"Estimated one hour to reach the wormhole," Kid said.
"Since we have time, could you explain how a wormhole is formed? Is it natural or an accident?"
Kid realized Lois always had endless questions, never stopping for a moment. Still, space travel was boring, so Liu A'dou explained the reasons behind wormhole formation.
"So Earth actually went through another crisis that nobody knew about," Lois said. "Reports only mentioned a massive coronal eruption, but I didn't expect it to be like this."
"Scientists figured out the cause long ago. They just didn't make it public," Kid replied. He knew announcing it would only create panic. Since it was already over, secrecy was better.
Lois understood how the government thought, but she believed people should know about the heroes saving Earth. "If no one knows about what you do, and you die while protecting Earth, then people won't even know."
"A hero dying in obscurity is actually not a bad ending. But I don't think I'll die. More likely I'll just retire," Kid smiled. "Protecting Earth is way more exhausting than stealing. Maybe one day I'll just suddenly disappear."
"Superman vanished once too, but he came back. I believe you won't stand by and watch Earth fall into danger," Lois said. Superman had once gone back to the ruins of Krypton, but he eventually returned.
"I'm not like Superman. I became a hero because I enjoyed it. My real job is still being a thief. Ever since I became a hero, I've fallen way behind in my actual work."
Lois just took it as Kid joking. He hadn't stolen anything for a long time. Instead, he had been fighting on the frontlines against alien invaders. People no longer thought of him as a thief but focused on his heroic acts. His superhero image had long since been accepted.
In that one hour, Lois asked as many questions as she could, until she finally saw what looked like a lake appear in space. Kid deliberately approached from the side so the wormhole's most beautiful angle could be seen.
In space there's no sense of up or down, so wormholes could look upright or lying down, majestic or graceful, each with its own presence. After Kid confirmed his identity, they got permission to pass. "Open your eyes wide—you don't want to miss the crossing."
He made the ship's walls transparent. Lois and Luciela stared in awe, eyes wide, enjoying the dreamlike passage through.
On both ends of the wormhole, space stations were already finished. Patrol fighters buzzed around like bees over a lake, working diligently. So far, no enemies had appeared, so it was safe.
At Planet Einstein's Earth base, everything had changed. New buildings had been constructed, and many new faces were around.
Rafaela rushed into her sister's arms the moment she returned, and Luciela held her tightly, eyes wet with emotion. Then Kid guided Lois Lane through the facilities. In the labs, antidotes for the parasitic cells had already entered clinical trials. Claymores were capturing yoma and injecting them with the antidote.
If the antidote worked, the Church had already stated they would accept rehabilitated yoma. To stop the Organization from sacrificing more girls, the Claymores were training relentlessly, preparing to launch an attack against it.
The Holy City, still rebuilding, had also raised an army to support the Claymores. Now that the Organization's methods of population cleansing were exposed, they couldn't sit and wait for death. The Organization had clearly become everyone's enemy.
In the West, nothing had changed. The Abyssals and the Abyssal Eaters were still locked in combat. Riful showed no sign of moving.
Lois saw many locals working odd jobs like lumbering. Earthlings and locals were living together peacefully. But that wasn't enough for her—she wanted to see Claymores fight Awakened Beings.
Kid sighed at her demands. "You won't see any fights. But if you don't mind the cold, I can take you to see the great monument to the Northern War."
"Let's go!" Lois instantly perked up. For her, nothing was more energizing than new material. Kid couldn't help but pity Superman. With such a restless girlfriend, no wonder he worried himself sick.
They went north. Liu A'dou still didn't plan to wake the sleeping warriors. Saving them now meant they'd be forced into more battles. Better to let them rest. When the land truly changed, when Claymores no longer needed to draw their blades, then it would be time to revive them. Let them enjoy peace.
The monument of sword and ice gave Lois a chill deep in her soul, bringing an uncanny sense of calm. Standing before it, she didn't see seventeen corpses, but rather seventeen sleeping beauties in eternal rest.
Even Lois, who always loved talking, went quiet. She only sent a silent look of respect toward the fallen. That was enough. Claymores didn't need anything extra—just one look was enough.
When they were revived, Kid planned to have Rafaela give them a hug.
"They're heroes too," Lois said after learning the Claymores' stories. Then a sudden fear struck her. Would Superman one day also let go and leave?
She knew Superman wasn't like Kid. He had never once spoken of retiring. So what would Superman's end be? Kid had said a hero's destiny was to die alone. But what about Superman's destiny?
Even Kid didn't know. Maybe, when all Superman's friends had died, he'd finally leave Earth. Or maybe he'd fall during one of the planet's defense battles. But who could predict how Superman's story would end?
"That's enough for now. Let me take you to see the Holy City," Kid said when he noticed Lois's expression turn heavy. Better to change the scenery.
"Can I interview the locals?" Lois asked.
"Of course. I already gave you the translator."
Lois had already interviewed the Earth staff at the base, learning about the type of work they did and their daily duties. Now she wanted to know how the locals felt about Earthlings, and what they thought about the future of interplanetary relations. She had interviewed presidents and often met ambassadors, but this was her first time covering alien diplomacy. She was optimistic about Earth's first active step into alien contact.
But just as the interviews began, Kid got a call from the General. He was clearly displeased that Kid had brought a reporter to Planet Einstein. If word got out now, it would create a storm of pressure.
Countless people would try to grab a share. Who knew what kind of chaos would follow? They had carefully planned everything—trade wasn't supposed to start for at least 3 years. If the press exposed this, those years of preparation would go to waste.
Both domestic and foreign corporations would rush to get a piece of the alien market. That would only add to the mess.
Kid thought to himself, 'Come on, she's Superman's girlfriend. I have to show some respect.' Still, the General had a point. But what did that have to do with Kid? They were already here. He wasn't about to silence a reporter forever. So he said, "Don't worry, General. This news would come out sooner or later anyway. As long as we hold the core technology, we'll never lose our edge. We can't let surprises shake us. Just speed up shipbuilding. In the end, they'll still rely on our ships. And the shipyards will start making money sooner. That's good, isn't it? We can earn once from building ships, and then again from trade tariffs. Soldiers block armies, walls stop floods. We'll adapt to whatever comes. Relax."
"Am I the one in charge here, or are you?" the General snapped, though Kid's money-making logic almost made him laugh.
But Kid wasn't wrong. As long as their ships were the fastest and best, anyone wanting to do business would have no choice but to deal with them. Better to let people know early—it just meant they'd start preparing money in advance. Ships were expensive. Even renting one cost a fortune.