Clark ultimately didn't find that familiar figure—Kara, who had disappeared earlier.
He returned to the farm dejectedly, only to find that Lana had already left.
Tyson wasn't in the stable, so it seemed Lana had taken Tyson back herself.
Knowing he had messed up, Clark heavily punched the fence next to the stable.
Lana must have seen him suddenly leave, waited for a while, and then, not seeing him return, left in disappointment.
He had messed everything up again!
Luther Manor.
Doctor Helen angrily threw a newspaper in front of Lex.
"What does this mean? You want to tell the whole world."
Lex, who was playing billiards, glanced at the newspaper in front of him.
The headline on the newspaper read, "Gold-Digging Doctor Clings to Billionaire Bald Tycoon."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought I bought all the newspapers in Smallville."
Lex shrugged, putting down the billiard cue in his hand.
"Helen, I like you, and I want to protect you!"
"You like more than just me, don't you?"
Helen retorted.
"I've explained to you, Victoria and I are just in a business collaboration."
"Uh-huh."
Helen nodded, "But I also heard that Sir Harry was almost bankrupted by LuthorCorp, if it weren't for that accident a few months ago—countless celebrities and wealthy individuals disappeared in Metropolis, and without those wolves tearing at him, I think Sir Harry would have already gone bankrupt. You and your father don't seem as at odds as you appear."
"Back to the newspaper, I sacrificed a lot to achieve what I have today, Lex, and I value it immensely!"
"So your reputation is now ruined by gossip? Or is this why you won't move into the Manor?"
Lex asked the question he cared about most.
"My lease hasn't expired yet."
"I'll take care of your unexpired lease. The movers I hired will be at your place in an hour. What are you still hesitating about?"
Facing Lex's pressing questions, Helen was silent for a moment, "I have my own plans!"
"I want you to know, Helen, I have confidence in our relationship, but if you want to back out, I'll understand."
Saying that, he handed Helen a key, "This master key can open any room in this Manor. I have absolute trust in you, and I hope you'll think about it carefully."
After handing the key to Helen, Lex turned and left the room.
Helen, standing in place with the key in her hand, had a slight smile on her lips.
After Lex left the Manor, he drove towards Kent Farm.
"Hey, Clark, I need your help with something."
Lex said directly as he pushed open the door.
"Clark isn't here. If you want his help, you'll probably have to make an appointment in advance."
Eric was sitting on the sofa in the living room, flipping through the latest newspaper about Gotham.
The headline on the newspaper prominently reported that playboy Bruce Wayne had been attacked and was currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
He was a little confused as to why Catwoman hadn't reported anything about Bruce Wayne to him.
Seeing Lex come in, he immediately put aside the matters concerning Catwoman and Bruce.
"Clark and I agreed to meet at this time. Maybe he was delayed by something?"
Lex cast an inquiring look at Eric.
"The only thing that could delay him is Lana."
Eric put down the newspaper and said to Lex, "You're lucky today. My parents aren't home."
"I don't think I'm lucky, even though I'm usually quite lucky."
Lex sat on the sofa opposite Eric.
He had a different feeling towards Eric than he did towards Clark.
He considered Clark a friend, and although he had been secretly investigating and suspecting him, he didn't want to ruin that friendship.
Clark was kind and sincere to people, but the Eric in front of him was cold and unapproachable.
He knew how to manage his interactions with Clark, but he didn't know how to interact with Eric, which was why he hadn't interacted much with Eric.
"I heard there was a car accident near the farm yesterday."
Lex directly said to Eric, "If there's any damage to the farm, you can apply for agricultural disaster relief funds for Smallville. I can help. You know, in terms of approval processes, state and federal officials are always like sloths, too lazy to eat, too lazy to move, unless you personally put some pressure on them."
Lex offered to help the farm apply for subsidies.
Eric, of course, knew that the other party wasn't being so kind. He had simply discovered traces of a fight near the farm and suspected whether it was related to him and Clark, thereby continuing to suspect their identities.
"No, I don't think it's necessary. Have you forgotten about the last time you personally invited my parents to your castle on the issue of agricultural subsidies, offered to help, and were mercilessly rejected?"
Eric directly refused the other party's help.
