[{"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-445":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},1721951,2198,"Chapter 445 445 — Terms of Alliance","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-445",445,"\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>Cruella showed no concern whatsoever about monopolizing Givenchy's attention. She spoke as she pleased:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, you dragged me all the way from London… have you finally decided to support my claim to the title?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually,\" Givenchy replied calmly, \"I have something I'd like your help with. An exchange of conditions—fair, wouldn't you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Acceptable.\" She took a drag from her cigarette and exhaled to the side. \"What do you need?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Givenchy didn't answer directly. Instead, he gave a subtle look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's find somewhere quieter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group moved to a small meeting room beside the banquet hall. After instructing security to keep others away, Givenchy closed the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cruella recognized Givenchy and Philippe Venet immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the other three?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two young people and an older woman—unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she did what she did best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She evaluated them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes landed on Henry first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pass.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry blinked. \"What did I do? I got dismissed in one glance?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cruella stepped closer, cigarette holder in hand, and spoke bluntly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That suit—Givenchy, seven years old. Designed for successful men over fifty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The cut allows for… less disciplined physiques. On you, it fits—barely acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the shoulders, the waistline—this was altered off-the-rack. Poor tailoring. Small flaws everywhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She adjusted his collar, fingers sliding down to his tie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For someone wearing outdated clothing, with mediocre tailoring… do you have any reason for me to take you seriously?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't wait for an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. You don't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But,\" she added, \"I'll give you this—the tie. Excellent taste. Though I doubt you chose it yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sapphire blue with white diagonal zebra stripes. Silk. Philippe—this is yours, isn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Givenchy chuckled, nudging his old friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See? She says your craftsmanship has declined.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philippe bristled. \"I've had presbyopia for years! Did you notice any flaws? If so, why didn't you tell me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My eyesight isn't what it used to be either,\" Givenchy said, raising his hands in surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cruella smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Philippe, if your eyes are failing, stop working. No one stitches forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry nearly whistled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next came Charlize and J.J. Harris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cruella looked them over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Acceptable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both wore older Givenchy gowns—conservative, properly fitted. Women's eveningwear was easier to adjust, leaving no obvious flaws to critique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cruella wasn't foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew Givenchy hadn't brought these people here by accident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she stopped wasting effort on superficial judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning back, she asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This involves them, doesn't it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Givenchy said. \"Simply put—Ms. Charlize Theron has a film premiere next month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They've been targeted. No designer is willing to work with them. So they're looking for someone… bold enough to step in. Perhaps even make a move into Hollywood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cruella narrowed her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Targeted? By what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Givenchy glanced at Henry, uncertain how much to reveal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry didn't hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vampires.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not metaphorical. Not symbolic. The kind from bedtime stories.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cruella raised both index fingers beside her mouth, mimicking fangs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mean the badly dressed, medieval-looking creatures with terrible taste?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry nodded. \"Those. Though they've modernized their wardrobe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So why aren't you consulting priests instead of me?\" she asked flatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because in Hollywood, they control a significant portion of the lower and mid-level infrastructure. Their influence rivals major studios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're using commercial pressure against us. So we respond commercially.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We avoid escalation—if possible. Once it escalates, the damage spreads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I won't drag uninformed people into something that could turn violent. This is my first direct encounter with them. I don't know how far they'll go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next step could be bloodshed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Givenchy interjected gently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not quite that dire. They avoid exposure, which limits them. From what I've seen, firm refusal is usually enough to make them back off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry didn't correct him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone like Givenchy, that was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For others?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not necessarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cruella ignored the reassurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked straight at Henry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do I get?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Direct. Unfiltered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry didn't expect Givenchy to carry the entire cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he also had no idea what Cruella valued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he answered plainly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm the CEO of Stark Pictures. I have resources—at least compared to most people. I doubt you're interested in AR wearable systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And that technology isn't ready for market anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So tell me what you want. It's faster than guessing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laid his cards on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even technical cooperation wasn't off-limits—though AR was still premature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cruella didn't even ask what AR was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped directly in front of Charlize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The future \"Ice Queen,\" not yet at her peak presence—but already tall, poised, and unflinching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a head taller than Cruella.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two women locked eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither yielded.\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>",838,"2026-06-06T15:31:22.542Z",1,"novelbin.me","db868b0c54dec79665554f4ac9aed0d611682df1c3b88342d23d8c60e863f2e1","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-446","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-444",556,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-cover.jpg"]