Reincarnation In Smallville

"You're impossible, Clark Kent," Chloe muttered, looking out the window as the scenery flew by.

"I just wanted to make sure you were safe," Clark replied, keeping his eyes on the road. "You know I'd never let you take that kind of risk."

"I know," Chloe sighed, turning to him with a slight smile. "But you have to admit, carrying me like that was a bit... excessive."

"Maybe," Clark gave a half-smile, trying not to laugh. "But it was worth it, don't you think?"

Chloe shook her head, laughing softly. "I suppose so. Anyway, thanks for saving me... from myself."

Clark glanced at her quickly, noticing her mood was improving. He smiled, feeling relieved.

WEE-OO WEE-OO

The sound of fire truck sirens echoed in the distance. Clark and Chloe looked in the rearview mirror and saw flashing lights heading toward the school.

"Hope they can get the fire under control," Chloe said, her expression worried.

"I'm sure they will," Clark replied calmly, even though he knew the situation with Walt was much more complicated than Chloe realized.

As the fire truck stopped in front of the school, firefighters quickly descended, setting up hoses and entering the smoke-filled building. The flames, which had started in the sauna, were now spreading to other areas.

"Fire's concentrated in the sauna area!" shouted one of the firefighters, guiding his crew to the most affected part.

Ffffffsssshhhhh!

Water gushed from the hoses, hitting the flames with force as the thick smoke slowly dissipated. Inside the sauna, the heat was unbearable, and the firefighters fought to extinguish the last remaining embers.

"There's someone here!" shouted one of the firefighters, stopping as he saw what appeared to be a body partially covered by debris and soot.

Thump, thump, thump!

The heavy footsteps of the firefighters echoed down the hall as they approached Coach Walt Arnold. He lay motionless, a victim of the very flames he couldn't control.

"Damn... it's too late," murmured one of the firefighters, recognizing that Walt had succumbed to the heat and smoke. He signaled to the others, who quickly approached.

Outside, Principal Kwan, who had rushed to the scene as soon as the fire started, watched with a grave expression. He saw the body being carried out and immediately recognized the victim.

"My God... Walt," Kwan murmured, shocked by the discovery, unable to process that the coach had lost his life so tragically.

As the firefighters continued to extinguish the last remnants of the fire, news of Walt Arnold's death would quickly spread throughout the school.

....

Luthor Mansion

"You shouldn't have gone so far with this idea of expanding the workforce, Lex," Lionel said, his voice laden with disapproval as he slowly paced through his son's office.

Lex, sitting behind the desk, looked directly at his father, unfazed. "I'm thinking about the factory's future, Dad. It's an investment to ensure Smallville thrives."

Lionel chuckled slightly, with no trace of humor. "Thrive? You're increasing costs without any guaranteed return. That's not how you run a business, Lex."

Lex narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. "Why did you send me to this 'worthless factory' in the first place if you don't trust me to make decisions?"

Lionel paused for a moment, turning to his son with a more serious look. "Have you ever heard of how ancient rulers sent their sons to distant outposts so they could understand the real world and toughen their spirit?"

Lex gave a sarcastic smile. "So, that's it? You sent me to an insignificant place to teach me some lesson? And what happens when I learn that lesson, Dad?"

Lionel approached the desk, leaning forward. "You have talent, Lex, but you lack long-term vision. I won't let you destroy what I've built with impulsive decisions."

Lex stood up, firm, facing Lionel head-on. "And what do you suggest, Dad? I know you're not here just to give me a moral lesson."

Lionel smiled slightly, straightening up. "Let's settle this in a civilized manner, Lex. A fencing duel. If you win, you can proceed with your plan to expand the workforce. But if I win, you'll have to lay off 20% of your staff."

Lex raised an eyebrow, surprised. "A fencing duel? Is that it?"

Lionel gave a sly smile. "I like to keep traditions. And I also enjoy a good competition."

Lex hesitated for a moment but soon agreed. "Alright, Dad. If that's what you want, let's do it."

...

In the Luthor mansion's fencing hall, Lex and Lionel were preparing for the duel. Lionel, with a slight confident smile, adjusted his fencing mask, while Lex, with a serious face, adjusted his stance.

"Ready to lose, Lex?" Lionel taunted, raising his sword skillfully.

"We'll see who's losing," Lex replied firmly, raising his sword and preparing for the first move.

*Clang!*

The sound of swords clashing echoed through the hall as the two began the duel. Lex was focused, trying to strike Lionel quickly, but his father was agile and experienced, parrying every blow with ease.

[Clang! Clang!]

With each thrust, Lex felt the fatigue mounting, while Lionel seemed unfazed, maintaining his rhythm. Lionel's confident smile never wavered, and he moved with precision.

