Chapter 17: Public Enemy (and the Queen's Gambit)
Starling City was in an uproar. Ra's al Ghul, in his infinite wisdom (or sheer cruelty), had publicly exposed Oliver Queen as the Arrow. News channels blared headlines, citizens debated, and Captain Quentin Lance looked like he'd aged a decade in an hour.
"Well," Adam muttered, watching the chaos unfold on the Arrowcave monitors, "that's one way to ruin a secret identity. No more brooding in the shadows, Ollie. Now you get to brood in the spotlight. And probably get sued for property damage. Public relations nightmare, much?" His sarcasm was a thin shield against the genuine sympathy he felt for Oliver.
Felicity, however, was beyond sarcasm. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with a mixture of despair and fury. "He just… he just threw Oliver to the wolves! After everything!" She pounded her fist on the table, tears welling in her eyes.
Jisoo, seeing Felicity's distress, quietly walked over and sat beside her, offering a perfectly peeled orange. "Felicity-unnie," she said softly, "sometimes, even the strongest people need a snack. And a hug." She gently put an arm around Felicity, a subtle warmth emanating from her.
Jisoo's empathy was a quiet force. She didn't fully grasp the nuances of secret identities, but she understood betrayal and pain. She also noticed Laurel Lance, looking equally distraught. Jisoo, with a mischievous glint, tried to distract Laurel. "Laurel-unnie," she said, "do you want to learn the DDU-DU DDU-DU dance? It's very good for stress." She then launched into a few rapid, sharp dance moves. Laurel, bewildered, actually let out a small, surprised laugh.
Adam, meanwhile, was plotting. This was a major canon event, and while he couldn't stop it, he could certainly soften the blow.
"System," Adam thought, a strategic gleam in his eye. "Major Wish: 'Public Perception Cloud.' Target: Oliver Queen's public identity. Make news reports sound… less convincing. More ambiguous."
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]: Major Wish 'Public Perception Cloud' Used. Cost: 100 Days. Current Wish Balance: 296 Days. Public's skepticism: Increased. Oliver's confusion: Moderate.
Suddenly, the news reports shifted. While still identifying Oliver as the Arrow, the tone became less definitive. Anchors started using phrases like "alleged," "unconfirmed reports," and "wild speculation." The public's initial outrage was replaced by a confused murmur of "Is it really him?" and "Could it be a trick?" It bought them time. Oliver, watching the news, looked utterly bewildered.
"Did… did the public just collectively decide to be confused?" Diggle muttered.
"Maybe it's a new form of mass hysteria," Felicity said, a faint, disbelieving smile on her face.
Adam simply hummed innocently. "You're welcome, Team Arrow. Now, about Quentin Lance… he's probably too stubborn to take a wish trade for 'forgetting painful truths.' Some things you just have to live with. Like my existence." He looked at his Wish Day balance. Still healthy. "Good. Because this season is just getting started."
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you can read also to chap 45 chapters of "Arrowverse : The Adapt System " "The Flash : The Adapt System " "MCU: The Adapt System" "B99/HIMYM: I M here" "In Marvel With Auction System" " IN MARVEL WITH MISCHIEF SYSTEM" "Universal Marchent : MCU/ARROWVERSE " "In Marvel With Guild System" "Marvel : Please Kill Me" "Sitcomverse: TBBT, HIMYM, B99, & Modern family" "Marvel : Abra Kadabra System" and "legends of tomorrow : Im a Legend Now"+"Arrowverse: I'm a Hero"+"The Flash : Please Kill Me" "Arrowverse: I m A Fifth Dimension Being"
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