Milk_Is_My_Drug
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Chapter 35: The Joker's Invitation
🕑 Added 2025-05-20 07:02:15 +0000 UTCThe headlines were buzzing with excitement and intrigue—Shadow Corp had done it again.
Today, one of its lesser-known subdivisions made waves in the most unexpected way: ice cream. Not just any frozen treat—this was ice cream perfected through borderline absurd engineering. Seven new flavors, all calibrated to share the exact same freezing point. The result? Perfect consistency across every variety, whether it was vanilla storm, cosmic strawberry, or electric mint. Food critics were baffled. Consumers? Ecstatic. Freezers at shops were emptied within hours of delivery.
And yet, that was just the appetizer for the week.
Days later, a revolutionary patent shook the automotive and tech world: a shield generator to replace airbags. The design promised rapid-deploying energy fields to shield passengers during collisions. More effective, more elegant—and naturally, more expensive. But the price tag didn’t stop the flood of companies lining up for a license. The buzz only grew when it was revealed the credit for the invention went to Gizmo, a young, up-and-coming engineer employed at Shadow Corp.
His achievement became a trending topic overnight, and several engineering universities extended offers for speaking engagements and collaborations. Gizmo, however, remained behind closed doors, still tinkering.
As if to prove it wasn’t done showing off, Shadow Corp released three new video games in a single week. Each one arrived fully polished, with no bugs or glitches to plague the players—an increasingly rare feat in the gaming world. Reviewers were stunned. Fans were thrilled. Forums lit up with praise, memes, and fan theories connecting subtle details across the different titles.
With this triple hit—consumer products, technological innovation, and entertainment—Shadow Corp’s market value officially surpassed LexCorp. And it was still rising.
Though he rarely showed his face, Ashborn ensured part of the new revenue quietly trickled toward Amanda Waller’s Cadmus project, sent through the encrypted channels and layered accounts as agreed. Waller, never one to ignore a silent benefactor, responded in kind.
Keeping her part of the agreement, Amanda voluntarily shared progress reports, project outlines, and security notes. She didn’t need to be asked—she simply respected the way Ashborn conducted business. Compared to Lex Luthor, whose controlling grip choked every partnership, Ashborn’s approach was refreshing.
He asked for structure, not control. Protocols, not input or dominance.
Cadmus’s projects —now benefiting from dual funding by two of the world’s most influential forces—was moving forward steadily. Researchers documented metahuman capabilities, cross-referenced DNA samples, and simultaneously advanced cloning procedures under tight security.
And as for Ashborn himself? He enjoyed his peace.
No supervillains encounters. No superheroes coming through the window. No kidnaps.
His days were filled with tasting test batches of future ice cream flavors, overseeing project launches, reviewing game designs, and occasionally exchanging encrypted quips with Waller.
___________
With the soaring success of Shadow Corp making headlines and stock prices climbing like a rocket, Ashborn did something he rarely ever did—he celebrated.
The finest restaurant in Metropolis, a towering structure of glass and elegance, had been booked out entirely. The chandeliers sparkled like stars over the polished marble floor, and live music filled the air with an upbeat tone that matched the buzzing excitement of the crowd. The guest list? Every employee of Shadow Corp. Not a name left out.
Ashborn had made it clear: this party is for them.
Servers moved through the room with trays of gourmet dishes and sparkling drinks. Laughter echoed through the elegant halls as departments mingled—engineers rubbing elbows with developers, logistics personnel cracking jokes with the security teams. There were smiles everywhere, but the loudest and most chaotic were, of course, the four ex-H.I.V.E. members.
They had long since traded villainy for employment, and tonight, they were louder than ever.
Gizmo, never one to keep quiet, stood at the helm of the engineering crew, boasting about his recent upgrades to the shield tech between bites of smoked salmon.
Mammoth, a giant in every sense, was holding a challenge to see which construction team member could lift a dining table the fastest—while still being classy about it.
Billy, loud and theatrical as always, had somehow controlled the music system to blast game theme remixes while his gaming crew celebrated the recent triple launch.
