Disclaimer: This is a story based on Harry Potter, Marvel, DC and Image comics characters and all recognizable characters, plots belong to Jk Rowling,Marvel, DC and Image comics. I claim no ownership to it.
Chapter 22: The World Was Not Ready: Finale
MACUSA HQ
Aurors John Williams and Robin Williams were occupied with other cases after forwarding their report about mysterious magical usage to their superiors. Days passed without any response, which suited them well, since neither of them wished to return to Gotham unless absolutely necessary. They were relaxing between assignments when a summons from the Chief Auror arrived, requesting their immediate presence in his office. They reported as instructed and entered after knocking.
John sensed trouble the moment he stepped inside. Seated comfortably in one of the office chairs was one of the most famous wizards in America, holding himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to authority. Jordan Cooper, the oldest of the Magical Lords and widely rumored to be the most powerful among the Magical Lords in America, acknowledged their arrival with a faint, knowing smile.
John glanced sideways and suppressed a groan when he noticed Robin blushing slightly at Cooper's presence. The reaction irritated him, though he restrained himself. Confronting a Magical Lord without cause would be reckless. One doesn't simply call out a powerful Lord unless said Lord is Dumbledore who is known to be extra eccentric and a calm old man with everyone.
"John, Robin," the Chief Auror said from behind his desk, breaking the silence. "There is no need for introductions, but formalities must be observed. Jordan, these are my best Aurors, John Williams and Robin Williams. They were the ones who recommended escalating this matter."
Both Aurors nodded politely. Cooper returned the gesture with a brief smirk.
"They were right to do so," Cooper said, his expression turning serious as any trace of amusement disappeared. "The matter has escalated to the highest level. Someone has cast the Concealment Ward within the United States."
Robin inhaled sharply in surprise. John attempted to respond, but the words would not come. The last recorded use of such a ward to evade MACUSA's magical detection system had been by Gellert Grindelwald, who had concealed his activities while creating an Obscurus.
John cleared his throat and forced himself to focus. "Sir, is it confirmed that the individual behind the ward is the same person we encountered?"
Cooper nodded slowly. His reputation as a seer was legendary, and many believed that ability alone justified his authority as a Magical Lord. Rumors about his lineage circulated constantly, including whispered claims that he might be Grindelwald's illegitimate son, though none had ever been proven.
"It is confirmed," Cooper said. "Even my Sight reveals only that much. No more, no less. We are dealing with a rogue wizard who has no respect for American magical law."
What do you need us to do sir. Robin aked when cooper finished speaking.
"What do you need us to do, sir?" Robin asked.
"I want both of you to visit the Muggle company owner and persuade him to contact the individual who purchased the shares," Cooper replied. The mere thought of a wizard capable of casting a concealment ward colluding with a muggle makes him angry. "When Sirius Black or James Potter arrives, you will arrest him. Inform me of the meeting time beforehand. I will attend personally to ensure the transaction is reversed."
The Chief Auror gave a small nod, and John and Robin accepted the assignment without protest. They left the office together, the door closing behind them.
The Chief Auror hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"Jordan, are you certain about antagonizing House Black in this manner? They are not breaking any laws."
Cooper snorted dismissively.
"House Black may hold influence in Britain, but this is America. As for legality, I have already begun the process of introducing legislation that will make such investments illegal retroactively. It will take time to move through the bureaucracy and pass the Wizarding Council vote, but it will happen."
The Chief Auror nodded, aware that opposing a Magical Lord's political ambitions would be futile. He did not entirely disagree with Cooper's position either, as he remained deeply uncomfortable with the growing cooperation between wizards and Muggles.
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Smallville
Harry made a mental reminder to upgrade his thought stream when he returned to Britain, when his senses suddenly warned him of an incoming high-speed attack. Even with the warning and his automated thought streams increasing his shield percentage through channeling more telekinesis as well as magic, Harry couldn't dodge the human missile called Clark Kent's hug.
