Chapter 79: The Dead-End Trap
The "click-clack" of Ashley's high heels gradually faded into the distance, and the amiable, "easy-to-manage" smile on Lu Chen's face faded away with it.
Professor Brink walked over, carrying two glasses of champagne.
He handed one to Lu Chen and turned slightly, blocking the view of others.
"Did Ashley talk to you?" Professor Brink lowered his voice, unable to hide his excitement. "This is a spot I spent quite a bit of social capital to secure. Vought was originally hesitant about your age, worried that you'd still be in a rebellious phase and hard to manage, but I told them you are absolutely the most commercially valuable rising star right now. Once they heard there was money to be made, those people finally relented."
Lu Chen was noncommittal and replied casually, "Thank you for your cultivation, Professor."
Professor Brink was very pleased with this.
"Let's go, Top 1," Professor Brink patted Lu Chen's back affectionately. "It's time to let the big shots at Vought and the school get a good look at what their future cash cow looks like."
He led Lu Chen and Cate Dunlap through the glamorous banquet hall.
"This is the Deputy Director of Vought's Marketing Department, Mr. Hank."
"This is Councilman Green from the Board of Trustees."
Lu Chen shook hands, smiled, nodded, and said what needed to be said one by one. In his mind, however, he was building a profile for each person—name, position, firmness of handshake, micro-expressions while speaking, and attitude toward Cate Dunlap.
Cate Dunlap held his arm tightly the entire time; she was enjoying every bit of it.
Every compliment directed at Lu Chen made her feel honored by association. Every envious or jealous gaze cast their way felt like a stamp of ownership for her.
After the socializing concluded, she rested her head lightly on Lu Chen's shoulder and whispered, "I like the way they look at you. But that stupid woman from the PR department kept staring at your ass."
"You saw wrong."
"Hmph, you'd better hope I saw wrong."
Before Lu Chen could respond, a steady male voice came from behind him.
"Lu Chen, excuse me."
Lu Chen turned around.
Standing before him was a tall, Black man in a sharp suit—Polaris. He was one of the most senior heroes under Vought and a member of the Godolkin University Board of Trustees. He possessed magnetic control abilities.
Andre followed behind him, wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit with the collar slightly open, a reluctant smile hanging on the corners of his mouth.
"Mr. Anderson." Lu Chen nodded in greeting.
Polaris extended his hand. His handshake was of moderate strength, controlled to be neither perfunctory nor excessive. "You are the well-deserved protagonist of tonight's celebration. Congratulations on taking Top 1."
"You're too kind."
Polaris turned to the side and brought Andre forward by half a step. Andre's smile froze for a moment before returning to normal.
"This is my son, Andre." Polaris's wording was measured. "He has admired Superhumans since he was a child, and now he is walking that path himself. But you know how young people are; he still needs some tempering."
Andre's smile became even more forced.
"Andre is very capable," Lu Chen added smoothly.
"He has the ability, but he isn't grounded enough." Polaris's tone carried a sense of frustration at his son's lack of progress. "Everything I say to him goes in one ear and out the other. But you're different, Lu Chen. Everyone has seen your performance this time. You are both classmates; if you can, guide him a bit. It's easier for young people to communicate than it is for us old folks."
These words were impeccable. The social skills of a veteran hero were truly no joke.
At Polaris's signal, Andre took over the conversation: "My dad is always worried I'm not working hard enough. But to be honest, Lu Chen, you were really impressive this time. Want to train together sometime?"
"Anytime."
After a few more pleasantries, Polaris left with Andre. When Andre walked away, he looked back at Lu Chen. The emotions in his eyes were complex—not like hostility, but closer to a sense of helplessness, like "here we go again."
Lu Chen watched the father and son.
Copying magnetic control to use against Godolkin was part of his future plan, but better early than late. Since they had met, he should make his move as soon as possible. Lu Chen recalled in his mind the mental resistance Polaris had shown in the show.
Magnetic control. Having used his ability for decades, his brain had long been in a strong magnetic field environment. As long as he was conscious and able to use his ability, even after being subjected to Mind Control, he could break free.
If he couldn't be directly controlled, then he would create a trap that the father and son would step into willingly.
Lu Chen asked Cate Dunlap to wait for him there and scanned the auditorium, quickly finding his target. Professor Brink had temporarily finished socializing and was sitting alone on a sofa in the lounge area, holding his third glass of whiskey with a look of smug satisfaction.
"Professor."
Professor Brink looked up, saw Lu Chen, and immediately straightened his posture. "Lu! How was it? What was your harvest tonight?"
"Not bad." Lu Chen sat down opposite him and gave him a hug. [ Mind Control LV5 ] activated.
"Go find Polaris tomorrow," Lu Chen issued the command.
"Take your experimental records and tell him that Sam's blood was extracted in The Woods laboratory. That blood has been specially processed and can significantly enhance various functions of Superhumans, and can even repair damaged nervous systems."
Lu Chen increased the pressure.
"Tell him that with Andre's current state, as long as he is injected with that enhancement serum, it is very likely that Andre will be able to perfectly inherit his mantle, or even surpass him. This is a benefit for a Godolkin board member."
Professor Brink nodded mechanically.
"Induce them. Have them go to my secret training room tomorrow at 8:00 PM. Just say they can observe the first batch of injected test subjects there. You can improvise the rest of the details. Remember, this matter must be kept absolutely confidential."
Command implantation complete.
Lu Chen released his grip.
Professor Brink blinked sharply, and the cloudiness in his eyes dissipated.
He didn't notice the pause at all; his mind had automatically filled in the logic.
"Lu, I just thought of an excellent idea." Professor Brink lowered his voice, appearing mysterious. "Regarding Andre. Polaris has always been very troubled by his son's situation. If I reveal some'special resources' from The Woods laboratory to him and trade them for some resources, I'm sure he would be very willing."
"That's a good idea, Professor." Lu Chen went along with it. "Polaris will surely be grateful to you."
"Exactly. I'll go prepare right now." Professor Brink turned and hurried away.
The secret training room tomorrow night will be a closed hunting ground.
After making the decision, Lu Chen turned and walked back. Cate Dunlap was leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window, boredly drawing circles on the glass with her fingernail. Seeing Lu Chen walk over, she straightened up and tilted her head.
"What were you whispering to Professor Brink about again?"
"Some arrangements."
Cate Dunlap didn't press further. She never dwelled on these kinds of things because, in her view, it didn't matter what Lu Chen was doing; what mattered was whether he was by her side.
She took Lu Chen's forearm.
