CHAPTER 41

"Wow wow wow~, let us applaud and welcome the arrival of Superman! Superman, welcome to grace us with your presence."

Lex Luthor led the applause with a smile, though he clapped very slowly, giving a strong sense of perfunctory effort.

The audience below was a mix of envy, jealousy, and fear as they looked up at Superman in the sky.

Very few people in the audience clapped enthusiastically; those who clapped slowly were filled with insincerity.

Lex Luthor was very satisfied with his ability to control the crowd. This indicated that although there were citizens below who blindly worshipped Superman, their numbers were relatively small. In that case, the good show could now begin.

"Luthor, if you have any questions, you can ask me. I am right here. I will answer any question I know."

The red cape fluttered in the sky, a confident smile gracing Superman's face.

Lex Luthor appeared even happier than Superman: "Very good, I admire your courage. Superman, flying in the sky isn't good; it tends to scare people. Come, let's sit and talk."

Lex Luthor clapped his hands, and backstage staff brought up two sofas. The style of the演讲台 (speech stage/podium) instantly transformed into a talk show, and the backdrop for this talk show was the image of that incredibly fast Yellow Bird.

"Superman..."

Just as Lois was about to say something, Lex Luthor waved his hand to interrupt:

"Ms. Lane, this is now my chat time with him. Please do not interfere with our conversation, or I will have you thrown out."

"Oh, by the way, I remember your interview mentioned that Superman has a super brain, right? I imagine his brain isn't just for decoration?"

"I'm a reporter; you can't kick me out. Superman, you don't need to confront Luthor."

Superman gave the worried Lois a sunny smile, reassuring her not to worry.

He slowly floated down from the sky, landing on the stage to face Lex Luthor.

Lex Luthor smugly said to the audience below, "See, this is Superman! Powerful, confident. He has no need to fear the threat of an ordinary person like me."

However, looking at Luthor's smug face, it felt as if he had won a victory in some aspect.

Superman used his X-ray vision to carefully examine Luthor. He could tell that Lex Luthor was very excited, but what exactly was Luthor excited about?

"Luthor, what exactly do you want to say?"

Lex Luthor's smile vanished. He sat down on the sofa, very relaxed, and said:

"I believe this world doesn't need Superman. Therefore, I want you to disappear!"

"What!"

Lois was the first to disagree. "Lex Luthor, are you crazy? Are you planning to kill Superman!"

From Lois's many years of experience as a reporter, when a wealthy person said "I need you to disappear," that person would basically, truly disappear. The final outcome would usually be sinking into the sea or ending up in concrete.

Lex Luthor wagged his index finger, indicating she was wrong:

"No, no, no, Ms. Lane. If you speak recklessly, I can also sue you for slander! And I believe my lawyers can win."

"When I say Superman should disappear, I mean disappear from the public sphere. This world can have an invincible superpowered individual, but it absolutely cannot have this Superman at the social level."

"His existence will cause people to degenerate."

...Lois retorted: "You're dreaming! People today can't live without Superman! He is a good role model; he won't cause people to degenerate!"

Superman walked over to the other sofa and plopped down. He leaned forward, his hands clasped under his chin, and then asked in a puzzled tone:

"I don't understand, Luthor. Why are you resisting Superman's appearance? Do you want me to turn a blind eye and not save those pitiful people?"

Superman's words were actually also setting a trap. If Lex Luthor wanted to use human degeneration to pressure him, then Superman would counter with human lives.

No one is not afraid of death! Especially those who die in accidents. And no one can guarantee they won't die in an accident.

However, Lex Luthor jumped into this trap without hesitation. He was a human supremacist. He believed that human potential was enormous and that dangers and accidents could be solved by human wisdom.

Not by a nanny-like Superman!

"Yes, I demand that you do not save them!"

Superman's existence weakened humanity's potential to combat danger.

Luthor hoped to promote the progress and development of human society through his own intellect and efforts, rather than relying on Superman's external power.

"I understand your meaning," Clark said with a smile on his face. "I am merely doing what I can to help those in need. Luthor, I cannot satisfy everyone, but I will still do what I believe is right."

Superman's attitude greatly angered Lex Luthor: Fuck, I've said a whole bunch of serious things, and you're still going to insist on doing things your own way?