The boy hit him with such force that, without Harry bracing for impact, they would have been sent miles away. Harry didn't even need telepathy to understand why Clark reacted the way he did. After holding nothing back every second with Harry and then returning to the normal human world, a cardboard world, the contrast would have had a strong effect.
Of course, Harry could have Apparated away, but he didn't want to rely on that every time. He would rather improve his own physical abilities.
"Harry! Harry, why are you here?" Clark said after releasing him from the hug.
Harry groaned as his muscles relaxed and he felt his magic healing the bruises from the impact.
"Clarky boy, as much as I like you, don't do that to anyone else. Without my magic's healing properties, I'd be in pain for days. You have to use the perfect amount of strength. Maybe use your powerful eyes and ears to identify when the other person's body starts to give way to your strength. Even in fighting, it's essential," Harry said, looking over the farm boy. His gaze lingered on the geo-metallic band around Clark's hands — the hidden form of Kelex.
Clark immediately looked down in guilt and slight horror as he sensed Harry's healing working on bruises and small hairline fractures in bone.
"I am sorry," Clark replied.
"I won't waste time. I'll come to the matter at hand. I've recruited one of the most dangerous humans on this planet to our side. He has reluctantly agreed to build a red-sun training room for you and will also train you in hand-to-hand combat. The man has learned dozens of martial arts and is one of the best fighters alive."
Without thinking, Harry's memory cache ran through thirty different Bruce Waynes who had trained him and everything he had learned from them.
Clark frowned, then pointed to the magical kryptonite in his locket, currently inactive.
"I thought this would make me powerless and help me train. Why go through all that trouble?" Clark asked.
Harry smiled proudly at the question, making Clark slightly embarrassed.
"Kelex," Harry said, "would you do the honors?"
The geo-band quickly detached from Clark's hand and reshaped into a floating joystick-like form.
"Mr. Potter is surprisingly knowledgeable about Kryptonian physiology, even for someone who is your friend in the future, Kal-El. The difference is that kryptonite actively damages your cells, while a red sun only depowers you by providing less energy than yellow sunlight. What Mr. Potter is doing is forcing your cells to fight kryptonite poisoning in small doses, making your body more adaptable. Eventually kryptonite may no longer harm you within seconds. Even I cannot extrapolate how long this will take or how much resistance you will develop due to varying circumstances."
"So, it is just another form of training to help me preserve my powers from yellow sunlight," Clark said in slight relief.
"That is correct, Kal-El," Kelex replied.
Harry just smirked, looking at Clark's relief, knowing that Clark would, of course, regret everything about this training more than kryptonite poisoning, pain, and irritation. Clark may have caught his smirk because he looked at Harry in curiosity, but Harry did not bother to answer it.
"Well, I am happy to do it, and it will be interesting to see how someone other than my parents would see me," Clark said with slight wonder.
"Oh?" Harry replied in slight worry. "Clark, let me tell you one thing right now. I do not know when you will be able to run down to Gotham near New York City, but do not expect anything other than suspicion and paranoia from Bruce Wayne, also known as Batman."
Clark's enthusiasm vanished slightly before his brows scrunched in thought. "Batman? I have not heard anything like that at all. Isn't Bruce Wayne an evil, drug-using billionaire who goes after women and parties? I remember my father cursing about arrogant billionaires and their wickedness some time ago."
Harry just laughed at that. "You are remembering the same Bruce Wayne. Batman is only an urban legend, and what you see in the media is an act by Bruce. You will see when you meet him."
Clark nodded. "So when will we meet?"
Harry grimaced slightly at that. "Now is not the time, Clark. The setup is not complete. You are not fast enough to run there without the cameras picking you up."
Clark frowned at that but did not argue, since Kelex also hummed in agreement.
"So why did you come personally now? This could have been said through the mirror. Kelex has scanned it over three times."
Harry smirked, hearing that and knowing Kelex was curious about magic and its system.
Harry became serious as he looked at Clark and answered, "Well, to be honest, why I came now is because of Kelex itself. I need a super AI's help to get one over the most advanced AI on this planet right now."