"Are you busy tonight?"
Lu Chen looked down at her. The light hit from the side, and her royal blue evening gown made her whole person seem to glow.
But her expression was very serious, even carrying a hint of imperceptible nervousness, as if the answer to this question was more important than anything to her.
"No." Lu Chen put his arm around her waist. "I'll be with you tonight."
Cate Dunlap laughed.
The surrounding noise was isolated in that instant. She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Lu Chen's neck, and pressed her cheek against his chest.
"Let's go," she said. "Let's go back."
Chapter 80: You Fell Into a Trap (Reviewing current abilities, all will be fused later)
Cate Dunlap's breathing was steady, pressing against the side of his neck.
Warm air swept across his skin, rhythmic and steady.
Lu Chen opened his eyes.
7:03. The alarm hadn't gone off yet, but he was already awake.
Turning his head, he saw Cate Dunlap curled up on his left. One of her hands rested on his chest, and the strap of her nightgown had slipped down to her arm.
He pulled his arm out.
Cate Dunlap turned over and mumbled something indistinct.
Lu Chen gently shook her awake.
"I need to discuss the follow-up arrangements with Professor Brink today."
"What time will you be done?"
"Hard to say. I'll come find you when I'm finished. Remember to get up and eat."
"Then I'll wait for you."
He closed the door and headed toward the private training room.
There were four reinforced walls and only one entrance.
The ventilation duct overhead was too narrow for an adult to fit through.
Lu Chen stood in the center of the training room and scanned the surroundings.
That was enough.
After Lu Chen spoke with the Professor on the phone, he had a perfect, enclosed space.
He sat on the bench, checked his current ability panel, and began to wait patiently.
[ Super Speed LV5 (Developable) ]
[ Super Senses LV2 ]
[ Thermonuclear Manipulation LV4 ]
[ Light Manipulation LV4 ]
[ Super Physique LV4 ]
[ Partial Metallization LV2 ]
[ Physical Mimicry LV4 ]
[ LV5 Carbon Skin ]
[ Mind Control LV5 ]
[ Heat Vision LV4 ]
[ Super Strength LV3 ]
[ Super Defense LV3 ]
[ Electric Current Coverage LV2 ]
[ Impact LV2 ]
[ Super Healing LV5 ]
---
Outside Professor Brink's office.
Andre had his hands in his pockets, unconsciously kicking the corner of the wall with the toe of his shoe.
He hated "meeting elders."
He especially hated that evaluating look.
"What exactly is my dad talking to the Professor about?" he asked an administrative assistant passing by.
The assistant shrugged: "I'm not sure. Professor Brink said it was a private matter."
Andre clicked his tongue, took out his phone, and started playing music out loud.
---
Inside the office.
Polaris sat across from Professor Brink.
"Professor Brink, you didn't just ask me here to have coffee, did you?" Polaris went straight to the point.
Professor Brink pushed a cup of black coffee over, leaned forward, and lowered his voice.
"Robert, I'll be direct. I know you've been troubled by your family's genetic disease."
Polaris turned his head and glanced toward the door.
"It's still under control."
"Give me a break." Professor Brink shook his head, acting like a concerned old friend. "I've seen your father's and grandfather's medical records. They both passed away in their fifties. You're approaching that age too."
The office fell silent for a few seconds.
"That is true. But does that have anything to do with why you asked me here?"
"Of course it does. It means there isn't much time left for Andre." Professor Brink hit the nail on the head. "He's still so young, and while he awakened the same abilities as you, the intensity is far inferior to yours."
Polaris was silent.
"That is also something I've been troubled by." His tone was complex. "My son has grown up; he's far less obedient than when he was a child."
"That's why we have something new." Professor Brink took a black folder from his drawer and pushed it toward Polaris.
The cover of the first page: Compound V derivative project, ability enhancement.
The second page was a test report.
Comparative data before and after injection: bar charts, line graphs, numbers neatly arranged.
A subject's energy output intensity increased by 43% after a single injection.
Another showed significant repair of myelin sheath damage.
"This is..." Polaris picked up the report and flipped through the pages. His breathing quickened slightly.
"The laboratory's latest achievement." Professor Brink leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced. "It can enhance various functions of Superhumans. Ability intensity, strength, speed, durability. It even includes—the self-repair of the nervous system."
Polaris closed the file, then opened it again, reading that line of data for the third time.
"What's the cost?" He looked up. There was a suppressed tremor in his voice.
Professor Brink stood up and walked to the window.
"You know, since it's called 'The Seven,' there should at least be seven people." Professor Brink smiled. "There are still open spots now. Lu Chen has already been pushed up, but who wouldn't want to earn a bit more?"
Polaris was stunned for a moment. "You still want to push Golden Boy to the top?"
Professor Brink nodded.
"He lost to Lu Chen, that's true. But that doesn't mean he's weak. His image: campus idol, football Captain, youthful and sunny. We've invested so much in marketing for him; we have to recoup the costs."
He returned to the desk and sat on the edge of it.
"I need you to use your connections and prestige to build momentum for Golden Boy. Even in public, acknowledge that you were 'inspired' or'surpassed' by him."
Polaris's eyes sharpened. "You want me to be a stepping stone."
"I want you to be an investor." Professor Brink corrected him. "What you're investing is your favors and face; the return is a guarantee of your son's future strength. After the experiment succeeds, Andre's super abilities will be greatly enhanced. Yours will be too, and perhaps your symptoms will improve."
"Some favors are gone once used." Polaris put the report down. "I have to save them for Andre."
"Andre?" Professor Brink shook his head, his tone carrying just the right amount of regret. "Do you really think that with just your push, he can stand out as he is now?"
Polaris was silent for a long time.
"Those favors are indeed gone once used." Professor Brink spoke slowly. "But after the experiment succeeds, Andre's super abilities will be greatly enhanced. Once Lu Chen and Golden Boy have both left the school, the next person to be pushed will be your son. By then, not only will he have sufficient strength, but he will also be the best living advertisement for this enhancement serum."
Polaris looked up after thinking for a long time.
"I agree. But I have conditions."
"Speak."
"I want to see a successful experiment first. Not a report." Polaris's gaze was like a torch. "I want to see with my own eyes the changes in a superhuman after injection."
A trace of hesitation flashed across Professor Brink's face.
"That thing involves hundreds of millions of dollars in the future. It's a top-secret of secrets. I can't just—"
"Then let me see the individual in your report who has already completed the experiment." Polaris didn't give an inch. "Let me see what a person becomes after injection, and if there are any sequelae."
