"Who?!"
Chris, startled, abruptly stood up and looked behind him.
A shadow had appeared behind him at some point, coldly observing him from the darkness.
The dangerous aura emanating from the other party made him feel a terrifying shiver, like facing a natural predator.
"Haven't you been investigating me? Mr. Reporter, you wouldn't not know me, would you?"
Eric took a step forward, emerging from the pitch-black shadows into the area illuminated by the faint moonlight.
Under the thin moonlight, Chris saw Eric's face and was so shocked that he took a step back.
"Eric Kent?! How did you—you didn't—?!"
"Didn't trigger the alarm?"
Eric reached out his hand, and the infrared sensor, held in his grasp, was crushed with a light squeeze.
"These things for petty thieves, unfortunately, are useless against me."
Eric ignored the reporter's highly vigilant demeanor, his tone still relaxed. "I originally thought you were simply employed by Lex Luthor, but I didn't expect your true identity to be an Owl."
"W-what?"
Chris feigned ignorance and took a step back.
But the next second, a gust of wind brushed past his face.
By the time he reacted, his face felt cold!
He reached up to touch his face and found that the Owl mask was gone.
He looked up at Eric and saw the mask clearly in his hand.
Ignoring Chris, who was in a state of shock, Eric felt the patterns on the Owl mask and said in a calm, unhurried tone, "I once heard a nursery rhyme in Gotham: 'Beware the Court of Owls, that watches all the time. Lurking in the shadows of Gotham City, hidden in the low walls and attics.'"
"Legend has it that some ancient noble families in the dark Gotham City formed the 'Court of Owls,' using their power and influence to control the political direction of Gotham, ruling that city with their own ideas, and carrying out assassinations and terror activities with assassins called 'Talons.'"
Eric paused for a moment before continuing, "I originally thought that was just an urban legend, but I didn't expect to see an Owl of Metropolis instead of Gotham. It truly surprises me!"
"I-I don't understand what you're saying!"
Chris continued to play dumb and retreated.
When Eric took off his mask before he could react, he realized that the other party was definitely a dangerous individual and not someone he could contend with.
All he could do now was stall for time, hoping to find an opportunity to escape.
"No, of course you understand, Chris!"
Eric took a step forward. "I'm very interested in Owls, you know? This morning, my father released an Owl in the barn, and here I caught an Owl. Very interesting, isn't it?"
"What do you want to do, Eric Kent!"
Chris's forehead beaded with sweat, and he said with a trembling voice, "You won't get anything from me!"
"I will, Chris."
Eric took another step forward.
In his previous life, he had only heard that the "Court of Owls" existed in Gotham City, and that they had given Batman a hard time. He never expected there to be an "Owl Council" in Metropolis!
Seeing a hunt he liked, he certainly wouldn't miss this prey.
Not to mention the wealth accumulated by the Owl Council over decades, even centuries, in Metropolis, the countless secret intelligence they possessed was enough reason for him to act.
As for the so-called "Owl Council's" resistance and revenge, as long as he eradicated them completely, they would pose no threat.
They were just a bunch of scum anyway; their deaths would only purify the air.
"Tell me the address of the Owl Council and the identities of those 'Owl-masked people,' Chris, and I will let you go."
"Never!"
Chris, who had retreated to the side of the cabinet, roared and lunged at Eric.
At this moment, he took out a pair of weapons from the cabinet, similar to "knuckle dusters" but with sharp, dagger-like points, and put them on his hands, attacking Eric.
The sharp "Talons" whistled through the air.
Facing Chris's attack, Eric did not dodge. He extended his right hand and instantly grabbed the other party's "Talon"!
The sharp weapon, capable of cutting steel, was firmly held by Eric.
Then, Eric's left fist, which didn't seem fast, struck the other party's chest.
Bang!
It sounded like hitting a sandbag, emitting a dull thud.
Chris was struck as if by lightning, his eyes wide open, his entire strong body sent flying like a cannonball.
His body crashed heavily against the cabinet, smashing the sturdy solid wood cabinet into pieces, with splinters flying everywhere.
Chris lay on the ground, breathing heavily, red foamy blood spilling from his mouth and nose.
"You monster!"
Struggling to get up, Chris coughed up blood from his throat while cursing Eric.
He had never witnessed such strength and speed from Eric!
The Speed Force allowed him to take his mask, and his body was so powerful that he could ignore his attacks.
All of this simply defied his understanding!
Even the legendary assassin of the "Court of Owls" in Gotham City—Talon—was far inferior in comparison.
A sudden fear arose in his heart: if the Owl Council of Metropolis was targeted by him, they would definitely face utter destruction!
Eric walked over to him, looking down at him from above, his eyes indifferent, his voice cold.
"So, do you choose to surrender to the monster?"
"Never!"
"Zzzzzzt!"
Lasers instantly shot from Eric's eyes; the Heat Vision, carrying immense energy, directly pierced the other party's heart, ending his life in an instant.
"What happened?!"
"Was it a network intrusion? Why was communication cut off?"
The gentlemen and ladies of the Owl Council, unable to contact Chris, could no longer maintain their gentlemanly composure and began to whisper in panicked discussion.
"Silence! Silence!"
The black-robed person serving as the Council Leader tapped the table, signaling everyone to quiet down.
After tapping the table a few times and stopping the clamor, he was about to say something.
But the remote video conference suddenly reconnected.
To the astonishment of the council members, the person on the other end of the remote communication was not Chris, but someone whose face was obscured by shadow.
"Who are you? Where's Chris?"
"Dead."
Eric replied with a calm, slightly hoarse voice.
"You did it?!"
"Looks like it."
"You will never know what kind of existence you have provoked!"
The Council Leader's voice was filled with deep hatred and anger. "No matter where you flee, the Owl will pursue you, watch you, and even if you lie in bed, it will take your head!"
"Now, tell me your name, Punisher!"
Eric moved his body forward slightly, revealing the lower half of his face (his chin area).
"I am Homelander."