"You've always been good with words, Lex," Lionel said between moves, blocking a strike from Lex. "But in the real world, words alone aren't enough."

Lex attempted a quick attack, but Lionel easily dodged and countered, disarming Lex with a fluid motion.

*Clang!*

Lex's sword fell to the ground, and Lionel stopped, a victorious smile on his face. "Looks like you still have much to learn."

Lex, breathing heavily, looked at his father with a mix of frustration and exhaustion. He knew he had lost, but he wouldn't give up easily.

Lionel walked over to a nearby table, where a book lay on the wooden surface. Without a word, he picked it up and tossed it to Lex, who caught it in the air, surprised.

"Good luck with your new venture, Lex," Lionel said, his tone dripping with irony. "I hope it's as promising as you think."

Lex looked at the book in his hands, surprised to realize it was the book Clark had written. He hadn't even known Lionel had access to a copy.

"How did you... get this?" Lex asked, still processing the situation.

Lionel only gave an enigmatic smile. "I have my resources, Lex. Never forget that."

With that, Lionel turned and left the hall, leaving Lex alone, still holding Clark's book.

...

Beanery

Clark entered The Beanery and looked around, noticing the bustling atmosphere. People chatted animatedly, the sound of clinking cups mixing with the aroma of fresh coffee. He spotted Lex sitting at a corner table, surrounded by a pile of documents.

Clark approached with firm steps, still processing everything that had happened that day. Before he could sit down, Lex looked up at him with a smile that conveyed exhaustion but also a certain enthusiasm.

"You're just in time, Clark," Lex said, pointing to the seat in front of him. "I've got something important for you."

Before Clark could respond, Lana appeared with a notepad in her hands, clearly a little nervous. It was her first day working at The Beanery, and she was eager to get everything right.

"Hey, Clark! Lex! Can I take your order?" Lana said, smiling nervously as she adjusted her apron.

Clark threw a quick glance at Lex, who merely shrugged with a smile. "I'll have a cappuccino, please," said Clark, calmly.

"For me, a black coffee, no sugar," Lex added casually as he turned his attention back to the documents in front of him.

Lana jotted down the order quickly and smiled again, visibly relieved she had written the orders correctly. "I'll be right back with your drinks!" she said, hurrying off toward the counter.

Clark turned to Lex, curious. "What do you have for me?"

Lex opened a leather folder on the table and pulled out a book. He handed it to Clark, a satisfied smile on his face. "Here's your book, Clark. Sales start tomorrow."

Clark looked at the book in his hands, surprised. He ran his fingers over the cover, feeling the weight of the responsibility it brought.

"I'm still surprised by this, Lex. I didn't know you'd get everything done so quickly."

Lex shrugged, still smiling.

"Oh, and I'm handling the publicity as well. I've already got a few interviews lined up for you."

Clark raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure if I'm ready for all this attention. I want my name out there, but... I also want to preserve my privacy."

"I get it, Clark. But sometimes, to achieve great things, we have to accept that the world will want to know more about us. It's part of the game." Lex said.

Clark nodded, still a bit hesitant. He looked at the book again, feeling the weight of Lex's words. "Alright, just... let me know before anything big happens, okay?"

Lex chuckled softly, returning to the factory papers scattered across the table. Clark noticed that Lex was more serious now, focused.

"What are these documents?" Clark asked, curious.

Lex sighed deeply, running his hands over the papers. "They're factory documents. I'm going to have to lay off 20% of the workers to keep everything running. It's not an easy decision."

"Even a good man has to make hard choices," Clark said, looking directly at Lex. "Firing these people is hard for you, but it'll be even harder for those losing their jobs."

Lex nodded, with a faint sad smile on his face. "I know, Clark. And it's eating me up inside."

Before the conversation could continue, Lana returned to the table, carrying two cups of coffee. She placed a cappuccino in front of Lex and a black coffee in front of Clark.

Clark looked at the cups, and before he could say anything, Lana realized her mistake.

"Oh! I switched the orders, didn't I?" Lana said, bringing her hands to her face, embarrassed. "Sorry! It's my first day, and I'm a bit nervous."

Clark chuckled softly, picking up the cup. "Don't worry, Lana. It's all good. It happens."

Lana blushed slightly and hurried back to the counter.

When Lana left, Lex looked at Clark with a mischievous smile. "I guess she still needs a bit of practice."

Clark laughed, shaking his head. "She'll get the hang of it. Everyone makes mistakes at first."

The two continued discussing the book and the challenges Lex was facing with the factory, while The Beanery's atmosphere remained calm, except for the occasional laughter of the other customers.

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