[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman":3,"chapter-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-291":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1721897,2198,"Chapter 291 291 — A Failure That Isn’t One ( Bonus )","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-291",291,"\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For 20 advanced chapters, visit my Patreon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patreon - Twilight_scribe1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick Fury's original plan had been simple:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let Barbara Morse get close to Henry Brown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lower his guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feel out his intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Fury himself would appear as the big boss and reel him in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Barbara's plans changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During their earlier trip, she had been genuinely charmed by Henry—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his attentiveness, his thoughtfulness,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and, most dangerously, his humor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this still-a-college-student girl began fantasizing about getting a boyfriend,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>one who just happened to work in the same agency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who cared if S.H.I.E.L.D. technically discouraged office romance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What neither she nor Fury expected was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if Henry didn't follow the script?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Barbara realize how obvious it had always been:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man had heavy defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even sincerity might not move him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>let alone approaching with lies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she had asked Fury to let her handle Henry's recruitment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because when you like someone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>you want to bring them into your world,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>into what you believe is a promising future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, that would be a welcome romantic trajectory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if the target sees through the lie from the start,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>wouldn't the result be the same?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbara now held deep regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face scrunched with remorse, she said softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I said I truly did fall for you… would you believe it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you like about me?\" Henry asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your humor… and your knowledge…\" she replied, voice trembling with guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**\"Hahaha. Poppy, you're a good girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can find someone far better than me—don't waste your eyes on someone like me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for the organization behind you—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>whoever they are—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>there are plenty of heroes willing to save the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one is irreplaceable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Least of all me.\"**\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If everyone thought like that,\" Barbara blurted, suddenly emotional,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"and no one stepped forward because they believed someone else would…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then no one would step up in the end!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry poked the fire with a stick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**\"Then you should go find those who want to step up and save the world—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>not someone like me, who just wants to live a quiet life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you like me, thank you—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but I still have to say it:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>we're not suitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And if the organization behind you wants me—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll say it plainly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it's regrettable, but our philosophies don't align.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can't be the kind of good person you want.\"**\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tossed the stick into the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time since this conversation began, Henry turned fully to face her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**\"But don't worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I may not be a good person—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but I'm nowhere near brave enough to be a villain. Too troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just tell your boss everything I said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>go sleep in the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll stay outside with Katie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one will hurt you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No tiger, no cat, no nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And tomorrow, I'll take you back to the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You go live your colorful, exciting life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll stick to my plain and boring one.\"**\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Barbara still refused to give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She grabbed his arm, leaned in with teary eyes, and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even so…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>can't we at least leave a memory behind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She closed her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her soft, glossy lips lifted just enough to invite a kiss—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>pure temptation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry flicked her on the forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't use much force, but it still hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbara clutched her forehead, glaring up at him with watery, betrayed fish-eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be good. Go sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise the one who goes feral tonight might not be me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far away, Katie—bored of chewing her venison—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>let out a perfectly timed roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then licked blood from her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, all the way back to Los Angeles,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbara behaved like someone sulking on purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She refused to speak a single word,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but she still ate, drank, nodded, and shook her head when needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the \"human GPS\" directions from the pouty girl,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry dropped her off at the civic center park downtown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier this year, Barbara had stayed at a nearby hotel—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but this time she apparently hadn't booked one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, she refused to return to Gary's apartment building with Henry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She got out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with Katie chained up in the back seat,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a tiger in downtown L.A. was far too eye-catching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The police had already approached him multiple times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this was with the windows closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he'd rolled them down, half the pedestrians might've had heart attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So once she stepped out, Henry drove away immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbara entered the park,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>found a long bench,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing her dress again and her big sunhat low over her face,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>she took out her mobile phone and dialed a number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It rang three times—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and she hung up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, a Black man sat at the opposite end of the bench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick Fury, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>bit into a hot dog as he muttered quietly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When did you get to Los Angeles?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yesterday morning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Report.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbara took a breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mission failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recruitment of Henry Brown… failed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fury froze mid-chew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Explain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My cover was blown.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She relayed everything that had happened over the past two days—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>all the details,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>including her failed attempt at seduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, she stared at her hands and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm sorry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I messed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shouldn't have approached him on my own.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fury finished his hot dog, dusted off his hands, and murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**\"Relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's not as bad as you think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not the ideal outcome—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but the mission isn't a failure.\"**\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbara peeked up from under her sunhat,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>her expression showing complete confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fury explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**\"This conclusion comes from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s psychological experts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry Brown is extremely rational—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but not someone who rejects others blindly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He always chooses the option with the least trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In this case, refusing you reduces trouble for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simple as that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But from his time working for Audrey Hepburn,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>we know he understands the value of compromise—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>when the offered return is acceptable to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And when it matters, he doesn't back down easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So as you've reported—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he might not be a patriot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But as long as he can be a useful tool,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the rest depends on how we choose to wield him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You understand?\"**\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbara stared, speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fury added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**\"Poppy, I think highly of you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you don't want to remain just an ordinary agent,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>you need to learn these things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This was a good experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reflect on it.\"**\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Fury didn't say was:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry Brown had recently acquired a new blonde around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And based on a certain man's intuition—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>well…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't even need that much intuition to know:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mentioning this would make everything far, far messier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better not mention it at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>🎉 Power Stone Goal Announcement! 🎉\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll release one bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones we hit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me know what should I do\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your support means everything—let's crush these goals together! Keep voting, and let the stones pile up! 🚀\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>",1169,"2026-06-06T15:31:22.542Z",1,"novelbin.me","0430f978d0432b5a8a7bcd1ddfb2d62533b5d31458706abec19cab11e6494aaa","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-292","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-290",556,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-cover.jpg"]