DC: Rise of the Kryptonian Tyrant

"A verbal apology is of no use to me."

Bardi remained indifferent, his tall frame clad in a pristine white suit that accentuated his clean and refined appearance. Though his demeanor was composed, there was an undeniable strength in his broad shoulders and firm stance. His gaze, though calm, carried an unseen weight, an invisible pressure that radiated power.

He did not need to stare to command attention. But once he did, it was like facing an immovable mountain.

His expression was neutral, yet the faint smile in his eyes carried a quiet intensity that made it difficult for others to breathe.

The Colvin patriarch felt his chest tighten.

Though his posture remained upright, the years had etched deep lines into his face. He had taken meticulous care of his health, but time was relentless. Fatigue came more easily now.

And now, because of his own hesitation, he had lost half of what he had gained. A disaster of his own making.

His breathing grew slightly unsteady. He barely suppressed the tremor threatening to creep into his limbs. But decades of rigid aristocratic discipline kicked in, forcing him to maintain his composure.

"Half… because I was not forthcoming enough," he admitted. "The other half… is beyond question."

His expression was strained, but his tone remained dignified. He understood the reality of the situation.

This wasn't just about his personal lifespan, it was about the future. The future of his family.

Because the future that Lex represented, the future tied to Bardi, was something he could not afford to lose. Even if the terms were steep, he had no choice but to accept them. No matter what, he had to secure Bardi's favor, ensuring that the Colvin family remained aligned with him.

The room nearly erupted.

All eyes were locked onto the two men.

The patriarch of the Colvin family who had always carried himself with unshakable authority had just accepted a major loss without protest.

What kind of agreement was this?

Even more baffling, despite losing half of the benefits, he hadn't attempted to renegotiate. He had simply… accepted it.

All because some of the younger elites had gone too far in provoking Bardi? Because the Colvin patriarch had hesitated before stepping in?

What kind of deal allowed one party to so casually slash the other's benefits in half?

It was an absurd power dynamic.

Could Bardi truly hold such leverage?

A few of the second-generation elites who had mocked Bardi earlier gawked, unable to comprehend what was unfolding.

"How is this possible?"

"That guy… He came out of the slums, didn't he? How the hell is he calling the shots with someone like Lord Colvin?"

"This—this is insane. What kind of deal allows someone to just take half like that?"

They struggled to process it

Because the reality was undeniable.

Bardi was negotiating with one of the most influential nobles in Metropolis on equal footing.

No—not equal.

Superior.

And that realization was enough to make them feel utterly insignificant.

Morgan's pulse spiked. His breath caught in his throat.

What kind of deal is this?

A sinking dread settled in his chest.

Had Bardi pulled the Colvin patriarch into his orbit?

His mind raced, anger bubbling beneath the surface. His expression remained impassive, but his clenched jaw betrayed the fury simmering beneath.

What the hell had Colvin done behind my back?

Morgan's fingers twitched slightly, his mind whirling.

The Colvin patriarch had always been known for his foresight and ruthless pragmatism. He had taken the remnants of the Family's aristocracy and reshaped it, positioning the Colvin family at the peak of Metropolis's elite. He had understood the necessity of elevating ambitious individuals, incorporating them into the city's power structure rather than resisting change.

And it had worked.

Because of him, the Family had solidified itself as one of the most dominant forces in Metropolis's financial and political landscape.

Even now, despite Morgan's rise to power, he would never dare to move against the Colvin patriarch directly. The man's influence ran far too deep.

And now… now he was siding with Bardi?

Morgan had been certain that Colvin opposed bringing Bardi into the Family.

Yet here he was, negotiating with Bardi, willingly conceding power.

Just hours ago, Morgan had thought himself in control.

He had expected Bardi to come to this banquet humbled to acknowledge his place. Instead, Bardi had walked in unaffected, showing neither gratitude nor deference. It was an insult, a blatant disregard for the hierarchy Morgan had sought to reinforce.

That was why he had chosen to humiliate Bardi tonight. To remind him of his place.

But now…

Now, Bardi was standing above him.

And the Colvin patriarch had accepted it.

Morgan's fury burned.

You two…

Are you making a fool of me?

The banquet hall buzzed with hushed murmurs, disbelief rippling through the gathered elites.