Kyd, calm and silent as always, didn’t speak much—but his logistics crew stood behind him like a military squad.
On the sidelines, Victor and Nora—two quieter guests—shared a table for two by the window. Their world seemed separate from the roaring party behind them, talking softly and laughing as if the chaos didn’t exist.
Watching from a high-railed balcony above the floor, Ashborn stood beside Rex, sipping on a drink, visibly amused.
Rex elbowed him gently and asked, “So, when are you gonna find a girlfriend, huh? You know, your dad met your mom when he was your age.”
Ashborn raised a brow and shrugged with a smirk. “There are more important things than finding someone. Besides…” He turned to face Rex fully and spread his arms with mock arrogance, “Look at me. Who could possibly resist this? I can get one whenever I want”
Rex let out a hearty laugh. “Keep thinking like that, and one day you’ll wake up old and realize the only ones interested in you are interested in your wallet.”
Ashborn sipped his drink nonchalantly. “Then let them. I’m never going to be an old man anyway.”
Rex rolled his eyes. “You’re an idiot.”
Ashborn was about to respond when his phone buzzed. An unknown number. He answered without hesitation.
The voice on the other end was unmistakable. Wild. Whimsical. Deadly.
“Hey, buddy!” the Joker chirped. “I’m preparing a big party—my biggest yet! And guess what? I want you to be a victim—I mean, guest!”
Ashborn didn’t even blink. “How nice of you to remember. I sincerely thank you for the invite. I’ll make sure to be there. Just send the date and location.”
There was a gleeful pause. “Splendid! I’ll send it soooon~”
“See you then,” Ashborn said, ending the call casually.
Rex frowned. “Who was that?”
Ashborn slipped the phone back into his coat. “An acquaintance from Gotham city, he is inviting me to a party he is hosting.”
Rex raised a brow. “I didn’t know you had friends in Gotham’s city? Will you be going?”
Ashborn chuckled. “Of course. It sounds amusing.”
“Ash, you shouldn’t go there. Gotham city is a dangerous place and last time you ran into the Joker of all people, what if you run into him again?”
Ashborn shook his head. “It’s not dangerous. Not in the slightest.” He gave a calm smile, sipping the last of his drink. “Relax. I am not going to Gotham anyway”
Rex’s shoulders didn’t relax, worry creased his brow. But he said nothing more.
Because in the end, trying to stop Ashborn was like trying to hold back a storm with bare hands.
___________
It was well past midnight when Ashborn sat alone in his quiet office at the top floor of Shadow Corp. The distant noise of the city murmured through the windows, but the room itself was still, serene—even peaceful.
Then his phone buzzed again.
A message popped up on the screen with no name—just an image of a grinning clown emoji followed by a location and date
"TV studio, Vegas 16th street. Two days from now at 07:00 PM. Don’t be late 😉"
Ashborn read it once, then calmly set the phone down beside him. So the Joker decided to visit Vegas instead of staying in Gotham. Everyone knows what kind of person Joker is. The Joker is going all the way to Vegas means he is planning something big.
He was still staring at the screen when another encrypted message arrived—this one from Cadmus shared across their channels.
UPDATE:
Subject “The Five Meta Human” confirmed missing.
Possible abduction.
Suspect: Joker.
Warning level: Critical.
Abilities:
Harold: Energy-projecting
Melanie: Magnetism control
Jack: superhuman strength
Tex: Flexibility and elasticity
Ace: Reality-bending illusions via direct eye contact. Prolonged exposure leads to cognitive failure, permanent brain damage.
Ashborn leaned back in his chair.
Ace.
A name that stirred memories as he recalled her story from another world. A girl who was powerful beyond measure, yet broken. Someone who had been used and chained, feared and misunderstood. A tragedy that had played out under the radar until it was too late.
“Is it the same Ace?” he murmured to himself. “Or did this one walk a different path?”
His eyes drifted to the window, where the neon lights of Metropolis reflected off the glass. Her name dampened his mood slightly, it was something he rarely felt, not since he came to this world, empathy.
