One year had passed since Ashborn Black stood as the face and force behind Shadow Corp. A year of seamless expansion, strategic acquisitions, and subtle dominion over industries that most corporations only dreamed of touching.
Ashborn sat in his penthouse office, the skyline of Metropolis stretching beyond the glass wall behind him. The morning light filtered through as he casually flipped through the day's news. The front page, as expected, was awash in headlines glorifying the Justice League—"Wonder Woman Stops Global Terror Threat", "Flash Breaks Records with Global Evacuation in Seconds", "Superman Thwarts Alien Invasion".
He didn't even blink as he turned the page without a second look.
Heroes and villains. Gods and monsters. The never-ending soap opera of costumed drama held little interest for him now. He had seen wars between dimensions. Led them. Won them. The concept of superpowered egos clashing over ideals or anything that they can come up with has long lost its charm.
A knock on the door broke his thoughts.
His assistant entered promptly, a slim tablet in hand. He was a middle aged man that had been the assistant of Ashborn's father since the early days of Black Corp, he remained next to Arthur as it changed to Shadow Corp and now he is standing by Ashborn's side.
The assistant said "Sir, we received a call from LexCorp. Mr. Luthor has requested a business meeting with you to discuss a potential partnership."
Ashborn's black eyes sparkled faintly with intrigue. "Lex Luthor, hmm?"
The assistant added "Sir, if I may, please be careful when dealing with Lex Luthor, he is a cunning snake and can't be trusted"
Ashborn set the newspaper down and looked at the man, even in the early memories of the original Ashborn, the man was present and Ashborn since the moment he laid his eyes on him felt a slight trust and kinship. Ashborn believed it was because of the lingering feelings the original Ashborn had to the man.
Leaning back in his chair, Ashborn answered "I know uncle Rex. Please, accept it and schedule it for tomorrow."
The assistant nodded with a smile. "As long as you know." Then exited.
Ashborn closed his eyes.
At once, his shadow stretched unnaturally, oozing across the polished floor like ink in water. A sliver detached from the main body and slithered under the door without a sound.
Moments later, Ashborn's consciousness shifted. He stood—not physically, but as a presence—within the sleek, sterile office of Lex Luthor himself. The man was speaking with his stoic assistant, Mercy, discussing the final touches of their pitch and plan.
Ashborn smirked.
The next day, Lex Luthor arrived at Shadow Corp's headquarters, a smile carved perfectly onto his face as he entered the executive floor. He moved with the charisma of a man who believed the world belonged to him—and perhaps, to some extent, it did.
In Ashborn's office, they exchanged the usual pleasantries.
"You know," Lex said with a smooth tone, "watching what you've done with Shadow Corp this past year… it's like looking into a mirror of my younger self."
Ashborn returned the compliment with a respectful nod and a polite smile. "You're giving me too much credit, Mr. Luthor. You had it harder, and truthfully, I believe you're far more brilliant than I am. I even dare to say you are a contender for the smartest man on earth"
Lex's smile deepened.
Few things pleased him more than recognition—especially from someone competent. It stroked the part of his ego that believed he was not just smart, but the smartest man alive. Hearing those words from Ashborn, with a touch of sincerity, only confirmed Lex's own thoughts.
"You're underestimating yourself," Lex said. "What you've accomplished in a year is no small feat." He paused, then leaned forward. "But let's get to business."
Lex pulled a set of documents from his briefcase and slid them across the desk.
Ashborn flipped through them, scanning with supernatural speed and clarity. His eyes lingered on diagrams, proposed blueprints, and projected timelines.
"A maglev transport system," Ashborn murmured. "State-to-state, high-speed… It has potential."
Lex's grin widened. "I knew you'd see the value. Faster logistics, efficient travel. A true revolution in infrastructure."
Ashborn closed the file, lacing his fingers under his chin. "It's a good idea. But I don't approve of the fifty-fifty profit split."
Lex raised an eyebrow. "And what would you suggest instead?"
"Twenty-eighty," Ashborn said coolly, "in my favor."
There was a pause.
"That's… unusually greedy," Lex remarked, leaning back. "Fifty-fifty is a fair share by any business standard."
Ashborn's smile remained fixed, but his tone dipped with amused certainty. "LexCorp could build this on its own. It doesn't need us. But you came here anyway. Let me guess, you plan to use the infrastructure to move certain unregistered items. Weapons. Tech. Maybe other assets. And with Shadow Corp involved, if something goes wrong, blame and damage are shared. That makes it legally complicated to touch you."
