Keep Swimming, Why Don't You?

After the bar owner finished shouting, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. By awkward, that meant Russell and Arthur; everyone else kept singing and dancing, celebrating the free drinks for everyone tonight.

Russell was a strange outsider?

Impossible. He was the superhero Superman. Even if he were not, anyone treating everyone to free drinks could not possibly be a bad person.

Arthur's body tensed as he stared unblinkingly at Russell, debating whether he should run immediately.

Staying to fight was definitely not an option. Leaving aside the cost of compensating for any broken tables and chairs, he could not beat Superman anyway!

But if he plunged straight into the sea and ran without a word, he might get away, but what would happen to his kind, gentle old father?

A superhero would not take his old father hostage, would he?

Arthur was conflicted, but Russell had no such concerns. As a humanoid awkwardness generator, he was highly experienced. What awkward scene had he not seen before? This minor embarrassment was nothing. He simply changed the subject and moved on.

"Arthur, relax. There's no need to be nervous. Let me say this again: I really came to find you with no ill intentions."

"Uh, can I leave now?"

"No!"

Russell knew Arthur was still wary of him. Left with no other choice, he put aside his usual indifference to fame and fortune and took the initiative to mention his glorious achievements, saying loudly yet modestly, "The Angel Incident in Los Angeles, the terrorist invasion in Coast City, the Dirty Bomb incident in Gotham City, the Kryptonian incident in Metropolis—do you know about those?"

Arthur's eyes lit up. "Of course. I know about all of those. Could it be that you..."

"That's right, it was me!"

Russell wiped the cold sweat from his