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Chapter 376 A Natural-Born Undercover Agent
According to the information they had gathered so far, the Superman in the footage seemed to have appeared a few weeks ago.
Initially, no one knew who he was. The armies of Apokolips respectfully called him "Slaughter," an incarnation of killing and destruction. In the first few battles, he displayed an incredibly terrifying combat strength, making even the other New Gods from Apokolips pale in comparison.
The World Army was clearly unprepared for such a powerful enemy. The first clash was a complete failure; the World Army's most elite force of eight hundred thousand was utterly routed. Several superpowered soldiers, whom the World Army had considered their trump cards, died at Slaughter's hands in that battle.
Even the best of the new generation of superpowered soldiers seemed to have no ability to resist him.
And when Slaughter finally removed his helmet, revealing a face now twisted into a demonic visage and the shocking black "S" on his chest, fear and despair reached their peak.
Humanity's armies, including all the miracles of technology, were like ants before this former savior. He slaughtered with ease and showed no mercy. He made the most powerful heroes who came after him look insignificant.
But that wasn't the most hurtful part.
The mental and morale-crushing blow of a fallen Superman was no weaker than his physical destructive power. The more one was once inspired by him, the more likely they were to break down at such a time.
And among the people still alive in this world, perhaps no one felt the impact of seeing such a Superman more deeply than Karen.
"If that's not Kal, then I'll find him. I'm going to knock that imposter's teeth out and tell him he's not worthy of wearing that emblem," Karen said, gritting her teeth.
Helena pondered for a moment. "And what if... what if it really is him? What if he can't remember you, or anything at all?"
Karen fell silent.
It was clear she hadn't figured out how to face that possibility.
"The world has changed, Karen."
Helena let out a soft sigh.
"...We all have to learn to adapt to change."
The next day, at the World Army Headquarters.
This was something that would have been impossible on the previous Earth. The headquarters of an army jointly established by all the nations of the world, gathering the largest number of personnel and the most cutting-edge technology—the strongest army in human history.
Tall watchtowers were distributed everywhere, and imposing clusters of buildings stood behind high walls covered by an energy field.
In the very center was a main building, soaring into the clouds like a steel behemoth. Its surface was covered in heavy armor, and its scattered windows were like eagle eyes, monitoring every corner of the restricted zone. A series of auxiliary buildings surrounded the main one like loyal guards, constantly protecting the heart of the headquarters.
Surrounding the complex was a vast plaza paved with solid concrete. Orin Vale saw war vehicles, tanks, and missiles with a design style completely different from the main world's. Perhaps due to the influence of the war, this world's military technology tree seemed slightly more advanced.
The struggle for survival could always squeeze more potential out of humanity; the resilience of a civilization would not allow it to be easily wiped out.
"These are the candidates for your new adjutant."
Orin Vale, under his pseudonym General Chaka, walked through the main building's corridor and took the documents from the officer beside him.
"These three are the current recommendations. You may choose one you like, and if you are not satisfied with any of them, you can request replacements."
The officer said this, then paused, leaned in, and whispered in his ear.
"The second one in the files, Jesse Rowling, is already married. A married woman."
Orin Vale: "?"
Was there something about that worth special emphasis?
He then recalled Karen saying that while this General Chaka was decisive in war, his personal conduct had a poor reputation. Now, he seemed to suddenly understand...
He glanced sideways at the officer with a strange look, but the man had already pulled his head back after speaking, standing ramrod straight with a stoic face as if nothing had just happened.
Orin Vale briefly flipped through the files, gave them a quick scan, then closed them and handed them back. "I'll take the first one."
The officer was greatly surprised. "Not the second one? That one has a husband."
Orin Vale: "..."
This general of yours... sounds a bit outrageous.
Orin Vale sent the officer away. The latter put away the documents and said as he exited the room, "By the way, Commander Kahn wants to see you. He asked me to pass on a message: he'll be in his office between 12:30 and 1:00 PM."
Orin Vale waved his hand, signaling for him to leave.
Kahn was a military genius from the Middle East who had become an irreplaceable leader of the World Army after proving his ability time and again.
When Orin Vale entered the office after passing through identity verification, the commander was neatly dressed in a World Army uniform with a trench coat over it. His hands were clasped behind his back as he faced the glass curtain wall, gazing out at the bustling World Army Headquarters.
"Welcome back, General." Kahn turned around. "You and your troops fought a brilliant battle in Gotham. The World Army and the people thank you for your contributions.
"I'd love to discuss it further, but as you know, we have more pressing matters. I assume you already know why I've called for you, correct?"
"The shining giant on the Gotham battlefield," Orin Vale nodded. "I was the only close-range witness."
"Yes, so I'd first like to hear your opinion."
Orin Vale thought for a moment and said, "I'm not sure. I wasn't fully conscious at the time. I only felt a light shine down... and then suddenly, all the Parademons in front of me seemed to evaporate.