Even before Clark could process what he heard, Kelex interrupted with the same computerized, inhuman voice. "Impossible. I checked when I became online, and this world's technology is still far from developing a fully fledged AI like me. Even a lesser version appears to be a dozen years away."
Harry looked at the floating Kelex and nodded. "You are correct. Humans have not developed that much yet, but Tony Stark did. He had a VI that he developed into a functioning AI named JARVIS over the past two decades."
Kelex remained silent, and both Harry and Clark knew that the robot was checking on Stark.
After a couple of minutes, Kelex moved slightly and finally replied,
"Fascinating. There is someone named JARVIS in the Stark household, though calling it an AI is slightly insulting to me. But the progress made by this human, Stark, is truly extraordinary."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, Earth is full of such extraordinarily intelligent people. Ignore that for now. I need to hide from JARVIS at an upcoming auction. Can you come with me and assist me?"
Clark's eyes widened slightly before he looked at Kelex.
Kelex remained still and replied, "I apologize, Mr. Potter. My core programming does not allow me to be away from Kal-El once I have been activated, unless Kal-El himself learns the programming and changes it. Even with his enhanced brain, he would not be able to do that by the time you need me."
Harry groaned in slight irritation. "Can't you, you know, split into two or something like that?"
"Unfortunately, no. Earthly equipment is not developed enough to carry my core consciousness. I can observe remotely, but my core must remain in this Geo-Metallica house. There are no other bands near us, and I am certain the place you want protected would be an airtight building."
Harry nodded.
"Well, if Kelex cannot go without me, maybe I should come with you too, Harry. It will solve all the problems, and I would really like to help you," Clark said in obvious enthusiasm and happiness, as if imagining going on a grand adventure.
Harry looked at Clark, slightly amused by the clear change in him. The first time he met Clark, the boy had been losing his naivety and entering a brooding phase because his origins were unknown. Now, after meeting Harry and learning the truth, and after gaining a friend, the boy was happy and content. Harry truly did not want to break Clark's new happiness so soon.
"Clark, I do not think that is wise. You are happy now, and I do not want to end your childhood so soon, just after I made sure you would have an enjoyable one by giving you the magical locket," Harry said.
Clark's smile faded into a frown. "Come on, Harry. It is just an auction, and I know what that is. I do not see any problem with me attending it in hiding."
Harry sighed. "It is not just an auction. It is an auction held by an international weapons dealer and criminal named Ulysses Klaue, and it is an auction where I leaked that vibranium would be put up for sale. There will be trouble above and beyond what I planned to create using this to cause chaos for Nicholas Fury, an international spy and director of S.H.I.E.L.D., an organization that deals with the extraordinary."
Clark looked intrigued for several heartbeats before realizing something, making him exclaim, "You are going to commit a crime and steal from the thief himself."
"And the attendees of the auction too, if possible," Harry replied with a grin. "Also, I will be dealing with criminals who will definitely attend this auction, sometimes permanently. This will not be clean or friendly. This would change you if you witnessed it, Clark, and I do not want that."
Clark remained stoic and silent as his thoughts raced faster and faster.
"I…" Clark started before hesitating and looking at Kelex. "What should I do, Kelex? Would it be too much for me?"
"No, Kal-El. It would not be too much, as you asked. A Kryptonian soldier is far more mentally strong than human soldiers, and bloodshed and war are in their hearts from their first breath. Even if you are naturally born and not a predetermined Kryptonian, the soldier, scientist, bureaucrat, and fighter all lie within you. If the reason is correct and you know it, no amount of death would affect a Kryptonian mentally. You are only hesitating because of your upbringing by a comparatively kind human couple. But make no mistake, Kal-El, there is a monster in every human, even in your parents, hiding behind morals and societal constraints, unlike Kryptonians, who engineered it away long ago."
Clark's breath hitched slightly as he remembered how his father scolded him when Clark saved his classmates. He remembered that moment — the monster in his own father waking in defense of Clark and saying, without saying it, that Clark should have let those children die rather than reveal his powers.
