| Metropolis – September 30

The interview was set in LexCorp Tower, in a penthouse conference room perched high above Metropolis. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows stretched across the walls, showcasing the city skyline bathed in late-afternoon sunlight. The orange glow reflected off steel and glass towers, casting long shadows over the bustling streets below.

On one side of the room, Lois Lane prepared her tools: a notepad, tablet, and voice recorder neatly lined up on the polished table. Her posture was sharp and professional, the look of a woman who had interviewed senators, billionaires, and superheroes alike. Behind her, Clark Kent, in his quiet, bumbling manner, stood with a camera, clicking off a few establishing shots before Lois waved him away.

The crew had just finished setting up when Joseph Bell entered. He wasn't dressed like Lex Luthor in a perfectly pressed suit meant to project power and control. Instead, he wore a tailored yet relaxed outfit: a dark blazer over a crisp shirt, no tie. It was youthful, deliberate—competence without pretension. Different from Lex, who cloaked his corruption in professionalism.

Still, Joseph carried himself with unmistakable confidence. He walked like the ground wouldn't dare trip him, his movements radiating the assurance of someone who believed he was fully in control. Whether that was confidence or arrogance remained to be seen.

Lois studied him carefully. She'd done her homework: perfect SAT score in high school, graduating a year early; helped lead the Gotham Gargoyles to their first victory over the Metropolis Mets in decades; founding an entertainment studio while still a teenager; releasing several hit games, launching the viral social media platform PikPok, and creating BellCoin, the first cryptocurrency. From there, he expanded into BellCorp, which had skyrocketed in value after his connection to Lex was discovered.

But Lois wasn't here to recite his résumé. She wanted to see how he thought. Was he Lex's pawn— groomed and shielded all these years? Or was he something entirely different?

Joseph entered with a small entourage, among them his aunt, Lena Luthor.

"Miss Lane," Joseph greeted politely, extending his hand. "I read your exposé on the Light. Very enlightening."

Lois took his hand, noting the firm grip. "Do I address you as Mr. Bell or Mr. Luthor?"

"Either is fine," he replied with a faint smile. "But I prefer my given name—Joseph Bell."

Introductions were made. Lois gestured toward Clark as her assistant. Joseph's eyes lingered on him for a fraction longer than expected.

Once pleasantries ended, they took their seats at the long glass table. Joseph leaned back comfortably, no hint of nervousness. His posture was relaxed, unguarded, but calculated in its ease. Most young men his age would have betrayed tension under the scrutiny of the press. Not him. Lex had either trained him meticulously—or Joseph had simply inherited that self-assured composure.

Lois wasted no time. She was known for incisive questions that cut through rehearsed answers, blending human interest with hard-hitting political journalism. Today would be no different.

"Joseph," she began, her recorder blinking red, "a year ago you were just starting your own studio. Today, you're set to inherit one of the most powerful corporations in the world. How do you make sense of that jump?"

"It's a big jump, no doubt," Joseph said evenly. "Back when I was working hard to support myself after my mother's death, before starting Bell Studios, I never imagined I'd be here. But with the help of my aunt and the capable board of directors, I'm adjusting well."

Lois noted the mention of his mother. Sympathy play, perhaps—but genuine grief flickered behind his eyes. More interesting, though, was what he didn't say.

"You mean to tell me," she pressed, "your father wasn't involved in your life at all? Not supporting you?"

Joseph's voice cooled, though his composure didn't break. "Lex and I only found each other recently. Before that, we were unaware of each other."

Lois hesitated, then asked the blunt question that had been nagging her. "Would you mind sharing why your mother kept that hidden from both of you?"

She winced inwardly—too direct. But her hunger for answers often outweighed caution.

Joseph frowned, but answered. "I'll share, since it ties into your exposé. Vandal Savage—leader of the Light—targeted my mother after learning she was pregnant. It was his way of controlling Lex, eliminating variables. She was forced to change identities and hide in Gotham. Even then, Savage found her. He had her killed through Intergang."

The room went quiet.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Lois said softly, her tone stripped of journalistic distance.

"Thank you."

After a pause, she pressed forward. "Your father has been accused in my reporting of funding the Light—an organization tied to global conspiracies, kidnappings, and worse. How do you respond to those allegations, especially with him naming you as his successor?"

"Lex has treated me well since discovering I was his son," Joseph said carefully. "But I will not defend—nor condone—anything he has done with the Light. I apologize on his behalf to everyone affected by his decisions, though I know apologies mean little. If anyone can provide proof of being harmed by his actions, I will personally see to their compensation."

Lois tilted her head, measuring him. That was a deft answer—condemnation without fully severing ties. Smart.

"Some critics suggest your success—BellCoin, BellCorp, your games—was bankrolled quietly by LexCorp. Was this truly your achievement, or your father's?"

"As I said, we didn't know each other," Joseph replied. "Bell Studios had nothing to do with him. He did reach out once—wanted to collaborate on BellCoin, probably to integrate it into LexCorp. I refused. By then, I'd already heard the rumors—rumors that turned out to be true—about his nanite experiments on civilians."

Lois arched a brow. Strong condemnation again. Interesting.

"Metropolis knows you as the prodigy who gave the Gargoyles their first win against the Mets in decades. Investors know you as the mind behind PikPok, MyCraft, BellCoin. But with the Luthor name, corruption will follow you. How do you plan to build trust?"

Joseph leaned forward slightly. "After Lex's errors, people are right to associate the name with corruption. Only time can repair that trust. I plan to spend that time serving people—through education, healthcare, and innovation. Real, tangible help."

Lois followed up with the heart of her inquiry. "Where do you see yourself—and LexCorp—in ten years? Expansion? Politics? Philanthropy?"

"In ten years, I don't see myself leading LexCorp," he said. "I see myself leading a corporation that truly embodies the meaning of Luthor — 'army of the people.' That's why I've decided to rebrand LexCorp into LuthorCorp. To serve the people, not profit alone.

"We won't manufacture weapons anymore. We won't operate in hostile nations. Instead, we'll focus on teaching the next generation, healing the sick, and reaching beyond this planet — alongside what we already do."

The declaration was sweeping, almost audacious, but his delivery was measured. Lois scribbled notes furiously.

She spent the rest of the interview digging into lighter ground: his hobbies, sports interests, even teasing for a celebrity crush.

"A celebrity crush?" Joseph laughed. "Sorry, can't answer that. I have a girlfriend."

The interview wound down soon after. Lois thanked him for his time, and Joseph's entourage escorted him out with quiet efficiency.

As the crew packed up, Lois turned to Clark. "What do you think of the kid?"

Clark adjusted his glasses. "Calm. Steady. And I think he was being honest. He seems like a good kid — even if his father is Lex." He had the uncanny ability to tell if someone was lying so his words carried weight.

Lois exhaled. She'd gotten what she came for — not just quotes, but a sense of who Joseph Bell really was. He wasn't just Lex's shadow. At least not yet. She hoped his future actions would match the image he projected today.