As the truck approached the gates of Lex's mansion, the guard immediately recognized Clark Kent and waved them through.
"Master Clark, please go ahead. Master Lex has instructed that you're welcome to come and go as you please."
"Thank you," Clark replied, his expression as stoic as ever.
Kaius, standing beside him, couldn't resist teasing. Imitating a butler's tone, he quipped, "Master Clark, do you require any leg pendants? I'd be happy to volunteer!"
"Stop it," Clark muttered, his lips twitching in an almost-smile before he forced himself to remain composed.
They parked the truck in the mansion's front yard, careful not to use Lex's garage. After all, one tire from any of Lex's luxury cars could probably buy ten of Clark's trucks.
"Well, since we're here, let's at least say hello to Lex," Kaius suggested.
The two entered the mansion together, where a butler promptly greeted them. "Gentlemen, please follow me to the VIP room. Master Lex is currently discussing business with some guests, but he'll be with you shortly."
Following the butler, Kaius took in the extravagant decor of the Luthor estate.
To say it was luxurious would be an understatement. Every detail, from the wallpaper to the flooring, screamed opulence. Even a seemingly random painting hanging in the hallway was a genuine masterpiece by a renowned artist—not that Kaius could remember the name, but he could tell it was worth a fortune.
As they passed a small, unassuming room, Kaius noticed the door was locked. His curiosity piqued, he discreetly activated his x-ray vision to peer inside.
What he saw made his expression darken. He glanced at Clark, who was busy admiring a suit of armor near the doorway—and nearly knocked it over in the process.
The butler led them to the VIP room and politely asked, "What would you gentlemen like to drink?"
"I'll have a hot chocolate, and Clark will take a latte," Kaius replied before waving the butler off.
Once the butler was gone, Kaius turned to Clark with a serious expression. "Clark, I told you Lex wasn't what he seems. Come with me—I need to show you something."
"What are you talking about?" Clark asked, confused by Kaius's sudden change in tone.
"You'll see soon enough. Just follow me."
Kaius led Clark back to the small locked room they had passed earlier. "Use your x-ray vision and look inside. You won't believe what's in there."
"We can't just invade someone's privacy," Clark objected. "What if it's just a safe or something? This isn't right."
"Lex's safe is in the basement, probably stuffed with a ton of gold bars. That's not what I'm talking about. Look inside, and then we'll discuss privacy!"
Reluctantly, Clark narrowed his eyes and activated his x-ray vision. The room's interior came into view, revealing an unsettling sight.
The space was much larger than it appeared from the outside, as if several rooms had been combined. In the center was a white Porsche with a smashed front and a missing driver's side door.
Clark immediately recognized the car—it was the one Lex had crashed into him, sending them both into the river.
Nearby, a massive computer displayed data models and simulations. The walls were covered with information about Clark, as though Lex had been obsessively studying him.
"He's been analyzing that accident!" Clark said, his face darkening. Without thinking, he reached for the locked door.
"Clark, wait! Privacy, remember?" Kaius called out, half-joking.
But Clark ignored him. With a soft click, the lock broke under his superhuman strength, and he pushed the door open.
Inside, the room was filled with charts, diagrams, and photos. The supercomputer even had a simulation running, reconstructing the crash and analyzing Clark's speed, strength, and the force of impact.
Kaius crossed his arms, shaking his head. "So much for respecting privacy, huh?"
Clark, however, was too shocked to respond. The room was undeniable proof that Lex had been secretly investigating him.
The data clearly showed that the car's front end had indeed struck Clark—a collision no ordinary person could have survived.
"He's investigating me! Lex Luthor is investigating me!" Clark's voice was filled with anger.
No one would feel comfortable being secretly investigated, and for Clark, whose life was full of secrets, it was even worse.
"Clark, calm down," Kaius interjected. "Your dad was right—the Luthors can't be trusted."
Kaius couldn't help but feel it necessary to remind Clark that the Luthor family was far from trustworthy. Their actions often concealed ulterior motives.
As Kaius debated whether to punch the computer in frustration, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the door.
"Clark, I can explain!"
Both of them turned to see Lex Luthor standing at the entrance, his expression a mix of guilt and desperation.
"You're investigating me!" Clark demanded, stepping forward.
Lex visibly flinched under Clark's intense presence but quickly raised his hands in defense. "No! I just wanted to figure out what happened that day. Clark, I swear, I meant no harm!"
Kaius could tell Lex had his suspicions about Clark and decided to step in to divert the situation. He casually approached the damaged Porsche and said:
"Lex, your analysis is all wrong. I was the one who opened the door that day!"
Lex looked confused.
"I don't know how I managed it—maybe it was adrenaline, sheer desperation to save Clark, or just a combination of water pressure and leverage. You didn't account for everything. There's no special power involved. We're both ordinary humans. If you don't believe me, I can show you right now!"
Kaius rolled up his sleeves as if preparing for a demonstration.
Clark groaned internally, already foreseeing disaster, while Lex waved his hands nervously.
"No, no! Mr. Kaius, I was wrong. I shouldn't have investigated you two. I'm sorry for my behavior!" Lex admitted, looking ashamed.
But Kaius wasn't about to let him off the hook so easily. Lex had to be convinced they were nothing but normal humans, or he would never stop digging.
"Lex, come over here. I'll show you once and for all!"
Kaius leaned down, grabbed the backseat door with both hands, and prepared to pull.
Lex tried to stop him. "Kaius, really, there's no need—"
CRACK!
The metallic sound of the door being torn off echoed through the room.
Everyone froze.
Kaius stood holding the car door in his hands, staring at it in disbelief.
"Uh-oh..."
Lex was stunned into silence, his mouth slightly open, while Clark slapped a hand to his face in exasperation. It was hard to tell whether he was more frustrated or amused.
Kaius blinked at the door, his mind racing. "Wait a second… I took the Superman Card out of my system slot. How do I still have this much strength? Actually… I feel even stronger than before!"
Kaius flexed his hands, testing his strength. While it wasn't at Superman's level, it was clearly far above that of an ordinary human.
"Could it be that using the Superman Card has been passively increasing my baseline strength?" Kaius muttered to himself.
As the realization dawned, his expression darkened. Great. Just great. How do I explain this now? The more I try to fix it, the worse it gets.
Lex, meanwhile, stared at Kaius with wide eyes, his suspicion growing even deeper.
Clark shot Kaius a glare that seemed to say, You're not helping!
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.