"Mr. Kent and Mrs. Kent may have some prejudice against me. 'Bad bamboo doesn't produce good shoots.' Perhaps that's what they think."
Lex leaned slightly forward and said to Eric with a faint smile.
He didn't seem to be emotionally affected by Eric's slightly offensive words.
"When I was in elementary and middle school, I often experienced prejudice from others, whether in language or behavior, I could feel it. But if you care too much about what others think, you'll find yourself unable to move forward. If you try to have a certain trust in others, it's like moving a chess piece; it might be captured, but it could also be the starting point of a winning game."
Lex expressed his views to Eric.
"Hmm."
Eric nodded.
Although he didn't have a good impression of Lex, he had to admit that the other party could indeed be very eloquent at times.
"But sometimes, without the help of prejudice and habit, you can't even walk from one side of the room to the other."
After playing a bit of wordplay with the other party, Eric said to him, "Regarding my book's publication last time, I know you helped me a lot. Although my impression of you is basically the same as my father's, in some matters, we share similar views."
"You're welcome, I just helped a little bit."
Lex clasped his fingers together, "I believe you could have handled it even without my help, couldn't you?"
He agreed with Eric that they had similarities in certain aspects.
This was something he had confirmed the first time he saw Eric's painting and was drawn into the terrifying and horrifying illusion it created.
"It seems it's getting late. Clark might be so captivated by Lana that he's forgotten the time."
Saying that, Lex stood up, ready to leave.
But his steps, just about to depart, stopped, and after a moment of hesitation, he said to Eric:
"I met Doctor Hamilton today. Although I'm an outsider on the path of science, I know how science transforms our world. I often hear some fanaticism and wild claims around me, and the most effective weapon against them is science. I know some people at top biochemical research institutions, and if you'd like, I can give you some help."
Although Lex was a jerk, at this point, he wasn't yet the kind of jerk who would trick others without batting an eye in the future.
He genuinely wanted to help Eric.
While probing Eric for information, he hoped to quickly draw their relationship closer.
Whether it was Eric or Clark, he was incredibly eager to know their secrets.
Only by getting closer could he clearly see the secrets they held.
"I'll consider it."
Eric nodded, replying indifferently.
"Okay, one more thing."
Lex uncharacteristically showed a hint of unsteadiness, "I'm a fan of your book."
Eric: ""
After the other party left, Eric fell into contemplation.
It seemed this guy wasn't just after Clark, but also after him.
Although he wanted to eliminate the other party immediately, the thought of the trouble it might cause afterward gave him a headache.
Smallville High School, school newspaper editing room.
Jonathan was talking with Chloe.
Although in every way, it was impossible for them to cross paths here.
"Mr. Kent, there's a result for the fingerprints on that teacup you asked me to check."
Chloe handed Jonathan a document, "I found the person, but even as the head of the mysterious 'Wall of Weird,' I find it very strange."
"Linda Harrison? A person who disappeared seventeen years ago?"
Looking at the report, Jonathan was stunned.
"Yes, she disappeared seventeen years ago due to a theft charge. On the day of the incident, she happened to be passing through Smallville. The police couldn't find her body, so they could only classify her as missing."
Saying that, she handed him a newspaper, "There's a portrait of her on it, but strangely, she seems a bit different from your description. The fingerprints are the same, but her appearance is not, and she hasn't aged in seventeen years. I don't know the reason for this."
Holding the newspaper, Jonathan pondered for a moment, then thanked Chloe.
After walking out of the school newspaper office, his expression became serious.
Although there were still many questionable points, the only certainty was that the woman calling herself "Kara" was not Kara, nor was she an alien from the so-called "Krypton."
Her identity was thoroughly that of an Earthling!
While Jonathan confirmed Kara's identity as an Earthling, on the other side, Clark encountered some trouble at the Talon Club.
"Hey! Stop! Let her go!"
Clark said to the few people in front of him who were grabbing Lana.
A person in flashy clothes grabbed one of Lana's arms, trying to prevent her from leaving.
Clark, of course, wouldn't allow this to happen in front of him.
"You want to meddle? Or are you confident enough in your skills? Brat!"
The leader, a burly man, stepped forward and threatened him with an unfriendly tone.
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