"You should know," Lex Luthor said gravely, "the nutrients packed into those things are more than a hundred times what an ordinary human needs in a single day."
"Even with your extraordinarily strong body, nutrition that concentrated is practically a super toxin to the digestive system."
"If something goes wrong after you eat them, I'll probably go down in history as the man who poisoned humanity's greatest hero!"
Lucas Reed burst out laughing.
"Haha, I appreciate the concern, Lex. Don't worry—I know my limits."
"Well, if you insist," Lex replied reluctantly.
Then he continued grumbling,
"I'll have them delivered to you the day after tomorrow. Honestly, researching this stuff brings zero economic benefit. I still don't know why I agreed to help you with it."
"In any case, thank you, Lex," Lucas said quickly and hung up before the complaining could continue.
He then placed another call—this time to Phastos.
"Lex complained quite a bit about you," Lucas said, looking at the video feed of Phastos in a lab coat, bustling around nonstop.
"I already know," Phastos replied casually while working.
"People in the past were much better—they listened to everything I said with humility."
"Humans nowadays are far too stubborn… well, except for a few of them."
Behind Phastos, Lucas noticed two male and two female researchers following him closely.
The looks in the eyes of the two male researchers were… a bit questionable.
"As long as it's something I've never seen before," Phastos continued,
"I'm always willing to accept it and analyze its feasibility."
"But Lex rejected my ideas outright and told me never to mention them again in front of him."
"Thankfully, I'm in charge of this research group," Phastos sighed.
"Otherwise, I'd probably have been kicked out of the lab by Lex Luthor already."
"The way he looks at me now—it's like a medieval zealot staring at a heretic."
Lucas listened helplessly, then quickly changed the subject.
"Lex isn't that bad. Anyway—did you finish what I asked for?"
Phastos immediately straightened up.
"Mostly finished."
"Really?" Lucas asked, pleasantly surprised.
Instead of answering directly, Phastos walked to a storage cabinet and took out four boxes, placing them in front of the camera.
"Allow me to introduce my little treasures."
He opened the first box. Inside was a device no larger than a fingernail.
"This is an oxygen molecular converter. It recycles the carbon dioxide you exhale and converts it back into breathable oxygen."
Next, he lifted a form-fitting suit from the second box.
"This is a light-energy absorption suit. It helps you absorb and weaken cosmic radiation in space, converting it into heat to maintain optimal body temperature."
He pointed to a module on the back of the suit.
"This is a pure water conversion unit. It absorbs sweat, oils, waste materials—filters everything and turns it into clean drinking water."
Then he gestured to a translucent vertical tube on the chest.
"Inside is a high-dose adrenaline injector. In critical situations, it will inject directly into your body."
Phastos then opened the third box.
"This one contains two ultra-long-range communicators, based on technology I obtained from Sersi's golden sphere."
Inside were two small golden orbs.
"As long as the distance isn't extreme, these can communicate with virtually zero delay."
"Incredible," Lucas said sincerely.
"But we're not done yet."
Phastos opened the final box.
Inside was a hollow, circular metallic pendant.
"This," he said solemnly, "is a containment vessel I designed using all my knowledge."
"It can restrain and suppress almost any known form of energy."
"In theory, if you activate it at the instant of a nuclear detonation, it could bind that energy within."
His eyes gleamed with obsession.
"This is the pinnacle of my craft—the sum of everything I know."
He frowned slightly.
"However, I've only seen the Infinity Stones. I've never personally held one."
"I can't guarantee this device will restrain them completely."
Lucas nodded.
"I understand. Even if it fails, that's not on you."
"Phastos," Lucas added seriously,
"supporting your research is one of the best decisions I've ever made."
Phastos scratched the back of his head, smiling.
"The lab equipment helps—and the inspiration I got from that spacecraft."
"Otherwise, I couldn't have built all this in such a short time."
"I'll come pick everything up shortly," Lucas said.
"Prepare them for me."
"Got it!"
---
Half an hour later, Lucas left Lex Luthor's secret laboratory with four boxes and a large backpack.
He also informed Phastos that Atlantean representatives would arrive in half a month for friendly negotiations.
Phastos would be taken to Atlantis to study and record their advanced technologies.
The moment he heard that, Phastos was ecstatic—and worked even harder.
Soon after, Lucas flew to Central City and handed one of the golden communication orbs to Kara.
After hearing what it was for, Kara frowned with concern.
"How far are you planning to go?"
"Not necessarily far," Lucas replied gently.
"This is just a precaution."
Only then did Kara relax. As Lucas wasn't paying attention, she leaned in and kissed him softly.
Lucas left with a lipstick mark on his face and a smile he couldn't hide.
Back home, he explained the possible upcoming events.
Both girls said they understood.
After Carrie went upstairs, Elaine approached and handed Lucas a gold coin.
"What's this?" Lucas asked, admiring its exquisite craftsmanship.
On the coin was an angel with six wings, holding a sword pointed toward the sky.
"A Covenant Coin," Elaine said calmly.
"Keep it with you. It will bring you good luck."
She then turned and walked toward the refrigerator.
Lucas smiled and placed the coin inside his coat.
_____
T/N:
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