Then, another figure stepped forward.

His presence alone was enough to command attention.

He had short-cropped hair, sharp like bristles, streaked with white. His beard was a carefully groomed mix of black and gray, giving him a distinguished, yet hardened look. His frame was broad and powerful, dressed in a sharp black suit. Though time had softened his features with fine lines, there was still strength in the set of his jaw.

His steps were firm as he approached Bardi.

His first instinct was to demand an answer, to challenge him.

But something in him hesitated.

His voice, usually firm and commanding, came out measured—held back.

"Half… But Lex told me twenty years."

His brow furrowed in surprise.

Despite his physical strength and years of experience, he found himself hesitating.

Bardi's response was calm, decisive.

"I'm the one who makes the final decision," he said flatly. "You came in second. You get 40%."

"You can choose not to work with me."

Bardi looked at him, his tone indifferent, waiting for a response.

But the middle-aged man, robust and brimming with authority, barely hesitated. Though his face flickered with brief shock and a trace of regret, he answered decisively.

"No. We cooperate," he declared without pause. "I should have stepped in sooner, that was my failure. We work together."

His voice was firm, his stance unwavering.

The words fell like a thunderclap.

This was no ordinary man, he was the head of the Dodge family, a name second only to the Colvins in prestige and power. The two families had been locked in rivalry for generations, as inseparable in their competition as McDonald's and KFC, eternal adversaries, each striving to outmaneuver the other.

And yet now, both were vying to align themselves with Bardi.

It was as if a bomb had been detonated in the middle of the banquet hall.

The crowd erupted.

"What the hell is happening?"

"What does that man have that makes two of Metropolis's most established nobles scramble to work with him?"

"They've spent centuries trying to destroy each other. And now they're both competing to be on his side?"

"And they're still accepting losses in the deal? What could possibly be worth sacrificing so much?"

The voices in the hall rose into a frenzy, a storm of disbelief washing over the elite attendees.

For those familiar with the Family, the sight was beyond comprehension.

The Colvins and the Dodges weren't just competitors in business they were enemies by blood, history, and tradition. Their rivalry wasn't about simple profit margins. It was about legacy, ideology, and the relentless pursuit of dominance.

For centuries, each had sought to bury the other, using wealth and influence as weapons.

Yet tonight, those same sworn rivals were eagerly—desperately—seeking Bardi's favor.

It was unthinkable.

A few of the younger elites stood frozen, their faces drained of color. A chill crawled up their spines, the realization hitting them like ice water down their backs.

They had mocked Bardi. They had challenged him. Some had even tried to humiliate him.

But now?

Now, they had antagonized someone powerful enough to bring Metropolis's most unyielding aristocrats to heel.

Their bodies tensed involuntarily. A deep, gut-wrenching fear set in.

Because if the Colvin and Dodge families decided to turn their collective influence against them, their lives, their very existence, would be erased from Metropolis's upper class.

It wouldn't even take an explicit order. No need for threats or violence.

One whispered word from either family, and they would find themselves stripped of everything.

Banished. Bankrupted.

Forced to beg for scraps on the very streets they once looked down upon.

That was the true weight of power.

Morgan's pupils constricted. His fingers instinctively tightened around his wife's arm, his shock momentarily betraying him.

What is going on?

What could possibly be so valuable that two of the most entrenched noble houses, rivals for centuries are now scrambling to align with him?

At first, Morgan had assumed this was merely the Colvin patriarch punishing him for his earlier actions. A power move. A way to reassert dominance.

But now?

Now, the head of the Dodge family, his own ally had joined in.

And that changed everything.

Because the Dodge patriarch had deep ties to Morgan. Their interests were closely aligned. There was no logical reason for him to betray their longstanding arrangement.

And yet, here he was, throwing his full support behind Bardi, abandoning whatever prior commitments he had.

It defied all reason.

Morgan's expression darkened, his mind racing.

What don't I know?

His breath came slow and measured, but his chest felt tight. His gaze drifted to Bardi, still standing there in that crisp white suit, his tall frame exuding an effortless calm.

Unshaken.

Unmoved.

Completely in control.

And for the first time, Morgan felt the crushing weight of something he had never quite acknowledged before.

Fear.