Carol looked at the man in front of her, who had been raging a second ago and was now smiling like an idiot, her mind full of questions.
She turned to Fury, her eyes asking: Are you sure this guy is a hero who saved Earth? Not someone who escaped from a mental asylum?
Fury's single eye rolled dramatically, his expression saying: You ask me, who am I supposed to ask?
Tel-Rol completely ignored what others were thinking, he put his arm around Kara's shoulder and whispered in her ear.
"So... home?"
Kara's face instantly flushed, and she gently elbowed his waist.
Deadpool came back, leaning on Tel-Rol's shoulder with a mischievous grin.
"Hey, boss, take me with you! I promise not to say a word, just watch!"
Tel-Rol didn't even turn his head, he just lifted his leg and delivered a precise back kick.
"Bang!"
"Adult business, kids stay out of it."
Deadpool flew in a graceful arc, accompanied by a shout of "I'll be back!" and disappeared into the distant ruins on the horizon.
Tel-Rol whistled, raised an eyebrow at Kara, and then scooped her up in his arms.
Kara gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
The next second, the two shot into the sky, transforming into a golden stream of light, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Left behind were a bewildered Captain Marvel, a weary Fury, and a knowing Tony.
"Young people are just impulsive."
"Let's go, Carol."
Fury sighed and was the first to walk towards the bulletproof SUV.
"Back to Stark Tower, I need a complete post-war report."
"Also, Tony, remember to send Wayne Enterprises a bill for the repair costs this time. It should be AA, at least."
Tony pouted.
"I suggest we just let them pay for everything."
Carol followed behind the two, her brows furrowed as she looked at the devastated streets of New York.
"So, who was the enemy? And are they all dealt with?"
Fury opened the car door and got in.
"There were quite a few enemies, two factions of aliens."
"The kree fleet was single-handedly crushed by Tel-Rol. The other was a Kryptonian warlord, beaten half to death by Tel-Rol, and then finished off by Superman."
Carol got into the car, and at the mention of Superman, her eyes flickered.
"I've heard of him, the last survivor of Krypton. Is the other Kryptonian girl here too?"
"That's right."
Tony also got in, and the vehicle started smoothly.
"Speaking of which, the Justice League also contributed greatly to this battle. Especially Wonder Woman, she single-handedly tore through a corridor of a kree warship."
"Oh?"
Carol became a little interested.
"Is she very strong?"
"Extremely strong."
Tony gave a very high evaluation.
"In your pilot's terms, she's the ace of aces. It's just their leader..."
Tony stopped mid-sentence and shook his head.
"That Batman, he's too obsessive."
Fury glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
"You're not in a position to criticize others, Tony."
Tony shrugged, "Better safe than sorry."
Stark Tower, top floor.
Tony poured himself a glass of whiskey and offered one to Fury and Carol.
Fury didn't take it, while Carol took it, sniffed it, and then put it down.
"I don't drink."
"Alright, Ms. Carol." Tony shrugged, "Then you're missing out on one of Earth's greatest inventions."
Carol ignored his quip. She walked to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city where rescue operations were underway.
"So, where is the Justice League now?"
Fury was about to speak when Maria Hill's projection suddenly appeared on the conference table, her expression unusually serious.
"Sir, something has happened."
Fury frowned.
"Speak."
"Just five minutes ago, our satellites detected intense energy fluctuations at the Justice League Tower."
Hill spoke quickly.
"The energy signature... is highly consistent with the aura around Tel-Rol. The fluctuations lasted for about thirty seconds, and then... the tower completely went dark."
Tony's movement of holding the wine glass paused.
"What does 'went dark' mean?"
"All communications are completely cut off, no signals can be scanned from outside, and energy readings have dropped to minimum sustained levels."
Hill's expression was grave.
The relaxed ease on Tony's face vanished, replaced by undisguised shock.
The headquarters of the Justice League, another solid line of defense for Earth, just... went silent?
"Have our people tried to contact them?"
Fury's voice was low and hoarse.
"We've tried, sir. No response on any channel."
Carol's azure eyes were filled with coldness.
"So, the situation now is that this guy named Tel-Rol, after fighting aliens, immediately turned around and took out his allies' base?"
"And we don't even know if the people inside are dead or alive?"
She punched the nearby wall, emitting a dull thud, leaving a shallow fist print on the wall.
"You guys really know how to play!"
Fury rubbed his temples, feeling like his brain was about to explode.
One Tel-Rol was already giving him enough headaches, and now there was a missing Justice League.
These super-powered individuals were practically walking nuclear bombs, and they were all damn free-moving and uncontrolled!
"j.a.r.v.i.s., raise Stark Tower's defense level to maximum."
Tony's voice grew cold.
"At the same time, re-organize all analysis data on Tel-Rol and establish a top-threat level file."
Fury's single eye glinted coldly; he was thoroughly annoyed.
"Hill, have all undercover agents go silent. Until we figure out exactly what happened at the Watchtower, I don't want any more surprises."
Just then, Hill's projection spoke again, her voice more urgent.
"Sir, there's one more thing."
"While clearing the battlefield, we discovered that the bodies of Kryptonian General Zod and his second-in-command, Fiona... are missing."
"Surveillance shows that the bodies were taken away by an unidentified group of armed individuals. Their equipment was excellent, and their actions were highly efficient, like a professional... recovery team."
Fury's single eye narrowed.
"Can you track them?"
"No, they have anti-tracking technology. The vehicle disappeared into Gotham's underground tunnels."
"But from the equipment left at the scene, we detected a company logo."
As Hill spoke, she projected a logo into the air.
A capitalized, technologically advanced 'L'.
Tony looked at the logo, his eyes growing cold.
"Lex Luthor."