"Why do you ask that, Father?"
Hearing Omni-Man's words, Mark looked up at his father in confusion.
"Cousin is already a Superhero. He repelled the Flaxan invasion twice and saved many Chicago citizens."
"No, there are many kinds of Superheroes. Many people have different starting points for becoming Superheroes."
Omni-Man shook his head. The emphasis of his words was not on whether or not one was a Superhero.
Russell heard the hidden meaning in his uncle Nolan's words.
Mark didn't know that not all Superheroes were willing to help others. Some Superheroes liked the cheers of the public, liked the admiring gazes of others, liked being famous and recognized everywhere they went, and some just wanted a job that provided a legitimate reason to vent violence...
The more naive his son Mark was, and the more immersed he was in the boring game of being a Superhero, the more Omni-Man didn't know how to reveal the truth to him when the time came.
In this family, the only one he might be able to test the waters with first was his nephew, who had been smart and mature since childhood.
Russell's perspective on problems might not be so rigid.
"Russell, You haven't been going out to fight crime all day like Mark these past few days. Is it because You don't have a suitable Superhero suit?
When I first came to Earth, I was also troubled by suits. I adjusted this suit many times before it became what I considered comfortable."
After Omni-Man finished speaking to Russell, he embraced his wife and went for a walk in the neighborhood outside, leaving the two children to eat.
"After dinner, I'll take You to a tailor shop that specializes in making suits for Superheroes. They can make any style You want, and I'm sure You'll like it."
Looking at his uncle's back as he left the dining table, Russell's expression shifted.
Did his uncle Omni-Man notice his difference?
Every father is the person a son admires most since childhood, let alone Mark's father, who is the most powerful Superhero on the Planet. He has always hoped to awaken his abilities and inherit his father's mantle, becoming a respected Superhero.
This had almost become his instinctive thought, and it was also related to Mark's naturally kind nature. His aunt had raised both children very well since they were young.
Unlike Mark, Russell didn't have that kind of thought. He didn't mind saving people incidentally, but he wouldn't exhaust himself for the sake of saving people, or even disrupt his own life rhythm.
He chose to be a Superhero more for the sake of gaining Conquest Points to become stronger, so strong that no one besides himself could control or even influence his destiny.
Russell wanted to be a strong person who mastered his own destiny, not a weakling who could only helplessly pray for someone to help when danger came because he lacked the ability.
...
In the night, 'The Tailor Shop' was seemingly an ordinary suit tailor shop on the surface, but in reality, it was the most highly-rated place for Superheroes to customize their suits.
The shop on the ground floor was already closed after midnight, but the studio underground was still open.
After all, many Superheroes become active at night.
Beep beep!
There was a sound indicating a customer had arrived. Under the light, the old man wearing reading glasses and sewing clothes straightened his back and looked up. Although bald and with White hair, he was still a sturdy old tailor.
"Nolan, You're here again?
Could it be that Mark isn't satisfied with the suit I made for your son?
That's right, young people's ideas always change quickly."
Looking at the figure with a red cape walking down the stairs, seemingly leading a young man, old Arthur joked with Omni-Man with a relaxed expression.
"Remember I mentioned my nephew Russell to You? He has also awakened his abilities." His uncle Nolan introduced Russell, who followed closely behind him, to his old friend.
Russell glanced at his uncle's strong back and politely looked at the old tailor.
On the way flying together, several times he could only see the back of his uncle Omni-Man.
His uncle Nolan seemed to just casually fly ahead as an adult, and it seemed he deliberately accelerated several times to test if Russell could keep up with his flying speed.
"His body proportions are very good, tall and slender, practically a clothes hanger." As a tailor, old Arthur pinched his chin and squinted, taking a quick look, and he already had Russell's body measurements.
"Do You have any special abilities? Like the kind that makes Your whole body erupt in Fire, set things on Fire, or discharge electricity, which would destroy clothes or suits?"
"No." Russell shook his head.
Maybe in the future, but I probably can't say now.
Omni-Man leaned against the side with his arms crossed, watching the two discuss the requirements for the suit.
"As long as the material is sturdy?"
"Yes."
Old Arthur nodded. This request was very easy.
"I have a few ready-made suits here..."
"No need, Mr. Arthur, I have a suit design I created myself." Russell handed over a sketch.
"Oh? Let me see."
This wasn't uncommon either. Young people, with their passion when debuting as Superheroes, would often design their own titles and suits.
But most were flashy but impractical, completely disregarding usability. However, old Arthur would never dampen a young person's enthusiasm.
He would always suggest modifications in a gentle, humorous, and tactful manner.
Old Arthur had a gentle temperament, like a mellow tea. Being with him made one feel comfortable. This was why he was one of Omni-Man's few friends.
"Hmm?
Simple yet serious and sharp. Russell, You have a great talent for design."
The old man took it, squinted, put on his reading glasses, and said in surprise.
"It's just that the color scheme is too cold. It's not something children would draw in the blank spaces of their notebooks when dreaming of becoming You. Perhaps... older children would like it more?"
The suit sketch Russell provided referenced the suit of Lord Superman, the coldest embodiment of power, majesty, and oppressive aesthetics.
Discarding the classic red and blue color scheme of the Superman uniform, it was changed to a black as deep and dark as the night sky, mixed with cold White. The rhombus framing the symbol on the chest was sharper and more imposing.
Beneath the cold White symbol, the rhombus framed a blood-red background, instantly reminding one of the tragic fate of those who angered the suit's owner.
Slightly different was that Russell replaced the 'S' symbol representing hope with the '∞' symbol representing infinity.
This also made the blood-red background a bit richer.
The collar stood up slightly with an air of authority. The simple, sharp, cold White cape connected to the arms and draped over the shoulders, creating a sense of weight and carrying a hint of the authority of the Roman Senate's toga.
"Extremely powerful, capable of intimidating... villains at a glance. Superheroes should have this kind of majesty." Seeing this suit that gave off a cold and imposing feeling, Omni-Man couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, his eyes slightly brightening as he looked at his nephew.
He slowly applauded, unsure whether he was admiring Russell's suit or the personality implicitly revealed in Russell's design.
Even when Mark put on his new suit, he only said it was 'pretty good'.
"The materials are all ready. Considering the friendship between me and your uncle Nolan, I'll expedite the production. You can come pick it up tomorrow morning," old Arthur said.
The money was naturally paid by his uncle Omni-Man.
Leaving the tailor shop, his uncle Nolan put his arm around Russell's shoulder like an elder, chatting as they rose into the sky.
The tall buildings on the ground below now looked as small as grains of sand.
A cold full moon hung in the distant space.
"Growth, so-called, is feeling ridiculous when looking back at how stubbornly serious You were about a certain idea.
Russell, You have awakened Your abilities. You can go to heaven and earth, possess power beyond ordinary people's reach. Destroying a city is as simple as kicking over a sandbox.
Your perspective on things will inevitably be different from before."
The bustling Chicago at night, like a small sandbox, was now below their feet, Omni-Man spoke.
"In the past, perhaps You dreamed of becoming a scholar, a business elite, but those are insignificant to the current You. You definitely have a brand new goal in the future?"...