Cloudy skies and a crisp autumn breeze filled New York's Central Park.
Wade leaned against the largest oak tree, currently maintaining the appearance of a delicate, scholarly Asian girl.
He had arrived early, not only to scout the environment but also to converse with others and fully adapt to this temporary appearance.
The [Morphing] ability was more exquisite than Wade had imagined. He found he could selectively adjust regional features and vocal cords without needing a complete physiological reconstruction, greatly reducing the burden of maintaining the transformation.
It also made Wade feel a hint of pity for Jordan Li's binary switching: "Such a great talent, yet limited to a male-female binary—it's a total waste..."
Wade kept [Blood Perception] in a low-power radar scanning state, sensing every living being approaching within ten meters, remaining constantly on guard.
With nothing to do, he pulled out his phone to check the news about Vought Corporation: [Baltimore Mayor Thomas Shaw visits Vought Tower, suspected to be discussing city guardians.]
"I remember this guy was quite unlucky; he got on Homelander's bad side, and his private jet was shot down mid-air at ten thousand meters by heat vision." He immersed himself in the news, constantly thinking of a feasible plan, "Can I use this Thomas to break into political circles?"
Near three o'clock, a figure appeared at the end of the park path.
The newcomer wore simple pink and white casual clothes, her golden hair tied in a neat ponytail, and her face was free of makeup—it was Starlight.
Her eyes were a mix of curiosity as she looked around.
Wade jogged up to meet her: "You—you really came! I... I'm the one who wrote the letter..."
Starlight sized up the harmless-looking girl in front of her, and her tense expression immediately relaxed.
Her brow cleared, and she squeezed out a gentle smile: "Thank you for the warning in your letter. Annie—just call me Annie. That letter... it really helped me out."
"I—I'm Vivian, a student from Godolkin University. It's nice to meet you!" Wade took the opportunity to hold her hand, his eyes full of concern. "You don't look so good. Did something happen?"
The moment physical contact was made, his analysis ability activated.
[Contacting high-concentration biological sample... Analyzing... Ability:
Photokinesis, Physical Enhancement, Super Defense
Gene sequence entry... 1%]
A fragment of pure, warm energy, like a trickling stream, quietly flowed into Wade's body through the point of contact.
In his sensory vision, The Deep blue energy factors flowing in Starlight's blood possessed a purity and activity far beyond that of ordinary supes.
Starlight naturally didn't notice any of this, but her melancholy surface thoughts were accurately captured by Wade.
'Step one, success,' Wade thought. The mental defenses of someone who was just startled and in desperate need of venting were indeed the easiest to open.
Starlight pulled out her phone and looked over with a complex expression: "I... I recorded something. This thing is weighing on me so heavily, I don't even know who to trust... What do you think I should do?"
"What about Queen Maeve? Have you asked her for advice?"
"She only told me to learn to adapt to The Seven's way of doing things..."
'It looks like she's been completely isolated.' Wade scooted closer and patted the back of her hand. "The fact that you're willing to talk means you trust me... Don't worry, I'll definitely help you."
Starlight seemed to make up her mind and handed over her phone screen: "Look at this..."
The video began to play, clearly a first-person perspective shot hidden in a pocket.
At the start of the video, The Deep stood before a floor-to-ceiling window with his back to the camera, his sense of superiority practically radiating from him: "Listen, Starlight, every new member needs a 'mentor' to help you get familiar with the... rules here. I'd be happy to take on that role."
He raised an eyebrow and smiled, his words dripping with suggestion.
Then, The Deep pulled down with both hands, suddenly performing a shocking action.
"Look at this!" He wiggled his hips and boasted in an extremely exaggerated voice, "This is the true 'Treasure of The Deep.' It can even change color depending on the water temperature! Want to... get a closer look at the marine ecosystem?"
The screen shook violently as Starlight recoiled from the sudden lewd act.
But soon, the image stabilized again. She adjusted the recording device and coughed twice: "Wow... really? It changes color? That's... amazing!"
"However, Mr. Deep, I remember Article 7, Section 3 of the company terms explicitly prohibits 'inappropriate physical displays and harassment' between members. Violators could see their future solo movie projects and endorsements affected. Your box office for 'Deep Sea Terror 2' wasn't exactly ideal, was it?"
