attaching a specialized arrowhead from the quiver on his back. Taking aim at Colin, positioned across from him, Clint nonchalantly released the arrow.

His's feathered arrow sliced through the void, unerringly finding its mark on Colin's body once again.

Hawkeye released his fingers indifferently—such distances posed no challenge for him as a seasoned sharpshooter.

Moreover, Colin, the intended target, made no effort to evade the attacks whatsoever.

Observing the arrows ricochet off his body once more, Colin gained a deeper appreciation for his unlocked ability, "Super Defense." Undeniably, this ability proved invaluable, particularly in head-on confrontations.

Colin shook his head, preparing to utter a retort, but before he could speak, a deafening boom erupted. In an instant, the arrow that had fallen to the ground exploded in a raging inferno, completely engulfing Colin.

As a member of the Dark Avengers, Clint had grown accustomed to combating opponents with extraordinary abilities. It was worth noting that Luke Cage, a member of the Thunderbolt team, possessed invulnerability as well.

To counteract this characteristic of Luke Cage, Hawkeye had collaborated with Howard to devise a series of specially crafted arrows.

Naturally, the present skirmish did not entail a life-or-death struggle. Consequently, Clint had intentionally adjusted the explosive power and damage of the arrows to reduce their impact.

As expected, a few seconds later, the dissipating smoke revealed Colin, unscathed.

"Alright, let's call it a day," Colin exhaled deeply, clenching his fists.

Just as Colin prepared to employ his "Flight" ability to resume the fight, Hawkeye on the opposite side took the initiative to lower his longbow, signaling an end to the battle.

"At this point, it can be reasonably inferred that conventional weaponry no longer poses significant harm to you," Clint remarked.

Folding his longbow into the size of a palm and stowing it away, he pondered, "While this ability can undoubtedly help you evade numerous dangers and injuries, it is not impervious.

Therefore, you must remain vigilant, particularly if you opt to remain stationary as you did during our previous engagement..."

"Unless, of course, you possess unwavering confidence in your defense's ability to withstand any form of harm."

[Ability - Super Defense (Black Iron)]

Ability Description: Ordinary bullets and artillery are rendered ineffective against Superman due to his newly unlocked ability, Super Defense (Black Iron). Only powerful, specialized military weapons can penetrate his skin.

Upon hearing this, Colin glanced at the notes in the text and acknowledged the information. It was clear that his recent attainment of the Black Iron level of Super Defense was insufficient to disregard attacks, especially in a world where advanced technology continually emerges, such as the anti-world.

"Then, you must exercise caution and refrain from easily revealing your abilities. It might be prudent to consider acquiring some combat skills to enhance your fighting capabilities, rather than passively becoming a target in the face of an attack," he suggested.

Learning to Fight.

Upon hearing this, Colin couldn't help but reflect deeply. Hawkeye's advice rang true, as learning to fight would be a wise choice in both the anti-world and the real world.

The former would enhance his combat abilities, while the latter would provide greater safety during times of crisis.

Superman might not require combat skills, but Colin did. After all, he had only just recently condensed the Black Iron Mark and was still far from being a true Superman.

"If you're interested, you can approach Nick. I believe he will make the necessary arrangements for you. Of course, that is on the condition that you are prepared to become a Dark Avenger," Clint suggested.

As he spoke, Clint's expression turned solemn, and he looked directly at Colin, emphasizing each word, "Be prepared for the possibility of sacrificing your life in battle."

...

[Touching the Distorted Time Node, collecting a small amount of Time Fragments × 1]

After concluding his discussion with Hawkeye, Colin returned to his temporary residence within the base. He discarded his tattered clothes and, simultaneously, a faint line of text appeared before his eyes.

Was that truly the case?

Examining the displayed content, Colin could reasonably deduce that interacting more frequently with Distorted Time Nodes would lead to obtaining Time Fragments. Lost in thought, he looked at the Time Fragment (Clint Barton) before him.

Within the fragmented glass, the figure of Hawkeye could be seen intermittently. He was dressed in a sleek uniform and skillfully fired arrows amidst the cheers of the crowd.

There's something that feels elusive about what I'm seeing.

As Colin continued to observe the flickering images within the Time Fragments, a perplexed expression adorned his face. The information presented in the fragments made it difficult for him to connect with the Clint he had just engaged in combat with at the base.

Shaking his head, he pushed aside the mental images that had surfaced.

Taking a deep breath, Colin focused his attention and activated his Super Hearing ability.

"... How are you feeling, Kling..."

"...Latest report from New York..."

"My dear, please listen to me, things are not as they seem..."

Numerous clamorous and chaotic voices filled his ears.

"Howard Stark, Howard Stark..."

Despite the interference caused by these voices, Colin furrowed his brow, adjusted his breathing, and concentrated on his innermost thoughts.

"...Report the situation, Tony."

"According to the battle data analysis, Colin Looper's physical capabilities surpass those of ordinary individuals. Furthermore, in comparison to Luke Cage, he possesses additional abilities such as invisibility and flight... which may offer valuable experimental data and blueprints for future research... perhaps you should..."

"Continue collecting data..."

Gradually, the cacophony of noise subsided, replaced by Howard's raspy voice.

Over time, Colin had become adept at using his Super Hearing ability, even in the anti world, through practice in the real world.

It was with the help of this ability that he discovered Howard's endeavor: collecting combat data via the base's artificial intelligence, Tony.

Although Colin harbored some doubts regarding Howard's actions, he maintained a calm demeanor on the surface, cooperating with their arrangement in order to obtain more Time Fragments.

___________

(≧▽≦)

I would like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation and give a special shout out to an amazing individual who has recently become part of the VIP VAULT (ᵒ̤̑ ₀̑ ᵒ̤̑) wow!*✰ in our Patreon community- Ryan Cesario

(*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

Thank you for being an invaluable pillar of support,

-----------------------------------------

If you want to read up to 30!! chapters ahead go to

patreon.com/Lazy_Panda

___

Want more chapters? Encourage me with your POWERSTONES 💎💎💎


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