| tropolis - November 14
Joseph rode in the back of one of his father's white, armored luxury limousines on his way to the LuthorCorp Expo. He wore an expensive-looking black suit with a gold tie.
He'd also cut his back-length hair down to his shoulders. Kori had been sad to see the length go, but he couldn't exactly explain how his hair had grown that quickly when the android that replaced him during his ti in Trigon's dinsion had been photographed with much shorter hair.
Beside him, looking stunning as ever, was Kori. She wore a high-fashion, professional outfit—a structured white blazer over a paneled charcoal corset with a ruffled cravat, paired with oversized pink-tinted shield glasses.
Joseph knew Kori had done so modeling gigs here and there, but here she looked every bit the model and socialite he knew she could beco—even without being associated with him.
Still, if he could help his girlfriend's modeling career, why not? Even if she didn't want the help.
"Your notes," Waylon said, handing them over from the opposite seat. Lately, he'd seed like he was getting paid just to stand around, and that must've been bothering his pride, so he'd started doing secretary work. Not that Joseph actually needed the help with Nova around—but he wasn't going to say that.
"Thank you," Joseph replied.
The notes contained a list of general talking points, along with specific ones prepared for certain attendees. The biggest nas included Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, Maxwell Lord, and a few others who were far less important—at least comparatively.
Through his contacts, Joseph had also curated a list of approved press. On that list were Lois Lane and her new partner, Jimmy Olsen—who, funnily enough, Joseph was distantly related to through his father.
When the car ca to a stop, Waylon stepped out first, his appearance briefly causing the surrounding noise to dip. Then Kori exited, and Joseph imdiately heard the excited clamor of people talking over one another.
It was an important event, so paparazzi were a given. He had hoped that by selecting the more "reputable" ones, they would behave themselves—but apparently not.
A red carpet stretched out in front of a massive glass building that resembled a botanical garden.
Joseph stepped out last, and as expected, the paparazzi imdiately beca a nuisance. He might have been blinded by the barrage of flashing caras if he were still fully human.
Taking Kori's hand, Joseph led them forward. Questions were shouted at him from every direction, but he ignored them, striding ahead without breaking pace.
Inside, the lobby had been converted into a reception area, staffed by attendants and a receptionist. Guests were directed along the right side—but Joseph turned left.
He glanced at Kori. "Keep an eye on Cass and Jason, okay? Especially Jason."
Jason was probably going to walk up to Bruce Wayne and the other millionaires and start acting smug.
Joseph had no interest in explaining to Bruce how a ten-year-old had figured out his identity as Batman and was now trying to leverage that into a joyride in the Batmobile.
Kori rolled her eyes. "Worry about your presentation. We'll be fine."
To prove her point, she leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his lips before heading off to where Sebas sat with the kids in the audience, having arrived earlier.
Joseph smiled as he watched her go.
"Your girlfriend is really pretty."
He turned to see his aunt approaching.
"I hope you rember to use protec—"
"Yes, Aunt Lena. Thank you for the reminder."
First Selina, then Diana, and now his aunt. What was it with the older won in his life teasing him about that?
Joseph sighed in exasperation as Lena laughed, and he could hear Croc behind him holding back a chuckle like he wasn't going at it with Janet from HR almost everyday.
Then his aunt pulled him into a hug.
"I've seen how hard you've been working to grow LuthorCorp even further," Lena said. "I'm proud of you. Good luck."
"Thanks," Joseph replied.
He left his aunt and Croc behind, then made his way up a set of steps leading to the stage.
After stepping through the curtain, he erged before a crowd of hundreds of guests.
His gaze swept over the crowd, most of whom were seated in luxury chairs.
"Welco to LuthorCorp's first expo," Joseph began, projecting his voice slightly as he put on a practiced smile.
"We have many inventions on display today, offering innovations across a wide range of fields. And while all of them were tirelessly developed by our engineers and scientists—" Nova had provided the fraworks and guided them toward the intended outcos; it wouldn't do to have breakthroughs appear out of nowhere. "—I believe so are a bit more groundbreaking than others."
Joseph gestured.
Right on cue, a LuthorDroid walked onto the stage.
