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Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman

Chapter 697: The Kryptonian Withdraws · Oct 11, 2026

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Chapter List (810)

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651 Chapter 651: Norman Osborn 2026-10-11
652 Chapter 652: Equipment with a Built-In Self-Destruct System 2026-10-11
653 Chapter 653: A Call from Kingo 2026-10-11
654 Chapter 654: Endless Trouble 2026-10-11
655 Chapter 655: The Big Fish Takes the Bait 2026-10-11
656 Chapter 656: The Osborn Manor 2026-10-11
657 Chapter 657: The MD Disc That Appeared Out of Thin Air 2026-10-11
658 Chapter 658: Opening the Black Box 2026-10-11
659 Chapter 659: The Beginning 2026-10-11
660 Chapter 660: The World Leaders Summit 2026-10-11
661 Chapter 661: Rogue Crashes the Party Again 2026-10-11
662 Chapter 662: The Outcome Inside the Battlefield Was Decided 2026-10-11
663 Chapter 663: A Clash of Titans in the Legal World 2026-10-11
664 Chapter 664: The Aftermath of a Strategic Retreat 2026-10-11
665 Chapter 665: Professional Advice 2026-10-11
666 Chapter 666: The Long Search for the Red Room 2026-10-11
667 Chapter 667: Sparrow Goes Online 2026-10-11
668 Chapter 668: The Dispute 2026-10-11
669 Chapter 669: An Unusual Everyday Life 2026-10-11
670 Chapter 670: Regret and Remorse 2026-10-11
671 Chapter 671: Burial 2026-10-11
672 Chapter 672: A Decision 2026-10-11
673 Chapter 673: The Child Who Was Left Behind 2026-10-11
674 Chapter 674: The Girl Sent Back to School 2026-10-11
675 Chapter 675: A Young Girl’s Bedroom 2026-10-11
676 Chapter 676: Studying 2026-10-11
677 Chapter 677: Driving Lessons 2026-10-11
678 Chapter 678: The Little Hacker 2026-10-11
679 Chapter 679: A Playboy’s Daily Routine 2026-10-11
680 Chapter 680: A Man-Made Disaster at the Turn of the Century 2026-10-11
681 Chapter 681: Warning 2026-10-11
682 Chapter 682: Believe It or Not 2026-10-11
683 Chapter 683: The Falling Tower 2026-10-11
684 Chapter 684: Taking Command in a Crisis 2026-10-11
685 Chapter 685: A Personal Request 2026-10-11
686 Chapter 686: The Supply List 2026-10-11
687 Chapter 687: A Man in a Bed of Comfort 2026-10-11
688 Chapter 688: Questioning Over the Phone 2026-10-11
689 Chapter 689: Conditions for Support 2026-10-11
690 Chapter 690: Relief Supplies Arrive 2026-10-11
691 Chapter 691: People with Their Own Agendas 2026-10-11
692 Chapter 692: The Establishment of the Police Technology Command Center 2026-10-11
693 Chapter 693: The Third Day 2026-10-11
694 Chapter 694: X-Men Reinforcements 2026-10-11
695 Chapter 695: Discussing Rescue Methods 2026-10-11
696 Chapter 696: The X-Men Show Their Strength 2026-10-11
697 Chapter 697: The Kryptonian Withdraws 2026-10-11
698 Chapter 698: An Invitation and a Refusal 2026-10-11
699 Chapter 699: Stark Industries Takes Off 2026-10-11
700 Chapter 700: Calling in the Guardian 2026-10-11

Chapter 697: Chapter 697: The Kryptonian Withdraws

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Henry glanced at the young billionaire.

”I just think it would be unfair to criticize them for only stopping two planes instead of preventing the entire terrorist attack—leaving the other two to crash into the Twin Towers.

”People who do good deeds shouldn’t be criticized like that.

”It’s the same here. They’re here to help, not to cause trouble.

