American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 206 Gotham is on the other side of the sea!

The heavy, soundproof door closed behind us.

Clark let out a long sigh of relief, almost sinking into the overly soft sofa in the center of the living room.

He tilted his head back, feeling his tense muscles slowly relax in the softness.

Shen Du was much quieter. She simply walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the city lights gradually lighting up outside, her little face showing no expression.

"Finally... it's over."

Clark rubbed his still burning eyelids, the excitement of battle gradually fading, replaced by a deep weariness.

However, a barely suppressed excitement still flickered deep in his eyes.

Everything that happened today.
Even his uncle's approval of him
It is really.
"Ding--!"

The suite's doorbell was gently rang, breaking the tranquility inside.

Clark got up and opened the door, somewhat puzzled.

But then she saw Grey standing outside the door.

She was still wearing that smart suit, with an impeccable professional smile on her face.

“Good evening, gentlemen Kent.” Her voice remained perfectly polite, a subtle smile playing at the corners of her eyes. “Excuse me for bothering you. The boss wishes to see you.”

"Ms. Grey? Boss?"

Clark paused for a moment, then realized, "Uncle Lionel? He wants to see us now?"

To tell the truth
He hadn't seen this uncle for four or five years.

All that remains in my memory is a blurry outline and a certain indescribable sense of distance.

Shen Du didn't even turn around. His cold voice came from the window, filled with undisguised annoyance: "This isn't the kind of socializing I enjoy. I refuse outright."

Grey seemed to have anticipated this reaction from the capital, and she wasn't annoyed; she simply smiled and said:

"The BOSS specifically instructed that we must invite you two to grace us with your presence."

"He was waiting at the 'Le Cieltoilé' French restaurant next to the Daily Planet building."

Clark blinked. He knew nothing about French cuisine, but the name sounded unusual.

And that restaurant is right next to the Planet Daily...

Seeing Clark's interested expression, Grey added at the opportune moment, as if stating a common sense statement:
"That's one of the few Michelin three-star restaurants in the Metropolitan. It's said that you usually need to book a table three months in advance."

This statement indeed had an effect.

Clark's face showed obvious curiosity.

For a teenager who has just arrived in the metropolis from a Kansas farm and experienced a surreal battle, the allure of a top-tier restaurant that requires reservations three months in advance is self-evident.

He glanced at the capital city instinctively.

Shen Du finally turned around, but her little face still showed little enthusiasm.

He glanced at Clark, whose face was full of expectation, then at Grey, who was smiling, and gave a somewhat reluctant snort:
"...Since someone insists on paying such a high price for this pointless meeting, then I'll go check it out."

That's practically tantamount to agreement.

Clark immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across his face: "Then let's go take a look, the capital!"

Grey bowed slightly: "The car is already waiting downstairs."

The car silently glided into the private passageway at the base of the skyscraper.

Grey gracefully led the two brothers into the sightseeing elevator.

The elevator car walls are transparent, and as it ascends, it offers an unobstructed view of the metropolis's nightscape.

The city's outline was outlined by the dazzling lights, the traffic flowed like a glowing river, and the Luther Group's twin towers in the distance stood out like a lighthouse in the darkness.

Clark pressed his face against the glass, watching intently.

The metropolis is beautiful at night.
only.
Even with his exceptionally keen hearing, he still managed to detect some discordant notes amidst the bustling noise.
The faint wail of police sirens could be heard in the distance, along with small-scale disturbances and shouts taking place in some neighborhoods.

"strangeness……"

Clark asked, puzzled, "Metropolis...such a bustling city, is the security situation often like this?"

In his mind, a metropolis should be synonymous with glamour and order.

With his hands in his pockets, Shen Du merely lifted his eyelids lazily upon hearing this, his tone carrying a worldly-wise mockery as he snorted:

"Across the sea is Gotham."

"The plague will drift in with the wind."

"What kind of talk is that..."

Clark turned his head, both amused and exasperated. "What did Gotham do to you, God Capital?"

"I advise you not to let Dior hear you say that."

"..."

Shen shut her mouth, turned her little face to the other side, and pretended to be focused on admiring the night view.

Grey, however, seemed not to hear anything and continued to smile.

Once the elevator arrived, they quickened their pace slightly, leading them through a quiet corridor covered with thick carpet.

Until they came to a wooden door.

She gently pushed open the door and turned to the side in an inviting gesture.

This is an extremely private room with a fantastic view.

One entire wall is made of floor-to-ceiling glass, offering a panoramic view of the metropolis's most dazzling nightscape, much like being in a sightseeing elevator.

The room was softly lit, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

And at that table, which wasn't very large but was clearly carefully arranged...
A man in a dark green suit had his back to them.

