American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 202 RAZE—The Destroyer Who Proclaims Purification!
"Thanks, Clark, this was a huge help."

Louise visibly relaxed after successfully passing through the turnstile. She tucked a stray hair damp with sweat behind her ear and gave the handsome young man a grateful smile.

"It's nothing, Louise. I'm just glad I could help." Clark's tone was natural, but with a hint of curiosity. "But what about you? What's going on?"

"Why are you out here all alone without a ticket?"

"I"

Louise was about to explain when her phone vibrated in her hand.

She glanced down at the screen quickly, then sighed and held the lit screen in front of Clark.

A short message is displayed above:

Sorry, Louise! I'm stuck on Highway 74!! My 'tickets' will have to wait a while.

"Well, that's the situation."

Louise put her phone away and made a helpless gesture. "My dear partner, and all our hopes, are now sealed away on Highway 74."

“I see…” Clark nodded, but was still a little confused. “So… why put both votes on the same person in the first place?”

Wouldn't it be safer to take them separately?

"..."

Louise paused for a moment, her gaze shifting. "After all, not everyone has a golden ticket, and it doesn't seem like you absolutely need a ticket to get in."

"???"

Clark found the reason somewhat strange, yet somehow familiar.

Surely her tickets can't be scaffolding, right?

After a moment's thought, the kind-hearted Clark didn't delve deeper, but instead asked, "Louise, you came to the expo today to collect..."

Upon hearing this, the girl's eyes lit up like stars that had been ignited.

She quickly took out a small voice recorder and a notebook from her canvas bag, smoothly interrupting Clark's unfinished questioning.

A smile appeared on his face, and his speech unconsciously quickened:

"Mr. Clark Kent, before I begin my original work, please allow me to ask a few questions."

"As a holder of one of the extremely rare gold tickets for this expo."

"To the best of my knowledge, fewer than twenty such invitations have been issued worldwide."

Could you share your thoughts on receiving this honor? And which exhibition area or technology are you most looking forward to at this expo?

She made Clark her first interview subject, her gaze intense.

I was taken aback by this sudden formal interview.

Clark glanced instinctively at the person reading the divine capital beside him.

The little guy's expression conveyed everything...

—"What on earth is this guy talking about?"

With a helpless smile, Clark maintained his composure and answered cooperatively:

"The tickets were... a generous gift from a friend. As for my thoughts..."

"Nothing special, just very grateful for this opportunity to broaden my horizons. If I had to say what I'm most looking forward to..."

He thought for a moment, and then, following the previous plan of the capital, said logically, "It should be the 'Quantum Frontier' and 'Biotechnology' pavilions. My brother is very interested in those technologies that can change the future."

"Shouldn't my words be a holographic projection?"

The answer was fairly standard and reasonably avoided mentioning the specific source of the tickets.

Louise took notes quickly, though she couldn't help but feel a little uninterested.

However, he did ask a couple of open-ended questions about his views on emerging technologies, which Clark answered with his simple understanding as much as possible.

Seeing that the crowd around them was about to grow larger, and feeling that his backside would be burning if he delayed any longer, Clark still chose to politely interrupt Louise, who seemed to be planning to continue digging:
“I’m sorry, Louise, we’ll probably have to go to the holographic projection area first. My brother has been looking forward to it for a long time.”

Hearing this, Louise snapped out of her interview mode. She glanced at the expressionless Shen Du and realized that she might have been too engrossed in the interview and neglected other people's schedules.

Then he neatly closed the notebook, put the voice recorder back in his bag, and nodded readily.
"Of course, I'm the one who took up your time. I... plan to go to the core exhibition area of ​​the Luther Group first, as there is supposedly a very important new technology launch event there."

"Okay, then... I wish you a successful interview!" Clark smiled and offered his best wishes.

"Thank you again for saving my life, Clark! Have fun! Oh, and remember to give my regards to Chloe."

Louise smiled and waved, her smile carrying a hint of brightness and decisiveness.

"Okay, I'll definitely bring it."

Clark nodded and waved goodbye to Louise one last time.

He then secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and while moving forward with the crowd, he bent down slightly and asked Shen Du beside him in a low voice, "Speaking of which direction is the holographic projection area located?"

"Go straight." Shen Du's voice was flat and emotionless. He glanced at Louise behind him, then looked up at Clark. "Also, the information exchange in your social interactions is meaningless."

Clearly, he was very dissatisfied with the pleasantries and interview he had just received.

“That’s true…” Clark smiled good-naturedly, already used to his brother’s bluntness, and then naturally took Shen Du’s hand: “But it’s okay, our really interesting ‘process’ is just beginning, isn’t it?”