In the video, the smile on The Deep's face completely froze, and the smugness in his eyes turned to panic: "Are... are you recording?"
He turned around, scratching his head while trying to act calm: "Ha... haha, Starlight, I was joking. This is just, just a welcoming ceremony..."
"Is it?" Starlight adjusted her position, keeping the lens pointed directly at The Deep. "Because from the moment I walked in... everything you said, I recorded it all."
"If this welcoming ceremony accidentally leaks onto the internet, the title will be 'The Deep's Exclusive Talent Show: Chameleon or Little Loach?'... What would those marine project sponsors think? With such a terrible impact, could you even stay in The Seven?"
"No! Don't!" The Deep scrambled to cover himself while pulling at his hair. The "treasure" withered at a visible rate.
"Argh—it hurts!! Stop filming, please!" He hurriedly pulled up his clothes, the zipper even catching some hair, forcing him to bend over and pull hard. "Starlight, I was wrong. This was just a stupid joke, a terrible joke!"
Starlight shone a light from the side of the camera, making the image even clearer: "A joke? I don't think so!"
The Deep's face turned beet red. He gritted his teeth and rushed forward, reaching out to grab it: "Give it to me."
As the perspective shook, the camera ducked behind a round table. A hand reached out from the side of the screen, brilliant golden light condensing in the palm: "Back off! Don't come near me."
The Deep stamped his feet in frustration, putting his hands together and pleading with a sob: "Starlight. For the sake of—for the sake of us being teammates, please don't release it... I'll listen to you from now on, I swear by the Seven Seas!"
The video ended, and both were silent for a few seconds.
'Is this the butterfly effect? I didn't expect that because of my letter... The Deep ended up being blackmailed instead.' Wade snapped out of it, shaking Starlight's arm and exclaiming with a tremble, "How could he do that! Annie, you did the right thing, absolutely right. You protected yourself!"
"You must make several backups of this video! Put them in different places! What if... what if he or someone from Vought Corporation tries to steal the evidence?"
"Thank you, Vivian." Starlight let out a long sigh of relief, her eyes reddening slightly. "If it weren't for your letter, I might... I might have really just swallowed my pride and endured it."
"Because The Deep is a piece of trash." Wade wrinkled his nose in disgust and whispered, "The 'Delta' fraternity he founded at our school—the initiation ceremony is said to involve... I didn't expect him to dare to do this in Vought Tower too!"
Starlight's eyes widened upon hearing this, as if she had heard some shocking secret: "Really? Oh my god."
"There's even worse!" Wade lowered his voice and leaned closer to Starlight. "I heard Translucent likes to hide in the bathrooms and peep..."
The two "girls" huddled together, chattering away. Their relationship quickly grew closer as they shared secrets, and the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.
As the sun set, it draped the park in a warm golden coat.
Wade glanced at the sky, looking reluctant as he let go of Starlight's hand. "I should get back to school. If it's okay, could I... could I give you a hug?"
Starlight looked at her "savior" with gratitude and trust. She smiled and proactively opened her arms, giving a big hug.
Wade could feel a more massive warm current surging into his limbs through the point of contact.
'Analysis progress increased to 15%... Starlight's energy purity is indeed extraordinary.'
They hugged for two or three seconds and then separated.
As if remembering something, Wade's cheeks flushed, and he hurriedly pulled several posters and a pen from his backpack: "Annie, could you... could you give me an autograph?"
Starlight was amused by his behavior. She took the pen and signed her name fluently: "Of course."
Wade carefully took the autographed posters, tucking them into his bag like treasures, and handed over a handwritten card: "If you ever need to know anything, just call me."
"Goodbye, Vivian," Starlight waved. "If I get the chance, I'll visit you at Godolkin University."
Walking to the park entrance, the girlish excitement on Wade's face gradually faded:'Sigh... playing a girl and saying all those insincere things is more exhausting than fighting.'
A dejected-looking Hughie, carrying a shoulder bag, brushed past him.
Wade turned to look at Starlight's departing figure and murmured to himself: 'A twist of fate? It seems that this time, they won't get to meet.'
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