Chapter 294: The Bait Left Behind by the Justice Alliance
"So the guy's coming after me for revenge?"
If someone else had wrecked his robot, he'd probably be furious too.
"I think the chances of revenge are low."
A researcher was desperate to track down the other person who had defeated the test subject. Anyone who had dealt with people like that even a little would understand exactly what was going on.
"Whatever he's planning, he's connected to those two thieves. Just knowing that means we can't let this go. We have to capture Dr. Sivana."
As the Justice League spoke, their eyes shifted to Billy Batson. He was the perfect piece of bait.
"But will using Billy as bait really work? The guy isn't stupid. He won't fall for it that easily, right?"
"If someone wants something badly enough, tricking them becomes very easy."
"Yeah. Either way, let's try."
They wrapped up quickly, and once Lorien finished explaining everything to them, he figured it was about time to head out.
"Then I'll be going."
He gave them a faint smile and turned to leave, but the Justice League immediately blocked his path. They kept smiling at him as they stared him down.
"Lorien, do you actually understand the situation right now?"
"You're setting a trap and waiting for him to walk into it. I get that. Which is why I'm leaving."
Their smiles looked anything but friendly. Lorien wanted to bolt, but with the entire Justice League working together, he didn't get the chance.
...
Late that night, Lorien and Billy Batson went to a bar.
They really did want to use Billy as bait, but at the end of the day, Billy was just a twelve- or thirteen-year-old kid. If he didn't have someone with him, things could go wrong fast—he was easy to fool. But under those circumstances, who could stay by his side without causing trouble?
Naturally, the harmless-looking Lorien. So Lorien had no choice but to cooperate.
"Lorien, do you think he'll actually show up?"
Now that he was no longer working under Lorien, Billy followed the others in just calling him by his name. Hearing it, Lorien shot him a sidelong glance.
"We'll know soon enough."
Billy was nervous. His eyes kept darting from one table to another. He looked like he was loudly announcing to the whole bar that he knew someone was tailing him and was now checking for them.
Lorien exhaled quietly. He knew leaving Billy unsupervised for even a moment was a headache waiting to happen.
"Stop looking around. You'll alert the person following you."
Billy froze, body going stiff.
"Seriously? That gives me away? I only looked for a second. That's fine, right?"
His nerves were stretched thin. It was his first time acting as bait, and he clearly wasn't used to it.
"After doing this a few more times, you'll be fine."
Billy forced a smile at Lorien.
Lorien rubbed his forehead.
"Do what I say. Stop looking around. Focus on the drink in your hand..."
Oh.
Alcohol.
Billy's eyes lit up. He had never tasted it before. What did it taste like? The thought alone made him swallow hard.
"Well, this is a bar. Not drinking would look weird, right?"
He took a hopeful sip—then his excitement vanished instantly.
"What the—?"
He smacked his lips.
"This tastes like lychee water."
He looked completely confused.
"Quit thinking about it. It is lychee water."
Billy was underage; of course they couldn't let him drink.
Besides the two of them, several Justice League members were scattered around the bar in disguise, quietly monitoring the surroundings. Lorien and Billy didn't need to do anything except sit and wait for Dr. Sivana. The moment he appeared, they'd take him down.
People kept coming into the bar, but none looked remotely like Dr. Sivana.
A voice crackled in Lorien's earpiece.
"This is strange. Our intel confirmed Dr. Sivana never left Gotham City. He's been circling around you this whole time—he must be trying to reach Billy through you."
...
"He probably hasn't shown up yet because he suspects it's a trap. If it were me, even knowing it's a trap, I'd still make a move. It all depends on how he plans to act."
Lorien tapped his fingers lightly on the table. He ran through every possibility in his mind. He figured something unexpected would happen soon—something to distract him and the other Justice League members.
Now...
Let's see what Dr. Sivana plans to pull.
Time crawled. Then suddenly, at a nearby table, two burly men erupted into a fight.
"You little punk! I'm done putting up with you! You think nobody knows you've been messing around with my girlfriend?!"
"What the hell are you talking about? I haven't touched your girlfriend! She's the one who flirted with me! She just wants to ruin what we've got as brothers!"
