Chapter 427: Metropolis Doubt (11) (Patreon)

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When Schiller entered the reception room, Lionel still had a gloomy expression on his face. Schiller walked over and sat opposite him, picked up the cigar box that was previously placed on the table, took out a cigar, and then picked up the cigar cutter. He began to cut the cigar at a steady pace.

Lionel saw his actions and was about to say something, but Schiller spoke first. "I have always been a person who is kind to others. Rarely do people give me such hostile looks."

"I know what you're thinking..." Schiller didn't look Lionel in the eye, he just continued to speak to himself. "You use your imagination to daydream about the praise that geniuses have received, with your limited brain power."

"In your fantasy, people like me should have been called geniuses since childhood, effortlessly passing the best universities, obtaining several Doctor Bachelor of Science degrees, and sailing smoothly on the road of academia until becoming world-renowned."

"Afterwards, when others ask me how I achieved all of this, I will pretend to be modest and say that it's all due to hard work, and that anyone can do it."

"I think you've seen a lot of interviews like this on TV, even if the protagonist isn't me. But when you hear this sentence, you feel so resentful inside..."

"Because you've tried, but you can't do it. You think all those people are frauds, they are just luckier than you and have stronger talents, so they can easily have all of this."

"You envy all these people, you're so jealous that you're going crazy, including your son. You abuse him mentally and physically, hoping that he will become a puppet who only listens to your commands."

"I think when I said that your son Lex may not have autism, your mood must have been complicated."

"You're afraid, afraid that all of this is just a disguise, and at the same time, you don't want to believe that there are perfect geniuses in this world who are troubled by nothing and have intelligence beyond ordinary people."

Schiller finished cutting the cigar and lit it with a motion that Lionel didn't see clearly. He continued, "Perhaps you haven't noticed that there are more geniuses around you than you think, including your son Lex Luthor."

"He doesn't have autism or mental illness. Perhaps because of your abuse and violent personality, he has flaws. But not everyone has to be optimistic, kind, and positive. Overall, he is a super genius, destined for a brilliant future."

Schiller saw Lionel's teeth gradually clenching, and the muscles on his face began to exert downward force, like melting ice cream. He had become extremely gloomy.

"Perhaps there is another person you are familiar with, that is Bruce Wayne. When you introduce your son, you often compare him to Bruce, although you say you hope Lex can become a playboy like young Wayne, you actually look down on him."

"But he is also a super genius, and Lex and Bruce's intelligence are comparable. The reason he pretends to be a playboy is simply because he alone bears the huge Wayne Group and has to deal with jealous individuals, so he needs to disguise himself."

Leonard's face could hardly look any worse. He wanted to refute Schiller, but he knew in his heart that Schiller had no reason to deceive him. Whether Bruce was a super genius or not, whether he knew that Bruce was a super genius, had nothing to do with Schiller...

Schiller took another puff of the cigar, exhaled the smoke, and said, "There are many people you look down on, perhaps including Bruce's companion."

"You think she is the most common type of socialite, hypocritical, flattering, and fawning, just lucky to have caught young Wayne."

"So, when interacting with Bruce, you didn't even give her a proper look. You think she should be used to that attitude."

"But Selena is also a genius. Perhaps what you don't know is that she is Gotham's most famous cat burglar, who has visited Falcone's Manor more than once, and even The Godfather couldn't do anything about her."

Even if we don't mention that, her charm is almost irresistible. This is a power that goes beyond intelligence and reason. If you truly knew how strong Bruce's willpower is, you would know that Selena is a favorite of the gods..."

"You have been doing business in Metropolis, perhaps you haven't been to Gotham. Maybe you also think that there is nothing worth visiting in that city, chaotic, dark, and perpetually rainy..."

"But there are geniuses there that you can't imagine. Scholars who freeze the world, children who grow wild but have skills surpassing most automotive engineers..."

"A group of crazy, evil, and brilliant gang members, a legendary Godfather who has ruled Gotham's underground for 40 years, a variety of chaotic and fascinating madmen, and... a Joker who makes even these madmen feel fear."

"That's enough!" Lionel's voice was like an anvil being forged, emitting a sharp humming sound at the edges. He said:

"Why should I be jealous of you all?! I have created a massive business empire out of thin air! I have achieved unimaginable success that most people can't even fathom. What right do you have to judge my work?!"

