Chapter 314: The Meaning of Running

PS: Sorry.

San San Bengzi's protest finally had some effect.

"You want to eat an Energy Block?"

Ma Ma Zhaodi opened Shangcheng to check the price of the Energy Block, then immediately shut it down again and began to gently reason with San San Bengzi: "San San Bengzi, this is Earth. Just try electric power and fuel for now—consider it trying local specialties from another region. Isn't that good too?"

"Energy is the combat power of Autobots." San San Bengzi flashed its white lights in a very human-like manner, similar to an Earthling rolling their eyes: "And I am a local Autobot on Earth. Gasoline and electric power are like food from my hometown; Energy Blocks are the local specialty. I've been eating gasoline for three whole months now, and even my burps are starting to smell like gasoline—just one extra meal, how much money could it possibly cost?"

"It will cost five thousand Asset Points." Ma Ma Zhaodi refused ruthlessly: "Even a million added together would only cover your food for half a year. If you keep eating like this, our family will go bankrupt."

"Impossible. I am a local-type Autobot. The system performed special modifications on me at the factory; my consumption is much lower than that of ordinary Autobots—just bring out the Energy Block so I can see it!"

"Eat five thousand today, eat five thousand tomorrow, then get a night's peace, only to wake and see the four borders, and the desire for food and drink arises again." Ma Ma Zhaodi spoke with righteous sternness: "No way. I am already considering buying you a set of solar charging facilities."

"You don't even want to buy gasoline anymore?!"

Just as one person and one vehicle were scheming against each other, a thunderclap suddenly sounded in the distant sky.

"Boom!"

Ma Ma Zhaodi, Maomao, and San San Bengzi instinctively looked over, only to discover that on the street which had been clear and sunny just moments ago, a small tornado was now slowly moving.

"Holy crap! Bu Hao!"

Ma Ma Zhaodi immediately remounted San San Bengzi: "Xiao Yu, quick, let's return to the scene just now at our fastest speed!"

"What about my Energy Block?"

"Approved."

"Hold on tight!"

San San Bengzi instantly transformed into full-speed mode and raced toward the direction of the tornado, leaving dust in its wake.

However, too late was too late. When Ma Ma Zhaodi arrived at the scene, the tornado had already dissipated, replaced by a thick, pervasive fog. It completely blocked Ma Ma Zhaodi's vision; clearly, this was fog created by Clyde using his ability.

"I forgot that the police station's handcuffs are not a special product of Star Laboratory; they cannot restrain superpowered individuals." Ma Ma Zhaodi sighed: "Clyde must have already run away, but at least this time the Central City Police Department saw the existence of superpowered individuals. This is not a bad thing."

"Boss, what do we do, meow?"

"Didn't I say before? Only children make choices; adults take everything all at once—let's go back and rest first. Tonight we will head straight for the farm and handle the matters that need handling."

Speaking of which, Ma Ma Zhaodi suddenly thought of something. He asked the system: "Let me ask, can the Smuggling skill be used on others?"

【Yes. Each time transferring another person will consume ten thousand Asset Points, and can only transfer targets who have lost the ability to resist or the will to resist.】

"Will the other party be like me? Their original body stays in place, while their soul goes into the avatar in another world?"

【Yes.】

"What is the skill's range?" 【Within a five-meter range.】

"Perfect." Speaking of which, Ma Ma Zhaodi thought again, and finally said: "I also want to add another form for San San Bengzi."

【Understood.】

Meanwhile, Barry and Joe were heading toward Star Laboratory.

"When I sent you here, it was only to let you survive; I did not intend for that Wells to turn you into something non-human."

Joe's face was ashen as he spoke to Barry without holding back: "We all saw what Clyde Madong turned into. That lightning storm, that gale, that thick fog—he is completely a superpowered madman."

"He used his superpowers to do evil, Joe, but I used my superpowers to stop him." Barry explained: "You have to believe me; at the very least, I cannot turn into a madman."

"Especially you, Barry!" Joe was even angrier: "You are a CSI, a Crime Scene Investigator, not some street vigilante! What if Madong tore you apart with a tornado? How would I explain this to your father?"

"I raised you for over ten years, Barry, a full ten years. You are no different from my own son. Which father would watch his son do such a dangerous thing?"

Speaking of which, Joe couldn't help but feel a bit bitter: "Iris wanted to be a police officer back then; I talked her out of it after much persuasion. Now you want to run off and fight that kind of superpowered madman—Barry, that is not your responsibility! That is what the police should do!"

Barry sighed. He knew that Joe treated him like a biological son; he also knew that superpowered criminals like Clyde were very dangerous; but at that moment, he truly hadn't thought that far ahead, simply chasing after him on instinct—just as back then, he had instinctively chased the thief who stole Iris's computer.

But unlike that time, this time, he finally had the ability to catch up with the justice he wanted to realize.

Thus, his expression became resolute.

"Alright, Joe." He said to Joe seriously: "I know you might be very worried about me, thinking that now that I have a bit of power, I want to rely on a sudden whim, a heated head, to fight dangerous criminals—but its meaning to me is more than that."

"Joe, do you still remember what happened that night? My mother was stabbed in the heart with a fruit knife, and my father... was imprisoned on false charges."

Speaking of which, the expressions of both Barry and Joe turned sad at the same time, and Joe's expression carried even more heartache.

Barry took a deep breath and continued: "At that time, I saw two figures in the lightning, one red figure, one yellow figure. The person in yellow clothes killed my mother—but you all thought this was a hallucination produced by a child due to extreme grief and fear, thinking I refused to accept reality."

"My father did not kill my mother, Joe." He said: "Today's events prove that there indeed exists some supernatural power or phenomenon in this world that we do not know about. This means a great deal to me."

"I finally have hope to prove my biological father's innocence."

Hearing Barry's words, Joe remained silent for a long while. Only when the two arrived at the entrance of Star Laboratory did he speak: "If that is the case, Barry, then you should even less place yourself in danger."

"If it is only for your own father, then you can research superpowers, you can research the case, but there is no need to take personal risks."

Joe's words seemed correct?

Barry's heart felt somewhat messy. If it was only for his father, he indeed seemed to have no need to run for someone else's justice.

So, should he listen to Joe's suggestion?

While pondering, the two had already arrived at the laboratory hall.

(End of Chapter)