"I don't have a brother like you! Fuck off!"
The man snapped. He grabbed a bottle and smashed it straight over the other man's head. He didn't hold back. One hit, and the guy's head split open.
It all happened too fast. The Justice League members couldn't help looking over. Lorien only glanced for a second before returning his attention to Billy Batson.
...
Chapter 295: The Justice Alliance's Plan Fails
Billy Batson noticed Lorien watching him and found it strange.
"Is there something wrong with me? Why are you staring at me?"
He asked while unconsciously touching his own cheek.
As Billy Batson spoke, Lorien shifted his gaze away again.
The situation in the bar was getting louder and messier. Billy had originally stayed out of it under Lorien's control, but once a bottle smashed onto their table, how could he pretend nothing had happened?
Billy shot to his feet.
"Lorien, I'm going over there to see what's happening."
Lorien looked up at him but didn't stop him. Not only that—his eyes kept scanning the area around Billy Batson.
He wasn't the only one doing so. The Justice League "553" Alliance members undercover in the bar were quietly watching him as well.
Billy Batson had no clue that he'd finally become real bait.
His attention was fixed entirely on the brawling men.
"We're all friends here! Let's drop it, alright? Aren't we all here to drink beer? Come on, drink up!"
Billy imitated the kind of rowdy cheers he'd seen in the bar earlier.
"Where'd you come from? Don't stick your nose in this. Get lost."
The two men seemed extremely annoyed by Billy's appearance. After only a few exchanges, they suddenly joined forces and turned on him together.
"Look at those ridiculous clothes. You're clearly a BT. I'm not in the mood to mess with someone like you."
With that, they shoved Billy hard.
What started as pushing aimed only at him quickly spiraled into a mess even worse than before.
"Get out of the way! Who just stepped on my foot?!"
"Where did this bastard come from? Did he just touch me?!"
"That hurt! Are you blind? Can't you see people here?!"
"..."
The bar had already been crowded, but now everyone was packed into the same tight space, pushing closer and closer until the whole place was suffocatingly cramped.
Then the power suddenly cut out, plunging the entire bar into darkness.
The chaos exploded further, even escalating into trampling.
Billy Batson never imagined things could get this bad. He raised his hands high, panic written all over his face.
He was just a kid, and today had already been far too much for him.
And the worst part was that something else was clearly about to happen.
Even though he knew he was supposed to be bait, he still wanted to protect himself. But right now, he had no idea what was going on.
"I spotted someone suspicious."
A member of the Justice League spoke suddenly.
The others immediately asked for the direction.
"North. Nine o'clock."
Nine o'clock?
Almost instantly, everyone rushed toward that direction.
Most of the Justice League's force was now concentrated in one area. At first, no one thought much of it, but gradually, they all sensed something was wrong.
Their expressions darkened.
"This is bad. Spread out! We can't cluster in the same place!"
The command had barely finished before everyone tried to scatter.
But it was too late.
When the bar lights flicked back on, Billy Batson—who should've still been in the bar—was gone.
A terrible development.
"What do we do now?"
"Who would've thought we'd use Billy Batson as bait only for the bait to get taken?"
"It's fine. Lorien isn't here either."
As the group panicked, someone pointed this out.
Their anxiety eased immediately.
"With Lorien around, there shouldn't be any problems."
They didn't know Lorien well, but from Bruce Wayne and the others, they had at least a small amount of trust in him.
"But what if there was a possibility that Lorien was kidnapped too?"
Out of nowhere, one member raised this possibility.
"That could definitely be the case. We need to report this immediately and plan our next steps."
The operation had failed. They had no choice but to withdraw from the bar as fast as possible.
Within seconds, several people slipped out.
Their departure went unnoticed—after all, chaos had just broken out, and even if the Justice League hadn't left, the other civilians were already rushing to get out.
Justice League Headquarters.
"So Lorien and Billy Batson were probably both taken?"
"If that's true, then the enemy's operational range must be extremely large. Under these conditions, we have to make a choice."
"Split up."
"One team will secure every exit out of Gotham City. No matter what, they cannot leave the city."
