Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics-Chapter 4486 - 3570: The Study of Cats and Dogs (End)

Superman placed a cup of coffee in front of Batman, interrupting his deep thoughts. He glanced at Superman, then returned to his reverie. Superman smiled wryly.

"I was thinking... Clark, have you ever considered rebuilding Krypton?"

"Why ask that all of a sudden?" Superman looked at him and said.

"I'm just proposing a possibility." Batman's fingers rubbed the coffee cup as he spoke, "You've used the Central Treasure Book before; perhaps we could try Krypton's methods to help you propagate your people..."

"Bruce, I don't understand what you mean. If you want me to reiterate 'you are my family,' I'd be happy to..."

"No, I'm serious," Batman said. "I'm not discussing the identity issues between humans or Kryptonians with you. I mean, why don't we revive Krypton?"

"Good heavens, I should record what you just said and play it on a loop on the big screen at Luthor Group Building. Maybe then he'd choose a different building."

Batman reached out a hand to clasp Superman's shoulder and said, "It wouldn't hurt us, right?"

"But it wouldn't do much good either," Superman said. "Why spend so much manpower and resources to help revive an alien race on a distant planet? What's the benefit?"

"If I help you, you'll help me. Would you?"

Superman opened his mouth, then said, "If it's the children, they might be grateful to you. Maybe those fanatical about reviving Krypton would also thank you."

Batman slowly turned back, holding the coffee cup and falling into contemplation again. After a while, he said, "I used to think about it."

"Think about what?"

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"You know why China helps Africa?"

The topic changed so quickly that Superman didn't react immediately, looking at Batman somewhat perplexed.

"I mean, we could draw an analogy," Batman gestured as he spoke, "Earth is like China, and Krypton is like Africa. Over the decades, the not-so-wealthy Eastern Great Nation has invested enormous financial and physical resources in Africa. Why did they do that?"

"Uh, for the United Nations' vote?"

"That may be one of the reasons, or one of the immediate benefits, but there are also many long-term benefits."

"Such as?"

"Like finding something for many people to do," Batman said after taking a sip of coffee. "Like selling their products over there, buying raw materials back, then providing their people with cheaper and better goods."

"In that sense, it makes some sense, but humans and Kryptonians can't trade with each other, can they?"

"Of course not now, but you used to travel the cosmos, didn't you? Humans will be able to do that someday too."

Superman didn't respond, seeming persuaded. But soon he said, "What if Kryptonians aren't that friendly?"

"I believe your nature is kind. If you know who helped you, you'd be willing to stay friendly. And I don't expect you to restore to your peak overnight and provide us with much in return. As long as Earth becomes powerful enough, those few unfriendly individuals among you won't be able to cause much trouble."

"This isn't a small matter," Superman said. "Human lifespan is too short. By the time you die, there may be no significant changes in Krypton. And you're likely to invest the latter half of your life."

"Not just me, but us," Batman said. "We could find something for the Justice League to do, helping our members restore their former homes. There's no reason to refuse to help, right?"

"That's what you want to restore, not what I want," Superman sighed and said. "Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if I grew up on Krypton. But obviously, the imagined outcome isn't that pleasant, or at least not as good as the present."

Batman smiled at him, raised the coffee cup to his lips, then said, "I just think it's worth considering. Maybe you wouldn't mind raising a group of children either."

Then, Batman suddenly put down the cup and said, "And Hal—I mean our universe's Hal—he's been too undisciplined. I once asked him if there was an assessment system within the Green Lantern Corps, whether he could be promoted, but he always dodged my questions. He won't get away with it this time."

"And of course, our dear Amazon Princess. What's going on with the whole Mount Olympus family? She's clearly a princess, so why doesn't she seem to like going back?"

"Now this is bad," Superman said. "Looks like you'll keep us busy like a spinning top for a while."

"I just think it's unfair!" Batman slammed the table hard and said, "I never thought my Justice League would be the strongest in the cosmos, but I don't want to be the weakest either!"

"I think you should know that most Justice Leagues in the universes are like us; it's this universe that's the exception."

"Yes, but if they visited this universe, they'd have taken some actions. They probably started long ago, and we're already late!" Batman raised his voice.

"Alright, alright, Bruce, calm down," Superman patted his back and said, "I believe we're not late at all. If you're determined to do this, I'll support you."

Looking into Superman's bright blue eyes, Batman sighed and said, "What did you just say?"

"What? I'll support you?"

"Further back..."

"You know I don't want to discuss United Nations votes."

"I mean even further, did you say 'I am your family'? Can you say that again?"

"No, I didn't say that."

"Were you about to cry?"

"I wasn't!"

