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[RNZO] Ch 339: How to be Rich
🕑 Added 2025-07-21 20:51:11 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
"WHAT?!"
The next moment, Jor-El cried out in shock. His face lit up as he excitedly bombarded Clark with questions. "Where is she? I have a granddaughter now? What's her name? Is she cute? Does she look like me?"
Then his expression changed in a flash.
"Wait a damn minute!"
He glared at Clark, furious. "You little brat! You had a kid and didn't bring her to see me the moment she was born? Do you even consider me your father?! Ungrateful!"
Jor-El was fuming.
Sure, he was technically just a copy of Clark's real father, but the feelings were real!
"You see…"
Clark scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I honestly forgot. Plus, Willa's only three months old—she's way too young! I didn't feel comfortable taking her on a long trip, especially to a place like the Arctic. You wouldn't want anything bad to happen to her, right?"
As he spoke, Clark shot a subtle glare at Renzo.
Traitor. Totally sold me out.
"Like hell I believe you!"
Jor-El pointed at Clark, seething. "You think I didn't notice you guys came in a spaceship? That thing clearly isn't some clunky old machine—it wouldn't cause any problems for a baby!
"And let me remind you—we're Kryptonian. Our kids aren't fragile! Especially not here on Earth with its yellow sun. She's probably already stronger than most humans!"
"What, did you think I don't know how Kryptonians work?"
Clark: "..."
"My bad!"
Jor-El sneered, "Oh yeah? And what exactly are you sorry for?"
"For forgetting my father! I swear, I'll bring Willa to see you as soon as I can!" Clark promised sincerely.
"Hmph. Now that's more like it."
Jor-El's expression finally softened a little. But then he waved his hand dismissively and said, "Actually, never mind. Just take my memory core with you, build a proper underground base back home, and hook me up to a mainframe. That way I can see my adorable granddaughter every day!"
Deep down, the lonely old man just wanted to be part of their lives.
"Uh…"
Clark immediately looked troubled.
'How the hell am I supposed to explain having a new dad to my adoptive parents and to Lois?'
And honestly… building a lab and transferring Jor-El? That was way above his current abilities. Not to mention—he was broke.
"I'm really not doing well financially," he admitted. "I can barely support my family as it is."
"That's what Rez-El is for!"
Jor-El turned and pointed at Renzo, who'd been silently watching the show like it was free entertainment.
"I've already agreed to the proposal you made to Clark earlier. You can have a complete set of Kryptonian tech from the ship. I'll even throw in the specs for the warship itself!"
He looked serious. "My only condition is that you build me an advanced underground base at Clark's place—with a high-end mainframe. Can you do that?"
Jor-El knew Renzo could pull it off.
That small ship earlier? Already way beyond Earth's current tech. Plus, Jor-El had access to Earth's internet and regularly surfed online. You think he hadn't heard of the RNZO Corporation?
This kid had some seriously advanced tech on hand.
Especially over the past year—he'd gotten even more mysterious. Even Jor-El's AI systems couldn't breach the firewalls of Renzo's network.
Clark also looked at Renzo, and quickly added, "Just so we're clear—I really don't have any money! You already know that. I'm barely scraping by."
Paying? Yeah, that's not happening in this lifetime.
He couldn't afford to build a lab, much less a full AI system. That kind of thing was worth millions.
"Relax, relax. I'm not gonna charge you," Renzo waved him off with a laugh. "Uncle's request is totally fine with me."
Then, with a grin, he teased, "But seriously—how are you this broke? With your abilities, you could just dive into the ocean, salvage some treasure, and boom—instant billionaire. What are you even thinking?"
"You really like living this struggling, broke-ass lifestyle? Dragging Lois and little Willa along with you?"
Clark: "Uhhh…"
I mean… fuck I never thought of it that way…
Dammit, so I can use my powers for stuff like that?
"You better not say you're too noble for easy money," Renzo scoffed. "Don't you want more free time to spend with your daughter and wife? If not, man, I'm seriously judging you."
Honestly, this wasn't just Clark—tons of superheroes had the same problem.
It's like they all had holes in their brains or something.
Jor-El looked at his son like he was a complete idiot. "Even if you don't want to hunt for treasure, you've got all this knowledge about genetics and biotech from me. You could open a cutting-edge pharmaceutical company tomorrow and make a killing! Why aren't you doing that instead of being a damn reporter?!"
He was absolutely done with this kid.
"Cough… I just… never really thought about it that way, alright?" Clark scratched his head awkwardly. "I'll change. Promise."
After hearing Renzo and his father lay it all out, Clark suddenly realized something: Making money… might not actually be that hard.
Why hadn't he ever thought of this before?
Renzo was right—he really did need to carve out more time for Lois and little Willa.
He didn't want to miss out on precious moments with them. And honestly? Earning more money would let them all live more comfortably. Win-win.
"At least you get it now," Renzo said, nodding in approval. "It's not too late. And if you ever need help, come find me. Making money? That's my specialty. Worst case, you could even let your old man do some stock trading for you. AI is crazy good at that. My Red Queen is basically a god at it."
He gave Clark and Jor-El a cheeky grin.
"...Wait, what?" Clark blinked. Then slowly turned to look at his dad.
Jor-El: "..."
How did it come to this…?
I'm the chief scientist of Krypton. And now I'm supposed to… what, play the stock market for my son?
He'd rather die. Again.
"For Willa's sake, Dad—" Clark started.
"Fine! I'll do it! Just send me your bank account later!" Jor-El snapped, deadpan.
"Thanks, Dad!" Clark beamed.
Let's gooo! Personal money-making AI unlocked!
Things just got way easier.
"I'm only doing this for Willa. Not for you, you ungrateful brat." Jor-El grumbled, shooting an annoyed glance at Renzo, who looked way too smug for his liking.
"Ahem. Maybe we should get back to the main topic now?" Renzo said, finally stepping in to steer the conversation back on track.
Jor-El raised an eyebrow. "So that wasn't the main topic?"
Clark gave Renzo a look of pure betrayal. This whole mess started because of him. And now he's playing innocent? I need better friends…
"Not entirely," Renzo said with a shrug. "Anyway, the real reason we came here was to ask about General Zod—and the Kryptonian fleet that was sealed in the Phantom Zone with him."
"Zod?" Jor-El frowned. "… haven't heard that name in ages..
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