"If we keep them contained in Gotham, we'll be able to quickly locate Lorien and Billy Batson and ensure their safety."
"Also, since we didn't detect any suspicious person entering the bar, the problem must have been inside the bar itself."
"So we need to send a team to investigate the bar's internal situation."
Though Bruce Wayne wasn't present, after hearing their report, he understood most of the situation. Hands clasped over his knees, he frowned slightly.
He calmly assigned everyone to their tasks.
Of course, he personally believed Lorien would never be kidnapped.
In Bruce Wayne's view, Lorien's abilities were profound and unreadable.
So where was Lorien now?
In truth, after Billy Batson was knocked out and taken away, no one had bothered to track Lorien's movements.
But that didn't mean he hadn't acted.
The moment he sensed something was off, he followed—quietly, almost casually.
And the entire way, not a single person noticed him.
His tracking skills were so effortless they could only inspire awe.
...
Chapter 296: Sivana and His Crew Are Taken Down in One Sweep
Lorien had always assumed Dr. Sivana would personally kidnap Billy Batson, never expecting he'd bring outside help.
Were these outsiders the same group searching for magical artifacts?
Lorien pondered lazily, glancing up at the sky.
Night was getting deeper, and he really wanted to go home and sleep.
He blinked, then quickly typed out a message on his phone and sent it to Bruce Wayne.
Bruce Wayne had finished giving instructions and now stood by the window, watching the view outside while waiting for the incoming report.
The alert from his phone sounded.
Without pausing, he opened the message immediately.
As he read the contents, his expression turned subtly strange.
After taking a moment to steady himself, he couldn't help but laugh.
"I knew Lorien would give me a huge surprise."
With that thought, he sent out a group text, broadcasting it to every teammate stationed across Gotham City.
The buzzing of phones echoed throughout the city that night.
"Not a bad result at all."
Quite a few people muttered to themselves.
And so, through their phones and messages, they awaited Bruce Wayne's next orders.
Meanwhile, Lorien kept sending updates directly to Bruce Wayne.
The situation continued like this until dawn.
Lorien remained unhurried. When he noticed that the entire Justice League had mobilized, he yawned again.
Then he stepped out from his hidden corner.
"Lorien, I was just wondering where you were hiding. Didn't expect you to come from that direction. I scanned that area several times and didn't see you at all."
Clark Kent asked with genuine curiosity.
Lorien had no intention of explaining anything.
"It's getting late. I still have work—only two hours left."
He checked the time and said this to Clark Kent.
"You still have to work after all this? Can't you take a day off?" Clark Kent seemed baffled by Lorien's dedication.
"Work is my hobby. And it's not a special day. No need for time off."
With that, Lorien waved to Clark Kent and walked with light steps toward his psychology clinic in the city center.
Everything else was left to the Justice League to handle.
After spending time with Lorien, everyone knew two things clearly: he loved life, and he loved going to work.
If it wasn't necessary, don't bother him.
Lorien felt completely at ease and couldn't help sighing, "This is the kind of life I want."
Everything before this? Not worth comparing.
Overtime really didn't suit him.
On weekends, Lorien didn't even feel like going anywhere.
He simply stayed home with Gwen and Wanda.
Gwen and Wanda had no objections to Lorien's decisions. Sure, going out together could be fun, but staying home quietly and enjoying each other's company was just as pleasant.
The only pity was that with only three people, the house sometimes felt a bit too quiet.
Since arriving in the DC Universe, Gwen and Wanda noticed Lorien wasn't as interested in going out—or in meeting women.
He had crossed paths with plenty of attractive women before.
But Lorien had shown zero interest, and Gwen and Wanda naturally never brought it up.
They were generous, but even they felt a small twinge of jealousy from time to time.
Still, staying together like this felt nice.
Gwen and Wanda rested their heads on Lorien's shoulders as the national news played on the TV.
The segment airing at that moment immediately caught the attention of all three.
"Aliens are actually contacting Earth? What is going on?"
"Korugar… what kind of planet is that?"