Clark finally shook his head to clear the stupor and looked at Harry with clear determination, remembering what had happened to his friend even in this life before awakening. There were monsters in the world, and as his father revealed that day, becoming one to protect loved ones was sometimes necessary. He saw the emotionless look on Harry's face and knew he had to help him, even if he would have to do illegal things. Then another thought struck Clark, making him laugh. Would he even be tried as a human if he were caught, or would he have no rights or legal recourse because he was not human according to them? Clark decided to deal with that if it ever became necessary, and as far as he could tell, Harry was not going to get caught.
"Harry," Clark finally said with an understanding smile, "I may try to have an ordinary life too, but I will never abandon my friends. You gave me hope when I had none and helped me learn so much. More than that, you are my first true friend. Helping you in this auction is the least I could do. Of course, I do not know how my parents will agree to this. That, you will have to deal with."
"Thank you, my dear friend. There is almost nothing you have to do. I just need you to be present so that Kelex can deal with intruders. I will contact you with my mirror before coming over with potions so that your parents will agree to a trip with an old friend. Or I could use my telepathy to make sure they would not question your absence," Harry said.
Clark frowned, hearing what might be done to his parents. Finally, he replied with a sigh, "Use magic potions and suggestion. That is better than someone lurking in their minds."
Harry nodded in acceptance.
==============================
Stark Mansion
Pepper arrived at the mansion at midnight because there had been no other choice, and JARVIS let her enter without question. She hesitated for a moment, aware that what she was about to do crossed a boundary she had carefully maintained until now. She hoped she wouldn't be fired over this, yet her commitment to Tony pushed her forward.
Pepper prepared herself mentally for the sight she expected to see, then entered Tony's bedroom with determined resolve. She deliberately ignored the naked form of Tony fucking a blonde woman on the bed, while another lay sprawled on the far side, clearly intoxicated and barely aware of her surroundings. Fixing her gaze firmly on the wall beside the bed, Pepper snapped Tony's name at the top of her voice.
Fortunately for her, Tony immediately stopped moving and turned toward the source of the sharp command. He saw his assistant — and, in many ways, his friend — staring stubbornly at the wall rather than at him, and he could almost feel the anger and frustration radiating from her in steady waves.
"What?" Tony asked with a crooked smirk, turning fully as if to ensure Pepper would get an unmistakable view should she look in his direction. He watched her eyes carefully, noticing how she refused to blink or shift her focus, though he suspected she was annoyed at the timing of this interruption. After all, he was scheduled to leave in the morning, traveling to South Africa both as a military representative and as a private industrialist.
Pepper finally turned to face him, and to Tony's growing irritation, her gaze never dropped even a single centimeter below his eyes. She knew him too well; one glance downward would give him ammunition for endless teasing, and she refused to surrender that advantage.
"Don't 'what' me," Pepper snapped, her voice tight with impatience. "For God's sake, put on some clothes and come out right now." Without waiting for a reply, Pepper turned and left the room immediately.
Tony frowned as his eyes went to the ass of the redhead. While he was tempted to just ignore his own secretary ordering him around in his own home at midnight, he couldn't just do it. Somewhere along the way, Pepper had become more than just an employee — she had become a true friend — and for reasons he preferred not to examine too closely, he did not want to risk damaging that.
Tony pulled on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, his mind drifting back to an incident from years ago when he had attended an Arabian prince's extravagant Orgy. The prince, already deep in his cups, had insisted on telling the old desert tale about a camel, its owner, and a tent because by midnight Tony had personally dealt with majority of the girls. In the story, a traveler allowed his camel to place only its head inside the tent during a cold night in the desert. By midnight, the camel had slowly pushed farther and farther inside until the animal occupied the entire shelter, leaving the unfortunate owner outside in the freezing wind. Tony snorted at the memory, imagining Pepper gradually "encroaching" in much the same way ever since he had allowed her a small space in his personal life.
When Tony entered the hall, he saw Pepper standing near the table with a glass of scotch in her hand. His eyes immediately fell on the bottle beside her, and he recognized it as one of the more expensive ones in his collection.
