Chapter 30: The Flash Museum

When Kaito Haruno returned from a nearby stall, the hostel was already packed with guests. Backpackers from all around the world filled the space, and Kaito even spotted a few fellow countrymen chatting animatedly in Mandarin. Hearing their familiar language sparked an unexpected warmth within him. Holding some juice and snacks he had purchased, Kaito walked over to them.

"First time in Central City? Try these!" As someone fluent in Mandarin, Kaito approached the group without feeling out of place.

"Oh, thanks! Dude, you're from back home too?" The friendly demeanor of these young travelers, who were only slightly older than Kaito, made them receptive to his company. Meeting someone from his homeland was a pleasant surprise for them.

"Back home? Oh, no, I live here now. My grandparents settled here a long time ago. I've only gone back once when I was a kid."

Kaito explained, responding to their curiosity.

"Your Mandarin is really good!" The travelers, having just arrived from their homeland, admired Kaito's fluent Chinese. It was unusual for someone who had lived abroad for so long to speak it so well. They wouldn't have guessed he was a long-term resident here until he mentioned he was a Chinese-American.

"I can even speak Cantonese!" Kaito casually showcased another language, eliciting some impressed glances from the group. With a talent for languages in his past life, he effortlessly switched between Chinese, English, Japanese, and Cantonese, showing no fear of being overshadowed by this group of first-time travelers.

Thanks to his innate linguistic ability, Kaito quickly bonded with these fellow countrymen, gathering insights about his home country in this DC universe. The political tension between their two worlds persisted, and information about his homeland was scarce; it was a place with internet restrictions, making it hard for those inside to know what was happening outside.

Having found kindred spirits, Kaito was eager to learn more.

"What?!" Kaito was stunned by the size of his home country as mentioned by his compatriots, which seemed far larger than he had known.

"Isn't this basic geography we learned in elementary school?" The travelers looked at Kaito with disbelief, as if they found it odd that he didn't know this. However, Kaito couldn't be blamed; he had only skimmed the surface of DC geography, realizing there wasn't much difference from his original Earth, and now he was taken aback by shocking figures from his compatriots.

"That doesn't make sense! I remember the world map…" Kaito recalled the maps he had seen; they seemed identical to those of his own world.

"The scene was thrilling! If it weren't for the pride we gained back then, would we be this strong now?"

His compatriots shared a convoluted version of history that left Kaito bewildered. The narrative about his homeland sounded exhilarating, yet it clashed with everything he thought he knew. He realized many historical events couldn't be directly compared; after all, in this world, there were super-powered beings that could alter the balance of conflicts.

"Speaking of super-powered beings, we must have many superheroes too, right? Why haven't I seen anything about them in the news?" Kaito asked.

"Bro, the purpose of superheroes is to fight crime, right? But our police force isn't weak! Plus, we prohibit gun ownership, so if a SWAT team can handle it, why would a superhero need to intervene? Superheroes have nearly become legends in our country! That's why we're here in Central City to visit the Flash Museum. After that, we plan to check out the Justice Hall in Metropolis where the Justice League operates."

Their reasoning was compelling, leaving Kaito speechless. It made sense; superheroes existed in relation to villains who wielded superpowers or high-tech gadgets. However, his homeland's regulations limited that dynamic, leaving little room for superheroes. The thought made Kaito feel a mix of regret and helplessness. Was it too late for him to change citizenship? If only he could escape from responsibilities and live a laid-back life.

"Well, that's a pretty realistic reason. Regardless, welcome to the land of superheroes! Personally, I'd suggest returning after visiting Central City. Metropolis can be dangerous, even with Superman around. Good night!" Kaito felt compelled to warn his compatriots about their plans for Metropolis.

After all, with Superman around, any encounter could turn dangerous. Who knew if they would find themselves in the middle of a battle between Superman and an alien villain? If that happened, they wouldn't have anywhere to hide. Central City seemed much safer by comparison. After saying goodbye to his fellow travelers, Kaito returned to his room to sleep.

The next morning, after waking up naturally, he picked up his Nikon camera, switching it to manual mode, setting the shutter speed to 1/1000. He was determined to witness just how fast the Flash, touted as the fastest man alive, really was.

After getting a tourism guide from the front desk, he hopped on a bus headed to the Flash Museum. Situated in the heart of Central City, it was directly opposite the city hall. Through the bus window, Kaito caught his first glimpse of the museum. A three-meter-tall statue of the Flash stood proudly at the entrance, frozen mid-run, surrounded by a whirlwind of lightning.

After disembarking and buying his ticket, Kaito followed the signs into the museum. Once inside, he understood why the Flash Museum was considered a must-visit attraction in all of America. The first floor housed a vast exhibition hall displaying an array of bizarre weapons, each accompanied by descriptive text detailing their significance and the records of how the Flash had defeated various foes.

As he stepped closer, a guide standing nearby pressed a button beside the display case. A holographic projection sprang to life, showcasing a menacing criminal who was quickly subdued by a yellow streak of lightning. The Flash, clad in his iconic red suit, flashed a smile at the camera before vanishing from view. The video was short, lasting no more than a minute. Just like the saying at the museum's entrance—You can save everyone, in a flash.

"Awsome!" Watching the holograms play out, Kaito couldn't help but express his admiration. All the equipment here came from the top-notch Star Labs in DC, and although the displayed weapons were merely replicas, seeing such black technology, previously only seen in movies, brought Kaito immense satisfaction.

"Look, Uncle! Is this what you used to do?" Just as Kaito was about to take pictures of the museum, his keen senses picked up a comment that nearly made him drop his camera.

(End of Chapter)