Relationship With Diana

*Special And Important Note*

Oops! I totally forgot to include the Bacchus skill in the status window in the previous chapter. My bad!

Also, I won't be able to post any chapters for about a week because I'll be moving out of my house. I'm not sure yet if I'll have a convenient setup for writing during this time. I'll do my best, and if I find a comfortable way to write, I'll give you updates. If not, then please be aware that you won't see me again for at least 10 days.

I plan to be away for about 7 days, but to ensure I don't give you false hope in your wait, let's say at least 10 days.

———

In Metropolis. At the Daily Planet.

As usual, someone was on the hunt for exciting stories, hoping to land interviews that could skyrocket their career.

"Lane, Grant is already handling the case with her team. I won't be indulgent this time, understand? Stay put at your desk and refrain from any movement. If I catch wind of you causing trouble in Washington again, you'll be terminated for good this time!"

Perry White, the Editor-in-Chief, was bellowing at his employee, who appeared oblivious to his words and disengaged from the situation.

Lois Lane, known for her independent thinking, found herself in a rare moment of acquiescence.

Instead of engaging in her usual debates or retorts, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.

As he observed her behavior, her boss, who was seated, wore a satisfied expression on his face, although he still appeared intimidating after unleashing his outburst. He said, "Well done, Lane. You may now return to work. Make sure you heed my warning, or else I'll be looking into your case."

Lois had actually been a full-time employee for a while now, not just an intern.

But even before she became a full-time reporter, there were already several incidents she got caught up in, particularly due to her obsession with Superman and her unwavering determination to get exclusive stories.

Perry himself wasn't quite certain which case he was talking about when he mentioned being tough on her—except for, of course, firing her, which he never quite had the resolve to do despite countless warnings.

Before he could become stressed again just by looking at her annoying face, he waved her out of his office, much to her delight.

…

In the cozy nook of the hallway, just outside her boss's office.

Lois shut the door, her face filled with sadness and regret.

She appeared downcast and filled with remorse for simply being herself.

But her expression changed rapidly once her eyes fluttered open once more.

She had a mischievous smile on her face, undeterred and rebellious.

Her eyes sparkled with a hint of danger, and a playful smirk danced on her lips.

She even let out a small snort, keeping a watchful eye on the door.

Just as she flashed a wicked grin, like a rebellious cat plotting something mischievous, her colleague, official assistant, and dear friend, Jimmy Olsen, emerged from around the hallway corner. He inquired, "Lois, how did things go with the boss?"

"It's always the same old story - he never gives us a chance and hands out all the good stories to Cat and the other senior reporters." She stated, seemingly accustomed to the nonsense.

For years, things had remained unchanged, but she was never one to let mistreatment or the opportunities given to others bother her.

Her boss was someone who held outdated beliefs.

He didn't have the same fondness for her as he did for Cat and her crew, and it was clear that he was showing favoritism.

Despite being aware of this, she had no intention of resigning.

"Nothing's changed, huh? So, what exactly are we up to now?" Jimmy posed a question to her.

"The usual. We secretly go about our business, you know? He's all talk and no action. We won't face long suspensions or severe punishments if we come up with a decent story." With a daring smile, Lois said as they began walking away from their boss's office door.

She could already hear Perry yelling and picture him fuming on the other end of her phone in a few hours, but she was excessively accustomed to it and would be far away on the road by then.

As they hurried towards their desks to grab their belongings and make a swift exit from the office, she couldn't help but notice something right away.

Turning to Jimmy, she asked, "By the way, where's Clark?"

…

In Washington, in a charming and moderately affluent neighborhood, catering to the upper middle class.

The charming neighborhood was filled with snug apartment buildings, many of which were made of pale red bricks, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The atmosphere was delightful, with a refreshing purity despite the urban surroundings.

Oliver glanced at his status windows while also peering outside into the apartment building's backyard park.

There, he spotted a squirrel perched on a tree.

He found inspiration in the animal's behavior, guiding him towards developing his next skill.

He didn't have much control or ownership over raw brute power, except for his One Piece Body.

Gaining more raw strength required intense training, but it was easier to toughen his body than to purely increase his strength.

Of course, he could always opt for a devil fruit power that specifically enhanced raw strength if he wanted a shortcut.

But, in the world he found himself in now, his focus shifted towards being resilient and difficult to defeat, rather than possessing overwhelming and destructive strength.

Anyway, this new idea is now a perfect match for him.

Despite spending countless years on the Amazon island, he never displayed ownership of a martial arts skill solely focused on martial arts in his status window.

Nonetheless, he had become remarkably skilled in fighting and martial arts, even though it wasn't evident, and his status didn't reflect it.

[Flirt (B—3%): This skill greatly enhances your ability to communicate and connect with people of all genders who are interested in you, making them irresistibly drawn to you.]

Oliver's sole interest lay in women, yet there was something extraordinary about this particular skill of his.

He couldn't fathom how he had acquired such a remarkable ability.

Well, it was pretty pointless because people had to be somewhat interested in him and find him attractive for that skill to have any value.

So, there was really no reason to hold onto it.

Without a moment's hesitation, Oliver decided to relinquish his Flirt skill to the Blueprint grinder, all in the quest to give birth to a fresh-cut Designer skill.

