Overall, Reid still preferred Tony's personality.
If he didn't have the system and wasn't destined to obtain a Batman card that would eventually allow him to replace Tony's role, he would have likely chosen to stand by Stark's side as a loyal ally.
But since Tony was willing to participate, there was no need to refuse his involvement.
This system could indeed help Tony track down Hydra.
However, the same logic applied in reverse—Luthor could also use this collaboration to extend his surveillance across the entire world.
"Tony, I need to remind you. If you go through with this and it gets discovered, the consequences won't be pleasant. Are you really sure about this?"
During the time Reid had been playing the role of Luthor, he had become friends with Tony. And now that Luthor had been separated into an independent entity, that bond remained.
"I know exactly what I'm doing. Once I make a decision, I never regret it."
Tony's words were firm, leaving Luthor with nothing more to say.
Thus, as Howard Stark's funeral concluded, their partnership was officially sealed.
...
The alliance between Stark Industries and LexCorp dealt a devastating blow to Von Doom Industries.
The space program, once a competitive field, became a one-sided game the moment the two giants joined forces. The government wasted no time making its decision.
Doom Industries suffered a crushing defeat, causing Victor's influence within his own company to plummet.
Internal conflicts erupted one after another, leaving him completely overwhelmed.
The company's growth stagnated while LexCorp surged ahead.
With its newfound reputation from the space program and an almost guaranteed future dominance in telecommunications, it continued expanding its influence.
In the arms industry, LexCorp remained focused on the super-soldier program, avoiding direct competition with Stark Industries' conventional weaponry. This ensured that neither side encroached upon the other's territory, preventing unnecessary conflicts of interest.
Beyond that, Luthor pushed LexCorp into various fields—consumer goods, electronic components, water supply, energy, and more. The company expanded on all fronts under his leadership.
Of course, there were obstacles. Rivals emerged, attempting to suppress LexCorp's rise. But none of them lasted long.
The reason was simple—technological supremacy.
Reid didn't need to use his Martian Manhunter abilities to manipulate outcomes with superpowers. Luthor's intellect was more than enough to handle these challenges effortlessly, making any supernatural intervention unnecessary. It also kept suspicions at bay.
The knowledge and technology granted to Luthor by the system were so far ahead of the competition that no ordinary corporation could keep up, regardless of the industry.
Naturally, some tried to flip the table, using political influence rather than business tactics to suppress LexCorp. But by now, the company had already secured its foothold in the political sphere.
And in the corporate world, "accidents" were nothing unusual, especially for those who played dirty.
Reid had no need for elaborate schemes. Disguising himself as a nameless bystander, he acted swiftly and silently. No one even realized he had intervened.
Within the rules, even if all rival companies united, they couldn't compete with Luthor's LexCorp. The market and the times had already chosen a winner.
Outside the rules, no one could escape Reid's silent assassinations using his Martian Manhunter abilities.
And so, by stepping over the corpses of its competitors, LexCorp climbed higher and higher throughout the year.
It was well on its way to becoming a corporate giant on par with the likes of Wayne Enterprises in Gotham.
Doom Industries, on the other hand, had been reduced to a shadow of its former self, struggling to survive in the high-tech sector. Once a dominant force, the company now relied on occasional new inventions to turn a profit.
Another force—one that Reid had once considered joining—Fisk Industries, was also forced to submit.
Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, knew that his criminal empire couldn't compete with a corporate juggernaut like LexCorp in New York. All he wanted was for Fisk Industries to act as a legitimate front to cover his underground operations.
So, he made a smart decision—he surrendered to Luthor.
As a result, Fisk Industries was reduced to nothing more than a security firm under the vast LexCorp umbrella, becoming a branch of its private security division.
In return, LexCorp provided cover, allowing Kingpin to expand his criminal empire in the shadows.
Luthor gladly accepted.
Kingpin was just an ordinary man. Now and in the future, he would never possess any extraordinary powers.
Once he joined, there was no leaving. No betrayal.
Reid simply used his Martian Manhunter telepathic abilities to implant a subconscious suggestion—Fisk would never betray LexCorp.
And with that, one of Marvel's most well-known crime lords became just another pawn under Reid's control.
It was a quick and efficient move, but also brutally realistic.
No matter how popular a character was, overwhelming power always won.
Kingpin, who loomed over Spider-Man's stories as a terrifying mastermind, was nothing against the heroes of Fantastic Four. What real chance did he have against someone like Reid?
As LexCorp tightened its grip on both New York's legal industries and its criminal underworld, its rise became unstoppable.
Reid's plan to dominate America, and eventually the entire Earth, had taken its first major step.
...
Then, 1995 finally arrived.
The space program, a joint effort between LexCorp and Stark Industries, launched its first communications satellite into orbit—a small step in Reid's grand scheme, but a significant milestone nonetheless.
Reid soared into space, gazing at the satellite suspended above New York, moving in perfect synchronization with the planet's rotation.
He had finally survived the hardest part.
In the Marvel universe, he had established his foothold. By 2008, before the age of heroes began, LexCorp would have total control over New York. Luthor would soon enter the political arena, further increasing their influence.
And yet, as Reid looked into the vastness of space, unease crept into his heart again.
The endless cosmos held far greater threats.
For Earth, things might return to peace after the Thanos incident. But for Reid, defeating Thanos was only the first step.
The gods of this universe—every last one of them—were his enemies.
He would never allow himself to become part of this world, even after gaining immense power. He wouldn't settle for godhood.
Instead, he would use his abilities to reshape the Marvel universe into his own utopia.
He needed to make more preparations. More. Much more.
…..
Elsewhere, in the Kree Empire's capital, Hala.
Carol Danvers—the lucky one granted power by the Space Stone—awoke in her bed.
She had no memories of her past. The only thing she knew upon waking was what she was told—she was Kree.
As she regained consciousness, she sought out her commander, Yon-Rogg, a Kree who, like her, did not have blue skin.
It was only when she saw the steady flow of blue blood being transferred into her body from her commander that she fully believed she was one of them.
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