Professor Brink pondered for a few seconds.
Seeming to weigh the pros and cons.
Finally, he sighed.
"Fine. But you can only look, not touch, and definitely not take any samples away."
"Where is he now?"
Professor Brink took out his phone and swiped his thumb across the screen twice.
"Bring your son and come with me."
He pressed the send button.
The underground training room.
Lu Chen's phone vibrated.
"Arriving in fifteen minutes."
Lu Chen finished reading and deleted the text message.
[ Physical Mimicry LV4 ] activated.
He transformed into the exact face of the person in that experimental report.
Chapter 81: Polaris
The sound of the electronic doorbell broke the silence of the training room.
Lu Chen opened his eyes, rose from the bench, walked to the door, and pressed the green open button on the wall.
The heavy alloy door slid open to both sides.
Outside the door, Professor Brink was standing sideways, talking to the father and son beside him with the enthusiastic smile of a salesman. Seeing the door open, he immediately stopped talking and elegantly made a "please" gesture.
"Robert, Andre, please come in. This is the... successful 'product' I mentioned to you. It is definitely the most perfect biological masterpiece you have ever seen in your lives."
Polaris and Andre walked in one after the other.
Their gazes fell on Lu Chen immediately.
That face was exactly the same as the photo in the experimental report Professor Brink had shown them. It was unremarkable, even overly ordinary—the kind you could never find again if you threw it into a crowd.
Andre curled his lip. Clearly, he had no interest in this unremarkable "test subject." He was more concerned with when this boring "tour" would end.
Polaris, however, was much more cautious. His sharp gaze swept over Lu Chen, attempting to interpret the changes brought about by the enhancement serum from the other's standing posture, breathing, and even the slightest muscle tremors.
"Professor Brink, regarding his specific data..." Polaris turned his head, preparing to ask the Professor outside the door for more details.
However, he only got halfway through his sentence.
"Click—" A heavy, muffled sound.
The heavy special alloy door slowly closed behind them, eventually locking tight. The red light from the electronic lock flashed once and then went out.
Professor Brink hadn't come in at all.
Andre was stunned for a moment, instinctively walking over to push the door, only to find that it wouldn't budge. "Hey, what's going on? Is Professor Brink playing a joke on us?"
Polaris frowned, scrutinizing the test subject standing in the center of the training area.
A sense of foreboding crossed his mind, but his years as a hero quickly calmed him down. The walls of this training room were embedded with steel bars, and the door was also metal. As long as he wanted, nothing could trap him.
Perhaps this was just a special "performance" arranged by Professor Brink to more intuitively demonstrate the test subject's abilities.
He suppressed the unease in his heart, glanced at his still-complaining son, and decided to take the initiative to interrogate this so-called "test subject" himself.
He turned around.
"You..." Just as the word left his lips, Polaris's pupils contracted violently.
A gust of wind brushed against his cheek.
Just a gust of wind.
But his son behind him, Andre, was gone.
A second ago, his son, who stood behind him to the right, half a head taller and full of impatience, had just vanished into thin air.
At the same time, the "test subject" standing in the center of the room had also disappeared without a trace.
"What the fuck?!" Polaris cursed under his breath, his muscles instantly tensing up.
Almost out of instinct, he didn't look for his son's location but immediately made the most correct combat response.
Another gust of wind attacked from the left!
Years of combat experience saved him at this moment. He didn't even have time to look; his body had already automatically made the judgment.
"Get out here!" Polaris roared, violently grabbing at the empty air toward the wall with his right hand!
"Boom—" The concrete of the entire wall instantly cracked and exploded! Countless thick steel bars, like giant pythons coming to life, were forcibly ripped out of the wall, emitting a harsh, twisting sound. Under his powerful Magnetic Manipulation, the front ends of all the metal were stretched and compressed, forming dozens of incredibly sharp metal spikes!
This wasn't the end! At the same time, an energy wave burst outward with Robert as the center.
An electromagnetic pulse!
The circular electromagnetic shockwave expanded violently, and wherever it passed, the air appeared to distort for an instant. All the electrical appliances in the room failed instantly, and the lights on the ceiling went out completely. The training room plunged into darkness.
But this was exactly the effect Polaris wanted. His electromagnetic pulse could not only paralyze electronic equipment but also briefly interfere with biological nerve electrical signals. For speed-type ability users, even a fraction of a second of nerve lag could be fatal!
In the darkness, a blurred figure stumbled, forced out of a super-high-speed state, and revealed in front of Polaris. Now was the time!
"Found you!" A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Polaris's eyes, and he swung his arm forward.
Those dozens of steel bars, twisted into sharp spears, shot toward Lu Chen's limbs and torso from all directions like arrows off a string! He wanted to cripple this damned attacker first!
He saw that the opponent seemed to be heavily affected by the EMP; his movements were noticeably sluggish, and there was no way he could dodge in time.
Polaris had almost foreseen the scene of those steel bars piercing flesh.
"Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!" A series of dense, crisp Impact sounds rang out in the darkness.
That was not the sound of steel bars piercing flesh.
It was more like... using a needle to prick an incredibly hard diamond.
Polaris looked closely, his heart sinking violently. Those steel spikes, controlled by him and capable of piercing a tank, had indeed hit the target. But without exception, the moment they touched the opponent's skin, the tips were crushed into blunt, heavy, round metal lumps by the immense reaction force, only knocking the attacker back repeatedly before they fell weakly to the ground.
How is this possible?! Physical defense reached this level? This is not the data written in the file at all! That bastard Professor Brink lied to me!
This is absolutely not some bullshit test subject!
He slammed his hands together, trying to control those deformed steel bars to wrap directly around the opponent's neck.
Too late.
A violent gust of wind brushed past Robert's ear.
The figure in front disappeared again.
Robert's movements froze in mid-air. That gust of wind brushed against his neck, and he only felt his neck being struck by something.
A wave of pain followed. This was his last perception before losing consciousness.
"Click." Lu Chen retracted his hand blade, looking at Polaris who had collapsed to the ground.
This thing is still the most useful.
He glanced at the corner of the room, where Andre was lying, sleeping peacefully. He had already fallen into a deep coma the moment he was grabbed by Lu Chen.
Lu Chen stretched his neck. Polaris's EMP really had something to it; that feeling of nerve signals being interfered with was like running in mud, making even his thoughts seem to slow down a bit.
It's a pretty good ability.
Unfortunately, it ran into him.
The defense of [LV5 Carbon Skin] cannot be broken by mere steel bars.
