Chương 72: Chapter 72 (edited)
Outside Metropolitan University, in a nearby western restaurant, Kara and her friends chose to sit by the window outside rather than dining inside.
Metropolitan University, being a prestigious institution, offered good food in its cafeteria, but the prices were undeniably steep. Unlike some countries where university cafeterias are subsidized, many cafeterias here were expensive. Some universities even made it mandatory for freshmen—or worse, all students for four years—to eat in the cafeteria, which was often costlier than eating out.
For example, a hamburger costing only three dollars outside might be priced at five or eight dollars in the cafeteria.
Since Kara was treating her friends, dining in the cafeteria wasn't an option.
Currently, the group consisted of three people, and Kara finally got a good look at Lex Luthor.
Kara couldn't pinpoint why, but she noticed Lex and Clark were not only in the same grade but also assigned to the same dormitory, room "347."
Interestingly, Lex wasn't bald at this age. His hair was thick and deliberately grown past his ears.
Kara kept staring at Lex, wondering what would lead to his iconic baldness in the future.
Feeling self-conscious under the gaze of such a beautiful woman, Lex couldn't help but shift uncomfortably. Kara, who already had experience in the professional world, had a sharp demeanor that made her presence intimidating.
But most striking was how young Lex seemed now.
After spending some time observing him, Kara realized that young Lex wasn't inherently evil. In fact, he exhibited a sense of justice.
The Luthor family was one of Metropolis's wealthiest families, comparable to Gotham's Wayne family.
In the DC world, several prominent business empires existed, such as the Queen family associated with Green Arrow. Even the Wayne family, despite its fame, was just a leading conglomerate in Gotham. In Metropolis, the Luthor family held that position.
Lex, as the heir of the Luthor empire, carried significant responsibility.
During their meal, Lex shared his perspectives on society and class structure. He believed that poverty was largely due to a lack of opportunities for upward mobility, with wealth concentrated in the hands of a few elites.
He spoke passionately about the need for creating a better environment for children born into disadvantaged circumstances, providing them with access to education and opportunities.
Lex expressed his desire to focus on philanthropy after inheriting the family business.
Historically, Lex had been recognized for organizing charity galas and establishing philanthropic institutions.
Kara was reassured by this. She remarked, "Taking from the people and giving back to the people is a noble idea."
Lex pondered her words, finding them deeply inspiring.
If Lex continued on this path, Kara believed he wouldn't corrupt Clark. On the contrary, Lex could become one of Clark's closest friends and greatest allies.
Feeling reassured, Kara left Metropolis. Her main purpose had been to assess Lex and visit her younger cousin, Clark.
After all, she was aware of Lex's potential to become one of Superman's most formidable adversaries in the future.
However, perhaps because of her intervention, Lex and Clark might remain friends. She also insisted that Clark complete his college education, something she believed could make a difference in his life.
Feeling optimistic, Kara bid farewell to Clark and Lex, then drove home.
The weekend offered her a rare day off, and she planned to spend the evening with her adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.
Like siblings often do, Kara and Clark shared some amusingly similar habits. For instance, Kara had once promised to visit home during her school breaks but often reneged. Now, Clark seemed to follow the same pattern, choosing to spend his holidays at school rather than returning to Smallville.
Kara wondered how Jonathan and Martha felt about this.
The peaceful days passed uneventfully for about a month.
One night, however, Kara was abruptly awakened by a phone call.
Annoyed by the harsh ringtone, she grabbed her phone, ready to scold the caller. It was Bruce Wayne.
Before she could threaten him for disturbing her sleep, Bruce's urgent tone caught her attention.
"Kara, Jennifer's been hurt," Bruce said.
Kara immediately sat up, alarmed. "What? What happened?" she demanded, her voice sharp with concern.
"It was a car bomb. But don't worry—she sensed something was wrong and avoided serious injury. She's only suffered minor scratches," Bruce explained quickly.
Jennifer, a close friend of Kara's, had been returning home late after working on a case.
Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Bullock had assigned two teams to escort Jennifer, as usual. However, when Jennifer approached her car, she sensed something amiss. Trusting her instincts, she immediately backed away before the car exploded.
The blast's impact sent her flying, leaving her with minor injuries but no life-threatening harm.
Bruce was already at the hospital, ensuring Jennifer's safety and protection.
"Who did it?" Kara asked coldly.
"The Joker," Bruce replied. "A lunatic criminal who calls himself the Joker. If you've been following Gotham's news, you'd know about him."
Unfortunately, Kara wasn't familiar with Gotham's recent developments.
But she didn't need a detailed briefing to recognize the Joker's infamous name.
Narrowing her eyes, Kara ended the call abruptly.
Though Bruce hadn't directly asked for her help, Kara couldn't ignore the situation. Without hesitation, she packed her things and drove to Gotham overnight.
On the way, she called Perry White, her boss at the Daily Planet.
"Perry, I need some time off," Kara stated.
Perry, groggy from sleep, was about to refuse when Kara cut him off.
"Jennifer's been hurt. It was a terrorist attack. I need to be there," Kara said firmly.
Perry hesitated before responding. "And what exactly can you do?"
Kara's tone turned icy. "Perry, why do you think I get exclusive photos of Batman so easily? Or why I know about the Oracle's new battle suit before anyone else? Don't play dumb."
After a pause, Perry relented. "Fine. But bring back something exclusive for the paper, or we'll have to have a serious talk."
Kara chuckled, her laugh like the chiming of silver bells. "Deal."
