On the fourth floor of the mansion, where Bruce and Selina's guest rooms were located, Bruce was dragging a still-unconscious Benjamin toward the staircase, while Selina was scouting ahead for him in the dark corridor.
Benjamin, as the head of all agents in the mansion, had disappeared for more than half the night, arousing the vigilance of all agents. Had it not been for Benjamin's habit of often executing secret missions alone without informing his subordinates, the agents, knowing well his modus operandi, would have already commenced a mansion-wide search.
However, this afforded Bruce an opportunity to interrogate Benjamin. He and Selina moved Benjamin into a storeroom on the third floor. As Bruce dragged him in, Selina stood outside the door, hand on the frame, telling him, "You better make this quick."
She then glanced towards the window at the end of the corridor, where a faint light flickered, appearing as if someone was passing by with a flashlight. Selina turned to Bruce and said, "The explosion in the parlor was too loud, they'll definitely start looking there."
She looked down at her wristwatch and said, "It takes 6 to 7 minutes to return from the parlor to our bedroom. Even if there's a search delay, it will take no more than 20 minutes for them to find us here at the latest."
Selina's brows furrowed more severely as she said, "Alright, I'll go cause a disturbance to buy you some time. You better wrap this up quickly."
With that, she turned and left. Bruce shut the storeroom door and began trying to wake Benjamin.
The two didn't share a sentimental moment, as couples often do in movies before they split up. Bruce knew well that despite Selina's combat skills, she was fully capable of making an escape if necessary.
Meanwhile, Lex had just left Shiller's guest room. The Professor had been adamant about wanting to sleep. What more could Lex say other than wish him sweet dreams?
At this time, he was on his way upstairs to look for Clark.
Previously, he had noticed Clark's strangeness. It was impossible to say he wasn't curious. He knew that Bruce was also trying to figure out who Clark was. He wanted to solve this problem before Bruce did, to prove he was stronger.
When the knock came, Clark was still a little dazed. He'd only slept for a short time and was not quite awake. However, fatigue soon gave way to a long-absent relaxation.
Being in a good mood, Clark didn't pay much attention to Lex's intrusion. When he opened the door and let Lex in, he even pulled up a chair for him before saying, "Hello, I introduced myself earlier, now it's your turn."
Lex scoffed. He said, "I didn't need a conversation to figure out that you and I won't get along, you're nothing but a grinning country bumpkin…"
"How can you say that? Luckily you aren't a Metropolitan University student. If you were and said that on campus, you'd be expelled for personal attacks."
"You're a Metropolitan University student? What's your major?" Lex immediately began to grill Clark.
He felt a strange air about Clark, something he'd never felt from anyone before -- a divine sense of compassion for people.
He found this feeling quite odd, because he perceived himself as one of the objects of this pity.
It was ridiculous, Lex thought. When did he ever need sympathy? Moreover, it was coming from a fool who seemingly had no idea about anything at all.
Yet, this feeling lingered around him, making him feel prickly and annoyed, which worsened his mood.
Clark sensed something was off about Lex. He spread his hands and said, "We are about the same age. Which university are you from? Or are you still in high school?"
This comment hit Lex right where it hurt. Bruce previously mentioned his days at Gotham University, and now Clark talked about Metropolitan University. It seemed that among the three of them, he was the only one who hadn't attended university.
Lex felt he shouldn't be emotionally affected by this, yet he couldn't shake off a strange feeling whenever he thought that Bruce and Clark might get along better than his relationship with Bruce.
He was torn between the idea that someone as intelligent as Bruce would never get along with this idiot better than with him, and the concern that if he took the initiative but ended up falling behind, it would be hugely embarrassing.
Being able to sense people's heartbeats and pulses, Clark could gauge someone's emotional state based on many factors. He was a bit puzzled as to why Lex's emotions were fluctuating so violently.
After thinking for a while, he asked, "Did you and your friend have a fight? The dark-haired guy from before?"
Lex took a deep breath. He didn't understand why every question Clark asked hit the nail on the head. With a serious expression, he asked, "Who exactly are you, and how did you end up here?"
"Didn't I explain already?" Clark said, somewhat helplessly.
"Who in the world do you expect to fall for your absurd lies? Let's forget the distance between Metropolitan University and the mayor's residence for a moment, as well as not mentioning the severe storm outside and the accumulated snow on the ground, and let us also ignore the fire truck's water tank miraculously appearing in the flower bed downstairs…"
"Clark, has anyone ever told you how palpable your changing expressions are when you sense fluctuating emotions?"