”And besides...” He let out a tired sigh. ”You were right. I’ve gone too long without any rest.”

Tony stared at him speechlessly.

”...But you still said it. Granted, you said it to me...”

Henry shrugged.

”If someone makes a mistake, they should be called out so they’ll learn.

”But people who already did everything they could...

”Should they really be blamed simply because the results weren’t better?

”They’ve already reached the limits of what they can do.

”Is that really something deserving of criticism?”

Tony couldn’t help rolling his eyes.

”You know, has anyone ever told you that somehow... what you just said is actually worse?”

Henry nodded.

”Anyway, what I’m trying to say is...

”Those are the kinds of things they should discuss among themselves afterward.

”If an outsider like me says them, it’ll just sound like criticism.

”So it’s better to keep quiet.

”The survivors still waiting to be rescued are counting on them.”

---

Now that the X-Men had joined the rescue effort...

And Stark Industries’ command system had taken over much of the coordination...

Henry, who hadn’t slept for two days, finally decided it was time to leave.

After all, if someone else was willing to take over the mess, only for him to drive them away with sarcasm...

What exactly would that accomplish?

There were limits even to making trouble for yourself.

It wasn’t as though a Kryptonian couldn’t keep going.

As long as he absorbed enough sunlight, sleeplessness meant very little to his body.

But...

He felt he’d already done enough.

Originally, he’d only come because Katharine Hepburn had practically shoved him toward Ground Zero.

Then George Stacy had actually listened to his advice.

His good mood had led him to help even more.

Before he knew it, he’d helped so much that he couldn’t leave.

Now, however, someone else could do his job.

There was no point staying.

If he remained, all he’d be doing was carrying chunks of concrete alongside the volunteers.

Henry wasn’t obsessed with personally clearing every last piece of rubble before considering his mission complete.

Besides...

Two days without sleep was already pushing the limits of what a ”normal” person should be capable of.

---

Since he still wanted to preserve the image of being an ordinary human...

Even if that disguise already had holes all over it...

As long as he didn’t tear it off himself, there was still some point in pretending.

Having made up his mind, Henry turned to Tony.

”No matter what anyone says...

”I think I need to sleep for three straight days.

”Otherwise I won’t even have the energy to argue with people anymore.”

He stretched his shoulders.

”This place isn’t something one person can handle alone anyway.

”So I’m leaving.

”The rest is up to everyone else.

”I think I’ve already used up the next ten years’ worth of my quota for doing good deeds.”

Tony’s own decision to stay or leave wasn’t Henry’s business.

He had already warned Tony not to come.

Tony had ignored him anyway.

Whether the billionaire stayed or left now was entirely up to him.

Henry couldn’t be bothered to interfere.

---

Returning to the police command tent, Henry found George Stacy.

The commissioner looked just as exhausted.

”George.”

Henry rubbed his eyes.

”I can’t keep going.

”I’m leaving.”

Everyone inside headquarters knew Henry hadn’t slept in two days.

Unlike them, he wasn’t bound by official duty.

He was only a volunteer.

George naturally had no intention of asking him to continue sacrificing himself.

”You really should get some rest.”

George smiled tiredly.

”Thank you for everything you’ve done these past two days.

”Is there anything we can do for you?

”I can have a patrol car drive you home.”

Henry thought for a moment.

”Actually...

”There is one favor.”

George nodded.

”Anything.”

Henry replied seriously,

”Forget everything I did here.

”It’d be best if everyone acted as though I was never here at all.

”Especially in the official records.

”Leave my name out.”

---

The request caught George completely off guard.

Even Tony, who had just entered behind Henry, looked surprised.

After a long silence, George finally asked,

”...Why?”

Henry pointed casually toward Tony.

”I’m not trying to build a personal brand.

”I’m not representing any company.

”Medals and honorary awards don’t do anything for me.”

”And if you wanted to give me a cash bonus...”

He shrugged.

