American comics: Damn it, I’m surrounded by those who worry about their fathers!.

Chapter 1135 Soldier's Song and Embrace

As Lex listened to his subordinate's account, the image of Machima's eerie golden eyes instantly flashed into his mind.

"I see."

Lex's voice was devoid of emotion. "Continue to observe them, make sure they rest quietly, and keep them away from the outside world. All relevant medical records and assessment reports are classified as top secret and sent directly to my private server."

"Yes sir."

After the call ended, Lex put his phone back in his pocket.

He turned around and looked at the exhibition hall.

The exhibition hall was unusually quiet; he could even hear his own breathing.

Does it control people's minds?
It's not simply hypnosis or psychological suggestion; it should be a more efficient form of mind control.

In other words, Machima can control others.

A chill crept up Lex's spine.

But soon, a mixture of fear and excitement rose within him.

Lex originally organized an art exhibition and invited Peter and Machima, simply to learn more about the little girl who saved him.

But now, the meaning of this exhibition has become completely different.

He needed to observe Machima closely, to ascertain the scope of her abilities and how they worked, and to figure out the true nature of her relationship with Peter.

Lex had a feeling that this girl named Machima might be the most dangerous of Mr. Patrick's children.

The next day.

Padrick Farm.

Peter suddenly received a call from Chandler at the police station.

"Chandler? You haven't contacted me for a while."

“I’m sorry, Peter, you know how much has happened lately. I almost didn’t recognize this world anymore.”

Sheriff Chandler was an old acquaintance of Peter's from Smallwell.

Peter had helped him solve many strange and unusual cases before, and when the other party called this time, Peter guessed that he must have encountered some case again and needed his help.

"Chandler".

Peter cut to the chase and asked, "Judging from your voice, it sounds like you've run into trouble again. Tell me slowly, what happened?"

Chandler paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, gave an awkward laugh, and said, "You guessed it, Peter, I do need your help with something."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, and the sound of papers turning over came through the microphone.

“Yesterday in Smallville, several teenagers went missing and there’s still no news. Peter, you’re incredibly resourceful, so I have no choice but to ask for your help.”

"Missing?"

Peter frowned slightly. "What are their names?"

“Uh, let me see, Adrian Mellen, Don Hagerty.”

"I understand. I'll contact you if I have any leads."

"Thanks, buddy, you've done me a huge favor."

After hanging up the phone, Peter fell into deep thought.

Has anything happened in Smallwell recently?

Just as he was lost in his thoughts, the study door was gently pushed open a crack, and a pair of golden eyes peered in.

"dad?"

Machima called out to him in a soft, expectant voice.

Peter quickly composed himself, replacing his serious expression with a gentle smile: "What's wrong, Machima?"

"I... want to watch a movie."

Machima walked into the study, putting her hands behind her back. "Can you watch with me?"

"Just the two of us."

She added, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Peter looked at his youngest daughter.

Machima wore a simple white dress, her hair flowing smoothly down her back, looking every bit the obedient and clever daughter.

Faced with Machima's expectant gaze, Peter felt he couldn't refuse.

"of course can."

Peter coughed and nodded, gesturing for her to come over. "What movie would you like to see?"

Machima's eyes lit up instantly. She quickly walked to the desk and watched Peter turn on the computer.

“I know a movie called Dad, which is said to be very… difficult to understand.”

Machima said earnestly, "So, I want my dad to watch it with me and help me understand."

"Difficult-to-understand movies?"

Peter chuckled, looking at her with interest. "Which one? Is it some obscure art film?"

He was unaware that Machima was also interested in movies.

Machima shook her head, her red hair swaying slightly.

"It's a very old movie called 'Soldiers' Song'."

Machima says the name of the movie.

Upon hearing the name, Peter did a quick online search for information about the movie, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

This is a 1959 Soviet black-and-white film.

Why would Machima be interested in such an old movie?

This is completely beyond the scope of a child's normal interests.

He originally thought that Machima would choose some current animated films.

"Are you sure?"

Peter confirmed this with his daughter and began searching for the film in the database.

"Ah."

Machima nodded vigorously, her eyes fixed on the screen.

"Okay, Dad will watch it with you."

Peter turned on the movie and watched it with his daughter.

The film begins.

The black-and-white visuals, with their slightly rough texture, carry the narrative rhythm unique to that era.

Peter was initially a little skeptical, but he was quickly drawn in by the film itself.

The story revolves around the young soldier Alyosha.

During the brutal Great Patriotic War, almost all of Alyosha's unit was killed, leaving only his comrades and two signalmen.

His comrades told him to abandon the equipment and run away, but Alyosha insisted on reporting the situation before leaving. A shell killed his comrade, but Alyosha promptly reported the situation to headquarters and destroyed two tanks with an anti-tank gun.

When the general was about to award Alyosha on the screen (or computer screen), the young soldier did not ask for medals or honors. He simply pleaded with longing, "My mother lives in the village, and her roof is leaking. Can I ask for six days off to go back and help her fix it?"

