The aliens who were picked up by Superman at the beginning

Li Zhen neither nodded immediately nor refused on the spot, but unconsciously rubbed the fish scales and slime remaining on her palm with her fingertips.

Behind every sudden suggestion lies an unknown consideration, even if the proposer is Tom, who has been relatively mild-mannered towards him for the past seven days.

"Why would you suddenly ask that?"

Li Zhen's voice was calm, revealing no emotional fluctuation.

"Superheroes... to me, are more like a label that you Earthlings use to categorize 'special groups'."

Tom put down his fishing rod, turned around and rummaged through the cabin for a clean rag, slowly wiping the water stains off the gunwale.

He didn't rush to answer, and only after wiping the gunwale clean did he turn around and look at Li Zhen again.

"You want to live on Earth for a long time, right?"

Tom's tone remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

Li Zhen nodded slightly.

The initial reason for escaping Witrum was to escape the endless killing and find a place where they could live in peace.

Although the state of this Earth is unclear, it is ultimately his spiritual "homeland" and the best choice at present.

"To live a long life, you need a legal identity."

Tom's voice deepened.

"Without legal status, you can't work or travel normally—but what's more troublesome than not having legal status is your origin."

He paused, his gaze falling on the faint scars on Li Zhen's chest, and continued.

"Your civilization's philosophy is almost entirely contrary to the values ​​of Earth."

"Few people know of your existence now, but once more people know your origins, how do you think people on Earth will view you?"

Li Zhen's eyelids drooped slightly. He was well aware that if the brutal reputation of Vitrum were to spread, Earthlings would likely find it difficult to accept him.

"You can think of Superman."

Tom mentioned the man who had saved him.

"You know, he has never shied away from this question in any interview. His hometown has long been destroyed, and there are no threats behind him."

"And he grew up on Earth, with kindness towards humanity at his core, yet even so, how many people accepted him?"

The red and blue superheroes in the news are always at the forefront of saving people.

However, there were many dissenting voices in the comments section. Some said he was an alien spy, some worried that he might cause a disaster to the earth if he lost control one day, and some even called on the government to supervise him.

Li Zhen frowned. It wasn't that he couldn't understand; if he were in the position of an Earthling who knew nothing about the nature of Superman, he would also be worried.

However, given his current position, he would likely be naturally categorized by Earth's native inhabitants as being in a worse position than Superman.

"He is powerful enough to easily override any laws and rules on Earth."

Tom's voice carried a hint of emotion.

"Just like when you were catching fish in the sea, whether your intention was to catch a few fish to take back for lunch or just to experience the feeling of fishing, the fish would panic and flee as you approached, and you might even accidentally crush them."

"That's the power you and Superman possess."

Tom pointed to the calm sea in the distance.

"Unless you never use your abilities again, perhaps working from sunrise to sunset like me, can you really do that?"

Li Zhen looked down at her unconsciously clenched fist.

This power was forged in the blood and fire of Vitrum, and it is the foundation of his survival.

For Li Zhen at this moment, giving up this power is as difficult as giving up breathing.

Moreover, if they were to encounter pursuers from the planet Witrum, they would be powerless and at the mercy of their enemies.

"When you were flying high in the sky looking down at the sea, those fish didn't know what you were going to do next, but their fate had already been affected by your presence."

"By using superpowers, you're essentially putting yourself in a high position. If you want ordinary people not to be afraid of you or reject you, you have to give them a reason to accept you."

"Superheroes, that's the reason."

Tom finally got to the heart of the matter.

It's about showing ordinary people through actions that this power is not a threat, but a protector.

"Of course, this path is difficult and you may encounter countless doubts and attacks, but it is the most suitable path for you at present."

Li Zhen stood on the fishing boat, gazing at the boundless sea, and fell into silence.

Tom's words make a lot of sense.

If he wants to live a peaceful life on Earth, he must cross the two chasms of "aliens" and "Vitrum".

But the thought of being like Superman on TV, always taking it upon himself to protect others, made Li Zhen subconsciously feel a sense of rejection.

Escaping Witrum was also a way to break free from a bound fate, and to no longer want to serve anyone or anything.

The sea breeze blew for a long time, but Li Zhen remained silent.

Tom didn't urge him, but simply picked up his fishing rod again and fished quietly, as if his earlier suggestion was just a casual remark.

As the sun set and painted the sea a golden-red hue, Li Zhen finally spoke, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I need to think about it some more."

"That's okay, you have plenty of time to think it over."