Lex Luthor decided he absolutely had to make this confident Superman suffer a setback!

"OK, I understand. Since you want to stand on the opposite side of humanity, then you must taste the wisdom of this human."

"Look at the ground. Can you see through it?"

Superman obediently used his X-ray vision and found that he actually couldn't see through it. "Lead plates? The entire stage is made of them?"

"What! Lead plates!" Lois exclaimed, suddenly realizing that she might have caused trouble.

Lex Luthor started laughing again:

"Oh, haha, it seems you really can't see through lead plates. Hahaha, I have Ms. Lane's interview to thank for this. Truly worthy of being the best female reporter."

"Superman, would you like to see what's under the floor?"

"Hey Luthor, I don't think we need to make a fuss about this."

At this point, Superman hadn't really suffered many setbacks. He assumed that what Lex Luthor had installed under the stage was probably just some cannons, machine guns, or the like, things that were completely harmless to him.

"Luthor, what have you done! You used my information!" Lois was agitated, questioning Luthor.

Lex Luthor pushed aside Lois, who was blocking his way.

"I just want Superman to know the wisdom of humanity! Please step aside, don't hinder me."

"Max (Harvey), you can activate it!"

From behind the speech stage, a response came: "OK!"

Click-clack, click-clack. The entire floor of the stage began to flip over.

Seeing that Superman had no intention of running, Lex Luthor felt slighted. He kindly reminded, "Aren't you going to run yet? Superman? Do you really think you're invincible?"

"Luthor, I've tried all of Earth's weapons. They really don't work on me. There's no need to waste time."

...As soon as Superman finished speaking, several green lasers shot out from the floor, all hitting him!

Weakness, pain, powerlessness...

The light of Green Kryptonite enveloped him. Superman instantly turned into a "soft-legged crab," collapsing to the ground with a splat.

His sharply defined muscles visibly softened. He looked pitiful, weak, and helpless.

"Ah!!! What did you do to him!"

Lois screamed and ran over, helping up the weakened Superman! She was helpless, only able to watch him grow weaker.

Lex Luthor walked over, squatted down, leaned close to Superman's pale, weak face, and said with a savage grin, "Hahahaha, yes, this is the expression. I just wanted to see this expression on your face!"

"Shock! Fear! And the fear of becoming an ordinary person! Welcome to the ranks of ordinary people, Superman!"

"Damn you, Luthor! What did you do to him! How could you treat a hero like this!"

"Whose hero? Not mine, anyway. Don't worry, that green light will only make him weak; he won't die."

Under Lois Lane's murderous glare, Lex Luthor calmly stood up again and said condescendingly:

"Superman, although humans don't have your X-ray vision, humans have all sorts of surveillance devices."

"You didn't think I would make a move without being sure, did you? Haha, I've thoroughly figured out all your weaknesses!"

Below the stage.

Seeing the once invincibly strong Superman weakly leaning against Lois, while the ordinary human Luthor stood triumphantly before him.

At this moment, Lex Luthor was the victor!

The originally quiet scene instantly erupted into an uproar!

For a time, cheers, whistles, sounds of shock!

The citizens of Metropolis would never have thought in their lives that the invincible Superman would be taken down by Lex Luthor just like that!

…………

The only one in the crowd below who didn't react much was Max, who had come to watch the show.

From his perspective, Lex Luthor had shown off his intelligence, grinding Superman's so-called super brain into the dust.

Those green Kryptonite rays had directly taken Superman down. He was currently like a punctured balloon, constantly leaking air... The vast energy originally within his body had also been dispersed by the rays.

This made Max feel very uncomfortable, a feeling that as long as one had Kryptonite, they could easily defeat Superman!

There was a sense of loss, like a worthy future opponent had been defeated by a nobody!

Damn you, Superman, give me back my previous fervent excitement, dammit!

And then, Lex Luthor began the classic villain behavior: a taunting speech!

Stirring up the atmosphere. According to the current plot development, a reversal would soon occur; Superman would probably be saved by someone or something...

But... ten minutes later...

By the time the noisy clamor from below the stage gradually subsided and the citizens' shock was about to pass...

Lex Luthor still hadn't made his next move, allowing Superman to lie there like a corpse. He seemed to be waiting for someone.