"I saw a giant-like body appear within the blinding light, and... well, the Command Center should know the rest."
"Of course, we know that," Commander Kahn said, his fingers interlaced. "So what I want to ask is about what the reports and videos can't show. I want your—as the only one who experienced it firsthand—most direct impression.
"Was that giant friend or foe? Why do you think he came to Earth—especially at a time like this?"
Orin Vale paused in thought.
*You've really asked the right person.*
*I'm currently the sole agent of the Land of Light's DC Universe branch office, and I'm considering opening up a new map to expand our business, spreading light, love, and hope... while also raising my own energy bar on the side.*
"I don't think we can make a rash judgment," Orin Vale said. "Although the defense of Gotham succeeded entirely because of that giant's appearance, and in terms of results, we owe him a huge favor. But their identity and motives are still unclear. We can't make a decision with the intelligence we have on hand."
Commander Kahn nodded.
"Indeed. If possible, we would certainly hope to classify him as an ally. But we no longer have the luxury of easy trust."
He sat down in his chair and said wearily.
"Honestly, the attitude from the higher-ups is even more pessimistic. Since the people from Apokolips arrived, 'alien' has become almost synonymous with 'demon' on Earth.
"We used to have Superman as a counterexample, but now even Superman..."
He shook his head and didn't continue.
Orin Vale remained impassive. "So, do the higher-ups intend to classify that giant as an enemy as well?"
If that were the case, he wouldn't be surprised. There were plenty of Ultraman predecessors who were inexplicably treated as villains by the Defense Force upon their debut; a certain senior would have a lot to say about that.
Considering what the people of Earth-2 had been through, Orin Vale wouldn't mind if they truly thought that way. First, he felt it was understandable, and second, with his strength, he didn't really care.
"Not for the time being," Commander Kahn said. "For now, they've only demanded that I be prepared for such a situation. Which brings me to the other reason I called you..."
He sat up straight, his interlaced fingers propping up his chin.
"You are an excellent field commander; this has been proven more than once. And you are the only one who has truly seen that giant with your own eyes.
"And as it happens, due to pressure from above, we are now establishing a countermeasure unit for 'giant humanoid aliens'..."
Orin Vale's expression became a bit strange.
Did this mean he'd just landed on Earth-2 and, before he could even get his footing, he'd already snagged a leadership position to "counter himself"?
He suddenly began to wonder if he had some kind of natural disposition for undercover work, as if he were born to join the "Winery"...
(end of chapter)
According to the information they had gathered so far, the Superman in the footage seemed to have appeared a few weeks ago.
Initially, no one knew who he was. The armies of Apokolips respectfully called him "Slaughter," an incarnation of killing and destruction. In the first few battles, he displayed an incredibly terrifying combat strength, making even the other New Gods from Apokolips pale in comparison.
The World Army was clearly unprepared for such a powerful enemy. The first clash was a complete failure; the World Army's most elite force of eight hundred thousand was utterly routed. Several superpowered soldiers, whom the World Army had considered their trump cards, died at Slaughter's hands in that battle.
Even the best of the new generation of superpowered soldiers seemed to have no ability to resist him.
And when Slaughter finally removed his helmet, revealing a face now twisted into a demonic visage and the shocking black "S" on his chest, fear and despair reached their peak.
Humanity's armies, including all the miracles of technology, were like ants before this former savior. He slaughtered with ease and showed no mercy. He made the most powerful heroes who came after him look insignificant.
But that wasn't the most hurtful part.
The mental and morale-crushing blow of a fallen Superman was no weaker than his physical destructive power. The more one was once inspired by him, the more likely they were to break down at such a time.
And among the people still alive in this world, perhaps no one felt the impact of seeing such a Superman more deeply than Karen.
"If that's not Kal, then I'll find him. I'm going to knock that imposter's teeth out and tell him he's not worthy of wearing that emblem," Karen said, gritting her teeth.
Helena pondered for a moment. "And what if... what if it really is him? What if he can't remember you, or anything at all?"
Karen fell silent.
It was clear she hadn't figured out how to face that possibility.
"The world has changed, Karen."
Helena let out a soft sigh.
"...We all have to learn to adapt to change."
The next day, at the World Army Headquarters.
This was something that would have been impossible on the previous Earth. The headquarters of an army jointly established by all the nations of the world, gathering the largest number of personnel and the most cutting-edge technology—the strongest army in human history.
Tall watchtowers were distributed everywhere, and imposing clusters of buildings stood behind high walls covered by an energy field.
In the very center was a main building, soaring into the clouds like a steel behemoth. Its surface was covered in heavy armor, and its scattered windows were like eagle eyes, monitoring every corner of the restricted zone. A series of auxiliary buildings surrounded the main one like loyal guards, constantly protecting the heart of the headquarters.
