American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 218 Comet Captain—Adam Black, but a football coach.

The afternoon sun shone warmly on the vast wilderness.

Spring work has officially begun on Kent farms, but the scene is...

It's rather unusual.

The large boulders that would normally require strong men to move while sweating profusely are now being gently lifted by an invisible force, floating in mid-air as if weightless, before falling precisely into the corner and piling up into a neat little hill.

Rong En was strolling leisurely under the sun, sweating non-existent sweat.

But that's alright.
What's even more eye-catching is actually the sky.
Jonathan was piloting the Gundam, which had been 'activated' by the magic injected into it by the gods, with great enthusiasm, as it buzzed around the farm at low altitude.

The robot carefully held several heavy bags of seeds in its huge hands. Although its movements were a little stiff, it was extremely efficient. Under its control, it accurately dropped the bags of seeds one by one into the temporary sunshade built on the edge of the field.

As for Locke
He was driving the tractor, conducting a final check before tilling the land.

Just looking at the chaotic scene of demons working in front of me
He couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead, feeling that his blood pressure had risen a little.

We all came here to experience life and return to simplicity, but what happened to that?

He glanced at Shen Du, who was sitting next to him, leaning back in the passenger seat with his legs crossed, and said irritably, "Hey, why haven't you extracted the magic from that robot yet?"

Shen Du was squinting, enjoying the afternoon sun and the leisure of not having to work. Upon hearing this, he simply pursed his lips and lazily replied, "...What does it matter?"

He held up a little finger and casually pointed around:
"Anyway, there's nobody around here. The neighbors who live close to us were evacuated by Rong En beforehand when they fought with that big guy last time, and they were even compensated with a large sum of land resettlement fees afterwards."

"And Bruce bought the whole plot of land behind it and gave it to us as a package deal."

He said with a hint of pride, "This place now covers tens of thousands of acres, all of which belong to our family. Even if Uncle Jonathan flew around in his robot for a few rounds, or even if you, Dad, drove this old tractor around all day, you still wouldn't be able to see the whole area."

"Let it fly, it won't bother anyone..."

"..."

Locke's lips twitched, and he mercilessly exposed his son's true intentions:

"You simply don't want to do the work assigned to you."

"That's why I deliberately used that 'Gundam' to lure Jonathan into doing all the work you were supposed to do using levitation!"

Shen Du's face tightened, her eyes flickered slightly, then she turned her head away, turned the back of her head towards Locke, and hummed softly, which could be considered as acquiescence.

Looking at his son's lazy appearance, Locke glanced at Jonathan, who was having a great time in the sky, and Ron, who was working efficiently on the ground, and sighed deeply.

His farm will probably never be able to return to the normal agricultural civilization of the past, which relied purely on sweat and tractors.

or
He also slashed himself to let "Platinum Star" come out and AFK, right?

"Father, I sense you have a very dangerous idea." Shen Du seemed to sense Locke's thoughts and said speechlessly, "You wouldn't be thinking..."

"Mr. Locke."

A soft call came from the sky.

Locke looked up and saw Kara hovering not far ahead.

She wore a neat pair of jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, her figure light as a feather, sunlight dancing on her blonde hair, casting a soft halo.

Most amazingly, she was holding a large bundle of fruit tree seedlings steadily on her head.

She used a method that completely defied the common sense of physics to pack a large bundle.
The fruit tree seedlings were cleverly stacked into a near-perfect spherical shape.

It was held up steadily, as if it had no weight at all.

Where should we put these apple saplings?

She asked, sunlight falling on the ends of her golden hair, reflecting her relaxed expression.

"Just put it over there..."

Locke snapped out of his reverie and pointed to a conspicuous little red flag planted not far away. "The planned orchards will probably be divided by that flag."

Kara nodded, and without any apparent effort, she turned around lightly while holding the giant 'sapling ball' and flew towards the direction of the little red flag.

Watching Kara's departing figure, Shen Du withdrew her gaze and softly hummed, "She and Clark... aren't they somehow related?"

Upon hearing this, Locke looked at him with great interest: "You could tell?"

"That's not difficult..."

Shen Du curled his lip, his eyes revealing a calm insight into the essence of things. "Their bodies are all surrounded by that invisible bio-field, and the structure is very similar. Moreover..."

He raised his little hand and pointed to the sun in the sky.

"They can actively absorb light energy under the sun and convert it into their own power."

As he spoke, he covered his eyes in slight disgust, saying, "It's so glaring and uncomfortable..."

"You little rascal, you're quite observant."