Chapter 82: Cate's Showdown Is Approaching
Lu Chen flexed his wrists and scanned the current state of the training room.
An entire wall had been blown open, with concrete debris and twisted steel bars scattered all over the floor. The ceiling lights had burst, scattering glass shards everywhere, with only a few loose wires left dripping sparks.
The full output of a veteran superhero.
Lu Chen walked to the door and pressed the door-opening button on the wall, but there was no response. He simply shoved his hand into the door gap, activated [Partial Metallization], hardened his fingertips into steel, and pried it outward.
"Click—"
Accompanied by the sound of metal deforming, the heavy alloy door was forcibly pulled open by him.
Outside the door, Professor Brink was pacing back and forth anxiously. Upon seeing Lu Chen, he immediately stepped forward, squeezing out his usual commercial smile, though he couldn't hide the genuine worry beneath it.
"Did you handle it smoothly?"
"It's fine." Lu Chen tilted his head, gesturing for him to look at the ruins behind him. "Get someone to clean this up and just have it renovated."
Professor Brink nodded, crisp and efficient: "Understood, I will handle everything."
Lu Chen ignored him further, grabbing the unconscious father and son of Polaris, one in each hand, and dragged them out like two discarded sacks.
He took the two of them and turned into another spare training room at the end of the corridor.
He pushed the door open and entered.
It was empty and quiet. No surveillance, no people.
Lu Chen first placed the two on the floor and carefully inspected the entire room—the corners, ceiling seams, and ventilation ducts. After confirming there were no hidden camera devices, he raised his right hand.
A blinding white light lit up at his fingertips.
[Light Manipulation. LV4]
The white light expanded, and his ability to absorb electrical energy precisely covered the entire room.
All electronic devices short-circuited.
Lu Chen crouched down and laid the unconscious Polaris flat on the ground.
He placed his right hand on the other's forehead.
[Detectable Copyable Ability Detected—]
[1. Super Physique LV3]
[2. Magnetic Manipulation LV4]
[Please select a target to Copy.]
There was no need to hesitate.
"Magnetic Manipulation."
[Selected: Magnetic Manipulation LV4]
[Estimated Copy time: 6 hours]
[Copy progress: 0.00%... 0.01%...]
The progress bar began to jump slowly.
Lu Chen adjusted his posture and sat cross-legged beside Polaris. His right hand remained pressed against the other's forehead, while his left hand rested naturally on his knee, ready to act at any moment.
Six hours.
Not short, but not too unbearable either. The only variable was when Polaris would wake up. Based on the force he used for that hand-chop, considering how many times he had used it himself.
Conservatively estimating, he could potentially wake up in about three hours.
So the countermeasure was simple—once Robert showed signs of waking, he would first use LV5 Mind Control to suppress his consciousness for a split second; even a fraction of a second of blankness would be enough to follow up with a second chop.
A perfect closed loop.
Lu Chen closed his eyes and began to wait. As for Andre, he didn't have his father's ability to break through Mind Control with electromagnetic pulses, so after being lulled to sleep by Lu Chen, he slept very peacefully on the side.
Meanwhile.
When Cate pushed open the wooden door to Shetty's office, a warm aroma of food wafted toward her.
On the long table were two exquisite lunch sets—organic vegetable salad, low-fat chicken breast, and a small bowl of pumpkin soup. Shetty was sitting across the table, wiping her hands with a napkin, and looked up to smile at her.
"Come, sit. I made today's soup especially for you, try it."
Cate sat down obediently and picked up the spoon.
After they had eaten for a while, Shetty put down her fork and spoke, appearing casual: "How have you been... getting along with Lu Chen lately?"
Cate's movements paused for a beat.
Then, a nearly uncontrollable smile surfaced on her face.
"It's quite good."
The tone was far too deliberately restrained.
Shetty didn't rush to press her, simply waiting with the patience of an elder.
Sure enough, in less than three seconds, Cate couldn't hold it back anymore.
"He took me for a walk on the trail behind the school before. I got tired and didn't want to move, so he squatted down and let me climb onto his back." Cate said while stirring her soup. "He has a mole on the back of his neck, round and small; you can only see it when you're on his back."
She paused, then added, "His back is very broad."
Shetty maintained her smile, listening without a word, nodding occasionally in agreement.
However, she was calculating something else in her mind.
This level of attachment and trust... had been completely etched into her bones.
Forcing it would only be counterproductive.
Since she couldn't erase Lu Chen's position in Cate's heart, she would change tactics: gentle persuasion. Bring Lu Chen into the controllable range as well. How deep could an eighteen-year-old boy's schemes be? Give him some sweetness, apply some pressure, and he would be tamed sooner or later.
Anyway, they wouldn't know the ultimate goal.
No one would know.
As lunch neared its end, Shetty stood up, took a white medicine bottle from a drawer, and pushed it in front of Cate.
"Right, your medicine should be running low, shouldn't it? I've prepared the next course for you."
Cate took the bottle, glanced at it, and put it back on the table.
"I haven't finished it yet."
Shetty's hands were organizing documents on the table, her movements not stopping.
"Hmm?"
"I only take it about once every three days now." Cate's tone was calm, even carrying a hint of pride. "I'm trying to control my ability on my own. I can't rely on this thing forever, right? I think I've made a lot of progress."
Shetty's hand, which was organizing the documents, froze.
The pause lasted less than a second.
But her movement to stand up was much faster than before, and she silently moved half a step away from Cate.
"That... is a good thing." Shetty pushed the medicine bottle back over. "But you should still carry it, just in case. I suddenly remembered I have a meeting to attend, so I'll leave first. You sit and take your time."
She was already walking toward the door.
Cate stared blankly at the hurriedly departing back, still clutching the spoon in her hand.
Just now... what was that reaction?
She thought Shetty would praise her, encourage her.
Just like Lu Chen would.
After all, people who have to keep taking medicine are patients, aren't they?
The wooden door closed, and the footsteps in the corridor quickly faded away.
Meanwhile, Shetty, having turned two corners, pressed her back against the wall and slowly let out a breath.
Once every three days.
That meant Cate's mind-reading perception might have already recovered somewhat.
If she stopped the medication completely, Cate's passive mind-reading field, which had been shielded by chemicals, and her long-suppressed abilities would fully resurface.
Her layout was clearly about to begin. Using Cate's Mind Control ability to control those Superhumans in "The Woods" who were irritable due to experiments and unable to control their abilities, making them obediently cooperate, was a key step in the entire "Superhuman Virus" research project phase.
But now, this move was being slowly dismantled by a bastard surnamed Lu with gentleness.
