Lionel looked slightly surprised, but he quickly recovered his elegant smile.
After all, to him, this personal inspection was nothing more than a parent-child outing to bring Lex along for some fun.
Naturally, he was quite pleased that Lex was showing an inclination to make friends.
“Of course.
But perhaps we can wait until after we reach the farm.”
Rock glanced at Dio, who flashed him a “whatever” look.
“No problem,” Rock agreed with a nod.
“We can head out anytime.”
“Thank you, Mr.
Kent.” Young Lex offered a polite bow, then looked expectantly at Dio.
Anthony rubbed his hands together.
“Well then, Mr.
Luthor, shall we go check out Rock’s farm right now?”
Lionel nodded.
“I look forward to it.”
Moments later, the engine of the old Ford pickup sputtered with a familiar cough as it rolled onto the highway.
Through the rearview mirror, Rock noticed several black luxury sedans keeping a precise distance behind them, their tinted window glass glinting in the sunlight with the distinct sheen of bulletproof material.
*Figures,* Rock thought, shaking his head slightly.
How could the high and mighty head of LuthorCorp travel light with just his son?
These bodyguards had probably been tailing them ever since they left town.
Pulling his gaze back to the road, his peripheral vision caught Dio in the passenger seat, twirling a strand of golden hair around his finger while zoning out.
Rock lowered his voice.
“If you don’t want to play with the little rich boy, you can just say no.
Your dad’s here; you don’t need to flatter anyone.”
“It’s just playing house with a kid,” Dio scoffed softly, a trace of disdain flashing in his red eyes.
“How hard could it be?”
“Is that so?” Rock couldn’t help laughing.
He freed a hand to ruffle his son’s golden hair.
“Just make sure you don’t bully the kid to tears later.”
“I won’t!” Slapping away his father’s hand, Dio huffed as he patted down his ruined hair.
Jouncing along the rural dirt road, the old Ford’s wheels ground through the damp mud left over from the rain, kicking up splashes that shimmered like amber in the sunlight.
The wheat fields bordering both sides of the road stretched out like a golden ocean, rolling in waves with the wind.
“We’re here.” Rock pulled the truck up alongside the ridge bordering the field.
Nearby, Lionel stepped gracefully out of his luxury car and took a deep breath.
“Such a…
nostalgic, refreshing scent.”
“Want to take a closer look?” Rock pointed toward a green-and-yellow patch of farmland nearby.
“That’s this year’s new corn crop over there.”
“I am very satisfied, Mr.
Rock,” Lionel said with a wave of his hand before turning to his son with a mild expression.
“Go play with Dio, Lex.”
He squatted down, adjusting young Lex’s crooked bowtie, and joked lightheartedly, “Why don’t you inspect the farm on your father’s behalf today?”
Nervously pushing up his glasses, young Lex swallowed hard.
“A-Alright, Father.”
By now, Dio was already standing impatiently on the ridge.
Seeing young Lex dilly-dallying, he marched over.
“Hey.
“E-Either is fine…” Young Lex stammered out his reply, instinctively shrinking behind his father.
Lionel clapped an encouraging hand on his son’s shoulder.
“Go on.
Remember to be back before lunch.”
With that, he turned back to Rock.
“Mr.
Kent, shall we discuss the specific details of the acquisition?”
Rock nodded and watched the two boys walk one after the other toward the depths of the fields.
Dio strutted ahead with his head held high, while young Lex trailed behind like a frightened rabbit, following step for step.
The sight made Rock shake his head.
It really was hard to imagine.
“Your son has a great deal of personality,” Lionel said suddenly, a hint of admiration in his tone.
Rock let out a dry laugh.
“You’re too kind.
The boy’s been like that since he was little—stubborn as a mule.”
“No, it’s a good thing.” The sunlight glinted off Lionel’s gold-rimmed glasses, obscuring his eyes.
“In this era, only those with strong personalities accomplish great things.”
