David, How Strong Are You?

"I didn't expect Dad to testify for Lex Luthor."

When they returned home that evening, Clark was still somewhat surprised.

During the day, Lex Luthor had indeed stayed by their fruit stand the entire time and never left their sight.

Yet Jonathan, who clearly disliked Lex Luthor, had actually stepped forward as a witness for him, helping clear him of some suspicion.

David raised a brow. "Do you think Dad would lie just to cause Lex Luthor some trouble?"

Clark scratched his chin and also felt that was impossible. What he had just said was practically questioning everything his father had taught them over the years.

"Honesty is a bright mirror that reflects your character. I don't want to stain that mirror because of the son of Lex Luthor."

Having returned from outside and overheard his two sons talking, Jonathan took off his coat and spread his arms.

"Especially in front of you, my sons."

The Farms' fresh fruit had sold for a decent sum today, and all their hard work growing it had paid off. In a good mood, he raised his voice slightly.

"I wonder who it was that showed up late for our date when he was young. He had clearly overslept, yet claimed his motorcycle had broken down halfway."

Martha, who had walked over from behind, shook her head.

"Sometimes, a well-intentioned lie does no harm."

Slightly embarrassed, Jonathan gently hugged his wife and raised his brows at his two sons.

"Otherwise, how would we have this warm little home?"

Well, although the atmosphere at home was relaxed, Clark could tell that his father's dislike of Lex Luthor had not changed at all.

"Today was really strange. Lex Luthor never left the market.

Who robbed the bank?"

Recalling what had happened during the day, he could not help sounding confused.

"Many people saw Lex Luthor, and the bank's security camera footage also showed it was him."

"Maybe the robber looked a lot like Lex Luthor?"

In the kitchen, Martha washed her hands and began preparing dinner, then turned around and guessed.

"Lex Luthor hasn't been in town for long. Not many people are particularly familiar with him, so they may have mistaken someone else for him."

She wiped the droplets from her hands and continued with a smile.

"Jonathan, do you remember Jack King from when we were in school? Aside from his curly hair, he looked so much like our English teacher."

"He always liked to imitate the teacher's way of speaking behind his back to make people laugh, at least until the teacher caught him and called his parents into the office."

Jonathan also recalled some amusing stories from his school days.

Clark agreed with that and spread his hands. "Maybe someone who thought he looked like Lex Luthor decided to try his luck."

The police officer had described how it happened. Lex Luthor had gone to the bank to withdraw money, and the department manager had eagerly welcomed the bank's major client.

But when it came time to sign, the signature did not match the sample they had on file.

"The bank manager merely asked whether he could see his driver's license and offered to handle the transaction another way.

Then he pulled out a gun... Fortunately, no one was hurt in the end."

That was how he summed up the matter everyone in town was discussing.

However, Clark actually had another guess.

David, who had been silent in thought since earlier, exchanged a look with him. They both knew what the other was thinking, but neither said it in front of their parents.

Even though their parents knew Metahumans existed, it was still better not to make them worry too much.

After dinner, in the warehouse loft.

With the cool night breeze blowing and the quiet wheat fields in the distance bathed in moonlight, David turned to look at Clark, who had just secretly returned from outside.

"Where did you go?"

"Nowhere."

Clark scratched his head. David had fought Gregg during the day and damaged the road. Now that it was dark, Clark had been afraid someone might drive into the crater and get into an accident, so he had gone to check on it.

"You really are kind."

David could not help sighing when he heard that.

"When I went there, the road maintenance crew from the transportation company contracted by the town had just finished their work.

They were deeply puzzled by the damaged road. They thought that even if more than ten tons of steel had fallen from a truck, it could not have smashed the road into that state."

As Clark spoke about what he had seen, he glanced at David twice and asked casually, "David, how strong are you?"

"Trying to improve the relationship between big brother and little brother with an arm-wrestling match?"

David narrowed his eyes.

"How old are you?"

"That's not..."

"Good. I'm not interested in arm wrestling with you either."

"You should practice hiding your intentions when you speak, Clark."

With his hands in his pockets, he looked out into the night.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with being more sincere."

His younger brother always spoke to him in that tone, as if he were more mature and smarter than him. Though that was often true, Clark still felt a little annoyed.

"Oh?"

David gave a soft scoff. "Do you dare say you were only asking about my strength?"

"..."

The Son of Krypton looked a little embarrassed.

His question had not been entirely innocent.

He wanted to learn about David's strength so that if something like Gregg happened again, he would know how much force to use to stop him.

David saw through Clark's intentions.

"Forget it. I won't tell you."

Then he added,

"Because, honestly, I don't know myself."

"David, do you think the person who impersonated Lex Luthor to rob the bank was a Metahuman?"

Hearing that answer, Clark pondered in surprise for a while before changing the subject.

Having encountered two Metahumans in quick succession, the impression had been profound.

Now, whenever something strange happened, he instinctively began thinking in that direction, like someone who had nearly been bitten by a snake and then saw snakes in every rope.

"Maybe."

David did not rule out that possibility.

But he did not think every slightly strange occurrence had to be related to Metahumans.

"If he really was a Metahuman, maybe he could withstand bullets with his body."

Clark's expression turned somewhat grave.

Even Gregg, who could exert over a hundred tons of force, did not have that kind of defense. The person might be a Metahuman even stronger than Gregg.

David nodded.

Rumors were spreading around town. According to witnesses, the man had been clearly wearing only a light suit, not something that looked like body armor.

But in ordinary people's eyes, aside from body armor, there was no other explanation for someone being shot twice in the back and escaping without a scratch.

"Don't worry. The bank robber probably has no interest in the Farms."

He patted Clark on the shoulder, turned around, and went down from the loft to sleep.

But Clark was worried that a criminal bold enough to rob a bank was hiding somewhere in town.

"I hope everyone else is okay."

Thud, thud, thud!

Early the next morning.

Inside an Antique Shop in town.

Catherine, who looked somewhat aged and had graying hair, carried a red backpack full of money as she struggled up to the second floor where they lived and urgently knocked on her daughter's door.

"Tina, where did this money come from?"

Tina, who had just washed her hair, strolled out of her room and casually dried it with a towel.

"I told you, our lives would get better."

"Tell me, you didn't rob the bank yesterday." Catherine could hardly believe what she was hearing and clung to one last sliver of hope as she spoke to her daughter.

"Of course I didn't."

Tina, with a high nose bridge, fairly pretty features, and long reddish-brown hair, smiled.

Before Catherine could breathe a sigh of relief, Tina put down the towel, and a horrifyingly bizarre scene unfolded.

Crack! Crack!

Tina's flesh flowed like putty as her appearance abruptly changed. Her body grew taller, her frame widened, and she transformed into a bald Lex Luthor, wearing a cold smile.

"Lex Luthor did it."