New York — Ellis Island.
"I'm here today to prove that two worlds are about to change. I call on people across the globe to unite and face this global crisis together. Let us coexist in harmony, and restore the world's natural balance…"
After that decisive battle, Atlantis, with the Justice League's help, successfully made contact with the United Nations.
Some Atlanteans still hated surface-dwellers—but in the end, Arthur managed to persuade them.
Now, Arthur stood on land with representatives from the various Atlantean city-states, addressing the entire world.
"…My name is Arthur Curry. I am the lawful monarch of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis—and the newest member of the Justice League: Aquaman!"
…
Mount Justice — Justice League conference room.
Half an hour before the scheduled start, Ben sat in his seat, lazily scrolling through the news while waiting for everyone else to arrive from their respective cities.
"SHOCKING! Atlantis rises to the surface—an underwater civilization revealed!!!"
"FINAL WARNING! Atlantis suspected to be an alien civilization!"
"United Nations welcomes the King of Atlantis!"
"MEN SILENT, WOMEN IN TEARS! So THIS is what real mermaids look like!"
"Aquaman joins the Justice League!"
"The Justice League was founded to safeguard world peace!"
"Justice League—or Alien League?"
…
Atlantis's appearance sent the world into an uproar.
And when Aquaman publicly announced he was a League member, the recently revealed Justice League was shoved straight into the global spotlight.
Curiosity, praise, worship—and malicious speculation flooded every news outlet on Earth.
"Hey, Ben! How've you been lately?"
With the greeting, Shazam bounced into the conference room.
Now that his real identity was public—and with a teammate his own age inside the League—Shazam had stopped trying to hide his childish energy.
"I'm good," Ben said, "but I'd be even better if I could crack the Omnitrix."
He put his phone away, slumped onto the conference table, and fiddled with the watch on his wrist.
Even the original, ten-year-old idiot Ben had managed to accidentally unlock the Omnitrix's master controls. Yet this Ben—after turning into Grey Matter and trying close to a hundred times—still couldn't brute his way into admin access.
"Being able to transform for ten minutes is already insane," Shazam said. "And those aliens are all super cool!"
He talked as he pulled out his chair and sat, then glanced at the empty seats around them.
"So what's today's topic?"
"Mostly the same as last time," Ben said. "League planning after accepting UN funding—and potential new members."
The first meeting had ended abruptly after Ben's spoiler-bomb.
This one was basically the continuation.
Batman had already negotiated with UN representatives. And with Aquaman and Diana effectively representing Atlantis and Themyscira at the UN, it opened the door for the Justice League to accept official funding and become a fully public, formally recognized superhero organization.
And once the League went public, recruitment and expansion had to become an agenda item.
Shazam hesitated, clearly conflicted. Seeing that the adults still hadn't arrived, he leaned toward Ben and asked quietly:
"Ben… do you think they'll kick us out because we're too young?"
"Why are you suddenly worried about that?"
Ben stopped messing with the Omnitrix and scratched his head, not really understanding where this anxiety was coming from.
Shazam didn't have a transformation time limit—he spent every day walking around in the body of a 1.88-meter adult. No one outside the League even needed to know his real age.
And even if they did… it's not like someone could file a labor complaint about "child superheroes."
"I'm just worried," Shazam admitted, "that they'll think we're too immature in fights. That we get in the way."
Back in the Sahara searching for the trident, Shazam's immaturity and impulsiveness had caused trouble more than once. Sometimes he honestly wondered if he was even qualified to call himself a hero.
"It's not a big deal," Ben said. "Worst case? We just go independent. They can't take our powers away. And if it comes to that, we'll poach their assistants too, and start our own Justice League."
"…We can do that?" Shazam blinked.
Ben's casual confidence made Shazam thump his chest—finally relieved.
Before long, as the meeting time approached, Cyborg, Green Lantern, Batman, Aquaman, Superman, and Wonder Woman filed in and took their seats one after another.
"Only Barry's not here," Cyborg said, scanning the room. He distributed newly compiled meeting packets to everyone and asked, "Should we just start?"
"Read the files first," Batman said, checking the time. "Two minutes left."
As the League moved toward becoming a formal organization, today's meeting could shape its operations and development in a major way.
Time ticked forward. Following Batman's suggestion, everyone started flipping through the documents.
Then—one second after the scheduled time—a red streak flashed through the room and dropped neatly into the Flash's seat.
"Sorry, guys! I'm late!"
…
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 90)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter70)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter70)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter60)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 30
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 30
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