American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 253 Superman! Why did you do that!

In the heart of the storm-ravaged sea.

Clark steadily lifted the massive three-story yacht with one hand, preparing to find a relatively safe area to lower it down and then try to control the armed personnel on board to get some answers.

However, just as he was about to make a move...
A deafening roar, far more muffled yet terrifying than the previous missile explosion, suddenly erupted from his hand!
"boom--!!!!"

Scorching flames, mixed with twisted metal fragments and unidentified objects, burst forth amidst the raging wind and rain, instantly engulfing the entire ship!
The shockwave from the explosion brought an almost offensive tremor, even to Clark.

His arms tightened instinctively, as if trying to grasp something, but all that flowed through his fingers were the scorching, scattering debris.

"Do not--!"

A low growl erupted from the depths of his throat, and in a fraction of a second, the astonishment in his azure eyes was replaced by scorching flames.

His first reaction was to rush into the flames and smoke of the explosion, using his super speed to rescue as many survivors as possible from this sudden destruction!
But as soon as he moved, a hand wrapped in comet energy pressed down on his shoulder.

That power wasn't enough to truly stop him, but...
"Clark, stop..."

Blake's voice rang in his ears, unusually calm.

Clark whirled around to look at his mentor, who had appeared beside him seemingly out of nowhere, his eyes filled with bewilderment: "Mr. Black! They might still be..."

"When you lift this yacht."

Blake interrupted him, his gaze sweeping over the burning debris as it plunged into the surging waves, and said with certainty, "The people inside are already dead."

"what?!"

Clark was struck dumb, his mind went blank. "How is this possible? I clearly..."

He carefully enveloped and stabilized the entire ship with his bio-force field, ensuring that his lifting would not cause any additional damage to the internal structure.

Even his exceptional hearing failed to detect a large-scale decline in vital signs...

Blake pointed to the strange metal fragments still burning on the surface of the sea and some unnatural charred marks: "Look at those wreckage, Clark."

"This is no ordinary explosion."

"This is a... built-in cleanup program."

"The energy core was activated remotely, and the explosion spread instantly from the core area. The power was so concentrated and thorough that it was intended to ensure that no one was left alive and to destroy all evidence."

He paused, looking at Clark's still incredulous face, and added:
"even."

"And magic."

"The moment you make contact with the hull and lift it out of the water."

"The fate of those inside, whether they are there voluntarily or forced, is sealed at that moment. You cannot save them."

"Their life signals were cut off remotely."

Clark looked in the direction Blake pointed, his superhuman vision piercing through the rain and black smoke, clearly seeing the unnatural melting marks on the fragments, and...
Some tiny tissues that have been carbonized and are completely unrecognizable.

There were no signs of screams or struggles.
Only swift and devastating annihilation.

A chill ran through Clark's heart, more piercing than the icy seawater.

He froze in mid-air, watching helplessly as the burning wreckage of the yacht was swallowed and scattered by the giant waves.

He thought he was saving people, but instead he caused the deaths of another group.
Although he knew these people were also villains and pests, he still had this feeling.
It still made him feel nauseous and angry.

“This isn’t your fault, Clark.” Blake patted him on the shoulder, his voice softening but still serious: “It’s the person who orchestrated all this who’s too vicious.”

"But you need to remember this lesson."

"Some darkness, in its traps, cleverly includes your power in its calculations."

Clark hovered in the torrential rain, looking down at the dark ocean below that had swallowed life and secrets, and clenched his fists tightly.

The red and blue battle suits, illuminated by the embers of the explosion and the lightning on the horizon, were tinged with a heavy shadow for the first time.

He held up the hope of salvation, but instead triggered the execution switch with his own hands.

He saved the people on the motorboat, but it seems to have indirectly led to the deaths of another group of people.

This was not the ending he wanted.

The sixth group's motorboat looked like a tired shark.

Silently slipping into a secluded dock in the metropolis, even more dimly lit during the power outage.

The group quickly went ashore, their soaked clothes clinging to their bodies, shivering slightly in the salty, fishy wind. They just wanted to find a safe house to rest as soon as possible.

