His dark hair looked like it was about to disappear into the stack.
Clark sighed, wrapped his arms around Soren's waist, and gently pulled him out of the comic pile, coaxing softly, "Don't be mad. If you're really bored, how about I take you back to Earth for a bit of fun, okay?"
Soren suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "Yes, please!"
Clark smiled, gently patting Soren's head, and led him away from the Watchtower.
They headed to Tokyo.
The streets of Tokyo appeared much the same as they always had.
Bustling with people, lively and crowded, the city still held onto its familiar sense of vibrancy.
The only notable difference was that the police no longer patrolled the streets.
Instead, they had been replaced by the soldiers of the Regime Army, clad in black uniforms.
The Regime soldiers stood in formation at the intersections, like silent black statues.
As pedestrians passed by, many of them occasionally displayed fear in their expressions.
They hurried along with their heads down, not daring to glance at the soldiers.
Soren and Clark moved through the crowd.
Due to Clark's impressive height and Soren's striking appearance, they drew occasional glances from passersby, but because Clark wore glasses, no one recognized him.
They visited the newly restored Tokyo Tower.
Years ago, the tower had collapsed due to the World Engine, but after extensive repairs, it had reopened to the public.
On a weekday morning, there weren't many tourists—just a small handful of people waiting in line for the elevator.
At the base of the tower, they were stopped for a security check by one of the Regime soldiers.
Speaking in English, the soldier asked them to present their identification documents.
In this new world, there were no longer any national borders, but to verify people's identities, everyone had to register for a credit certificate.
Credit scores were tracked, and those who committed crimes would have their credits wiped out, while hard worker people could accumulate more points, which could be used to purchase special goods or travel across regions.
Soren didn't have a credit certificate, so Clark had no choice but to remove his glasses and reveal his face to the soldier.
The Regime soldier who is a devoted follower of Superman, immediately recognized Clark, his whole body trembling with excitement.
He apologized profusely for stopping them: "I'm terribly sorry, Superman."
"There's no need to apologize. You're just doing your job well," Clark said sternly.
At that moment, he looked every bit the ruler—his expression firm, his features strikingly handsome like a god descended from the heavens.
The aura of command he exuded was enough to make anyone feel compelled to submit to him.
Soren, for a brief moment, couldn't control the look of shock on his face and stood frozen in place.
But when Clark turned back toward him, he had already put his glasses on again.
Smiling gently, he asked in a soft voice, "Do you want to take the elevator or walk up?"
Soren hastily lowered his head to hide his expression.
Gripping Clark's hand tightly, he muttered, "...Let's take the stairs."
Nearly 600 steps leading up to the main observation deck, located 120 meters above ground at Tokyo Tower.
They began their climb, but by the halfway point, Soren was already feeling a bit tired, while Clark seemed as relaxed as if he were taking a leisurely stroll.
Clark, noticing Soren's fatigue, offered with concern, "Want me to carry you the rest of the way?"
Soren: …
Wiping a light sheen of sweat from his forehead, Soren shook his head firmly, "I can do it myself."
They made their way up to the main observation deck on foot, where Soren received a commemorative token from one of the staff for completing the climb.
Clark happily tucked it away for him.
Soren didn't say much, he just standing by the observation window, gazing out over the city below.
Although Soren was long accustomed to this kind of elevated view, Tokyo Tower held special significance for him.
From here, he could see the sprawling layers of the steel forest, the busy roads filled with cars, and far off on the horizon, the serene and graceful outline of Mount Fuji faintly visible.
He stared out the window, mesmerized, while Clark stood beside him, speaking softly: "This world is becoming a better place, isn't it?"
Soren remained silent.
His hand curled against the glass wall, leaving a few fingerprints warmed by his touch.
"Do you really think you're protecting this world? Is this world, as it is now, the one you wanted, Clark?" he asked softly, his gaze fixed on the transparent glass floor beneath them.
Clark nodded.
Turning his head to face Soren, his voice was low but unwavering: "Isn't this a better world?"
His eyes gleamed like torches, piercing through the darkness of a deep mine.
"I've ensured there are no more large-scale wars fought over nations, resources, or beliefs. I've eradicated crime. Every person who considers doing wrong now has to face the consequences of breaking the law. Women, children, and the elderly can walk freely under the sun, safe under my protection. I've eliminated differences in status, wealth, race, and geography. Every person on this planet now has equal rights, and the same identity—they are all my citizens."
"Isn't this a better world, Soren?"
Soren gazed at him in a trance, as if looking up at a god standing before him.
Clark couldn't see his own expression at that moment...
He looked like a god of the sun, gazing down upon humanity.
The golden light of the yellow sun bathed Clark's body, casting a bright, shining spot on his brow.
That expression made Soren's heart sink deeper and deeper, as if he was falling into a frozen ocean.
Soren asked quietly, "Can you truly say, after everything you've done, that your conscience is clear?"
"My conscience is clear," Clark replied,
"I can take you right now to see how, in Iraq, women have taken up arms and joined the Regime Army to fight against the men who once enslaved them; in India, how the lowest caste, the Shudras—who used to lie in heaps of trash awaiting death, forced to work the most degrading jobs generation after generation—now have the same job opportunities as the higher castes; in Brazil, every child will grow up without the shadow of drugs over their lives... Soren, this new world is safe and orderly, and I would give my life to protect it."