Its design mirrored the Lex-Bots his father had once planned to mass-produce—humanoid, clad in powered armor, durable, and equipped with jetpacks, though notably unard.
"This," Joseph said, "is the LuthorDroid."
"Since the Hour of Chaos caused millions to disappear—taking with them a significant portion of the global workforce—entire industries have been severely impacted. The LuthorDroids were created to prevent a total collapse of infrastructure. They are designed for physically demanding, 24/7 essential, or high-risk jobs—power and utility maintenance, supply chain logistics, agriculture, sanitation, and waste managent, to na a few."
He paused briefly.
"Their purpose is not to replace human workers. When society recovers, they will be repurposed. Their AI can follow simple instructions, but complex tasks will still require human oversight. At LuthorCorp, we are committed to supporting humanity—not replacing it—and to creating new opportunities for employnt."
A wave of chatter spread through the room as people began discussing the implications.
"And we're not done."
Joseph gestured again.
Out walked the Red Ranger, Pegasus Seiya, Gold Knight Garo, Bionicle hero Jaller, Kan Rider Odin, and Powerpuff Girl Blossom.
"These are LuthorBots," he continued. "They will be produced in multiple variants: Power Rangers, Bronze Saints, Makai Knights, Bionicle heroes, Kan Riders, and Powerpuff Girls."
He let that settle.
"All incredibly powerful."
"Safety is a rare commodity these days. People say the world is changing—aliens, tahumans, scientific accidents. We've all seen it. The Thanagarian deception. The Hour of Chaos."
He looked across the audience.
"But the truth is—the world has already changed. In so ways for the better. In others, for the worse. At LuthorCorp, our mission is simple: embrace that change. Adapt to the world as it is—not as we wish it to be."
You could hear a pin drop in the room, it was like no one was so much as breathing.
"The Justice League has done—and continues to do—an exceptional job protecting Earth. But they are too few, even with recent recruitnt. The Hour of Chaos proved that. And most of their mbers are based in the United States."
"These LuthorBots can be mass-produced. They will serve as a global defensive line against supernatural and extraterrestrial threats, assist during natural disasters, and protect civilians."
"Unlike LuthorDroids, which can be purchased by private companies, LuthorBots will only be sold to approved governnts. They will also be programd not to interfere in political conflicts beyond the protection of innocent lives."
"I have received approval from the President of the United States to operate and deploy both systems dostically. Negotiations are ongoing with the United Nations and other countries."
"As with all LuthorCorp products, there is a 15% discount when purchased using BellCoin."
More chatter rippled through the audience.
"Finally, I have one more announcent."
"LuthorCorp has been heavily investing in the Netherworld—an area in Chicago, located within the remains of the old Stockyards on the near South Side. It has beco a refuge for tahumans, paranormals, psionics, and mutants—individuals often shunned by society for their abilities or appearances."
"We are currently building a school there called Infinity Academy. A place where tas can learn to control their abilities and apply them productively."
He began listing examples.
"Those with electrokinesis could beco fusion technicians or grid managers. Those with geokinesis could work in seismic mitigation or tunneling engineering—and so on. The possibilities as the na suggest are infinite."
"You don't have to turn to villainy—or even heroics—to survive, especially given the risks. But for those who choose the hero path…"
Joseph paused.
"LuthorCorp will also be sponsoring a new team of heroes: Infinity, Inc."
"You may apply after completing our advanced curriculum. And unlike other organizations, we will help you manage your intellectual property, image rights, identity protection, public relations, and legal support."
He let the weight of that sink in.
"The world has changed," Joseph said again, looping back.
"The days of speculative science fiction are no longer ahead of us—they've been here for decades. But until now, these innovations have been hidden… or worse, hoarded by supervillains for their own personal gain."
A bit hypocritical coming from him considering all the tech he was withholding but it was for humanity's good. Too many industries would crash if he released what he was keeping in store all at once.
"What lies ahead is my attempt—alongside the hard work of many others—to embrace that change, rather than deny it."
He finished with a flourish.
Applause erupted across the room, led by Kori and his aunt.
Joseph smiled—and gave a theatrical bow.
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