DC: Rise of the Kryptonian Tyrant

"Silence. You're interrupting my invitation to the lady."

Bardi's voice was cold, his tone carrying a sharp reprimand without any trace of politeness.

He stood taller than the host of the banquet, Morgan Edge. His presence loomed like an unshakable mountain—majestic, powerful, and commanding. Having once been a general on Krypton, his status was far above the common masses. His aura radiated dominance, making it impossible to dismiss or ignore.

At this moment, he exuded more authority than the actual host of the event, overbearing and untouchable.

The banquet itself had been arranged for Bardi's sake, so why should he act like a mere guest?

Ignoring the murmurs around him, Bardi remained focused on one thing, extending a sincere invitation to the elegant, mature woman in front of him. He wanted to spend the night with her, not out of lust, but to alleviate the mounting pressure brought on by Jor-El. He needed a way to unwind, because deep down, he knew that after tonight, such moments of relaxation would become exceedingly rare.

This was about more than just indulgence; it was about shaking off the suffocating weight in his heart.

Turning back, he raised his wine glass and once again extended his invitation to the woman, his expression sincere. His actions left her momentarily stunned.

The atmosphere in the hall felt strangely surreal.

The gradually rising tempo of the background music only amplified the intensity of the moment, underscoring the quiet yet overwhelming power Bardi exuded.

A hush fell over the crowd. It was as if an invisible hand had wrapped around their throats, leaving them wide-eyed and speechless.

Here, in the heart of the family's banquet hall, an outsider—a man who had risen from the depths of the slums was acting with an audacity that defied all reason. He wasn't just being bold; he was outright domineering, commanding more authority than even the head of the family himself. And to top it all off, he had the nerve to reprimand Morgan Edge in public.

This was suicide.

A wave of hostility spread through the room. Expressions darkened.

Many of those who had previously supported the idea of inviting Bardi into the family now hesitated. Watching Morgan Edge repeatedly lose face in front of his guests, they began to reconsider their stance.

This man—this arrogant, reckless upstart was not fit to be part of the family.

Respecting one's elders, acknowledging those with greater wealth and influence, this was the natural order of things. Everyone present had climbed the social ladder by following these unspoken rules.

Yet here was Bardi, disregarding all decorum. If he was already this brazen while standing at the threshold, what would happen if he actually gained equal or greater power? Would he trample over them all?

Morgan Edge's expression turned even darker. His already grim face now looked almost black with rage. This entire event had been orchestrated to honor Bardi, to welcome him into their ranks. And yet, the man they were supposed to be celebrating was treating him—the host, the head of the family—as if he were irrelevant. Worse, he was openly flirting with his wife.

Even Edge himself had never dared to treat his wife so brazenly. The truth was, much of his current success had been built on the backing of her family. Their marriage was one of convenience, polite, respectful, but devoid of passion. Deep down, he carried a lingering sense of inferiority in front of his wife. In fact, his relationship with his secretary was probably more intimate than the one he shared with his spouse.

But that didn't matter.

No matter what his marriage was like behind closed doors, she was still his wife.

And now, in full view of high society, she was being openly courted by another man, a man who repeatedly ignored and humiliated him in his own home.

As a man, as the head of the family, he could no longer tolerate this.

"Barmulodi, this banquet was meant to welcome you into the eighteenth seat of the 'family.'"

Morgan Edge's voice was low and cold, his words laced with restrained fury.

This fool had no sense of propriety.

His declaration caused an uproar.

"So it's true?"

"He was really being considered for a seat?"

"How could someone like him be part of the family?"

"Didn't you hear Mr. Edge? Was meant to."

"In other words, this idiot just threw away his own chance at power."

"Heh, he never deserved a place here to begin with."

"He's finished."

"The moment he steps out of this banquet, the family will make their move. His pharmaceutical company, Universe Biotechnology, and its flagship products Sildenafil, the breakthrough heart medication, and an entire line of skincare products will be blacklisted from the market."

"In fact, the FDA might even be pressured into shutting down his entire operation."

"He's as good as ruined."

Some members of the family watched the situation unfold with undisguised schadenfreude.

From the moment Bardi had been proposed for a seat, many of them had held reservations—after all, he had come from nothing, rising from the filth of the slums. It was only under Edge's persuasion that they had agreed to his potential inclusion.

Now, with even Edge turning against him, there was no longer any reason to welcome him.

Watching Bardi throw away the opportunity they themselves had once fought desperately to obtain, they felt an almost giddy sense of satisfaction. Some were even tempted to raise their glasses in celebration.

What a fool.

He didn't even realize what kind of future he had just destroyed with his own hands.

They swirled their wine glasses lazily, smirking as they gazed at Bardi with thinly veiled disdain.

And then, their smirks vanished.

Bardi stood tall, his wine glass raised high. His crisp white suit highlighted his sculpted, chiseled features. His presence was magnetic, exuding an effortless confidence that was neither forced nor arrogant.

And then he spoke.

"You're all too noisy," he said smoothly. "Since this banquet was held for me, I am the center of attention—the host, if you will. Given that, I see no issue with inviting a few elegant and beautiful ladies to spend the night with me. Wouldn't you agree?"

His words were accompanied by an easy, charming smile, his deep voice carrying a quiet, undeniable authority.

A lesser man might have come across as crude or vulgar, but Bardi?

He was captivating.

No one looking at him in this moment would believe that he had once been nothing more than a nameless slum-dweller.

Even some of the women at the banquet, those less deeply entrenched in the family's inner circle, found themselves intrigued. A few, emboldened by their own independent wealth and power, felt a thrill at the idea of a night with such a man.

The bold woman in a deep purple evening gown even licked her lips in anticipation.

This Bardi… was interesting.

He wasn't afraid of the family's power.

Morgan Edge's expression darkened further, his eyebrows drawing together. His patience was wearing thin. It had been a long time since anyone had dared to ignore him like this, especially a man who had once been beneath him.

He hadn't needed to say a word. His allies had already sensed his rising anger and were more than willing to act on his behalf.

"We've done our research," a middle-aged man in a black suit declared. "You're uneducated, uncultured, arrogant, and completely unfit to join the family."

"That's right," another chimed in. "You lack the proper conduct. And your company's assets? Nowhere near sufficient to qualify for a seat. Sooner or later, we'll make sure the FDA takes action against your illegal pharmaceuticals."

Others quickly followed, clutching their wine glasses as they hurled insults, tearing Bardi down to nothing more than a brutish, unworthy thug.

Meanwhile, Morgan Edge remained silent, his hands clasped behind his back, watching Bardi with cold, unreadable eyes.