Chapter 81
I've Got You
Chapter 81 I've Got You
The metropolis, the next morning.
A new day begins with the same fast pace of life. People hurry along their busy journeys, the city's hustle and bustle never ceasing. Warm sunlight spills into the forest of iron and glass. From above, the passing vehicles resemble a gently flowing river, and the bustling intersections emit a cacophony of horns.
Clark Kent, dressed in a suit and tie, bought a cup of coffee from a street cart and waved good morning with a smile as he passed an old man's newsstand. A taxi honked its horn behind him, and the driver leaned out and yelled, "Can't you see where you're going?" Startled, Clark Kent's hand trembled, and the coffee he had just taken a sip of fell to the ground.
7:55. With only five minutes left before work, Clark rushed into the Daily Planet office, only to have his suitcase jammed by the automatic door. The lid opened, and the contents spilled all over the floor.
She frantically stuffed documents, lunch, apples, and a photo of her father at the Kansas farm into her suitcase and rushed toward the elevator in the lobby, which was about to close. Unfortunately, she stepped in a puddle on the floor and lost her balance, sliding forward helplessly. Just as the elevator doors were closing, her nose slammed into the cold elevator door.
He hurriedly got up and pressed the elevator button again, but the briefcase snapped open with a click from the impact. Its contents spilled all over the floor again. The young reporter scrambled down to pick it up, seemingly oblivious to the fact that his poor apple had rolled a considerable distance from his feet and been casually picked up and stuffed into the pocket of a passing cleaner.
Several ladies in the hall chuckled at his Chaplin-like comical appearance. Clark picked up his small suitcase, adjusted his glasses, scratched his head sheepishly, and waved to the ladies in a憨厚 (honest and simple) manner.
Kara remained silent for a long time after witnessing this scene.
"I'm starting to understand why a pair of glasses can make people not recognize Carl as Superman."
"Me too." Shen You nodded, arms crossed.
While the glasses certainly contributed to Superman's secret identity disguise, his acting skills played a significant role as well. He portrayed Clark Kent, a country bumpkin who was clumsy, prone to getting bitten by dogs and hit by cars, in a way that resonated deeply with audiences, making him completely different from Superman in terms of temperament.
It's actually quite understandable that people wouldn't recognize that these two are the same person.
At noon, they finally sat down at a table.
"Ah!? You're that...that one."
Clark stared wide-eyed at Shen You in disbelief.
"My God, I only saw that you possessed enormous energy, but I never imagined you were actually 'Ultraman'?"
"Yeah, yeah, I told you, Shen You is amazing!" Kara said with a look of admiration.
"I've heard about it too." Clark's eyes seemed to sparkle as he looked at Shen You. "It started with that starfish incident, right? That super-sized alien invader."
And then there was that dream! You actually managed to enter a dream? You saved them all from an endless nightmare, and more importantly, you inspired them all.
Then there was the tsunami. I watched the video on YouTube, and I saw you push the tsunami back. I used to think I was invincible.
"Uh, thank you."
"No, I should be the one saying thank you." Clark's expression turned sincere. "You may not have known me before, but you have no idea how much you've helped me."
Shen You raised an eyebrow.
Have it?
"I was always lost before," Clark said. "Before I came to the Metropolitan, my parents told me that they understood and fully supported my desire to express myself. But they also warned me that once I showed the world the truth, there would be no turning back."
I quickly realized they were right. Because I was different from everyone around me; I was an outsider. I grew up here, but I didn't belong here.
When I was little, I would often look up at the starry sky and ask my parents over and over again, "Are there other people like me? Maybe they also come from the stars, somewhere in this world?"
Then Clark laughed.
He revealed his most genuine and sunny smile.
"Then I saw you," he said. "You let me know that my guess was right, that I really wasn't alone."
Not only that, you also answered the question that had been puzzling me for a long time with your actions—how to let the world see me, and how to use my abilities.
From the moment I first saw you, I couldn't contain my excitement. It was as if a voice was telling me, "This is it! This is what I've been wanting!"
That's why I am where I am now, trying to show my face in public for the first time in my life. They even gave me a name like yours, haha.
Shen You: "."
He suddenly had a strange thought: could it be that people in this world were really inspired by the name Ultraman, which is why Superman exists?
"I have another important matter to attend to in the Metropolis, or rather, it's about a terrifying enemy," Shen You said in a deep voice. "His name is Brainiac."
Clark had never heard of this name before: "What a strange name."
Kara, however, cried out "Ah!" and immediately tensed up.
"You mean, Brainiac?"
"Kara, do you know?" Clark asked.
"Of course, he was a mechanical demon, a living nightmare. I will never forget that day. No."
She bit her lip.
"Even the Kryptonian army is helpless against him. If he comes to Earth..."
"Don't worry, that's exactly why I'm here to discuss this issue."
Shen You said.
"Brainiac's target isn't just Earth's civilization, but also the three of us. We're all on his collection list, which is why I'm here specifically to warn you. We need to be prepared."
But there's no need to worry too much. I might have a slight clue about his invasion plan. There's a mole within humanity; someone has secretly made some kind of deal with Brainiac to help him capture the Kryptonians.
Clark immediately connected the dots with what happened last night and exclaimed in surprise, "General Ryan?"
"I thought so yesterday too. But I checked the base last night, and it wasn't him. There was no trace of Brainiac there."
Shen You narrowed his eyes.
"But I think I already know who it is."
At the Metropolitan Interchange, Lex Luthor sat in the back seat of his stretch Lincoln, answering a phone call.
"Of course, I know you're right. You don't need to say more. I am indeed one of the world's top scientific geniuses. But you still need to be more open and honest before I'll consider the possibility of cooperation."
But you're right about Superman. What did I underestimate him about? 'Krypton'? Does that word even mean anything?
Why do you keep repeating yourself?
Lex Luthor gradually lost patience.
"I said I need more honesty, I need more information. Yes, 'Brainiac,' your name, I already know that. But I need to know more. Where are you from? And more importantly..."
"What exactly are you!?"
At the same time, Shen You, whose super hearing was locked onto Luther the whole time, smiled slightly.
It really is you, Baldy.
Got you?
(End of this chapter)