"Welcome, Eric!"
Seeing Eric enter, Lionel rose and shook Eric's hand.
"I know your parents have some prejudice against me, so I'm a bit surprised you're able to put aside your differences and meet with me. However… it's not a surprised surprise, but a surprised recognition."
Lionel showcased his social skills, "Lex said you're a genius, no doubt. But essentially, we are the same kind of people. I can feel it, and that's why I said 'recognition'."
Facing Lionel's "praise," Eric showed no expression.
He was somewhat annoyed by the other party's repeated requests for a meeting, which was why he reluctantly came to the Luthor Tower in Metropolis, wanting to see what this old man was up to.
"If you called me here to say these things, I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor, I don't think it was worth my special trip."
Eric said with an unfriendly tone.
He was never keen on dealing with old foxes like Lionel.
He was afraid his patience would run out, leading him to impulsively tear off the mask and physically eliminate the other party.
"Of course not. We have a broader, ocean-like space for conversation, but before that, a little wading is necessary. Since you don't like it, let's get straight to the point, Eric. I hope you can help me find Lex."
Lionel stated his purpose.
"Why are you so sure I can do it? Isn't Lex already dead?"
"Because I believe in the power of the spirit!"
Lionel walked to the window, pointing at the tall buildings outside, and said, "Our vision can be blocked by these tall buildings, but the power of the spirit cannot. No matter how far the obstruction, spiritual power will penetrate these ordinary coverings."
He then turned to face Eric, "Before Lex had his accident, he greatly admired your spirit. He believed that a person with a barren spiritual world could never write such a vast world, and at times, his spirit even connected to your works. At first, I thought this was nonsense."
Lionel walked over to Eric and looked directly into his eyes, "Until something like 'Slumber Day' happened, and many people claimed to have seen beings from your books, I thought perhaps Lex wasn't lying. Perhaps you truly are an unblinking sun!"
Seeing Eric remain silent, Lionel returned to his executive chair, an expression of being in control on his face.
"Lex's plane crashed, and I have sufficient reason to suspect he's still alive. That woman Helen's words are not credible, but I believe one thing: she wouldn't dare to directly harm Lex."
Lionel said to Eric, "If you can bring Lex back, I'll help you deal with the media and the FBI. You know, you've already attracted the attention of certain forces, and these people are not easy to deal with. A slight misstep, and they could get a hold of something on you."
"And I can help you, help you resist their harassment. You know that besides being a reviled capitalist, I'm also a businessman skilled at cultivating relationships. You bring Lex back, and I provide shelter for Kent Farm. A very fair trade, wouldn't you say?"
"Of course."
Eric was silent for a moment.
Then he walked in front of Lionel, "It sounds like a fair deal, and I have sufficient reason to agree, but—"
Eric changed his tone, "I highly doubt your intentions, Mr. Luthor."
"What?"
As he spoke, he reached out and pressed down on Lionel's right hand, "To prevent your vigorous curiosity from prying into my family, I need to give you a small warning."
The Star Scepter he carried provided Eric with a burst of energy.
He gripped this energy in his hand, then transferred it up Lionel's arm.
Lionel instantly felt a warm current flow from his arm throughout his body.
He didn't feel comfortable from this warmth; instead, there was a stinging sensation.
"What is this?"
The Metropolis business tycoon no longer had his previous composure and confidence, a look of horror on his face.
The energy flowed with the blood circulation in his body, reaching his upper body, and finally settling in his eyes.
Lionel immediately felt his vision go black, completely dark, unable to see anything!
Frantically waving his hands in front of his eyes, Lionel stood up and shouted at Eric, "What have you done to me?!"
"Didn't you say I was an unblinking sun? The consequence of staring at the sun is blindness."
Eric glanced at Lionel, who was stumbling forward like a blind man with outstretched hands.
"Our deal is still valid. When Lex Luthor returns, that's when your eyes will regain their sight."
After speaking, he turned and left.
"Mr. Luthor, you'd best pray your luck is good enough."
"You—what have you done to me?! My eyes!"
Stumbling forward, Lionel roared at Eric, "Come back! You cannot do this to me!"
As he fumbled his way forward, he accidentally bumped into a trash can in the room, and Lionel fell to the floor with a thud.
His expensive suit, which he was wearing, was torn, making a crisp ripping sound, half-ripped open.
Falling to the ground unexpectedly, Lionel let out a painful groan.
Meanwhile, Eric had already left the Luther Enterprise Group Building.
"Are you sure you weren't mistaken, Martha?"
After breakfast, Jonathan and Martha were whispering in the living room.
"Yes, it just happened, in the bathroom."
Martha touched her increasingly prominent belly, "Although it seems a bit unbelievable."
"I called Chloe, and Louise is indeed her cousin, from a prominent family."
Jonathan had just returned from stacking corn stalks in the barn. After wiping his sweat, he said to Martha.
"A prominent family?"
Martha's eyebrows furrowed slightly, "What kind of prominent family? Wealthy or a senator? That doesn't seem to fit her—"
Martha was about to say "wild," but quickly changed her words.
"It doesn't seem to fit her family upbringing."
"Perhaps, but every family's upbringing is different. Louise's father is a general in the Department of Defense."
Jonathan said something that astonished Martha.
"A general?"
"Yes, a three-star general. Chloe told me."
"Hey, Mr. Kent, Mrs. Kent."
As the two were talking, the voice of the person they were discussing—Louise—came from behind them.
"Thank you for your warm hospitality, I must go."
