Homelander is in DC

"Andie has withdrawn her charges against Mr. Kent."

Kent Manor.

Jonathan, Martha, Clark, and the policewoman who had arrested her stood in the living room talking.

Eric was upstairs in his room, and he hadn't come out.

The policewoman said to Jonathan and Martha, "You're lucky. If things had gone through the process, you would've definitely lost the case. But something happened that no one could've anticipated."

"What happened?"

Jonathan asked her, confused.

"Last night, in an apartment on Shell Street, there was a violent incident. No, 'violent' isn't quite the right word. I think it's better described as a frenzy after a mental breakdown. Maybe they got too high, or maybe a small issue escalated into a big one. Whatever the case, they attacked each other—some were killed, some injured."

The police officer glanced at Clark, who remained silent. "Among them was Andie Hawkins, who accused you."

"I don't believe this was a mere coincidence, Mr. Kent."

The policewoman walked toward Clark, turning her hat in her hands. "Just like I don't believe it's mere coincidence that you're always at the crime scene, Mr. Clark Kent. I'll be watching you."

Placing her hat on her head, she gave Clark a warning and left the room.

"Clark?"

Martha turned her gaze toward Clark.

Though she didn't believe her son could be involved in such a violent incident, she still looked at him with a questioning expression.

"I don't know, Mom."

Clark looked up at Martha and said, "I spent the entire day doing community sanitation activities, busy with picking up trash. As for this incident, I'm sorry, but I'm just as clueless as everyone else."

Although Clark suspected it was Eric's doing, he kept silent, not willing to implicate Eric in front of his parents.

"I trust our son."

Jonathan walked over and squeezed Clark's shoulder. "Clark knows when to do the right thing."

After dealing with his parents, Clark sat on the sofa, gazing out into the night with a complicated look in his eyes.

Although they had gotten out of a million-dollar debt crisis, he didn't feel the relief he'd expected.

While he was grateful for Eric's help, he couldn't shake a sense of unease about how it was done.

After going upstairs, he knocked on Eric's door.

"So, you think I did it, Clark?"

"No, I just think…"

Clark hesitated. "You didn't have to go that far. It could put you at risk. We'll always live here in Smallville, right?"

Clark originally intended to say, "You shouldn't have killed anyone," but it turned into something else entirely.

He didn't know why he changed his words at the last minute.

Perhaps, subconsciously, he accepted Eric's actions as right?

Or maybe, after everything they'd been through, he'd grown more tolerant and accepting of Eric's actions?

Whatever the reason, Clark felt it was dangerous.

Just as he was about to say something to correct himself, Eric replied, "Clark, I don't really have any qualms about eliminating people directly, but I'll only admit to one thing."

"That I took care of Andie Hawkins. Everything else? Not within your expectations, and maybe not within mine, either."

Sensing Eric's reluctance to discuss the matter further, Clark awkwardly rubbed his nose.

He understood Eric's meaning and wisely chose not to push further.

"Anyway, Eric, I have to thank you."

Clark finally expressed his gratitude.

Although he didn't fully agree with Eric's methods, he was grateful his brother helped him and wanted to show it.

The following morning.

After finishing breakfast, Eric was preparing to head to school when he received an unexpected call.

"Eric Kent, you're the one I'm looking for."

A woman on the other end of the line spoke in a lazy, slightly alluring voice.

"Selina Kyle?"

Hearing the voice of "Catwoman," Eric raised an eyebrow slightly.

"I thought I'd lost my raven, Miss Kyle. Perhaps you can explain why you haven't been in touch lately?"

"Of course. That's exactly why I called. If you don't wait for a fish to take the bait and reel it in too soon, you'll end up with nothing. Wouldn't you agree, my…master?"

Catwoman drew out the word "master" slightly, adding a touch of seductiveness to her voice.

"I heard…"

Eric glanced at Jonathan and Martha to make sure they weren't paying attention, then asked quietly, "I heard Bruce Wayne was hospitalized after an assassination attempt. So what happened?"

