A Game of Hide-and-Seek

"How about we play a game."

Eric leaned back slightly, once again concealing his face in the darkness.

"A game of hide-and-seek. Let's see who finds the other first."

Eric's deliberately disguised hoarse voice carried an unsettling quality. Combined with his strange orange-red eyes glowing from the darkness, it sent chills down the spines of the Owl Council's noblemen and noblewomen.

As if they were owls, while he was a beast lurking in the night and hunting them.

"No one dares speak our names lightly, and no one dares look down on us!"

The black-robed Speaker's voice was filled with tightly suppressed fury. "You will pay the price for this! A price that not even blood can repay, Punisher!"

"I'll be waiting."

No emotion could be heard in Eric's voice. "But before then, you'd better hide yourselves among the low walls and attics. Otherwise, once I find you, I'll crush your ambitions and desires, seize your wealth and reputation, and the so-called 'Owl Council' will vanish into thin air."

"You rats have overlooked one very important thing: you are nothing but dust and shadows. You have never controlled this city."

Click!

The moment Eric finished speaking, before the Owl Council members could react, the remote connection was cut off.

The distinguished nobles in the council chamber looked at one another, their expressions varied.

Even after being threatened and insulted by Eric, they felt more doubt than anger.

The other side had effortlessly killed Chris without giving them any chance to respond. He was clearly no ordinary person.

"I believe..."

After a moment of silence, the Speaker looked up at the crowd, whose faces all wore different expressions.

"It is time to activate our plan. The Council's existence has been provoked by an enemy. This city has developed a disease, and the simplest way to deal with a disease is to cut out the infected part. Though we do not know this Homelander's identity, no matter how we speculate, he must be one of our enemies."

He raised the owl feather in his hand and addressed the others. "I propose activating the Clearance Plan, clearing away those whom the Council has designated as 'enemies.'"

Who else could understand the Owl Council and harbor such hostility toward it, other than enemies who defied the Council's will—those powerful families and stubborn officials?

So, taking advantage of this opportunity, the Speaker proposed the long-prepared "Clearance Plan."

Though everyone hesitated over the Speaker's proposal, they ultimately raised the feathers at hand to signal their agreement.

On the other end of the remote video call, Eric had no idea about the Owl Council's plan.

Even if he had known, he would only have said, "Just as expected."

The reason he had deliberately provoked them with such arrogant words was simply to make them take the initiative and expose their weaknesses.

His super vision had not yet been fully unlocked. Covering all of Smallville was no problem, but covering all of Metropolis was beyond his reach.

After standing up, Eric cleared away every trace. He then used his super vision to inspect the apartment, dug out all suspicious items such as notebooks and documents, and took them with him.

"You seem a little distracted."

Smallville, Luthor Manor.

Lex kept calling the number labeled "Reporter K" on his phone, but it never connected.

The female friend sitting beside him noticed his unusual expression and asked, "Are you all right, Lex?"

"I'm fine. It's just that some things have gone beyond expectations."

Lex put down his phone and shrugged.

"I thought you always had everything under control."

"No one can keep winning forever, Victoria."

Lex sat down on the sofa and raised a glass of Paloma. "Not even Emperor Napoleon."

"I didn't expect you to be interested in history."

Victoria said with a smile, her alluring figure exuding an air of languid charm.

"Actually, I'm not interested in history. I'm interested in men who conquered the world before turning thirty."

"Oh, then you don't need to worry. You still have several years left."

Victoria teased.

Lex took a small sip of his Paloma and set the glass on the table. "Victoria, did you know the Luthor family has Dutch blood?"

"Oh?"

Victoria looked surprised. "That's the first time I've heard you mention it."

"The Luthor family were among the early Europeans who immigrated to America, and the family has Dutch blood. It is a family that has produced countless talents: scholars, doctors, scientists, educators, writers, missionaries. When a family grows large enough, it faces all kinds of problems, just like a corporation. Bloat, inefficiency, emotional blackmail."

"Is that why you want to use my father to pressure Luthor Enterprises and help you seize greater influence?"

Victoria asked him with a smile.

"No."

Lex shook his head. "Everything I said about family was only a passing reflection. What I really want to say is this: when a family has existed long enough, all kinds of legends arise—old urban legends with an absurd flavor. For example... a secret organization controlling the city's lifeblood from the shadows. In Metropolis, there is a group of rulers lurking in the darkness, sleepless like owls, watching your every move in the night."

"Mm-hmm, interesting."

Victoria nodded. "I've never heard my father mention an urban legend like that."

"That is understandable. Sir Harry's primary work is international trade, so he would not focus his attention on Metropolis. Just as the daughter of an international industrial tycoon would never rekindle an old romance while flying all over the world, even if she is an executive vice president."

"I understand."

Victoria put on an enlightened expression. "After beating around the bush for so long, you're wondering why I rekindled my old feelings for you?"

"No, of course not, Victoria. You always have a talent for making baseless associations."

Lex shifted his posture. "Back to the point. I always thought it was an urban legend until I met a reporter. Let's call him Reporter K. After spending time with him and conducting some investigations, I began to wonder whether such an organization really existed."

"Reporter K? Why not call him by his name?" Victoria asked.

"Generally speaking, when I refer to someone by a codename, it means my level of trust in them is basically zero."

"What about me?"

Victoria moved closer with a smile. "May I know which letter my name is listed under in your phone book?"

"Sorry. Classified."

Lex smiled and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

On the other side of town, Eric, who had just returned home, ran into a small problem.

"Eric."

The moment he entered his room, there came a knock at the door.

Eric frowned.

He did not know why Clark was looking for him at this time.

Had Clark seen him going out earlier?

Thanks to "Has Heshan Fainted from Fright Again Today?", "Baba," and Dream's Journey for the rewards. Thank you.

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