Damn it.
Shetty closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down.
No... it wasn't without a turning point.
The source of the "inspiration" for Cate to stop taking the medicine—was Lu Chen.
Then she would just go with the flow.
Let Cate spend as much time as she wanted with Lu Chen. Once her mind-reading ability fully recovered, she would hear the true voice from the bottom of that man's heart.
She didn't believe that an eighteen-year-old boy from an orphanage truly only had love for Cate.
By then, the only person the heartbroken Cate could rely on would still be herself.
At that time, revealing a part of the plan... letting hatred replace love to drive Cate would be more effective than any drug.
Shetty straightened up, adjusted her collar, put back on that gentle smile, and walked toward the end of the corridor.
Meanwhile, in that pitch-black training room a few kilometers away, Lu Chen, who was focused on copying Magnetic Manipulation, for no reason—
"Achoo."
A sneeze interrupted his meditation.
Lu Chen wrinkled his nose and glanced down; his right hand was still pressed against Polaris's forehead, with the progress bar showing 12.7%.
Everything was normal.
Wait.
He blinked.
With my physique... I can still catch a cold?
Chapter 83: Susan Raynor's Wild Imagination
Lu Chen rubbed his nose.
He hadn't expected to still sneeze after strengthening his Super Physique to such an extent, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.
The six-hour countdown finally reached its end.
[Copy Progress: 100%]
[Magnetic Manipulation LV4, solidified]
Lu Chen withdrew his right hand. Robert, on the ground, remained unconscious after taking another hit.
He turned and walked toward Andre, who was sleeping peacefully nearby, and pressed one hand onto the kid's forehead.
[Copyable ability detected]
[Magnetic Manipulation LV2]
[Super Physique LV3]
Select Magnetic Manipulation LV2
[Estimated Copy time: 5 minutes]
A faint sensation of electricity crawled up his fingertips. Compared to the violent magnetic field of Robert, Andre's ability was much thinner.
Five minutes passed in a flash.
Lu Chen withdrew his hand.
Two forces of the same origin but different magnitudes converged within his body. Like two rivers merging into the same channel, the water level was rising.
[Magnetic Manipulation LV4 (Fusion Enhancement)]
Lu Chen clenched his fist.
A magnetic field perception spread from his core. The steel bars in the training room walls, the screws in the ceiling, even the pipes under the floor—the position, shape, and weight of all the metal unfolded in his mind like a 3D map.
He tried reaching out his hand.
Several dumbbells in the corner of the room rose silently, hovering, spinning, until they were flying rapidly and changing direction in the air.
There was no feeling of strain whatsoever.
Lu Chen released his intent, and the dumbbells landed gently back in their original places without making a single sound.
The control precision was also good.
Lu Chen dragged the two unlucky guys who were still unconscious to the wall and laid them flat. Although Mind Control was ineffective against Superhumans of that level, simple memory deletion should still work.
Lu Chen deleted their memories of this period and then called Professor Brink, telling him to arrange for the two. "If they wake up and ask about that experimental subject and the attack, notify me. If not, just handle it as you see fit."
After giving these instructions, he walked out of the Underground Room. Although with his current abilities, he wasn't very afraid of exposure anymore, who wouldn't want a stable life?
Meanwhile, The Boys, who had escaped from the Black Prison and had been hiding ever since, were not as leisurely as him.
In the basement of an adult store flashing with neon lights.
Frenchie stuffed a bag of white powder into a hollow silencer, with several Glock pistols with filed-off serial numbers piled nearby. This was stock for the cartel gang. After finishing this job, their money for next week would be secured.
On the other side of the room, Mother's Milk, wearing medical gloves, pulled a blood-stained suture needle from the arm of a gangster thug, tied a knot, and cut the thread. The thug dropped a roll of blood-stained U.S. cash, walked out cursing, and began preparing for the next battle.
Mother's Milk took off his gloves, returned to the living room, and carefully glued a miniature window onto a pink dollhouse.
It was for his daughter.
Hughie sat on a tattered sofa, clicking a magazine into his service pistol. He pulled the slide, ejected a bullet, and pushed it back in. Repeat. The beans boiling in a pot nearby gurgled.
Kimiko sat cross-legged on the carpet, holding a comic book in her hands.
"We can't just keep hiding like this." Hughie suddenly stopped his movements and slammed the gun on the table.
No one paid him any mind.
"Vought Company is still out there throwing its weight around, and Butcher's fate is unknown. Are we just going to hide in this basement that sells Homelander-branded sex toys and be cowards?" Hughie raised his voice.
Frenchie wiped the machine oil from his hands. "And then what? Rush to Vought Tower to die? We are wanted criminals now. No money, no equipment, no backup."
"I can check the surveillance, we can try to get information from Lu, we have to do something..."
"Enough." Mother's Milk put down the tweezers and turned around. "Frenchie is right. Our priority now is to survive. Wait for the heat to die down."
"The heat will never die down!" Hughie stood up and kicked over an empty soda can at his feet. "They will find us one by one and kill us!"
Frenchie dropped the rag and strode up to Hughie. "Hughie, you're a good kid. But right now, you're an idiot. Outside is full of Vought Company's eyes. Kimiko needs to be safe. We all need to be safe."
Hughie opened his mouth, wanting to retort.
The laptop on the table suddenly beeped.
Frenchie opened the encrypted email.
"It's a message from the port." Frenchie leaned in closer to the screen.
Regarding the intelligence Lu Chen had provided earlier, the clue about Kimiko's brother smuggling himself into New York, Frenchie had been having people watch the black ports of New York ever since he found out.
Inside was only a video.
Midnight. A rusty smuggling freighter docked.
Several armed human traffickers were driving the people out of the container. Suddenly, a figure at the edge of the frame rushed out.
Without any superfluous movements. The figure simply raised his hand.
The freighter flew directly into the air and crashed onto the shore.
No one in the Underground Room spoke.
"This is..." Hughie stammered, "Is this Kimiko's brother?"
Kimiko lunged at the computer, staring fixedly at the person in the video. She grabbed the edge of the table with both hands, her fingernails digging deep scratches into the wood.
"Can't see the face clearly." Frenchie dragged the progress bar back, freezing it frame by frame. "It's too dark, and the distance is too far."
Mother's Milk stared at the destructive scene on the screen, calculating quickly in his mind.
A smuggled Superhuman capable of flipping a freighter.
This might be a bargaining chip.
"Let's go, things might have taken a turn for the better." Mother's Milk suddenly spoke, grabbing the jacket on the table.