On the rooftop of Luthor Building, two figures stood at the edge of the roof. Injustice Batman stepped on the edge with one foot, looking into the distance and said, "I'm beginning to understand you a bit."

Injustice Superman suddenly turned his head, but he felt his heart empty. The surprise, anger, unwillingness, and excitement that should have appeared were nowhere to be found.

His emotional system was like trying to fish in a pond without any fish, there was nothing, nothing to catch. So he could only stiffly turn his head back, pretending nothing had happened.

"But you didn't do well enough," Injustice Batman said, "If we take your rule on Earth as a given, you did a terrible job."

More emotions that should have appeared didn't, Injustice Superman felt like he was going crazy.

"Feeling uncomfortable?" Injustice Batman's mouth slightly curved up, "Don't be so childish, Clark. Don't play that ridiculous game of 'if I'm angry, I'll always turn my back on you'."

"Do you think I'm ridiculous?"

"I didn't say that. I just think hiding your emotions isn't good for our conversation."

"Not good for you means not good for us. You've always had this logic."

"That's a fact," Injustice Batman said, "If it's not good for me, it certainly won't be good for us."

"What about me? If it's not good for me, could it be good for us?"

"It can't, Clark, it can't," Injustice Batman shook his head lightly, "Anything that is not good for you can never be good for us. Haven't you already realized that?"

Injustice Superman's heart slowly sank, but it never hit the bottom, it was an empty void, with nothing to grasp.

"I'll still say it," Injustice Batman turned to look at him, "If we take your rule on Earth as a given, you did not do well enough."

"Are you saying what you oppose is actually this?"

"I'm saying, when we first met, what convinced me to respect you was your strength. And right now, what's supposed to prove that your actions are justified is a better Earth. But you didn't deliver, so what can I use to convince myself?"

Injustice Superman was almost instantly shattered, but there was nothing to shatter. He just stood there, like a block of ice melting before it even had a chance to break, his brain flowing down his spine, and his heart spreading through his organs.

"You told me I shouldn't have killed the Joker! You said I was wrong! Even after experiencing such a tragedy, you wouldn't stand by my side."

"But you didn't stand by my side either," Injustice Batman said, "Even though I experienced such tragedies decades earlier than you."

Injustice Superman suddenly had nothing to say.

"Neither of us stood by each other's side, so we are opponents now. Just like the first time we met, I suspected you, and you guarded against me. But this time, you didn't give me anything to calm me down, like the first time I saw your eyes could shoot lasers. Have you ever done that?"

Injustice Superman suddenly flew up, hovering in front of Injustice Batman, looking at Batman with those particularly indifferent light blue eyes, and said, "If I give it to you, will you accept it? Or will you still stand by others and accuse me of being a tyrant?"

"Stand by whose side?"

"...Those opponents."

"Why are there opponents?" Injustice Batman looked into his eyes, "If you did well enough, who would I stand by to oppose you?"

"Clark, you've never realized, I'm just an ordinary human. It is precisely your actions that gave me the opportunity to stand here and oppose you, and even have a group of supporters."

Injustice Superman slowly clenched his fist and said, "That's because you're good at manipulating people's hearts, Batman."

"Then why didn't I rule the Earth?"

Injustice Superman slowly closed his eyes, exhaled a breath, then opened his eyes again and stared at Injustice Batman, "If I could be a good ruler, would you stand by my side?"

"Don't expect my promise, but make me have no other choice."

Inside the Luthor Building, Hal was explaining the result of his negotiations with Zod to Oliver.

"...After he recovers, I'll take out the Central Treasure, then go to the Phantom Zone, pick up his family, take the breeding equipment, return to Krypton, and set up a base in a good spot."

"We'll set up a Green Lantern Corps outpost on the nearest satellite to help them guard. He'll first try to clear and repair the breeding center controlled by the council, maybe find the technique to speed up maturity."

"Once he cultivates suitable Kryptonian warriors, I'll figure out how to grant them Green Lantern positions..."

Oliver frequently nodded, thinking this was a very profitable deal. After listening, he said, "Then it looks like this invasion incident is over. Let's gather everyone for a summary meeting..."

Before he finished speaking, an extremely sharp and piercing alarm sounded from Hal's communication device:

"Warning—Warning—"

"Mercury Base is under attack! Mercury Base is under attack! Full defense systems activated..."

"Outer energy shield has been breached! Mid-layer defense shield has been breached! Gravity stabilization system has failed!"

"Core energy under attack! Core energy efficiency at 95%...51%...9%..."

"Mercury Base energy interrupted. Detecting total gravity disorder. Base disintegration countdown 3...2...1...Base has disintegrated."