Rustle... rustle...
Seated in a leather chair behind a massive mahogany desk, Zod wore an expression of total apathy. He scanned the reports presented by his subordinate with a mechanical speed, flipping through pages before finally tossing the folder aside.
"So... you are telling me the newly appointed New York Police Commissioner is immune to both bribery and coercion? Is that the sum of it?"
"Yes, Boss. He is unyielding, constantly preaching about 'Justice.' Because of this, the other syndicates and street gangs are in a state of high tension..."
"Pathetic..."
As Zod turned his vacant gaze toward the man, the subordinate felt a cold sweat drench his spine.
Strictly speaking, the person before him was a mere stripling—a twenty-year-old youth. He wore a bespoke suit as if mimicking a veteran mob boss, and his features were strikingly handsome, even 'cute.' At first glance, he didn't seem frightening. Yet, the spiritual pressure radiating from him was akin to that of a gargantuan beast, a Mystery that defied the natural order.
"You allowed a spy to breach our inner circle because you were too busy stumbling over a single human official?"
"I... I am deeply sorry, Boss..."
The man bowed at a ninety-degree angle, groveling for mercy before a boy who looked young enough to be his son.
"...I shall handle this personally."
"Pardon? But Boss, for you to go in person..."
Whirring...
Magical energy coalesced within Zod's ocular nerves. His eyes ignited with the crimson glow of Heat Vision, and he let out a low, predatory growl.
"Do not make me repeat myself."
"Y-Yes! At once!!"
Driven by the primal fear of imminent incineration, the man scrambled out of the room to prepare for their departure.
"........."
Watching the man practically crawl out the door, Zod shook his head in disappointment. He pulled a lollipop from his desk drawer and began to chew. To any observer, he was merely a harmless, charming youth—but in reality, he was the Lesser Demon King who reigned supreme over the New York underworld.
"Boss..."
His secretary, a woman standing by his side, adjusted her glasses as she observed him.
"Will you not be taking the Mesdames with you this time?"
"...Rest is an essential component of efficiency."
"I understand."
The secretary bowed, asking no further questions. She was perceptive. Zod loathed verbosity; he favored brevity, logic, and absolute compliance.
She had seen many others meet a gruesome end—or at least a terrifying threat—simply for speaking out of turn like that unsightly subordinate earlier. Survival in his presence required an understanding of his 'Logic.'
.
.
.
New York Police Department, Commissioner's Office.
"So... you're claiming to be the head of 'Homeland,' the one who supposedly rules the New York underworld?"
"Indeed."
"Ha! You're telling me New York's nights are governed by a brat like you?! And a mafia thug has the gall to walk right into my precinct? Into the Commissioner's office?!"
"I understand your frustration. It must be physically and mentally distressing to realize New York's nights are toys for such a green youth. Does it bother you that I've walked into your domain of my own volition? My apologies, Mister."
"Hmph. For a kid, you certainly talk like a precocious brat. Flawless rhetoric, no waste in your speech... but tell me, why are you so damn short? Some kind of growth deficiency?"
"How cruel, Mister... Prying into another's insecurities is quite rude, wouldn't you say?"
"Enough. Give me one reason why I shouldn't arrest you all right here... otherwise, I'll make sure you rot in a cell that makes Alcatraz look like a resort."
"I believe you recently severed one of our financial arteries by planting a spy..."
Zod wore a frigid smile as he stared at the Commissioner, who merely snorted in derision.
"Glad to hear it! I'm going to systematically dismantle the lifelines of criminals like you until I've choked the life out of your entire organization!"
"Haha... my, my. You truly have a fervent sense of justice..."
Zod's smile remained cold, but the Commissioner remained undaunted, mocking him with a predatory grin.
"I'll arrest you right now, link you to every crime on the books, and make sure you rot in prison for the rest of your life."
"Ara... I would advise against that. You aren't the only one who understands the Law."
"You think threats work on me?"
"Do you honestly think we are merely threatening you?"
"I don't negotiate with criminal scum! I am arresting you—"
"Oops. I'm afraid that won't be possible, Commissioner."
The office door opened, and a man in a sophisticated suit and glasses entered. The Commissioner was about to lash out at the interruption, but his expression soured when he saw the business card presented. It belonged to a first-class lawyer—the kind who only represented the ultra-wealthy and high-ranking politicians.
