Chapter 3520: Research on Cats and Dogs (79)

In short, the conversation with Zod ended in such a lukewarm way. The main reason was that the purpose of talking to Zod was more just to satisfy curiosity. The Kryptonian General, who had been seriously injured and captured, did not have the chips to sit legitimately on the other side of the negotiating table. Whatever happened now had nothing to do with his attitude.

The spaceship that had been obtained certainly couldn't be returned, and there was a quite legitimate reason for it. Oliver couldn't help but ask, if the spaceship were returned to you, could you fly it away?

The answer was no. Zod's situation was very bad now; the toxin of Kryptonite had already entered his bloodstream, and the circulatory system inside a Kryptonian's body had no way to decompose and metabolize this kind of thing.

To completely clear the toxin, an external blood circulation system was needed, which meant drawing his blood out, cleaning the toxin inside, and then transfusing it back.

This was a quite dangerous and complex process, and it might also require several Kryptonians to donate blood. The good news was that there were enough Kryptonians here, and the bad news was that their mental states were not very normal.

Currently, in the Justice League base, the only Superman who could be called sane was the Superman from the Wayne Family Adventure universe. The others, whether it was Injustice Superman or Clark, were not very normal. Expecting the two of them to donate blood was very difficult.

Fortunately, Kara from this universe was a normal person. Although she didn't have any good feelings for Zod, who invaded Earth, if she could save his life, Kara wouldn't refuse.

Lex moved the instruments used for treatment from Luthor Hospital, and then used Kryptonite to make needles, starting to perform blood cleaning for Zod.

And the others led by Hal focused on the spaceship. This spaceship was the first extremely complete Kryptonian warship they had captured, and it had great research value.

But where to research and how to research it was also worth discussing.

"NASA replied to me," Lex said, sitting in a chair to the side. "They have many research projects on hand and can't spare manpower for the time being. However, they have some problems with funding, perhaps we can start from this aspect."

"Funding?" Hal said while using Green Lantern energy to probe the protective coating on the surface of the spaceship. "Didn't Congress pass the application for NASA's extra research budget for this quarter a while ago?"

"How much do you think can really be used for research?" Lex snorted coldly and said, "Scientists' estimates for budgets are very accurate; the temporary increase shows that someone else is poor and crazy."

Hal sighed deeply and said, "I feel like we can't count on them. What does the Soviet Union say?"

"No money," Lex answered very simply. "He said the aircraft carriers have all stopped construction, where would there be money to go research some spaceship?"

"I think they don't believe it," Hal hit the nail on the head. "They must think it's the Americans releasing satellites again, wanting to drag them down like the previous moon landing plan, so they won't be fooled."

"The situation is very complex," Lex said. "In short, they are overwhelmed, and it's even more impossible for them to send their precious scientists to the United States."

"Alright, then who else is there?"

"Europe doesn't have that ability, and I haven't been in contact with East Asian countries, but it's estimated to be about the same. It seems we can only think of a way ourselves."

"If you and Bruce join forces, can't you research something?"

"It's possible, but it will take a long time. I have to divide my energy to run Luthor Group, and you can't guarantee Bruce will stay in the lab honestly."

"It seems we have no way for the time being," Hal sighed and said. "Let's seal this thing up first and wait until we have the conditions to research it."

"We can't put this thing in the basement of Luthor Group," Lex said. "Otherwise, I will face endless harassment, and so will the Justice League. It's best to transport it quietly to a place no one can reach."

"You mean Mercury? Alright, I will let the Green Lanterns withdraw from there. We are preparing to go to Mars for a turn."

Lex waved his hand, stood up from the chair, and then said, "What do you think of Krypton?"

"Clark's old home? I went around below when I went to look for data, there was nothing to see. The Council members destroyed most of the technological equipment before they died, activated the self-destruct programs of almost all colonial ships, and also killed quite a few Kryptonians who were out on missions."

"That is to say, not all died?"

"Of course not. Their civilization perished, not the race. There are still some Kryptonians remaining in the universe; some left Krypton early and didn't catch up with the civilization's destruction; others were performing missions in some more remote colonies and escaped this disaster."

"Do you think Zod can revive Krypton?"

Hal leaned on the spaceship and said, "Their plan sounds somewhat feasible; anyway, they don't need natural reproduction, they just need to use the Codex plus instruments, and they can create countless Kryptonians."

"But we all know that this probably won't work, because they haven't solved the fundamental problem."

"Yeah," Lex nodded and said. "If they don't solve the fundamental problem, then the new Krypton will probably be destroyed in the same way."

"It's impossible to let them return to the primitive way of reproduction. The only method I can think of is to control the population; as long as the population is small enough, the resources on the home planet are almost infinite for everyone. Although it can't be said to be further progress, at least it won't repeat the same mistakes."

