A voice only Superman could hear echoed through Metropolis. Superman knew it was Jimmy calling him with the Superman watch. Not daring to waste time, he rushed to the temporary Daily Planet office. He landed on the rooftop, expecting chaos or Jimmy, but saw only Lois.
Superman landed with a puzzled look. Lois quickly hid the watch behind her back, then gave an embarrassed smile when she saw his eyes. "I took it while Jimmy was changing clothes," she admitted. She stepped forward. "But I really have so many questions I want to ask you."
Superman knew how much Jimmy treasured that watch, and how careful he was about using it—he'd never misuse it. But facing Lois, Superman couldn't be angry. Chatting with his goddess was always a pleasure.
"I'll give it back, I promise. But Superman, could you give me an exclusive interview right now?" Lois already had her notebook and pen ready, her big, watery eyes wide with anticipation.
Superman agreed, but he looked around the rooftop—it was dark, windy, and definitely not a good place. "Here?" he asked.
"Let's go to my place," Lois blurted, then immediately realized how rash that sounded and quickly corrected herself. "I mean, let's go to your place."
In the past, their interviews had always been done in the small attic on the Daily Planet rooftop. Without it now, it was really inconvenient.
Lois caught herself again, frustrated at how off her game she was today. But then Superman said calmly, "We can go to my place, but it's a bit far."
"No problem." Lois was secretly overjoyed—going to Superman's home was perfect. She couldn't wait to see what it was like. Her curiosity was fully hooked.
Superman reached out and scooped Lois into his arms. Then he gently lifted off and sped through the night sky. Thanks to the protective bio-magnetic field around them, Lois didn't feel cold or the pressure of the high-altitude flight.
In the Arctic, the Fortress of Solitude stood just as it always had. Lois was stunned by the crystal palace rising from the snowy wilderness. It was overwhelmingly majestic—and at the same time, she felt a wave of loneliness. She understood Superman. Beneath his powerful exterior was a sensitive heart. Being a hero wasn't easy.
Superman must be so lonely. Lois often thought humanity was hopeless, and Superman must have seen even more of the ugly side of people. Yet he still had to protect them. Just imagining it was exhausting. Lois suddenly felt a deep sympathy for this tall, handsome Superman—for everything he had to endure, for having to stand alone on Earth to uphold justice.
The exterior of the Fortress hadn't changed, but inside, Lois noticed some subtle differences—there was a bit more warmth now, a sense of life.
Inside the crystal palace, Lois didn't feel cold at all. Her eyes didn't know where to land. Everything about Superman fascinated her. She saw Kryptonian technology, familiar Earth items, and even a dog. It made Superman seem more complete, more real.
Finally, Lois's gaze settled on the wall, where a photo was displayed—clearly the newest addition, placed at the very center.
"Justice League." The background was the Fortress of Solitude, with five heroes standing together in front of it for a commemorative photo. From left to right, it was Flash, Kaitou Kid, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
This photo had been taken at Kid's suggestion, and it looked like something out of a movie poster. Liu A'dou had developed and framed copies for everyone. Superman had hung his in the Fortress, making it the very first photo here.
Lois thought, 'What a priceless photo. If this ever went public, it would sell like crazy.' She looked at Superman. "Mind if I take a quick shot with my phone?"
Superman didn't mind at all. Everyone already knew about the Justice League anyway.
Lois moved fast, pulling out her phone. She regretted not bringing a proper camera. After that, they headed up to the second floor, where Superman's meditation room was—a perfect spot for the interview.
Lois asked a lot of questions, including about the surviving Kryptonians. Superman answered openly. To him, they were his fellow Kryptonians who had done wrong. He stood by what was right, not by blood. Krypton's destruction wasn't an accident. Their genetic engineering had made Kryptonians stronger, smarter, and more rational, but it also killed their drive and curiosity, leaving them stuck and unwilling to move forward.
As for General Zod's plan to rebuild Krypton, Superman supported the idea but absolutely not by slaughtering another race to make it happen. It needed a long-term plan. Superman had never given up searching the universe for a planet similar to Krypton. If he found one, he'd take Zod and his followers there.
Lois also learned about the grudge between General Zod and Superman's father, and got more details on Krypton's destruction. About Zod tracking Superman's ship coordinates to Earth, Lois didn't blame Superman at all.
"So, next I'd like to ask about the Justice League," Lois said. "I want to know who started it—was it you?"
Superman answered honestly: it was Batman and Kaitou Kid who started it.
Lois wasn't fond of either of them. One was a vigilante lurking in the dark, using violence to get information. The other was even worse—a thief. But that was in the past. After seeing their bravery fighting the Kryptonians, Lois saw them differently.
"I know you've worked together before during the Elite incident. So I want to know: how long has the Justice League existed, and how many missions have you done?" she asked.
"Not very long. We've gathered three times. First was to fight the reawakened Terracotta Warriors, second was during the Elite incident, and the third was this current crisis."
There was so much she didn't know. Lois's journalist instincts told her there was a lot more to dig up. These hero stories deserved to be shared—people needed to know the Justice League had already saved many lives. Without this crisis forcing them into the spotlight, they might have kept working in secret as invisible knights protecting humanity.
Lois was deeply moved. She was one of those they had protected. Knowing someone risked everything to keep her safe made her want to cry. It also strengthened her resolve to report on the Justice League. She wanted to create a special feature introducing each member. "Could you let me interview every member of the Justice League individually?" she asked.
"That depends on their own willingness," Superman replied. "As far as I know, Kaitou Kid might agree. But Batman… that's hard to say. Wonder Woman and Flash should be fine."
"Please contact them," Lois said. "People need to know what they've done."
But Superman said, "Batman once told me: we freaks don't need anyone's admiration. We bring fear, not dependence. People should restrain themselves through fearing us. So please, just report the truth—no need for promotion or praise."
So honest. Lois found herself liking Superman even more. Of course, Superman still agreed to invite the other members and see if they'd be willing to be interviewed.