Surrounding the complex was a vast plaza paved with solid concrete. Orin Vale saw war vehicles, tanks, and missiles with a design style completely different from the main world's. Perhaps due to the influence of the war, this world's military technology tree seemed slightly more advanced.
The struggle for survival could always squeeze more potential out of humanity; the resilience of a civilization would not allow it to be easily wiped out.
"These are the candidates for your new adjutant."
Orin Vale, under his pseudonym General Chaka, walked through the main building's corridor and took the documents from the officer beside him.
"These three are the current recommendations. You may choose one you like, and if you are not satisfied with any of them, you can request replacements."
The officer said this, then paused, leaned in, and whispered in his ear.
"The second one in the files, Jesse Rowling, is already married. A married woman."
Orin Vale: "?"
Was there something about that worth special emphasis?
He then recalled Karen saying that while this General Chaka was decisive in war, his personal conduct had a poor reputation. Now, he seemed to suddenly understand...
He glanced sideways at the officer with a strange look, but the man had already pulled his head back after speaking, standing ramrod straight with a stoic face as if nothing had just happened.
Orin Vale briefly flipped through the files, gave them a quick scan, then closed them and handed them back. "I'll take the first one."
The officer was greatly surprised. "Not the second one? That one has a husband."
Orin Vale: "..."
This general of yours... sounds a bit outrageous.
Orin Vale sent the officer away. The latter put away the documents and said as he exited the room, "By the way, Commander Kahn wants to see you. He asked me to pass on a message: he'll be in his office between 12:30 and 1:00 PM."
Orin Vale waved his hand, signaling for him to leave.
Kahn was a military genius from the Middle East who had become an irreplaceable leader of the World Army after proving his ability time and again.
When Orin Vale entered the office after passing through identity verification, the commander was neatly dressed in a World Army uniform with a trench coat over it. His hands were clasped behind his back as he faced the glass curtain wall, gazing out at the bustling World Army Headquarters.
"Welcome back, General." Kahn turned around. "You and your troops fought a brilliant battle in Gotham. The World Army and the people thank you for your contributions.
"I'd love to discuss it further, but as you know, we have more pressing matters. I assume you already know why I've called for you, correct?"
"The shining giant on the Gotham battlefield," Orin Vale nodded. "I was the only close-range witness."
"Yes, so I'd first like to hear your opinion."
Orin Vale thought for a moment and said, "I'm not sure. I wasn't fully conscious at the time. I only felt a light shine down... and then suddenly, all the Parademons in front of me seemed to evaporate.
"I saw a giant-like body appear within the blinding light, and... well, the Command Center should know the rest."
"Of course, we know that," Commander Kahn said, his fingers interlaced. "So what I want to ask is about what the reports and videos can't show. I want your—as the only one who experienced it firsthand—most direct impression.
"Was that giant friend or foe? Why do you think he came to Earth—especially at a time like this?"
Orin Vale paused in thought.
*You've really asked the right person.*
*I'm currently the sole agent of the Land of Light's DC Universe branch office, and I'm considering opening up a new map to expand our business, spreading light, love, and hope... while also raising my own energy bar on the side.*
"I don't think we can make a rash judgment," Orin Vale said. "Although the defense of Gotham succeeded entirely because of that giant's appearance, and in terms of results, we owe him a huge favor. But their identity and motives are still unclear. We can't make a decision with the intelligence we have on hand."
Commander Kahn nodded.
"Indeed. If possible, we would certainly hope to classify him as an ally. But we no longer have the luxury of easy trust."
He sat down in his chair and said wearily.
"Honestly, the attitude from the higher-ups is even more pessimistic. Since the people from Apokolips arrived, 'alien' has become almost synonymous with 'demon' on Earth.
"We used to have Superman as a counterexample, but now even Superman..."
He shook his head and didn't continue.
Orin Vale remained impassive. "So, do the higher-ups intend to classify that giant as an enemy as well?"
If that were the case, he wouldn't be surprised. There were plenty of Ultraman predecessors who were inexplicably treated as villains by the Defense Force upon their debut; a certain senior would have a lot to say about that.
Considering what the people of Earth-2 had been through, Orin Vale wouldn't mind if they truly thought that way. First, he felt it was understandable, and second, with his strength, he didn't really care.
"Not for the time being," Commander Kahn said. "For now, they've only demanded that I be prepared for such a situation. Which brings me to the other reason I called you..."
He sat up straight, his interlaced fingers propping up his chin.
"You are an excellent field commander; this has been proven more than once. And you are the only one who has truly seen that giant with your own eyes.
"And as it happens, due to pressure from above, we are now establishing a countermeasure unit for 'giant humanoid aliens'..."
Orin Vale's expression became a bit strange.
Did this mean he'd just landed on Earth-2 and, before he could even get his footing, he'd already snagged a leadership position to "counter himself"?
He suddenly began to wonder if he had some kind of natural disposition for undercover work, as if he were born to join the "Winery"...
(end of chapter)
