Bab 6: Business and Mystery [06]
Clark adjusted the rearview mirror of the truck as the CD rested on the passenger seat, his fingers tapping the steering wheel as he drove to the library. The sun shone brightly that morning, and the fields surrounding Smallville gleamed under the light. Clark took a deep breath, feeling more confident than ever.
Parking in front of the town library, he grabbed the CD from the seat, holding it carefully. "Let's do this," he murmured to himself before getting out of the truck and entering the building.
Library
The library was as quiet as ever, the soft sound of pages turning and the clicking of keyboards echoing through the room. Clark headed straight to the counter, where the librarian, a middle-aged woman with thin glasses, greeted him with a kind smile.
"Good morning," she said, noticing the CD in Clark's hands. "How can I help you?"
"Yes, I need to print some pages from this file," Clark replied, handing her the CD. "I'll print a few copies."
The librarian nodded, taking the CD and moving to the computer behind the counter. Clark watched as she loaded the file and started printing. The sound of the printer filled the air, and Clark took the moment to glance around, observing the shelves filled with books that seemed to be waiting for readers.
A few minutes later, the librarian returned with a stack of printed pages, placing them on the counter. "Here are your prints. Will you be paying with cash or card?"
Clark sighed quietly as he pulled out his wallet. "Cash," he replied, handing her some bills. As he paid, he realized his money was running low.
"I need money soon," Clark murmured to himself as he pocketed the change and placed the printed pages in a folder. He retrieved the CD and left the library, the sound of the doors closing behind him.
In the parking lot, he opened the truck door and tossed the folder with the prints and CD onto the passenger seat. He got into the vehicle, adjusted the mirror, and glanced at the prints with a satisfied smile. "Now it's off to the Luthor mansion," he said, starting the engine and pulling out of the parking lot toward his next destination.
....
Clark was behind the wheel, his eyes carefully watching the road ahead as the engine purred smoothly. The day was clear, and the sunlight reflected off the green fields around him. As he drove toward the Luthor mansion, something caught his attention.
An ambulance was parked in front of a workshop, its lights still flashing but silent. A small crowd of onlookers had gathered, watching as paramedics worked inside the building.
"Frank," Clark murmured, recognizing the name of the workshop and the situation. He frowned, remembering Jeremy Creek and his intentions. 'This is related to him… After I handle things with Lex, I'll call Chloe and find out the details.'
Clark thought he spotted Pete and Chloe among the curious crowd but decided to ignore it for now. He knew the situation could wait until after his meeting with Lex was resolved.
...
Lex's Mansion
Clark parked the truck at the entrance of the imposing Luthor mansion, pausing for a moment to take in the grandeur of the place. He turned off the engine, the sound fading to silence, as the surrounding environment absorbed the quiet.
He got out of the vehicle, carefully closing the door, and walked toward the mansion's entrance.
As he reached the front door, a butler with a serious expression and rigid posture greeted him. The man, with graying hair and wearing an impeccable suit, looked at Clark with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"May I help you, sir?" the butler asked, his tone formal and polite, though he did not seem to recognize the visitor.
"Yes, my name is Clark Kent," Clark replied with a light smile. "I'm here to see Lex."
The butler looked at Clark for a moment, clearly trying to remember if there was an appointment. "Mr. Luthor was not expecting visitors today... Allow me to confirm if he can see you."
While the butler stepped away to inform Lex of Clark's unexpected arrival, Clark took in the vast entry hall of the mansion, his eyes capturing the luxurious and almost opulent details of the place. The paintings on the walls, the chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, and the polished furniture all spoke volumes about the Luthor family's wealth and lifestyle.
Within a few minutes, the butler returned, this time with a slightly less rigid expression.
"Mr. Luthor is available and will be happy to see you. Please, follow me."
Clark nodded and followed the butler through the mansion's corridors. With each step, he could feel the grandeur of the place, but he remained calm, focused on the purpose of his visit.
When they arrived at a spacious and well-decorated room, Lex stood from an elegant armchair as soon as he saw Clark enter. A smile formed on his face, surprised but clearly pleased with the unexpected visit.
