God Of The Omniverse-Chapter 342: It’s All A Game (Part 7)

Inside the classroom, the interview setup was simple—almost underwhelming. Two desks had been pushed together near the center wall, positioned beside the large windows that allowed the warm, fading evening light to filter in.

Outside, the excited voices of students could still be faintly heard as they pressed against the glass, holding up signs and waving, their cheers muffled but persistent.

Opposite the arrangement stood the cameraman, his stance rigid as he fiddled with the equipment. Finally satisfied, he raised a hand and gave a thumbs-up to signal he was ready.

Lois Lane took her seat across from Arias, her expression calm but professional as she adjusted her notepad and smoothed her skirt. She'd conducted countless interviews, yet the setting here left much to be desired.

Normally, an interview of this magnitude involved a small army of staff—lighting technicians, sound engineers, scene directors, and, of course, a personal stylist to ensure she and the guest appeared flawless on camera.

This room, by comparison, felt entirely barebones. No lighting rigs, no sound checks, no refreshments—it was all so... basic.

Arias, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease. His focus wasn't on the setting but on the purpose of the interview itself. He sat relaxed, his hands resting lightly on the desk as he gazed at Lois with an unbothered air, the faint sounds of the students outside doing little to distract him.

Lois exhaled quietly, adapting to the situation with the grace of a seasoned professional. "Thank you, Mr. Markovich, for granting me this opportunity," she began, her voice steady and polished as she looked directly at him. "I know your schedule must be incredibly busy, so I appreciate you taking the time."

"You're quite welcome, Miss Lane," Arias replied smoothly, inclining his head slightly. "Given the current circumstances, I felt it was only right that some of the more pressing questions be addressed."

"I'm glad you feel that way," Lois continued, her tone sharpening slightly as she prepared to dive into the heart of the matter. "Let's open with the question that's likely on the minds of many. The incident that's now being referred to as The Capitol Tragedy, where the kidnapped children of various members of Congress and the Senate were killed in a single, devastating blast—were you responsible?"

The weight of the question lingered in the air, but Arias didn't let it linger. His expression shifted slightly, adopting a look of somber regret as he answered, "No. Despite what some news outlets may claim, that was not my or Markovia's doing."

Lois expected such a measured response, but she wasn't about to let the moment pass without pressing further. "But according to the information we do have," she said, her voice firm, "the blast that killed the children was identical to the blasts Markovia used to attack various United States government institutions. Is that simply a coincidence?"

Arias met her gaze steadily, showing no signs of unease. "I don't think it's a coincidence, no," he admitted, his tone calm and assured. "I know for a fact it's the same kind of technology. The simplest way to explain this is to consider how the world changed with the introduction of nuclear warfare. America may have been the first to develop such weapons, but since then, many other nations have acquired the technology. This is a similar situation."

Lois leaned forward slightly, genuinely intrigued by the implications of his statement. "Are you implying that another government has acquired this technology?"

Arias shook his head, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in his expression. "Government? No, it wouldn't be accurate to describe them as such. But that line of information is better provided by the government or the Justice League."

Lois's instincts flared. This was turning into a story far juicier than she'd anticipated, and she wasn't about to let it slip through her fingers. "Why can't you say more?" she asked, her tone edging toward frustration. "Are you not allowed to? This could be the strongest piece of evidence to clear your name in an event many are blaming you for."

Arias allowed himself a small smile, shaking his head once more. "I'm not concerned about changing people's opinions of me, Miss Lane," he said evenly. "There are far more troubling matters that require addressing."

Lois resisted the urge to frown, her professional composure just barely holding against her growing frustration. "But why can't you provide the information?" she pressed, her voice a touch sharper now. "Don't you feel the public deserves to know?"

"No, I don't think they do," Arias answered bluntly, his gaze unwavering. "Otherwise, the government would have already told them. I don't believe it's something they're quite ready to hear."

Lois clenched her notepad slightly, her irritation restrained. She could tell Arias wasn't going to budge, no matter how many angles she tried. More frustratingly, he didn't seem the least bit bothered by her attempts to corner him.

Realizing her time was limited, Lois forced herself to regroup, shifting her focus to her remaining questions. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Lois adjusted her grip on her notepad, forcing herself to push past her lingering frustration. "Well, moving on," she began, "Since this interview is being held here at your Ark Academies, it's only right that I ask how you'd like to respond to the various accusations that this institution is training meta-human soldiers under the guise of education."

At her question, Arias's lips curved into a small smile. "Well," he began smoothly, "the government thought the same thing. That's why they installed numerous agents here under the guise of students." He paused for effect, his voice steady as he added, "I could even list each one now, along with their official government agent IDs."

Lois's pen froze mid-note. The boldness of his statement was exactly the kind of lead she'd been waiting for. Without missing a beat, she leaned forward slightly. "You mean to say the government installed agents in your institution, and you're fully aware of it?" she asked, her tone sharper now. "Why keep quiet about something like that? Surely you have the right to expose them, do you not?"

Arias leaned back in his chair, his posture casual, as if the conversation were about nothing more pressing than the weather. "I do," he replied with a nonchalant shrug, "but then the government would simply assume I've really got something to hide. No, if they want to spy on my students in the same way they spy on the American people, that's their choice."

Lois forced a smile, nodding as she jotted down his response. Internally, though, she was fuming. Arias had answered every question so effortlessly, sidestepping traps and deflecting angles with an ease that made her job feel frustratingly shallow.

He wasn't defensive, evasive, or hesitant—qualities that might have given her something to dig into. Instead, his confidence and calm left little room for doubt, no matter how audacious his claims.

Still, Lois knew the content alone was gold. These statements, clipped and packaged just right, would guarantee attention. The public would eat this up, no question. Yet as much as she hated to admit it, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking away with crumbs when a feast was just out of reach.