Chapter 587: A Special Child
Luke's Explanation
"If it weren't for me, you would have just sat by and watched the Yellow Lantern Corps grow stronger, step by step."
"If it weren't for me, you'd still be chasing Sinestro in circles all over the universe."
"I lured him out. We—the six people standing right here—disregarded our safety and forcefully kept him on Earth. And you? Mr. Half-Orc, please tell me what role the Green Lantern Corps played in all this."
"Of course, you can say you lost a lot of people, that you are sad, angry, and unsatisfied, and you need sympathy and comfort. But what does that have to do with me? I don't even know you. Why should I be your punching bag?"
Luke's speech was full of force, hitting every sore spot, leaving Kilowog utterly speechless.
Clark and J'onn felt the truth in his words. They had fought with everything they had only to become objects of suspicion. No one would be happy about that.
Barry secretly gave a thumbs-up. The Boss is the Boss. He's incredibly cool when he's raging.
Luke sneered. "Anything else you want to say?"
Kilowog muttered softly. What else could he say? The other side was right on every point. Continuing to argue would only bring him more humiliation.
"Where is Parallax?"
"It has been sealed."
Kilowog suddenly remembered something, his face changing. "That surge of fear just now—was that you? Did you steal its power?"
"Only a portion of its essence."
Kilowog gasped. Hal's expression also changed, his thoughts a tangled mess.
"That's Parallax! How... how did you do that?"
Luke shrugged. "Sorry, that's a secret."
"Any other questions?"
Kilowog shook his head bitterly. From start to finish, the situation was out of his control. The Earthling had sealed Parallax, meaning he could release the monster at any time, or even merge with it to become a new Parallax.
The thought of that scenario sent chills down his spine.
Having received the answers he needed, Kilowog ordered his subordinates to collect their comrades' remains, and they returned to the spaceship. This matter was too important for him to decide alone; he could only consult the Guardians.
The Guardians' Decision
On the highest tower of Oa.
The seven Guardians of the Universe stood side-by-side, listening to Kilowog's statement. When they learned that Parallax's power had been stolen, their shock was undeniable.
"Earth, a place of mystery and danger."
One Guardian sighed sincerely. Appa Ali Apsa spoke,
"That planet is teeming with power. Even the Dark Lord suffered a catastrophic defeat there. Perhaps we should take it more seriously."
Gannet said with extreme solemnity,
"Parallax cannot be left on Earth."
"It's too late," said another. "The Earthling named Luke Shaw sealed it and stole its power. It is already a fact."
Ganthet spoke up, "I also disagree with leaving it there, but given the current situation, there is no room for maneuver, unless we want to start a new war with the Earthlings."
The word "war" seemed to hold a magical power, silencing the other six Guardians simultaneously.
The Green Lantern Corps was an organization of peace. They had not actively instigated conflict in billions of years. If they started a war over this, the Green Lantern warriors might not be fully convinced.
"Let it be."
One Guardian said gravely, "This matter ends here. The Earthlings' decision—they will bear the consequences themselves."
Meanwhile, having received the reply, Kilowog publicly announced the Guardians' decision. Despite their reluctance, everyone chose to comply. The spaceship lifted off, carrying hundreds of Green Lantern warriors, and vanished into the sky like a streak of light.
Witnessing this, Clark and the others collectively sighed in relief. After days of back-and-forth, they finally had a good result.
Barry couldn't help but ask,
"Boss, where did you seal Parallax?"
The others looked curious too. Luke smiled, opening his right hand. Five rings floated in mid-air, light flowing over their surface, each engraved with the character "Seal."
"They're all in here."
Diana asked intently, "Are they safe?"
"Don't worry. They won't escape."
Hearing this, everyone finally felt at ease.
A Night of Release
The Sinestro affair was finally over. Physically and mentally exhausted, Luke returned to the Lakeside Villa, ate dinner, took a bath, and collapsed into bed for a deep sleep.
He slept for twenty-four hours, finally waking up as the sunset faded and the evening glow rose.
"You're awake. How do you feel?"
"Not bad."
Luke stretched, looking at Diana by the bed. The evening glow illuminated her body. In a moment of distraction, Luke saw a goddess's radiance. A fire burned in his heart, and he couldn't help but pull her into his arms.
"Stop, Linda will be back soon."
"She gets off work at seven. That leaves us an hour and a half. That's enough."
Luke flipped over, pressing her onto the bed. His hands snaked under her clothes, one moving up, the other down. Soon, muffled panting filled the room.
Near-death combat increases negative emotions. Luke needed to vent, and so did Diana.
They demanded release from each other, each thrust triggering a resonance in their souls.
Night quietly fell. It was seven o'clock before they knew it. To avoid complications, Diana left early. Not long after she was gone, Linda returned. Her eyes scanned the room, sensing something was off.
"Where is she?"
"She left."
"When did she leave?"
"A few hours ago."
"Did anything... happen between you two?"
Luke shrugged, joking, "We slept together. Five hours. Isn't that impressive?"
Hmph!
The girl pouted. Five hours? Who's he kidding? Even a pig couldn't last that long.
"Here is the company's business plan. Take a look."
Luke took the document and quickly scanned it. When he reached the end, he frowned.
"You wrote this?"
Linda nodded, her voice betraying her nervousness. "Is there a problem?"
"No."
Luke shook his head, smiling softly. "I'm just surprised. You've never been interested in company matters. Why did you decide to write a business plan now?"
"That was before. Now it's different. I need a job to prove myself."
Luke looked at her, understanding instantly, and couldn't help but smile.
"Alright. Where do you want to start?"
"As the CEO, of course. I don't want to work under anyone. Besides that, I want ten percent of the shares."
At Tesla's current market value, ten percent of the shares was over six billion dollars. Luke didn't hesitate for a moment.
"We'll finalize the transfer tomorrow morning. But one thing needs to be clear: this is a formal appointment. You can't just work on and off like before."
"Don't worry. I'm serious."
Linda clenched her fist, having secretly made a deep-seated decision.
The girl's transformation was easy to understand. Pressure breeds motivation. Facing the nearly perfect Carol Ferris, she felt the need to prove herself.
After dinner, Luke went out for a walk. When he reached the opposite side of the lake, an illusionary figure emerged from below.
"Why are you here?"
"It's about Kate. She's going into labor."
Eight's voice was serious. "Something isn't right. The child's soul is very strange. Even I am affected by it."
Luke raised an eyebrow.
"Where is she now?"
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