Machima sat in the chair next to Peter, hugging her knees, watching with unusual focus.

Her expression subtly changed as the plot unfolded.

Alyosha embarked on his journey home.

A six-day holiday, a long journey, and a tight schedule.

He helped a disabled veteran on the train by giving him his precious soap.

He met the beautiful young girl Shura, and a budding, doomed love quietly blossomed.

To fulfill his fallen comrade's wish, he traveled a long distance to deliver the gift to his family, only to learn that his comrade's father had already remarried. He could only lie and say that his comrade was doing well, silently swallowing his bitterness...

Every act of help, every delay, made his journey home a little longer.

Peter noticed that when Alyosha and Shura said goodbye on the empty platform, promising to meet again after the war, Machima seemed to hold her breath for a moment.

When Alyosha finally arrived in his hometown and ran across the familiar fields, seeing his mother's hunched figure working in the fields and calling out "Mama" in a hoarse voice, Peter was also subtly moved.

But because of the long journey, Alyosha no longer had time to spend with his mother.

He hugged his mother and handed her the black headscarf he had bought on the way. He didn't even get a sip of the water his mother had prepared before the trucks returning to the convoy sounded their horns in the distance.

At the end of the film, the mother, wearing the black headscarf and black clothes, stands day after day on the dirt road at the entrance of the village, gazing into the distance, waiting for her son who will never return.

The subtitles coldly stated: Alyosha Skvortsov, who heroically sacrificed his life in the battle to liberate Europe, was buried in a foreign land.

The study was quiet, with only the faint hum of the computer fan.

The black-and-white image freezes on the lonely figure of the mother watching over her child.

Peter was immersed in the heaviness and emotion brought by the film when he heard a barely suppressed, faint sob beside him.

He turned his head in surprise, and what he saw shocked him.

Machima cried.

Crystalline tears silently slid from her golden eyes, rolling down her fair cheeks and dripping onto the back of her hands, which were wrapped around her knees.

Machima didn't make a loud sound, only her shoulders trembled slightly. Looking at the mother on the screen, who waited forever, her eyes were filled with a sorrow Peter had never seen before.

"Machima?"

Peter called softly, his voice carrying a tenderness he himself was unaware of.

Machima lifted her tear-filled face and looked at Peter.

She loosened her arms from hugging her knees, opened them slightly to Peter, and asked him through tears, "Daddy, can... you hug me?"

Peter was stunned.

Looking at his youngest daughter with tears streaming down her face, Peter instantly understood why she was crying over the movie and why she was seeking a hug at this moment.

Perhaps Machima longs for the purest and most selfless connection depicted in "Soldier's Song"—the love between mother and child, the affection between comrades, the innocent romance, and even the kindness between strangers.

She was instinctively drawn to this emotion, yet due to her own "dominant" nature, she was unable to truly understand or establish it.

She can only “acquire” in the way she knows best—just as she once tried to dominate others.

But now, Machima is seeking an equal and warm connection in the most direct way.

It seems that his youngest daughter is not the kind of emotionless, dominating demon.

Peter was subtly moved. Without hesitation, he nodded and opened his arms.

"Of course, dear."

Machima immediately slid off the chair and jumped into Peter's arms.

Her body trembled slightly, her cheek buried in his chest, and warm tears quickly soaked Peter's shirt.

Peter could feel Machima's slender arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

Peter gently patted her back, his movements soft and soothing.

He didn't say anything, just let his daughter cry in his arms.

In the study, the black-and-white film had long since ended, and the screen went dark.

The afternoon sun remained serene, and the air was filled with the scent of books and an indescribable warmth.

Peter held his special little daughter, his heart filled with complex emotions.

Whatever Machima may have been in the past, whatever power she may possess, at this moment, she is just a little girl who needs her father's embrace.

weekend.

The area in front of the Lex Group Art Center was bustling with people.

Flashbulbs popped as socialites, art critics, collectors, and curious members of the public gathered to witness this grand exhibition, personally curated by Lex Luther.

A car was parked outside.

The car door opened, and Peter Patrick got out first, wearing a well-tailored dark casual suit. Behind him, three girls with very different styles got out one after another.

Ceresia wore an elegant pale purple dress, while Mordred was dressed casually. She excitedly surveyed her surroundings, showing great interest in this occasion that brought together traces of history.

Machima, dressed in a simple white dress, stood quietly beside Peter. Her golden eyes calmly swept across the bustling entrance, her face expressionless, as if the surrounding hustle and bustle had nothing to do with her.

Lex Luthor, who had been waiting at the door, immediately came forward to greet him.

"Welcome, sir."

Lex shook hands with Peter warmly, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the three girls behind Peter, lingering particularly long on Machima.

"I certainly couldn't miss such a grand exhibition."

Peter smiled and responded, introducing the girl, "Children, this is Mr. Lex Luther."

