American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 153 Lex: Is this also part of the reward?
After Locke and the Phantom Stranger's figures were erased by the eraser.

An eerie silence fell over the Forgotten Bar.

The tense atmosphere from before had dissipated, leaving only the faint buzzing of the magic lamp.

And
"Chi chi chi chi chi!"

“Abababababa”.

At the other end of the bar, Jim and Bobo were speaking in hushed tones, rapidly exchanging words in a language incomprehensible to others, their expressions filled with surprise and speculation.

You also said you can't communicate with gorillas?

Zatanna glanced at the two of them speechlessly.

Salafir sipped her slightly cooled milk, her clear eyes blinking as if she were trying to process what had just happened in the blink of an eye.

"The capital city..."

He silently asked himself, "Don't you think that gentleman in black... smells a little familiar?"

"Yes, a little. But I can't remember." Shen Du's voice also carried a hint of confusion.

Then they fell silent, presumably savoring the aura emanating from the strange man in black.

"."

“Sarafil”.

Just then, Zatanna sat back down in the seat next to Salafir with remarkable ease.

"Cough cough."

She simply coughed lightly, which drew the boy's attention back to her.

"Do you remember what happened before?" she asked gently.

"What happened before?"

Salafir blinked.

"Of course it's nothing."

Zatanna smiled sweetly and gracefully took a crystal ball from her tall magician's hat:
"Oh dear, Salafir, how did you leave this in your sister's hat? It's a divination crystal ball that can reveal information!"

"It's said that if you put just a tiny bit of magic into it, you can get the information you most want to know. It's an extremely valuable thing."

"Sarafil, how could you have accidentally left it behind?"

"Ah~ so you accidentally left it with your sister." Salafir nodded seriously, deftly took the crystal ball, and then, under Zatanna's slightly surprised gaze, casually opened a tiny spatial rift beside her and tossed it in cleanly. "I'll keep it safe!"

"You little rascal..."

Zatanna couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The little guy is so young, yet he accepts bribes so naturally.

Is this also a result of Mr. Locke's teachings and example?

"Miss Zatanna, I'm afraid this isn't a good idea."

Jim, standing to the side, said helplessly, "It will set a bad example for the children."

"That's still better than that scumbag, isn't it?" Bobo didn't seem to care much. He just moved closer to Salafir, his hairy face full of curiosity: "Hey, kid, tell the detective the truth, what does your dad... do?"

"My dad?"

Hearing this, Salafir perked up.

He put down his milk glass, his little face radiating pure pride:

"He's a farmer! He can cultivate a huge plot of land all by himself! Providing food for the residents of the town! Isn't that amazing?"

"?"

Bobo and Jim exchanged a glance and both froze.

Seeing their reaction, Salafir thought they hadn't understood, so she added earnestly, "And Dad is the best at growing pumpkins. He can grow super, super big pumpkins! He's the pumpkin king of our area."

In his naive worldview, his father's greatest abilities were becoming the Smallwell Pumpkin King and disciplining his two troublesome older brothers.

"The Pumpkin King?"

"You mean a... a farm owner?"

"Poppo asked in surprise, then looked at Jim and Zatanna, his eyes filled with—"

Do you believe it?

"Yeah, a super giant pumpkin, one is equivalent to six!"

"That is indeed quite big."

Jim nodded thoughtfully, "After all, it's not in Mira that you can grow such a big pumpkin in the mortal world."

“Is that so?” Zatanna chimed in, “Mr. Locke is quite skilled at farming.”

"Speaking of which..."

The bar owner stroked his chin, seemingly genuinely intrigued. "Should I also try clearing out a small plot of land in the bar's backyard? That way I can be self-sufficient and reduce procurement costs..."

He began to seriously consider whether he should add some agricultural products to the bar's menu.

"Jim! Are you crazy or am I crazy?"

Detective Bobo was practically going crazy. "Don't tell me you're planning to make me loosen the soil and fertilize it next! Listen, I'm a chimpanzee, a primate! I'm not..."

"."

His words abruptly stopped. Looking at the greedy bar owner, Bobo wisely chose to keep quiet.