"Who are you going to find?" Hughie asked.
"Someone who can help us clear our names and urgently needs dirt on Vought Company." Mother's Milk took out a burner phone and dialed a number he knew by heart.
Outskirts. An abandoned drive-in theater.
Two black SUVs were parked in the weeds.
Susan Raynor was wearing a trench coat, leaning against the car door. She looked at the disheveled wanted criminals in front of her.
"You'd better have a good reason for contacting me, Marvin."
Mother's Milk stepped forward and handed over a USB drive: "A Superhuman Terrorist. Just entered New York via a smuggling ship at the port. Inside is the surveillance footage from the port. Can we trade his information for our legal identities? Also, I want to know about my family, what their situation is right now."
"Wait a minute." Hughie squeezed out from behind Mother's Milk. "He might be..."
Frenchie pulled his sleeve, turned to look at Susan Raynor, "Officer, or how about we help you take care of this trouble, make him disappear forever, and you give us a way out?"
Susan Raynor didn't respond. She was thinking in her mind, trying to connect everything.
A smuggled Superhuman Terrorist. The secret of Compound V. A crisis orchestrated by Vought Company.
And that Victoria Neuman who had suddenly popped up recently. A previously unknown congresswoman who had become famous in a short time by using an anti-Superhuman slogan.
"My God..." Susan Raynor muttered.
"Officer?" Mother's Milk sensed something was wrong.
Susan Raynor looked up at the people in front of her.
"This isn't some terrorist attack. Compound V, those smugglers, and that damn congresswoman—this is a coup..."
Bang.
Before she could finish her sentence,
Susan Raynor's head exploded directly, red and white gore bursting into a cloud of blood mist in front of Mother's Milk, Hughie, Frenchie, and Kimiko.
"Holy shit!"
Chapter 84: Revenge, Reboot
Hughie's exclamation was completely swallowed by a dull rumble of thunder in the night sky.
Viscous red and white matter splattered across the windshield, sliding down slowly.
Mothers Milk froze in place, half his face covered in warm blood.
The CIA Deputy Director, who seemed to have realized something major just a second ago, was now nothing more than a spurting, headless corpse.
Bits of flesh and brain matter splattered onto Frenchie's clothes.
He grabbed Hughie by the collar, dragging the terrified young man toward the car door.
Kimiko crouched low, scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
There were no snipers.
There were no gunshots.
Susan Raynor's head had simply exploded without any warning.
Mothers Milk wiped the blood from his face, his stomach churning violently.
He bent down to pick up the USB drive that had fallen into the pool of blood, scrambled into the car, and slammed on the gas.
The black SUV carved two deep ruts through the overgrown grass as it vanished from the scene.
The heavy rain washed over the abandoned drive-in theater, washed over the headless corpse on the ground, and washed over Godolkin University.
The dormitory area.
Rain tapped against the windowsill.
Cate Dunlap leaned against the headboard, her fingers stroking the edge of the blanket.
Lu Chen leaned nearby, flipping through a thick neurology atlas.
"I had lunch with the Dean today," Cate Dunlap broke the silence. "The atmosphere was a bit strange."
Lu Chen turned a page, his gaze lingering on a complex diagram of the cerebral cortex. "What happened?"
"I told her I was reducing my dosage," Cate Dunlap tilted her head, looking at Lu Chen's profile. "I thought she would be proud of me. After all, I'm finally starting to try to face my abilities. But she... she looked a bit anxious."
Of course that old fox was anxious.
Lu Chen's mind raced.
Once Cate Dunlap stopped taking the medicine completely and her mind-reading abilities fully recovered, Shetty's dirty business of human experimentation and using Cate Dunlap to control students would be exposed.
Shetty was probably calculating how to regain control before this ticking time bomb went off.
Expose Shetty directly?
Not a good idea.
Cate Dunlap had a fledgling-like dependence on Shetty; she was the first light she grasped after being abandoned by her parents.
Tearing off her mask directly would be too much of a blow to Cate Dunlap.
Let the seeds of doubt sprout on their own until they burst through Shetty's hypocritical mask.
Lu Chen closed the book and met Cate Dunlap's gaze.
"I don't think the medicine is meant for control," Lu Chen said. "Think about it carefully. Who else in the school relies on medication to control their abilities?"
Cate Dunlap was stunned.
"Everyone else relies on long-term use and training to control their superpowers," Lu Chen placed the book on the nightstand. "Think carefully about why you had to take a completely opposite path back then?"
"Because my ability is too dangerous," Cate Dunlap instinctively retorted, hiding her leather-gloved hands under the blanket. "As long as I touch someone, even my subconscious thoughts can hurt them."
Lu Chen reached out and pressed his hand over hers through the blanket.
"If you were just afraid of skin-to-skin contact, wearing gloves like you are now would be enough," Lu Chen stared into her eyes. "Physical isolation has already cut off the trigger condition. So, what exactly is this medicine controlling?"
This question hit the nail on the head.
Cate Dunlap's breath hitched.
She had never thought about it. Over the years, taking the medicine had become a habit.
"I..." Cate Dunlap closed her eyes, the floodgates of memory pried open a crack.
That dim room. Her parents' terrified faces. The click of the lock turning.
And... those noisy voices that appeared out of thin air.
"Noise," Cate Dunlap opened her eyes suddenly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "In the first few years after I was locked up, even if I didn't touch anyone, my head would sometimes be filled with all sorts of noise. The complaints of neighbors visiting, my parents'... fear."
She grabbed Lu Chen's arm involuntarily.
"It was too loud. That's why I never thought about running away. I was afraid that outside the door, it would all be that kind of noise that drives people insane. Until the Dean appeared and had someone give me the medicine, and the World finally quieted down."
Passive mind-reading.
Lu Chen understood.
Shetty's medicine was suppressing the part of Cate Dunlap's ability that worked without contact.
"That wasn't noise," Lu Chen countered, gripping her wrist. "That was your talent."
The Level 5 Mind Control ability within him lay quietly dormant. This was the version copied, fused, and evolved from Cate Dunlap. Lu Chen understood the operating mechanism of Cate Dunlap's ability better than anyone else in the World.
"I will teach you to control it."
"Look at me."
Lu Chen leaned in closer. He mobilized a trace of his mental energy, slowly probing the edge of Cate Dunlap's consciousness through his fingertips.
Not control, but guidance.
"Imagine there is a door in your mind," Lu Chen's voice was steady, carrying a strange, soothing power. "Right now, the door is wide open, and the wind and rain outside are pouring in."
