Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Cruelty is Sometimes Rewarded
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"Officer Lane, what's going on here?"
Peter looked out the car window, addressing Officer Lane, who was maintaining order at the scene.
"A guy single-handedly robbed the bank and injured the security guards." Lane put away his radio. "It's the first time anyone has dared to rob a bank owned by the Luthor family."
"The Luthor family?" Peter's gaze shifted to the nearby bank, where he read the sign: "Luthor Family Investment Bank."
In the passenger seat, Jonathan remarked, "Lionel Luthor robs regular folks legally; the robber just decided to take back what's theirs. Only difference is the law sees one as legal and the other as criminal."
Lane cleared his throat, pretending he didn't hear Jonathan's comment. "That robber isn't ordinary. Security said he was like a monster. It's a turbulent time; we should all keep a low profile, right, Peter?"
Peter shook his head, replying, "I'm always a low-key guy, Officer Lane."
"Hmm, maybe. Well, have a good afternoon."
After Lane walked away, Peter didn't start the car immediately but looked pensively at the bank, its shattered glass doors reflecting his intense gaze.
Who could've done this?
The Luthor family's bank was supposed to be his "turf." He'd planned to rob it himself once he'd squeezed every penny out of the local crime syndicate. Now, someone had beaten him to it.
"Peter, are you okay?" Jonathan, noticing Peter's prolonged stare, grew concerned.
"I'm fine. Just wondering who did this." Peter replied as he started the car and drove toward the mayor's office.
In Metropolis, Lionel Luthor's Office
Lionel Luthor, sitting in his chair, watched surveillance footage of the robbery at the Luthor Investment Bank. On-screen, a man wearing a demon mask grabbed a security guard by the neck and threw him forward with immense strength.
Crash! The guard shattered the glass and fell hard onto the ground outside.
A security guard hiding behind the counter took a shot at the robber, but the man only staggered back slightly before grabbing the guard and throwing him into the wall.
Lionel Luthor frowned as he watched the guard slide down the wall, blood trailing behind him.
Suddenly, the office door opened with a creak. Lex, a small bald-headed boy, entered.
"Dad?"
Seeing his son enter, Lionel quickly turned off the surveillance footage. "Lex, you're supposed to knock."
Facing Lex, Lionel felt a pang of guilt. Six years ago, on a drive to Smallville, he'd let Lex wander into a cornfield to relieve himself while Lionel took a phone call. A meteorite had crashed into the field, leaving Lex unconscious. Although he recovered, the radiation exposure left him permanently bald.
Lex, unaware of his father's thoughts, shut the door gently. "Sorry, Dad. I'll remember next time." He paused before adding, "I want to talk to you about Varena."
Lex's face tightened with resolve. "Dad, Varena is an excellent nanny. I don't understand why you want to fire her."
Lionel turned his chair fully to face Lex. "Is that the only reason you came in?"
"Yes, I hope you'll reconsider, Dad."
"You're still young, Lex. There are things you don't understand."
Lex argued, "I'm not completely ignorant, Dad. Varena's hard work should be rewarded, not punished. Isn't that a basic rule of nature? Didn't you teach me that?"
"So, you think I'm wrong?"
"No, Dad. I just…"
Intimidated by his father's stern gaze, Lex's voice softened.
Standing up, Lionel fixed his intense eyes on him. "Let me teach you something, Lex. People think nature is harmonious and fair, but in reality, it's the cruel things that often get rewarded. Do you understand?"
Lex stared at Lionel, stunned, as though seeing him for the first time. He opened his mouth to respond but ultimately left the office silently, shoulders slumped in defeat.
Watching his son's lonely figure walk away, Lionel felt a twinge of regret. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so blunt.
Just as he considered calling Lex back to apologize, his phone rang. Frowning, he picked it up.
"Sir, the swamp land has been purchased by someone else."
Hearing that his planned acquisition had slipped away, Lionel's mood darkened further. "I don't care how you do it; get me ownership of that land."
"Well, sir, we discovered it was Peter Podrick who signed the contract with the mayor before us."
Lionel froze at Peter's name. After a moment, he spoke slowly into the phone, "Don't act just yet."
"Peter Podrick…" he muttered, repeating the name with a complex expression.
Peter, meanwhile, was on his way back to the farm, unaware that he'd attracted someone's attention.
The hum of the lawnmower filled the air as Azu muttered about their dad's delay in returning. He pushed the mower forward, clearing the overgrown grass.
With a click, the mower jammed. Curious, Azu knelt down to investigate and found a piece of metal lodged in the blades.
With a tug, he freed the metal bar, but the sudden rotation startled him, and he flinched, accidentally tossing the lawnmower high into the air.
Standing by the barn, Clark, who was carrying some boxes, heard a strange sound from above.
"Huh?" He looked up, and the next thing he saw was a rapidly descending lawnmower, its frame filling his vision.
Clang!
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