Lex's face froze momentarily, the flicker of surprise betraying his otherwise composed expression.
Ashborn's smile turned razor sharp. "Mr Luthor, my opinion of you isn't low. It's high. So high, I expect this level of cunning. And I respect it."
He leaned forward slightly. "My motto has always been: make friends when you can. Preferably friends with benefits. I get a nice cut while you get your shipments safely transported with legal insulation. Everyone wins."
Lex was silent.
Then, slowly, he smiled, extending his hand. "I think… we're more alike than I initially thought."
Ashborn shook it, his hand firm, shadow ever-present behind his polite façade.
When Lex left the office, his smile faded as the elevator doors closed. He had achieved what he came for—mostly. But Ashborn… that young man had seen through him with frightening ease.
Lex didn't like being read like a book.
For a moment, he had considered denying it all. Spinning some charm and clever phrasing. But the look in Ashborn's eyes… cold, amused, certain.
Nothing he could've said would've made a difference.
In the end, Lex Luthor decided it was still a gain. One more ally with shared interest and mutual cover. A friend with benefits, as Ashborn had put it.
But Lex also knew, beneath that polite young face was something darker. Something even he couldn't quite see through yet.
___________
A week had passed since Shadow Corp and LexCorp signed their historic joint venture. The announcement of a massive new infrastructure project, a nationwide maglev transportation network, swept across the media like wildfire. Three years of work, billions in projected revenue, and the promise of faster, cleaner transportation had the public in an uproar of support.
News anchors praised the forward-thinking partnership. Economists speculated how this would reshape interstate commerce. Public approval surged for both corporations.
And yet, amid the celebration, Ashborn received a visitor no media channel could've predicted.
It happened late in the day. The sky was beginning to blush with the orange hues of sunset as Ashborn sat behind his desk, buried in quarterly reports and cost assessments. His office was quiet save the occasional tap of his pen.
Then a knock. Not at the door. At the window.
Ashborn's eyes shifted, puzzled. Slowly, he turned around.
Floating just beyond the glass, high above Metropolis, was Superman. The man of steel hovered, his red cape swaying gently in the wind. His expression was calm.
Ashborn arched an eyebrow but betrayed no surprise. He stood, adjusting his suit jacket before striding over to the window. With a slow, relaxed motion, he unlocked it and pulled it open.
A cool breeze swept into the office.
"Come in," Ashborn said with a casual wave, his voice unhurried. "I'd offer you a seat, but I doubt you're here for tea."
Superman stepped inside with the gentleness of a man who knew his strength.
"I don't want to sound like a bad host," Ashborn said as he gestured for his unexpected guest to speak, "but I am curious. What brings you here?"
Superman gave a small smile. "I saw the announcement today. Your partnership with Lex Luthor."
Ashborn nodded, keeping his expression neutral.
"I came," Superman continued, "to offer a word of caution."
Ashborn listened silently.
"Lex Luthor is… dangerous. Like a snake. He might smile today and strike tomorrow. I've dealt with him enough to know that trusting him comes at a cost."
There was no malice in Superman's tone, just concern. "I've also heard of you, Mr. Black. You've gained a solid reputation. Your employees speak highly of you. That's rare in your position. So consider this a friendly warning."
A long pause followed.
Ashborn's gaze sharpened subtly as he walked back to his desk, thoughtful.
"I appreciate the concern," he said after a moment. "And I won't pretend I'm unaware of Luthor's… extracurricular activities. They're hardly a secret in the business world."
He leaned back in his chair.
"But a snake is still useful, when you know where its fangs are. I've taken precautions. If he bites… well, let's just say I don't plan to bleed easily."
Superman studied him for a beat longer, then gave a small nod.
"Just be careful," he said again, stepping back toward the open window. "Some deals cost more than money."
Ashborn stood again and walked over as Superman floated out into the open sky. Without a word, Ashborn pulled the window closed.
He stood there for a few seconds, staring at the shrinking figure of the hero as he vanished into the clouds.
Amusement flickered in his eyes.
[Since when does Superman involve himself in business deals?] Ashborn thought to himself.
The man of steel had come to deliver a warning. But it only made the shadows grow more curious.