"That is something I painstakingly created, precise, elegant, and perfect! Just like the Luthor Corporation, it is my pride and joy!"

"If you had this attitude from the beginning, I wouldn't have said so much to you. But unfortunately, you not only lack the level of genius, but also a broad-mindedness."

Schiller looked into Lionel's eyes, which were bloodshot, but not from staying up late. The jealousy written in them was almost flowing like blood.

"Do you know? The reason you feel such pain now, feeling that your logic and thinking are inconsistent, is not because you lack a genius mind."

Lionel continued to stare at Schiller, although he felt surprised by the conclusion he had just heard, he still held his breath and refused to relax.

"Someone I know had the opportunity to ascend, although he was already a genius. But that opportunity could have made him almost all-knowing and all-powerful, yet he gave it up."

Schiller spoke earnestly, and Lionel's attention was involuntarily drawn to him. Schiller spoke to himself with a somewhat sighing tone:

"The most ordinary people have the most complex and beautiful inner worlds, which are not changed by whether they are intelligent or not. Or rather, all greatness comes from there."

Clearly, Lionel couldn't take in these words, but Schiller didn't say them to make him understand. It's difficult to persuade someone who has been trapped in a logical loop for years...

"Why did you call me here in the first place?" Schiller relaxed his body and leaned back in the chair, while Lionel nervously clasped his legs together, resting his elbows on his knees.

He took a deep breath and composed his expression. Just as he was trying to adjust his mood and calm his emotions, Schiller spoke again, "It can't be that you called me here just to have me read through your papers that are only superior in quantity to dog excrement, right?"

In an instant, the composed expression that Lionel had just regained crumbled once again.

Finally, he had to grit his teeth and say, "I know, and you know the secret of that treasure, and you were also involved in the killings back then..."

"What treasure?," Schiller squinted his eyes and asked, but Lionel disdainfully snorted and said, "Don't play dumb with me. The whole incident during the mayoral election was just various factions trying to seize a treasure."

"You heard some information from somewhere and dared to get involved, only to end up fleeing Gotham with your tail between your legs?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Schiller looked into Lionel's eyes and said very seriously, "I have amnesia, I don't know anything."

Lionel was not shaken at all by his words. He said, "I invited you here because I wanted to cooperate with you. I can forgive your rude behavior of arbitrarily criticizing other people's work, and I can also share that treasure with you..."

"I'm not interested." Schiller immediately refused, but Lionel continued, "I know you fundamentally distrust me, but you failed in such an event before. Do you really have the confidence that you can win this time?"

"Sorry, when I said I'm not interested, I meant I'm not interested in that treasure. Of course, I'm even less interested in working with you."

Schiller stood up, extinguished the cigar on the table. Seeing him getting up to leave, Lionel frowned and said, "Did you really lose your memory? If you're really not interested in that treasure, then why did you kill a candidate during the mayoral election?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Schiller simply repeated those words. Lionel pondered for a moment and then said, "It seems that the lesson from last time has taught you a valuable lesson. You don't plan to wade into this muddy water again."

"But if the agents find out that you were also involved in the previous incident, they won't mind dealing with one more suspect of espionage."

"If you're confident, you can report me to them." After leaving these words behind, Schiller turned around to leave. However, at that moment, from behind him, Leonard pulled out a gun.

Schiller halted his steps, and Leonard walked up behind him, pointing the gun at Schiller's head. He said, "You called me an ordinary person, but even an ordinary person with a gun can take a life."

Schiller turned around, and the black hole of the gun's barrel was aimed at his forehead. He said to Lionel, "Your actions have made me realize that it's a waste to exert any effort on you."

In an instant, Schiller had an additional black umbrella in his hand. He gripped the middle part of the umbrella and flicked it upward.

With a loud "bang," the sturdy handle struck Lionel's jaw, knocking him to the ground. Schiller approached and cast a shadow over Lionel.

Leonard groaned in pain, clutching the bruise on his chin. He caught a glimpse of Schiller not looking at him, but rather muttering to himself while holding the umbrella.

"I'm sorry, but you turned out to be a fool, the first enemy you faced after changing into new clothes."

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 428: Metropolis Mystery (12)