The Last Guest

"A new friend?"

Alfred remembered that Lynn had once told him he would introduce him to a friend who would absolutely get along with him someday.

However...

"Lynn, are you sure you want to take me today?"

In Batman's dressing room at Wayne Manor, Alfred watched Lynn and Kitty rummage through the clothes and hold various outfits up against themselves. He asked in confusion, "As you said, this is a return invitation for a housewarming party. Since you were invited as a guest, would it not be inappropriate to bring along a stranger like me? I think that would be somewhat impolite, and..."

"Alfred, you're a butler, not a greeter. Why are you standing there? Hurry up and find me something that isn't so expensive. Find something for yourself too. We're leaving soon."

"Meow~ I want an outfit too."

After a moment of silence, Lynn saw that Alfred had not moved and was still deep in thought. He pinched his chin and considered it. "Al, are you worried about that young master of yours?"

Looking at Alfred's expression, Lynn went blank-faced. "Really, Al? Are you worried he can't take care of himself? Or that someone might bully him?! Don't tell me you're worried he'll spend money recklessly?"

"Sigh..."

Alfred realized he had indeed been overthinking things. He had been the Wayne Family's butler for decades and had raised Bruce Wayne after he lost both parents as a child. Some things had simply become habits.

For example, worrying.

His thoughtful expression shifted. Alfred tilted his head and spread his hands. "I'm simply worried that if I'm not here keeping an eye on him, he'll go out and package up some model from somewhere again."

"Hehehehe~ Wouldn't that be even better? Maybe the next generation of Wayne Enterprises would be born that way~"

"Heh. One could only hope."

Alfred stepped forward to Lynn's side, examined the clothes in his hands, then looked around the room before turning back to him. "If you require clothes that are not so expensive, then we should leave here and go shopping."

"...You filthy rich bastard..."

Lynn picked up Kitty and followed Alfred out to buy some attire that suited his identity as a farmer.

A farmer worth no more than ten million wearing a suit, shoes, cufflinks, and other accessories worth nearly a million would clearly shatter that persona.

The two men and the cat had only just left the dressing room and entered the living room when Bruce Wayne was already sitting there, looking as though he had been waiting all along.

He sat on the sofa with a newspaper in his hands, seemingly reading it intently.

"Lynn, Alfred, are you going out already?"

"Your clothes are too expensive. We're going to buy some."

"Oh, understood."

Bruce Wayne looked as if he wanted to say something else, but Lynn and the others were already heading out, seemingly in a hurry.

"Hey, Lynn."

"Huh? Need something?"

"...No."

"We're leaving."

"Hey, Lynn..."

"Yeah?"

"...Nothing."

"What's wrong with you? Let's go."

Bang. Once the door shut, the house fell silent.

Wayne put down his newspaper, pursed his lips slightly toward the door, then picked the newspaper up again before putting it back down.

"It's not even evening yet. What should I do to pass the time...

Would it kill Lynn to bring me along?!"

No one answered his question.

With no other choice, Batman could only sigh and head for the basement.

I'll write two more pages of notes. I need to finish the Anti-Lynn Armor sooner.

With the Wayne Family's resources, there was no need to worry about traffic, queues, tickets, or ferries when traveling to neighboring Metropolis. They simply arranged for a helicopter, and a car was already waiting when they arrived.

It suited Lynn's persona perfectly—a car that was neither overly extravagant nor expensive.

Naturally, Alfred was still responsible for driving. It was not that Lynn did not want to drive; Alfred simply would not let him.

Along the way, Lynn explained his persona and false identity to Alfred. The old butler truly was a worldly man. He accepted the setup with remarkable calm, and his expression did not change at all throughout.

Then again, Bruce Wayne maintained a second persona year-round. What was so unusual about it?

"...So my identity is just your friend? It's that simple?"

"That simple. Make up the rest yourself."

"All right."

Alfred was a fine driver. Kitty even recovered a hint of the steadiness she felt while riding in a balloon.

Following Lynn's navigation, they soon saw the old house belonging to Jonathan Kent.

Jonathan and his wife were standing at the door.

"Hahaha, Lynn, you've fully recovered from your injuries."

The moment Lynn got out of the car, Jonathan Kent happily came over and gave him a gentle hug.

"Hello. I'm Lynn's friend, Alfred. Forgive my abrupt visit."

Alfred looked sharp. Although his hair had already turned gray, he stood perfectly straight and gave off an air of integrity and reliability.

"Hello, hello. I'm Jonathan, Jonathan Kent. Kent Farm welcomes old friends and new friends alike."

The two men smiled, shook hands, and exchanged a few words. Alfred turned to retrieve the wine he had brought as a gift. Lynn walked over to Jonathan Kent and smiled. "Jonathan, I believe you and Al will become good friends."

"Really? May I ask why?"

"Hahaha, you'll find out soon enough. Jonathan, you don't mind that I brought a new friend without telling you beforehand, do you?"

"Of course not."

Jonathan Kent shook his head, his smile slightly sly. "Because I have a new friend to introduce to you as well."

"Oh... is that so..."

Lynn dragged out the words as he glanced at the approaching Alfred, then turned back and asked, "May I ask who this person is~"

Kent laughed as well. "You'll find out soon enough too, hahaha!"

At the Kent home, around the dining table.

Wine glasses clinked amid laughter and cheerful conversation.

Lynn sat on the left, sipping the wine Alfred had bought while watching him and Jonathan Kent chat animatedly.

Lynn had known there was a good chance the two would become friends, but he had not expected them to hit it off so incredibly well!

They had not even known each other an hour ago, yet now they seemed like old friends of many years. They were remarkably close.

At first, Alfred had been quite polite. He listened and spoke, but there was always a natural reserve and courtesy in his manner.

Then Mrs. Kent asked Lynn whether he had considered starting a family. Lynn answered that he was afraid he would not raise a child well and did not quite dare to.

That immediately got the two of them talking.

One said he had raised a troublesome child who was prone to causing trouble. The other said his own child had nearly gone down the wrong path once...

Whenever one spoke, the other listened with extreme focus and nodded wildly!

The more they talked, the more they clicked. The more they drank, the happier they became. Lynn had practically become an outsider.

Seeing them drink red wine like juice was not going to end well, so Lynn decisively snatched away the final bottle before it could be opened.

"Pause, pause. Jonathan, I'm not trying to spoil your fun, but you said it yourself—we still have one more guest. We can't let him arrive to see nothing but empty bottles, can we?"

Jonathan was not very drunk, but his face had reddened somewhat. Chuckling, he took out his phone to make a call. At that moment, the sound of brakes and a car pulling up came from outside.

"Lynn, that must be the final guest I mentioned.

Ha, Clark, you're back a little late."

Jonathan Kent pointed at the broad young man with black-rimmed glasses who pushed open the door and entered. "This is my son, Clark Kent.

Clark, these two are my good friends. Alfred and Lynn."