Cate Dunlap followed his words and closed her eyes.
"Find the handle of that door."
Lu Chen's mental energy constructed a concrete outline within the sea of Cate Dunlap's consciousness. He carefully supported Cate Dunlap's mental tentacles, teaching her how to exert force and how to retract them.
"Close it."
Cate Dunlap exerted force suddenly.
The noise that had been faintly ringing in her mind due to stopping the medication was instantly and completely cut off.
The World had never been so clear and quiet.
She opened her eyes, her gaze filled with shock.
"I did it," Cate Dunlap murmured. "I closed it."
She looked at Lu Chen. This man was watching her intently, his bangs falling over his forehead, carrying a hint of imperceptible fatigue.
Cate Dunlap's heart gave a sharp tug.
He must have researched countless materials, practiced countless times in private, and even risked unknown dangers to figure out this method.
All of this was for her.
Cate Dunlap hugged Lu Chen, burying her face in his chest.
The scales in her heart began to tip heavily toward Lu Chen without her realizing it.
New York, Brooklyn. A dilapidated room.
The television screen was playing Vought news, and a few liquor bottles were strewn across the coffee table.
William Butcher sat on the worn-out sofa, his face full of stubble.
He was clutching a crumpled doodle he had drawn himself.
In Madelyn Stillwell's house, the explosion had leveled everything.
Then, when he woke up, he saw Becca standing right in front of him, alive and well.
After a few brief encounters.
Becca held a knife to her own throat, forcing Homelander to let him go.
"Don't touch him! Otherwise, I'll tell Ryan that this was all caused by you, and then I'll kill myself!"
That scream was still echoing in Butcher's mind.
He had been treated like trash by Homelander and dumped in the wilderness hundreds of kilometers away.
Butcher grabbed half a bottle of whiskey from the table and took a large swig.
He pulled out a burner phone and pressed the redial button again.
He had been acting alone for days, and he desperately needed Mallory's help. This was the eighth time.
Beep—beep—
The call connected.
"I need the address," Butcher went straight to the point. "You investigated Vought's secret facilities back in the day. The place where Becca is staying must be in your old data."
There was only breathing on the other end of the line.
"Speak! Mallory!" Butcher stood up abruptly, kicking over a bottle. "I saw her! She's still alive! Vought hid her away!"
"I heard you, William," Mallory's voice came through the receiver.
Butcher froze.
No matter how he had begged or threatened in the previous times, Mallory had refused, but this time seemed different. He saw hope.
"Help me find her," Butcher softened his tone. "My life will be yours."
"I have conditions," Mallory interrupted him. "I received news that the CIA Deputy Director, Susan Raynor, had her head blown off."
"Before Susan Raynor died, she was meeting with Mother's Milk and the others," Mallory continued. "They had a recording. A superhuman Terrorist just entered New York port on a smuggling ship."
"Did Susan Raynor find something, which is why she was silenced?"
"Perhaps," Mallory paused for a moment. "Vought is playing a bigger game. This is no longer a private matter of you seeking revenge for your wife, William. This is a war about national security."
"What do you want me to do?" Butcher gritted his teeth.
"Find that stowaway," Mallory's request was clear and precise. "Catch him before Vought does. Bring him to me, and also, find out who killed Susan Raynor. I want the name of that head-exploding killer."
Butcher looked at the bottomless night outside the window, and a smile finally appeared on his face.
"Deal."
Chapter 85: Entering the Stage
The night rain washed over the dilapidated streets.
A black SUV plunged into an abandoned alley in the Bronx.
Mothers Milk yanked the handbrake. Frenchie kicked the car door open, grabbed Hughie by the collar, and dragged him into that leaky, dilapidated apartment building.
Kimiko vaulted lightly over the hood, vigilantly scanning the surrounding high ground. After traversing several blocks to shake off the potential assassin, they finally returned to their original hideout the next day.
Back in the Underground Room, no one spoke or discussed anything for a long time. They were shaken by today's events. That was the Deputy Director of the CIA. If even someone like that could die by assassination, who would be next? A congressman? The mayor? Or the President?
Was it arranged by Vought? Can we really still fight against this behemoth?
Hughie curled up in the corner of the sofa. He stared at the dried, dark red bloodstains on his clothes. The image of Susan Raynor's head exploding replayed in his mind over and over.
Why hadn't the head-popper killed them too?
Silencing the CIA Deputy Director, yet letting a carload of witnesses go. Hughie rubbed his numb cheeks. This was definitely not an act of mercy. It was a warning. Someone was watching them from the shadows, watching them scurry around like headless chickens.
If he hadn't agreed to join Butcher, he would still be selling electronics at that store.
Robin's death would have faded with time, and he would have continued to be a cowardly ordinary person. But now, his face had been splattered with the brains of a high-ranking CIA official. There was no turning back.
Frenchie disassembled a Glock pistol into parts and quickly reassembled it.
The clicking sound of metal colliding was distracting. "Susan Raynor's head just exploded like that. No trajectory, no smell of gunpowder. This must be some kind of superpower."
Mothers Milk scrubbed his hands desperately at the sink. The soap suds turned pale pink. He slammed the faucet hard. "That's not important! What's important is that we are now the prime suspects. If Vought just manipulates the media a little, we will become Terrorists who murdered a high-ranking CIA official."
"We have to leave here," Hughie finally managed to say. "That guy can pop heads from a distance; staying here is just waiting to die."
Frenchie stopped what he was doing. "Go where, little guy? The outside is full of Vought's eyes and ears. We don't even have a contact to meet up with right now."
Mothers Milk grabbed a towel to wipe his hands. "Frenchie is right. We are blind now. We don't even know who the opponent is. That smuggling ship footage has become a death warrant."
A dull thud of a heavy object hitting the iron railing suddenly came from the stairwell outside the door.
Kimiko sprang up instantly, crossing to the door in two steps. Frenchie raised the newly assembled Glock. Mothers Milk grabbed the shotgun on the table and racked the pump-action mechanism.
Hughie looked around for a weapon and finally picked up a rusty iron wrench.
Another dull thud. Accompanied by a few incoherent curses.
Bang. The iron door of the Underground Room was kicked open.
A bloody gangster rolled down the stairs like a sack of potatoes, crashing heavily onto the concrete floor.
A pair of mud-stained black combat boots stepped on the gangster's back.
Butcher, wearing his signature black trench coat, strode into the room. He had half a cigarette hanging from his mouth, and a few raindrops clung to his rough stubble.
He looked around at the four people standing ready and grinned.
