Kai POV
I was extremely bored.
They'd been talking about business for at least three hours now, and I honestly would've preferred fighting a monster or hunting down criminals instead. At least that would've been interesting.
If I had my way, I'd already be back out searching for the Lords of Order and Chaos mystical artifacts. That hunt was still ongoing, and I wasn't even close to done.
I was also keeping an eye out for Shazam.
Not the hero.
The wizard.
I'd been curious about him for a while now. There wasn't a Shazam in this world yet, but I could feel it, like a pressure building in the background. He was coming. And when he did, I planned on taking him under my wing.
Not just him either.
His entire chosen family, assuming he decided to share his power with them like in other timelines. That much magic concentrated in one bloodline was dangerous if left unguided.
The Wizard's staff interested me too. Not because I needed it to grant power, I didn't. I could give a portion of my magic just by touch, intent, and the right words.
No.
The staff was for the opposite reason.
It could take Shazam's power away.
And before anyone jumped to conclusions, no, I wasn't planning on using it on Billy or his family.
The one I had my eyes on was the Wizard's last champion.
Black Adam.
And when the time came?
I intended to make sure he stayed powerless.
I had no idea where Black Adam was right now.
For all I knew, he could be flying back from the nearest star, or still buried under some ancient tomb in Kahndaq. I'd been busy with too many other fires to put out to personally check, and honestly? Kahndaq itself was a mess.
The country had been completely taken over by Intergang.
No nation wanted to get involved. Not with their high-tech weapons, not with the way they'd fortified the cities, and definitely not with the civilians being used as hostages. That was the real reason the heroes stayed away, not fear, but the risk of getting innocent people killed in the crossfire.
Intergang had leverage.
A big part of that was Eternium.
Even in Kahndaq, that mystical mineral was absurdly valuable. It powered their weapons, their vehicles, their infrastructure, everything. And I was about eighty percent sure they were selling it on the down-low to other countries as a deterrent. Pay us, and stay out of it.
Dirty. Effective.
As for Black Adam?
He could be a problem. Just not for me.
I was confident I could take him in a straight fight if it came down to it. But Billy, and his family, were another story. Adam wasn't just a physical threat. He was a legacy problem. A reminder of what happens when power is given to the wrong person and never taken back.
That's why I needed the staff.
Once I had it, I could strip Black Adam of his power completely, and give it to someone who was actually worthy of it.
Someone who understood what being a champion was supposed to mean.
I was pulled out of my thoughts by the sound of clapping.
"I have to say," Lex said smoothly, hands coming together once more, "Hope, you're far more interesting than I expected. You've exceeded my expectations. An extraordinarily intelligent woman."
"Thank you, Lex," Hope replied calmly. "You're highly intelligent as well. But even though I've enjoyed this conversation, and your company, I'm still going to have to decline the partnership."
For just a moment, his smile slipped.
"Hope," Lex said, leaning forward slightly, "your superhero team is impressive. Now imagine what they could accomplish combined with my Army. We could help countless people. Make a great deal of money. And more importantly, stop alien invasions before they ever threaten this planet."
"If you're so worried about aliens," I cut in, "where were your forces during the last two invasions?"
Every eye in the room turned to me.
"Mage King," Lex said evenly, unfazed, "I did want to speak with you. As for your question, I chose to hold my forces in reserve. If your defense had failed, mine would have been the last line. A failsafe."
"Nice excuse," I said flatly. I didn't believe him for a second.
Lex's gaze sharpened. "You know, Mage King, I find you particularly fascinating. Your so-called 'magic' rebuilding cities, teleporting thousands of people across planets. I find it difficult to believe this isn't technology of some kind."
I raised an eyebrow."Aliens, metahumans, invasions, superheroes, supervillains, and you're telling me magic is where you draw the line? I've heard there's a man in Gotham made entirely of clay. you know I put an entire barrier over Metropolis. And Earth literally has a Sorcerer Supreme."
Lex nodded thoughtfully."I don't deny magic," he said. "I believe it's simply science humanity doesn't yet understand. You, and Doctor Fate, are tapping into an external energy source. Perhaps extradimensional. Perhaps multiversal. You may not realize it, but I suspect you use a conduit. For you, that hammer. For Doctor Fate, his helmet."
I studied him for a moment.
…Okay. That was closer than I expected.
"You're pretty close," I admitted. "Doctor Fate's helmet draws on ancient arcane forces. My hammer channels godlike thunder magic. But don't get it twisted, I don't need the hammer to use my magic."
I let my gaze harden slightly.
"And whoever is worthy of wielding it gains the power of Thor. Which means they could potentially use magic too, if they had the will for it."
Lex smiled again.
This time, slower.
Calculating.
"The power of Thor…" Lex mused. "So I'm guessing your hammer is Mjolnir, the Norse God of Thunder's weapon. How exactly did you come across it?"
"Won't say," I replied.