Locke chuckled and reached out to flick Shen Du's smooth forehead.

However, his thoughts involuntarily drifted to Clark at school.

Although Clark always said he didn't care much, he couldn't pretend he didn't see that the kid often went to the abandoned farm left by old Bob late at night to look at the 'stars' at that so-called secret base.

Kara's situation...

Should we wait for her to explain to Clark herself, or should we tell the child first?
Tell him that he is not alone in this vast universe, that his blood relatives are on this farm, breathing the same air and basking in the same sunlight as him.

This is a major piece of news concerning identity and family ties.

Watching Kara gracefully and precisely place the saplings into the pits in the distance, Locke recalled the slightly bewildered look that Clark sometimes showed when he was a child because of his own differences, and weighed the options in his mind.

Perhaps he should talk to Kara first, respect her wishes, and then let her decide how to reunite with Clark.

After all, this kinship transcends the stars and the sea.
It still needs to be presented to the two kind children in the most appropriate way.
-
the other side.

Smallwell High School
The afternoon sun shone through the tall trees, casting dappled light on the grass.

Clark pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and ate his sandwich somewhat awkwardly.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating the girl's delicate, fair skin beside him. He took a slight breath, yet it seemed as if the air itself was filled with her faint lavender scent.

"Lana, could you please stop staring at me?"

Clark felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Taking a small bite of her sandwich, Lana raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Why are you suddenly wearing glasses? Clark, are you nearsighted?"

"It's nothing, it's just that my uncle said wearing these will be very useful for me in the future." Clark scratched his head. "Actually, I don't know why. But it seems that after I put on these glasses, some people didn't recognize me. Even Pete took a while to recognize me, but Chloe was fine, she recognized me at a glance."

"We laughed at Pete for a long time, but after he dragged me around asking around, we realized it might actually be true."

"Really?" Lana tilted her head, her gaze becoming more focused. "But you seem the same as before, except there's something a little strange with those glasses on. You seem gentler than before, Clark."

Before she could finish speaking, she gently bit her lip and suddenly changed the subject.

"Clark, why didn't you eat with Chloe and the others in the school newsroom today?"

It's worth noting that Clark usually spends most of his time in the school magazine room and rarely appears alone in some corner of the campus during lunchtime.

Clark swallowed the milk in his mouth, nodded, and said with a hint of helplessness in his voice:
"The school magazine office is under electrical maintenance today and is completely closed."

"Not only me, an 'unofficial member' of the rugby team, but also Chloe and Pete, the main players, were kicked out and had to find their own way to resolve the issue."

Lana nodded knowingly, a knowing smile spreading across her lips.

She leaned forward slightly and changed the subject to a lighter one: "So, how are your family's preparations for spring planting going this year?"

When this was mentioned, a barely perceptible hint of worry flashed in Clark's eyes.

He put down the milk carton, somewhat puzzled: "This year is a little different."

“In previous years, Uncle Locke and Dad would always wait until the weekend, until Dio and I came home, before we started.”

"But this year, my uncle and dad... just started on a weekday."

“Most importantly,” he paused, lowering his voice, “there are so many more fields to deal with this year than before.”

He looked at Lana, trying to help her understand the huge shift in the concept.

“Lana, do you know? Our family’s original farm was only about a hundred acres.”

“But Bruce… those hills he gave us before he left, no, they should be called plains now… According to my uncle’s rough estimate, our family’s farm now probably… is nearly 10,000 acres.”

"Ten thousand mu?!"

Lana was so shocked she almost choked on her bread. Her eyes widened as she repeated incredulously, "My God, Clark, this...this is practically a small kingdom!"

She finally caught her breath, but her curiosity only intensified:
"Bruce? You mean the new friend you mentioned before? The one from Gotham who became Uncle Locke's apprentice?"

“Hmm,” Clark nodded, his tone carrying a complex emotion that he himself couldn’t quite explain. “He…he seems to be the eldest son of the Wayne Group.”

“But you don’t seem very happy?” Lana leaned forward slightly again, her long hair fluttering in the wind, her eyes filled with concern.

“Lana, do you remember Uncle Lionel that I told you about? He used to come and visit often, but as his business grew, his connection with the farm and with us inevitably became distant, and it became difficult to even see him.”

He paused, his gaze drifting into the distance:
"I only managed to meet him once during my last trip to the Metropolis. Bruce, on the other hand, went on a world tour."