The ape's intelligence told itself that if it continued, it would use impolite terms.

The bar fell silent.
But just at that moment—

"Om..."

Without any warning, Locke and the Phantom Stranger, who had just disappeared, silently reassembled and reappeared in the same spot.

It was as if they had never left.

But it still drew everyone's attention.

I saw
Locke, who had been calm just moments before, now wore an indescribable air of pride.
However, the Phantom Stranger still maintained his unchanging, aloof demeanor.

He didn't look at anyone, but simply nodded slightly to Locke. Then his figure blended into the shadows, faded away quietly, and disappeared completely without leaving a single word.

After watching him leave, Locke's gaze immediately fell on Salafir.

His eyes were gentle, yet also filled with pride.

He scooped up the still somewhat bewildered Salafir and placed him steadily on his strong arms.

"Hey, my little man."

Locke's voice was full of laughter as he gently tapped Salafir's forehead with the tip of his other finger.

It was as if I could see through him.
She pointed at a little guy hidden deep in her consciousness, "And you, another little troublemaker."

I have to say…

I was just solemnly praised by a being of the cosmic level, and learned that my child possesses such an extraordinary nature...

Even Locke couldn't help but straighten his chest.

This made him even happier than when he won the gold medal in the pumpkin contest.

Other people's children are at most child prodigies, but these two in his family are practically the embodiment of the universe itself!

How could he not feel proud?
That joy of being a father is both profound and radiant.

It was almost overflowing
So impressive!
"Is the matter... over?"

Zatanna asked cautiously, as she keenly sensed a subtle change in Locke's aura.

It has lost some of its previous sharpness, but gained a new quality.
A deeper source of confidence?

"Well, we're done talking."

Locke smiled, his mood visibly brightening.

He even flicked the brim of Zatanna's top hat lightly with his finger:
"Just some casual remarks about children's education."

Home-style?

What kind of mundane conversation could make the Phantom Stranger personally appear to talk about?
Jim and Bobo exchanged a glance, both seeing the same absurdity in each other's eyes.

But then I thought back to the horrifying scene of Salafir repairing the table as if time had reversed.
I silently swallowed my complaints.

They are born sacred.
Normal, normal.

"Is it because of... magic?" Zatanna couldn't help but ask.

"more or less."

Locke smiled but did not elaborate.

Then he put the remaining half-glass of milk in Salafir back on the table and nodded to the boss, Jim, saying:
"Excuse me, how much is the milk today?"

"?!"

Jim's pupils contracted slightly, and he asked in astonishment, "You...you want to pay?"

"?"

"Why shouldn't I pay?" Locke was bewildered.

“Mr. Locke, you are so powerful, yet you are such a kind person.” Jim tilted his head slightly, seemingly trying to hold back tears. “It’s just a few glasses of milk, please accept it for you and the little one.”

"..."

Locke paused for a moment, then said with a hint of sympathy:
"Mr. Jim, it seems your bar... is having a tough time?"

"Yes."

Jim nodded heavily, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the gorilla beside him.

"Hey! If you're going to complain, just complain, why are you staring at me?!"

Bobo next to him let out a series of dissatisfied squeaking noises.

“You still need to pay.” Locke pulled out a Franklin note. “Is this enough?”

"Do you want to hear the truth or lies?"

Jim looked troubled.

“…The truth.”

"Far from enough."

"How much does that cost?"

"One ounce of gold."

Three thousand cuts?!
Locke's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

What kind of creature produced this milk?!

"?"

“Most of the drink prices were set by the previous bar owner…and I haven’t been able to change them due to the bar’s own rules,” Jim explained sheepishly. “So basically nobody pays the full price…I always treat.” “My main source of income now is the liquor I brew myself, which costs only a few dollars a glass.”

"."

"Saraphiel, is the milk delicious?"

"It tastes pretty good."

It tastes good, that's all that matters.
Looking down at the innocent-looking Salafell in his arms, Locke's lips twitched slightly, and he spoke earnestly:

"Sarafil, next time you go out for a drink, remember to ask about the price first."

"I got it, Dad."

The little guy seemed to understand but didn't quite, but he agreed very obediently.

Seeing this, Locke reluctantly made up the difference in price.

