"Heh."
Lionel scoffed, his voice carrying that familiar cold authority. "The Tianyan Society is also tied to the military, Miss Amanda. Though my sight is gone, I'm not so old as to forget everything. Even the finest robe can have a flaw if someone wants to find it."
Amanda's brow furrowed. "Are you… threatening me, Mr. Lionel?"
"Not a threat, but a warning," Lionel replied, his tone sharp. "You don't understand the rules in this town. Act recklessly, and everything spirals out of control."
Amanda's eyes narrowed. "Kansas belongs to the federal government. No one can stop me from controlling what must be controlled. If there's chaos, we'll manage it."
"Young people are always so confident," Lionel muttered.
He rose to leave, but a sudden heat flooded his eyes. Blinding light overwhelmed him. He squeezed his eyes shut. Slowly, cautiously, he opened them—and for the first time in months, he could see.
It was blurry at first, but real. He could see the familiar shapes of the reception room, the furniture, the walls. A thrill coursed through him—he had regained his sight. His hands trembled. Light, so simple yet so precious, filled him with joy he hadn't felt in years.
"Mr. Lionel, are you alright?" Amanda asked, frowning at his sudden excitement.
Lionel composed himself. "I… nothing. Our conversation ends here, Miss Amanda. I have matters to attend to."
He left the reception room, heart pounding with hope and anticipation. Adrian Kent had said once that finding Lex would restore Lionel's vision. Could it really be true?
Lionel entered the living room and froze. A familiar figure sat on the sofa.
"Lex!" he cried. "My son!"
Lex stood swiftly, leveling a pistol at his father.
"Disappointed I didn't go to hell, aren't you?" Lex's eyes glinted with anger and suspicion. "Especially surprised I'm suddenly here in your castle?"
"Lex, put the gun down!" Lionel's voice was firm, pleading. "I would never harm my own son, and I sent Adrian to find you!"
"No, you're lying." Lex's grip tightened on the weapon. "I know the purpose of your sending him. You were testing me. The plane crash—everything was your scheme. You trapped us all."
"You're mistaken," Lionel said, holding his ground, eyes steady. "We were never enemies. I would never harm you."
"And Helen?" Lex pressed, voice shaking.
"Your fiancée?" Lionel asked calmly. "Go see her. She's alive, safe, and well at your mansion."
"She… alive?" Lex's anger wavered, replaced by confusion.
"Yes. You were made the hero in a fabricated tragedy. Only one parachute—you gave it to her, glorifying a story of love. A father's pride, yes, but it wasn't the truth. I warned you never to trust her fully."
"No… no!" Lex's emotions surged. He slammed the table, papers and objects clattering to the floor.
"Do not blame Helen for your burdens," Lionel said, unflinching, looking directly into his son's eyes. "I used every resource to save you. I found Adrian. The price I paid was enormous. Think: if you had died, what would I gain? And Helen? She would have inherited unimaginable wealth instantly."
"Helen doesn't care about money!" Lex countered.
"Sometimes desires hide behind appearances," Lionel replied, calm and calculating. "Emotions can mislead, especially when easily swayed."
Lex, usually brilliant and decisive, found himself hesitating. Slowly, he lowered the pistol, slumping onto the sofa.
"I saw military personnel leaving," he said, changing the subject. "What are they planning?"
"People from the Tianyan Society," Lionel explained. "They've taken an interest in the Kent family."
Lex's brow furrowed. "Adrian saved me. I won't let them harm the Kents."
"Exactly what I wanted to hear. We cooperate… for now." Lionel extended a hand to Lex. "To face our common enemy."
---
Kent Farm.
Adrian stared at the dim sky, brows knit. "Something's… off."
"What?" Clark asked, glancing up from his English essay.
"The weather. This cloud cover has lasted for days. Even in winter, this is unusual."
Clark frowned. "Could it be climate change?"
"Not directly. Air circulation might slow with greenhouse warming, but smog isn't evident. Something else is affecting the town." Adrian's tone was sharp.
"And Martin's youngest daughter? Any leads?"
"No," Clark said, shoulders slumping. "All traces vanished. Nothing useful. Maybe Chloe could help, but…"
"Suit yourself." Adrian turned back to the sky, scanning for anything unusual.
Suddenly, a red blur appeared—Bart Allen. He landed casually, greeting them.
"I found something important about Martin's youngest daughter," Bart said.
"What?" Adrian asked, voice taut.
"Tess's friend once saw her talking to a little boy. No one has seen him before—he doesn't belong here. Appeared out of nowhere."
Adrian's brow furrowed. "Little boy?"
"Like a devil," Bart said, voice grave. "Tempts children into great mistakes, drags them to hell. Devils tempt hearts best of all."
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Have you ever been tempted?"
"Never. As long as I'm fast, regrets don't happen." Bart's usual cheer was gone.
"There's more," he added. "Someone in town is missing."
"Missing?" Clark's voice tightened. "Not another child?"
"No, an adult. Retired soldier. Allen Rickman. Former Pentagon. Divorced. Daughter in Pennsylvania. Visits only twice a month." Bart handed Adrian the stolen file.
Adrian read carefully, connecting dots in his mind. Pentagon ties… Amanda's sudden arrival… everything intersected.
After Bart left, Adrian went alone to Allen Rickman's isolated house. The dark fir forest surrounded it, winter branches casting skeletal shadows. An eerie chill permeated the air.
Inside, Adrian—stepped into the dim, damp living room. Black granular residue covered the floor, stinking of burnt flesh and sulfur.
"Remains of human bodies… or souls?" Adrian murmured, brow furrowed.
"Trouble?" a voice asked from behind.
Adrian spun. The figure he had least expected stood there.
___
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