"If I were you, I'd hurry and leave for your own safety," Martian Manhunter said unceremoniously to the group.
"Damn it, I think you're tired of living!"
The enraged thug said, and was about to step forward to attack Martian Manhunter and Peter.
Facing the rushing thugs, Peter sighed and suddenly grabbed the hand the other party extended.
Although he didn't want to meddle, since Martian Manhunter had already made his move, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Grabbing the fingers of the thug who attacked him, Peter twisted them around like wringing a sparrow's neck.
The burly fat man screamed loudly, raising his fleshy palm to slap him.
Peter moved slightly aside, and the fat man's hand hit the wall behind him.
"Ah!!"
The opponent's index and middle fingers bent backward at a terrifying angle, followed by a crisp snapping sound and then a heart-wrenching scream.
"Good, two fingers on the left hand are also broken, so it's perfectly symmetrical."
Peter nodded in satisfaction, then grabbed a butterfly knife that was thrusting at him, and his other hand lightning-fast smashed into the attacker's face.
It was so fast that the trajectory of the punch was completely invisible.
The attacker only felt a "buzz" in his head, and nosebleed instantly gushed out.
The butterfly knife fell from his hand and stuck into the ground.
Martian Manhunter's movements were also clean and sharp; in just a few moves, he had the thugs lying on the ground groaning.
The young man lying on the ground, with his mouth slightly agape, watched in shock as the two dealt with the ruffians.
After the thugs fled in disarray, he stumbled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at the two, panting heavily.
"Are you alright, child?"
Martian Manhunter walked over and asked with concern.
"I… I'm fine, thank you."
The noble-looking young man bit his lip, covering his injured, bleeding arm, not wanting to appear weak and pitiful.
"You don't look so good. Do you need to see a Doctor?"
Martian Manhunter looked at the young man in front of him and asked, "What's your name?"
The young man glanced at Peter, who was standing nearby, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Thomas, my name is Thomas."
"Hmm, Thomas, do you need us to take you home?"
"No, no need. Anyway, thank you for your help. I think I have to go."
Upon hearing Martian Manhunter offer to take him home, Thomas's expression became a little flustered.
He clutched his arm and stumbled, about to leave.
But soon his steps halted, and he looked hesitantly at his stained clothes.
Taking a deep breath, he walked up to Martian Manhunter, trying to suppress the pain in his body, and asked Martian Manhunter, "Sir, may I borrow some money from you?"
Martian Manhunter heard the other party asking to borrow money, looked at Peter in astonishment, then coughed and said, "I am just a butler. Perhaps you can ask my Master."
He kicked the ball to Peter, who was watching the show nearby.
Peter was stunned. He didn't expect this green-skinned guy to be quite cunning!
Seeing the young man's pleading gaze, Peter was about to refuse, but the other party said to him earnestly, "Sir, I'd like to borrow one hundred U.S. dollars. I will return one thousand to you a month later."
Peter: "?!"
Thinking Peter found it too little, Thomas continued, "Then two thousand?"
"Or five thousand?"
"Ten thousand?"
Hearing the other party shout ten thousand U.S. dollars, Peter and Martian Manhunter exchanged glances.
Is this kid joking with him?
"Sir, I'm not joking. I really can return ten thousand U.S. dollars to you."
Thomas probably also felt that his words were not convincing. He took a deep breath and said firmly, "You can give me your address."
Peter initially wanted to refuse, but now he was intrigued by this kid.
Robbed of everything but his clothes, and he immediately talks about ten thousand U.S. dollars. Is he that generous?!
He took out his wallet, pulled out a one-hundred-dollar bill, and handed it to the other party.
"I look forward to your promise."
"Thank you, I promise, Sir."
Thomas nodded solemnly, taking the banknote.
After telling the other party the hotel where he was staying in Metropolis, Peter and Martian Manhunter got into the car and drove to the hotel.
"Father, you've been tricked."
Mark, who witnessed the entire process from the back seat, said to Peter with certainty, "He just wants to trick you out of your money. I can get out and help you get it back."
In his opinion, his father's farm was his own farm, and his father's money would also be inherited by him in the future.
If the other party dared to trick his father's money, that meant tricking his own money!
Absolutely unforgivable!
Peter was noncommittal to Mark's words. He asked Martian Manhunter, "Mr. Jones, what do you think?"
"I don't think he's a child full of lies," Martian Manhunter said while driving.
"Is that so? If he's not a child full of lies, why did he tell us a fake name?"
Peter indicated that the other party's ability to lie could not escape his perception.
"Perhaps he has some concerns."
Peter looked suspiciously at Martian Manhunter, "Mr. Jones, you have telepathy. You saw into his mind, right?"
"No, I didn't."
Martian Manhunter shook his head and said, "Actually, prying into others' minds is an offensive act. Most of the time, I try not to perceive others' minds."
Mark, who was nearby, heard him say this and couldn't help but mutter inwardly: The first time you met me and Clark, you played the "Guess What You're Thinking" game. Only a ghost would believe you!
Upon arriving at the destination hotel, Peter and Martian Manhunter moved their luggage from the car and walked into the hotel.
The hotel, with its simple and elegant decor, was not among the most expensive and luxurious in Metropolis.
However, this hotel was surrounded by many famous local restaurants and bars that offered food and drinks to guests, making it one of the more popular hotels in Metropolis.
Soon after going upstairs and entering the room, the Kent couple arrived with Clark.
"Jonathan said he'd take me to Metropolis for a two-day vacation for our wedding anniversary, but I didn't expect it to happen early. Thank you so much, Peter."
Martha gratefully thanked Peter for booking the hotel for them.
She knew that hotel rooms were very difficult to book at this time.
"You're welcome, Martha. We are family," Peter said with a smile.
"I've already paid for half a month's room fee for you, consider it my gift for your wedding anniversary."
Jonathan looked at the obviously expensive room in front of him and opened his mouth to say something.
But seeing his wife's happy and excited expression, he swallowed his words and thanked Peter.
Ten o'clock at night.
After Mark fell asleep, Peter prepared to go to a nearby bar with Martian Manhunter for a couple of drinks.
Unexpectedly, just after leaving the hotel, he heard a familiar voice.
"Mr. Patrick."
Peter turned his head and saw Thomas, bruised and swollen, with disheveled clothes, seemingly having been beaten again.
"Sir, can… can you lend me another one hundred U.S. dollars?"