Clark's gestures froze for a second; instinctively he reached out and touched his cheek. He attempted to explain but couldn't come up with a convincing reason. After a while, he sighed saying:
"It's strange, everyone I've met today can sense something off about me; more so than in the past few years."
Lex scoffed before saying, "You think they never noticed? If you don't believe me, go and discuss this earnestly with them - I bet they will feel incredibly awkward."
Clark scratched his head, seemingly not wanting to imagine such a scenario. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "So what? We're all still good friends."
"But do you believe, if you were to fly in front of them, or suddenly lift a car, their first reaction would be fear, and they might even attack you,"
Lex stood up from his chair, pacing around the room. Clark, hands at his waist said, "That wouldn't happen. Friends and family wouldn't be afraid of me just because I'm slightly different."
"And strangers too, if I use these powers to assist others, why would they fear me?"
Lex stopped pacing, casting a sidelong glance at Clark. His gaze held a cold intensity Clark couldn't understand, "I'll bet the moment you publicly reveal powers that far exceed those of an average person, you'll become public enemy number one."
"No I won't." Clark refuted firmly, stating, "Although I don't wish to play the savior, I've never wanted to rule the world either."
"Since gaining my powers, up until now, I've never used them for ill nor for personal gain. On the contrary, I've helped so many people…"
Lex shook his head, responding in a cold tone, "Ungoverned superpowers are poison to society and for you as well, sooner or later you will be destroyed by it."
Clark didn't agree with Lex's viewpoint. Shaking his head, he said, "Looks like you are a pessimist. But I am the exact opposite."
"My parents used to say that while being cautious can make you safer, if you don't open your heart to the world, the world will never accept you."
Lex gazed at Clark's face, about to ridicule his naivety but upon seeing the look of utter earnest conviction on Clark's face, he unexpectedly found himself speechless.
Clark's eyes had always been clear. Looking deeply into them revealed a purity so profound as if clarifying his innermost thoughts.
Lex had never met anyone like this. In his years of regained lucidity, all other human eyes he had seen held a chaotic mix of secrets and desires.
Lex had fully awakened two years ago, but he had kept his abilities hidden, waiting for the opportunity to destroy Lionel. He had seen too many people who ostensibly expressed sympathy but whose eyes couldn't hide their schadenfreude.
Behind Lex's vanity about his own intelligence, there indeed lay a pessimistic view of human nature. It could be said that those like him, and Bruce, have a gift and a curse. They carried suspicion with them all their lives.
However, Lex suddenly found himself not entirely scornful or disdainful of Clark's so-called naivety.
He had thought he could manipulate Clark, casually tricking him into revealing all his information. But now, Lex found himself embroiled in a serious argument with Clark, where his intellectual superiority wasn't giving him any advantage.
"What are you really here for?" Clark looked at Lex's shifting expressions, filled with suspicion. Lex didn't appear to have a particular purpose, remaining silent after entering but for a brief enquiry.
"I just... never mind… initially I came to ascertain whether you pose a threat to Metropolis. It's my territory, you best not cause trouble for me or yourself…"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lex fell silent again. He realized he sounded like a juvenile delinquent from middle school, threatening a younger child not to stir up trouble.
Resting his elbows on the table, he buried his face in his hands feeling rather out of sorts since entering the room. The details he was considering were completely beyond Clark's comprehension, but Clark recognized the emotions behind them, leaving Lex at a loss for words.
"It seems you're not a student at the Metropolitan University." After appraising Lex, who at the moment seemed slight and boyish, Clark thought he was still in high school, thus he asked:
"You must be preparing for college, right? Which college do you plan to attend?"
Before Lex could answer, Clark continued on his own, "I think Metropolitan University is quite good. It might not rank as high as the other East Coast universities, but the campus facilities and club atmosphere are pretty great."
Lex gave a light scoff, appearing to discuss the top-ranking colleges, but just as their conversation was about to take off, there was a sudden burst of gunfire from downstairs followed by loud explosions.
Lex almost fell off his chair from the shock, while Clark was already at the door. He flung it open, rushing to the staircase and peering downward. He saw Selina rushing up to him, with a trail of agents behind her.