Human Gene + Clark Gene =

Human Gene + Clark Gene =

Clark seemed to have had a long dream—a bizarre, fantastical dream.

In the dream, a gray-skinned alien humanoid radiating an oppressive presence had one hand clamped around his throat and the other gripping a cleft-chinned man dressed head to toe in black, made up to resemble a bat.

"Darkseid is."

The savage, terrifying creature shouted in a deep voice. Then, scorching beams shot from its eyes and engulfed Clark.

"Ah!"

Clark cried out. The dream had felt so real that it jolted him awake in a cold sweat.

As his vision gradually cleared, Clark heard the rustling sound of footsteps on dirt. He saw lush trees all around him and damp earth beneath them. The cool morning breeze entered his lungs, making him shudder.

He realized someone was carrying him on their back. That back was broad and sturdy, just like when his father had held him as a child.

"You're awake? Then walk on your own."

A detached yet familiar voice sounded in front of Clark, putting his heart at ease.

"Smack."

Jino flipped Clark off his back. The big boy staggered onto the damp ground before slowly regaining his balance.

Clark's eyes were filled with complicated emotions as he looked at Jino's back.

Jino's attitude made Clark a little sad, but he knew he had been in the wrong.

Kind-hearted Clark knew even better what he should do.

"Jino." With a conflicted expression, Clark lowered his head like an elementary school student who had made a mistake and muttered, "I'm sorry. I was wrong."

"Gerry attacked me last night, and he killed a lot of people."

"Sigh."

Hearing Clark's apology, Jino sighed. The boy said nothing at first, then turned around and looked into Clark's sincere eyes.

He walked over, merely patted Clark on the shoulder, and said, "Don't do that again next time."

"Mm-hmm."

Hearing Clark readily agree, Jino only smiled and did not take it seriously.

Clark's inner kindness would only make him choose the same way the next time he faced the same dilemma.

But that was Clark. Everyone had their own innate character.

Forcing one's own wishes onto others and compelling them to change was classic American-style hegemony. Jino did not like that. There were too few kind people in this world; letting Clark remain kind was not a bad thing.

The two walked side by side, and silence fell between them for a while.

"Jino." Clark was the one who finally broke the silence. He hesitated before asking, "How is Lana Lang?"

"She's fine. She spent the night at my family's castle." Jino glanced at Clark. "But I suggest you figure out how to explain to Jonathan and Martha why you didn't come home last night."

At Jino's words, Clark's expression stiffened. The big boy immediately sucked in a breath and said with pursed lips, "I-I forgot!"

Angering Jonathan was not frightening. Clark had argued with his father more than once.

But if Martha got angry, both he and Jonathan had to keep their mouths shut.

"I have to go."

Clark scratched his head somewhat sheepishly and looked at Jino. "I'll invite you over for dinner sometime."

After this experience, Clark had clearly come to regard Jino as a friend who had been through life and death with him.

"Mm."

Jino nodded without saying anything, simply watching as Clark's figure turned into an afterimage and disappeared.

After Clark left, Jino leisurely made his way back to his family's castle.

He learned from the Old Butler that Lana Lang had already left, but he did not care. He strolled calmly into the hall.

Before he had taken more than a few steps, Jino saw three men in suits, wearing glasses, cologne, and wristwatches.

They had the typical appearance of elite white-collar workers from a major city.

"Wow, I didn't know we had guests?"

Jino raised his brows with a smile, took the milk offered by a maid, and sipped it.

"Mr. Jino."

The leading white man straightened his chest. "We have been waiting here for Mr. Lex for an hour, but he still hasn't appeared."

"Mm, Dominic, I don't concern myself with company matters." Jino shook his head. Like a spoiled young master, he picked up a cue from the billiards table and toyed with it, his teasing gaze sweeping over the three men. "What did Father send you here for?"

"It's..."

"Don't speak yet. Let me guess."

Jino bent down and casually knocked a yellow ball into a pocket. "It's because the company is suffering financial losses."

The Luthor Family had quite a few businesses in Smallville. Jino knew that Lex had secretly taken a sum of money to advance his experimental project.

"Yes."

One of Lionel's assistants, Dominic, adjusted his glasses. "Mr. Lionel believes Mr. Lex will take drastic action and lay off those employees."

"Ha, then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed." Jino chuckled. His big brother had always been extremely opinionated—too opinionated, even.

"If I were you, I'd leave while you still can, because you won't be seeing him today."

If his guess was right, Lex was probably already at the research facility studying Gerry's corpse.

"Phew."

Hearing Jino's advice, Dominic's face turned green with anger.

Of course, his anger wasn't directed at Jino, but at that arrogant bastard Lex.

As Lionel's assistant, Dominic knew exactly how terrible the relationship between him and Lex was.

He took a deep breath, waved, and led his subordinates away. "In that case, I will convey Lex's attitude to Mr. Lionel."

After the three left the castle, Jino tossed aside his golf club and called over several maids to massage his shoulders.

Jino closed his eyes and dozed for a while. Before long, he heard a rapid set of footsteps.

The strides were quick and decisive. Jino knew his bargain-bin big brother had arrived.

Walking into the hall, Lex took off his suit jacket and glanced at Jino, who was sprawled on the sofa while the maids kneaded his legs.

"Those pests are gone?"

"Yeah, they left. But I'm guessing the person you hate most will be rushing over here soon." Jino shrugged. "Another fierce argument is coming."

"Hmph. He doesn't understand the greatness of this experiment, and I won't let him." Lex sneered, utterly dismissive of Lionel, who would soon arrive.

He looked down on his father, while his father had always believed Lex refused to submit to him.

If their relationship had to be summed up in one word, it was "complicated."

"So, how did the experiment go?" Jino chuckled and waved his hand. The maids respectfully withdrew, leaving only Jino and Lex in the hall.

At the mention of the experiment, a fire called passion seemed to burn in Lex's eyes. "It's unimaginable. Did you know that those Kryptonite rocks can alter human genes and grant all kinds of strange abilities?"

"So?"

Jino spread his hands like a teddy bear.

Lex leaned against the billiards table, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "What if I used Kryptonite to strengthen the DNA of those altered subjects, then added the Clark Gene you once mentioned? What kind of thing could I create?"