“Clark, you can’t think like that.” Lana interrupted his thoughts, blinking her eyes firmly. “Look at Lex, isn’t he also a rich kid born with a silver spoon in his mouth? But your relationship since childhood, all these years, hasn’t it never changed, it’s still so good?”

“Lex… he’s not like his dad.”

Upon hearing this, Clark scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly, a helpless smile appearing on his lips, as he tried to explain, "He truly loves... farm work."

This simple and unadorned summary reveals the most sincere understanding of a friend.

Covering her mouth, Lana burst into a clear laugh at Clark's words, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Clark looked at Lana, who was laughing happily, and couldn't help but laugh along with her.

After the two had finished laughing, there was hardly any time left for their lunch break.

Clark carefully collected the empty milk carton and sandwich wrapper, got up and threw them into the nearby trash can, and said to Lana, "The football team has a new coach, and I heard he's quite strict. Someone just notified me to go to his office."

Lana nodded in understanding.

As she watched Clark stand up, the sunlight highlighting his increasingly tall and broad shoulders, she hesitated for a moment before softly adding, "Clark... don't overwork yourself. Even though you're the captain now and have more responsibility, you've only recently taken over. There are many things you don't have to shoulder alone..."

"Didn't Jason often discuss things with you guys before he transferred schools?"

"It's alright, Lana."

“Now that Jason is gone, I’ll definitely take good care of the football team he left me.” Clark turned around and gave her a bright smile, trying to dispel her worries. “Aren’t you the captain of the cheerleading team too? Leading a team isn’t easy either.”

Lana's pretty face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head somewhat shyly, gently grinding the pebbles on the ground with the tip of her shoe, saying helplessly, "Cheerleading... how can that be the same..."

Seeing her like this, Clark's smile deepened, and he waved to Lana, "Then I'll head over first!" With that, he turned and strode towards the stadium.

Lana stood there, watching Clark's figure gradually disappear into the distance.

A gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her face again.

But as the figure disappeared completely around the corner of the teaching building, the smile on her lips slowly faded, turning into a soft sigh filled with complex emotions.

A gentle breeze rustled through the treetops, carrying the faint sound of whistles from the distant stadium. The girl's thoughts, like dandelion seeds drifting in the air, were light yet filled with unwavering anticipation.

Clark…

When will you finally tell me on your own initiative?

Clark walked a short distance away, but couldn't help turning back to glance in the direction of the bench.

Lana remained seated, her head slightly bowed, her chestnut hair gleaming softly in the sunlight, her profile serene and beautiful.

This caused his heart to beat slightly faster than usual.

Clark could distinguish between these feelings.

For Chloe Sullivan, it was a camaraderie of working side-by-side, a friendship where they could argue heatedly over a topic in the school newspaper office, only to turn around and share a hamburger without a second thought.
They shared secrets, covered for each other, and were each other's most trusted friends.

But for Lana Lang...

It was a completely different feeling.

Like the first tender bud breaking through the soil in spring, carrying with it cautious anticipation.

Like a sudden cool breeze on a summer afternoon, it makes one feel refreshed and relaxed.

Like when I see her smile, I can't help but smile back.

This is a budding flutter of the heart, a hazy yet beautiful attraction.

But every time this beautiful expectation just begins to peek out, it is immediately crushed by the cold reality.

After all, he...

Clark's gaze involuntarily fell on his hands.

His body seemed to possess inexhaustible strength under the sunlight.

Lana is no ordinary high school student.

He's not even human.

The Kryptonians that Mr. Ron mentioned are from there.
This secret acts as an invisible barrier, hindering his communication with all 'normal' people.

Lana was just an ordinary, beautiful Smallville girl.

She deserves a relationship under the sun, free of any shadows, with an ordinary boy she can graduate with and plan for the future together.

Instead of a…

The superhero who shoulders the responsibility of protection, the figure who has recently been frequently featured in the Daily Planet.
—Superman.

With a sigh, Clark gazed deeply in that direction, suppressing the budding excitement deep within his heart.

Turning around, I continued walking towards the stadium.

"Please come in."

Clark gently pushed open the door to the football coach's office, and a scent mixed with disinfectant and the fragrance of wood wafted out.

The afternoon sun slanted in through the gaps in the blinds, casting long, thin golden stripes on the spotless floor.

A middle-aged man in sportswear was carrying a bucket of water and wiping the wall with deft movements. Hearing the door open, he turned around and revealed a face with sharp features and a hearty smile.

"You must be Clark?"

“I have seen your performance in the college league, and you have lived up to your title of ‘captain’.”

The man's voice was loud and clear. He put down the rag in his hand, casually wiped his hands on his trouser leg, and his eyes were filled with undisguised admiration.