"Clark! What a pleasant surprise," Lex said, his voice expressing a mix of curiosity and contentment. "I hope you're enjoying the truck."
"It's amazing, Lex," Clark replied, returning the smile as he approached. "I really wanted to thank you in person. It's a generous gift."
Lex nodded, seeming pleased with the response. "I'm glad you're enjoying it. After what you did for me, it seemed like the least I could do."
Clark stepped closer, extending the stack of pages he had brought with him. "Actually, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about, aside from thanking you for the truck."
Lex raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What is it?"
Clark handed the stack of papers to Lex, who took them and briefly flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the printed words.
"Could you explain what this is?" Lex asked, lifting the pages and examining them more closely. His eyes quickly caught the title at the top of the first page.
"It's a book. Actually, it's the first in a series I've been thinking of publishing. But I'd need help getting in touch with a good publisher," Clark explained.
"Interesting," Lex said, looking up at Clark. "I know a few publishers who might be interested in this. Publishing a book isn't easy, but I believe we can find the right contact for you."
Clark sighed with relief, grateful. "Thanks, Lex. And sorry for taking advantage of our recent friendship for this."
Lex smiled warmly, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Clark. Friends help friends."
Ring ring
The sound of a cell phone interrupted their conversation. Clark excused himself from Lex and quickly answered the call.
"Clark, come to the school. Pete and I are waiting," Chloe said on the other end of the line.
"I'm on my way," Clark replied before hanging up.
"Talking to your girlfriend?" Lex joked, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile.
Clark laughed, shaking his head. "She's just a friend."
Lex smiled back, clearly not believing it too much. "Well, if you need anything else, don't hesitate to reach out."
"I have to go, Lex. Thanks for your help," Clark said as he stood up and headed for the exit.
"Whenever you want, feel free to visit me, Clark," Lex replied, accompanying his friend to the door.
Clark left the mansion, feeling a sense of relief and confidence knowing Lex was willing to help him with the project. Lex, on the other hand, stood for a moment, watching Clark leave before picking up the stack of pages again. He sat down in a nearby armchair and began reading more attentively, intrigued by the content Clark had presented.
.....
"So, why did you call me?" Clark asked, walking toward Chloe and Pete, who were waiting near the school newspaper.
Chloe looked up, holding a stack of newspaper pages, with a serious expression. "Clark, it's about the Jeremy Creek case. There was a murder today… the third one this week."
"I saw an ambulance earlier, but I didn't know what it was about," Clark commented, crossing his arms as he remembered the scene he had witnessed at the workshop.
"It's not just that," Chloe continued, her voice low, almost conspiratorial. "Jeremy hasn't aged a day. He was in a coma for 12 years, Clark."
Clark kept his expression neutral, though he knew exactly what Chloe was implying. The memories of the events from the series were already clear in his mind, but he decided to stay in character.
"Well, Clark, come over here. Chloe has something to show you," Pete said, nodding toward the hallway.
Clark followed Pete, aware that they were heading toward the famous school newspaper board, where Chloe collected her theories and articles on the strange events happening in Smallville. Even though he already knew what it was about, he maintained a casual expression, as if he had no idea what was coming next.
Chloe, who was already waiting beside the board, looked at Clark with an excited smile, though there was a hint of seriousness in her demeanor.
"Welcome to the Wall of Weird!" Chloe said, enthusiastically pointing to the wall covered in newspaper clippings, photos, and notes.
Clark raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise as he stepped closer to the board. 'Exactly like in the series,' he thought, observing the pictures and clippings. It was a collage of everything Chloe had investigated about the bizarre events in town. Photos of people with strange powers, stories of mysterious murders, and newspaper clippings highlighted the dark and supernatural side of Smallville.
"What's this?" Clark asked, taking a step forward to pretend he was seeing it for the first time.
"This is my personal obsession," Chloe replied with a playful smile. "I collect everything related to the strange happenings in town. And lately, we've had a lot of bizarre stuff to investigate."
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