"What?!
Darkseid?!!"
Mera froze, then grew even more tense.
"You mean Uxas, the one who once came to Earth with the Mother Box? The new ruler of Apokolips?!!"
Hearing Mera's words, Heisenberg nodded with satisfaction. He turned to Bruce beside him and smiled.
"Look at their races. Whether it's the Amazons or the Atlanteans, the moment Darkseid's name is mentioned, they know his identity, his history, and all the crises behind it.
And then look at Earth's humans. Tsk tsk. Just a few thousand years of inherited civilization, and they're already caught up in this absurd cycle of falsifying and rewriting history. They can't even clearly recount the true records of their own ancestors. What grounds do they have to be proud?"
The words landed. Bruce's brow furrowed as he responded thoughtfully.
"That's because human lifespans are too short and our lives too fragile. If we possessed bodies and longevity like theirs, our legacy would undoubtedly stretch far longer than theirs!
Because even with these weak bodies as we are now, we can still accomplish what they cannot!"
"Ha. Perhaps the very reason humans can do what they cannot is precisely because humans don't have such lifespans and circumstances.
Of course, the way long-lived species and short-lived species live and pursue things will differ. You need to complement each other, Bruce!"
Heisenberg's assertion made Bruce nod lightly. He spoke with certainty.
"You're right. I'll use my influence and ours to reach more of humanity. We have the right to embrace a better version of ourselves!"
"Now that's the right attitude!"
Heisenberg nodded, then turned and gave Mera, who was brimming with envy, a smile as well.
Mera truly was dying of envy. In just this brief exchange, this godlike figure had repeatedly expressed his hopes for humanity's future and granted them guidance.
Why didn't Atlantis get the same treatment from him?
So the moment she caught Heisenberg smiling at her, she grew excited. Was he finally about to guide her race?
But the next moment, Heisenberg spoke with approval.
"Let's set all that aside for now. Bruce, first let's see whether the new recruit I've chosen for the Justice League is worthy!
When I simultaneously put forward the suggestion of crowning her as queen and the threat of a great enemy invasion, her first concern was for the imminent danger.
The vision of becoming a ruler is far outweighed in her heart by the safety of her homeland."
He paused, then extended his hand to Mera. She clasped it in a daze of excitement.
Feeling Mera's heartbeat, Heisenberg continued.
"You are the first Atlantean noble to come see me. That is your own effort.
You placed the threat of Darkseid before whatever power you might gain. That is your own choice.
The desire for power has never overcome your will to protect your home. That is your own character.
Power will not become a burden to you. In fact, before this, you never even yearned for power to fall upon you.
So…"
Heisenberg turned to look at the gradually brightening faces of Batman and Superman beside him, and continued.
"So you are the most suited to become the Aquaman. Because the one who least craves power is the one least weighed down by the throne!"
As his words fell, Heisenberg released Mera's hand and decisively declared to Clark and Bruce.
"Mera will temporarily join the Justice League under the title of princess. We will choose an appropriate time later to go down to the seabed with her and investigate.
Once we confirm that the situation of her people is as she described, and that she truly has the qualifications,
she will become the Aquaman. And she will become the bridge connecting the nation of Atlantis with the Justice League and humanity."
Heisenberg smiled and clapped his hands. Wine immediately flowed into Bruce's and Clark's glasses.
Raising his glass at just the right moment, Heisenberg said to them all.
"Then, let's raise a toast — to our newest member!"
"Of course!"
"I'm all for it!"
"Huh? What's going on? The Justice League? Me? Aquawoman?"
Mera raised her glass in a bewildered toast with the others, then drank the wine in a daze.
A moment later, she set down her glass, a faint disappointment welling up inside.
Still, he hadn't guided my race on how to move forward. He only praised and affirmed me personally?
Though this leaves me pleasantly surprised, still…
Looking at Heisenberg's smiling face, she lowered her head without confidence.
Am I truly worthy of being the ruler he speaks of?
…
A few moments later, she thought it over and simply raised her head again.
Aquaman and the rest were fanciful hopes. The real issue was Darkseid and the Mother Boxes!!!
So she quickly pressed Heisenberg.
"Your… Mr. Heisenberg, about Darkseid you just mentioned…?"
"You uttered a name just now — Uxas!
That's right, that was him. He is the current Darkseid!"
At this, Heisenberg tapped the table and decided to explain to Bruce and Clark as well.
"Diana has told us about Darkseid's history, but there are things she hasn't mentioned, or perhaps never delved into herself.
In the ancient era, when Darkseid invaded Earth, his name was not yet Darkseid!
At that time, he had yet to become the ruler of his planet, so he didn't yet have the right to be called the Lord of Darkness."
No sooner had he spoken than Bruce nodded in swift understanding.
"In other words, the Darkseid of back then wasn't at his strongest. The one we're about to face will be far stronger than before, is that correct?"
"Of course!"
Listening to Bruce's deduction, Heisenberg affirmed it clearly.
"Not just stronger — because there's something you don't know.