"and many more."

Standing on the damp wooden dock, John Lynch raised his hand to stop everyone from leaving immediately.

Although the team members were puzzled, they remained where they were because of their trust in their commander.

On the dock, only the monotonous sounds of rain pattering against the wooden planks and waves crashing against the piles could be heard.

But in the very next moment...
Two figures, one in red and one in blue, landed silently not far in front of them.

Lynch seemed to have anticipated this.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind, and put on a perfectly timed smile. He took a few steps forward and extended his hand to Blake:

"Captain...it's been a long time."

Blake looked at the capable former agent in front of him, a slightly sentimental smile appearing on his face. He reached out and shook hands with him firmly: "Long time no see, Lynch."

"I never expected to see you here."

“I was surprised too.” John Lynch nodded, his tone carrying the familiarity of an old acquaintance reuniting. “Since we parted ways after the Apollo incident.”

"I haven't seen you active at the Justice Society headquarters for many years... I heard you just returned from the front lines on Planet Lann?"

Blake shrugged, cometary energy flowing through his movements, his tone carrying a hint of retirement languor: "It's been a long time since I've been back. The changes on Earth are always astonishing."

"But I'm semi-retired now, enjoying life and mentoring new people."

He glanced meaningfully at Clark beside him, then returned his gaze to Lynch, saying with a hint of mockery, "But you, Lynch, why did your helpline end up calling this old man?"

Lin Qi helplessly shrugged, his expression innocent: "It was probably an automatic dispatch by the DEO's emergency response system, and the priority was directly linked to your encrypted channel, a veteran hero."

"I suspect the guys in the old department who were responsible for updating the lists are still slacking off and haven't removed you from the 'emergency contact' list in time..."

"Yeah…"

Lin Qi seemed to be making a casual joke, but Blake's eyes deepened slightly. "I didn't expect that after you joined ARGUS, you would be so... knowledgeable about the internal work processes of DEO."

Lin Qi's smile remained unchanged. He neither admitted nor denied it, but cleverly changed the subject, turning to Blake and introducing them: "These are my current partners, members of the Sky Eye Society's Sixth Action Group."

Then he turned to the team members behind him, whose expressions varied, and said with obvious admiration, "Everyone, this is Captain Comet, Mr. Adam Black."

"I think I don't need to elaborate on his reputation and achievements in the Justice Society, do I?"

Everyone nodded.

Cole immediately dropped his nonchalant demeanor, his eyes filled with curiosity and excitement for the legendary figure.

Fairchild nodded slightly, still showing a degree of respect for this hero of the last century.

Wilson scanned Blake and Clark back and forth, lingering particularly long on Clark as if assessing something.
In the end, he only nodded almost imperceptibly, as if to say hello.

Blake smiled kindly at the members of Group Six; his gentle demeanor, tempered by interstellar warfare, easily won over these soldiers.

But he didn't waste any time on pleasantries, his gaze quickly returning to Lin Qi, his tone turning serious: "Lin Qi, let's put aside the pleasantries for now. What happened to you in Gotham?"

Why was that yacht chasing you?

"Also, what happened with the explosion at sea? We need to share intelligence."

John Lynch still wore that impeccable smile, and casually replied, "Captain, you know the rules too."

"Many of the details of the missions of the Tianyan Society are 'need-to-know' on a 'need-to-know' basis."

“Even the DEO has no right to arbitrarily obtain information from me, let alone... you, who are just an honorary member of the Justice Association.”

“We were just conducting a routine investigation in Gotham, and unfortunately, our whereabouts were exposed, which attracted some…not-so-friendly repercussions.”

He downplayed the issue, obscuring the key information.

They never mentioned Black Diamond, USB drives, or Arkham.

Blake frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. Just as he was about to press for more information, Lynch subtly gave him a wink.

Having already received the signal, Cole immediately jumped out, his face beaming with excitement at seeing his idol. He practically pounced on Blake: "Captain Comet! It really is you! I've heard your stories since I was a kid! Is it true that you single-handedly took on the space pirates in Venus's orbit? Can I get your autograph?"

