Template Fusion 99

Chapter 41: Template Fusion 99%

Hard to imagine—Father Jonathan hadn't consulted anyone in the family, and without a word, sold the farm he'd run for half his life.

"Dad, who did you sell the farm and house to?"

Clark couldn't help asking too.

"To Rick Rickman of Rickman Enterprises. He plans to build a chemical plant here." Martha couldn't understand why her husband would do this.

He'd always hated those factories that recklessly dumped pollution.

"I don't know what happened."

The lead-printed contract clearly bore his signature. Rubbing the paper in his hands, Jonathan's eyes were a little dazed, as if caught in a dream, as he recounted the bizarre events.

"I was working in the barn. He walked in with his people and offered to buy my farm again. I flatly refused."

"He looked regretful, shook my hand before leaving."

"After that..."

Jonathan tried to recall, but his memory felt like a chunk had been gouged out—his mind a blank.

"I somehow ended up signing this, it seems."

"It seems?"

David caught the key point sharply.

"I don't remember that part, but this is definitely my signature."

The handwriting was identical. Jonathan shook his head in frustration.

"What do we say in court? That my husband was possessed by an evil spirit?"

Mother Martha was furious, her chest heaving. She turned to her two sons, heartbroken.

"I sent the original contract to a lawyer and consulted him. He said there are no loopholes—almost no chance of winning a lawsuit. We have to move out within three days."

"But this is our home. We've always lived here, on this land."

Clark's eyes went wide, unable to imagine leaving the farm and home he'd grown up in.

"Not anymore."

Jonathan said with a hint of regret.

"I inherited this ancestral land from your grandfather, and now I've gone and sold it for 100,000 US dollars. I can't figure it out."

Why had he signed that contract? He was sure no one had held a gun to his wife or children to force him.

They had to move off the Kent family's generations-old farm and land within three days. The sudden blow caught the family off guard. The atmosphere was stifling, and no one cared about lunch anymore.

"Maybe I can ask someone for help—see if he has a way."

Something occurred to Clark. His eyes lit up slightly as he looked at his parents.

"I saved Lex's life once. Even though you taught me not to expect repayment just because I helped someone, I think this isn't the time to be reserved."

He glanced at David, who was frowning in thought, and his eyes turned serious.

This time, he wanted to prove to his brother that he could protect this family too—and do it with gentle means.

No one would suffer harm they shouldn't!

"I don't want to deal with the Luthor family."

Father Jonathan instinctively resisted.

"Do you have another way now, Jonathan?"

Under his wife Martha's slightly angry retort, the head of the household opened his mouth but said nothing.

"It's a Metahuman."

After a moment's thought, David suddenly said.

For something this bizarre, he couldn't think of another explanation.

"Rickman is a Metahuman?"

At the word "Metahuman," Clark's expression shifted. He thought it over.

He and his brother had already run into several strange Metahumans—one who could discharge electricity, one like an insect, one who could shapeshift and absorb heat.

It wasn't too surprising that there was now one who could mess with people's minds.

"Like the one who attacked the school, and Tina?"

The couple exchanged glances, recalling the electricity-wielding Metahuman their sons had mentioned last time, and Tina. Their faces showed shock and doubt.

"What else could make Dad sell this farm he loves without even talking to us?"

Facing his parents, David shrugged.

"But now, how do we solve this?" He tried to act relaxed, but it didn't rub off on them. The couple remained grim.

Even if they knew the root of the problem, could they really stand in court and tell the judge that Rickman had Superpowers, had bewitched their family, and voided the contract's legal effect?

"Mom, Dad, don't worry. Let me go talk to him."

David narrowed his eyes and let out a soft laugh.

"With this secret in hand, Mr. Rickman might change his mind."

His tone was gentle, as if he truly intended to reason with the man, and he turned to leave.

Clark's expression shifted. Based on past cases where people had ended up in a Vegetative State, he was certain David's look meant far more than just a talk.

"I'm coming too."

"Clark, David, be careful."

With Clark accompanying him, Jonathan and Martha felt much more at ease. They called out to their two sons with repeated warnings.

"If it really doesn't work out, we can find another place to live in town. It won't affect your schooling. A family's completeness doesn't depend on what land it stands on."

David nodded, reassured his parents not to worry, then turned and walked out the door.

Not far along, Clark caught up and glanced back at the Farms, speaking as they walked.

"Mom and Dad still don't know you don't actually need my protection.

On the contrary, I need to protect others from you."

Mom and Dad had no idea of the true headache David caused him, and yet he couldn't speak the truth—he had to cover for David, who kept him on edge.

"Protect what? Protect the man who used his abilities to swindle our family out of our farm and house?"

Sensing the implication, David shot him a glance.

"David, you don't have to be so brutal and cold every time you handle things."

Hearing the hostility in David's tone toward Rickman, Clark reached out and grabbed his arm, lowering his voice sternly.

"Rickman is wealthy. If something happens to him, every major newspaper in Metropolis will be all over it."

Unlike Smallville, a small town where even an incident wouldn't make the papers.

"If you turn another person into a Vegetative State this time..."

Afraid he still couldn't convince his too-opinionated younger brother, he gritted his teeth.

"I will never take the fall for you in front of Mom and Dad again!"

"What do you want me to do?"

Clark actually dared to threaten him with this. David raised an eyebrow, as if seeing him for the first time.

Ever since he had crossed that line and killed someone, Clark had truly started to panic, and his approach to dealing with David was no longer so mild.

"But thinking about it, Clark does have a point.

Rickman is fairly well-known. His companies and factories basically monopolize the pesticide production business in Metropolis and several surrounding cities. If he suddenly became a Vegetative State, the Metropolis papers wouldn't miss that story."

The template was already 99% merged.

It had been 99% for two days now. He hoped this new template would be one that allowed him to freely display his abilities.

Even though he had the strength to protect himself, he still made his parents worry. David's mind wandered.

"Let's see who can resolve this safely and properly first."

Hearing his younger brother's words, Clark quietly breathed a sigh of relief, not revealing the plan he had in mind, and spoke firmly.

Last time, he had nearly brought trouble to the family and implicated their father. This time, he would use this matter to surpass his brother, make him realize there were things he wasn't good at, so that in the future, his words would carry some weight with David.

"That's a good suggestion, but I..."

David's face was expressionless. He found the idea boring.

"No refusing!"

The tall, sturdy Clark guessed what he was about to say and cut him off forcefully.

He stood like a boulder, his gaze firm and resolute yet tinged with worry, carrying an inexplicable strength.

"Your change is surprising, Clark."

Looking Clark up and down at his new demeanor, David raised an eyebrow. "Planning to start establishing your authority as the older brother now, and strictly discipline your little brother who's in danger of going bad?"

His thoughts laid bare in one sentence, Clark clenched his fists silently, meeting David's gaze without flinching, and said sincerely.

"I'm doing this for your own good."

Hearing that, David, who had a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, considered pulling a piece of Kryptonite from his pocket to knock the stubborn Clark back to his senses.

Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly.

"Fine."

"You agreed?" Clark, who had been on high alert, ready to retreat hundreds of meters at the slightest sign of trouble, was somewhat surprised.