Clark looked around in surprise.

The office, which I remember as being covered in dust and piled with old equipment, has now been completely transformed. The walls are as white as snow, the documents on the bookshelves are neatly arranged, and even the air feels fresh and clear.

He had prepared himself to be ordered to clean, but now it felt like he had stepped into a completely new space.

Looking at the middle-aged man with a hearty smile in front of him, Clark's tense nerves quietly relaxed.

The new coach seems to be a very easy person to get along with.
"You must be Asia."

Clark extended his hand, ready to introduce himself.

Yes, I am your new rugby coach.

The middle-aged man smiled and grasped his hand; the hand was warm and strong.

then
"boom!"

He threw a punch without warning!

The punch was fierce, accompanied by the sound of air being torn apart!

"boom--!"

Clark almost instinctively raised his hand and caught the sudden blow.

Their arms were locked in mid-air, their muscles trembling slightly.

"?!"

Clark stared in astonishment, his voice filled with disbelief: "You..."

"Wow, he truly deserves to be called the 'Superman' of the new era!"

The middle-aged man laughed heartily, easily withdrawing his arm, as if the sudden attack was just a harmless joke.

He patted Clark on the shoulder and, under his wary gaze, teased, "Don't be nervous, Mr. Clark."

“I am Adam Black, your football coach.”

"certainly."

You can call me that too.

His voice suddenly lowered, and he said mysteriously:

"comet."

"Comet?" Clark was taken aback. "You're Captain Comet?!"

"Whoo~"

A spring breeze rustled the Venetian blinds.

Sunlight streamed through the area, casting a golden halo over Blake's shoulders.

Let that hearty smile
It also suddenly gained a sense of unfathomable depth.

Clark felt like he was living in a dream.

Superheroes who have been active on Earth for over thirty or even forty years are now here...
Be your own football coach?!

“Don’t be nervous, Mr. Clark.” Black smiled. “Actually, I prefer to be called Comet rather than Captain Comet.”

"Uh-huh."

Clark was still somewhat dazed.

“Really,” Blake shook his head helplessly, casually tossing the rag into the bucket. He walked up to Clark and gently patted him on the shoulder: “Clark, just treat me like your uncle, there’s no need to be so formal.”

"Besides, I'm retired now and not a superhero anymore."

“Okay, Mr. Black.” Clark switched quickly.

Just treat him like an uncle or elder.
He was all too familiar with this.
As the image of Uncle Lionel's always aloof face flashed through his mind, and he compared it to the cheerful coach in front of him, Clark unconsciously relaxed his tense shoulders.

She could chat and laugh with the aloof Uncle Lionel, let alone the seemingly very enthusiastic Mr. Blake.

"Wait? Mr. Blake, you said you're retiring?" Clark asked, puzzled, his brow furrowing slightly.

He remembered seeing news about Captain Comet's activities in the Daily Planet not long ago; those reports were still fresh in his mind.

Why is he suddenly retiring?

"I'm tired, Clark."

Blake sighed softly, walked to the window, and gazed at a distant starry sky as if his gaze had traveled through time and space. "Before I was a superhero, I was a human being."

"This is also my personal advice to superheroes."

"Never forget the little joys in everyday life, hahaha."

He turned around, sunlight dancing on his slightly graying hair, his smile carrying a sense of relief after experiencing the vicissitudes of life.

“After all, there are quite a few new heroes emerging on Earth now, aren’t there? Take Superman for example,” he deliberately dragged out the last syllable, a sly glint in his eyes, “I’m often compared to that guy. According to the Daily Planet’s debate section, my chances of winning have dropped to 60%.”

Clark smiled sheepishly, then felt a pang of guilt: "Mr. Black, could it be..."

"No, no, Clark, don't think like that."

Blake waved his hands hastily, his movements appearing somewhat flustered.

“Temporary retirement. Temporary.” He picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and said with a touch of emotion, “I just came out of a galactic conflict, assisting our ally Lann in the Vega system to fight against the invasion of Sanagara.”

"That war exhausted me and consumed a lot of my time, so now..."

You can think of it as temporarily retiring for a period of time.

"After all, this is my hometown."

He laughed and said, "Don't let my appearance fool you, I was actually a Kansas guy back in the day."

"So Ron arranged for me to come to my hometown to be a football coach. He said it would be a good opportunity for him to keep an eye on you and give you some advice on superhero operations, Clark."

“For example.”

"You need a suit of armor now."

(End of this chapter)