The two walked away side by side, quickly blending into the bustling crowds of the expo.

Louise stood alone, thoughtfully following the two receding figures until they completely disappeared around the corner.

Clark Kent...

In my memory, the owner of this name was still that boy next door who ran in the snow at Smallwell Farm, with a smile that always had a bit of a silly look on his face.

However, judging from the brief contact just now...
He was no longer the simple country boy I remembered.

They've matured a lot.

He stood tall and spoke with the simple gentleness of a Smallwell farmer, but also with a touch of composure and restraint.

Although he was caught off guard by her sudden interview, his subsequent response was impeccable, expressing appropriate friendliness between old friends while cleverly avoiding any sensitive information that might touch on the core issues.

and……

Louise frowned slightly.

The mysteries surrounding him seem to be far more numerous than one might imagine.

How did an ordinary Kansas farm boy manage to obtain this golden ticket that many industry celebrities could only dream of?
Invitations of that caliber far exceed the measure of money; they often involve intricate networks of connections or some unknown special recognition.

When did Kent Farms become this rich?
And the unusually quiet child beside him, who seemed to be named Salafir?

When Chloe mentioned it on the phone, didn't she say that the child was very kind?
It's as warm as a little sun.
But in that brief eye contact, the child's eyes were as cold as ice, completely unlike those of a six or seven-year-old.

Could she have been abused?

Louise shuddered, then found it somewhat amusing.

She had met the Kents and Mr. Locke.

Moreover, my grandfather also praised them highly, sometimes even calling them God and angels.

Shaking her head, Louise temporarily suppressed her questions about the Kent brothers and glanced at her watch.

And now is not the time to delve into these matters.

time does not wait.

The Luther Group's technology launch event is about to begin.

As a reporter for the school newspaper, this once-every-six-years press conference was an event she absolutely could not miss, a crucial page in her resume that needed to be filled.

The awards at the start of the next semester, and even the stepping stone to entering the Daily Planet building that symbolizes professional ideals.
To a large extent, everyone is hoping that she can extract enough material from this press conference to write a compelling report!

Competition on campus is always fierce, like a silent battlefield. She doesn't have the energy or time to indulge in the curiosity about the mysterious transformation of a childhood friend.

Follow the news and write articles.

This is her, Louise Lane's, only and most important mission right now.
-
A bluish-green light strip outlines the streamlined shape of the passageway, while a huge light screen at the entrance displays ever-changing, magnificent, and abstract geometric patterns, attracting many visitors to stop, look up, and exclaim in amazement.

Clark led Shen Du by the hand into this realm of interwoven light and shadow, and the ever-changing scene before them even made him whistle softly.

The further you go in, the stronger the sense of technology becomes.

"!!!"

Clark's eyes were like a reflection of the stars.

The lighting inside the exhibition area was deliberately dimmed to highlight the holographic images floating in the air.

Dazzling and beautiful, like a dream.

The massive galaxy model is slowly rotating, with nebulae flowing gently around it.

Prehistoric behemoths have been precisely recreated and are shown strolling through a virtual jungle in a semi-transparent form.

There's even a weather simulation feature; pressing a button can generate a tornado that rages across the holographic sandbox until it quietly dissipates...

"Wow……"

Clark was so engrossed in watching that he unconsciously let go of Shen Du's hand and moved closer to a holographic image showcasing deep-sea ecology.

Watching the glowing virtual fish swim leisurely past him, he couldn't help but reach out to touch them, watching his fingers pass through the light and shadow without any hindrance.

"This is... truly amazing!"

Turning his head, Clark excitedly said to Shen Du, "Look, Shen Du! It looks just like the real thing!"

"And this, take a look."

He pointed to a holographic whale swimming by.

Its massive body swayed gracefully, radiating a deep blue light, and its tail swished, scattering starlight.

"."

Faced with the slowly swimming phantom of the giant whale, Shen Du's tense face relaxed slightly.

He stared at the whale, watching the point of light trace a smooth arc in the air, and unconsciously took a small step forward.

Even when the virtual light from the whale fell on his face, he subconsciously reached out to catch it, but quickly withdrew his hand after realizing it was just a trick of light and shadow, and turned his face away as if nothing had happened.

"This projection technology is not bad, but it can't compare to the real thing."

His tone was stiff, but his eyes were fixed on the whale swimming away.

It seems to be considering whether it can be given some magic to bring it back to life.

Noticing his younger brother's subtle actions, Clark's lips curled into a smile.

He crouched down to look God in the eye: "But it's beautiful, isn't it? Even knowing it's fake doesn't stop us from finding it beautiful."

