General Lane looked back and saw a Black general walking towards him.
"General Swanwick."
General Lane looked at the general approaching him, his expression serious.
The other party was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber, an active Air Force Lieutenant General, whose position was even higher than his own Army Lieutenant General.
"I'm sorry, you cannot leave here right now."
General Swanwick said to General Lane, "The Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff hope that you will not leave the Pentagon for the time being."
"Without a presidential order and official Department of Defense documents, you have no right to give me orders," General Lane told the other party, "and even less to restrict my personal freedom."
"Of course, we cannot restrict General Lane's personal freedom, but on certain matters, the Department of Defense requires your cooperation in an investigation.
For example, a counter-terrorism incident that occurred in Metropolis two years ago, which resulted in heavy losses for the state government and Army Rangers, with even the combat command post being destroyed by terrorists."
General Swanwick brought up General Lane's action in suppressing Eric during the vampire incident last time.
Such a costly military operation, although suppressed by him in conjunction with Lionel, naturally revealed many irregularities when the United States Government re-investigated it.
"In any case, we need General Lane's cooperation on this incident."
"I am upholding the honor and security of this nation."
General Lane was silent for a moment, then looked up at General Swanwick, his eyes gleaming.
"We all are."
General Swanwick did not avoid General Lane's gaze, meeting his eyes.
Metropolis, Daily Planet.
Jimmy Olsen, who had just joined the Daily Planet, was currently in a state of disarray.
He had managed to get two opera tickets, intending to invite Chloe, who also worked part-time at the newspaper, to enjoy "The Barber of Seville" with him.
Unexpectedly, a major breaking news story came up, forcing him to abandon the idea of inviting the girl to the opera and focus all his energy on the current hot news.
"Count Almaviva falls in love with the wealthy and beautiful Rosina, but Rosina's guardian, the greedy and cunning Doctor Bartolo, also has designs on Rosina, and the music teacher Basilio then devises a plan for him."
Chloe saw the tickets for "The Barber of Seville" opera that Jimmy had placed on the table, and holding a coffee, she said from the side:
"An old-fashioned Romeo and Juliet love story; I didn't expect you, Jimmy, to like this."
Jimmy looked at the girl he wanted to ask out and said, "Yes, I remember you, Chloe, mentioning you liked opera."
"A little, but seeing 'The Barber of Seville,' I always prejudicially think of the comical version Chaplin acted in.
So I'm not very interested right now."
After a few words with Jimmy, Chloe walked towards Louise's office.
Upon entering Louise's office, Chloe's face showed a worried expression as she asked Louise, "How is it? Have Eric's and Clark's phones been answered?"
"No."
Louise was full of anxiety, pacing around the office with her phone.
"My father just called me; he… he seems to be in a bad situation right now."
"What did he tell you?"
"He told me I must leave Metropolis as soon as possible."
Chloe's face showed a thoughtful expression, "Just leave Metropolis?"
"More than that, I also have to go to a certain place and retrieve something he placed there."
Chloe nodded, "I understand, it looks like the last guidance your father left for you; you have to rely on this clue to complete his riddle assignment."
"We must leave here immediately!"
Louise packed her things while walking out.
"Now?"
Chloe quickly followed her footsteps.
"Are we not concerned about Eric and Clark being wanted by their alien kin right now?"
Chloe felt that the most important thing now was to help Eric and Clark.
"Of course.
But now, as my father's daughter, I will definitely be monitored."
Louise put on her trench coat, speaking as she quickly walked out of the editorial office.
"Alright, this is my first time experiencing what it's like to be monitored by the FBI, thanks to having a cousin like you."
Chloe closely followed her cousin's footsteps, "Louise, what do you think the government will do? Hand over Eric and Clark, or go to war with the aliens?"
"I don't know, but as for those politicians in the United States Government, I never expect them to make the right choice."
Louise said earnestly to Chloe.
They happened to pass by Jimmy, who was biting his pen, racking his brain trying to write an eye-catching article.
Seeing them approach, he immediately greeted them.
"Hey, Louise, Chloe, are you going out for an interview?"
"Not an interview, it's personal business, just like you enjoy appreciating operas that ordinary people can't appreciate."
Chloe passed by Jimmy and patted him on the shoulder.
"Alright."
Seeing the two women leave in a hurry, Jimmy wanted to say that he could go with them.
But before he could finish speaking, the figures of the two women disappeared from the newspaper office.
Sighing dejectedly, Jimmy took off his thick glasses and muttered, "My interest in opera is actually average."
Meanwhile, Gotham City, Wayne Manor.
Bruce Wayne was watching a video on the display screen in the Batcave.
Experts were fiercely debating whether the United States Government should hand over the individuals and speculating on the identities of these two aliens.
Alfred walked towards him, carrying coffee.
"Master."
The butler handed him the coffee and asked him, "What do you think of this alien?"
"Me?"
Bruce operated the system, shut down the computer, and retrieved another video.
The image on the video was of an octopus-shaped alien spaceship.
"My opinion is useless."
Bruce took a sip of coffee, gazing at the image of the alien spaceship on the screen.
"If this world moved according to my will, I wouldn't be walking this path alone in vain."
Alfred knew what the Master was referring to.
As he continued to fight crime on the streets, not only did public safety not improve, but more and more criminals appeared.
And each criminal became increasingly difficult to deal with, especially a Joker who had recently emerged, which exhausted him mentally and physically.
"Master, you are not walking this path alone; I will always be with you."
Alfred said to Bruce.
"I know, Alfred.
Words like 'futile' and 'alone' are not a sign of my frustration and disappointment, but merely make me realize that I am just an ordinary mortal."
Bruce was silent for a moment, then said to Alfred, "I cannot control things beyond my comprehension, and I am even less able to see the secrets shrouded in mist.
Eric and Clark Kent are the secrets shrouded in mist; I don't even know what attitude or means to use to face them right now."
"Master, you used to think they were devils in a bottle; have your thoughts changed now?"
Alfred asked him.
"Sometimes yes, but sometimes no.
This world might need them, but is humanity ready to welcome their gods?"
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