Starfire was currently alone on Earth. With her playful personality, she'd been exploring the city when she ran into Nightwing. As a righteous person without income, she couldn't resort to robbery.
With her resources dwindling, when Thea offered her a work opportunity, she thought carefully. Seeing Nightwing had no objections, she agreed.
A TV program definitely couldn't be boring. Having Starfire alone on stage reading from a script, extolling alien virtues and advanced technology—nobody would watch that.
She needed a co-host, preferably an Earthling who wasn't afraid of aliens, was personable and attractive, and ideally had some program recording experience.
With so many conditions, the candidate pool should have been small. However, Thea quickly identified a suitable target.
She summoned former anchor Livewire back to Earth.
"You want me to do a program again?" Livewire looked utterly defeated. Initially it had been to make a living. Now that she'd become so capable, she still had to do this?
Yes, she had to. She didn't really have the option to refuse. The former anchor could only come out of retirement.
Starfire's personality wasn't hard to get along with. Although Livewire was still somewhat disgruntled, returning to the program recording scene gave her a surreal feeling.
Money paved the way for everything. The first episode aired smoothly. Starfire didn't need to tell Earthlings how vast the universe was. She just focused on describing her own environment—humanities and sciences. The experienced Livewire asked timely questions. Their first collaboration went reasonably well.
After the program aired, the response wasn't enthusiastic, but Starfire's attractive appearance and sincere voice still earned some praise. The backlash Thea had expected never really materialized. This gave her more confidence in subsequent plans.
Aside from Luthor being somewhat dissatisfied that Livewire no longer mocked Superman, overall things were quite harmonious.
Control of Ebon Trading Company was proceeding intensely. One of their fifteen decision-makers had been secretly controlled by Grodd. Next would be controlling their main computer, triggering a robot rebellion. The Yellow Lantern Corps would step in at the critical moment to restore order. Starting with military forces, they'd gradually erode this neutral cosmic business alliance, then develop their influence while feeding technology back to Earth.
The neutral camp—this was the entry point Thea had prepared for Earth's future expansion beyond the solar system.
Having determined her future development direction, Moira's enthusiasm soared. To extensively build connections, she decided to host a grand Christmas gala in the city government's name.
Her children naturally all attended. Diana, who'd been feeling ominous premonitions, was also dragged along by Thea.
"Mrs. Queen, I've admired you for a long time." Diana bowed slightly. Her etiquette was impeccable—a junior greeting an elder.
"Miss Prince, I've also often heard Thea mention you." Regarding this impossibly beautiful woman's relationship with her daughter, Moira understood clearly. Nowadays this wasn't anything unusual. Since they were happy themselves, Moira naturally had no complaints. She warmly took Diana's hand and spoke a few words.
Soon other guests arrived. Only then did Thea pull Diana aside.
"Your mother has great presence. She's an outstanding person." Whenever Diana saw women achieving success, she considered them admirable. This concept was deeply ingrained and couldn't be changed.
"Right? Don't you think she resembles Queen Hippolyta somewhat..." Thea said teasingly.
"Huh? She really does! No wonder I felt she was so approachable." Diana seriously recalled, then nodded solemnly, making Thea laugh. These women in power all had similar basic qualities.
As if to prove her point, another middle-aged woman approached Moira to chat—Lillian Luthor, Lex Luthor's mother, bringing her daughter Lena Luthor to the gala.
Soon after, Oliver arrived with Shado, Tommy with Laurel, successively reaching the venue.
Moira's ambitions weren't small this time. She'd mobilized all her connections. With Thea also helping appropriately, quite a few political figures attended.
The Vice President, congressional members, several cabinet secretaries, numerous social celebrities—almost everyone invited showed up.
The safety of various officials couldn't be neglected. Both the D.E.O. and A.R.G.U.S. dispatched capable personnel as security. The Martian Manhunter, who maintained a human identity, naturally also came.
Not only him—Gotham billionaire Bruce Wayne and this year's Pulitzer Prize winner Clark Kent both arrived. When Thea spotted both of them, her eyelids twitched. They all had to pretend not to know each other. This was a severe test for the slightly inexperienced Diana and Superman's acting skills.
The remaining miscellaneous people were even more numerous. For instance, as relatives, Catwoman and Lois Lane. For instance, the young Damian and Raven who'd come for the festivities. Thea even saw Starfire and Nightwing talking quietly to one side, drawing Barbara's—who'd come with her father—irritated glances.
Barry Allen, currently without much combat ability, Felicity, friends from the Star City lab—Caitlin Snow, her fiancé Ronnie Raymond, Cisco Ramon—all arrived at the venue.
Some were Oliver's friends, some Thea's. A huge group of young people gathered together made things quite lively.
Seeing Thea constantly surveying the venue, Diana felt curious. "What's wrong? Something happened?"
Thea obviously couldn't say that with so many powerful heroes gathered together, she wouldn't be surprised if Darkseid himself showed up. She laughed awkwardly, indicating nothing was wrong.
Pretending to pass by casually, Clark Kent with his dorky glasses quietly told her, "Ten miles away there's a group of people with firearms who seem to be heading this way. Also, this venue seems to have their inside agents."
Thea immediately activated super vision to observe inside the venue. Not having paid attention before, she now discovered that some of the workers had fierce faces and aggressive auras. Though they acted humble, their peripheral vision still revealed malicious intent.
Following Superman's directions to observe ten miles away, it was indeed a small gang—over thirty people holding various firearms. The leader was a tall, sturdy man in one of the two trucks, discussing something with his crew.
Their direction of travel was heading straight for City Hall.
Thea let out a long breath. This wasn't scary at all. She didn't recognize those grunts, but she'd seen photos of the leader. This was Brick, who'd recently disappeared.
The workers serving inside the venue were subordinates of the Triad's China White. Thea even spotted several suspicious-looking men who clearly weren't ordinary catering staff helping in the back kitchen.