"My uncle once said that the journey itself, the 'process' that we see and feel with our own eyes, is a more meaningful treasure than the result."

As he spoke, Clark stood up and pointed to a glowing virtual jellyfish. It was swaying in the darkness, changing its brilliant colors.

Shen Du pursed his lips and remained silent for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, he glanced at Clark, who was trying to observe the light and shadow composition with his superhuman senses, and couldn't help but say speechlessly:
"These are real projections; how could your biofield possibly perceive them?"

Clark awkwardly withdrew his focused gaze, giving an embarrassed smile:
"A little bit of curiosity."

Undeterred, he pointed to another area and asked, "Shall we go take a look over there?"

His gaze swept across the area, and Shen Du watched as the adults danced and gesticulated wildly in the air like children, a look of disgust on his face.

However, even so, when Clark pulled him along without explanation toward a holographic dome showcasing the evolution of the Big Bang, Shen Du did not truly resist.

They walked under the dome just as the exhibition reached its climax.

The two were instantly surrounded by an endless starry sky.

Light and shadow shift, energy erupts, stars form...

A grand cosmic panorama unfolds all around.

Clark tilted his head back, watching intently.

The gods stood quietly beside him, their small figures bathed in simulated starlight.

He stopped commenting and simply watched the ever-evolving light and shadow. His usually overly clear eyes seemed to be forced to reflect the light of distant stars, which flickered slightly.

Clark glanced down and saw Shen Du's focused profile. Although he still had no expression, his icy demeanor seemed to have softened a little.

He felt relieved, thinking that bringing his younger brother here was a really good decision.

Even though the process was criticized by the gods as 'meaningless,' the fact that it allowed him to temporarily set aside his cold demeanor and simply 'watch' these beautiful lights and shadows for a while as a child was itself a gain.

"Let's go."

After reviewing the evolution of the universe, Clark gently nudged Shen Du's shoulder. "Shall we go to the next place? I heard there are dancing mechanical radishes at the 'Bioengineering' department."

"?"

Shen Du's expression froze for a moment. "Clark, are you awake?"
-
Holding Shen Du's hand, Clark reluctantly left the mesmerizing holographic starry sea.

In the following hours, they also moved between several distinctive exhibition areas.

In the 'Biotechnology' pavilion, although they didn't see the giant mechanical radish that could dance, they did see roses that could emit a soft glow in the dark, cultivated using gene editing technology.

There are also smart mosses that can autonomously adapt to different wall surfaces and purify the air.

And in the 'Artificial Intelligence Applications' area, you can watch the robot waiters who are responsible for guiding you and whose expressions are almost lifelike, and watch them smoothly answer the strange and wonderful questions of other tourists.

However, the most astonishing exhibit was the core "Energy Technology" booth, where a huge model showcased a future city network based on the principle of nuclear fusion.

It is dazzling and exquisitely structured.

All of these technological creations, which are beyond our current imagination, have undoubtedly broadened the brothers' horizons and left them dazzled.

They finally emerged from that futuristic building, gleaming with metallic luster and streamlined design, somewhat exhausted.

Four or five hours passed quietly.

But that's alright, after all, they were preparing to head to the last stop of their trip.
"Ok?"

Clark blinked, his steps involuntarily halting.

The square that should have been open was now completely surrounded by a dense crowd, and the cacophony of noise was palpable.

Interspersed among them was a somewhat jarring, impassioned speech amplified through a loudspeaker.

"What's going on up ahead...?"

Driven by curiosity, and taking advantage of his slight physical strength, Clark easily squeezed his way into the crowd with Shen Du.

The vision suddenly opens up.

In the center of the square, on a makeshift wooden crate platform, stood a person dressed rather...
Conspicuous person
He was holding a megaphone and giving a passionate speech.

He looked to be in his twenties or thirties, wearing a helmet, gauntlets on his arms, and a gold breastplate on his upper body.

He looked absolutely radiant.

"puff……"

But Shen Du only glanced at him before letting out a short sneer. He tugged at Clark's sleeve, his little face full of disdain, "Where did this guy run off from in a medieval-themed theater troupe?"

Clark couldn't help but chuckle, but still gestured for Shen Du to listen to what the other person was saying first.

Then, the golden-armored man waved his arms, and his still impassioned voice clearly reached their ears:

"...Wake up, my fellow countrymen! Open your eyes and see what is happening around us!"

"These so-called 'technological miracles' touted by capital and the media, these creations cloaked in a glamorous guise of progress, are silently poisoning the planet we depend on for survival!"

