Chapter 14: A New Flow of Income

"Boss, we need to solve the problem with our water sources."

Judley approached Zod with a concerned expression.

"Water source?"

Zod, with his powers, had no personal need for water and had completely overlooked the importance of a stable supply for the ranch.

"The pasture needs a lot of water, and the groundwater we've been using is almost depleted. If we don't find a solution soon, we'll have to start buying water, but..."

Judley trailed off, leaving Zod to fill in the blanks.

The situation was more complicated than a simple drought. Located just 20 kilometers from the US-Mexico border, the area was notorious for drug cartels and human traffickers, not to mention the inhospitable desert climate. With temperatures high year-round and very little natural rainfall, sourcing water was becoming increasingly difficult.

Zod followed Judley to inspect the well on the ranch. Only a thin layer of water, less than a meter deep, remained at the bottom of the well.

"To resolve the water problem, we'll need millions of dollars, and there are no viable underground water sources nearby."

Judley sighed. This was why the thousand-acre ranch hadn't prospered under his family's management. Unlike farms blessed with lakes or mountains that could rely on tourism and scenic beauty, Judley's family ranch focused solely on agriculture. Without water, even the most productive farmland would wither.

In a drought-prone state like Texas, water is everything. Since 64% of Texas was already in a state of arid dryness—at its worst reaching 98% in 2011—the idea of buying water long-term would be a heavy financial burden. The reservoirs throughout the state were averaging only 65% of their usual capacity.

Zod considered Judley's words. Even if they hired an engineering team to dig, it was unlikely they'd strike a reliable source of water. Previous attempts to find groundwater had been unsuccessful.

So, Zod decided to handle things personally.

Zod took to the air, and Judley was left speechless. He had always known that Zod was no ordinary man, but seeing him fly was a whole new level of surprise. Still, with no mutants or metahumans in this world, Judley wasn't frightened—just amazed.

Using his x-ray vision, Zod scanned deep beneath the surface, penetrating the layers of earth. His search turned up nothing at first, but he persisted, checking all corners of the ranch until he finally located a significant underground water source.

"Perfect. Now I just need to dig it out."

Zod decided to use his heat vision. Over time, his thermal rays had evolved, becoming strong enough to melt steel. It was a technique Superman had employed many times.

The red beams shot into the ground, heating the soil and rocks to molten temperatures. Zod focused, channeling the bright midday sun to fuel his energy reserves.

The heat vision worked faster than any engineering crew could have. After half an hour of continuous output, Zod's beams had penetrated over a hundred meters deep, reaching the underground water veins. The sudden ignition of gas trapped below the surface caused an explosion.

The blast sent waves of molten soil surging into the sky, forming a massive crater over 160 meters wide. As the dust settled, the freshly ruptured water vein roared to life, flooding the pit.

Judley rubbed his temples, overwhelmed by the spectacle. If he were older, he might have had a heart attack from the shock. But in the end, Zod had created a massive artificial lake in place of the well. After the silt and debris settled, the water turned clear and blue, shimmering under the bright Texan sun.

"The lake holds about two million cubic meters of water. You won't have to worry about supply for a long time," Zod assured him.

His x-ray vision had confirmed the vastness of the water vein. Even with heavy use, it could provide water for centuries.

Judley's ranch had become unexpectedly popular. News of the new reservoir spread, and soon, farmers and other locals from across Texas were arriving to purchase water. Zod had inadvertently stumbled upon a new revenue stream.

On average, the ranch was making tens of thousands of dollars per day from water sales. Zod was surprised to learn how profitable water could be.

With this newfound income, Zod began contemplating other business ventures. He didn't want to get involved in the most profitable industries, such as arms dealing or the drug trade. Besides, he lacked the experience, and the legal entanglements would be tedious.

Instead, Zod wanted something simple. Through his contacts at the Midnight Hotel, he found the perfect solution.

Despite the Midnight Hotel's confusion at his request, they facilitated everything Zod needed.

The result was "Zhetian," a health products company.

That's right—Zod decided to sell health supplements, vitamins, and beauty products.

Though it may seem trivial, the health supplement industry in the United States is incredibly lucrative, rivaling even the profits of illegal drugs—second only to the arms trade. Americans have an insatiable appetite for health products, spending thousands of dollars a year on vitamins, supplements, and beauty treatments.

More importantly, the U.S. market for health supplements is poorly regulated. Products don't have to undergo approval from the Food and Drug Administration, meaning that even something useless—or outright dangerous—could still rake in millions in profits.

But Zod wasn't planning to scam people. As a kryptonian scientist, he had the knowledge to create supplements that were genuinely beneficial to human health. It was an easy field for him to enter, even though it wasn't his primary area of expertise.

In the U.S., health supplements typically sell for around $70 per bottle. Zod's new product, Vitamin ∞, would be priced at $300 per bottle. He had already set up a production facility and was ready to hire workers for mass production.

The Midnight Hotel proved its worth once again, helping Zod establish distribution channels in major drugstores throughout New York City. He spent millions greasing the wheels of the operation and even hired famous Hollywood actresses to endorse the product.

"The human body needs 3000 mg of vitamins every day. Vitamin ∞—just one pill can meet your entire daily requirement!"

"Feeling fatigued? Aging? Illness dragging you down? Vitamin ∞ can't cure you, but it can certainly make you feel better!"