He gazed at the city lights outside the window, the wine glass in his hand gleaming slightly.

“Uncle Lionel,” Clark called out awkwardly.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

Upon hearing the voice, Lionel Luther turned around gracefully to greet the two brothers who entered the private room.

His meticulously groomed sideburns were slightly graying, and his eyes held just the right amount of kindness.

“Clark, and this one… presumably, this is Shen Du?” His gaze swept lightly over the two children. “Please, have a seat.”

It wasn't until Clark sat down somewhat awkwardly, and God casually crossed his legs, that things started to get under control.

Lionel's gaze finally fell on Clark, and he remarked with emotion:
"Time flies. The last time I saw you, you were a little kid chasing sheep on the farm. Now you're a grown man who can stand on your own."

"Yes, it's been a long time, Uncle Lionel." Clark smiled shyly.

“It has indeed been a long time.” Lionel smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to the capital, his smile unchanged, but his tone became more formal: “Capital Kent, nice to meet you.”

“I am Lionel Luther, a good friend of your father Locke.”

Sitting high on the chair, Shen Du's legs dangled in the air, his small face expressionless. However, given the premise of 'his father's friend,' he still nodded very slightly in response:
"I have long admired my name."

However, this brief response made Clark blink in surprise.

Even the gods would know that.
Praising someone?

A barely perceptible glint of interest flashed in Lionel's eyes. He said nothing more, and gently clapped his hands to signal the waiter to serve the dishes.

The door to the private room was pushed open silently, and several waiters in smart uniforms filed in, placing the appetizers precisely in front of the three of them.

On the exquisite white porcelain plates, food is arranged like works of art.

Foie gras is served with candied figs, and baked snails are sprinkled with truffles.

There was even a small dish they had never seen before.
Black caviar shimmering with gold dust.

Clark gazed curiously at the dish of luxurious caviar, then carefully scooped up a small amount with a spoon and put it in his mouth.

He carefully sipped it, savoring the sensation...

"How is it?" Lionel asked gently.

Upon hearing this, Clark looked up at Lionel and honestly stated his impression: "It seems... there's no taste?"

He paused again, seemingly realizing it was impolite to say it that way, and added:

“I’m sorry, Uncle Lionel, I just feel that this might not be worth the price.”

Lionel gave a forgiving smile and clapped his hands lightly.

Soon another waiter entered the private room carrying a fresh batch of gold-flecked caviar.

"If you can't taste the flavor, then keep eating until you can," he said generously.

"."

Clark scooped up another spoonful and put it in his mouth.

Um.
Dull.

"Ugh……"

With a sigh that sounded like that of an old man, it seemed as if the gods were mourning Clark's incurable palate.

He picked up his own small spoon and scooped up some caviar, his movements much more relaxed than Clark's.

Then he put it in his mouth, closed his eyes, and savored it.
Gold powder.

"How about it?"

Lionel looked at him with great interest.

Shen Du slowly opened his eyes. Although the smell was almost negligible to him, what could he do when it was sprinkled with genuine gold?
so.
"Delicious," he commented.

"squeak-!"

The wooden door opened slightly again.

The next main course served by the waiter was pan-fried duck breast with cherry sauce.

The duck breast was pan-fried until the skin was crispy and the inside was an enticing pink color, making the meat look tender and juicy.

Clark followed suit and tried to cut a small piece with a knife and fork.

It took almost no effort to easily slice open the duck meat.

He put the piece of duck meat covered in deep red cherry sauce into his mouth.

In an instant, his eyes widened!
"Um?!"

The rich aroma of meat, the perfect amount of fat, and the sweet and sour flavor of cherry sauce blend perfectly in the mouth.

In the world.
How could such a thing exist?!
"Um!!"

Clark could no longer speak, and even forgot his earlier restraint; his blue eyes were now completely focused on the food in front of him.

Look at Clark's genuine and unpretentious reaction as he enjoys the food.

He glanced again at Shen Du, who, though still expressionless, was eating at a noticeably fast pace. He didn't say anything to disturb the quiet moment as they focused on their meal.

He simply swirled the wine glass in his hand, letting the amber liquid shimmer charmingly under the light, and waited patiently.

By the time the dinner was nearing its end, the tables were a complete mess of dishes and glasses.
Lionel then gracefully set down his glass, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Clark, who was still savoring the last bite of cherry sauce, with undisguised approval in his eyes:

"Clark."

His voice was gentle, yet carried a certain firmness: "I must thank you. You ensured the safety of Tomorrow's Expo and prevented a disaster."

"I?!"

Clark was wiping his mouth with a napkin when he heard this and froze, his eyes widening in astonishment. He instinctively wanted to deny it, "Uncle Lionel, you must be mistaken... I, I'm just an ordinary tourist..."