He completed what was perhaps the most expensive milk purchase of his farming career with a heavy heart.

Finally, he expressionlessly picked up the remaining half-cup of milk from Salafir and drank it all in one gulp.

— Not a single drop of the three thousand cuts can be wasted.

but
It tastes really good.

It seems like something else was added?
“Mr. Locke, you are a very kind guest.”

Jim said, touched, "Actually, there's still some left over. Do you need anything else?"

"What else do you need?"

Locke paused, about to refuse, but then his expression changed slightly as if he had been reminded of something.

Forgot.
"Mr. Jim, do you... know how to make chocolate moon pies?"

"Chocolate moon pie?" Jim was taken aback. "You mean that kind of... filled chocolate pie?"

Yes, probably.

"Let me try."

After a while...

"Okay, we should go."

Locke, holding Sarafiel, turned to face the crowd. "Come on, say goodbye to your uncle and... Mr. Gorilla."

Waving to the three of them, Salafir obediently replied:

"Goodbye, Sister Zatanna; goodbye, Uncle Armor; goodbye, Mr. Gorilla Detective."

Bobo also subconsciously waved its paw:
"Goodbye...goodbye, clever little farmer..."

Zatanna smiled and waved goodbye.

I sighed silently in my heart.

She still has to go to the grocery store to keep busy later.

Ugh.
After all, I'm a mature woman with a career to worry about.

"boom--!"

The lightning flashed suddenly, scorching the eyes for a moment.

The father and son had completely disappeared into the Forgotten Bar.

Jim and Bobo were left staring at each other behind the bar, remaining silent for a long time.

Bobo silently poured himself a glass of strong liquor, deciding to calm his nerves.

Drink more at Jim's Bar; after all, I'm just an animal, I don't need to follow the bar rules.

You don't have to pay for the drinks.
Right?
“Bobo.” Jim turned to him, giving him a gentle yet undeniable smile. “I’ve just thought about it seriously, and I really do plan to set aside a small plot of land in the shop to grow some things. What are your thoughts on this as a worker?”

Bobo: "…………"

His hand froze in mid-air.
-
A flash of lightning caused the space to tremble slightly.

Locke, carrying Sarafil, had already returned to Kent Farm.

Night fell over this tranquil land, the air filled with the fresh scent of earth and crops, a stark contrast to the bizarre atmosphere of the Forgotten Bar.

however……

The tranquility of the home was quickly shattered by the chaotic scene before them.

Locke's gaze fell on the experimental field before him, which had been flat but was now full of potholes, as if it had been ransacked by a group of starving field mice.

Most of the potato plants were uprooted.

The soil was turned up everywhere, leaving only a few pitiful little potatoes lying in a corner.

really
My potatoes couldn't escape their fate after all.

Locke's lips twitched slightly, almost uncontrollably.

“Uncle Locke…”

And it was at this moment.
A dry, hoarse call, exhausted, came from beside my feet.

Locke looked down at the sound, and even with his seasoned composure, his eyelids twitched involuntarily.

Lex Luthor—

This future business tycoon is a genius boy with exceptional intelligence who is meticulous in everything except eating.

He was lying face up on the muddy ground by the edge of the field, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for breath.

His once impeccably tailored coat and shirt had long since been tossed to some corner, leaving him with a bare, lean upper body covered in dirt and sweat, his bald head even reflecting the moon in the sky.

What's most astonishing is his face, which always seems to be etched with indifference...

At this moment...

A smile appeared on his face, one that was both extremely tired and strangely... happy, even almost devout?!

That smile was incredibly complex, like that of a saint who had just undergone a severe trial and been reborn.

I am immersed in a kind of utterly empty yet incredibly satisfying feeling of exhaustion.

"I'm sorry, Uncle..."

He was barely breathing.
"I...I only did half of it...I'm just...completely exhausted..."

"Gudong..."

Witnessing this bizarre scene, Salafir, held in Locke's arms, swallowed hard in fear, her little hands gripping her father's collar tightly.

Lex, my brother.
Is it broken?

"Lex...I..."

Looking at the scene before me, which was both terrifying and somewhat absurd.

