After reviewing the data and intelligence, government analysts came to a sobering conclusion:
If the mysterious force behind the Quiz Game truly belongs to an extraterrestrial civilization, and based on the level of technology they've displayed, they could easily wipe out all of humanity—either in a matter of seconds or a few days.
They also noted that people like Superman, and now players like Annie, Hughie, and Butcher, were clearly recognized by the game as official "participants."
No one dared to say for certain whether the game would protect its players—but no one was willing to take that gamble either.
Stan Edgar, for his part, wasn't aware of the higher-level intelligence. But he had received clear orders: keep Annie under control—without provoking direct conflict.
Even he was frustrated. Vought had now been forcibly taken over by the government. He wasn't in any position to negotiate or push back. He was just another overpaid employee now following orders like everyone else.
The standoff in the lobby grew tense. White light flickered faintly in Annie's eyes.
Sensing the shift, Stan Edgar quickly raised a hand to calm the situation.
"Lower your weapons. Annie," he said, adopting a softer tone.
"There must be some misunderstanding. Why don't we continue this in the conference room? Your mother's here too, you know."
If hard tactics didn't work, he'd switch to soft ones.
He found it baffling—according to her profile, Annie was a naive, simple girl. He thought a few threats would be enough to bring her in line.
But now, she was anything but submissive.
"My... mother?" Annie's glowing eyes dimmed, but her brows furrowed tightly.
She understood the implication immediately: since she refused to back down, they were going to use her mother to force her hand.
Stan Edgar's voice turned grave. "Not just your mother. Hughie Campbell's father is here. Butcher's... wife's sister. And a few other guests."
Annie's fury surged. Her fists clenched as she glared at him.
"You kidnapped them? What gives you the right?! This is illegal detention! Vought is a private company—not a court of law!"
"No, ma'am. You're mistaken," another man stepped forward—pale-skinned, sharp-featured, clearly a government agent.
He pulled out his badge.
"The FBI has ordered them to cooperate in an ongoing investigation. That includes you. And you should understand—Vought is now an extension of several federal agencies."
Stan shrugged and gestured toward the elevator.
"Shall we?"
Annie took several deep breaths to suppress her rage. Her gaze swept coldly over the FBI officer and Stan Edgar.
She said through gritted teeth,
"You're trampling the law. Vought has committed countless crimes—the whole world saw it in the videos. The company should be dismantled, not reinforced!"
"How naive," the FBI agent scoffed. "That's above your pay grade. The best outcome is to let Vought be placed under government control. Now stop wasting time."
Reluctantly, Annie agreed—for now.
In the conference room, she was surprised to find not only her mother, but also Hughie, sitting among a group of familiar and unfamiliar faces.
Hughie, Frenchie, and their respective families had all been rounded up and brought in.
Ever since the future was revealed through the Quiz Game, the government had launched a silent crackdown.
Butcher might have escaped for now, but his entire team had been captured.
"Annie! My baby!" her mother sobbed and ran to hug her, tears streaming down her face.
"I didn't raise you like this! How could you get mixed up with evil aliens and criminal scum?!
You're supposed to be my pride and joy—the brightest star in Vought!"
Annie gently pulled away.
"Mom... can we talk about this later?"
Her eyes were conflicted.
She owed her mother for raising her—but she had also endured years of manipulation and pressure.
What her mother called "love" had become a prison, forged out of her own vanity and ambition.
Sensing her daughter's coldness, the older woman grew panicked. She whispered urgently,
"You need to listen to them, sweetheart. Or we're all in trouble. We might end up in jail!"
She, too, had seen the Quiz Game's future videos.
She knew the days of controlling her daughter were over.
Once, she could've played the "you owe me" card. Not anymore.
Especially not after heavily armed federal agents had stormed her house and dragged her here—traumatizing her completely.
Now, Annie was the only thing standing between her and total disaster.
She didn't dare push her daughter the way she used to.
Annie patted her mom's shoulder, then turned to Hughie.
"You okay? Where's Butcher?"
"I... I came to find my dad," Hughie said gloomily.
"As for Butcher... I don't think he came back with us."
When he'd first returned, Hughie had been careful.
He'd stayed invisible the entire way home, congratulating himself on his quick thinking.
But the moment he got home and saw the FBI's notice on the kitchen table, he panicked.
They'd taken his dad.
Didn't matter that Hughie ran. He couldn't run from the people he cared about.
So now, here he was—basically turning himself in.
Next to him, Frenchie and others were yelling in frustration.
"We didn't even do anything!"
"Just got hauled in like criminals!"
Frenchie had even resisted during his arrest—and was rewarded with a busted nose and a bruised face.
Now he was snarling at Stan Edgar and the agents through swollen lips.
"You bastards! I didn't do squat! Those future videos haven't even happened yet! If you wanna arrest someone, go to the future!"
The FBI agent sneered.
"Frenchie, I've got an entire drawer full of your crimes. Want me to go get it, page by page?"
Frenchie immediately went quiet.
The truth was, even without the Quiz Game, he already had enough skeletons in his closet to land in prison for life—trafficking, drugs, murder. Take your pick.
Next, MM (Mother's Milk) stepped forward angrily.
"And what about me? I'm not like Frenchie! I have a real job! I've never broken the law. And my family? They're innocent!"
He cared deeply about his wife and daughter—they were his everything.
The only reason he'd come in was to protect them. But he was furious nonetheless.
The FBI agent offered a hollow smile.
"You're not under arrest. You're here to assist with an investigation. As long as you're cooperative, everything will go smoothly."
Translation: If you cooperate, we'll let you go.
If you resist... don't expect to walk out.
_____
T/N:
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