He chattered on and on, his enthusiasm was almost overwhelming.

At the same time, Fairchild and Lance stepped forward in unison, standing casually on either side of Blake, and cleverly entangled him by asking him tactical questions and discussing the current chaotic situation in Metropolis.

For a moment, Blake was truly unable to extricate himself from scrutinizing the loopholes in Lynch's words. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the moment when his team members were engulfing Blake with their enthusiastic enthusiasm, Lynch turned and walked towards the red and blue figure on the dock who had remained somewhat silent throughout.

A grateful smile appeared on his face as he extended his hand to Clark:
"Hello, Mr. Superman."

“I am John Lynch. We were just at sea when you intervened in time, which saved us from danger. Thank you very much for your help.”

Clark's thoughts were pulled back to reality. He looked at the capable-looking man in front of him. Although his mood was still heavy, he maintained basic politeness, extended his hand to shake his hand gently, and said in a gentle voice, "Hello, Mr. Lynch. You're welcome. It's what I should do."

however……

No one expected it.

Immediately after shaking hands, Lin Qi's smile vanished, and his tone suddenly became sharp, carrying an undisguised accusation:

"So, Superman!"

"Why did you deliberately sabotage that yacht and kill all the prisoners on board?!"

These words were like a thunderclap out of nowhere, not only freezing Clark in place, but also causing Cole and the others who were 'entangled' with Blake not far away to instinctively stop what they were doing and look over in astonishment.

The already delicate atmosphere on the dock suddenly plummeted to freezing point.

Cole opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately kept it closed.

Fairchild frowned, Lance pursed his lips, and Dean silently looked away.

Although they didn't know why their commander had suddenly turned on them, their long-standing camaraderie and natural instincts led them to subconsciously choose to stand on Lynch's side, even though they all felt somewhat guilty towards the 'Superman' who had just saved them.

Clark, who was directly accused
He could hardly believe his ears! He risked his life to come to the rescue, being extremely careful not to harm the innocent, only to end up bearing such a stigma?

A surge of heat, a mixture of absurdity and anger, followed.

He clenched his fist.
Anger ignited in those blue eyes that were always filled with gentleness and determination.
But more than anything, he felt a suffocating sense of injustice.

"Mr. Lynch, what are you saying?!"

Clark's voice rose slightly with excitement, but he still tried to remain composed, speaking rapidly as he attempted to lay out the truth: "I lifted the yacht to stop it from hitting your boat!"

"The explosion occurred inside the yacht; it was a self-destruct sequence! Mr. Blake can testify to that! I tried to stop it, but it was too late! I didn't..."

"Alright, Mr. Superman."

Lin Qi suddenly interrupted him, the sharp look on his face vanishing as if by magic, replaced by an apologetic smile, as if the heavy accusation he had just made was merely a casual question. "I understand."

"I'm sorry, I was probably too nervous, that was my mistake."

"boom--!"

A powerful punch landed squarely on Lin Qi's face.

The force was so great that he staggered and fell to the ground.

His second half of the sentence was abruptly cut off, leaving only a muffled groan.

Everyone was stunned!

The one who made the move was none other than Captain Comet, who had just been benevolent and friendly.
Adam Black!
He stood there, the lingering force of the impact still present in his fist as he retracted it.

That gentle face was now as cold as ice, and the anger in his eyes was more intense and primal than Clark's, like a lion whose scales had been touched.

Cole and the others could hardly believe their eyes. They instinctively gripped their weapons, yet dared not actually point them at the legendary hero.

After all, until this moment
Only then did everyone remember
This person is only found in cold, hard archives.
He was a man who single-handedly fought an entire interstellar legion in outer space on the planet Lann.
Even more remarkably, during the earth-shattering Apollo missions of the last century, he single-handedly destroyed the Asturian's main spaceship, which was stationed on the far side of the moon.
The strongest hero on Earth at the time, Captain Comet—Adam Black!