"Hahaha……"

Lionel burst into a cheerful laugh, interrupting Clark's somewhat hasty explanation, as if he had heard a funny joke.

His meaningful gaze lingered on Clark for a moment, then swept over Shen Du, who was slowly and meticulously scraping the last bit of golden caviar with a small spoon, his tone carrying an all-knowing composure:

"Besides you two amazing Kents, who else in this metropolis has the ability and the will to step forward in such chaos?"

He paused slightly, as if mentioning it casually, yet also as if emphasizing it deliberately:

"Don't be surprised, I've been watching you all, just like... watching my own son."

Hearing this
A strange feeling stirred within Clark, but he suppressed it and exchanged a few pleasantries with Lionel about farm life and exposition technology.

Seeing that the atmosphere was still acceptable, Lionel elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Since you're so interested in the technology at the expo, you must be curious about even more cutting-edge things, right?" His gaze swept towards the Twin Towers outside the window, his meaning quite clear. "How about it, would you like to take a tour inside the Luther Group? There are some things you can't see at the expo."

Clark was somewhat tempted.

One reason is curiosity about unknown technologies.

On the other hand, Lionel was, after all, an elder who had watched him grow up, and after not seeing him for so long, the invitation was well-intentioned, so he couldn't very well refuse it directly.

Clark glanced at Shen Du instinctively, seeking his brother's opinion with his eyes.

Shen Du idly swung his legs, his eyes filled with a complete lack of interest.

Taking in the brothers' reactions, Lionel smiled knowingly, turned his gaze to the capital, and spoke with a tone of indulgence:

"It seems our little geniuses don't have much patience for technology. No problem, since you don't want to go to the company, how about Aunt Grey takes you outside for a stroll?"

"I remember... you should have Uncle's card with you, right?"

“I remember that card.” He paused, then smiled. “There shouldn’t be a spending limit. You can shop as much as you want today, buy whatever you want.”

Shen Du's previously droopy eyelids suddenly lifted, and his previous languor and indifference were instantly replaced by a sharp gleam.

"Shopping spree?" A rare hint of interest flickered in his voice. "Uncle Lionel, are you sure... anything's okay?"

“Of course,” Lionel waved his hand and laughed, “as long as you don’t plan to buy the entire Metropolis.”

Shen Du licked his lips, confirming further:
"What about... a jewelry store?"

"Jewelry?"

Lionel was slightly taken aback. He clearly hadn't expected a child to make such a request, but he quickly regained his composure and even offered a hint of encouragement, "If you like... of course, no problem."

"Grey will go with you."

"."

Clark couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead.

My younger brother usually seems so cold and aloof.
But why is it that I can't move when I see those shiny gold and silver jewelry?
My family is clearly not short of money right now.
Where did he get this miserly hobby from?
Before leaving, Shen Du specifically asked Lionel to arrange several burly bodyguards.

The small figure, surrounded by a group of burly men, disappeared without looking back at the restaurant entrance, heading straight for the luxury shopping district with its gleaming shop windows.

However, as Clark watched his younger brother leave, a strange sense of tension quietly resurfaced in his heart.

Especially after he got into the back seat of the limousine with Lionel.

The car was spacious, and the leather seats were so soft they almost enveloped him, yet he felt completely out of place.

Now only he and Uncle Lionel are left alone.
Clark placed his hands on his knees, his fingers unconsciously curling and relaxing. He was beginning to regret agreeing to come alone.
After all, I couldn't think of anything to say to break this suffocating silence...

So embarrassing...

Taking a deep breath, Clark decided to bite the bullet and tentatively start a conversation about the expo or the weather.
Fortunately, Lionel saw through his predicament and broke the silence first.

The man leaned back in his chair, relaxed, looking straight ahead, and casually started a conversation: "What's Dior been up to lately? How are you doing?"

“It’s fine,” Clark replied softly.

“That kid Lex stayed at your farm the other day. He didn’t cause you any trouble, did he?” Lionel continued naturally.

“Yeah, he helped us a lot.” Clark smiled, finally opening up. “He did a tenth of the farm work!”

This is an extremely astonishing number.

After all, you need to know.
According to Uncle Locke, only ten Platinum Stars could manage the farm so meticulously.

Lex alone can complete one-tenth of it.
Its power is self-evident, isn't it?

Hearing this, even Lionel was amazed, "For your current scale, Lex is truly impressive."

The words of praise were on the tip of Lionel's tongue, but he didn't continue.

He simply smiled, his concern evident in his words:
"How are Jonathan and Martha doing? Aren't they getting old?"

"Speaking of which, little Salafir, you suddenly have a new little brother, have you thrown a tantrum?"