When Darkseid invaded Earth back then, his age was equivalent to about an eight-year-old human."
"What?!!"
"How is that possible?!!"
"He was only eight at the time?"
The three of them were shocked. Clark immediately pressed Heisenberg further.
"Great-grandfather, are you saying that the one who invaded Earth back then, forcing all of Earth's races and gods to join forces against him, was just an eight-year-old child?!!"
"Indeed. A child!"
Heisenberg nodded, then shook his head, continuing.
"Of course, that's just a conversion. His actual age wasn't so young at that time. It's only to say that he was truly immature and very young back then.
Especially compared to now — he was extremely weak!"
With that, Heisenberg waved his right hand, and a robot immediately came to his side.
Then he reached out toward Bruce.
"Buddy, got any cash on you? Let my little cutie here go buy us some dinner.
No need for you to rush back. It's rare for me to talk this much. If there's nothing urgent, let me tell you more about Darkseid."
"Huh???"
Mera looked at Heisenberg, bewildered. What… what was this?
Before Bruce could answer, Clark, who was standing to the side, suddenly laughed.
"No need. I brought money this time on purpose. I figured it would come in handy.
We can't always have Bruce treat us, right, Great-grandfather!"
With that, Clark pulled a small roll of cash from where his cape met his shoulder and stuffed it into the little robot that had approached.
The penguin-shaped little robot took the roll of bills in both hands and turned its head toward Heisenberg, awaiting the next command.
Heisenberg patted the robot's head.
"Go outside, connect to Earth's network, and head to the nearest Chinatown. Buy some Chinese food for us to bring back.
Make sure there's braised pork knuckle. Everything else, up to you!"
After speaking, Heisenberg gave the little robot a nudge, and it immediately scurried out of the spacecraft.
Moments later, the crowd outside the ship was astonished to see a robot run out of the spacecraft! In an instant, countless people made way for it, while even more simply followed its trail. The robot's speed was about that of a motorcycle — many could still keep up!
After the robot left, Heisenberg turned back to Mera and explained gently.
"Last night, before my battle with Doomsday, I had a conversation with Darkseid, who was possessing a human body.
The content doesn't need to be repeated. Suffice to say, our era will begin with the war between him and me.
To counter the impending attack — namely the forces under his command vast enough to blanket the entire Earth —
I purposely established the Justice League, to select heroes from present-day Earth who are qualified, capable, distinctive, and filled with the will to resist.
After I confront Darkseid, they will defend Earth against Darkseid's forces.
This is extremely dangerous and terribly difficult. So, do you think you can do it, Mera?"
"Of course I can!"
Mera nodded firmly.
"Atlantis has always been the enemy of Darkseid. Our ancestors fought alongside the gods to repel him, and one of his three Mother Boxes has been kept in our nation all this time!
Whether you raise the banner or not, we are destined to be his enemies. This has always been our war!!!"
"I understand."
Heisenberg nodded and extended his hand to Mera once more.
"Then, the Justice League welcomes you, Mera."
"I am honored, Your Eminence!"
At last Mera realized her fate had been changed. This time, as she clasped Heisenberg's hand, it was slightly damp with sweat.
Heisenberg knew she was nervous, so after that he didn't discuss much more about Atlantis as a race.
Regarding the undersea kingdom, Heisenberg said he would make time to personally experience the seabed after he and Bruce and the others had visited the Amazons. He would decide on the next steps for Atlantis then.
So until dinner returned, the time was filled with Heisenberg and Mera discussing matters related to the ancient war.
And Darkseid's past.
...
While the group was immersed in discussion, the little robot was hurtling toward Chinatown.
Behind it, countless police motorcycles, private motorbikes, mounted police, and even thrill-seekers with impressive driving skills, along with helicopters, kept tailing it the whole way.
That terrifying motorcade nearly scared the residents of Chinatown out of their wits!
It was only when the robot stopped at a restaurant called Nanzhou Braised Meat House that the endless parade of vehicles came to a halt.
The restaurant's owner, a woman drenched in sweat under the gaze of countless cameras and people filming snippets, had no idea what was happening.
It wasn't until the little robot held out its penguin-flipper-like hands, offering the cash to the owner, that everyone realized — it was buying groceries?
The next moment, particles separated from the little robot's body, and those metallic particles arranged themselves into words in the air.
"Braised pork knuckle, and other Chinese dishes. ASAP!"
This scene instantly spread through the network into the eyes of countless citizens.
In that very instant, a terrifying Chinese food craze swept across the entire world!
Not only did Michelin step aside for Chinese cuisine, but every chef who could cook Chinese food saw their pay more than triple!
Countless Chinese people who knew how to cook became, in a single night, the stars chased after at every party.
If someone also knew how to make braised pork knuckle, they would hold unlimited romantic appeal at any party that day!
Many media outlets launched interviews, and countless talk-show stars wove Chinese food into their routines again and again.
And at the heart of it all was just one line.
"God loves Chinese food. Loves braised pork knuckle!!!"
/-\
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