Locke was speechless for a moment, all the prepared words stuck in his throat.

Now that things have come to this, he really can't bring himself to say something like, "I was just saying it casually, and you actually dug it up."

And
Looking at Lex, who seemed to have just completed a sacred mission.

A subtle sense of guilt arose spontaneously.

He took a deep breath, his face displaying an extremely solemn expression, as if bestowing upon someone an unparalleled honor:
"Lex, you did a great job! Perseverance and willpower are the most valuable qualities a man can have! You... exceeded my expectations!"

As he spoke, he pulled out a bag as if by magic.

He carefully placed it in Lex's arms.

"Here... this is a reward! A reward for the fruits of your hard work! Eat it, and then go back to your room and get a good night's sleep."

Locke's tone was full of encouragement, and then he turned around without hesitation, picked up Salafir, and walked quickly toward the farmhouse, his steps so fast that they stirred up a gust of wind.

"?"

Watching his uncle's 'indifferent' departing figure, and then looking down at the huge, warm object in his arms that exuded an irresistible and alluring fragrance, Lex was still in a dazed state, both physically and mentally exhausted.

He blinked his sore eyes, somewhat puzzled.

It ended so easily...?
He thought that since he hadn't finished his work, Uncle Locke would give him a cold snort or make even harsher demands...

Unexpectedly... instead of being blamed, there was even a reward?

The reward is...
food?

He lowered his head, staring blankly at the enormous thing in his arms that exuded an extremely alluring fragrance. The fragrance seeped into his nostrils, wildly teasing his stomach, which was empty from the intense labor.

After hesitating for a moment, I finally couldn't resist the tempting aroma.

"Tear-!"

He tore open the bag.

What came into view was actually one.
Huge.
Chocolate moon pie?

A super-sized chocolate moon pie?!
This is... a pie? Where did such a big pie come from?

Lex was silent for a moment, but the rumbling in his stomach kept urging him on.

He was urged to carefully break off a piece of the still-hot pie crust and tentatively put it in his mouth.

“?!”

The next second.
His pupils dilated suddenly! His brain trembled! He had experienced an unprecedented shock!
What an amazingly delicious treat!

It's an absolutely delicious taste that's hard to describe!

The crispy pie crust melts in your mouth, and the filling is sweet and soft, yet not greasy at all!
There are even
A gentle yet immense energy surged into his nearly exhausted body with the pie!
It washed over his limbs and bones, dispelling all fatigue and soreness!

What... what kind of amazing food is this?!
No longer caring about manners or suspicion, Lex transformed into a homeless man who hadn't eaten for three days and three nights. Using both hands, he devoured the entire Moon Pie, enough to feed several adults, in large mouthfuls, almost wolfing it down!
And so the moon pie was completely swallowed.
Something incredible happened!

Under the bright moonlight, his originally lean and even somewhat thin upper body showed signs of muscle definition becoming clearer, fuller, and more powerful at a speed visible to the naked eye!
His skin seemed to shimmer with light, giving him an aura of vitality and strength!

This…

Is this Uncle Locke's reward?!

Feel the unprecedented, surging power within my body, as if I could knock down a bull with a single punch!

Lex was almost moved to tears.

He thought of his cold-hearted father, Lionel!
No matter how outstanding his achievements are or how difficult his tasks are, all he ever gets in return is cold scrutiny and higher demands. He always eats the most 'scientific' but tasteless nutritious porridge!
Uncle Locke is the best!

Not only will they "test" him to temper his will, but they will also reward him with such magical and delicious things!
This is true training!

This is it.
Young Lex Luthor clenched his powerful fist, looking at the warm light shining through the farmhouse window.
This is the first time I've felt such complex emotions towards someone.

And most importantly
Uncle Locke must be watching me in his room right now, with a slight smile on his lips, right?
Looking at the potato field that was still half full, Lex gripped the hoe again.

A sense of pride and ambition rose in my heart.
-
So what is Locke, with a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth, doing right now?
He is at this moment.
"The capital city."

Looking at the little dragon hiding in the Dragon Court space, Locke said with some helplessness:

“Come and talk to Dad.”

(End of this chapter)