Earth's technology was fairly advanced, and its attempts to search for extraterrestrial life had never succeeded. And now someone was reaching out proactively? Well, they had met aliens before—so alien life existing wasn't surprising anymore.
"Who was the representative from Korugar? Did you catch his name?"
"His name is Sinestro." Lorien answered naturally. Under their stares, he added, "A dictator."
A dictator?
That word carried negativity anywhere it was heard.
Wanda and Gwen didn't doubt Lorien at all.
If Lorien said he was a dictator, the odds were extremely high.
"If that's true…" Wanda straightened her posture, worry rising in her eyes. "Earth could be in serious danger."
A dictator trying to "cooperate" with Earth—his real intentions were practically written in bold letters.
"They may be talking about cooperation now, but it won't stay that way."
"In the early stages, he just hasn't shown his true nature yet. If we could explain this clearly to the world leaders…"
Wanda spoke slowly.
Gwen shook her head. "We've been through too much to believe that. World leaders won't listen to us."
"Lorien, you know what kind of figure Sinestro is, right?"
"I know a little."
Lorien replied quietly.
Gwen and Wanda's eyes flickered with curiosity—why did Lorien know an alien he'd never met?—but they didn't ask.
Instead, they leaned closer and asked, "What kind of person is he? Why did he become a dictator?"
People only become dictators because of something they've experienced.
If they could understand his past, maybe they could find a way to deal with him.
"Sinestro used to be an adventurer."
Lorien said only that, then fell silent.
And really, what might an adventurer have gone through? No need for details—just that alone was enough to imagine countless dramatic stories.
...
Chapter 297: Collaboration with the Alien Sinestro
Lorien seemed to say little, but in truth, he'd said quite a lot.
Sinestro was a complicated man. Gwen and Wanda couldn't help but think so to themselves.
The TV was still broadcasting coverage of the cooperation between the two planets. He watched as they signed the agreement live, in front of the entire world.
With how cunning national leaders were, this deal would never leave them at a disadvantage—nothing to worry about there.
But setting up an embassy for aliens? That was beyond ridiculous.
Lorien thought so. Still, it had nothing to do with them.
That was, until they heard the embassy would be built in Gotham City. Then, all three froze.
"What the hell are the national leaders thinking? Do they think Gotham isn't chaotic enough, so they're dumping aliens here now?"
It wasn't just Lorien, Gwen, and Wanda who were shocked. Every major faction in Gotham City frowned at the news.
They all had something to say.
"What are those bored leaders even doing, making a decision like this?"
"What else? They're just trying to bring in another force to keep us in check."
"Seriously, what's going through their heads? Anyone with half a brain can see what's happening."
"Hmph. Those aliens better not cause trouble in Gotham. If they do, I'll make sure they never leave—just piles of bones left behind."
Both the lawful and the criminal sides of Gotham were furious about the idea of aliens setting up an embassy in the city. But once the decision had been made by the higher-ups, even they couldn't oppose it.
Maybe fighting and rejecting it over and over... wasn't as useful as keeping these outsiders right under their noses. That way, they could just focus on their own affairs without worrying.
...
Inside the police headquarters, Barbara's beautiful face was filled with anger.
"They're actually putting the police in charge of this? Have they lost their minds?"
"Gotham's not even that big. Where exactly are they supposed to build this embassy?"
"We don't even know if these aliens are good or bad, and they're already giving them property? The higher-ups must be getting a serious payoff out of this…"
"Barbara, shut your mouth!"
The Commissioner looked like he had a headache from his daughter's bluntness. Thankfully, everyone in the room was trusted staff. Otherwise, if Barbara's words ever got out, he'd be getting a call from his superiors for sure.
But Barbara wasn't backing down.
"Why should I? Everything I said is true! Gotham's already a mess. You and your team have been working nonstop to keep order, and it's still chaos. I saw the news—this guy Sinestro? You can tell he's bad news just by looking at him."
"Don't judge people by appearances. I don't remember raising you that way."
"I don't care. I meant what I said. Whether you listen or not—it's up to you."
With that, Barbara grabbed her backpack and stormed out of the station.
The Commissioner understood her anger perfectly. He was angry too—but what could he do? They were just subordinates. All they could do was follow orders.
