Metropolis I: Grandpa Dio Enters Metropolis

Metropolis I: Grandpa Dio Enters Metropolis

Driving a somewhat battered pickup truck, Locke took an excited Dio toward Metropolis.

The tires rolled over the snowmelt-covered road with a faint rustling sound. Dio's face was nearly pressed against the window, and the steel forest gradually awakening outside was reflected in his red eyes.

"Dad!"

He pointed out the window at a towering glass skyscraper glittering with blinding sunlight.

From the corner of his eye, Locke saw that beneath his son's carefully composed expression, his eyes were constantly sweeping over the streets like radar—

From the expensive suits displayed in storefronts, to the sharply dressed urban professionals in roadside cafés, to the limited-edition sports cars roaring past.

"What? More impressive than the area we went to last time?"

One hand on the steering wheel, Locke used the other to ruffle Dio's blond hair.

"Ahem!"

"Not bad." The boy immediately dodged like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, though he could not hide the amazement in his voice. "I'm just curious how these streets don't have any snow at all."

Locke chuckled.

Indeed, the last time he had brought Dio to Metropolis, they had only visited a small Chinese restaurant in Midvale, out in the suburbs.

But what lay before them now was the carefully maintained true city center.

Every inch of sidewalk was spotless and gleaming. The snowbanks along the road had been shaped into exquisite ice sculptures, and even the traffic lights seemed to be trimmed in silver.

"This is prime real estate—New Troy, kid."

Locke deliberately used an exaggerated tone. "Know what prime real estate means? It means every single paving stone here is worth—"

"Dad." Dio suddenly interrupted him, a helpless look flashing across his face. "You're not about to tell that story about how you once ruled Metropolis, are you?"

The pickup jolted violently, and Locke nearly bit his tongue.

This brat.

When had he learned to predict him?!

"Ding~"

As the vehicle GPS chimed, their destination finally appeared before them.

The Metropolis Hyatt Hotel's iconic curved glass façade looked like flowing gold in the morning sunlight.

"Dad." Pretending to casually straighten his collar, the boy looked up at the sixty-story building, his voice unusually unsteady. "You've made it big?"

"?!"

Locke's face darkened, and he immediately flicked his son on the forehead.

"Your Uncle Lionel arranged this."

Before he could finish speaking, a fragrant breeze drifted over.

"Mr. Kent?"

A woman in a fitted business suit strode toward them. "I'm Grey Gina Hutchinson."

"Boss sent me to receive the two of you."

She gave a slight bow. The diamond studs on her earlobes refracted dazzling specks of light, nearly making Locke dizzy.

That was right. Dizzy.

That was why Locke's gaze lingered on those long legs in stiletto heels for 0.5 seconds.

Mm.

Dio caught him red-handed, barely holding back a laugh.

His old face flushing, Locke pressed Dio's head and turned him to face forward.

Not paying attention to such a trivial matter, Grey was discreetly studying the father and son before her. Honestly, in five years at LuthorCorp, this was the first time she had seen a "special friend" whom Mr. Lionel mentioned repeatedly.

Whenever the board discussed agricultural investments in Kansas,

that business emperor, who was always calm and self-controlled, would invariably explain a few extra things as if he were defending someone.

So.

This was the farmer Mr. Boss could not stop thinking about?

She muttered to herself inwardly.

The man before her wore faded work pants, and the calluses on his palms were clearly visible under the hotel's crystal chandeliers.

He looked like he came from an entirely different world from the Wall Street elites Boss usually met.

But that child—

She glanced sideways at the blond boy.

Oh, God.

He looked like an angel stepping out of a classical oil painting.

Porcelain-white skin, rose-colored lips, and those rare ruby-like eyes.

Miss Grey, who could never resist beautiful things, felt her heart melting from the sheer adorableness.

"Miss Grey?"

Locke's voice rang out. "Now, we...?"