Seeing that no one was saying anything, Blake slowly withdrew his fist and flicked his wrist, as if he had just hit a hard rock instead of a person's face.

His usual gentle smile returned to his face.

He twisted his neck, making a slight clicking sound.

His gaze was fixed on Lin Qi, who was covering his face and looking both shocked and angry.

"You've got a really tough skin, Lin Qi..."

Blake's voice wasn't loud, but it carried undisguised sarcasm: "It seems that what you learn at ARGUS isn't just how to talk."

He took a step forward, and the gentle flow of cometary energy around him completely subsided.

Instead, it exudes the aura of someone who has been through countless battles.

"Want to come?" He beckoned to Lin Qi with his finger, his tone calm but full of absolute confidence. "Let's spar. I won't use comet energy."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Lynch and the tense team members behind him, before adding, his tone carrying an almost contemptuous generosity:

"Whatever you say... go ahead."

“Psychokinesis, firearms, or whatever tricks you’ve learned from DEO or ARGUS… whatever you want.”

"you…!"

The color drained from Lin Qi's face, turning into an unsightly ashen blue.

The veins on his hands, which were covering his face, bulged from the force he was using.

He had envisioned countless possible confrontations.
Verbal clashes, power struggles, and even intelligence battles.
But he never expected that Blake would be so disregardful of his status, resorting to the most primitive and ruthless methods to trample his dignity underfoot!
Doesn't this guy care at all about his 'heroic' image and the potential consequences?!
This completely unconventional approach disrupted all his rhythm.

The fierce wind at the dock whipped up salty, fishy vapor that slapped hard against Lin Qi's face, chilling him to the bone, just like the chaotic and turbulent state of his heart.

He stared intently at Blake, his eyes flashing intensely as he weighed the pros and cons.

Hands-on?

He had no doubt that even without using superpowers, Black, a veteran hero who had fought for many years on interstellar battlefields and Earth's most dangerous front lines, possessed enough pure fighting skills and combat instincts to overwhelm him.

He has only brought shame upon himself.

Can we just not take action? Then we'll lose face.
Retirement is coming soon?!

Silence stretched between them, making each second feel exceptionally long.

Finally, Lin Qi lowered his hands from his face.

The clear fist mark on his cheek and the slightly swollen corner of his mouth were particularly jarring.

He didn't say anything, and turned to leave.

The members of the sixth group looked at each other, but eventually caught up quickly and disappeared into the shadows of the dock, even more silent than when they arrived.

Clark stood there, somewhat at a loss.
To be honest, Mr. Blake's punch...
That felt so satisfying!
but.
"Boy."

A voice, like that of someone steeped in aged whiskey, rang out beside him.

Clark turned around in surprise and met the white-haired, one-eyed warrior who had been silent all along.

"Are you Mr. Wilson?"

he asked tentatively.

If I remember correctly
Those people just now called him Wilson.
The old man didn't respond immediately, but instead looked Clark up and down with his one eye before raising his hand and patting his sturdy shoulder.

"Thank you for saving me. In return, I'll give you a piece of advice..."

"Remember this feeling."

"When you choose to stand in the light, be prepared..."

"Shadows will pounce on you from every unexpected angle."

"They don't care who you are, they don't care about the truth, they don't care what you've done."

"They only care whether you can be used, or... whether you need to be smeared."

"Also, there's no need to feel guilty," he concluded. "Even if you did blow up that yacht, killing for a legitimate reason... is perfectly justified."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man turned and followed the departing group without lingering.
Clark stood there, stunned.

These words pierced his heart more deeply than any words of comfort or encouragement.

For the first time, he realized with such clarity that becoming a superman meant facing far more than just physical threats and disasters.

"Don't take those kinds of people's words to heart, Clark."

"Some trash can't be reasoned with; sometimes you have to let them experience the taste of physical awakening."

"."

"All right."

Looking at Clark's bewildered young profile, Blake sighed softly in his heart, a hint of helplessness in his smile. "Now you should understand a little better, right, Clark?"

"This path is much more complicated than you imagine."

(End of this chapter)