"Mr. Adrian, we meet again."
At the Smallville Police Department, the female sheriff stood across from Adrian, a faint smile on her lips.
Adrian, sitting in the interrogation room, tilted his head. "Have we met before?"
"Of course. I once handled a case involving your brother, Clark Kent," she said, sitting at the table. Her lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. "Your brother threw a twenty yards from an alley onto my windshield. Broke his cervical spine so he couldn't move, and then he was sued for a million. I doubt you'd forget something so impressive."
She paused, reinning in her smile. "Though bizarre events later prevented the payout, I was deeply impressed by you all."
"You and Clark Kent often show up at crime scenes. Even if investigations suggest no connection, I don't believe these things happen without reason. Now it's time to deal with each other again. This time it's you, not your brother, but I don't see much difference."
"Sheriff Nancy?" Adrian nodded. "I remember now. Aren't you almost retired?"
"Haha, as a newly transferred sheriff in Smallville, my career here has just begun," Nancy replied.
"Let's cut to the chase, Adrian Kent. Dikes Kevin… is his death your doing?"
"Sorry, I was just at the scene, one of the students saw Dikes lose it. I don't remember what happened afterward," Adrian said calmly.
"Many students claim you killed him," Nancy said sharply, standing abruptly.
"Yes," Adrian admitted evenly, his expression unchanging. "They also said I went on a rampage. The truth is, they fought among themselves. Obviously—" He locked eyes with her. "They have mental issues, and Dikes' own mind was unstable. They saw things that never existed. You cannot trust such people."
Nancy's eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"
With the room now private, she leaned in. "I know the absurdity of that incident involves you. I will investigate and expose your mischief, bad boy."
"Whatever," Adrian replied, indifferent. "Officer Nancy, advice—control your curiosity, or…"
"Or what?" Nancy stepped closer, placing her hands on the table. "Know who you are, Adrian Kent. No matter your abilities, within the law, if you commit a crime, I will punish you!"
"I look forward to it, Officer Nancy." Adrian's lips curved into a slight, mocking smile.
"Very good," Nancy said, adjusting her patrol cap. "Next, doctors will evaluate your mental state and the students'. I hope they're the ones with problems, not you. Otherwise…" She left, the words trailing behind her.
Outside the room, Amanda Waller, tall and imposing, approached Nancy. "Officer Nancy."
Nancy arched a brow at the unannounced visitor. "Hello."
Amanda's tone was direct. "We want the Smallville Police Department to transfer Adrian Kent to us tomorrow."
Nancy's eyes widened slightly but she quickly recovered. "I cannot decide that."
"I've spoken with Chief Keller. He agreed," Amanda said, smiling faintly.
Nancy's expression grew complicated. This wasn't a request—it was a notification. She turned to Adrian, watching him standing with arms crossed, eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought. Who was he really?
Adrian opened his eyes, meeting her gaze, then shifted to Amanda, who immediately felt the intensity of his stare. Her heart raced.
With 24 hours of investigative authority, Adrian would remain in the detention cell for now.
The police led Adrian down a narrow, dim corridor lined with temporary holding cells. Most rooms were single occupancy.
Voices called out from the cells.
"Hey, pretty boy!"
"Kid, want to play?"
Adrian ignored them, giving only a cold glance as he followed the officers.
"Clang!" The iron door closed behind him. Inside, Adrian gripped the bars, a reddish glow in his eyes, unbothered by the staring prisoners.
Late at night, a black shadow crept along the corridor toward him. The iron door burst open, and the shadow condensed into a figure.
Devourer of Heaven appeared before him: gray-black cracked skin, pointed ears, red glowing eyes.
"Hmm," he said, breathing with a neurotic rhythm. "How does it feel to be in jail?"
Adrian's eyes glowed faintly red, Heat Vision threatening. "What is your purpose? I don't believe you came just to mock me."
"Purpose?" Devourer of Heaven smiled. "After regaining freedom, it's simple: master both darkness and light. The Star Scepter," he gestured, "is the conduit. Control it, and the power of light is mine. Obtaining this world will be effortless."
Adrian's lips curled into a sneer. "You think you have the strength now?"
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Your eyes see through illusions, but your friends and family are fragile," Devourer of Heaven said playfully.
"Is that so?" Adrian replied, cold. Heat Vision flared, blasting Devourer of Heaven in the chest. Walls cracked, debris flew.
The fight escalated quickly. Devourer of Heaven was blasted into another room, manipulating a burly man to attack Adrian. Adrian slammed him against a toilet, shattering it. Blood covered the man's face.
Before he could react further, Devourer of Heaven vanished in a puff of smoke.
Chaos erupted in the corridor. Cell doors burst open, prisoners with blood-red eyes swarmed out, attacking anyone nearby, mind-controlled by the demon.