"It's like this."
In the hall, Amanda's brown eyes fixed on Lex. "Thanks to the President's patronage, I've recently established the All-American Special Events Handling Group."
"This group is responsible for investigating all unusual incidents occurring within the United States."
"And I've noticed that Smallville has hundreds of mysterious deaths every year."
"I'm very curious." Amanda clasped her hands together, creating an imposing presence as she leaned forward, applying pressure. "So, I wanted to visit the Luthor Family. After all, as the leading local enterprise, you might know something?"
Lex didn't answer Amanda, instead looking at Gino.
Their eyes met, clearly having reached a decision.
"It's like this, Ms. Amanda," Lex said with a smile. "We have indeed noticed the anomalies in the town, and we've established a technology lab in our factory."
"And I've researched quite a few interesting items."
Hearing Lex's confession, Amanda's small eyes snapped open, a glint of excitement within. She licked her lips, as if she'd just spotted a delicious lunch.
She hadn't expected the plan to go so smoothly.
Anything the Luthor Family invested in was bound to be extraordinary. She could almost see more power and prestige beckoning to her.
"Then," Amanda said, trying to contain herself, her eyes filled with greed, "Can you take me to see them? I'd like a tour."
"If it's valuable," Amanda began to dangle a carrot in front of Lex, "I'll pass this information on to the White House and have them fund your experiments."
Lex's face lit up with delight, and he wore an excited expression. "Really? Ms. Amanda, my experiments are so expensive. And my father won't help me."
"Of course, you have my word."
Amanda's smile deepened. She hadn't expected Lex to be so easily fooled. Contempt welled up within her. The Luthor Family? Nothing special, it seemed.
The woman had already mapped out her next steps in her mind. She would find a pretext to declare the Luthor factory's experiments illegal. Then, she'd seize the factory. After that, all of Lex's research would be hers.
"So, what are we waiting for?"
Lex stood up first, seemingly impatient to bring Amanda along to secure investments.
Amanda rose with a smile, not forgetting to grab her bag from the sofa.
The woman glanced at Gino, who was still sitting in his chair, and couldn't help but ask, "Isn't this child coming with you?"
"Ah, my brother is deaf. Don't worry about him." Lex was enthusiastic. "Let's go, Ms. Amanda. I can't wait to show you the results."
The woman nodded. As she left, she couldn't resist glancing back at Lex's deaf brother.
But, the sofa was empty.
The lower level of the Luthor Chemical Plant.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a massive, imposing metal door to the group.
Amanda's two suit-clad bodyguards were on high alert, their right hands resting on their holsters, ready for any potential threat.
Indeed, the Luthor Family knows the secret of Smallville. Amanda thought with a sneer, watching Lex enter the computer password.
"Beep!"
The password was accepted, and the previously sealed metal door slowly rose.
Countless, neatly arranged experimental tanks filled the enormous base.
Odd-looking creatures were submerged in tanks.
"My God, what is that thing!?" Two bodyguards stared in shock at a giant iron cage in the center of the experimental base.
Inside, a huge bat-like monster was locked up.
Sensing the intruders, the bat monster opened its fanged mouth and roared at them.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Looking at this extraordinary and mysterious creature, Amanda felt her breathing quicken, her whole body in extreme excitement.
No wonder, no wonder so many strange things had happened in Smallville; it seemed that all the mysteries were in this laboratory.
"W-what is that thing?"
Suppressing her excitement, Amanda questioned Lex.
Lex explained, "It's a Vampire that absorbs human fat."
"We've been studying her."
Amanda gazed up at the bat-like monster, her face filled with fascination.
"Ms. Amanda," Lex's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"About the investment you mentioned…?"
"Oh, the investment," Amanda said with a detached smile, glancing at the bodyguards on either side of her. Two burly men flanked Lex.
"Lex Luthor!" Amanda's expression turned cold, the smile vanished. She stated formally, "The Luthor Family is being shut down for illegal research on unknown creatures, endangering the residents of Smallville. I'm here to inform you that your group is being seized."
Amanda had revealed her true intentions; she didn't want to wait any longer.
Seal off this lab, report the news to your superiors, and then, receive your commendation.
"You, how can you do this!?" Lex had an incredulous look on his face: "You promised to invest!"
"Heh." Amanda cut Lex off with a cold laugh: "Mr. Lex, I trust this lesson will make you understand, never trust a politician's words."
Amanda said confidently, "You are nothing more than my prey!"
"You!" Lex wanted to say more.
"Alright, let's not play around, Lex, I have an exam next Monday."
A lazy voice sounded from behind Amanda.
"What!?"
The two bodyguards looked like they'd seen a ghost.
The three of them turned around.
In the corner, they saw the familiar blond youth leaning against the cold wall, his eyes idly watching them.
Beside him, Bizarro was squatting, looking like a zombie, and trying hard to look angry, his eyes wide.
"You... you're not mute?" one of the bodyguards blurted out, voicing what Amanda wanted to ask.
"That was just Lex's nasty joke."
"Enough, what do you want?"
Amanda wasn't stupid. As a black, fat woman who had been in politics for many years, how could she not know that she had fallen into Lex's trap?
She took a step forward, glaring at Gino.
"What do you want?" Gino chuckled, taking a step towards the three of them, his tone light. "From the moment you entered Smallville, you were already under the Luthor Family's watch."
Gino's tone was regretful. "Lex wanted to see what you would do."
"And you didn't disappoint us, ambitious to uncover the secrets of this town."
"Even trying to extract information from Lex."
The distance between Gino and Amanda closed, and the woman clenched her fists, her face icy.
"Back off!"
The two bodyguards saw the situation was turning sour. They raised their pistols, the black muzzles aimed at Gino's head.
But the young man seemed to hear nothing, still walking towards them.
"Fire!"
The bodyguard didn't hesitate, pulling the trigger.
Bang!
The bullet flew out of the barrel, the tip of the bullet trailing flames that spun through the air, whistling as it hurtled towards Gino.
Time seemed to slow down at that moment.
Gino slowly raised his palm.
Bang!
The solid copper bullet struck the pristine palm, as if hitting steel. The originally round bullet deformed under the force of the impact.
"Clang, clang."
The flattened bullet fell to the iron floor at their feet.
Gino looked at the stunned trio, a smile playing on his lips. "Now, who's the prey?"
------------------------
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