Though Faora had already made her choice, she still couldn't stop second-guessing herself.
What weighed on her most was the worry—worry that Lorien might be dragged into this.
Just as these thoughts swirled in her head, her communicator suddenly lit up.
In that instant, her whole body went rigid.
Even with her mind blank and her body tense, instinct took over—she answered immediately.
"Rest assured, General, I'll see to it."
The moment she heard the order, Faora nodded in agreement.
All those messy distractions vanished from her mind.
This was no time for hesitation. What mattered now was bringing the General and their people safely into Gotham City.
The operation to seize Clark Kent was about to begin.
In the end, she and Lorien could only stand as enemies.
Faora sighed silently at the thought, then steeled herself.
With her guidance, General Zod led his people through Gotham's streets.
They moved with an overwhelming presence.
Those who usually strutted arrogantly around Gotham instinctively avoided their gaze, unable to meet their eyes.
It was clear Zod's group was not to be provoked.
They soon reached the hotel where Clark Kent was staying.
At the front desk, the woman chewing gum simply watched them pass. She neither stopped them nor spoke, acting as though it had nothing to do with her.
Faora already knew Clark Kent's room number. She leaned close to Zod, whispered briefly, then strode ahead to lead the way.
"Looks like something interesting's about to happen."
Watching them storm into the hotel, the receptionist grinned as if enjoying the show.
Inside his room, Clark Kent was especially restless that day.
He paced back and forth anxiously.
Suddenly, the door burst open with a crash, nearly slamming into him.
Clark's eyes widened in shock.
He stared at the shattered door, then at the group of imposing figures standing in the doorway.
Among them, only Faora was familiar. The rest were complete strangers.
His gaze locked on the only face he knew. "Faora? Why are you here? I remember losing contact with you ever since you left Lorien's house."
Faora's eyes were cold. At the mention of Lorien, there was the faintest flicker of emotion, but it vanished almost instantly, replaced by a flat, unfeeling calm.
"Clark Kent, we are your kin. Come with us," General Zod said. "I trust your adoptive parents have already told you the truth—you're not from Earth. You're a Kryptonian, like us."
"You came for me?"
Clark found it impossible to believe these people.
Everything about them radiated hostility.
"Yes. We came specifically for you. If you want to learn about your true home, we can tell you everything."
Clark stepped back. In truth, he wasn't all that eager to know about his birthplace. And if these were truly his kin, they didn't seem very happy to have found him.
He couldn't shake the feeling they wanted something else.
Clark had always seen things from the perspective of an outsider.
He didn't feel joy just because these people called themselves his family.
Maybe it was because of the years he had spent visiting Lorien regularly, learning to form his own understanding of things.
"I know you're not really here for me. So just say what you want."
Zod's gaze darkened. "Why do you say that? Do you know something?"
"I don't know anything. It's just a feeling."
Clark spoke firmly.
Zod had no patience for games. He grabbed Clark without hesitation. "This isn't the place for talk."
With that, he hauled him straight to their ship.
It all happened in an instant.
The air aboard the vessel was unbearable for Clark.
He had only taken a few steps inside before collapsing to the ground.
"I can't stay here—I'll die."
It felt as though his organs were burning alive.
"General, Earth's atmosphere is different from space—and from Krypton. Clark has lived on Earth too long. His body can't adjust."
The others looked at him coldly, showing no real concern for their newly found kin.
Compared to him, the survival of their people mattered far more.
"Pathetic. Just a few decades, and already he can't handle our world."
Zod's voice carried sharp disdain.
He cast a look at Faora, who had spoken up for Clark.
Though she behaved as she always had, Zod noticed the change. "Faora, just a few years on Earth, and you've grown soft?"
The Faora of old would never have thought twice about such things.
Her expression froze.
She quickly lowered her head. "I only have the General's interests in mind. After all, only Clark Kent knows what we seek."
She didn't dare look up, afraid her true feelings would be exposed.
Zod scrutinized her for a moment before finally easing his gaze. "You're right."
He then ordered a chamber on the ship adjusted to replicate Earth's atmosphere.
Only inside that room could Clark finally breathe easier.
For a moment, he had truly thought he was about to die.
So this was what suffocation felt like.
"Faora once searched you. Back on that wreck of a ship, she didn't find what we were after."
Now that Clark was in his hands, Zod didn't mince words. "Where is the Codex?"
"The Codex? What's that?"
Clark asked in confusion. His mind involuntarily flicked to the item he had entrusted to Lorien—but he quickly forced the thought away.