Green Arrow

"Who?" Moira and Walter were a bit confused.

"Nothing." Clearly, the girl didn't want to say more to her parents. She just reached out with interest, "I'm Thea, nice to meet you." Aeo's body in this life was truly too perfect. Just standing there, he was like a handsome, sculpted statue. Thus, in the liberal American society, the young man became prime eye candy for the girl and many others.

Looking at this foreign girl with brown-gold hair and lake-green eyes, Aeo sighed inwardly, but showed no emotion on his face.

"Nice to meet you too, beautiful girl." They shook hands.

His eyes narrowed dangerously, Oliver subtly blocked his sister's probing and excited gaze and stood before Aeo. "I wonder what brings Mr. Wayne and this... Mr. Zod to Star City? This time of year, Star City is probably not a good place for tourism."

He looked at Bruce.

"I just heard from my investment advisor that Unidac Industries is a good investment," Batman said, playing the part of a rich man here purely for business. "It's just that for some reason, it fell into mismanagement and went bankrupt. After restructuring, it still has some potential, so..."

"Also, I heard that your son returned safely after disappearing for five years. I am also very happy for you, Ms. Moira," Bruce subtly shifted the topic to Oliver.

Green Arrow's smile froze.

"Thank you." Moira Queen, as a mother, nodded happily. Clearly, for her, her son's safe return meant more than anything.

Walter Steel, however, believed him completely, thinking he was truly here for Unidac Industries. This caught him off guard. He managed a strained, "I didn't know Wayne Enterprises would be interested in small businesses like Unidac Industries. I always thought Wayne Enterprises was more interested in investments in scientific research and the transportation industry..."

"Wayne Enterprises has businesses all over the world, and I do occasionally attend to important matters," Bruce explained gentlemanly, his presence so powerful that Walter didn't know what to say.

"Is that so? Then I hope Mr. Wayne can achieve his goals tonight." He forced a smile.

"Oh." Bruce then seemed to remember, "I heard Queen Consolidated is also very interested in tonight's auction. Perhaps we'll have some cooperation in the future?"

Seeing his stepfather looking a bit awkward from Bruce's retort, Oliver also felt a slight displeasure. However, tonight he was more concerned about...

"Excuse me, if it's not too much trouble, could I have a few words with my family alone?" Green Arrow stiffly asked them to leave.

"Oliver."

Moira gave her son a slightly displeased look. Although Bruce Wayne's and the young man's intentions seemed to overlap with her family's, Wayne Enterprises' strength was undeniable. Even if they couldn't be allies, few people would want to make an enemy of such a huge conglomerate. So, she chided, "Mr. Wayne is..."

"Mother, I insist." Oliver's gaze was stubborn and firm. Unable to help, Moira said, "I'm sorry, his personality has been a bit reclusive since he returned. He doesn't like interacting with people much..."

She apologized with a nod to Bruce and the young man.

"It's alright, you have your privacy." Bruce exchanged a glance with Aeo and consciously chose to withdraw.

This made Thea ask with great reluctance, "Will I see you again, Aeo?"

"As long as you wish." Aeo smiled like an old man, gentlemanly (and insincerely).

Thea smiled in satisfaction.

After the two 'dangerous' men left, Oliver anxiously, and unsure how to persuade them, said, "Mother, I hope you and Thea can go home first. Walter and I can handle things here!"

Indeed, Moira and Thea looked at him inexplicably, confused. "Why? We just arrived, and the auction hasn't even started..."

Oliver anxiously watched the increasing number of plainclothes police in the lobby and couldn't help but whisper, "Listen, I learned from Detective Lance that there will be criminals committing a crime at the auction tonight. For your and Thea's safety, I strongly urge you and Thea to leave first!"

"What?!"

Not to mention the shocked and astonished Queen family, Aeo, with his super-hearing, also narrowed his eyes. He subtly whispered to the older man, "Bruce."

"What?"

"I heard some bad news. Tonight, Green Arrow might appear! A crime is going to happen here!" The young man looked with a half-smile at the plainclothes officers who were covering their ears and communicating, thinking no one knew. "There are many police officers here. It seems they knew about it early..."

Batman followed his gaze.

"...We have to stop this! There are too many people here. We can't let crime happen here, or too many innocent people will be involved... Aeo!" He looked at the young man with a serious expression.

"Are you sure Oliver Queen is Star City's Vigilante?"

"Don't you think he's the most suspicious?" Aeo shrugged. "He was stranded on a deserted island for five years, and the Vigilante appeared after he returned. Coincidences don't happen like that!"

"Besides," he glanced at Green Arrow, who was anxiously trying to persuade his family, his X-ray vision active. "His muscle strength and nerve reflexes are much stronger than you think! Not inferior to yours at all! He is Green Arrow!"

"Green... Arrow?"

"No, nothing," Aeo, realizing he'd slipped up, quickly added, "Just based on the intelligence we've gathered, a Vigilante in a green hooded suit is more fittingly called Green Arrow..." he defended himself.

"..."

"Enough of that!" The Son of Krypton, outwardly calm but inwardly using his super-hearing, super-vision, and X-ray vision at full capacity, finally detected something amiss.

"I think I've found the culprit."

Meanwhile, Oliver looked helplessly at his mother, sister, and stepfather, who insisted on staying.

"It's not that I don't believe you, Oliver," his stepfather said. "But as you said, Detective Lance and his team are here. The criminals probably won't dare to show up now, right?"

Walter looked at him with a heavy expression. "Queen Consolidated has put a lot of effort into this auction. I can't just give up on this plan..."

Moira, however, stated she was willing to face danger with her lover. "Thea, you and Oliver go back first. I'll stay here... Since Walter insists on staying, I'll stay too... Don't worry, since Detective Lance and the others are here, I think..."

"Don't look at me!" Thea Queen looked displeasedly at her stepfather, mother, and her brother, whom she hadn't seen in a long time and had only recently reconnected with, as they all shifted their gaze to her.

"If the family doesn't go back, what kind of impression would it make if I went back alone..."