In the alley, Fran pulled out two photographs.
The photos were from the museum's security cameras, showing Clark and David talking with Lex Luthor.
"You're really hard to find, Clark."
He shook the photos and chuckled.
"Good thing you went to the museum's exhibition that night."
Fran only remembered Clark's clothes and hairstyle, along with half of his profile. Finding someone with just that information would be incredibly difficult.
It was late at night, and the city was deserted. The Metropolis Museum was the only place holding an evening event. He decided to try his luck there and, to his surprise, found him.
"With these photos, it's not difficult for me, as a police detective, to find you."
"Officer, what do you want us to cooperate with your investigation on?"
Clark swallowed nervously, staring at the man in front of him.
Having a police officer approach him alone, claiming it was related to a traffic accident, gave him a bad feeling.
David stood to the side, arms crossed, watching coldly, wondering what this guy was up to.
"I really don't know what your adoptive parents fed you."
Fran's eyes lit up like he was looking at a rare animal in a zoo. He reached out and squeezed Clark's muscular arm. Clark, displeased, slapped his hand away. Fran acted startled, raising his hands, but a smug smile played on his lips.
"Easy there, I can't handle your strength."
"Officer, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Stop pretending. I saw it last night."
He lowered his voice, leaning in uncomfortably close as if they were old friends, and clapped his hands.
"A spectacular performance, stopping an out-of-control city bus with one hand."
A flush of unnaturalness spread across Clark's face. He was about to speak.
"Clark, are you still going to play dumb at this point?"
Sensing what he was about to say, Fran shook his head, acting as if he had him completely figured out.
"You can't possibly be that naive, can you?"
The man didn't seem to be bluffing. His secret was truly exposed. Hearing this, Clark felt a surge of anxiety and glared at him.
"Even the most good-tempered elephant,"
David said coldly, "is not to be provoked carelessly."
What a brazen fellow, daring to provoke someone who could crush him effortlessly.
"Elephant? It seems you know your brother's secret too."
Fran turned to look. His target was Clark, and stopping Clark's brother was just an incidental move.
He was completely unfazed by David's veiled threat.
"I know what you, you people, and your parents want."
He pointed at Clark and David, speaking eloquently.
"Clark, you have such power and talent, yet you've never participated in any school sports since you were little, and you wouldn't even fight back when bullied.
Your adoptive parents have a son like you, but they chose to run a farm laboriously, earning only a meager few tens of thousands of dollars a year."
Operating in the gray areas, using others' deadly secrets to force them into doing his bidding, was a dangerous game. A single misstep could lead to mutual destruction.
Only timid prey made the best targets for a hunter. Fran had thoroughly investigated Clark's situation and was over 80% confident he could capture this rare specimen. Otherwise, he wouldn't be here.
"You want a stable and peaceful life, right?"
The thought of such power sent shivers of excitement down his spine. No matter what he did, he could easily amass a fortune.
But this family didn't, and they were even so cautious as to forbid their son from participating in any campus sports.
"It would indeed be simple for you, Clark, to kill me.
But if I don't return by a certain time, an email will automatically send all your family's information to major media outlets."
His tone shifted, and a cold smile flickered across Fran's lips.
"What do you think will happen then?
I guarantee you'll immediately become the hottest celebrity family in Metropolis, and even the world!"
This family couldn't withstand a thorough investigation.
"Enough!
What do you want?"
Grabbing Fran's collar, Clark finally roared in anger.
"Don't you dare involve my brother and parents."
If not for his parents, who knew where this alien would be right now, or if he was even still alive.
If he weren't here, his younger brother could have enjoyed all of his parents' love.
Clark didn't want to cause any trouble for his family because of him.
"Shhh! Keep it down, Clark, don't let anyone hear your secret."
Facing a creature more terrifying than an African elephant raging before him, Fran actually laughed, looking confident, and lightly placed a finger on his lips.
The young man before him was too naive; he was anxious and scared, which was why he was angry.
"I don't ask for much. It's a shame to waste such talent on a farm. I'm a righteous detective, and I just need your help dealing with a few vicious gangsters for whom we can't get evidence."
Having read Clark's file, Fran clearly understood the personality of the young man before him. The wealth obtained after eliminating Metropolis's biggest gangs would be enough for him to live lavishly for a long time.
"I won't help you kill anyone!"
Threatened, Clark was anxious and angry, unsure of what to do. He was filled with regret, wondering why he hadn't been more careful when saving someone last night and forgotten to check his surroundings beforehand.
The main reason was that the incident happened too suddenly, giving Clark no chance to react.
"Even gangsters with murder cases on their hands?"
"That's right!"
Well, this guy was even more pedantic than he thought.
"It's fine if you don't kill them. If you can subdue them, I don't mind either."
Fran shrugged. He just wanted the money anyway.
"I..."
There seemed to be no other way. If it was just about taking down and subduing gangsters... Just as Clark hesitated to agree.
Clap, clap!
"Daring yet cautious."
In the alley, David clapped his hands, his tone unhurried, as if genuinely praising.
"These are essential qualities for a gambler."
His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of his throat, but his face remained as if nothing had happened. This police officer named Fran could be considered quite a character.
A hint of discomfort flashed in Fran's eyes, realizing his hidden thoughts had been exposed, but the smile on his face didn't change. He was indeed gambling, and with over eighty percent certainty, it didn't mean he was guaranteed to win, but this high-stakes gamble was worth it. If he won this gamble, he would be worry-free for the rest of his life. He could live off this secret forever!
"Interested in a gamble with me?"
David took a fifty-cent coin out of his pocket.
"What do you want to bet on?"
Seeing the coin in his hand, Fran smiled. A trace of unease lingered in his heart; he had a feeling that something had gone beyond his expectations. He hadn't paid much attention to this kid, David Kent, before. What if one person could beat a few college football players of the same age? It was just kids fighting. But now, seeing him in person, from the beginning until now, Fran hadn't seen a trace of anxiety or panic on David's face. He had been watching coldly the entire time, as if watching a small bug jumping around without knowing its limits. He was eerily mature and calm, and Fran wondered what his backing was. Was it his monstrous brother?
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