章 34: The End of the Research [34]

Lex drove away, and Clark watched as the vehicle quickly disappeared down the road.

'Now I'd better resolve my dad's issues quickly. It's not good to rely too much on the storyline.'

Using his super speed, Clark ran to the highway where the accident had occurred.

"Finally, here it is," Clark murmured as he crouched down and picked up the fallen flower.

With the flower in hand, Clark sped to Dr. Hamilton's lab.

Clark arrived at the lab and, without wasting any time, entered the building.

Inside, the place was chaotic, with papers scattered around and scientific equipment in every corner. The soft hum of a machine echoed in the background, but Clark was focused on one thing: solving his dad's problem. He ran to Hamilton, who was absorbed in his research.

"Make the cure," Clark said, firmly gripping Hamilton's head.

Hamilton, surprised and terrified, looked up at Clark and, without question, took the flower he brought. Silently, he began his work, retrieving the necessary equipment to extract the Nicodemus flower's antidote. He worked quickly, his hands trembling, while Clark watched him closely.

The sound of vials being opened and syringes being filled resonated through the lab.

Fsss...

After a few minutes of concentration, Hamilton finished the process and handed Clark a small case containing several syringes with the antidote.

"Destroy your research, burn down the lab. You won't remember that I was here, and you will give up researching anything related to kryptonite in the future."

Still under Clark's control, Hamilton nodded in agreement, without hesitation.

Clark left the lab at super speed, the sound of his steps practically inaudible.

Whoosh!

Back at the farm, Clark was determined to save his father and ensure that the effects of the Nicodemus flower wouldn't cause any more problems.

Jonathan was sitting on the porch of the house, clearly irritated. He looked at Clark, frowning as he gripped the beer bottle harder than usual.

"Kid, where have you been? You left without telling anyone! Your mother's worried! I should give you a beating!" Jonathan shouted, his voice full of frustration.

Clark ignored his father's words and slowly approached. He knew Jonathan's anger wasn't normal and that he had to act quickly to end the flower's effects.

Clark stood in front of Jonathan, remaining calm. Without saying a word, he opened the small case containing the syringes he'd gotten from Dr. Hamilton. With precision, he took one of the syringes and prepared to inject the antidote into his father.

Jonathan looked at Clark in confusion, but before he could react, Clark had already injected the antidote into his arm.

Jonathan's eyes widened as he tried to resist what was happening, but soon his body gave in. He fainted, falling softly into Clark's arms.

Clark picked up his father, sighing in relief that he had managed to act in time. He carried him inside the house carefully, ready to ensure that Jonathan would fully recover from the flower's effects.

Inside, Clark laid Jonathan down on the couch, adjusting him with care. Martha, who had been in the kitchen, ran into the living room upon seeing the scene.

"Clark! What happened to your father?"

"I took care of everything, Mom. He'll be fine now," Clark said, looking at Martha with a soft smile.

Martha exhaled deeply, relieved. "Thank God. I was so worried..."

Clark sat beside Jonathan, watching him rest. He knew the flower's effects would soon wear off and that things would finally return to normal on the farm.

...

The next morning, Lana was nervous as she prepared for her presentation to Lex. Her folders with reports were neatly organized, and she mentally reviewed each point she wanted to cover. When she arrived at Luthor Mansion, Lex greeted her and guided her to his office.

"I'm curious to hear what you've prepared, Lana. Feel free to start whenever you're ready."

Lana took a deep breath, adjusting the papers in her hands before she began speaking.

"Lex, I did some research on local tax incentives and how to revitalize the Talon. I believe we could turn it into much more than just a regular theater. My proposal is to create a space that's simultaneously a café, a bookstore, and a community gathering spot, with local bands performing and art films being shown."

She looked at Lex, waiting for his reaction, but he simply nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"The Talon has historical value for Smallville, and I think with the right investment, we can turn it into a profitable business while making it culturally significant. It's a place that could attract both locals and tourists."

Lex kept his eyes on Lana, clearly impressed with how much thought she had put into the project.

"You've done an excellent job, Lana. The idea is solid, and what you're proposing is exactly the kind of enterprise Smallville needs."