The two strolled slowly along the embankment.
Anthony tactfully fell back a few paces, giving the farm owner and the corporate mogul room to talk.
From off in the distance, Dio’s voice drifted over faintly: “This is corn, dummy.
Don’t you even recognize this?”
Followed by young Lex’s timid defense: “I-I’ve just never seen it growing in the ground…”
Rock facepalmed and sighed, about to head over and step in, but Lionel stopped him.
“Let the children work it out themselves.
Lex needs to learn how to deal with different types of people.”
The sun grew progressively hotter, and cicadas chimed in rising waves from the fields.
Arcs of light began to shimmer across the sky.
In the cornfield, sunlight filtered through emerald leaves, casting dappled shadows.
Lex Luthor followed carefully behind Dio, his fingers lightly touching the corn silks, his eyes shining with novel curiosity.
“Can these…
really be eaten?” he asked in a small, incredulous voice.
Dio glanced back at him impatiently.
“What else?
You think they grow out of the dirt just to look pretty?”
Lex pushed up his slipping glasses, looking embarrassed.
“I…
I’ve only ever seen husked corn in the kitchen…”
“Tch.” Dio rolled his eyes.
“What kind of life do you rich boys even live?”
Lex opened his mouth as if to explain, but ultimately just hung his head, nervously twisting the corner of his shirt.
Seeing this, Dio didn’t bother asking further.
Right now, he just felt this timid rich kid was even more boring than Clark…
At least that big idiot could play with him or drive the tractor.
Over—over there!
Why is there a person?!”
Dio turned around with annoyance.
“That’s a scarecrow, idiot—”
His voice ground to a halt.
Deep in the cornfield, there was indeed a figure tied to a wooden cross.
The figure’s head hung low, shirtless, looking completely unconscious.
Dio’s pupils shrank slightly, though he quickly recognized what it was—this was one of the town’s traditional Harvest Festival pranks.
“Don’t make a fuss, it’s just some unluck—”
“But Dio!” Lex’s voice suddenly spiked into sheer terror.
“Something’s falling from the sky!”
“Falling?”
Dio looked up at the sky, his expression freezing instantly.
Across the azure vault of heaven, dozens of crimson trails cut through like meteors.
One of them was plunging straight toward their location at terrifying speed!
“Run!
Lex!” Dio grabbed young Lex’s wrist, yanked him, and sprinted for the edge of the field.
“B-But that guy…” Lex looked back, pointing at the young man tied to the cross.
“That guy has nothing to do with us—”
[Dio, this is your Golden Spirit.]
“…”
Remembering Rock’s words, Dio gritted his teeth, rapidly calculating the distance and time.
If he used The The World, there might still be time…
“You go right now!” He released Lex’s hand and pointed toward the embankment.
“Run along that path and don’t look back!
I’m going to save that poor bastard!”
“Dio…”
Lex wanted to say more, but the blonde boy before him had already charged into the depths of the cornfield like a gust of wind.
Standing in place, young Lex turned deathly pale.
He looked up at the rapidly approaching red streak, then back toward the direction Dio had vanished in.
Gritting his teeth, he actually ran after him!
Corn leaves sliced against his cheeks, leaving stingy scratches.
Dio summoned The The World, which carried him as he sprinted full tilt through the cornfield.
*Faster…* he prayed inwardly.
He was only a few steps away from the tied-up young man.
Almost there!
Dio’s face brightened with joy as his Stand delivered another burst of speed, finally reaching the cross.
With a single punch, The The World shattered the ropes binding the young man and caught his limp body.
However…
Was Dio still a little too slow?
The earth began to quake violently, and a scorching shockwave slammed into them from behind.
He only had time to pull The The World in front of him before the shockwave blew him off his feet!
Yet in the final moment before his consciousness blurred…
Dio caught a vague glimpse of a purple figure charging toward him, shouting something…
And then, the The World faded to black.