The Cost of Investigation [25]

The next day at school, the atmosphere was calm, and the students went about their usual routine. Chloe stood in front of her famous Wall of Weird, with a serious expression on her face.

Clark watched from a distance as Chloe began to remove, one by one, the articles pinned to the wall. Each piece of paper she tore down seemed like she was leaving a part of herself behind.

"I still can't believe I'm doing this," Chloe muttered, as she took down one of the older stories. "I spent years collecting these stories... and now I'm taking everything apart."

Clark stepped closer, his expression neutral, but his eyes closely watching her movements.

"I know it's hard, Chloe, but it's the best thing to do for now," Clark said, trying to offer some comfort. "You're doing this to protect everyone, including yourself."

Chloe sighed, placing her hand on one of the most important headlines she had posted. The yellowed paper showed signs of time, representing years of dedication and work.

"I just... never thought I'd have to stop," Chloe said, her voice softer now. "This was my life for so long. All these stories, these investigations... it's what defined me."

Clark moved even closer until he was standing beside her.

"You can still investigate, Chloe. But in a safer, more careful way," he said, looking directly at the wall. "Not everything needs to be exposed, at least not right now."

Chloe shook her head, still reluctant but knowing Clark was right.

"It's just temporary," Chloe said with a sigh as she pulled down another story. "I'll come back to this someday."

Clark nodded, watching as she continued.

"I'm sure you will, Chloe. But until then, we'll make sure everyone is safe."

Chloe stayed quiet for a moment, staring at the nearly empty wall in front of her, before finally taking down the last article with a gentle pull.

"That's it," Chloe said, looking at the now-bare wall. "It's over."

Clark placed a hand on her shoulder, offering a supportive smile.

"It's not over, Chloe. It's just changing."

Chloe looked at him, a faint smile on her face, though there was still a sadness in her eyes.

"I know, Clark. Thanks for helping me see that," Chloe said, taking a step back and gazing at the empty wall.

The distant sound of students in the hallways mixed with the silence between them, creating a sense of closure but also of a new beginning.

"Let's get out of here," Clark said, still keeping his hand on her shoulder.

Chloe nodded, and together, they walked away from the wall, leaving behind an important chapter of her life.

....

At the Luthor Mansion

Lex was sitting in one of the armchairs in his office, while a doctor, with a perplexed expression, analyzed the results of his physical exams. The room was silent, except for the soft rustling of papers being flipped through by the doctor.

"What did you find, doctor?" Lex asked.

The doctor shook his head, looking confused.

"Your tests show an abnormally high white blood cell count, Lex. It's not common, but it doesn't point directly to leukemia or any other serious illness."

Lex raised an eyebrow, leaning back in the chair. "I never get sick, doctor. When I was a child, I had asthma, but after I lost my hair... well, the asthma disappeared. I haven't been ill since."

The doctor removed his glasses and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"It's unusual, but it's not the first time I've seen something like this in Smallville. Some people believe that the LuthorCorp fertilizer plant is contaminating the environment."

Lex remained silent for a moment, his sharp gaze fixed on the doctor. "So you think the environment is causing these... changes in me?"

The doctor shrugged, a slight discomfort visible. "I can't say for sure, Lex. But it's something I've noticed in some patients here. Smallville seems to have its peculiarities."

Lex smiled faintly, an enigmatic smile.

"Smallville, the town where the impossible happens."

The doctor nodded, clearly uneasy with what he was revealing. "I'll keep monitoring your tests, Lex. Any changes, and I'll let you know immediately."

Lex thanked him with a slight nod, dismissing the doctor. As soon as he was alone, he walked over to the computer on his desk. Opening the browser out of curiosity, he decided to check the *Smallville Torch* website, the school newspaper Chloe managed.

When the page loaded, a headline caught his attention.

"Smallville: One of America's Strangest Towns."

Lex smiled to himself, reading Chloe's article, which detailed strange and mysterious events occurring in the town. It was intriguing, to say the least, how many anomalies seemed to be concentrated in one location.

"Chloe Sullivan," Lex murmured, as he continued to read the article. "You're closer to the truth than you realize."

Lex kept reading, absorbing the information from the *Smallville Torch* site. A sequence of headlines passed before his eyes, each one more intriguing than the last. It seemed that Smallville held far more secrets than he had initially imagined.

"Inexplicable incidents... strange mutations... bizarre accidents..." Lex murmured as he read, his eyes scanning the pages with growing interest.

Then another headline caught his attention, standing out from the rest.