"Chief, HQ called again. They're demanding we get the embassy built within a week."
"Demand, demand, demand! What the hell are they rushing for?"
The Chief couldn't hold back anymore.
"One week? What the hell can we build in one week? Have they gone insane?"
"We could use an old site—someplace already developed. It'd be best to put the aliens somewhere remote so it doesn't affect Gotham."
Everyone in the station was racking their brains over how to handle the aliens.
"You're right. That's actually a good plan. We can't exactly let them live in the best neighborhoods."
"Alright, we'll give them a few options and let them pick one."
To make sure no one could accuse him of making mistakes, the Chief went with multiple plans at once, ordering his people to get moving immediately.
Everyone was furious that day, working like they were possessed. Soon, everything was arranged just as the Chief had ordered.
By nightfall, they'd finalized the plan and sent the proposed sites to the higher-ups.
The reply came quickly. It was an abandoned factory—remote but spacious. The aliens even said they didn't need to renovate it; it was perfect as it was.
That saved the department a lot of time and effort, but it also made them uneasy. They couldn't shake the feeling these aliens had ulterior motives.
Why else would they choose such a remote and massive place? They'd already forgotten they were the ones who suggested it in the first place.
Meanwhile, the news about the aliens' imminent arrival in Gotham was causing an uproar. Lorien, Gwen, and Wanda had been following it closely in recent days.
...
Now, during work hours, inside the counseling room, Clark Kent sat uneasily.
The Justice League strongly opposed the idea of aliens settling in Gotham. They'd even sent a joint protest letter to the national leaders, but the result was predictable—it wasn't even acknowledged.
Not only that, they were scolded for it.
Ridiculous.
If it weren't for them secretly handling the kinds of crises governments couldn't, would those leaders be living so comfortably now? Clark Kent was starting to lose faith in his country.
"...They've been wary of our abilities for a very long time," he said quietly.
"Ordinary people and those with powers will never truly coexist," Lorien said slowly. "Humans will always fear those stronger than themselves. No matter how indifferent they pretend to be, that truth never changes."
"Maybe so, but I still hope things can move toward a better future."
"Nothing in this world ever goes so smoothly. It's better to prepare for the worst."
"Sometimes you sound pretty pessimistic."
"Pessimistic? No. I just see things a little more clearly—and face them with a bit more calm."
After speaking, Lorien chuckled softly.
...
Chapter 298: Building a Utopia
Apart from Lorien, no one truly knew what kind of person Sinestro really was.
Lorien had once discussed Sinestro with Clark Kent and had also talked about him with Gwen and Wanda. But in each of those conversations, Lorien had only shared fragmented details.
Those fragments weren't enough to truly understand Sinestro. After all, no matter how much he thought he understood the man, he had never met him face-to-face. Just like many people he had encountered before—without seeing someone firsthand, misjudgments were inevitable.
Lorien didn't want to make any conclusions about a person he didn't truly know. Soon, he would meet Sinestro himself, and then he could form his own opinion.
That thought, however, quickly began to feel like a hassle. He really had no desire to meet him. It would only delay his time off work. He'd much rather let Sinestro come to him instead.
Considering Sinestro's temperament, it might actually be easier to make him come knocking.
...
Meanwhile, Sinestro—the very man everyone was whispering about—surveyed his subordinates and gave a command.
"This is a life-bearing planet we've long anticipated. Without my explicit order, no one is to act rashly."
"Yes, Leader."
His followers responded in unison.
Sinestro continued, "Tomorrow, I will personally lead a group to a small place called Gotham City. From there, we will begin our plan of conquest."
As he spoke, Sinestro lightly twisted the ring on his finger.
He had once been an adventurer, blessed with incredible luck. One day, he encountered a dying man hunted by the Weaponers of Qward.
The unique Power Ring had chosen him—and ever since, it had aided him faithfully.
It helped him monitor everyone.
It helped him build the utopia he envisioned.
Everything was progressing perfectly.
Sinestro was elated. "Earth will become the second Utopia! We're about to start a war without gunfire!"