"Mr. Luther."

Ceressa gave an elegant bow, Mordred simply nodded slightly, and Machima softly said, "Hello."

Lex greeted Ceressa and the other two women with a smile, then personally led Peter and the others through the media area and into the exhibition hall.

The exhibition hall has a very large interior space and a futuristic design.

Lex first led the group to a display case showcasing ancient armor.

"Sir, this suit of armor, according to research, comes from the Arthurian dynasty."

Lex explained.

Mordred showed great interest in it, his eyes fixed on the patterns on the armor, as if sensing something.

Peter was somewhat speechless.

Relics of King Arthur?
What would your expression be if you knew that there was a gluttonous King Arthur on my farm?
Peter was internally complaining, unaware that Machima's interest didn't seem to lie elsewhere.

Machima's gaze began to sweep across the surrounding crowd seemingly unintentionally, as if she were searching for something, or perhaps she was simply bored with these "dead objects".

Lex then introduced several other exhibits, including a crystal that is said to resonate with spiritual energy, and a black stone tablet from a lost ancient civilization, engraved with unknown script.

Each piece has an extraordinary origin and is priceless.

But Machima maintained a calm expression until her gaze settled on a figure.

The other person was a young man wearing a red jacket who looked somewhat nonchalant. He was wandering aimlessly through the crowd, but his agile eyes were like radar, constantly scanning each display case.

The young man that Machima saw was Bart Allen.

Gently pulling her hand away from Peter's, Machima whispered, "Daddy, I want to go over there and take a look."

She pointed to an area with modern sculptures, not far from where Bart was.

Peter glanced over there; the flow of people was moderate, and the view was fairly open. He nodded and said, "Don't go too far, Ceresa. You stay with Machima."

Seresa obediently responded and took Machima's arm.

But Machima gently broke free and said in a slightly insistent tone, "I want to be alone for a while."

Ceresia hesitated for a moment, then looked at Peter.

Peter looked at Machima's stubborn eyes and finally gave in: "Alright, don't leave this hall. Call me immediately if you need anything."

Machima nodded and turned to walk towards the sculpture area.

She didn't linger in front of the sculpture. Instead, she turned and, like a nimble little fish, silently blended into the crowd, moving towards Barth's direction.

Bart is standing in front of a stand-alone glass display case.

Inside is a small and exquisite oriental jade carving—a lifelike jade cicada, with a label that reads "Han Dynasty 'Cicada-Holding Jade,' a fine piece of burial jade, symbolizing the transformation of the soul."

The jade is warm and lustrous, the carving is exquisite, and it emits a soft luster under the light, clearly indicating its high value.

Bart's eyes gleamed with eager anticipation. He licked his lips and leaned forward slightly.

Just as he was about to act, a clear voice rang in his ear: "What are you doing?"

Bart froze, turned his head sharply, and a look of panic flashed across his face as if he had been caught off guard.

He didn't even notice someone approaching!
However, when they realized that the speaker was just a little girl, they breathed a sigh of relief and then burst into laughter.

Bart crouched down to be at eye level with Machima, put on what he thought was a friendly smile, and said in a low voice, "Hey, little sister, don't make a sound, I'm doing a good deed."

As he spoke, he reached out, wanting to pat Machima's head.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch Machima, something indescribable seemed to flash quickly through the depths of Machima's eyes, but she did not flinch.

Bart patted her head; the touch felt normal.

He grinned, his attention returning to the jade cicada in the display case.

The next second, a sudden change occurred!

Bart's figure suddenly blurred, as if he had turned into an invisible wind.

Machima felt a blur before her eyes, and the precious Han Dynasty jade cicada in the display case in front of her, along with its base, vanished in an instant.

Almost simultaneously, a piercing alarm sounded, instantly shattering the tranquil atmosphere inside the exhibition hall.

"Dew-dew-!!"

Red warning lights flashed wildly throughout the exhibition hall.

The crowd instantly erupted into chaos, with screams, questioning voices, and hurried footsteps mingling together, plunging the once orderly exhibition hall into utter confusion.

People looked around in panic, wondering what had happened.

Peter, who was talking to Lex and admiring the paintings not far away, frowned.

He turned his head, his gaze instantly piercing through the commotion of the crowd, locking onto the source of the alarm—the empty jade cicada display case, and Machima standing alone in front of it with a calm expression.

Ceressa and Mordred both tensed up upon hearing the alarm.

"Daddy?"

Ceresia looked at Peter uneasily.

Peter patted her hair, indicating that she shouldn't worry.

Lex's smile froze the moment he heard the alarm.

"Sorry, sir."

Lex apologized to Peter and quickly walked toward the exhibit where the alarm had sounded.

Machima remained standing in the same spot, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around her.

She slowly raised the head that Bart had just patted, her golden eyes gazing in the direction Bart had disappeared.

Then a smile appeared on her face.

(End of this chapter)