"You know, Pepper," Tony said dryly, "what you just drank costs about a month of your salary."
Pepper finished the drink without reacting to the joke and looked at him with a completely serious expression, which made Tony frown.
"Also," Tony continued, irritation creeping into his voice, "it's midnight, and maybe I should be asking myself why I'm not firing you for interrupting my evening."
"Don't worry about that, Tony," Pepper snapped. "I might quit on my own after discovering that my boss conveniently hid the fact that he's flying to a goddamned third-world country to attend a weapons auction run by an international criminal on his newly made personal warship."
Tony grimaced immediately, realizing the true source of her anger.
"What were you thinking, Tony?" Pepper continued, her voice tight with worry. "You still have time to cancel. Do you even realize how dangerous this is? You're the most prominent weapons manufacturer in the world, and you're walking into a black-market auction. It could be a trap for you. It could be an assassination attempt. It could be anything."
Her voice grew hoarse by the end of the sentence, and Tony winced slightly at the raw concern beneath the anger.
He raised a hand in a calming gesture. "I'm not going alone, Pepper. The U.S. military will be there as official protection, and I've hired three separate mercenary groups for additional security. More importantly, I have my ace in the hole — JARVIS. I upgraded his systems, and the moment I step onto that warship, he'll have access to every network onboard. He'll be watching everything."
Pepper's breathing slowed gradually after the outburst, reassured—at least partially—by the precautions he described.
"Still," she said more quietly, "why are you going in the first place, Tony? There's nothing that man could sell that you can't already build or haven't already seen."
"Oh, there is one thing," Tony replied with a small, confident smirk. "Vibranium. He's putting vibranium up for auction, and I want it."
For a moment, Pepper simply stared at him. Then she burst into laughter. Tony's smirk faded into confusion.
"Tony," she said between breaths, "for someone who's supposed to be one of the smartest people on Earth, you can be unbelievably foolish sometimes. An international criminal claims he's selling vibranium, and you just believe him? I've seen Klaue's wanted file — he's unstable and a liar."
Tony wanted to argue immediately, but even he could not fully deny her point. His interest in the auction was driven as much by curiosity and possibility as by solid evidence.
He scoffed, masking that hesitation. "Do you think I'm an idiot, Pepper? JARVIS already confirmed that small amounts of vibranium exist outside of Steve's shield — scattered museum pieces and fragments. Even if this turns out to be nothing, the opportunity is worth checking out. And more importantly," he added with a competitive edge, "I'd rather die than let Bruce Wayne get his hands on it first."
Tony," Pepper said with clear irritation, "Wayne is an absolute piece of shit. If he wants to risk his life, then let him go and risk it for some piece of metal. Why are you fighting him over all the..."
Pepper suddenly froze as several scattered memories aligned in her mind. Within seconds, her expression shifted from anger to shock as she realized something she had not considered before.
"Pepper?" Tony called, curious about what had rendered her speechless so abruptly.
"Tony… did you really start a feud with Bruce Wayne because he sexually harassed me at one of those parties?" Pepper finally asked, her voice filled with wonder and confusion, the anger completely gone.
"What are you talking about?" Tony replied in surprise, hoping to deflect the conversation. "I am not competing with anyone. No one is on my level intellectually."
"Do not try to gaslight me, Tony," Pepper snapped. "Stark Industries has been competing for satellite contracts, entering the technology market, and expanding into several areas outside our core defense business line. Satellites are Wayne's domain, and everyone knows that. There is no reason for us to enter that market unless we are serious about challenging him."
She paused, her tone softening.
"I am strangely touched to realize that my boss cares enough to start an economic war with the largest corporate empire in the world for my sake, but this is too much and far too risky, just like your visit to this auction. There was no need to act macho like this. I already slapped Bruce Wayne in front of everyone for his disgusting remarks. The only decent thing about that bastard was that he stopped and laughed it off. Thinking back, I was terrified after my hand left his face. I had no idea what I was doing in that moment."
