Chapter 286: The Exhibition Begins!
The Quiet Confrontation
Lex Luthor, driving a luxury car and accompanied by a beauty, looked the very picture of a man who had won at life, yet he showed no sign of joy. His bald head gleamed brightly, like an oversized lightbulb. No one present dared to show any sign of mockery, as the aura emanating from him was too intense.
He strode in like a lion surveying his territory on the African savanna. Whether he was naturally incapable of smiling or simply too rigid, he only managed a polite formality when he reached Luke.
"I am very interested in the exhibition, but I don't have an invitation. May I enter?"
"Of course!"
Luke naturally nodded. With so many cameras pointed at him, how could he say no?
Lex Luthor then turned his gaze to Bruce Wayne. "Wayne Enterprises' aerospace division holds great appeal for me. I believe we have opportunities for cooperation."
Bruce simply nodded. "You can discuss work matters with Blair."
Though both were top-tier billionaires, the two had little interaction and had never even met. Bruce Wayne played the part of the playboy during the day and transformed into the city hero Batman fighting crime in Gotham at night. Lex Luthor, on the other hand, was a notorious workaholic who, after the death of his parents, had transformed LuthorCorp into a world-class enterprise in just a few short years.
Their personalities were vastly different.
After a few perfunctory exchanges, the three men separated. The historic meeting thus ended, and the surrounding reporters practically had disappointment written all over their faces. What gives? they thought. You're all young people! Even if you don't trade insults like a boxing match, at least give us some explosive news! If you're this calm, how are we supposed to fabricate a story?
Preemptive Measures
The joint arrival of Lex Luthor and Bruce Wayne did not derail Luke's plans. He simply increased the security level of the venue from Level 1 to Level 5. He also sent a text message to Wang Hu in the Hung Mun, instructing him to arrange for men to be stationed in the buildings near the venue, ready to respond to any sudden incident.
The surprises weren't over yet. Before long, a group of soldiers in military uniform appeared at the main entrance. After greeting Luke, they marched straight into the venue.
Watching the different types of people in the hall, Philip gradually grew uneasy.
"I feel like something is wrong."
Luke casually asked, while greeting a guest, "What's wrong?"
Philip looked around and, suppressing his anxiety, whispered, "Don't you think the people here today are too diverse? Many didn't even have invitations—soldiers, businessmen, politicians, and those three over there. The leader is named Bailey Como. I've met him; he's the Section Chief of the FBI's Special Affairs Division. Besides the FBI, there are shadows of the Intelligence Agency too."
"Luke, tell me, why have they all come to the venue together? Did you lure them here?"
Luke shook his head. "To be precise, it was fear that brought them here."
"What do you mean?"
"The continuous string of recent terrorist attacks made these fools realize how vulnerable they are. They crave power, power strong enough to deal with any trouble. That's why they came here."
Philip worried. "Aren't you concerned? With so many factions watching you, if one acts, the others will surely swarm in."
Luke raised a hand and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Arthur. Since I dared to do this, I am naturally fully prepared. The butcher's knife is sharp, just waiting for the rooster to come to the door so I can kill it to scare the monkeys."
Arthur was left speechless.
A Tense Atmosphere
As the crowd grew, the atmosphere in the venue became increasingly strange. People from different factions split into clearly defined small groups, observing and probing one another. Qu Youran, who had been mingling and charming men with her striking looks, quietly shut her mouth and, along with Wang Kun, retreated to an inconspicuous corner.
They also sensed that something was amiss. The Pentagon's presence was one thing, but the FBI and the Intelligence Agency appearing at the venue meant these people were not to be trifled with and certainly had ulterior motives for being there.
Alfred, Bruce Wayne's butler, leaned in and said,
"Master Wayne, it would be best for us to leave soon."
Bruce shook his head with a serious expression. "I want to see what happens tonight."
Alfred sighed softly and remained silent.
On the other side, Sam Lane, who had been chatting with his daughter, was called away by a subordinate. Whatever he heard instantly wiped the smile from his face, and he headed toward the second floor without looking back.
Lois, her journalistic instincts piqued, turned around and asked, "Clark, what did that man say?"
"The FBI and Intelligence Agency people want to talk to your father."
Lois immediately understood. "They're at the venue too?"
Clark pointed to the right, then to the left.
"The people on the left are the FBI, and the ones on the right are the CIA. They've been discussing the exoskeleton armor."
Exoskeleton Armor!
Lois's heart leaped. She quickly asked, "Are you saying Luke Shaw is going to unveil the exoskeleton armor tonight?"
"Yes, that's what they were saying."
A shimmer flashed in Clark's eyes. His X-ray vision penetrated countless obstacles, focusing on the basement storage room. There, eight exquisitely designed humanoid armors stood side by side.
"I see them. The basement, eight units in total."
Lois couldn't help but say, "Shouldn't we..."
Clark shook his head sternly. "We are reporters, not thieves."
Lois was immediately frustrated. Her boyfriend was perfect in every way except for one: he was too rigid and unable to bend the rules.
The Unveiling
Time slowly passed, and by 7:00 PM, the exhibition officially began.
The lights in the hall dimmed, and all light focused on the central stage. With a sharp whistle, the air filled with a buzzing sound. Hundreds of birds surged into the venue through the ventilation ducts, chirping incessantly.
The quiet hall instantly became lively.
People looked up at the circling flock with a mixture of caution, curiosity, and surprise. The sharp-eyed quickly noticed that these birds were different from natural ones; their bodies reflected the light, appearing to be made of metal.
On the center stage, Luke, wearing a purple shirt, walked out and spoke with a wide smile.
"Everyone, welcome to the Tesla Industrial Exhibition. These birds are the first gift I'm presenting to you."
"I hope you like them."
As he spoke, the flock of birds swooped down, landing on people's shoulders. Some even rubbed their heads against people, making affectionate gestures.
People were amazed and curious, cupping the birds in their hands for a closer look.
"It really is metal!"
"Mechanical birds! They can even tilt their heads and blink! That's incredible!"
The crowd gasped in admiration, completely captivated by the peculiar birds.
Sam Lane and his colleagues from the Department of Defense exchanged glances, a look of seriousness in their eyes. If these birds were equipped with explosives, what kind of terrifying scene would that be?
Qu Youran and Wang Kun also realized this and became tense, preparing for the worst.
🗒️NOTE:
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 20 chapters in advance!