Dinner with Clark

Luthor Manor.

"Clap, clap, clap~"

Crisp sounds echoed through the manor hall.

Two figures wearing fencing masks and gripping rapiers continuously tested each other with probing attacks, their blades weaving together and colliding with sharp rings.

The clash of steel resounded throughout the hall.

The tall figure on the right moved with fierce speed, his storm-like offensive forcing the smaller figure to do nothing but defend with her rapier.

"Young Master."

The Old Butler held a tray in one hand and kept the other behind his back. His impeccable posture was beyond reproach as he stood at the entrance to the hall with unhurried steps.

"My apologies for disturbing you, but there is a boy outside the manor claiming to be your high school classmate. He wishes to see you."

"A high school classmate?"

A muffled voice came from beneath the mask. "What's his name?"

As he spoke, the tall figure tilted his head aside to evade the smaller figure's thrust at his throat, swept her blade away with a backhand strike, and plunged back into the fierce exchange.

The Old Butler replied calmly, "He calls himself Clark Kent."

Jino was briefly distracted and muttered, "Clark? That's a rare visitor."

But in a fencing match, any tiny mistake could be fatal.

"Ha!"

The smaller figure clearly seized the opportunity. With a low shout, she suddenly exerted force through her sword arm and knocked aside the blade pressing down on hers. Then, with a textbook lunge, she cleanly touched the tip of her rapier to Jino's throat.

The situation changed in an instant; victory and defeat were decided by the narrowest margin.

The match was over. Jino had lost.

"Mm, it ended at just the right time."

Jino removed his mask without the slightest concern on his face. Smiling approvingly, he gave his opponent a thumbs-up. "You've improved remarkably, Annie."

The figure opposite him removed her mask as well, revealing a delicate, innocent face. Her long hair on both sides had been dampened by sweat and clung to her cheeks.

Hearing Jino's praise, the young maid nodded reservedly. Straightening her slender waist, she stepped forward and took his rapier and mask.

Jino picked up the milk from the Butler's tray, took a sip, and said, "Let him in."

"Prepare dinner while you're at it."

Jino snapped his fingers lightly. "I'm hosting this friend of mine."

The Old Butler inclined his head. "As you wish, Young Master."

The afternoon breeze swept across the grass before Luthor Manor, while green vines climbed its walls.

Standing before the manor gates, Clark stared blankly at the vines on the wall.

He did not understand how things had developed to this point.

Not far away, an elderly yet steady voice interrupted Clark's thoughts. "Mr. Clark, welcome to Luthor Manor."

"H-hello." Clark came back to himself.

The Old Butler opened the iron gates and led Clark into the manor.

He climbed the cracked stone steps and passed along a path lined with flowers on both sides. When Clark entered the main hall and saw the stately furnishings steeped in history—especially the expensive chandeliers overhead, which looked rather heavy—he could not help but feel a little awed.

A voice sounded from behind Clark, introducing them to him. "Ah, antiques from the eighteenth century. Treasures collected by the Luthor Family's ancestors."

Jino patted Clark on the shoulder as system notifications continuously sounded in his mind.

Negative Emotions from Clark +50, +50

"You don't look too happy."

Jino led Clark to the long dining table. The maids pulled out a chair, allowing Clark to sit opposite Jino.

"Is it that obvious?" Clark rubbed his cheeks, looking dejected.

Jino chuckled. "You've practically got the words 'I'm unhappy' written across your face."

"But don't be sad, Clark. My father once told me that good food and beautiful women could ease a person's sorrow."

"Though you can't enjoy the beautiful women, you can indulge in the food!"

As Jino spoke, he picked up a bottle of red wine from the table and handed it to Clark.

Now this was what a good friend was—coming right to his door to deliver points.

Grinning, Jino pointed at the wine bottle in Clark's hand. "You can drink straight from the bottle."

Clark frowned. "Uh, shouldn't red wine be drunk from a wineglass? Isn't that how rich people drink it?"

"A wineglass?" A scornful smile hung on Jino's face. "Don't listen to those idiots. Rich people can drink however they want."

Only half understanding, Clark raised the bottle and poured some into his mouth.

The slightly spicy taste made Clark, who was trying alcohol for the first time, frown.

At that moment, the kitchen had finished preparing the dishes. Several graceful blonde maids entered the hall, elegantly carrying silver trays.

Dish after dish was placed before Jino and Clark.

Jino speared a piece of meat with his fork. Reddish-orange sauce trickled down its surface as he raised the fork and introduced it to Clark. "French pan-seared chicken."

"Diced onion and basil, paired with matsutake and chopped mushrooms, with cherry tomatoes used to make a sauce poured over the seared chicken breast. Then it's simmered over low heat for ten minutes before serving."

"It's tender and delicious, without losing the sharpness of the onion. It's one of my favorite dishes."

Listening to Jino's introduction, Clark began to crave it as well. He swallowed, picked up his knife and fork, cut off a piece, and put it into his mouth.

Clark chewed carefully. His once-dull eyes suddenly lit up, and as he chewed the meat, he said indistinctly, "Delicious!"

The two ate their meal, occasionally raising their glasses to taste the red wine together.

As the saying went, there were three ways to bring men closer together: carrying guns together, drinking together, and... well, together.

In any case, as time passed, the red wine in Clark's stomach gradually took effect. Even with his extraordinary physique, Clark began to feel a trace of drunkenness. Seizing the buzz, he set down his knife and fork and looked troubledly at Jino across the table.

"Jino, why can't my parents understand me?"

Jino raised an eyebrow slightly, a smile curling at the corners of his lips as he cautiously asked, "Is this because of Uncle Jonathan?"

"He doesn't want you to accept the Luthor Family's gift?"

Clark nodded. "That's right."

He rubbed his brow, his eyes full of distress. "It's like there's an enormous gulf between us."

Jino smiled and set down his own utensils. He snapped his fingers lightly, signaling the maids to clear away dinner and bring dessert, then stared at Clark. "That's normal, Clark."

"Do you know?" Jino sighed. "When I displayed powerful abilities as a child, my parents spent four years taking me to all sorts of mysterious places to investigate the abnormalities in me."

"They thought I'd been possessed by some demon, but I preferred to believe it was a blessing."

Jino fixed Clark with an intense gaze. "A gift from God."

"Of course, because of those four lost years, I was only in high school when I should have been in college."

The maids brought over the after-dinner desserts.

Jino picked up a macaron with his hand and tossed it into his mouth.

He held up one finger and waved it as he offered Clark his thoughts. "Sometimes, perhaps you should communicate with your father more."

"I can tell that he loves you very much."

"Just like my parents love me."

Jino propped his chin on both hands, his eyes smiling.

"But because he worries about you too much, his love has put a great deal of pressure on you."