Tony sighed in exhaustion and walked toward the bar to pour a drink. He filled two glasses and handed one to Pepper. She accepted it and took a slow sip.
"Pepper, the harassment is exactly why I started the feud," Tony said. "Bruce Wayne, playboy billionaire orphan and CEO, insulted my friend in public, and I froze in shock because everyone constantly compares the two of us. I may be a playboy, but I have never coerced or harassed a woman."
He took a breath before continuing.
"It was then that I sent Jarvis after Bruce to give him some legal trouble or some shit like that. Nothing came up except the fact that Bruce took a ten billion dollar company and turned it into a fifty billion dollar one. That really made me stand up and take notice. Stark Industries is still valued around twelve or thirteen billion, and that bastard multiplied his company fivefold after inheriting it over a decade ago. So, I started making moves. I was already getting bored with defence as there is no fucking one even near me. Everything I make, it will make me billions and yet there is a limit to defence growth. I decided that I will enter the new market especially where Wayne is, and show him that I was always better."
Pepper remained silent for several heartbeats before responding.
"Alright, I understand why Stark Industries is slowly entering new business sectors, and I am grateful that I may have been part of the reason for that decision. I will support you however I can, and I would be more than happy to bleed that arrogant sexual predator dry."
Tony smirked proudly and took another drink. Pepper's smile quickly vanished.
"Still, I do not understand why you need to attend this auction just because Bruce Wayne is going. Bruce risking everything is a clear sign of foolishness. You have already surpassed him intellectually and commercially, while Wayne appears to be surviving on generational wealth, a capable board of directors, and talented research teams."
Tony shook his head slowly while sipping his scotch.
"That is where you are wrong, my dear Pepper. I believed the same thing until JARVIS pointed out that almost every major technological innovation and clever business strategy at Wayne Enterprises had Bruce's name attached to it. I was shocked, so I personally hacked into WayneTech files and security cameras, which was surprisingly very hard, to see whether the man actually did any work. To my surprise, Bruce really was responsible for what the reports claimed. He is highly intelligent and extremely clever. The only question left was how intelligent."
Pepper nearly dropped her glass in shock. If anyone else had said this, she would have dismissed it immediately. The careless playboy she met at parties did not match the man Tony was describing.
"But… he does not even have a degree," Pepper said quietly.
Tony snorted. "I wondered the same thing. JARVIS performed a deeper background check. Bruce Wayne officially enrolled in seven different degree programs after leaving Gotham, including criminology, forensics, computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, and law. He never completed even a single year in any program. He never sat for a semester exam and simply dropped out each time. After that, his whereabouts for several years are unknown. There are no official travel records, only rumors that he ended up in a prison somewhere in the Balkans. My theory is that he mastered each subject privately and then moved on to the next, something my bastard of a father never allowed me to do."
Pepper stared at him, stunned.
"This is truly shocking," she whispered. "I do not even know what to say."
"There is nothing to be said," Tony replied with a casual shrug. "If Bruce Wayne is attending this auction, then it means there is something there worth noticing. He would not risk his time or reputation without a reason."
Pepper hesitated, clearly weighing her response, before speaking with quiet determination. "Then I am coming with you tomorrow."
Tony opened his mouth to object, but Pepper raised a hand to stop him before he could begin.
"Do not tell me it is unsafe," she said firmly. "You are walking into the same situation, and I am not staying behind while you chase another billionaire's mysterious interests. If this matters enough for you to be there in person, then it matters enough for me to be there too."
Tony watched her for a moment, recognizing the familiar stubborn resolve in her expression. He exhaled slowly, knowing the argument was already lost. With visible reluctance, he nodded in agreement.
"Fine," Tony said. "You are coming."
================ =
Bat-Cave
Bruce looked down at his curled fist resting on the computer keyboard. He could feel the restrained power in his hand, something entirely new even after a lifetime of physical training. The transformation had not been painless, but pain was an old companion to both him and Alfred. Long before the procedure, Bruce had already pushed his body to the limits of human capability. At ninety five kilograms of dense, disciplined muscle, he had been as close to peak human condition as training alone could achieve. After the serum, that limit no longer applied. His weight had climbed to one hundred twenty five kilograms, his frame heavier with reinforced muscle and bone, and his height had increased slightly as well.
