A prince from a certain American comic book

Nick, undeterred, said, "There's no need for a lawsuit; we can settle this privately."

Ike looked up, a slight change in his expression.

Nick glanced at Claire sitting next to Ike, then looked at Ike and said, "The county hospital and the county police department are willing to compensate you with $500,000."

At this time, the average annual income is only $30,000. The US dollar is still quite strong these days.

Nick thought $500,000 was a reasonable price, but Ike shook his head immediately after hearing him say that.

Ike said, "Not enough."

Nick frowned and asked, "...Why?"

Ike looked up at Claire and asked as if asking a question, "Claire, the therapist suggested that I interact more with the outside world, as it would be good for my condition."

Claire nodded and said, "Yes."

Ike then looked at Nick and said, "So this isn't enough. I need to buy a house, take my driver's test next year, pay for my school fees, and go to college. Five hundred thousand is simply not enough."

Nick's mouth dropped open: "You've thought of all this?"

Ike nodded matter-of-factly and said, "Of course, I just have a mental block. I'm not stupid; I need to plan for my future."

Nick couldn't help but look at Claire.

Claire made an apologetic gesture, indicating that she couldn't help him.

Nick was silent for a moment before asking, "How much do you need?"

Ike didn't answer the question, but instead asked Claire, "Claire, may I apply for independence?"

Claire frowned.

Applying for independence?

Just as Claire was about to say no.

“I don’t feel comfortable giving this money to any family I’m not related to by blood,” Ike continued, looking at Claire. “I want Claire to be my supervisor, so I can live independently under your supervision.”

Claire frowned slightly and asked, "How do you know all this?"

Having anticipated this, Ike pointed to the thick stack of books on the bedside table and revealed a bright smile.

Claire remained silent.

These books about child protection agencies and other kinds of books were what she had found for Ike in the past few days. At the time, she was worried that Ike wouldn't understand them, but now it's clear that if Ike hadn't experienced these events, he would have been a remarkable genius, perhaps comparable to Tony Stark, who earned his MIT degree at the age of fifteen three years ago.

quite a while.

Seeing the bright smile on Ike's face, Claire, touched by something within her, looked at Nick and said in a very firm tone, "Two million. This is Ike's demand. If he doesn't agree, then we'll have to fight for it in court."

Nick was completely dumbfounded.

Even Ike's radiant face showed a hint of surprise.

At the same time, a sense of guilt suddenly arose in my heart.

Without him.

Although he was indeed a tragic boy who experienced two terrifying events to some extent, this does not change the fact that he was a liar.

...I want to chat with more like-minded people about "The Prince of a Certain American Comic Book"~

Chapter 031: Settling Down in Baltimore (Seeking Recommendations)

It only lasted a second.

Once that second had passed, Ike felt relieved.

Without him.

In the life of a great king, there will inevitably be one or two lies he tells for some reason; this is unavoidable.

This is a precedent.

Honesty has never belonged to any great king.

quite a while.

Nick and Claire walked out of the ward. Through the window, Ike could see Claire having a heated, quiet debate with Nick.

I will make up for this lie in the future.

Ike looked at Claire, who stood firmly on his side, and thought to himself.

Lies may accompany a king, but after a lie, a great king will find a way to make amends...

Ten minutes later.

Nick left directly, and Claire, who entered the ward, smiled at Ike for a moment before saying, "So, little guy, now we should talk about where you want to go for high school."

Ike was taken aback.

and many more.

Go to high school?

what's the situation?

He simply felt that 500,000 was not enough for his starting capital, and that was just an excuse he made up to ask for more.

The heir to a great kingdom in the previous extraordinary world came to the ordinary world to attend high school?

Are you out of your mind?

But Claire, seeing Ike's stunned expression, continued with a smile, "One million dollars. This is their compensation. In addition, your high school tuition will be paid directly to the school. If you can get into university, they will continue to pay your university tuition and your monthly living expenses of five hundred dollars."

Ike kept blinking.

Jerry the mouse, who was hiding nearby and perched on Talking Tom's head, was covering his mouth, trying hard not to laugh out loud...

Talking Tom, on the other hand, makes a silly, blank expression on his face.

It is clear.

This time, although their master Ike's plan was going according to the script, it completely deviated from the original track and crashed in the final stage.

Two months later.

After a psychotherapist assessed Ike, his request for independence was denied because he did not meet the mandatory age requirement of sixteen. However, the Maryland Juvenile Court made a humane ruling, taking into account the therapist's assessment, Ike's personal wishes, and his current financial situation.

Although Ike is not able to support himself, he can live and study under the care of a court-appointed guardian, Ms. Claire Hale.

And, accompanied by a commissioner from the Juvenile Court, Stark Bank’s Maryland branch delivered a bank card registered under Ike’s name.

Before Ike turns eighteen, he must be accompanied by his guardian, Ms. Claire Hale, and a child protection agency employee must sign off before he can withdraw the required amount from Stark Bank…

On the way to Baltimore, Ike, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at Claire driving and continued, "Claire, I actually think that homeschooling is a good choice for me right now."

Ike really had no interest in going to high school.

Playing house with a bunch of little kids?

Or should I let my restlessness run wild during high school?

just forget it.

Explain using lies and the truth.

The lie is that the Seven Dragons... ptooey, the Seven Gems haven't been obtained yet, and his own sister hasn't been returned to him. How can he have a home?

As for telling the truth, Ike felt a little guilty.

Without him.

In a sense, Ike was already engaged to Count Dracula's daughter, Mavis, but they hadn't gotten married because Mavis was still a minor. Otherwise, Ike felt that based on his understanding of his sister Elsa, he would have married Mavis on the very night of their engagement.

The legal age of adulthood for vampires is 118.

Yes.

Ike was worried that if he were in the middle of something intimate with someone else, what if a little bat suddenly appeared and smiled at him with its chilling vampire fangs...?

At this thought, Ike couldn't help but shudder.

Claire, who was driving, glanced at Ike, who seemed to be shivering, and tested the car's air conditioning, saying, "The temperature is alright."

Ike smiled and changed the subject, saying, "Claire, what do you think? Accepting modern family education."

Claire said casually, "Not very good."

Ike pressed on, "Why?"

Claire glanced at Ike and said quietly, "Because homeschooling is illegal in Maryland."

Ike, feeling a headache coming on, asked, "Can I go to another state to receive homeschooling?"

Claire shook her head again and said, "No, if you go to another state, you will be taken over by the child protection agencies in that state again."

Ike was speechless.

next second.

Ike couldn't help but complain about the local laws. Take family education, for example. It's legal in all states except Maryland, but it's not legal in Maryland.

And then there's Ike's verdict.

He's well-regarded in Maryland, but what about in other states?

If there are conflicts among the FBI's state offices, what about child protection agencies with even greater jurisdiction?

That's ridiculous.

The most fundamental reason for this involves historical issues between the continent and the federation.

He paused for a moment.

Claire smiled at Ike, whose expression had contorted, and said, "You should be glad that the Quaker School is the only one that was willing to give you a separate entrance exam after hearing about what happened to you."

Ike said dejectedly, "I thank his whole family."

Claire burst out laughing.

Tom the cat, lying in the back seat of the car, also had a slight smile on his cat face. He looked at Jerry the mouse, who was sleeping with his head on his belly, and his teeth were itching to bite...

After half an hour.

As rows of houses flashed by on both sides of the road, Ike, who had once traveled to Baltimore on his way to the origin of Earth, knew that this was Baltimore.