Chapter 105 (edited)

Kara obviously knew herself very well, so she never guided Clark's thoughts and beliefs too much. At most, she taught him to master his powers and learn new things.

Instead, she highly praised Jonathan for guiding Clark.

Perhaps the path of a hero was difficult, but Kara believed Clark could do it. She didn't want him to become a reckless individual with powers due to her own influence. She was aware she couldn't provide the ideal example of what a hero should be.

After spending time together, Kara took Clark home.

Their encounter with the Trench creatures had been an accident, likely caused by the sheer impact of their earlier clashes. The vibrations had attracted the monsters.

For Kara, the creatures posed no threat, despite their underwater speed rivaling the speed of sound. Clark, however, was troubled by the realization that he may have taken lives during the fight. Kara didn't dwell on it, though, and returned to the site alone the following evening, only to find the creatures' bodies gone—likely dragged away by others of their kind.

After further exploration, Kara discovered a remote area under the sea teeming with Trench creatures. She deduced the ruins of the Trench Kingdom lay nearby.

The sheer number of creatures, possibly in the hundreds of thousands, made her scalp tingle. Clearing them out entirely was nearly impossible. Underwater, her heat vision was far less effective, and using it recklessly could evaporate large portions of the sea. Even her telekinesis and elemental control of water would only delay the inevitable resurgence of such creatures.

For years, Kara had ignored the Trench Kingdom to avoid unnecessary complications. If not for the accident, she would have continued to pretend it didn't exist.

After ensuring there was no immediate danger, Kara returned home. The next day, she planned to head back to Metropolis with Clark. It was time for her to resume work.

She couldn't help but imagine Perry White's reaction to her long absence—he was unlikely to be pleased. She prepared herself mentally for the scolding and made sure to have exclusive leads ready, such as the Batmobile's presence and Oracle's retirement.

On the morning of their departure, Jonathan drove them to the train station. Kara's car had been destroyed during her time away, and she'd need to replace it soon.

Upon arriving in Metropolis, Kara felt a wave of nostalgia. At the station exit, she and Clark parted ways. Clark headed to university for his classes, while Kara returned to the Daily Planet.

Many colleagues expressed surprise at Kara's sudden return.

"Kara, where have you been? You've been gone for so long!" asked one of her former classmates, who now worked at the Planet.

Kara smiled casually. "Something came up. I took a long leave, but I cleared it with Perry."

Others pulled her aside to share updates. "While you were gone, Kate Grant took over your column. Sales dropped at first but eventually recovered. You might want to watch your back."

Kara understood the workplace dynamics well but didn't take the warning to heart. She thanked her colleague and walked over to her old desk—now occupied by Kate.

Standing tall at 6'3", Kara's presence was impossible to ignore. Kate looked up from her work, offering a polite, "You're back, Kara."

"Oh?" Kara replied, feigning surprise. "We're on a first-name basis now?"

She smirked and leaned casually against the desk. "How's the column holding up?"

Kate nodded, looking somewhat nervous. "Thanks to your guidance and suggestions, I managed to keep it afloat. Now that you're back, I can hand it back over."

Kara waved her off. "Don't bother. The readers are starting to accept you. It'd be a shame to shake things up again."

Kate's eyes widened in disbelief. Kara's words made it clear she intended to let her keep the column—a significant gesture, considering how much effort Kara had put into building it.

"But this was your hard work…" Kate stammered.

Kara chuckled. "Relax. I've been thinking about starting a new column anyway. I'm considering something about food—sharing recipes and reviews. Sounds fun, doesn't it?"

Kate's relief was palpable. She hadn't stolen the column; rather, she'd filled in during Kara's absence and, with Kara's occasional advice, had managed to succeed.

Meanwhile, other colleagues who had been watching were surprised by Kara's generosity. Some had expected a showdown, while others had worried about the outcome. Kara, however, remained nonchalant.

Eventually, Perry White emerged from his office. Spotting Kara perched on Kate's desk, he called out, "Kara, Kate, in my office. Now."

Kara smirked and whispered to Kate, "I was wondering how long he could wait."

She slid off the desk, ready for whatever awaited her in Perry's office.