Louise, dressed in jeans and a white shirt, stood before them. "Although I'm a bit reluctant to leave the family life here, I really must go. My car wasn't too badly damaged, so the insurance company reimbursed me, well, probably the least amount of money I've ever received since buying a car. As compensation, they can give me a free ride back in a Porsche."
"Is that so?"
Having been caught discussing someone behind their back, Martha said somewhat guiltily, "You can have lunch here before you go."
"Next time, Mrs. Kent, I'll be back."
Louise said with a smile.
Hearing her say she would return, Martha and Jonathan exchanged glances.
"After taking care of some things at home, I'll be staying at Chloe's for a while, so I'll inevitably bother you then."
"Ah, oh, it's time, I have to go. Sorry, Mr. Kent, Mrs. Kent."
After saying goodbye to them, Louise turned and left.
"Clark."
Martha said to Clark, who was standing nearby, "You should be more of a gentleman and see Louise off."
Clark nodded beside her.
His initial impression of Louise wasn't very good.
Compared to such a strong, opinionated, and difficult-to-control girl, he preferred Lana, a girl with a gentle and serene personality.
"Do you need me to drive you, Miss Lane?"
After stepping outside, Clark asked Louise.
"No need, farm boy. After a night's rest and applying some of the ointment you generously provided, my right foot is recovering quickly. I believe my feet can handle this distance."
Louise shrugged, declining his offer.
"Farm boy, huh?"
Clark was a bit bothered by her calling him that.
"While the two words individually sound lovely, when combined, they give a rather unpleasant feeling."
Listening to Clark's slightly resentful tone, Louise's lips curved into a smile.
"Sorry, Clark, my words were abrupt just now. Actually, I often hear Chloe talk about you, a young man full of mystery."
Louise smiled at Clark, "And you're 100% likely to disappear at important events, like dates, weddings, holiday celebrations—the kind of person who seems to bear the heavy responsibility of saving the world."
"Is that so?"
Clark suddenly felt that the other person wasn't as annoying as he had imagined, and replied, "I've also heard Chloe talk about you."
"Oh really? What did she say about me?"
Louise asked with interest.
"Two labels: alcohol, and not tolerating awkward atmospheres."
"Very accurate!"
Louise nodded, feeling that her cousin understood her very well.
"But you don't know why I like to drink, or why I can't stand awkward atmospheres."
Louise smiled at Clark, "By the way, where's your brother, Eric?"
"He—"
Clark hesitated for a moment, then said, "I don't know, he's often busy with his own things."
"Hmm, it seems you're not close enough to share secrets, brothers."
Louise pulled a business card from her pocket and handed it to Clark, "I heard you're very interested in a career in journalism. If you want to clear up some confusion on your career path, perhaps I can help."
Clark took the business card from her hand, and the roar of a car engine came from a distance.
Hearing the familiar engine sound, Clark instantly identified the car's owner—Chloe.
"Louise, if you stumbled into Kent Farm by accident, I have sufficient reason to suspect you had it planned all along."
Chloe got out of the car and complained to her cousin.
"Is that so?"
"I can't control whether a devil or an angel falls from the sky."
Louise smiled and stepped forward, and the two women embraced intimately.
Holding Chloe, Louise looked up.
The slightly dazzling sunlight hit her eyes.
A halo formed in her vision, and the blinding sun made her squint.
In a trance, she seemed to see a dark figure slowly descending from the sky again.
Thump!
Under the midday sun, Eric slowly descended from the sky.
His feet landed on the hard sand, looking at the bare island in the ocean.
Eric had already used his Super Vision to search the islands near Lex Luthor's plane's flight path.
He hadn't found Lex's figure.
To find the other party, he had to expand the search area.
The island before him was the first island he found after expanding the search area.
After confirming traces of human life on the island, he descended from the sky and looked towards the other end of the beach.
On the distant beach, a "savage" with a beard longer than his hair was using a rope to drag a wooden raft he had built on the beach, pulling with all his might towards the water.
The simple wooden boat, formed by large trees gathered together, weighed more than an ordinary person could bear.
But the "savage" seemed not to feel the weight, step by step using the rope to drag it towards the seawater.
As he dragged, he cheered himself on.
"You can do it, Oliver! This is your only chance, your only chance, to no longer be hunted by those terrorists, to end everything! Take advantage of the high tide, and you can sail away from this godforsaken place!"
The "savage," who was Oliver, whispered words of encouragement to himself.
Although the sound was very faint, it was still heard by Eric, who possessed Super Hearing.
"Oliver Queen?"
Eric truly hadn't expected to encounter Green Arrow on a deserted island.
According to what he knew, due to Malcolm Merlyn's scheme, billionaire Oliver Queen would be stranded on a deserted island for five years, undergoing intense mental and physical tempering, which would eventually turn him into the Green Arrow.
He had thought Malcolm hadn't made his move yet, but it turned out the billionaire had already begun his island survival.
Seeing that Oliver had a chance to sail away, Eric, upholding the spirit of "helping others," shot a beam of Heat Vision from his eyes towards the raft Oliver was pulling.
Using all his strength, Oliver pulled the raft to the seashore. Before he could even catch his breath, he suddenly realized the boat was on fire!
Fierce flames burned on the wood, and the scorching heat almost ignited his beard.
"F*ck!"
Although he didn't know why the wood spontaneously combusted, Oliver instantly realized that his painstakingly planned escape attempt might be ruined!
He rushed to the beach in a panic, ready to put out the fire with water, but found he had no tools to scoop water.
Filled with disappointment and anger, Oliver punched the seawater hard.
"F*ck!"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"