"Former Metropolis University Professor Expelled for Theories on Kryptonite Meteorites: Now Selling 'Plastic Meteorites' to Tourists."

"Dr. Steven Hamilton..." Lex read the name aloud, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Lex shook his head as he continued to read about Dr. Hamilton, who had once been a respected authority in geology until his theories about the Smallville meteorites led to his expulsion from the university.

"Hamilton claims that the meteorites found in Smallville possess unusual properties and are affecting both people and the surrounding environment. Currently, he is regarded as a joke in academic circles and is selling 'meteorite replicas' to tourists by the roadside."

Lex smiled slightly. "A discredited scientist who knows more than he's saying... sounds promising."

He scrolled down the page until he found the address of the location where Dr. Hamilton was supposedly selling his "plastic meteorites." Lex immediately copied the information, already decided on paying a visit.

"Maybe this Dr. Hamilton has answers others prefer to ignore," Lex murmured to himself, standing up from his chair and grabbing his jacket. "It's time to ask some questions."

....

Clark stood behind the bleachers, the cold wind blowing gently as he looked at the horrific scene in front of him. The body of one of the football players lay on the ground, completely drained, with pale, sagging skin and wasted muscles. The stench of decay was beginning to fill the air.

"Another corpse for the underground," Clark thought, frowning.

He knelt slowly beside the body, showing no signs of disgust or hesitation. His eyes quickly moved over the corpse, scanning it.

Clark placed his hands on the body, effortlessly making it intangible, his gaze calm and determined. In seconds, he sunk the corpse into the ground, letting it disappear entirely into the cold earth, leaving no trace.

When the body was completely gone, Clark stood up, brushing his hands lightly, as if wiping away any remnants of the act. The wind blew again, the smell of decay quickly dissipating as the body was buried deep beneath the ground.

"I need to deal with Jodi soon."

Clark looked around, making sure no one had witnessed what he had just done, before leaving the area behind the bleachers and heading toward the school.

....

Lex was driving at high speed along the deserted roads of Smallville, the sound of the engine echoing in the quiet landscape.

When he finally spotted the property he was looking for, he slowed down and parked near a small roadside stand.

Meteor Rock Souvenirs

The sign was worn, and the stand appeared abandoned, with only a few stones stacked for sale. Lex ignored the shabby structure and walked on, his eyes focused on a barn visible in the distance.

He quickly made his way across the property, passing by the stand without hesitation, until he reached the barn. When he opened the large wooden door, what he found wasn't a common storage space but an improvised research laboratory.

Dr. Steven Hamilton stood in the center of the barn, hunched over a metal table, examining a small, glowing rock through a microscope. He seemed absorbed in his work, unaware of Lex's presence until the door closed with a faint thud.

"Hamilton," Lex said calmly, taking a few steps toward the scientist.

Dr. Hamilton jumped, lifting his head quickly and locking eyes with Lex. "Who... who are you? What do you want here?"

"I'm Lex Luthor. I'm here because I believe you have information that might interest me."

Dr. Hamilton frowned, clearly distrustful.

"Luthor? I'm not interested in your family's business. I've made it clear that my work is serious."

"I take your work seriously too," Lex responded, with a persuasive tone. "I read your theories about the meteorites in Smallville. I found them fascinating... and I believe we can help each other."

"No one takes my work seriously. I was expelled from the scientific community, ridiculed for suggesting that these meteorites have special properties."

Lex took another step forward, looking directly at Hamilton.

"I believe you. The question is: what could you accomplish with the right resources? Money, equipment... anything you need."

Dr. Hamilton shook his head, still distrustful.

"Why should I trust you? What exactly do you want with my studies?"

"I want answers. Smallville is at the center of events no one can explain. You can help me understand what's happening here. In return, I'll give you the resources to continue your research, no restrictions," Lex said.

Hamilton stayed silent for a few seconds, evaluating Lex's offer. He glanced at his old, worn-out equipment, clearly tempted by the offer, but something still made him hesitate.

"I don't trust you, Luthor," Hamilton finally said, his voice filled with skepticism. "Your family is involved in too many things. I won't sell my soul to the devil."

Lex took a deep breath, keeping calm. "I'm not asking you to sell anything. Just think about what I'm offering. Think about how much you could discover... how much you could prove that you were right all along."

Hamilton still seemed reluctant, but Lex knew he had planted the seed of doubt.

"You don't have to decide now," Lex said, stepping back. "Just think about the offer. I'll be waiting for your answer."

With that, Lex turned around, leaving the barn and allowing Hamilton to be alone with his thoughts. He knew that sooner or later, the scientist would give in.

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