His subordinates heard his arrogant declaration, but their expressions remained calm. They knelt before him without a word.
...
Soon, the day arrived when Gotham City would receive the aliens.
Many people watched closely as events unfolded.
An alien spacecraft descended from the sky. A group of aliens landed in Gotham under the watchful eyes of the crowd, standing calmly under the stares of humanity.
At first, Sinestro didn't feel anything unusual. But soon, he realized these humans were nothing like the officials they had met before.
"How interesting," he muttered under his breath.
Those behind him heard it but made no response.
Just then, the Commissioner appeared to lead the way.
"Mr. Sinestro, this way, please. The base you selected is ready."
No matter what he or his team thought privately, their faces remained composed, their words measured, their expressions patient.
"Who is this?"
Sinestro didn't care how these people viewed him. But the woman approaching with such boldness caught his attention.
A flash of coldness flickered in his eyes. He certainly didn't think she was approaching out of admiration. Her expression—fierce and unyielding—suggested she was here to cause trouble.
"Barbara, when did you get here? Didn't I tell you not to follow me?"
The Commissioner went pale. He rushed forward, grabbing his daughter's wrist with a stern look of warning.
He was terrified. If his daughter caused a scene in front of these aliens, his position as Commissioner would likely be gone by tomorrow. Not that the role was such a pleasure to hold anyway.
"Relax. I won't make a scene. I know what's going on," Barbara said calmly.
She wasn't that foolish—especially with every major TV network broadcasting the event live. She had no intention of making a fool of herself on national television.
But... there would be time for that later. No need to rush.
Barbara gave a small, knowing smile.
Then she raised her hand and sharply pulled her wrist free from her father's grip.
The Commissioner studied her face, confirming she wasn't lying. Only then did he exhale in relief and return to Sinestro's side with an awkward smile.
"My apologies, Mr. Sinestro. My daughter always looks rather fierce when she stares at people. She means no offense—she just... has that kind of face."
Not far away, Barbara heard her father's remark and instantly fell silent.
What did he mean, "that kind of face"? How unfair.
Internally fuming, she caught sight of the cameras still trained in their direction and quickly wiped her face. The unpleasant expression vanished instantly.
...
They continued forward, drawing a crowd of curious Gotham citizens.
Everyone wanted to catch a close look at what the alien truly looked like.
No three heads, no six arms—nothing out of the ordinary.
Yet just knowing she was an alien was enough to keep them talking endlessly.
"I bet the aliens came to Earth with bad intentions."
"Their planet must be in trouble, so they've come to plunder resources—or people—or something."
"I completely agree. That's exactly what I think."
"If even ordinary folks like us can see that, you can bet the national leaders and those scheming politicians have thought the same."
"If they know and still went ahead with this, there's only one explanation—the aliens showing up in Gotham must be part of some plan."
"..."
Most people had similar conversations, though they didn't expect their opinions to matter.
After all, even living in Gotham City—thinking themselves a notch above other cities—they knew their words carried no weight.
"What's there to worry about? Even if these aliens really plan to act, Gotham will just be their base before they spread outward. If they try to disrupt our lives or destroy our city, they'll pay dearly for it."
...
Chapter 299: Surveillance and Being Surveilled
"Yeah, you don't mess with us Gotham City folks."
One after another, they spoke with cracking knuckles and fierce expressions. Their eyes locked on Sinestro, their intent clear—any suspicious move from him, and they'd strike without hesitation.
Lorien was at work during all this, so he didn't see it firsthand. Still, he caught the gist of it through the live TV broadcast.
Gwen walked lightly toward the counseling room.
"Everyone in Gotham's talking about why that alien, Sinestro, showed up here. Honestly, I think he picked the worst place possible."
As she spoke, Gwen casually flipped through a book on Lorien's desk. "It's obvious the national leaders set it up this way on purpose. If this Sinestro had landed somewhere remote—or somewhere more prosperous—they could've easily hidden whatever they're doing."
"I don't think they're trying to hide," Lorien said slowly. "I think they're testing this world's real strength. The way the leaders arranged things this time probably pleased Sinestro and his people more than they realize."