"I guess Zod plans the same way," Lex said. "He controls the Codex and instruments alone, so naturally he has a way to control the population. First, produce a batch of Kryptonian infants, and after raising them, slowly restore the operation of the equipment on Krypton, which can be considered a successful revival."

"Do you intend to just let him go back like this?"

"You should know that stopping him is meaningless," Lex paced at the other end of the room and said. "Krypton and Earth have no conflict of interest, and the distance is very far; running over here to plunder the resources of the solar system isn't even enough for the oil money."

"And Krypton is a highly humanoid civilization; humans can use many of their scientific technologies. Their own strength is also very high, which can be considered quite powerful thugs."

"Plus, old Kryptonian orphans like Clark and Kara are full of good feelings for humans. Although Zod suffered a small injury here, if we are willing to help him revive Krypton, he probably won't care."

"The speed of Kryptonian population revival is not that fast; at least decades, at most hundreds of years, and they can only build the most basic social order. By that time, human technology will also have developed, and with the rise and fall of each other, it's not necessarily impossible to form an alliance."

Hal nodded, clearly agreeing with Lex's words, and said, "We don't need to become enemies with Kryptonians, because in this universe, there are plenty of people who are easier to become enemies with humans. Don't forget, Darkseid and the Guardians of the Universe in our universe haven't exerted their strength yet."

Thinking of how much trouble that group of demons and monsters in the future universe would cause, Hal and Lex were both silent for a while.

And then thinking that there were countless dangers lurking in the depths of the multiverse, they were even more speechless.

"I only hope that Kryptonians can all be like Clark or Kara," Hal said. "Not asking for how kind and just, but at least have some sense of responsibility. They used genetic screening to create so many powerful warriors, is it just to circle around a planet?"

"Can Kryptonians become Green Lanterns?" Lex suddenly asked.

"Historically, there should never have been one," Hal said. "The vast majority of Green Lanterns come from civilizations that are not so advanced, because advanced civilizations neither need us to help them uphold justice, nor do they feel that we flying around is annoying, and they have all come up with some means to resist us. Kryptonians are the same; the ring can't fly in, so naturally, they can't be recruited."

"Perhaps you can go talk to Zod," Lex said. "During the process of population revival, Krypton will be very fragile. If they are willing to choose a few individuals to accept the recruitment of the Green Lantern Corps, you can provide them with security protection..."

"Krypton is left with only a piece of wreckage, and the colonies don't have any good resources, so no civilization should pay attention to that place. If Zod just secretly takes the instruments and Codex back, it probably won't be discovered in a short time."

Lex raised the corners of his mouth and said, "Yes, others won't know what he intends to do, but we know, and you know. Green Lanterns patrolling other high-level civilization sectors can also know..."

"You mean..." Hal narrowed his eyes slightly, licked his upper gums lightly with his tongue, and said, "If I can let Kryptonians also join the Green Lantern Corps, the Guardians of the Universe will never be able to shake my position again."

"Yes, this is actually a win-win," Lex turned his head and said. "You use the power in your hands to help them rebuild their home, and they use their powerful individual strength to help you consolidate your position within the Green Lantern Corps. By that time, even if the Guardians of the Universe want to take you down, they have to ask your personal guard if they agree."

"And, although your control over the Green Lantern Corps is quite good now, the Guardians of the Universe don't just have one corps. To replace that group of blue-skinned monsters and completely control the emotional spectrum, we must unite all forces."

"I'll go talk to Zod," Hal stepped out.

Lex stood where he was, silently examining the huge spaceship, thinking about the future situation of human society.

In the room where Zod was receiving treatment, only Hal and Zod were left. No one knew what they had talked about, except for the Batmen who had been in once and left at least two catties of wiretaps.

Upon learning that Hal intended to recruit new-generation Kryptonians as Green Lanterns on the condition of protecting Krypton's reconstruction, and intended to form a personal guard based on them, and that Zod had agreed, the Batmen began to think about whether the development ideas of the universe they were in had some problems.

In the vast majority of universes, Earth is isolated and helpless, all aliens are invaders, all disasters have to be solved by the Justice League, and all requests for aid either disappear without a trace after being sent out, or a few people come symbolically, unable to help much.

There is no magic defense network, no Gotham underworld, no Metropolis dungeon; every time a disaster is solved, it's like playing whack-a-mole, hitting one as it pops up, hitting one as it pops up, always unprepared, always exhausted.

The main reason for this phenomenon is not that the Justice League is not working hard, nor is it that they are not just and kind enough, but precisely because they lack what the vast majority of them disdain—power.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 3521 =====