1991.
With the dust settling on the fall of the Berlin Wall, a warm crack was torn open in the Iron Curtain of the Cold War.
People thought that peace was the only theme of this era.
They were wrong.
Chicago, south of the city.
An "unfortunate" leak occurred at a chemical processing plant belonging to a subsidiary of Vought International.
Tons of industrial waste of unknown composition have seeped into Illinois ' water supply system.
The news in the newspaper occupied only an inconspicuous corner, accompanied by a picture of several workers in protective suits taking samples by the river.
The title is "A Wake-Up Call for Corporate Responsibility".
The compensation was paid quickly, and the local government expressed its satisfaction.
Nobody knew that it wasn't waste.
That was the original solution of Compound V, diluted several times.
They were the first seeds Lynn sowed into the new world.
One month later.
Roosevelt Public High School, Chicago.
Kayle huddled in the narrow locker, pleading in a hoarse voice.
Outside the cabinet door, the basketball players' unrestrained laughter could be heard.
"Go inside and reflect on your actions, you nerd!"
Remember to finish our homework tomorrow!
Darkness, despair...
Kayle felt as if a boulder was pressing against his chest, tears mingling with sweat as they streamed down his face.
Why?
why always me?
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.
An unprecedented burning sensation, accompanied by extreme anger, erupted from the depths of his chest!
The cabinet door was melted.
Flame engulfed the entire locker room.
Los Angeles.
A dockworker got into an argument with his foreman over wages, and in a fit of anger, he overturned an 18-wheeled heavy truck fully loaded with goods.
Washington, D.C..
During a tense congressional hearing, a congressional intern became so excited that his skin suddenly hardened into a diamond-like crystalline structure, leaving all the members of Congress speechless.
Panic spread rapidly throughout the country like a virus via television signals and telephone lines.
The media named it "SOMS" – Sudden Onset Metahuman Syndrome.
It is completely irregular and unpredictable.
Your neighbor, your child, or even yourself could turn into an uncontrollable monster in the next second.
The federal government's response was sluggish and ineffective.
The quarantine zone that the National Guard was trying to establish turned into a joke in the face of a "patient" who could walk through walls.
When the entire nation was shrouded in a deep fear of the "unknown".
Vought International stepped forward.
An unprecedented global press conference was held at Vought Plaza.
Under the spotlight, a figure who had been out of the public eye for a long time slowly walked onto the stage.
Hundreds of reporters in the audience whispered among themselves until they could see the man's face clearly.
"My God... that's... Lynn Morris?"
An elderly reporter with gray hair gasped in surprise, nearly dropping his camera.
"I saw him more than forty years ago... How come he hasn't changed at all?!"
A commotion spread through the press box, and countless Flash went off.
Lynn Morris.
He was still young, and his handsome face held a serene expression of compassion.
He was dressed in a well-tailored black suit, and without looking at his prepared remarks, he simply surveyed the entire room with his deep eyes.
The noisy venue fell into an incredible silence under his gaze.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
We are experiencing an unprecedented crisis.
"But this is neither a curse nor a disease."
"This is an evolution, a forced, chaotic, dangerous... leap."
On the large screen behind him, a clear human genome sequence image was displayed.
That was a "research result" on Compound V that Dr. Horton's team had "rushed" to produce.
" Vought International has been secretly studying this phenomenon for decades. We believe that power itself is not frightening; what is frightening is its loss of control."
"Today, I stand here not to spread more fear, but to offer a solution."
He paused, giving the global audience time to process what he had said.
" Vought International will submit a ' Metahuman Registration and Management Act ' to Congress."
"We will establish a brand new department responsible for identifying, registering, training, and guiding all newly awakened Metahuman."
"We will teach them how to control their power and how to be a beneficial member of society, not a threat."
"We will transform them from monsters into heroes."
After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.
Immediately following was a deafening barrage of Flash and questions.
Lynn did not answer any questions.
He was just announcing something else.
"Starting tomorrow, Vought's team of heroes— Starlight, Guardian, and Vi—will be deployed to Chicago to assist the local government in restoring order."
"We will prove with our actions that Vought is capable of resolving this crisis."
This was a perfect performance.
Lynn created the plague himself.
Now, he's peddling the only cure, posing as a savior.
The price of the antidote is the entire nation's right to define the future of Superman.
In Lynn's office.
Hannibal Lecter is slicing a T-bone steak from Florence.
On the wall, dozens of screens are displaying live footage from around the world:
Chaos on the streets of Chicago, the soaring stock price of Vought Company, and live coverage on CNN News.
A young senator is being interviewed.
Robert Kelly.
A newly elected member of parliament from Massachusetts.
Known for its tough style and uncompromising political stance.
"Entrusting national security to a commercial company? That's the most ridiculous joke I've ever heard!"
Senator Kelly spoke sharply to the camera.
" Vought International? They sell toys and make movies! What gives them the right to define who's a hero and who's a threat?"
"I suspect there's more to this so-called ' Sudden Onset Metahuman Syndrome ' than meets the eye!"
Why is it that Vought International is always the first to arrive at a disaster site and come up with a "perfect" solution?
"I will propose the establishment of a special commission of inquiry, directly under the leadership of Congress, to thoroughly investigate Vought International and the true source of this crisis!"
What we need is a government-led order, not a future controlled by corporations!
Hannibal used a silver fork to put a perfectly cooked steak into his mouth.
After savoring it carefully, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"An ambitious politician."
He commented.
He sensed danger, but he also sensed opportunity. However, he misjudged his prey and overestimated his own abilities as a hunter.
Lynn picked up his wine glass and gently swirled the deep red liquid inside.
He looked at the indignant young congressman on the screen and a playful smile appeared on his face.
"A good script cannot have only one protagonist who is perfect and righteous."
Lynn's voice was very soft.
"It also needs a villain who is stubborn enough, inflammatory enough, and... stupid enough."
He will do me a big favor.
"He will use his questioning, his investigations, his hearings, to prove to the world time and time again that the existence of Metahuman is an uncontrollable threat."
"He will use his desperate cries to rally all forces against me."
Lynn took a sip of red wine, and the rich aroma of the wine blossomed on her tongue.
"Then, I will make him, and all those who follow him, witness firsthand how I will completely tame this threat and bring it into my system."
"Only when people realize that even their opponents have failed will they truly and willingly accept the rules I've set for them."
"Have Ada's men prepare some 'evidence' for him."
"Some evidence" that Hydra remnants are conducting illegal genetic experiments.
" Senator Kelly needs an enemy to fight, so we'll give him one."
Hannibal bowed slightly.
"As you wish, boss."
"After all, preparing a perfect feast for guests is a basic courtesy of the host."