Wade stood by the bed, pulling his belongings out of a massive, worn-out hiking bag.
"Hmm!?"
Inside weren't the shabby old clothes from the Red River Institute, but sets of neatly folded, high-quality new outfits, ranging from casual wear to formal attire.
Beside them were categorized, unopened brand-name toiletries and the latest models of various smart devices.
He frowned and rummaged through the bag a few times, his expression darkening. "What's going on? She said she'd help me pack... why did she throw away all my old things?"
Wade's gaze fell on his phone screen as it automatically lit up, and he froze for a moment.
The lock screen was a photo of Mena lying on a bed in a bathrobe, her smile lazy and incredibly seductive.
He swiped open the screen, only to find the home wallpaper had been changed to a provocative close-up of her wearing a swimsuit at home.
"SHIT! Is she your girlfriend? So hot!" Jade bounced on the bed, poking his head over to look. "I'm so jealous, man."
Wade's mouth twitched at the words. Without trying to hide anything, he casually changed the wallpaper to a picture of cats and dogs. "It's nothing, just a picture. There are plenty of them online."
He swiped down the notification bar, which displayed two unread messages labeled [Your One and Only Mena].
Wade clicked on the messages and quickly scanned them with a frown:
"Little cutie, I picked out the new clothes and supplies for you myself. Do you like them? I hope you can live comfortably in your new environment."
"Forget about that little unpleasantness between us... there's a hundred thousand in pocket money in your account. Buy whatever you need yourself, or just tell me."
"Remember, I will always be your backup. If you have any difficulties, contact me anytime."
'This woman...' Wade massaged his forehead and opened his contacts. Sure enough, he found her number already saved, with a nickname so long he couldn't see the end and nauseatingly intimate.
The second message also included pictures:
Several were photos of Wade sleeping in his dormitory at the Red River Institute, with Mena lying by the bed in various selfies together;
Another was a snapshot of Wade fighting on the training grounds the moment his ability erupted, flying in mid-air with a cold expression as the surrounding air distorted.
"You look so peaceful when you're fast asleep, and so charming when you're angry. No matter which side it is, it belongs only to me."
"Have fun, my little Cyclone."
"..." Wade set down the phone and picked up an exquisitely crafted watch and a pair of over-ear headphones, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He didn't even need to think to know that these definitely had advanced tracking chips implanted in them, and the phone was likely filled with eavesdropping software and backdoors.
"This scent... feels familiar." He picked up a brand-new shirt and sniffed it at his nose; a rich lavender fragrance wafted over, identical to the one on a certain someone.
Wade was silent for a few seconds before calmly putting on these "gifted" items.
'Monitoring? Tracking? Expected. If you think you can tie me down with these sugar-coated bullets... Ms. Mena, your investment vision is far worse than your taste in clothes.'
Regardless, whether Mena wanted to play with conspiracies or soft tactics, he would accept it all.
'Fine, it saves me the trouble of getting my own gear. If you want to watch, I'll let you watch your fill.'
...
In the afternoon, at the Lecture Hall in Area A of the teaching building.
Wade and the overly energetic Jade sat in a back corner, surrounded by whispering freshmen.
On the podium, Dean Shetty was explaining the school rules in a dull tone. Her voice echoed through the hall via the microphone, making everyone feel drowsy.
"The duty of a superhero is not just limited to fighting crime; you should also become role models for society, demonstrating the positive value of superpowers in all walks of life... In your freshman year, you will study foundational courses such as 'Hero Ethics' and 'Personal Brand Marketing'."
Her gaze swept across the audience as she continued, "Afterward, you can choose to enter the Crimson Countess School of Performing Arts to refine your performance skills and prepare for a future in the entertainment industry."
"Alternatively, those who aspire to be city guardians can apply for the Crime Fighting School. However, the curriculum of that school is only open to students ranked in the top fifty of the campus influence leaderboard."
"..."
"The use of superpowers is not restricted on campus, but you must strictly adhere to the curfew... If anything happens that affects the school's image, you must bear the consequences yourself."
Staff members passed down rows of 'Supe Interaction X Consent Forms' and 'Ability Use Liability Waivers', requiring them to sign both paper and electronic versions.
Wade signed without even looking. His full attention was on the influence leaderboard on the campus mobile app—Rank 50, Wade Thompson (Codename: Cyclone).
Jade leaned over, enthusiastically explaining to Wade: "Hey, man, this leaderboard is super important! The ranking isn't just about who has the toughest fists; it also depends on personal character, social influence, course grades... all sorts of stuff!"
"Only by breaking into the top five do you have a chance to get an official hero contract from the government. As for first place..."
He clenched his fist, his eyes glowing.
"That's a direct shortcut to The Seven! My idol, A-Train, got in exactly that way back then!"
Jade gave him a thumbs-up, revealing a mouth full of bright white teeth. "You took down all three of those sophomores by yourself this morning. You've got the highest heat today and are the fastest riser among the freshmen."
"So it's related to popularity too?" Wade asked softly with a hint of confusion. "Then what about The Deep? Records show he was ranked sixth when he graduated. How did he get into The Seven?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a cold, mocking female voice came from the back row: "Hmph, that shame of The Seven seas! That useless trash who can only talk to fish?"
Wade and Jade turned around at the sound and saw a pale young girl dressed in black and white Gothic clothing. She seemed to radiate an aura that warned others not to approach.
The girl's eyes were cold as she continued with a look of disdain: "He relied on the connections of the 'Delta' fraternity and the then-booming topic of marine environmental protection, plus the Vought Corporation desperately needed a diversity label to decorate their facade.
From start to finish, it was nothing more than a complete commercial transaction. It's impossible to replicate at all."
Wade nodded with a look of realization. "So that's how it is. I thought he was exceptionally gifted or had some extraordinary qualities."
The people around them looked over with subtle expressions.
Jade put his index finger to his lips and whispered to the Goth girl, "Shh, there are plenty of fans of The Deep here, and some people who just joined the 'Delta' fraternity. Stop talking..."
The Goth girl was eating ice cream, looking completely fearless. "Tsk, what's there to be afraid of from those people whose farts leak air... I've joined the Sisterhood Society. Queen Maeve is way stronger than The Deep!"
Jade scratched his head awkwardly and introduced her to Wade: "Uh, this is Jill, my cousin. Her personality is just like this... don't mind her."
Jill just gave them a cold glance and stopped talking.
'My physical body is only slightly stronger than a normal person's right now. It's time to borrow some from someone.' Wade tapped through his phone and sent a message to Jordan Li.
"Lee, come to Godolkin Stadium tomorrow morning after class. Let's have a one-on-one practice... Do you dare? If you lose, how about you're at my disposal for 24 hours?"
The message was read, and the "Typing..." prompt above the chat box flickered for several minutes. Obviously, the person on the other side was stunned by this bold bet.
A minute later, Jordan Li's reply came:
"Bet my ass! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. I'm ranked tenth on the leaderboard! Keep dreaming. (Angry emoji)"
"Middle Finger. Wait until you climb into the top twenty, rookie... when that time comes, I'll make you lie in the infirmary again!"
Wade put away his phone and turned his gaze back to the podium, his mind already flying toward baiting Jordan Li into a fight with him.
'Heh, as expected of a hot-blooded youth... he's already getting worked up.'
Fighting inevitably involves blood, which is the perfect opportunity to obtain superpower samples. Whether he wins or loses, he won't lose out.
'I have plenty of ways to make you fight me.'
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