Father and Son

"Thanks for walking me home."

On the forest path, Lana Lang walked with her hands behind her back, her little face full of smiles.

"You're... you're welcome." Clark scratched his head and smiled shyly.

After school today, he had not stayed behind to clean up at the club. Instead, he had gone to help out at the place in town where Lana worked.

The two walked side by side, and Clark thought the feeling was wonderful.

But just as every story had to end eventually, after they passed through the woods, a two-story villa lit from within came into view.

"Alright, I'm home." Lana took a few steps forward, then turned to look at Clark awkwardly. "I wanted to invite you in, but my aunt is furious about the house getting smashed up. She's been really angry lately..."

"I understand."

Clark scratched his cheek considerately and pointed toward his family farm in the distance. "Then, good night."

Lana smiled and waved.

"Good night."

Clark watched the girl leave. It felt as though he had eaten a piece of honey candy, and with a happy smile on his face, the boy turned and ran toward home.

Boom!

Before Clark could reach home, a terrifying explosion suddenly erupted. The tremendous sound engulfed the entire town, as frightening as a rumbling thunderclap.

"That's—!"

Clark looked toward the source of the sound and saw leaping orange-red flames and thick smoke rising into the sky, setting half the heavens ablaze.

Whoosh!

Without hesitation, Clark ran toward the fire.

Like an afterimage, Clark easily rushed to the scene of the blaze.

Crackle!

On the highway, an overturned fuel tanker was engulfed in scorching flames. The surrounding trees had caught fire as well. If no one controlled it, the nearby forest would be consumed by the flames.

"I have to stop this disaster."

Clark's expression turned grave as he activated Super Speed and searched the nearby residents' homes for fire extinguishers.

With an extinguisher in hand, he raced back and forth through the fire scene.

Under the terrifying boost of his speed, only an afterimage could be seen constantly darting throughout town, searching for fire extinguishers and shuttling back and forth to the tanker. The flames gradually weakened.

Pshhh!

Another fire extinguisher was emptied, and the burning blaze was finally put out.

"Pant... pant..."

Clark breathed heavily as he wiped the sweat from his face.

"This..."

Clark looked around and soon spotted two charred, mummified corpses amid the blackened ruins.

Their bodies had dehydrated until they resembled two burnt sticks of wood. Clark could not determine their cause of death and could only classify it as a natural disaster.

"They're dead."

Clark looked at the two corpses guiltily. "If I'd been nearby, I could have saved them."

The sound of police sirens in the distance interrupted Clark's thoughts.

The boy knew he could not stay here. He let out a deep sigh, then turned and ran away.

Clark crossed the road and circled around the approaching police cars, until he saw an unexpected figure walking down the road at incredible speed.

The tall build and carefree demeanor made Clark frown slightly, a bad suspicion surfacing in his heart.

"Jino!"

Clark called out the man's name.

Jino had been taking a stroll along the road. Hearing Clark's voice, a trace of helplessness appeared on his face.

He had just tossed Watt into a fuel tanker for a "charcoal roast," and Clark had already discovered the fire and come running?

Clark rubbed his hair, his tone unnatural. "What are you doing out here so late?"

He was worried that Jino had caused the fire, but he believed Jino must have had a reason.

Hearing Clark's question, Jino gave a cold laugh. Clark's attempt at probing him was far too immature.

With a sigh, Jino pointed up at the night sky. "Me? I'm taking a walk and stargazing."

In a town free of industrial pollution, many bright stars glittered in the sky.

"Then... did you see that fire just now?" Clark's expression was serious. "Two people burned to death."

"What does that have to do with me?" Jino glanced at Clark as he walked. "Remember what I told you on the first day of school, Clark. I don't like meddling in other people's business. If I ever do meddle, it only means I'm in a good mood."

That was, of course, a lie. Jino merely wanted to send Clark away. Otherwise, if Clark found out he had killed Watt, that guy would start spewing another pile of preachy nonsense.

So sometimes, the truth did not matter. Only lies could leave both sides satisfied.

Hearing Jino's words, Clark looked at him suspiciously. "Are you sure?"

"Believe it or not, I'm going home." Jino waved his hand, unwilling to argue with Clark.

Whoosh!

Clark watched Jino turn into an afterimage and vanish into the night, his eyes thoughtful.

"What was the truth?"

Luthor Manor.

Jino had just reached the dark, enormous iron gates of the manor when he saw several Rolls-Royce sedans parked on the lawn inside.

His gaze swept over the Metropolis license plates on the cars, and Jino could not help but smile meaningfully. "Wow, looks like someone's in trouble."

"Young Master."

Old Butler opened the iron gates for Jino. "Master is in the hall."

"Mm, Lex might not be in a very good mood tonight."

Jino smiled. His bargain-bin older brother and Lionel had incompatible personalities.

Simply put, when two people with especially strong opinions got together, it could only be a disaster.

Before he reached the living room, Jino heard the clash of fencing swords from inside.

Entering the hall, he saw two figures in protective gear fiercely dueling.

As the frequency of their blades colliding increased, the figure on the right soon found himself unable to hold on, giving his opponent an opening.

Bang!

One fencing sword pressed down the other, then thrust fiercely forward along the blade.

The blunt tip stopped at the throat of the figure on the right, and a cold snort came from beneath the victor's mask.

"Heh. It seems you have a lot to learn."

Lionel removed his mask, revealing a gloomy face.

Bang! The loser pulled off his mask and angrily threw it to the ground. Lex stared coldly at his legal father in silence.

Lionel tossed aside his fencing sword and strode out of the manor, not forgetting to order Lex, "I want to see a twenty percent staff reduction by next week, brat."

As he passed the calm-faced Jino, Lionel glanced at his mysterious younger son and said blandly, "And you're responsible for keeping an eye on him."

Lionel left with his secretary and assistants, leaving behind only a dark-faced Lex.

Jino chuckled and walked straight to the sofa. The maids, who barely dared to breathe, quickly brought over fruit and milk.

Taking a bite of a crisp apple, Jino raised a brow at Lex. "Our loser doesn't seem to be in a very good mood."

"Heh, that foolish old man."

Lex took a deep breath, picked up the helmet from the floor, and spoke with a dark expression. "Just wait. Sooner or later, I'll make him sincerely admire my achievements."