She hung up and continued her journey to Gotham, ready to face whatever awaited her.
Chương 73: Chapter 73 (edited)
Kara is not impulsive. Although she had made it clear to Perry that she was the Oracle of Justice, there was a reason for her actions.
The first reason was that she had to go to Gotham City next. Otherwise, Jennifer would remain in constant danger.
The second reason was Bruce. He already knew her identity, and so did Rachel.
If Bruce could trust Rachel with such information, why couldn't she trust Perry?
Perry was a smart man; he knew what he should and shouldn't know. When Kara was about to spell it out for him by saying, "I'm Oracle," he stopped her, choosing to remain ignorant.
That decision put Kara at ease.
Tossing her phone onto the passenger seat, Kara slammed her foot on the gas pedal and used her psychokinesis to reduce the weight of the car. This trick allowed the ordinary vehicle to reach a mind-boggling 400 mph—far beyond what even high-end sports cars could achieve. For reference, the theoretical maximum speed of an F1 car on the track was only 375 mph.
At this speed, any ordinary person would lose control. The car wasn't just moving fast—it was practically flying.
But Kara wasn't one to flaunt her abilities recklessly. She stayed grounded, pushing her limits within reason. After all, her goal was to get to Gotham City as quickly as possible.
She arrived in Gotham in record time.
Despite being Metropolis's protector, her responsibilities had brought her to Gotham more and more often. Each time, it was not by choice. This time was no exception—Jennifer had been attacked and injured.
Using the address Bruce provided, Kara navigated to the hospital where Jennifer was being treated. She rushed to the designated floor and saw Bruce waiting for her in the hallway.
"Where's Jennifer?" Kara asked as she approached. "How is she?"
Bruce stepped aside, letting Kara see through the glass window. Inside, Jennifer was awake, sitting on the hospital bed with a thick file in her hands.
"I told her to rest, but you can see how well she listens," Bruce said with a shrug. "Go keep her company. I'll grab some drinks."
With that, he left.
Kara let out a relieved sigh before entering the ward.
Jennifer looked up briefly when Kara walked in, but her attention quickly returned to the file in her lap.
Kara strode over and snatched the file away. "Are you trying to kill yourself? Didn't I tell you to take it easy? You're a patient, Jennifer. What could be so important that you can't rest?"
Her anger stemmed from Bruce's description of the attack. Jennifer's car had been reduced to rubble by the bomb, a testament to its power. Had Jennifer not instinctively stepped back after closing the car door, she might not have survived. Even so, debris from the explosion had posed a significant threat.
Jennifer's amused smile didn't help. She noticed Kara's disheveled appearance—her usually perfect blonde hair was a mess, she wasn't wearing her glasses, and her outfit seemed hastily thrown together. A crisp white work shirt on top, jeans on the bottom, and slippers on her feet—Kara had clearly rushed out without a second thought.
Feeling a wave of warmth, Jennifer opened her arms and pouted. "I'm fine. See? Still alive."
Kara leaned down to hug Jennifer tightly, her anger giving way to relief. "You scared me half to death. What the hell happened?"
Jennifer didn't hold back as she explained. "With Batman's help, we gathered enough evidence to go after Gotham's biggest crime lords. That kind of power play doesn't come without consequences."
She spoke casually, but Kara's stomach churned.
"Harvey's idea, wasn't it?" Kara muttered, rubbing her temples.
Jennifer wasn't even a prosecutor anymore. While her role as Gotham's chief justice gave her significant authority, it didn't extend to arrests. It was the prosecutor and police who handled that. Jennifer's job was to oversee trials, not take down crime syndicates.
"That man has no sense of self-preservation," Kara added. "And he dragged you into it."
Jennifer shrugged. "We couldn't stand by any longer. It's time to bring Gotham's criminals to justice."
"And if something happens to you?" Kara countered. "How am I supposed to explain that to your parents?"
Jennifer gripped Kara's hand and smiled softly. "That's why we won't tell them. They don't need the extra worry."
Kara rolled her eyes. "You're lucky you survived. If anything had happened…"
"I'm fine, Kara," Jennifer interrupted. "Now stop fussing."
Ignoring her, Kara started lifting the quilt to inspect Jennifer's injuries. Jennifer grabbed it tightly and shook her head. "Kara, stop. Look behind you."
Turning around, Kara noticed Bruce standing outside the door with a few drinks in hand, his gaze fixed on them through the window.
"Seriously?" Kara muttered under her breath. "When did he develop such a weird habit?"
The awkward moment was broken by Kara's curiosity. "So, what's going on between you two?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Jennifer.
Jennifer shrugged. "Nothing much. I'm just pregnant."
Kara nearly stumbled. "What?"
Jennifer laughed at Kara's expression. "I'm joking! But I've been thinking about moving back to Metropolis. Gotham's a lost cause. And maybe, just maybe, I'll start fresh—find a new purpose."
"You're full of surprises today," Kara said, shaking her head.
Jennifer grinned. "I hear Batman's single. Who knows? Maybe I'll give the whole 'dating a masked vigilante' thing a shot."
Kara sighed. "Jennifer, you're unbelievable."
Jennifer leaned back with a sly smile. "You know you love me."
Kara didn't reply. She just grabbed one of the drinks Bruce had left behind and took a long sip. Gotham might be chaotic, but at least she had Jennifer to keep her on her toes.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
200+ Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
0 Đá
Quyền lực 
bình luận đoạn văn