"Those giant tech companies, they keep talking about building for the future, but the wastewater they discharge, the resources they consume, and the electronic waste they create are silently strangling our nature! Reject them! We must unite and reject these predators disguised as progress!"

"...?"

As Clark listened, the smile on his face gradually faded, and his expression became serious.

He recalled the strange hues that sometimes appeared in the river in Smallville before Lex shut down the chemical plant, and the pungent smell that lingered in the air that he couldn't ignore.

This guy's words were too harsh, and his attire was so bizarre it was laughable...

However, the real environmental costs and resource consumption problems that he pointed out in the process of technological development are not fabricated out of thin air.

but
Before Clark could think further, the golden-armored man on stage abruptly changed the tone of his speech, becoming increasingly sharp:

"...But this is just the tip of the iceberg! My compatriots!"

"They not only destroy our environment, but also try to control our minds and plan our lives! The 'bright future' they've designed for us is nothing but another exquisite cage! Especially the Luther Group—"

He suddenly pointed to the core area of ​​the expo, his voice rising abruptly:
"—Lionel Luther!"

"What is he trying to do? He is using his technology and his wealth to build a state within a state on our country's soil!"

"An invisible empire that obeys only him and is controlled by data and capital! He wants to become the king of this shadow empire and turn us all into his servants on his chessboard!"

These remarks caused a stir in the crowd, with some people exclaiming in agreement and others booing in disapproval.

Two completely different reactions collided violently in the air.

Clark, on the other hand, frowned deeply.

He acknowledged the need for environmental assessments of technological development, but found the direct portrayal of the Luther Group as a conspiracy to overthrow the country utterly absurd.

Uncle Lionel
The man who always had a gentle smile in his memory and cared about his farm life
Secretly building another country?
This is absolutely ridiculous.

Even Lex wouldn't dare to think about something like this.

The gods watched coldly from the sidelines, and said indifferently:
"A flawed logic. Simply attributing complex socioeconomic problems to conspiracy theories is a sign of intellectual laziness. However..."

He glanced at the somewhat agitated crowd around him. "Clearly, there are a lot of people like that."

"Let's go, capital city. We're not going to see this kind of 'scenery'."

Clark shook his head, the initial excitement brought on by the novel technology being overshadowed by the chaos before him.

He tightened his grip on his brother's hand, preparing to turn and leave this place where the controversy was rapidly escalating.

But just as he turned around, he heard a near-manic excitement coming from behind him:

"Excellent! Citizens of the Metropolis! Thank you for your 'support'!"

"And next—"

"It will be up to me..."

"Raze!"

"The Destroyer—Raz! He's personally...purifying the environment for everyone!"

"?!"

Clark turned around in astonishment.

In the center of the square stood a man wearing a comical golden breastplate.

In full view of everyone, his feet left the ground and he slowly floated into the air!
He tossed aside the seemingly cheap megaphone, spread his arms wide, and his face was filled with a twisted ecstasy.

The golden breastplate that had originally looked like a prop now had complex energy patterns on its surface, emitting a low hum.

In Clark's perception, which far surpasses that of ordinary people, a powerful energy fluctuation was spreading out from him, causing the surrounding air to begin to distort slightly.

"Hahahahaha!"

Raz, suspended in mid-air, let out a wild, unrestrained laugh, looking down at the crowd below who were collectively stunned by this unimaginable turn of events.

"My fellow countrymen, look at me! I will begin the purification process by addressing these malignant tumors!"

"Only a tomorrow filled with violence will be our final destination!"

He raised one arm.

He pointed his palm at the booth of a technology company not far away.

"Wow——!"

A blazing crimson laser burst forth from his palm, slamming violently into the gleaming exhibition stand!

"Boom——!!!"

The deafening explosion was so powerful that the shockwave even made people nearby lose their footing!
The meticulously arranged exhibition booth shattered instantly under the impact of the laser, sending sparks flying everywhere.

The towering flames illuminated half the square, and terrified screams replaced the previous clamor!

"First!"

Raz hovered in the air, laughing wildly as he announced.

With a flick of his arm, a chilling red light once again gathered in his palm.

They set their sights on the next target.
A holographic billboard playing a promotional video for the expo.

"Crazy! He's crazy!"

"Run!"

"Help!"

The crowd erupted in uproar.

People pushed and shoved, crying and shouting, trying to escape the square that had suddenly turned into a hellish place like headless flies.

Clark held the gods tightly behind him, his eyes filled with shock.

He couldn't even imagine it.
What an absurd speech that ended in such a violent and supernatural way!

Is this what a big city is like?!
-
P.S.: The next chapter will be in the morning.

(End of this chapter)