Lex's Ambition

"Smallville High School was rocked by a massive explosion. Earlier, three Smallville fire engines were dispatched to put out a fire at the auditorium hosting the school prom, and the blaze is now largely under control. Reportedly, all fire hydrants at the school were damaged, while the water pressure in the town's main pipeline from Prince Street to Gus Square dropped to zero, greatly increasing the difficulty of the firefighters' work."

The Smallville radio station broadcast the latest news.

In the speeding car, Jonathan listened closely to the radio report while comforting Martha.

"Don't worry, Martha. Eric and Clark will be fine. The two of them aren't like ordinary students anymore."

"I know, Jonathan."

Martha watched the growing number of police cars on the streets, her brow furrowing.

"I'm just worried Clark and Eric might get dragged into this by accident. After all, they're still not mature enough."

"They won't."

Jonathan sounded calmer than Martha. "Our sons are far more mature than we imagined."

As they spoke, the two arrived at the school.

The fire in the school auditorium, reportedly caused by "an electrical short circuit," had already been extinguished. Quite a few police cars and ambulances were now parked on campus.

The firefighters had put out the blaze and were working with the police and medical personnel to carry injured students outside.

The students who had narrowly escaped death were either giving simple statements to the police or sobbing in their parents' arms beneath blankets.

Tonight's "Bloody Prom" would probably become the most unforgettable prom of their lives.

Looking at the groaning injured crowd, Martha nervously scanned the area.

She quickly spotted Clark sitting on the steps, looking distracted.

Beside him sat his two best friends, Chloe and Pete.

Chloe and Pete had recovered from the intense emotions of their narrow escape and were now comforting Clark.

"Clark, you don't need to blame yourself. Even if you possess gifts beyond those of ordinary people, you can't decide everything."

"I agree."

Pete's expression was grave. "Misfortune happens every day in this world. Clark, you can't help and save everyone."

The two tacitly avoided discussing the conflict between Clark and Eric earlier.

"I should have..."

Clark sighed softly and looked at the injured people being treated ahead of him. "I should have realized much earlier that Jeremy was the killer. If I hadn't wasted so much time on Eric, then maybe..."

At the mention of Jeremy, Chloe's expression changed slightly.

After thinking for a moment, she decided to tell Clark.

"Actually, Clark, Eric hinted to me before that Jeremy was Dan Brown's murderer, but I didn't think much of it at the time."

Chloe told him about how Eric had looked through news reports concerning "Jeremy" in the editor's office yesterday.

After hearing Chloe's account, Clark fell silent.

A trace of confusion rose within him.

Had I blamed Eric wrongly?!

"Clark!"

Just as he lowered his head in thought, he heard a familiar voice.

He looked up and saw his mother, Martha, hurrying toward him with a worried expression.

"Clark, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Mom."

Clark forced a smile, gathered himself, and stood up to answer his mother.

"That's good."

Jonathan walked over and patted his eldest son's shoulder. "Where's Eric? Isn't he with you?"

"No."

Clark's expression was somewhat strange as he answered.

Not noticing the unusual look on his son's face, Jonathan frowned, removed his hat, and looked around in hopes of finding Eric among the crowd.

"Uncle Jonathan."

Lana, accompanied by her aunt and wrapped in a white blanket, walked over to greet the couple.

"Lana."

Seeing Lana looking somewhat disheveled, with blood still on her forehead, Martha stepped forward and hugged her tenderly.

"What a terrible night. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I wasn't hurt badly, just got bumped a little."

Lana smiled at Martha, her gaze moving among Clark and the others.

When she failed to see Eric, a trace of disappointment appeared on her face.

She had not told the police that she had personally witnessed Eric kill Jeremy.

She had many questions in her heart and wanted to find Eric to talk, but he was not here.

Lana quickly gathered herself and, after exchanging a few words with the couple, left under the excuse of going to the hospital to look after Whitney.

Clark did not snap out of it until he watched Lana's back disappear.

He felt a little bothered that Lana had not come over to greet him.

Seeing Clark's dejected expression over his goddess, Chloe and Pete exchanged a glance.

Everything was understood without words.

After seeing Lana off, Jonathan prepared to ask the police about Eric's whereabouts.

He had only taken two steps when he turned his gaze and saw Eric talking to a police officer.

"Eric!"

After confirming that his younger son was safe, Jonathan let out a long breath and hurried over, throwing an arm around Eric's shoulders.

"Are you all right, Eric?"

"I'm fine, Dad. My clothes just got torn by accident."

Eric smiled as he replied to his father.

"That's good. As long as you're fine."

Jonathan patted Eric's shoulder. "Martha and Clark are waiting over there. Let's go over first."

The next morning.

Metropolis.

"Metropolis's Wild Youth? Playboy Lex Luthor and the Story of the Zero Club?!"

At Luthor Manor, Lex Luthor was reading the latest newspaper. When he saw the gossip article about himself, he scoffed.

"If a genie escapes from its bottle, then it is no longer a genie. The same goes for eye-catching gossip. If it is reported in full, then it is no longer gossip."

Setting down the newspaper, Lex stood up.

Wise, young, confident, and brimming with vigor, the bald Lex had just finished an intense fencing session.

During his break, he had casually picked up a newspaper and, upon seeing the report about himself, immediately made a disdainful comment.

"So you admit the report is false?"

The female fencing coach had a good relationship with Lex, so she asked bluntly.

"Audrey, do you know how fencing became an elegant sport?"

Lex stood up and picked up the fencing mask on the table. Without waiting for her answer, he continued on his own:

"In 1776, French fencing master La Boëssière invented the mask. That invention set fencing on the path to elegance. The invention of the mask completely prevented accidental injuries during offensive and defensive exchanges. For me, appropriately wearing a mask is protection during the offensive and defensive exchanges of my life."

"Who is your opponent in life? Your father, or your father's subordinates?"

Audrey continued asking.

"Who knows? Maybe neither. Maybe both."

An inscrutable smile appeared at the corner of Lex's mouth.

He sat back down and continued reading the newspaper, his gaze catching an article about Smallville.

After briefly reading it, Lex immediately became interested.

"A Smallville High School prom tragedy? Lightning?... Interesting."

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