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Chapter 123: Anything Related to Dad Is Justice!
🕑 Added 2025-01-25 13:06:34 +0000 UTCThe toy rabbit jumped off the bed, sniffed around on the floor a few times, then suddenly leaped onto the windowsill and straight out the window.
Zatanna, still deep in sleep, suddenly stirred as if sensing something. She opened her eyes abruptly.
What she saw was the toy rabbit hopping out the window.
Rubbing her eyes, she realized she wasn’t dreaming. Despite her astonishment, she quickly threw on a coat and ran to the window.
“Thud!”
Zatanna jumped from the second-story window to the ground below, a sharp pain shooting through her legs.
“Hey, Berks, stop!”
Ignoring the pain, she chased after the rabbit while shouting at it to stop.
For reasons she couldn’t fathom, the resurrected rabbit seemed to be running from something. It didn’t even glance back as it darted toward the wilderness.
Before long, Zatanna found herself far behind the rabbit.
Looking down at her bare feet, now covered in dirt because she’d rushed out without shoes, she let out a frustrated sigh.
“Alright, Berks, I don’t know why you’ve come back to life, but I’m guessing it has something to do with one of Dad’s spells turning you into a toy. I know that might upset you a bit, but we’re still friends, aren’t we?”
She mumbled to herself as she kept walking.
Finally, she spotted Berks standing with his back to her near some bushes.
Approaching cautiously, she lunged forward and scooped the rabbit into her arms.
“Gotcha!”
Excited to have caught Berks, Zatanna clenched her fist in triumph.
But then, a voice sounded from behind her.
Puzzled, Zatanna turned around and saw a regal woman standing before her.
The woman was dressed in a white wool coat, with horns protruding from her head. Her entire being exuded an icy chill and an overwhelming, intimidating aura.
“You’re the daughter of the Keeper, aren’t you? It took me quite some time to find you.”
The woman held a pure white wand in her hand, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Realizing that she was in danger, Zatanna immediately turned and ran with the rabbit in her arms.
This mysterious, powerful woman was clearly not someone she could contend with.
As Zatanna fled without hesitation, the woman raised her wand, her expression one of complete confidence. “Freeze!”
With her command, a wave of frost instantly wrapped around Zatanna’s pale ankles like a trap, hoisting her upside down into the air.
Looking at the suspended Zatanna, the woman walked forward with satisfaction. “Much better. Now then, do you know where your father is, child?”
Dizzy from being upside down, Zatanna stared at the woman in shock. “No, I don’t! Who are you?!”
“I am the Witch Queen,” the woman declared, extending her hand to remove a key from the rabbit’s neck.
“With this key, I can finally open the Secret House, filled with magic and secrets.”
Fixing her gaze on the key, she continued, “Eternal magic…”
“Secret House? Eternal magic? What are you talking about?” Zatanna asked, bewildered by the unfamiliar terms.
“It seems your father hasn’t told you about the Secret House,” the Witch Queen replied, holding the key tightly. “Your father’s workshop is the Secret House. It’s said to contain secrets that trace back to the dawn of time—authentically the first house ever.”
“It’s filled with ancient and dangerous secrets. But where there’s a house, there’s always a Keeper to guard it,” the Witch Queen said, her gaze shifting to Zatanna. “Your father is that Keeper. And now that I have the key, I can open the door.”
“Thanks to you,” she added with a smirk.
Just as she contemplated how to express her gratitude, a voice called out from behind her.
“You seem to have forgotten about the master of this place.”
Startled, the Witch Queen turned to see Peter standing before her.
“Zap!”
Before she could react, Peter raised his hand, and celestial energy coalesced into a dazzling pearl of light in his palm.
With a sharp whistle, the light shot toward her arm.
Forced to defend herself, the Witch Queen withdrew her wand, breaking the spell that held Zatanna suspended.
“Thud!”
Zatanna hit the ground, clutching her sore backside as she looked up at the sudden appearance of Peter.
“Mr. Padrick?” she exclaimed, shocked and relieved.
Peter didn’t respond, his eyes locked on the Witch Queen.
“You’re... not a sorcerer,” the Witch Queen remarked, her brow furrowing in confusion. “You have no magic.”
“You’re right—I’m not. So I won’t deal with you using magic.”
With that, Peter activated his super-speed, vanishing in an instant.
The Witch Queen’s eyes glowed darkly as she swung her wand, unleashing a blizzard.
The raging ice storm, powerful enough to freeze a mountain, surrounded Peter.
Seeing this, the Witch Queen smirked. This mysterious man should be no match for her.
But before she could revel in her victory, Peter burst out of the icy barrage and appeared before her in the blink of an eye, landing a solid punch.
Caught off guard, the Witch Queen scowled, summoning an even stronger wave of cold to shield herself. The immense magical energy briefly immobilized Peter, but he quickly broke free.
Sensing that the fight wasn’t in her favor, the Witch Queen decided to retreat—after all, she had already obtained the key.
Giving Peter one last glance, her figure disappeared into thin air.
Noticing her departure, Peter frowned and turned his attention to Zatanna, who was still on the ground. “Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine, sir,” Zatanna stammered, stumbling to her feet. She almost slipped but managed to steady herself.
Peter glanced down and noticed her bare, mud-covered feet.
“Wait here.”
A moment later, Peter returned with a pair of shoes. “Here, put these on.”
“Thank you,” Zatanna replied, blushing as she slipped them on. The shoes were too big—clearly Peter’s—but they would do for now.
“Thank you so much, sir. If it weren’t for you, I might have been in real danger tonight.”
“It’s nothing,” Peter said, turning his gaze toward the dark forest. Cold mist swirled ominously in the distance.
Back at the farmhouse, Peter glanced at the clock. It was 11:30 p.m.
Handing Zatanna a glass of water, he asked, “Do you know anything about this Witch Queen?”
“No, I’ve never heard of her,” Zatanna replied, frowning. “My father rarely talks about the magical world.”
Thinking about the stolen key, she became visibly upset.
“She said my father’s workshop is the Secret House, but I always thought it was just an ordinary room.”
Peter shook his head. “You can’t stop her. Her magical abilities far surpass yours.”
Although Zatanna was destined to become a great sorceress, she was still a novice.
“I know, but I can’t just run away,” Zatanna said, glancing at her feet and noticing how the mud had dirtied Peter’s shoes. Her mood worsened.
The next morning, Zatanna was cleaning Peter’s shoes when John walked in, puzzled.
“Dad, why is Zatanna cleaning your shoes?”
“Is that strange? Zatanna’s a hard worker,” Peter said casually, brushing off the events of the previous night.
“I thought she could just cast a spell to clean them!” John quipped. “Didn’t think a magician would need to do chores.”
Peter glanced at Zatanna and stroked his chin thoughtfully. “By the way, John, I heard about a car accident in Smallville yesterday.”
John’s expression immediately grew tense.
Peter’s sharp eyes scanned him. “The police said the crash was caused by a tire blowout—due to heat damage. That sounds a lot like your heat vision.”
John stayed silent.
“So, do you have anything to say for yourself?” Peter pressed.
After a long pause, John finally spoke. “Dad, I don’t think I did anything wrong.”
“Why?”
“You told me to do what’s right. And this is justice, Dad.”
Peter stared at him in surprise. “Justice?”
“If it’s related to you, Dad, then it’s justice.”