"This shouldn't be, right?" Lex Luthor rubbed his bald head. Logically speaking, that super-fast bird from yesterday had saved so many people along the way. Now that Superman was in such peril, it should definitely come to the rescue!

...Why hadn't it come after so long?

If Max knew what Lex Luthor was thinking, he would definitely say to Lex Luthor with a sarcastic expression:

"Lex Baldy, I want to too, but I fucking really can't transform into him! If I really turned into the Yellow Bird, I could fly over and beat you down in a second! I definitely wouldn't make you wait an extra second!"

Also puzzled were the citizens below. They didn't know what Lex Luthor was waiting for, and seeing his confused expression, it was clear that something had slipped out of his control.

Thus, a particularly brave fellow in the crowd below asked, "Lex Luthor, what are you waiting for?"

Since someone had asked with such sincerity, Lex Luthor naturally spoke with great benevolence; he had no desire to be a riddler:

"I'm waiting for that bird."

He then pointed to the Yellow Bird on the large screen behind him.

"See, even Superman has been taken care of by me, let alone a bird, right? Don't be anxious, let's wait patiently for a while! Around this speech stage, I've installed over 30 high-speed cameras. Once it appears, its image will be displayed on the big screen!"

With the explanation, the crowd below actually quieted down, silently waiting for the Yellow Bird's appearance.

Max: "? What the hell, the gossip has turned on me. Lex Baldy is actually waiting for me? Then should I make an appearance?"

After thinking about it, Max felt he could transform first and see what he turned into!

Looking left and right, there were quite a few people, but there was a public restroom not far away!

Max jogged over, preparing to transform!

As soon as he entered, he was almost knocked out by the stench. Good heavens, super smelly!

Just as he was about to find a stall to go in and transform, the toilet wasn't flushed.

Close door, next one.

Still not flushed!

Damn it, these people have no manners! Next one!

Damn, none of them are flushed!

"Curse these people who don't flush their toilets, may they be constipated every day!"

A vicious magic curse spread throughout the city!

"Clean Anew!"

The entire restroom became as bright and clean as new. Max complained speechlessly, "Using magic to clean a public restroom, I'm probably the only one in the world who does this!"

Without further ado, transform!

Bang!

"Huh? What's this situation? Why do I feel like my body has become weaker?"

Max came out of the stall and went to the mirror to carefully examine his appearance.

"How did I become an ordinary-looking IT coder? The trusty Omnitrix is on my chest. Damn it, who is this anyway? What's the special talent? Fucking tell me! Body, give me some reaction!"

Gurgle gurgle~

"Aiyo, what the—, turns out this coder's body isn't even good; it actually has an upset stomach! Good thing I used magic earlier, otherwise I really wouldn't have dared to use this place!"

………………

The view returns to the speech stage.

Another 20 minutes passed. Even Superman had recovered somewhat and was already standing on the stage again.

But under the influence of the Kryptonite rays, Superman now only possessed the physical strength of an ordinary Earthling.

"Luthor, you have proven human wisdom to me, but I will still do what I must do!"

Lex Luthor, already somewhat agitated because the Yellow Bird hadn't appeared, was made even more uncomfortable by Superman's earnest gaze:

"Hmph, foolish. You're just an ordinary person now. I can take you out with an ordinary handgun. Without your strength, what can you do? Stop making me laugh!"

Superman still spoke earnestly: "Even if I lose my strength, I will still help others! I didn't become Superman because of those powers, but because my desire to help others led everyone to call me Superman!"

On this point, Clark was not wrong. When he first started, he was just wearing a Kryptonian battlesuit and helping others. Because he helped many people, the news gave him a nickname—Superman!

Regardless of whether others believed it or not, the way Lois looked at Superman, her eyes were practically "drawing silk" (full of adoration)!

Lex Luthor couldn't refute it, just snorted disdainfully. In front of such a large crowd, he couldn't just lock Superman up for research, right! Such things, he could only do in private.

BOOM!!!

The nearby restroom exploded! The explosion was deafening!

A figure very familiar to everyone slowly floated up from the ruins.

A battlesuit of blue and red, a red cape fluttering behind him. He wore red boxer shorts, and on the waistband, the words SUPER BDE were inscribed.

Unlike the large S on Superman's chest, his chest bore the letters S, B.

The first sentence he spoke left everyone present speechless.

"Honey, got any paper?"