Snapping back to herself, Grey realized she had apparently been staring blankly at Dio for far too long.

"Sorry, sorry." The tips of her ears reddened slightly. "Behind me is the hotel Boss prepared for you two, and—"

Grey's words suddenly caught in her throat.

That child...

The way he was sizing her up did not suit his age at all. For a moment, she even felt as though a young emperor were evaluating a subject's loyalty. The pressure was like facing Lionel himself, making Grey instinctively straighten her back.

"Ms. Grey."

Dio suddenly spoke, his voice sweet as honey. "The diamond in your earring is beautiful."

Her fingers unconsciously touched her earlobe as Grey replied, "Thank you. It was from last year—"

"From Premier Mine in South Africa. IF clarity, with perfect cut proportions."

A trace of mischief flashed through the boy's red eyes. "A very nice gift."

"Ah..."

Grey covered her mouth, unable to believe it.

It had been a gift Boss gave the executives at last year's Christmas reception. By all rights, no one outside should have known about it.

How did this country child know such details? And state them so accurately?

"Dio."

"My son can be a little mischievous." Giving his son's shoulder a warning squeeze, Locke offered Grey an apologetic smile. "Lionel once showed me a little gift he brought back from a business trip. Dio saw it then."

"So that's how it is. Sorry, I lost my composure, you two."

"Please follow me."

Grey turned crisply and led the way.

She was afraid that if she kept looking, she would not be able to resist the urge to pull Dio into her arms and squeeze him.

The child might be a little troublesome, but—

he was still impossible to resist.

They followed Grey steadily through the revolving doors.

Attendants on both sides bowed in unison, making Locke, an ordinary farmer, awkwardly tug at the wrinkles in his work pants.

Their level of respect made it seem as if they were welcoming royalty.

I'm just an ordinary farmer...

But that little brat—

Locke could not help glancing at Dio a few more times.

The boy walked across the polished marble floor with both hands in his pockets, his golden bangs swaying lightly with every step. With that perfectly natural air, he looked like a young lion inspecting his territory.

When the attendants bowed, Dio even gave a slight nod in return. His red eyes held a composure entirely unfitting for his age.

Compared to his old man, he looked much more like royalty.

"Sir, allow me."

A white-gloved butler approached from the side and was about to take Locke's luggage, when the boy turned and naturally took the old travel bag from his father's hand.

"No need."

His voice carried a touch of reserved arrogance. "I am responsible for my father's luggage."

Locke's mouth twitched. He saw the World's figure flash through the air and vanish.

—Other than him, no one noticed that the battered canvas bag had suddenly become weightless.

When had this brat learned such aristocratic manners?

Am I some kind of king?!

But seeing Dio's straight back and shining eyes, Locke merely rubbed his nose in the end and let his son play the part of a little adult.

Such rare filial piety. He would not criticize him this time.

"The presidential suite comes with dedicated butler service."

As Grey swiped open the elevator access panel, she added, "A Michelin chef is on standby twenty-four hours a day, and there's also a wine cellar—"

"Ding~"

The elevator doors opened, cutting Grey off.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, Metropolis's skyline shone brilliantly.

Dio's reflection appeared in the glass, and on that little face trying so hard to look mature, there finally appeared the pure wonder of a ten-year-old child.

"The presidential suite is on the top floor."

Grey covered her mouth and chuckled. "Boss specifically instructed us to prepare it for the two of you. You can see the entire city from there."

Nodding, even the well-traveled Locke could not help whistling at the beautiful sight.

"There's one more thing, Mr. Kent."

"These are VIP tickets for Metropolis's annual technology exhibition tomorrow."

Grey took a gilded envelope from her briefcase. "Boss said—"

"Ahem~"

Imitating her boss's distinctive manner of speaking, she lowered her voice.

"That guy Locke would definitely be too cheap to take Dio somewhere nice to have fun."

"Give him the tickets. With how stingy he is, he'll definitely go if the exhibition is free."