"Hah! Just like those who defend criminals, your methods are utterly petty! A criminal hiring a lawyer?! Know your place!"
"Keep shouting if you like, Commissioner. All you'll achieve is a sore throat."
"You little shit..."
The Commissioner gritted his teeth, desperate to throw Zod behind bars, but Zod didn't blink. He casually accepted a candy from his lawyer, popped it into his mouth, and smiled with unnerving composure.
"Oh, and one more thing..."
Realizing that the current Commissioner was someone logic couldn't reach, Zod prepared to leave the precinct, offering a final warning.
"You will come to regret your refusal to submit."
"Laughable! I will personally see you thrown into the deepest pit!" the Commissioner roared back.
"Hehe... how truly pitiable."
Leaving behind a chilling smile, Zod exited the precinct, climbed into his car, and dialed a number.
"Yes... it is I, Congressman... The Commissioner's seat will be vacant soon, and I'd like you to handle the cleanup... Of course, I'll ensure your compensation is more than generous, along with a few more 'entertainers' for your pleasure... Yes... it is all thanks to your grace, Congressman. I shall keep it in mind. Understood... yes."
Click.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket, his expression devoid of emotion.
"Was the pig complaining again, Boss?"
"Congressmen are always the same."
{ (Static...) Next news. Scientific circles are buzzing as reports of individuals with so-called 'Psychic Powers' continue to rise. These individuals claim to be a 'New Humanity' and are creating a new form of social divide by discriminating against the un-empowered... }
The breaking news on the radio piqued Zod's curiosity. The emergence of other superhumans was a development he found mildly intriguing. Were they artificial specimens created in labs like himself... or natural occurrences? He wondered deeply.
"Boss... what should we do about the Commissioner?"
"I shall take care of him tonight. Drive to the coordinates I gave you."
"Yes..."
The driver silently obeyed, pulling the car into traffic.
.
.
.
"Whew... What a wretched day..."
Driving home, the Commissioner aggressively loosened his tie. The memory of Zod's visit earlier that day continued to grate on his nerves.
"A brat who hasn't even dried behind his ears dares to lecture an elder... I heard he doesn't even have parents, and it shows!"
He cursed irritably, yet his adherence to traffic laws and signals demonstrated his obsession with rules and order.
"Sigh... At least I have my wife and daughter waiting for me at home. That's my only solace..."
For the Commissioner, his family was his sole sanctuary. It was for his wife and daughter, who greeted him with warmth every evening, that he endured the filth of his profession.
"I'm home~"
He parked, unlocked the front door, and called out, but a sense of dissonance immediately washed over him.
Normally, his daughter would run to embrace him while his wife welcomed him warmly. Tonight, there was only silence.
"Are they out?"
He tried to dismiss the thought, but his intuition—honed by years of police work—was screaming at him. Something was wrong.
Driven by a sudden, ominous dread, he rushed into the living room, only to collapse to his knees at the sight before him.
His wife and daughter were cold corpses. The floor was so saturated with blood that his shoes made a sickening, sticky sound with every movement. And behind the remains of his family sat Zod, calmly sipping tea.
"You've had a long day, Commissioner... I apologize, but since your wife and daughter weren't in a state to serve a guest, I let myself into the cupboard."
"You... you son of a..."
The Commissioner's mind went blank. The shock was so profound that words failed him. Then, the void was replaced by a white-hot, incinerating rage.
He finally understood the 'regret' Zod had spoken of before leaving the precinct. He lunged at Zod with murderous intent, but...
"So predictable..."
Whir—BOOM!!
A blast of Heat Vision severed the Commissioner's arm instantly. The man collapsed, staring at Zod with eyes wide with horror, agony, and disbelief.
"A... psychic..."
"Hmm. So you aren't completely stupid..."
Zod sipped his tea, smiling coldly at the writhing man. The Commissioner screamed, demanding to know why he had murdered his family. The answer was simple.
"Because you were an eyesore. You interfered with business, you refused bribes... it became tedious. I told you, be 'just' in moderation... It's irritating when people take it too far."
Before the Commissioner could even formulate a response, Zod incinerated the man's head with another burst of Heat Vision. He poured the remains of his tea onto the corpse, stepped out of the house, and climbed into his waiting car with a thin, predatory smirk.
"How boring..."