Gwen's mind spun through the logic, and she quickly understood what Lorien meant.
"If they want to gauge this world's true power, then yeah, it's almost poetic. Gotham's crawling with superpowered people, and more of them keep showing up every day."
It was anything but a simple situation. Gwen leaned her cheek on one hand.
"So… we're not helping this time either?"
"Why would we? Gotham's strong enough on its own. Even without us, they can handle plenty. They don't need our help."
Lorien's tone was light, unconcerned. Clearly, even with all this going on, it barely interested him.
Gwen wasn't surprised by his answer.
"In that case, we'll just take it one step at a time."
Though curious and itching to get involved, Gwen decided to let it go—at least for now. Watching from the sidelines was always an option. She made up her mind to keep an eye on things and later share whatever juicy details didn't make it onto the news with Wanda and Lorien, like telling them a good story she'd stumbled upon.
And since the story was getting interesting, she'd definitely stick around for the sequel. Gwen's bright eyes darted thoughtfully.
Lorien set his book aside.
Gwen and Wanda were girls, after all. If they wanted to involve themselves, they could go right ahead. He'd be there to back them up—no real harm would come of it.
After chatting for a while, Wanda arrived and joined in. The three discussed Sinestro for some time until they were satisfied, then stayed quietly in the counseling room, reading.
Most of the time, the counseling office was empty. Even when a client came in, Lorien would just glance up, gesture for them to leave, and return to his book.
Clients in Gotham were far more numerous than those in the small town he used to work in. But most either came looking for trouble while pretending to seek therapy or were regulars he already knew.
Lorien didn't care much what they thought. His goals were already being met in other ways.
Sinestro's arrival in Gotham hadn't really affected Lorien or the others. They continued their daily routines as usual, calm and methodical.
For the first few days, people across Gotham buzzed about the alien visitors. But as time passed, the discussions faded.
In the end, talk was useless. Life went on, and Sinestro's group hadn't made any moves since arriving. No one knew what they were up to.
People were curious, of course, but without seeing anything themselves, they couldn't make any judgments.
Most went on with their lives—but some still kept watch. Gwen, for one. The Justice League, too. Even the League of Assassins and other underground groups were secretly observing. Their sense for danger was always sharper than ordinary people's.
Sinestro and his followers were well aware they were being watched. They just didn't care.
The territory they had chosen was enormous. They'd surrounded it with towering walls and reinforced it with advanced defenses.
...
They hadn't accepted a single offer of help from Gotham's people. Even when the national leaders enthusiastically volunteered to assist, Sinestro and his group refused outright.
That was when the leaders began to realize how badly they'd blundered.
They had allowed aliens to build something completely unknown within their own country—within their own city. It was dangerously reckless.
If the rest of Gotham knew what the leaders were thinking now, they'd laugh.
They'd mock them for regretting their decision only after it was too late.
Lorien hadn't gone out of his way to track Sinestro's activities, but Gwen and Wanda kept him updated often enough. Between them and the occasional visits from Justice League members who came to discuss the situation, Lorien had gathered plenty of information.
It felt good—knowing everything happening in the world without even leaving his chair.
He found the feeling oddly satisfying.
He'd thought that, despite living in the same city, meeting Sinestro would be nearly impossible.
Yet just as he was about to clock out and had already locked up for the day, Sinestro suddenly appeared behind him.
...
Chapter 300: Sinestro's Visit
"...What a pity. I didn't expect you'd already clocked out. I was hoping to drop by for a visit."
Sinestro spoke to Lorien, his expression marked by genuine disappointment.
Lorien, however, didn't acknowledge him at all. He had just checked in and received a reward that left him momentarily stunned.
[Reward: Unknown Power Ring Fragment x1]
He studied the item carefully, then lifted his gaze toward Sinestro in the distance.
In that instant, he had a good idea of what this so-called "Unknown Power Ring Fragment" really was.
Not that it particularly interested him.
Lorien arched an eyebrow. Aside from the initial flicker of surprise, his expression remained calm and unreadable.
"Sorry, I'm off duty now."
"Then what are your working hours?"