”Could you possibly pay more than that sucker does?”

”Even if I only charged my daily rate, you couldn’t afford it.”

Tony, who had been minding his own business, found himself unexpectedly caught in the crossfire.

---

Henry, of course, had another reason.

If he ever wanted to build himself an untouchable public image, it should be through actions with no hidden downsides.

This disaster wasn’t one of them.

There were simply too many angles from which people could criticize what had happened.

It was much like his mutant alter ego.

There were benefits.

There were drawbacks.

Since the disadvantages were significant...

He’d rather avoid the attention entirely.

As for donating money while also personally participating...

That was almost too much goodwill.

Once the media focused on him, the consequences wouldn’t necessarily be positive.

Given the state of the American media, anyone receiving praise would inevitably attract critics as well.

Nobody was celebrated forever.

If he’d merely volunteered like everyone else, moving rocks and debris, Henry might even have made a substantial donation.

But after everything he’d done inside police headquarters...

He decided against it.

Besides...

Among New York’s wealthy elite, he wasn’t even particularly high on the list.

There was no reason to stand out.

As the old saying went:

The tallest tree catches the strongest wind.

---

Understanding Henry’s concerns, George smiled helplessly.

”I don’t know whether there’ll be any official commendations later.

”The mayor will probably organize something.”

He sighed.

”But over the past two days...

”Everyone on the radio has heard the name ’Henry.’

”I can’t exactly order every one of them to keep quiet.

”That’s just not how this works.”

Henry shrugged indifferently.

”’Henry’ is an incredibly common name.”

”The NYPD has over ten thousand officers.”

”I’m sure you’ve got another Henry somewhere.”

”If anything comes up...”

He pointed toward Tony again.

”Just dump the blame on him.”

”I’ve probably broken countless regulations over the past two days.”

”If anyone seriously investigates...”

”I’ll be in a lot of trouble.”

---

There was actually nothing wrong with Henry’s reasoning.

For the past two days, he had effectively directed rescue operations.

Although George Stacy had personally authorized it...

If someone later chose to question the legality of those decisions, problems could absolutely arise.

The United States did have wartime appointment laws.

But those applied only during actual wartime.

And only to the military.

Historically, anyone capable of raising troops at their own expense would receive a corresponding military rank.

That system existed because early America lacked the funds to maintain a large standing army.

Outside of wartime, however...

No equivalent legal authority existed.

Official positions carried official responsibilities.

There was no legal basis for inventing a title like special adviser and allowing someone else to exercise command authority.

Otherwise, a police commissioner could simply shift responsibility whenever something went wrong.

”That wasn’t my decision—it was the adviser.”

That would amount to little more than shirking accountability.

George Stacy hadn’t spent decades climbing through the police ranks by being naïve.

He understood perfectly well what Henry was asking.

Far from merely protecting himself...

Henry was also protecting George.

After all, George had technically delegated authority he wasn’t legally entitled to delegate.

Even the officers who had obeyed Henry’s instructions might face awkward questions if someone chose to investigate.

If Henry had sought public recognition...

Those legal issues would inevitably become media talking points.

And if that happened, George was fully prepared to defend him.

But since Henry wanted no credit...

George also knew exactly what the right course of action was.

After all, Henry had played an indispensable role during the past two days.

Not by personally digging through rubble...

But by bringing order to absolute chaos.

George knew better than anyone how badly things could have unraveled during the earliest hours after the collapse.

It was Henry alone who had organized the command center.

Henry alone who had maximized the efficiency of every available resource.

The survivors trapped beneath the rubble hadn’t been rescued immediately.

But the surrounding civilians had been evacuated in the shortest possible time.

The police officers and firefighters who had entered the towers before the collapse had also managed to withdraw in time.

Those achievements belonged to Henry.

If, afterward, people chose to punish him for violating procedures—or even the law—

Then who, in the future, would still be willing to step forward during a crisis?

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