Tom put down his fishing rod, a gentle smile appearing on his face, though there was a hint of cunning in it.

"But there's something I need to make clear to you: I'm just a small-time fisherman, I can't support you for the rest of your life."

Li Zhen was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

Tom was indirectly urging him to make a choice, and also reminding him that he couldn't stay in this safe haven forever.

He nodded without refuting.

"I recommend someone to you; he might be able to help you temporarily resolve your immigration status issue."

Tom packed up his fishing gear and began tidying up the things on the fishing boat.

Li Zhen felt a little curious.

"Who?"

You'll know when you get there.

Tom kept everyone in suspense as he carried the prepared fishing gear into the cabin.

"Let's go back and pack up. We'll leave tonight."

Back at the seaside cottage, Li Zhen quickly packed her things.

There wasn't much to pack, just a few changes of clothes that Tom had bought for him.

Tom then rummaged through the storeroom and found a rusty car key, then grabbed a rag and wiped down a dilapidated-looking pickup truck outside.

The pickup truck was covered in scratches, and the tires were somewhat flat, making it look at least a decade old.

Tom inserted the key and turned it hard a few times. The engine made a "putt-putt-putt" roar and finally started, emitting a thick black smoke from the exhaust.

"Don't let its dilapidated appearance fool you, it's still quite stable when running."

Tom patted the steering wheel and said to Li Zhen.

Li Zhen sat in the passenger seat, and as soon as she closed the door, she felt a layer of dust on the seat.

He casually picked up a rag from the side and wiped himself, then opened the navigation map that was placed in front of the passenger seat.

To be honest, this approach is a bit outdated.

After searching around for a while and asking a few more questions, Li Zhen finally learned that Tom's seaside cottage was actually located in the suburbs of the metropolis.

Metropolis is the city where Superman lives.

Li Zhen's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Tom, who was backing up the car: "Are you taking me to join Superman?"

Tom paused in reversing the car, then shook his head.

"no."

After the pickup truck got on the highway, it drove towards the city.

When they reached a fork in the road, Tom did not choose the road leading to downtown Metropolis, but instead turned onto another highway leading to Gotham City.

"Gotham City?"

Li Zhen frowned.

Even without watching the news on TV, he knew what kind of place it was just from the bits of memory he had from his past life.

A city with an extremely high crime rate, shrouded in darkness year-round, stands in stark contrast to a sun-drenched metropolis.

However, it does seem to be a particularly suitable place to accommodate all sorts of people from all walks of life.

The pickup truck drove for nearly two hours through the night before finally arriving in downtown Gotham City.

The atmosphere here is completely different from that of the metropolis. Even at night, the streets are filled with a sense of oppression, and the neon lights reflect eerie shadows on the damp ground.

Tom drove the pickup truck and finally stopped in front of a towering skyscraper.

Wayne Group

Li Zhen was stunned.

Did Tom bring him here?

"We've arrived."

Tom turned off the engine and said to Li Zhen.

"This is Wayne Enterprises. Is the person you recommended here?"

Li Zhen asked in confusion.

He now almost knew the truth, but what was Tom's background? How did he know Superman and Batman?

"I know Superman, and Superman knows Batman."

Tom said this while rolling down the car window.

"And few people know that Bruce Wayne, the big boss of Wayne Enterprises, knows Batman in private—he can help you."

Li Zhen remained expressionless, but inwardly rolled her eyes.

Tom's words were a clear attempt to cover up the truth.

Before Li Zhen could speak, Tom had already started to shoo the guests away.

"Go in by yourself. Bruce Wayne will be waiting for you inside. I have other things to do, so I won't keep you company."

After Li Zhen got out of the car with a lot of doubt, Tom waved his hand and drove away in the old pickup truck without looking back.

Li Zhen watched the pickup truck's taillights disappear into the night and sighed helplessly.

Looking back at the magnificent building in front of me, I felt a little lost for a moment.

Li Zhen didn't really want to have anything to do with that guy; in her memory, he was a gloomy, unsmiling, and boring person.

Just as Li Zhen was about to turn around and leave, the building's revolving door suddenly opened.

A tall, middle-aged man in a black suit came out.

The man's hair was neatly combed, and he wore a gentle smile.

He has a unique temperament, possessing both the composure and magnanimity of a capitalist and a subtle, almost imperceptible, competence.

The man's gaze fell directly on Li Zhen, then he quickly walked over and extended his hand.

"Hello, I'm Bruce Wayne. I think the person who introduced you here has already mentioned it to you."