Chapter 345: King of Metropolis (4)
The Destruction of the Genesis Society
The Hongmen established by Luke was unlike typical gang organizations.
It was strictly disciplined and clearly structured. What could be done, what couldn't, the bottom lines, regulations, and systems for rewards and punishments were all clearly written in the gang rules. Compared to a criminal syndicate, it was more like a military institution.
The Hongmen members acted decisively. After occupying the Genesis Society's headquarters, they immediately moved on to other branch locations, destroying over a dozen large and small strongholds overnight.
The Genesis Society had suffered a devastating blow, but something even more terrifying was yet to come.
In the early morning, the North District Police Department was mobilized en masse. Following the clues provided by Luke, they launched a series of raids to arrest the various leaders of the Genesis Society. Through the concerted efforts of the police and the Hongmen, the Genesis Society's drug manufacturing dens, arms depots, and underground banks were all destroyed.
The haul was incredibly rich; over three tons of various drugs were seized, along with large quantities of contraband weapons and smuggled goods. The underground bank proved to be a bombshell, as police found transaction records between the Genesis Society and local officials, council members, and police officers. Panic spread instantly. The terrified East District Police Chief was forced to humble himself and personally rush to the North District Police Department.
Everything was spiraling toward chaos.
By the time Lex Luthor reacted, the momentum was irreversibly lost. As the Genesis Society's leaders confessed, the case became ironclad, leaving no room for negotiation.
Now, he could only pray that the missing Brad Watt hadn't suffered an "accident." Otherwise, everything was truly over.
Luthor's Despair and Resolve
On the top floor of the LuthorCorp tower, a sleepless Lex Luthor sat by the glass window, quietly looking out at the wealthy, bustling Metropolis. He once believed this city should become even more brilliant under his guidance; now, only fury remained.
The door opened, and his secretary rushed in.
"Chairman, the police are here. They're downstairs."
Luthor waved his hand. "Make them wait."
The secretary opened her mouth, but seeing the Chairman's grim expression, she swallowed her words and quickly left.
A few seconds later, a hidden door behind a bookshelf opened. Anthony Ivo, wearing a lab coat, walked into the office, hands on his hips, sighing repeatedly.
"I didn't think you'd be ruined so quickly. I thought we'd be working together for a long time."
Luthor glared at him coldly. "It's not over. It's just beginning."
"Oh, please!" Ivo waved his hand. "I'm not an idiot; I can read the situation. The White House and the Department of Defense are already chasing you over the human experimentation scandal. Before that's resolved, the Genesis Society has blown up. The Genesis Society was your secret base of operations. Once that evidence falls into police hands, do you really think they'll let you go? And your supporting council members and politicians are all trying to save themselves. They don't have time to clean up your mess."
"Lex Luthor, you're finished. Someone just kicked you into the abyss, and there's no way you'll ever climb out."
Ivo's words were venomous, a stream of scathing cynicism.
Lex Luthor clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, radiating an extremely violent aura. Seeing the danger, the old scientist quickly stopped talking, his lips trembling as he cautiously backed away. He had no interest in being dragged down with Luthor.
The rage piled up inside Luthor like a volcano. From childhood to the present, Lex Luthor had never been screwed over so badly. Even worse, he had spent the entire night thinking and still couldn't figure out how that bastard had ruined him.
Luke Shaw!
Remembering that slightly immature face, Luthor curled his lips, a bloodthirsty smile emerging.
"Well played. I underestimated you."
He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse as he demanded,
"If you take one more step back, I'll open this window and throw you out."
Ivo froze, managing an awkward but polite smile. "Mr. Luthor, you know I've always been on your side, but given the current situation..." He paused, then flattered,
"I really can't help much! Let's just part ways amicably!"
Luthor glanced at him, sneering.
"You can go, but the experimental data, equipment, and the semi-finished subjects must stay."
Ivo immediately balked. "That's my research! Why should I leave it for you?"
Luthor stood up, walking step by step toward him. The oppressive presence was suffocatingly terrifying.
"Without me, you'd still be eating bread in the Middle East.
Without me, you'd still be a rat, hiding and running.
Without me, you wouldn't even have the money to buy a microscope..."
Luthor looked down at him. The intensity in his eyes made Ivo tremble uncontrollably.
"I pulled you out of the morgue. I built the Ivo Lab for you. I gave you unlimited materials and endless money. Without me, you are nothing."
Every word struck Ivo like a nail. After hesitating for a few seconds, the old man stammered,
"Then what do you want me to do? The White House is after you, the police are after you, and Luke Shaw, that damned Asian kid, destroyed years of your effort overnight! What can I do? I can't die with you!"
Luthor grabbed his collar and pulled him close.
"No one is asking you to die. You must deliver results on the agent."
Ivo was speechless. "At a time like this, you want me to continue research? The FBI is searching everywhere for evidence of human experimentation!"
"Do as you are told. Remember, I want a perfect agent with no flaws, not a defective product."
Just then, there was another knock on the door.
"Chairman, the police are coming up. I can't stop them."
Luthor released Ivo and pointed toward the bookshelf. "Go!"
The old man hesitated for a few seconds, saying,
"Although I don't know how you plan to turn this around, as long as the funding doesn't stop, I'll continue the research."
With that, he quickly walked through the hidden door and vanished.
Sergeant Rohn of the North District Police Department pushed open the office door. "Mr. Luthor, please come with us. We need your assistance with an investigation."
The Victor's Loneliness
With the news of human experimentation, organized crime, drug trafficking, and bribery, Lex Luthor became a public enemy overnight. His reputation plummeted, and LuthorCorp's stock followed suit, plummeting from a high of $56 per share to $35. The massive drop caused huge losses for shareholders, leading to widespread public condemnation of Lex Luthor.
The events unfolded too suddenly. No one could have imagined that the seemingly invincible LuthorCorp would instantly turn into a leaky, sinking ship.
At the Tesla factory, Luke sat alone on the rooftop, gazing at the distant docks, quietly savoring the loneliness of the victor.
He had actually done nothing. Everything was merely a matter of going with the flow.
It was like burying a seed in spring: with proper fertilizer and water, it would eventually grow into a towering tree.
"Life is truly as lonely as the snow," Luke sighed, sipping his red wine.
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