The DC Universe is different from the former Earth. There are too many monsters and spirits here. To succeed, normal means are insufficient. Power is essential; power is the foundation.
Before he was fourteen, Luke hadn't awakened his superpowers and was merely an intellectually gifted teenager. To avoid being killed by some unknown small-time thug in the future, he spent a large amount of time every day practicing martial arts.
He mastered popular global fighting techniques—Baji Quan, Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Muay Thai, and Inch Punch. He even spent half a year learning an ancient martial art from an old beggar who had stowed away from China. Although it proved useless, the old beggar often praised him, saying that if he persisted, he could master the method of internal breathing in less than five years.
It was then that Luke awakened.
A deep green flame, like the fire of the undead from the abyss, carried a bone-chilling coldness.
With superpowers, there was no need to practice martial arts anymore, but the techniques honed over ten years were ingrained deep in his memory, forming an instinct.
Continuous BAM! BANG! CRASH! sounds came from the office, interspersed with occasional cries of pain and the shattering of glass.
Everyone outside was terribly nervous and worried sick. The boss is only seventeen and looks so thin; how could he possibly be a match for Alexander? Someone whispered,
"Should we call the police?"
Just as they spoke, Pang!
A huge impact sound came from inside, like a sledgehammer hitting a wall.
Everyone's face changed drastically. Cindy couldn't hold back anymore. She gritted her teeth, ready to rush in, secretly vowing that even if it cost her life, she would take a bite out of that bastard. They couldn't be bullied like this.
Just as she reached the door, Charlie blocked her.
"You'd better not go in."
Cindy angrily said, "Don't stop me! I'll fight him!"
Charlie stood firm in the doorway, looking helpless.
"Instead of worrying about the boss, you should pray that bastard doesn't get killed."
Cindy frowned, completely puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Charlie didn't elaborate. After a while, the noise inside the office stopped. The door opened, and Luke, wearing a white shirt, appeared in the doorway.
He wasn't red in the face or out of breath, looking completely unfazed.
What happened?
Everyone was stunned, sizing up Luke with strange expressions. When a few sharp-eyed people noticed bloodstains on his knuckles, their expressions grew even more bizarre.
Cindy hesitantly asked, "Boss, are... are you okay?"
Luke nodded and said to Charlie,
"Call the hospital. A psychopath came into my office, liked to hit his head against the wall, and smashed my desk. Tell them to hurry up and send someone to take the patient away."
Charlie had anticipated this outcome. He immediately took out his phone and called a nearby hospital.
Everyone exchanged confused glances, their heads full of questions. Was that bastard, Alexander Rhodes, all bark and no bite? Or was the boss a deep-cover expert?
Zack sneaked a peek into the office on his way to the restroom. He gasped when he saw the towering man lying on the floor, his head bloody. He rushed up to Luke and whispered,
"Boss, do you know kung fu?"
"What kung fu?"
Zack gestured with his hands. "The kind from Oriental movies, where you can fly over roofs, skim across the water, and punch a person dozens of meters away!"
Luke's mouth twitched. He said seriously and earnestly,
"I'm sorry, I don't know that kind of kung fu. And I didn't hit anyone. This guy has severe masochistic tendencies. He was hitting his head against the wall and threatening to sue me for mental distress if I didn't pay him compensation. You are all witnesses. If I receive a court summons in the future, you must testify for me. Understand?"
Everyone nodded vigorously, thinking, A boss is a boss; he can tell a lie without batting an eye.
Following Zack's lead, others gathered around. After seeing the scene in the office, their eyes were filled with awe. Previously, they had only thought of the boss as a rich, talented second-generation heir. This scene gave them a new perspective.
Zack was persistent. "Boss, are you sure you haven't practiced Oriental sorcery?"
"That's enough. Stop talking nonsense! Get back to work! Robert, come to my office."
At Luke's command, the employees reluctantly dispersed. Soon, only Robert Downs remained.
He stood at the door, his face a mix of complex emotions. His eyes swept across the scene inside the room, a flicker of fear passing through them.
Alexander, notorious for his brutality, was lying next to the sofa. His scalp was split open, and blood covered his entire face, making him almost unrecognizable. There were seven or eight bright red bloodstains on the desk and the wall. Combined with the blood smears below, it was easy to picture how Luke had grabbed his head and slammed it against the wall repeatedly.
A sudden chill ran down Robert's spine.
Robert avoided the broken glass on the floor and walked into the office, saying quietly,
"Boss, did you need me for something?"
Luke poured a glass of cold water and quickly drank it.
"Go get some wet towels from the restroom and wipe up the blood."
"Understood. I'll go now."
Robert instinctively nodded, but then he froze. I'm the company's Financial Manager; why am I doing a cleaner's job? A flash of shame crossed his eyes, but he ultimately didn't have the courage to object.
He grabbed a mop and towels, cleaned the office, and then lowered his voice.
"Anything else?"
Luke asked without turning around, "Why did Alexander hit people?"
"It might have been because of Batman. Alexander told the tech department to delete Batman's statements, and when Zack and the others refused, he hit them."
Luke turned around and looked at him quietly. After a moment, he asked,
"Was that his own request, or Sidney's request?"
The calm words carried no emotion. For some reason, Robert suddenly felt a chill, as if stepping from summer into winter. His voice trembled slightly.
"I don't know for sure, but I think... it should be Sidney's request."
Luke hummed and continued, "Do you have Sidney's phone number?"
"Yes!"
"Then call him. Tell him I'll satisfy his request, but not right now."
"Understood. I'll call him now."
Robert nodded quickly. Seeing that the boss had no other instructions, he left with the mop and towels.
A short while later, the hospital staff arrived. After examining Alexander Rhodes's condition, they lifted him onto a stretcher.
The doctor asked who the patient's family was. No one responded. They then asked, who would cover the hospitalization fees? Robert was about to volunteer but quickly retracted the offer, considering the situation.
According to American medical procedures, if no one covers the treatment costs, the hospital will only perform simple care to ensure the patient doesn't die.
Given Alexander Rhodes's head trauma, without timely treatment, he could very likely suffer permanent brain damage. In other words, Luke hadn't been lying; he really was turning into a psychopath.
🗒️Note:
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 20 chapters in advance!