"Bruce once told me he was close to finding a palace built by owls, but there was some deeper force preventing him. You know, the so-called 'city detective' Batman loves a good twist."

After a brief pause, Catwoman continued, "He called them the League of Assassins. Have you heard of that name, my…boss?"

"The League of Assassins?" Eric's brows furrowed.

He wasn't unfamiliar with this famous DC villain organization.

The League of Assassins had a long history and many aliases.

From Ra's al Ghul, the head of the League and self-styled "Demon's Head," to Talia, who would have a future relationship with Batman, to Malcolm Merlyn, head of Star City's Merlyn Group—all were part of the League.

Ra's al Ghul, the League's leader, claimed the title of "Demon's Head" and maintained his image of immortality by soaking in the Lazarus Pit.

The connection between the Court of Owls and the League of Assassins was unexpected.

Could it be that only the Gotham branch of the Court of Owls was linked to the League?

Holding the phone, Eric fell into deep thought.

After reading and analyzing documents from the Metropolis Owl Council, he had found no information connecting it to the League of Assassins.

"Eric, are you listening? It's been over thirty seconds without a response. Trust me, cats are notoriously impatient creatures."

Catwoman's voice came through the line, a soft complaint almost like a purr.

"So, Bruce Wayne was injured by someone from the League of Assassins?"

Eric remained silent for a few seconds before asking.

"I don't know."

On the other end, Catwoman shook her head. "They're all wrapped up like assassins. Whether they're from the League or killers sent by the Owls, it's all the same to me."

"I understand."

After finishing his inquiry about Gotham with Catwoman, Eric hung up.

He had been waiting for the Court of Owls and Bruce Wayne to weaken each other before seizing the victory, and to watch Batman's humiliation.

But the sudden involvement of the League of Assassins had complicated things.

Gotham truly ran deep!

It wasn't a place for anyone sane—only the mad could survive there.

He hoped Batman would make it through.

In an unusual show of kindness, Eric briefly prayed for Batman's safety.

After his call with Catwoman, he headed to school.

At Smallville High, football was the most popular sport, though baseball and basketball were also quite popular.

Clark's favorite Thursday afternoon activity was the "2v2 Basketball Challenge."

Teamed up with Pete for the basketball match, Clark avoided exerting too much strength for fear of injuring anyone, opting only for outside shots.

This caution was part of why some people called him "soft."

As he passed the baseball field, a loud "bang" echoed as a white baseball soared over the protective net, flying straight toward his head.

With his keen hearing and reflexes, Eric effortlessly sensed the fast-approaching ball.

He reached out and caught the high-speed baseball in one smooth motion.

Looking toward the field, he noticed the baseball team members training and some parents in the stands, who cheered at his impressive catch.

After a brief glance at them, Eric casually crushed the ball in his hand and tossed it behind him.

The baseball rolled away across the school grounds.

The baseball team members who had been cheering fell silent.

"Wow, what an impressive solo home run!"

Clark, Chloe, and Pete happened to be passing by and saw Eric's actions, prompting Pete to exclaim.

Seeing Eric's lack of sportsmanship in crushing the ball and tossing it away, Chloe chuckled, "That's so Eric. It's funny, but typical of him. You really shouldn't mess with him—he always retaliates in the most unexpected ways."

Clark shrugged. "Yes, I know all too well."

"By the way!"

Clark looked toward the baseball team coach. "Isn't that a new coach? I remember the last baseball coach wasn't him."

"You're right, Clark."

Pete shifted his gaze from Eric to the coach.

"The last coach died in a lawnmower accident, and the one before him drowned after a fall. The baseball team is full of accidents, so they're known as the 'Death Chase Baseball Team.'"

Glancing around at the surroundings, Pete added with both envy and pity, "Let's see if this coach is luckier."

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Enough Powerstones I might bring this back

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