Clark nodded
These are all people and things he knows and cares about.

He naturally relaxed and recounted the recent interesting events on the farm in detail.

However, as he spoke, a hint of doubt began to creep into Clark's mind.

Uncle Lionel asked almost every member of the family, but he made no mention of the absolute core of the family.
Uncle Locke.

It seems...

As if reading his unspoken question, Lionel chuckled, "Your Uncle Locke... what else does he need anyone else to worry about?"

He paused slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the car window, looking towards the distant direction of Smallville. His voice held a subtle, complex meaning as he chuckled:
“Aren’t you children all perfectly fine by his side?”

Clark smiled knowingly upon hearing this.

Yes
The fact that their uncle is so powerful and reliable, and that their whole family lives peacefully under his protection, is the best proof of that. What else is there to ask?
He truly is one of my uncle's few friends.
In a single sentence, he succinctly explained what Locke was.

The atmosphere inside the car became more harmonious.

"Talk about it"

Lionel casually asked, "Clark, what do you think is the biggest difference between Smallwell and Metropolis?"

This question surprised Clark slightly. He pondered for a moment and answered seriously:
"The pace of life in the metropolis is too fast; everyone is always in a hurry."

"But in Smallville, everything seems to breathe in accordance with the rhythm of nature."

“The rhythm of nature,” Lionel repeated the word thoughtfully, then chuckled, “a very interesting description. Like your uncle, he always seems to grasp the most essential rhythm of life.”

Hearing this, Clark's lips unconsciously curled up: "Yes, Uncle always says that everything has its own time."

"Just like the pumpkins he grows, he never forces them to ripen for the harvest festival, yet they always grow to their best every year. The other day, one of them even became the Pumpkin King of Smallville!"

“That’s what makes him special.” Lionel’s gaze swept across the car window, looking at the brightly lit city skyline in the distance. “Some people spend their whole lives chasing after external things, but your uncle seems to have a natural understanding of what is truly important.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the carriage fell silent for a moment, with only the deep hum of the engine echoing in the ears.

Clark relaxed and leaned back in his soft chair.

But then Lionel suddenly changed the subject and threw out a question that caught him off guard.

"Clark."

"What do you think is the difference between humans and gods?"

"Huh?" Clark was taken aback. The topic had jumped too quickly and was completely out of sync with the farm stories he had just been describing.

Lionel seemed unsurprised by his reaction and patiently explained:

“I’m not referring to the gods in myths and legends who have specific images and stories. Rather, I’m referring to… a kind of existence that corresponds to the concept of ‘humanity’… ‘god’.”

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze becoming deep:

"Humans...are bound to have flaws."

“Greed, cowardice, shortsightedness, excessive emotional fluctuations… these weaknesses are rooted in our nature.” He paused, his tone almost a sigh, “But God, he doesn’t. God is perfect…”

"He will not have any physical or mental defects, will not have any uncontrollable ambitions, and will not have any obsessions that could cloud his reason..."

"He is the embodiment of perfection, the ultimate being who transcends all human weaknesses."

"Perfect……"

Clark repeated the word unconsciously, following Lionel's train of thought.

indeed
If we set aside the mythological veneer and consider only the concept of "flawed humanity" as its opposite, then the corresponding "god" should indeed be "perfect."

He nodded blankly: "It sounds... kind of makes sense."

Lionel gazed at him, a smile of indescribable emotion on his face, and asked softly, "So, Clark, do you know who among the people I know is closest to this concept of 'god'?"

"Who?"

Clark instinctively pressed for more information.

"Locke, your uncle."

Lionel said the name without hesitation, his tone firm.

"uncle?!"

This answer instantly jolted Clark out of his previous abstract philosophical contemplation.

Many images flashed uncontrollably through my mind:
Because his uncle didn't want to work, he lay around in the museum slacking off, so Platinum Star had to do the work. He lay there for fourteen days straight.

This led to the creation of the Passion of Bruce Wayne.

God? Perfect?

Clark couldn't help but chuckle. He opened his mouth, intending to tell Lionel that what he saw was only the surface, and that his uncle was just an ordinary farmer...

"Crack——!"

Just as he was organizing his thoughts, the car gently paused and came to a smooth stop.

Outside the car window, the Luther Group's twin towers, brightly lit in the night, were already close at hand, their cold glass curtain walls reflecting the city's neon skyline.

"Here we are."

Lionel smiled naturally as he opened the car door, as if the conversation about God and man had never happened.

This forced Clark to swallow back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He watched Lionel calmly get out of the car, then looked at the magnificent yet cold building in front of him.

uncle
god?--
P.S.: The next chapter will be in the morning~
  (End of this chapter)