Whoosh!
In the next instant, Alex's vision blurred.
A world that felt both familiar and unfamiliar appeared before his eyes.
Smallville.
That's right.
Alex opened the space gate directly into Smallville.
He remembered very clearly that he still owned a house here.
After so many years, he wondered what condition it was in now.
Shasha, shasha.
The sound of footsteps brushing against the ground echoed softly.
As Alex strolled leisurely toward the town, he spread out his super hearing.
Countless sounds from across the world poured into his ears.
Very quickly, Alex grasped the basic situation of this world.
Batman had already become a globally notorious madman.
The Flash was well known in Central City and several nearby cities, though his worldwide fame was still far behind Batman's.
Wonder Woman, Diana, remained even more low-key—still more of a legend than a public figure.
As for Aquaman?
Well… he still only existed in coastal town myths.
Even more legendary than Diana.
So what about Superman?
He didn't exist at all.
Alex immediately understood.
Zod hadn't appeared yet, and Clark Kent was still unknown to the world.
The fact that Clark was still living in Smallville said everything.
---
"Mom, how about we move?"
"Move? Where to?"
"Anywhere is fine. You often talk about Metropolis. Maybe moving there wouldn't be such a bad idea."
Under Alex's gaze, Clark Kent was sitting in the farmyard with his mother, Martha, talking quietly.
Martha looked exhausted, her face devoid of vitality, as though she had suffered a great loss.
Clark himself seemed less lively than before.
This only confirmed Alex's suspicion.
Just one year ago, Jonathan Kent had died in an accident.
To make matters worse—
He died right in front of Clark.
With Clark's abilities, he could have easily saved his father—he could have saved everyone caught in that storm.
But Jonathan stubbornly insisted that Clark not reveal his powers in public.
And Clark obeyed.
He stood there, watching his father die before his eyes.
Before Martha's eyes.
So for Martha, this place was filled with painful memories.
Everything reminded her of Jonathan Kent.
That was why Clark suggested moving away.
---
Whoosh.
Alex withdrew his gaze.
He wasn't a voyeur—once he had the necessary information, there was no need to keep watching Clark.
"Alex?"
"You're Alex!"
While casually monitoring the world, Alex had unknowingly wandered into the town of Smallville.
Even though he'd been gone a long time, he had lived here for a while.
Some townsfolk still recognized him and greeted him in surprise.
Alex simply smiled and nodded back.
Treating it like revisiting old memories, his relaxed figure appeared along Smallville's streets.
Eventually—
He arrived at his house.
---
Because of how long it had been vacant, the place was half-abandoned.
Without a full cleanup inside and out, it was completely unlivable.
Of course, as a super-rich man, Alex wasn't about to do that himself.
He casually threw some money around, and everything was taken care of.
In just two days, the house was spotless, and all the furniture had been replaced.
Alex moved back in.
With his wealth, he could have chosen a far better place to live.
But he had spent quite some time here.
There was a sense of nostalgia.
Alex was a little sentimental—after all, it was just a place to live.
This one was good enough.
---
Crackle, pop.
In the small courtyard, Alex was leisurely grilling skewers.
The aroma of meat drifted through the air as the skewers turned golden.
Alex was practically drooling.
Hmm?
At that moment, Alex felt something and smiled faintly.
"Come in. The door's not locked."
He spoke calmly—to the air in front of him.
Creak.
The door opened.
Clark Kent entered through the back door and stopped in front of Alex.
"I heard you were back, so I came to check. Didn't expect it to be true."
Clark greeted him familiarly.
"I own property here. Wouldn't it be a loss not to stay once in a while?"
Alex chuckled and handed him a skewer.
"Want to try my cooking?"
"Gladly."
Clark took it without hesitation.
"This is my first time seeing this style of grilling, but it looks great."
He took a bite, nodded, and said,
"It really has a unique flavor."
"It's barbecue from Huaxia," Alex replied, picking up one himself.
The two ate and chatted casually, like old friends reunited after many years.
The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable.
---
"By the way," Alex asked casually after a while,
"how's Smallville been since I left?"
"All good."
Clark shrugged and told Alex about the town.
Just as Alex expected—nothing worth mentioning.
And just as anticipated, Zod had not appeared.
Alex nodded inwardly.
General Zod's arrival was a major DC event.
It should trigger a system mission, right?
Hopefully so.
---
"Well, I should get going."
After a pleasant visit, Clark stood up.
"Thanks for the barbecue. It's unforgettable."
He paused, then added seriously,
"And… welcome back."
Alex officially settled down in Smallville.
Though he appeared idle on the surface, he frequently used his super hearing to monitor the globe.
Searching for opportunities to grow stronger.
But after about a week—
No such opportunity appeared.
Instead, something strange happened.
The TV stations seemed to be hacked.
Every television in Smallville displayed the same image.
On the screen were just a few words:
You are not alone.
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