Happy Harbor — Mount Justice
Happy Harbor was a coastal city in the northeastern part of the country, with an excellent port and convenient transportation.
The mountain known as Mount Justice looked, from the outside, like nothing more than a dormant volcano.
But with Superman and Green Lantern working together, the interior had been completely hollowed out—expanded, reinforced, and rebuilt into a full-scale base.
Inside the mountain were living quarters with showers and rest areas, a data center on the level of the Batcomputer, as well as laboratories, training rooms, storage facilities, an underground garage, and a hangar.
After the team confirmed Mount Justice as the League's headquarters, Cyborg, drawing on what he'd learned from the Mother Box, helped Batman install a fully controllable Boom Tube system within the base.
The internal Boom Tube activated.
Ben, still in his Heatblast form, stepped out—then patted the emblem on his chest and reverted to human.
"Finally. I'm never doing that kind of event again."
He stretched lazily. The award ceremony they'd just attended had felt like being paraded around like circus clowns.
He was immensely grateful he'd followed Batman's advice and showed up as Heatblast.
If people found out his real identity—his real age—he'd be drowning in trouble.
"Don't rush off to rest," Batman said, stepping out of the Boom Tube and calling after him. "We still have a lot to discuss regarding the League's future."
Mount Justice had only just finished its expansion, but this place wasn't meant for lounging around.
With the Justice League now established, the responsibilities on their shoulders were heavier than anything they'd carried before.
"Got it," Ben said, nodding, and followed everyone into the conference room.
Once everyone was seated, Cyborg linked into Mount Justice's systems and pulled up the meeting agenda.
"First item: Do we accept United Nations funding? If we do, we may be required to disclose our identities to the UN. But with that injection of money, we'd relieve a major portion of the budget pressure."
Batman had already poured massive resources and technical support into founding the League through Wayne Enterprises—including funding a satellite.
But that had only covered the base's initial construction. Keeping the League operational long-term would demand huge, continuous spending.
As Cyborg finished, his gaze flicked toward Shazam.
Of everyone present, Shazam's true identity was known by the fewest people. Cyborg had promised to keep it secret—and this proposal put him in an awkward spot.
"I can have Wayne Enterprises represent the League in negotiations with the UN," Batman said. "Unless a member volunteers, the League will keep its members' identities confidential."
Not every hero wanted their civilian identity public—and Batman understood that perfectly.
Heroes had private lives. And once an identity was exposed, enemies lurking in the shadows could obtain information far more easily… and target their families.
Most of them agreed with Batman's approach. Cyborg prepared to move on and revisit the issue after Batman finished negotiating with the UN.
Then Hal Jordan raised a hand.
"On the topic of identities, I propose we stop calling each other by real names in front of outsiders during joint operations. It's an easy way to expose someone."
As Hal spoke, Ben—who'd been staring off into space—felt Hal's eyes land directly on him.
"Why are you looking at me?" Ben shot back. "If you were worried about exposure, you should've said so earlier. And it's not like I only know your identity. Do you see me going around calling everyone by their real names?"
Batman seized the opening.
"Whose identities do you know?"
Ben didn't hide it.
"Uh… aside from some of the more obscure, second- and third-tier types, I know the real identities of most top-tier heroes."
Superman blinked.
"Wait—do you actually know mine?"
His super-hearing had caught Ben mentioning 'Clark Kent' before.
At the time, he'd assumed it was just someone misunderstanding a joke—maybe he'd accidentally caused confusion by praising "Superman" while in his other identity.
Ben didn't answer directly.
"You sure you want me to say it out loud right now?"
Superman looked around at the others.
"Go ahead," he said. "We fought together. I trust you."
Clark had already planned to tell them his identity in human society anyway. With Ben offering, he agreed immediately.
Ben nodded and said it flat:
"Clark Kent. Reporter at The Daily Planet. Before Darkseid invaded, when Hal and I first arrived in Metropolis, I figured if I made a joke about you, you'd come flying over."
Shazam's eyes went wide.
"Mr. Kent is Superman?!"
Meanwhile, Hal suddenly remembered something Ben had once said to him.
"So that's why you said Batman should buy the Daily Planet—and fire Clark if Superman didn't show up!" Hal exclaimed. "Were you seriously saying that like it might be true?!"
Back then, aboard a plane construct made of green light, Hal had been completely baffled—why would Superman care if a newspaper fired some random reporter?
Now he knew: the "random reporter" was Superman.
Superman spread his hands, looking helpless.
"I was fighting a Parademon at the time. I didn't have the bandwidth to take a joke seriously. Besides—why would Batman just randomly buy the Daily Planet?" He glanced toward Batman. "Right, Batman?"
Batman's mouth curved into a small, mysterious smile.
Superman's confusion deepened—until Cyborg, who'd casually checked the Daily Planet's ownership structure online, provided the answer.
"Wayne Enterprises already holds more than half of the Daily Planet's shares," Cyborg said. "There's no need to buy the whole thing."
Shazam burst out laughing.
"So Batman is Superman's boss?!"
That was the breaking point.
The rest of them finally couldn't hold it in anymore and started laughing too.
Superman stared, completely blindsided.
Batman, seeing the look on Clark's face, stepped in to clarify—flat and unamused.
"Wayne Enterprises is conducting normal business expansion. We began acquiring Daily Planet shares before Superman ever joined. It has nothing to do with Superman being Clark Kent."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 80)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 80)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 74)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter20)
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