He didn't look pleased.
"Well then," Lex continued, forcing a smile, "would you mind if I held it?"
"Sure," I said casually. "Though, fair warning, I don't think you're worthy."
I stepped around the table and set the hammer down directly in front of him.
Lex stood."I am a multi-billionaire philanthropist and a certified genius," he said confidently. "I'm fairly certain I qualify to wield the power of a god."
"Be my guest," I said, gesturing toward it.
Lex reached out and grabbed the handle.
Nothing.
His smile vanished instantly.
He tried again, harder. Then both hands. He grunted, pulled, yanked.
Mjolnir didn't move an inch.
"There are five qualities required to lift that hammer," I said calmly, walking back toward Hope's side of the table. "Compassion. Restraint. Nobility. Wisdom. And humility."
Lex strained harder.
"It doesn't matter how strong you are. How smart you are. Or how rich you are," I continued. "Without all five, you'll never be worthy. That hammer answers to the will of the worthy."
I stopped beside Hope.
"To my knowledge," I added, "only two people on this planet, other than me, can lift it. One is Wonder Woman."
Lex froze.
"And the other," I finished, "is Superman."
That did it.
He tried to hide his reaction, but the way he kept yanking on the hammer told me everything. Anger. Pure, simmering anger.
"Wait," Hope said, blinking. "That's all it takes to wield the hammer?"
I looked at her, confused."Yes… I thought you knew that."
"No," she admitted. "I assumed you needed magic or super strength."
"Nope," I said. "Just those five qualities."
Hope stared at the hammer.
"…Wait. Are you saying I could lift it and get the power of Thor?"
"Yes," I said. "Anyone worthy can. Doesn't matter who they are. That said," I tilted my head. "I'll give you a fifty-fifty chance."
"What? Why?" Hope asked.
"Don't get me wrong," I said. "You have compassion, wisdom, and humility. But nobility? That one's questionable. You've never cared about fighting honorably, you use whatever means necessary to win."
"Oh, that's bullshit," Hope snapped. "How much you wanna bet I can lift it?"
I smiled.
"I'll make it interesting," I said. "If you lift the hammer, I'll grant any request you want. No questions asked."
Hope's eyes narrowed.
"And if I can't?"
"Then," I said evenly, "you grant me one request. No questions."
"Deal."
Hope stood and walked toward the hammer. Lex finally let go of it, clearly irritated, and stepped aside.
When Hope reached Mjolnir, she hesitated.
Just for a second.
She took a deep breath, reached out with one hand, wrapped her fingers around the handle, and lifted.
The room crackled.
Lightning exploded outward, pure and blinding, as divine energy surged through her. Godlike armor began to form around her body, piece by piece, drawn out of raw thunder itself.
It almost resembled her Goddess of Death armor, but this was something else entirely.
The metal was silver, etched with glowing lightning patterns that pulsed like a living storm. A crown-like face guard formed over her head, and her eyes flared with electricity. Even her hair changed, turning completely white as energy danced through it.
The room went dead silent.
Everyone was staring.
Including me.
I honestly hadn't expected that.
"…Okay," I said slowly. "I guess that makes three people besides me who can lift the hammer."
No one reacted.
Because no one was listening.
They were all too busy staring at Hope.
"This feels… amazing," Hope said, flexing her fingers slightly. "It's like I am electricity. I can feel the clouds, the wind, even in this room. Is this what it's like for you all the time?"
"Sometimes," I said. "Though for me, it's more than that. I don't just feel the elements, I can feel the magic woven into the world itself."
I raised my hand.
Mjolnir responded instantly.
The hammer tore free from across the room and slammed into my palm with a familiar weight. As soon as I caught it, the lightning vanished. The divine armor dissolved into nothing, and Hope reverted back to normal just as smoothly as it had appeared.
She blinked once, then exhaled.
Hope and Lex returned to their seats.
"Well," Hope said, smiling faintly, "this meeting definitely took an unexpected turn. But I'd say it was a fun one. Don't you agree?"
I didn't answer out loud, but yeah.
It definitely was.
Later that day
"Okay," I said, leaning back slightly, "I know I said no questions asked… but I do have a few questions about the people you want me to recruit."
Right now, I was back in Hope's office, this time with Albedo and Victoria present. After the hammer test and a short, tense wrap-up to the meeting, Lex had finally left. I still wasn't sure how he'd taken it, whether he'd become an enemy, a future problem, or just someone who hated us quietly from a distance.
Hard to say with him.
Afterward, Hope and I headed straight upstairs, and she immediately pulled out her list—items and people scattered across the multiverse that she wanted to acquire or recruit.
Some of the names made perfect sense.
Others?
I stared at them, frowning.
"I get most of these," I said, tapping the list. "But some of these picks… I'm really struggling to understand why you want them."
Hope smiled like she'd been expecting that question.