Lana smiled, feeling relieved and excited by Lex's positive response.

"I accept your proposal," Lex said, leaning forward slightly with a smile. "But I want you to see this as a partnership. The two of us working together to make the Talon the best place in town."

Lana's smile faded slightly when she heard the word "partnership." She tried to hide her concern, but Lex noticed the change in her expression.

"Is something wrong, Lana?" Lex asked, tilting his head, clearly curious.

"No, nothing... I'm just processing it all," she replied, trying to keep her composure.

Lex smiled again, standing up and extending his hand to Lana.

"Trust me, Lana. We'll make this work together."

Lana looked at Lex's hand for a moment before shaking it, still with a slight feeling of uncertainty.

"I know, Lex. Thank you for believing in the project," she said, trying to push aside the troubling thoughts that had begun to creep into her mind.

As Lana left the mansion, her thoughts swirled around how this partnership with Lex could change things in her life. She wanted so badly for the Talon to succeed, but she knew that working with Lex Luthor meant stepping into a much more complicated world than she had imagined.

...

Clark came down the stairs and found his parents in the kitchen. Jonathan was sitting at the table, holding a cup of coffee with his head down. The atmosphere seemed calm, but there was something different in the air.

"Good morning, Dad. Did you wake up feeling okay?"

Jonathan remained silent for a few seconds, not lifting his gaze from the coffee cup.

"Dad?"

Jonathan finally raised his eyes, looking a bit confused.

"Yes, son... I'm just a little disoriented and have a terrible headache," Jonathan replied, his voice tired as he rubbed his forehead.

Martha, who was preparing breakfast, approached Jonathan and gently hugged him from behind, trying to comfort him.

"We'll go to the hospital later, sweetheart. Just to make sure everything is fine," Martha said in a calm but firm tone.

Clark nodded, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl before getting ready to leave. "Okay, Mom. I'm heading to school, but let me know if you need anything."

Martha smiled slightly, watching her son leave. "We'll let you know, Clark. Take care."

Clark gave one last look at Jonathan, still concerned, but left for school.

...

Later, Lex drove his car down the road leading to Dr. Hamilton's lab. He had known something was wrong since their last conversation. When he arrived at the lab, he was surprised to see a thick column of smoke rising from the building.

"This isn't right."

Lex quickly parked the car and ran toward the lab. Upon entering, he found the place completely burned. The smell of soot and melted materials filled the air. All of Hamilton's equipment was destroyed, and most of the papers had been reduced to ashes.

"Who did this?" Lex muttered as he looked around, trying to understand what had happened.

In the midst of the chaos, he saw Dr. Hamilton, his face marked by frustration, staring at the wreckage. He looked tired, defeated, but there was a determination in his eyes that Lex hadn't expected to see.

"Dr. Hamilton, what happened here?" Lex asked, trying to remain calm despite the evident destruction.

"It's over, Lex. It's all over," Hamilton said without looking directly at him. "I burned everything. I'm not going to continue with this research... never again."

Lex frowned, surprised by the confession. "You did this? Why? You were so close to important discoveries!"

Hamilton finally looked at Lex, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and anger. "Because I went too far. What I was doing wasn't natural... and you know it. These kryptonite experiments... what they can cause... I don't want to be involved anymore."

Lex stepped forward, trying to convince Hamilton to reconsider. "You're making a mistake. This research is essential, Dr. Hamilton. You have a brilliant mind. You can't just give up!"

"I won't subject myself to this, Lex!" Hamilton shouted, his voice echoing through the ruined lab. "You can threaten me all you want, but I won't go back to kryptonite research. Never again."

Lex remained silent for a moment, clearly frustrated. He hadn't expected this reaction from Hamilton. He knew the scientist was afraid, but he believed Hamilton's ambition and curiosity would keep him going. But now, it was clear the man was determined to stop.

Lex clenched his fists in frustration. "Do you understand what you're giving up, don't you? This is much bigger than you can imagine."

Hamilton shook his head, visibly exhausted. "I know. And that's why I'm done."

Without another word, Lex turned and left the lab, visibly frustrated. He got into his car, and as he drove back to the mansion, his thoughts were racing.

'This won't end like this.'

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