Sinestro continued smiling, his face showing not the slightest irritation.
"You're in luck. Tomorrow's Friday—my work hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. sharp."
Lorien was genuinely exasperated.
Didn't anyone ever look at the schedule posted right on the door? He'd even enlarged the sign so it couldn't be missed, yet it clearly made no difference.
"Then I'll come by tomorrow—on time."
Sinestro didn't press the issue. He nodded politely to Lorien, then turned and walked away.
Lorien watched him leave, standing still for no more than three seconds before turning to head home himself.
...
On his way back, Lorien ran into quite a few people—the Justice League, the League of Assassins, and even Gwen, who had been quietly tailing him.
They all asked almost the same thing.
"What did that alien, Sinestro, want with you?"
"I'm a psychologist. What else would he come to me for? Obviously for treatment. If you really want to know more, you can drop by tomorrow and see for yourselves. Maybe then you'll figure it out. Just... try to keep a low profile."
That was Lorien's only answer.
It wasn't exactly satisfying, but they accepted it nonetheless.
The Justice League and the assassins left, leaving only Gwen walking beside him.
They walked in silence for a while before Lorien glanced at her with a faint smile.
"You don't have anything you want to ask?"
"Didn't you already say everything you could?" Gwen replied seriously. "After living with you this long, I know exactly what you hide and what you don't."
Lorien couldn't help but smile, pulling her gently into his arms.
"You're right. I've already told them everything I know. Whether they believe it or not—that's their problem, not mine."
Gwen looked up at him, her tone thoughtful. "But why did he come looking for you specifically? He's stayed holed up in his base since arriving in Gotham. The first time he steps out, he comes straight to you? It doesn't feel right…"
"As I said—take it as it comes. Whatever he's planning, we'll see soon enough."
"True. Then let's find out what his plan really is."
...
Everyone was curious about what Sinestro intended to do.
They were already anticipating the next day.
The following morning, the psychological counseling room was far busier than usual—more crowded than it had ever been.
Even though Lorien had expected this, seeing it firsthand still made him sigh.
"Are you all kidding me?"
"This is a therapy session. I need a quiet environment to work."
He firmly refused to let any of them step inside.
Why were these people—each one of them powerful in their own right—acting like this?
The thought flashed through his mind, and he didn't bother keeping it to himself. He said it right in front of everyone.
Hearing Lorien's words and taking a quick look around, the crowd realized just how inappropriate their behavior was.
"Our apologies. We'll observe from nearby instead."
With that, they disappeared one after another, vanishing in a blur—including Gwen.
Moments ago, the counseling office had been packed. Now it was utterly silent, except for Lorien himself.
After they left, he stepped inside, tidied his desk, and wandered around the room for a bit.
A glance at the clock told him it was just past ten.
Then, at last, he heard movement outside.
"Hello."
Sinestro entered, greeting Lorien politely the moment he stepped in.
Lorien had been expecting him—and not just him. Plenty of others were waiting for this visit as well, though whether they had hidden themselves properly was another matter.
Not that it mattered.
They wouldn't be discovered. And even if they were close, they wouldn't be able to see or hear what went on inside this room.
After all, the counseling office was protected by the Heart of the Universe.
Lorien raised an eyebrow and motioned toward the chair.
"Have a seat."
Sinestro nodded and sat down.
"You're a psychologist. Honestly, I only learned about this profession after arriving on this planet. I must say, it's quite admirable. The human heart is complicated—falling ill is only natural."
"So, Mr. Sinestro," Lorien said evenly, folding his hands together, "is your heart unwell?"
Sinestro wasn't surprised that Lorien knew his name.
When he had arrived in Gotham, the event had drawn massive crowds. Even if this man hadn't been there personally, his face had been broadcast everywhere.
"My heart is indeed sick," Sinestro admitted, sighing softly. "That's why I've come to you—hoping you can help me resolve it."
"Then tell me," Lorien said calmly, "what's troubling you?"
Sinestro's tone was grave. "What troubles me is that my people never listen. Everything I do is for their good—for the creation of a better world. Yet they never understand me. They resist me constantly. It makes me angry… and powerless."