And somehow, that worried me more than anything Lex Luthor had said all day.
"Ask away," Hope said without looking up, fingers flying as she programmed the multiverse coordinates.
"Alright," I said, glancing down at the list. "I get Adam and Eve, and Invincible. Adam and Eve's powers are insanely useful, and having a powerful alien on the roster never hurts. I also understand Rex Salazar. Turning parts of your body into machines is actually pretty impressive."
I paused, then frowned.
"But why Marie Monroe? The AllSpark? Hermione Granger? Robert Robinson, who I don't even recognize? A symbiote, which is extremely dangerous, by the way, the Amulet of the White Tiger, and Mystique's DNA?"
I finished reading just as Hope completed the final input. She holstered the Multiverse Gun and walked toward me.
"Marie Monroe can heal any wound," Hope said calmly. "In the field, you won't always have time to teleport someone back to base. Having a mobile miracle worker keeps people alive."
Fair.
"The AllSpark," she continued, "gives life to machines. That's incredibly useful, especially since my prison dimension is almost finished. My Iron Legion has limits. A sentient Cybertronian guard doesn't."
…Also fair.
"Hermione Granger is a brilliant witch. Yes, you're far ahead of her, but you can't be everywhere at once. We need more magic users on the team."
I didn't argue that.
"Robert Robinson," she went on, "is someone you'll actually like. He's so dedicated to being a hero that he nearly bankrupted himself in his world. He operates under the name Mecha Man , a hero, with a mech suit for combat. You'll understand once you meet him."
That got my attention.
"As for the symbiote," Hope said evenly, "I want to experiment on it. I want to see if I can erase its personality, overwrite it, or replicate its abilities in a safer, controlled form for my own use."
I grimaced, but didn't interrupt.
"The Amulet of the White Tiger," she added, "isn't for me. It's for someone else. And Mystique's DNA?" She smiled slightly. "That's for research. I might use it as a blueprint to upgrade my Iron Legion, or future Cybertronians."
She reached out and pressed the Multiverse Gun into my hands.
"And don't forget," she finished, "pick up more vibranium while you're out there. Just a little. With Adam and Eve here, we can always make more."
I looked down at the gun.
Then back at her.
"…You really don't do small plans, do you?"
Hope smiled.
"No," she said. "I do necessary ones."
"Who are you planning to give the White Tiger Amulet to?" I asked.
"Someone who caught my interest in the building," Hope replied.
I tilted my head. "You're giving it to a civilian?"
"Sort of," Hope said. "I want her to run a branch of superheroes. I can't handle everything myself. Well, I can, but it'd be incredibly annoying. She'll manage day-to-day hero operations while I focus on bigger threats."
I raised an eyebrow.
"I figured the amulet might sweeten the deal when I make her the offer."
"And who exactly caught your interest?" I asked.
Hope smiled slightly. "Her name is Emily Locke. She's… interesting. Optimistic. Kind. Extremely good at her job."
I gave her a look. "That sounded suspiciously affectionate."
"You might meet her," Hope said casually, waving it off. "If she accepts the offer. Until then, you don't need to know much more."
I shrugged. "Fair enough. Guess I'm off, then."
I raised the Multiverse Gun, activated it, and vanished.
Hope POV
Once Kai vanished, Albedo and Victoria both turned to look at me.
"Why did you lie to him?" Albedo asked. "You know that woman is more than she seems."
I didn't look up from my work."I didn't lie," I said calmly. "I just didn't tell him the whole truth. And besides, I want to handle this situation myself. Kai already has bigger things to worry about."
I paused, then added, "This isn't important to him. Not yet."
"You don't think it's important to tell Kai that Emily is the daughter of Intergang's leader?" Victoria asked.
That made me stop.
I'd done background checks on everyone who worked for me. When I first looked into Emily, everything seemed clean, no family listed, no connections, an identity that was only three years old.
Too clean.
So I dug deeper.
That's when I found it.
Her real name wasn't Emily Locke.
It was Emily Mannheim.
The only child, the only daughter, of Bruno Mannheim.
Publicly, Bruno Mannheim didn't even have children. As far as the world knew, he was alone. But Emily had run from him, erased herself, and built an entirely new life. I didn't know the full story, but I knew enough to understand how dangerous it could be.
And how complicated.
"She's my employee," I said quietly. "Which makes her my responsibility. Kai doesn't need to be dragged into this unless it becomes necessary. When that moment comes, I'll tell him."
I finally looked up at them.
"For now… I need you both to trust my judgment."
Victoria exhaled. "Okay. Fine."
Albedo folded his arms."This better not be a decision driven by pride or ego," he said. "I've seen where choices like that lead. They end in failure, and despair."
I met his gaze without hesitation.
"Don't worry," I said. "Neither of those are guiding me."
I turned back to my work.
"If I had to name the emotion behind this decision," I continued, "it would be compassion."
And for once, I knew that was enough.