Alfred's transformation had been different. He had not grown larger or more muscular. Instead, the years seemed to fall away from him. His posture straightened, his movements regained the quiet precision of a much younger man, and the lines of age softened without disappearing entirely. During sparring sessions meant to help them adjust to their altered bodies, Bruce quickly confirmed that Alfred possessed the same enhanced strength, speed, and endurance despite his unchanged build.
After the procedure, and after consuming enough food to satisfy what felt like a furnace inside his body, Bruce had sparred extensively with Harry to recalibrate his physical control. It took barely an hour for Bruce to learn how to regulate his new strength and reduce it to normal human levels during movement and contact. That part had been straightforward. What truly surprised him were the mental changes.
Bruce had always possessed near photographic recall, the result of relentless training and natural aptitude. Now it had become something sharper and faster. Information settled into his memory instantly and remained perfectly accessible. His thoughts moved with startling clarity, branching and reconnecting so quickly that he could hold multiple lines of reasoning at once. Even during combat training, part of his mind observed patterns, calculated force output, and predicted movement trajectories without interrupting the flow of action.
The training sessions benefited both of them, but Bruce knew Harry gained far more from the experience. Harry's improvement across every form of combat, including weapon work, had been dramatic. Physically, Harry could only match Bruce's raw strength and speed by reinforcing his body with telekinesis or magic, but his adaptability and learning speed made the gap feel smaller each session.
Bruce's thoughts were interrupted when the computer screen flashed yellow.
Spatial anomaly detected.
Bruce smirked at the warning indicating the incoming apparition of Harry Potter. Detecting magical energy remained beyond his technology, but his enhanced memory had recalled a paper he once read in his youth by Reed Richards discussing dimensional boundaries and portal theory. After returning to the cave, Bruce had quietly hacked into the Baxter Building systems to access Richards's research on spatial displacement. It had been enough to construct a detection array sensitive to localized distortions in space.
Bruce rotated his chair toward the location indicated by the system just as Harry appeared, wearing a smug smile. The smile widened slightly at the brief flicker of surprise on Harry's face, which vanished almost instantly under disciplined mental control. Credit where it was due, Bruce thought. Harry did not ask how he had been detected.
"Bruce," Harry said with a small nod. "I see the mental enhancement is already paying off."
Before Bruce could respond, Harry waved a hand dismissively.
"Anyway, I just came from meeting Clark. He understands the plan and the reason behind it. He agreed to join me when the time comes next week."
Bruce frowned, instinctively preparing to object, but stopped himself. He knew too little about the alien boy to form a meaningful argument, and Harry's judgment had proven reliable so far.
"Also," Harry continued, "I made sure Klaue does not get spooked by the increased scrutiny and rumors."
"That is definitely good news," Bruce replied calmly. "I look forward to meeting the advanced alien artificial intelligence."
For a moment, Harry stood completely still. Then he burst into laughter.
"Come on, my friend," Harry said, still laughing. "Do not introduce millennia advanced technology right after scamming poor Clark out of his alien database. That would be cruel even by your standards."
Bruce's expression did not change, though the faintest hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
"I would not have needed to do that if someone had actually shared some technology with my company," Bruce said evenly. "Even though the board ultimately answers to me, they will still make noise if I take a leave of absence from the chairman position to focus on my entertainment company, especially as part of your admittedly mad plan. Having a technological path to the side as a backup is simply good strategy rather than placing everything on your plan alone."
Harry remained silent for several seconds, studying Bruce with an unreadable expression. Finally, he shrugged.
"It is your company," Harry said. "Do what you must as backup. As long as the primary plan is enacted, I don't care what you do with your own resources. I will, of course, share what I can when the time is right."
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Author's note: so the next chapter it would be in south Africa and people are going to meet far earlier than whatever I had initially planned…
Read, commend and recommend!!!
To read ahead My Discord