Chapter 64: 64

In a shadowed conference room, eight monitors flickered to life, each displaying a figure wreathed in obscuring light. Their voices carried a quiet authority, calm yet undeniably firm. "We have a problem," a deep voice stated, the weight of discontent clear in his tone. "The loss of Project Kr was... unfortunate," another voice, older and measured, added. "As is the League's growing interest in Cadmus." "It was inevitable," a woman noted coolly. "We placed Guardian in charge to maintain control, but now, with the interference of these young heroes, our hold on the facility may be slipping." "Perhaps," a third voice conceded, "but this is not a failure. Merely an opportunity." "You believe this can be turned to our advantage?" the deep voice questioned. "Of course," the third voice replied smoothly. "The clone is free, yes—but in time, he will come to us. Whether he knows it or not, he is still ours. And as for these young heroes... They may have unknowingly placed themselves right where we need them." Silence hung over the room for a moment before the first voice finally spoke again. "Then let us ensure they see the light." ** Two days after the Independence Day fiasco, Joseph found himself in downtown Gotham with Kori. Over the months they'd been hanging out every weekend, they'd visited nearly every notable attraction in the city. There wasn't much left to see, but they still enjoyed hanging out together. Joseph wore a pair of blue jeans and a black long-sleeve shirt, while Kori had on a burgundy blouse and brown shorts. They had just stepped out of a theater after watching a restored and re-released classic called The Silver Blade. It was a 1940s film about a sword-wielding hero battling a cursed gargoyle. The practical effects, makeup, and stunts were surprisingly good for its time, and Joseph had been amused by how engaged Kori was throughout the movie. "It was so dramatic!" she said, eyes bright. "When he leaped off the tower with the sword, I thought for sure he would not survive. And yet, he did!" Joseph chuckled. "Yeah, I think they were trying to be as epic as possible. But hey, the action was solid. I can see why it became a classic." They walked side by side down the bustling streets of Gotham, their conversation naturally shifting to everything that had happened two days ago. Joseph recounted his takedown of the Prankster while Kori shared her experience helping the other sidekicks rescue Superboy from Cadmus. As they talked, Joseph abruptly stopped in his tracks, recognition dawning on him. They had unknowingly wandered to the physical headquarters of Bell Studios' Game Division, the building he had finally managed to purchase two weeks ago. The acquisition had been a long time coming, and although much of Bell Studios' social media division was housed in Chicago, this Gotham location remained the heart of its gaming operations. He noticed that some employees had chosen to work in-office rather than remotely. Seeing an opportunity, he decided to pay them a visit. "Come on," he said, motioning for Kori to follow as he led the way inside. The lobby was modern, sleek, and lively with activity. He approached the receptionist's desk, where a well-dressed woman greeted him with a professional smile. "Hello, how may I help you?" she asked. "I'd like to see Mr. Jack." The receptionist's expression remained polite but firm. "I'm sorry, our CEO is currently busy. Do you have an appointment?" Joseph smirked slightly. "Just tell him Joseph is here. He'll know who I am." The receptionist hesitated, then picked up the phone and relayed the message. Moments later, Mr. Jack himself appeared. Gone was the scruffy, homeless man Joseph had met months ago. With his sharp business acumen and relentless work ethic, Jack had risen quickly, proving himself invaluable. Joseph had rewarded that dedication by making him the CEO of Bell Studios' gaming division—now officially known as Bell Games. Under Jack's leadership, the company had not only stabilized but had started pushing into new projects with ambitious vigor. "Mr. Bell!" Jack greeted with a broad smile. "What a surprise! If I had known you were coming, I would have prepared something. And hello to you too, miss...?" "Kory Anders," Kori introduced herself, offering a warm smile. "She's my friend," Joseph added. "Don't worry about preparations. I just wanted to visit briefly. Hope I'm not disturbing anything—I haven't been to the building since we acquired it." Jack shook his head. "You're never a disturbance, sir. I always have time for you. I appreciate everything you've done for me." Joseph nodded in approval. "Then let's take a quick tour." As they walked through the building, Jack provided updates on the company's progress. Employees greeted Joseph with a mix of curiosity and respect. "We've been making good strides," Jack explained as they passed through the development wing. "Sweet Smash is about to launch, and based on pre-release data, it's projected to be a major hit. We're already in talks about expansions. Gotham Theft Auto and Oversee are still in early development, but both are shaping up well." Joseph nodded as he observed a few workstations. Screens displayed vibrant game levels, character models, and lines of code. He was impressed by the atmosphere—focused yet creative. "And that concludes the tour," Jack said as they returned to the lobby. "Do you have any questions, sir? Anything you'd like changed?" Joseph thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No. You've done a good job. Keep it up. Thank you for your hard work." "The pleasure is mine, sir," Jack said earnestly. "I'll continue making sure Bell Games reaches its full potential." Jack escorted them to the exit, and as soon as they stepped outside, Kori stretched her arms dramatically. "All that business talk has made me hungry." Joseph laughed. He had seen firsthand just how much food Kori could put away, and he was already bracing himself for the inevitable damage to his wallet. "Okay," he said, grinning. "Let's go find something to eat."