A Kryptonian in the Marvel Universe

It didn't take long before the ground was full of injured people.

Even the least injured had broken several bones, and some died instantly.

Zod walked over to the front counter.

"Give me the best BBQ you've got, and a large iced Coke. Use the biggest glass, I want it filled with ice."

Zod missed Earth's Coke terribly. Even if he tried to recreate it on Krypton, the taste wasn't the same.

Naturally, the shopkeeper didn't dare refuse. As Zod scanned the restaurant, he noticed that none of the tables were clean. Without hesitation, he helped himself to the cash he found on the gangsters and pocketed a few thousand dollars.

Prices in the U.S. were something Zod wasn't too familiar with, especially not in the era he had found himself in.

"Hurry up and clean a table."

Zod instructed.

The restaurant staff had no choice but to clean a table, scrubbing down the greasy surfaces with detergent.

In this place, cleaning didn't happen often. After all, no matter how well they did it, gangs always trashed the place when they came in, so eventually, they gave up trying.

Zod enjoyed his Texas BBQ, finding it acceptable, and drank five gallons of iced Coke.

He also devoured more than fifty pounds of various meats, practically clearing out half of the restaurant's inventory.

The shopkeeper, when it came time to check him out, seemed to be questioning his very existence.

Zod found it strange how much he could eat now. On Krypton, photosynthesis would have been enough to sustain his energy needs. If Kryptonians consumed food like Saiyans, it would take the energy of a planet just to keep them alive unless their stomachs were built to convert matter into energy at 100% efficiency.

After finishing his meal, Zod began asking the shopkeeper about the area.

That's when he learned that the gang he had just beaten half to death was part of a notorious local group called the Scorpion Gang. Despite their unfamiliar name, this gang had a terrifying reputation in both Mexico and Texas. Their only rival in terms of power was the Skeleton Gang, allegedly backed by the American underground kingpin, Jin.

The two gangs openly battled along the U.S.-Mexico border, Mexico, and Texas, committing crimes like kidnapping, extortion, and even human trafficking—cases that had alarmed the authorities.

Currently, the Scorpion Gang's main business was dealing drugs, while the Skeleton Gang focused on arms trafficking. The biggest sellers in the Americas were the Golden Union and the Golden Skull Gang.

The Skeleton Gang's access to advanced weaponry made them formidable, while the Scorpion Gang's firepower lagged behind.

Zod found it interesting, but it didn't concern him. He wasn't a hero or someone who went looking for trouble. He wouldn't harm anyone unless they posed a threat to him.

After his meal, Zod didn't return right away but wandered around this unfamiliar land.

Meanwhile, the Scorpion Gang members who had been roughed up earlier reported back. If it had just been a beating, it would have been one thing, but people had died, and that was a major blow to their reputation.

Even though the Scorpion Gang's headquarters weren't in Texas, that didn't mean they lacked firepower in the state.

Over fifty gunmen were dispatched to deal with the man who had humiliated them.

It didn't take long for their informants to track Zod's movements, and soon enough, they had him cornered in the street.

The Texas police had no interest in getting involved. Most were corrupt and paid off by the Scorpion Gang, so they turned a blind eye.

Zod was amused.

"Go to hell!"

The gunmen had no intention of taking Zod alive. Killing him in the street would send a stronger message.

As they raised their guns, Zod's superhuman reflexes kicked in. He watched the scene unfold in slow motion, calculating the bullet's trajectory and dodging it effortlessly before they could pull the trigger.

The gangsters opened fire, but to their shock, Zod danced around the bullets, rapidly closing the distance between them.

"Damn it!"

"Fak!"

Over fifty gunmen were stunned, but no matter how hard they tried to aim, they were too slow. Zod reached the leader in a flash, delivering a punch so powerful it sent him flying into the men behind him, knocking over several others in a domino effect.

One punch took out more than half of them!

These gangsters, who spent most of their time dealing drugs, didn't understand the importance of maintaining formation. Standing close together made them feel invincible, but it was a fatal mistake.

The first man hit bore the brunt of the impact. His chest caved in so deeply that Zod joked in his mind he could fit a book inside.

Within seven steps, they say, a gun is fast, but within seven steps, a punch is faster!

Once Zod got close, the Scorpion Gang was helpless. Even when they tried to aim their guns, they ended up shooting their own. Zod simply redirected their guns, making them mow down their comrades.

By the time the last of them fell, only terror remained on their faces. Where had this monster come from?

Zod stepped on the chest of a groaning gunman.

"Take me to your boss."

His voice was calm but left no room for argument.

Since they had come after him, Zod wasn't about to let them off so easily.

"Police!"

Just then, the corrupt officers on the Scorpion Gang's payroll rushed over.

Zod didn't bother with them, vanishing in an instant.

He decided to follow the trail from these injured men. If they didn't return to their gang, the Scorpion Gang would definitely be tipped off when they sought treatment at the hospital.

It was time to introduce himself.

As expected, the corrupt officers alerted the Scorpion Gang, who sent men to check on their injured comrades at the hospital. Zod trailed them, eventually discovering a Scorpion Gang factory near the Texas border.

This factory was crucial to the Scorpion Gang's operations, producing over 30 tons of drugs annually. It was the largest drug production site for the gang.

In addition to supplying Texas and other U.S. states, the drugs were also shipped to the Golden Triangle.

This was a goldmine, with at least two-thirds of the Scorpion Gang's revenue coming from drug trafficking.