Resolute, he started sketching out the final details of this uplifting new power.

After finishing, he gazed at the outcome.

[Chakra In All Things (B—0%): This skill helps you improve your control, control over energies and increases your strength, regardless of whether you use energies or not. It does this by refining your body, muscles, organs, and bones. It enables you to harmonize your chakra with various other energies, resulting in a remarkable boost to your energy reserves of all kinds.]

Oliver grinned with contentment at the outcome, as he yearned to embody the role of the hero in this fresh chapter of his life, it was only natural for him to seek mastery over his own strength.

As he tapped into the hidden, inner power of the new skill, he stumbled upon a few unexpected discoveries.

He felt a sense of pleasure from the dormant Susanoo within him.

He also had the feeling that he could begin training and utilize the "Chakra Enhanced Strength" technique that two kunoichi from Konoha were famous for.

However, it was just a guess because he only felt a strange, hidden power that he had never accessed before.

'Anyway, I guess the next skill I should naturally create is Medical jutsu, considering my current skill.' Oliver was lost in his thoughts.

He wanted to develop a skill that could strengthen his spiritual defenses, but he wasn't in a rush.

In DC, there were powerful gods and anomalies, but there were very few people who possessed the ability to kill the soul and spirit, just like him.

He didn't have any plans to provoke those kinds of people anytime soon.

He could even develop a medical technique that would train and enhance his soul, possibly allowing him to take a clever shortcut.

'Mmmh. Giving birth to this doesn't sound too complicated. I suppose that's what I'll do.'

Suddenly, he found himself contemplating the acquisition of a new skill.

This would be the next one.

Instead of restricting the skill, the limitations of the Custom Skill Maker could actually complement it quite well, especially considering its medical nature.

In the past, he had a desire to possess abilities such as Shadow Clones or a Saiyan body.

Nonetheless, his Custom Skill Maker skill had numerous clever restrictions that prevented him from achieving those aspirations.

Becoming strong and skilled didn't come easy, there were no magical shortcuts with that SSS rated ability.

The ability was openly, blatantly racist toward some powers.

Diana, who had just moved into the sparsely furnished apartment with only a fridge, a TV, and some beds, approached him and asked, "Hey, what are you up to?"

Ever since they left the airport, her mood had improved as she delved into the vibrant world of people and civilization.

The apartment wasn't overly furnished and had a few missing pieces.

Diana likely assumed they would furnish it, but Oliver had different plans in mind.

He was in Washington solely for the meeting and alliance between the Amazon island and the US president and his country.

He had no plans to stay in Washington or settle down in Metropolis, just like Diana did in the comics.

Gotham was the next stop on the way.

It didn't matter to him whether she would agree to go with him or not.

Oliver had dreams of becoming a hero, but he preferred a life of simplicity.

He had no desire to get involved in the epic battles between Superman and his infamous rogues' gallery.

To address such madness, there were occasional gatherings of the Justice League - a league that he aspired to join in the future, but had not yet come together.

Don't be fooled by his closeness to his sister; he didn't trust her like he trusted his mother, which was why he had no intention of teaching her skills.

He had such a deep understanding of Wonder Woman from the comics that he knew better than to try and make her stronger.

Only a fool would attempt such a thing.

It was alright to be friendly and maybe even lovers if things got weird, but nothing beyond that.

As he turned away from the window to face his sister, he responded, "I was just enjoying the beautiful view of Washington." He couldn't help but think about the amazing and dependable women he could actually truly connect with in the future.

Since DC was strange, the majority of those grateful, appreciative types of women were actually "villains."

The rest were just regular people.

He hadn't yet decided whether he wanted to create skills to influence loyalty and similar things, and he wasn't even sure if he wanted to interact with puppets.

It came across as dull, insincere, and fake because he wasn't a complete villain.

If he desired to embrace villainy, he would wholeheartedly commit to the path of a true villain, rather than settling for a half-hearted attempt.

His current and entire attention was, had been solely dedicated to enhancing his own strength.

Once he fully embraced the villainous path, he would have ample time to skillfully guide Diana towards the dark side.

With his invaluable expertise in leading an unjust lifestyle, he would undoubtedly be able to corrupt her.

He had plenty of time on his hands.

Countless lifetimes stretching into eternity.

"Right? Isn't this place just beautiful?" Diana sidled up to him, her gaze fixated on the world beyond the window. She looked out at the beautiful blend of nature and modernity, and couldn't help but let out a deep sigh filled with gentle feelings. "Oh, how splendid and liberating the world of men seems, so remarkably different from our humble island…"

"In my opinion, it's just not as great as people make it out to be." Oliver said with a hint of insincerity, reminiscing about the days when he enjoyed a lavish existence, surrounded by adoring women.

Steve and the US government shattered such a wonderful way of life.

"Quit the act, you shammer." Diana shook her head and said, "Come on, let's go out and explore a bit, maybe find some good food. That freezer thing doesn't have much to offer in terms of frozen goodies."

"That marvelous invention is commonly referred to as a refrigerator, Diana." Oliver kindly informed her, allowing her to move on from using the half-assed names she had previously been taught.

After he and Diana had a long conversation, they decided to change their clothes and then ventured out of their temporary residence to explore the city.