Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor

"Locke, kids."

Jonathan had noticed them too and waved enthusiastically through the window.

Martha immediately stood up and hurried out of the café, a warm smile on her face.

"Kids!"

She opened her arms, hugging Clark first before turning to Dio. "You must be starving, right? I ordered your favorites—"

"Pancakes and maple syrup."

Dio cut in, a flicker of anticipation flashing in his eyes before his haughty expression quickly returned. "Though I'm not very hungry."

"Grrr~"

But his stomach betrayed him with a rumble.

Martha could not help but laugh. She could only pretend not to have heard it and gently patted Dio's shoulder.

"Go on in. The pancakes are still hot."

Standing beside them, Locke watched the scene with an unconscious smile. He turned to Jonathan. "I'll leave these two little ones to you. Later, I need to take some people to see the corn and oats at our farm."

"Brother." Jonathan nodded and gave Locke's shoulder a firm pat. "Thank you so much."

Over the past few years, Locke had clearly promoted Jonathan's produce whenever he sold his own crops.

"We're brothers, so what's there to thank me for?" Locke said with a grin, lightly punching him back.

"Since you put it that way, I won't pretend anymore." Jonathan suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Lunch is on me. I've still got a little secret stash left."

"..."

As everyone knew, for certain irresistible reasons—

Jonathan's "secret stash" never stayed hidden for more than three days. Martha always found it with unerring precision.

But since Jonathan had said so, Locke blinked cooperatively. "Then I'll have to make sure I bleed you dry."

Locke turned, got into the car, started it, and drove toward the place where he had arranged to meet Anthony.

That was when—

"You brat, aren't you hungry?"

He turned back helplessly toward the truck bed, where Dio's blond hair fluttered in his view.

Several dozen minutes later, the old Ford pickup slowly approached the town's second entrance.

Locke narrowed his eyes at the festively decorated street ahead.

Colorful flags fluttered in the breeze, decorations hung outside every shop, and even the lampposts were wrapped in ribbons.

"Did the Kansas Crows win a game or something?"

Locke turned to Dio in the passenger seat with a puzzled look.

Dio was elegantly flipping through a hardcover book.

Without even looking up, he gave a cold laugh. "How would I know?"

"Strange." Locke raised a brow. "Shouldn't boys your age be really into football?"

"Heh."

Dio snapped the book shut, a trace of contempt flashing through his red eyes.

"Only gorillas like Clark would enjoy such a barbaric sport."

Locke was briefly speechless. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he silently drove to the place he had agreed to meet Anthony.

There, a middle-aged man in a crisp suit was being warmly received by Anthony.

"That must be the big boss."

After parking, Locke thoughtfully studied the man.

His hair was slicked back without a strand out of place. Behind gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze was sharp as an eagle's, and every gesture carried the elegance and aloofness unique to high society.

"Dad, that man..."

Locke's heart tightened, and he quickly asked, "What is it?"

"His watch." Dio lowered his voice. "It's a limited-edition Patek Philippe. At least two hundred thousand dollars."

Locke immediately sucked in a breath. That was equivalent to two years of net income from his farm.

"Is that really the important part? And how do you know about Patek Philippe?" Locke smacked Dio lightly on the head. "Did you sneak another look at my Playboy?"

"No. Only Clark would be curious about that kind of thing," Dio argued.

"Hey, why is everything Clark's fault? Is that right?"

"Dad, I told you, I was only looking at fashion trends. I'm not interested in those heavily made-up women."

"So you admit you looked?"

"?!"

Before Dio could retort, Anthony noticed them from nearby and immediately jogged over.

The shrewd middleman had specifically put on a brand-new suit today. His tie was perfectly knotted, and even his usually messy beard had been trimmed neat.

"Locke! You're finally here!"

Anthony enthusiastically grabbed Locke's arm, then glanced at Dio standing beside him and asked with a knowing smile, "And this young master is?"

"My son, Dio," Locke replied somewhat irritably, his gaze fixed on the suited man in the distance.

Anthony immediately understood and led the two of them forward.

"Mr. Luthor, this is Locke Kent, the man I mentioned to you. He's one of the best farmers around here."

Luthor?

Locke's pupils suddenly contracted.

A Luthor with hair?

He instinctively looked at the man's head. Thick blond hair gleamed in the sunlight.

That didn't seem like a Luthor either.

"Dad." Dio quietly reminded him, gently nudging his distracted father with an elbow.

"Ah, sorry." Locke finally came back to himself and noticed the hand already extended toward him. He quickly reached out to shake it. "I'm Locke Kent, and this is my son, Dio Kent."

"Lionel. Lionel Luthor."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, one of Kansas's finest farmers." The man smiled slightly, not at all bothered by Locke's lapse in manners. Then he pulled a small, slight boy out from behind him. "This is my son, Lex Luthor."

So this was the real one.

Locke smiled and curiously examined Clark's future nemesis.

Little Luthor looked to be around ten years old. He had thin blond hair, an overly large pair of round glasses perched on his pale face.

He hid timidly behind his father like a frightened quail.

Hmm.

There was not the slightest trace of the future tyrant in him.

"This child..."

Lionel gave an apologetic smile. "We hit some turbulence on the helicopter ride here. It frightened him."

"Please don't mind it, Mr. Locke."

Dio narrowed his eyes as he examined the boy his own age, a probing glint flashing in his red pupils.

Little Lex seemed to sense the gaze as well and shrank farther behind his father.

"It's fine."

Locke said gently, "It's natural to be nervous the first time you fly. Dio was scared out of his wits the first time he rode a tractor too."

"Dad!"

Dio immediately protested, his face flushing bright red.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Lionel laughed heartily. "All children are like that. Speaking of which, Mr. Locke, I heard that your farm—"

"Father."

At that moment, Lex suddenly spoke in a timid voice. "Can I... can I go play with Mr. Dio first?"

His voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz, yet it stunned everyone present.

Mr.?

Dio raised a brow, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

He liked that form of address.