"Don't be nervous, kids." Butcher spat out the cigarette. "Daddy's home."
The iron wrench in Hughie's hand clattered to the floor.
Javits Center, backstage at New York's largest convention center.
Ashley paced back and forth in the dressing room in her high heels. She clutched a stack of printed papers in her hand.
"Lighting crew! That spotlight needs to be two degrees brighter! He's a new star, not in a horror movie!" Ashley yelled into the walkie-talkie. "Where is security? If those crazy fans outside break through the barricades, you can all get lost and guard the underground parking garage!"
She turned around and slapped the stack of papers onto the vanity.
Lu Chen sat in front of the makeup mirror, letting two makeup artists work on his face. He was wearing that black suit, attending this fan meeting arranged by Vought. Honestly, he didn't even know where he got so many fans.
"This is your script for today." Ashley pointed to the stack of papers. "Remember, when the host asks you why you are faster than A-Train,"
"You read exactly according to the script—'In order to protect more people, I have continuously pushed my limits during one rescue operation after another, because I know that being one second faster might save one more life.' Your expression must be sincere, with a hint of nostalgia for the past, but more importantly, firm determination for the future. Understand? Firm!"
Lu Chen glanced at the top page.
It was filled with over three thousand words, starting from the story of his "birth"—an orphan found in Queens, adopted by the Vought Charitable Foundation, who had shown extraordinary speed and a sense of justice from a young age.
To his "heroic journey" along the way—during his time at Godolkin University, he "politely declined" all commercial endorsements and silently upheld justice in the city. Because he was too fast, he left behind countless "unseen" urban legends.
Vought's writing team even fabricated a touching story overnight about him rescuing three orphans from a fire. Even the orphans' names and the time and place of the fire were concocted seamlessly.
It was written so flowery and touchingly.
Even Lu Chen almost believed it himself.
"No problem." Lu Chen picked up the script. This kind of public performance was effortless for him.
"That's good, that's good." Ashley breathed a sigh of relief and began fixing her hair again. "Annie January is already at the front desk; she will be there as a special guest to support you, which will greatly boost your public likability. Remember, interact with her more, show respect for your senior. As for the degree... you handle it yourself."
The dressing room door was pushed open.
"Lu Chen!"
Annie January pushed the door open and walked in. She was wearing her brand-new Starlight uniform, with a genuine smile on her face. When she saw Lu Chen, that joy was impossible to hide.
"Annie, dear." Ashley immediately put on an exaggerated smile and went up to her. "You came just in time. Later, you will be responsible for the finale, presenting our new hero with the Vought Medal of Honor. Remember to show the care of a senior and the cohesion of the team."
"Alright, alright, I know, let me have a good chat with this junior!"
Annie January almost pushed Ashley out of the dressing room door.
"Hey! I still have things to remind you..."
Bang.
The room instantly quieted down.
Annie January turned around, leaning against the door panel. The brand-new Starlight uniform outlined her beautiful curves. She didn't speak, just looked at Lu Chen with those bright eyes.
The next second, she stepped forward quickly, cupped Lu Chen's face with both hands, and kissed him without hesitation.
The soft touch carried a hint of urgency.
Lu Chen took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her toward him.
Click.
The doorknob was turned.
Ashley poked half her head in, still holding a stopwatch. "Lu Chen, there's still some time, remember to..."
Her words stuck in her throat.
Ashley froze. The expression on her face shifted from urging to horror, and then from horror to the despair of a World collapsing.
She saw it.
The newest member of The Seven, the company's future cash cow, was kissing another member of The Seven, Starlight.
Another troublemaker.
A buzzing sound filled Ashley's head.
She didn't scream, nor did she question them; she just slowly, silently, closed the door again.
A dull thud came from outside the door, like someone hitting their forehead against the wall.
Chapter 86: The Gaze from Vought
In the dressing room.
The two of them naturally noticed the commotion just now, but neither stopped. As the kiss ended, Annie January reluctantly pulled back slightly, her forehead resting against Lu Chen's.
"Finally, we can stand in front of the stage together openly." She spoke softly, her tone unable to hide the joy within.
"Are you ready to face the maniacs outside?" Lu Chen reached out and straightened the collar of Annie January's brand-new uniform.
"Let's go, my big hero." Annie January took his hand, her palm warm.
The convention center stage.
The wave of sound was overwhelming. With three million viewers online and the fervor of five thousand fans on-site, the roof was practically ready to be blown off.
The host gripped the microphone, shouting at the top of his lungs in the center of the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Let us welcome with the warmest cheers, the new star of Vought, the embodiment of justice, the fastest man in the World—"
"Tian Shu!"
The moment the words fell, the lights in the entire venue went out in response.
The next second, a black and gold afterimage tore through the air from backstage, the whipped-up gale blowing away the hats of the security personnel in the front row and triggering a wave of exclamations.
Bang.
A slight sound of landing.
Lu Chen stood firmly in the spotlight at the very center of the stage. From extreme speed to absolute stillness, there was no buffer in between, as if he had been standing there all along.
The black combat suit outlined his smooth muscle lines, and golden patterns spread from his chest to his arms, flowing with a metallic texture under the lights.
The armor groove on his back emitted a soft click, and the thin cape instantly ejected, snapping in the still airflow.
The high-molecular flexible material at the joints perfectly conformed to every expansion of his muscles, without the slightest restriction.
The fans in the front row were stunned for a second.
"My God..." A girl holding a light board covered her mouth, trembling all over, "What was that just now? I didn't even see a shadow."
"So cool, this entrance is even more exaggerated than in the movies!"
The screaming was delayed by a second, then erupted with even more intensity, almost shattering the ceiling.
Lu Chen stood on stage, revealing a restrained yet firm smile according to the script. After the host asked the pre-designed questions.
"To protect more people." He spoke into the microphone, his lines word-perfect, his tone and pauses precisely calculated, "In one rescue operation after another, I constantly push my limits. Because being one second faster might save one more life."
Lu Chen gave his performance a score in his heart.
Perfect score.
The host was so excited his face turned bright red, almost forgetting his own lines.
"So touching! Now, let us use the same warm applause to welcome our special guest tonight, everyone's favorite—Starlight!"
Annie January walked gracefully onto the stage. She held a Vought honorary medal in her hand and walked up to Lu Chen.
The two looked at each other in front of the cameras, Annie January's eyes filled with genuine, unadulterated smiles. She pinned the medal to Lu Chen's chest and took the opportunity to give him a polite hug.
The flashes from the audience merged into a sheet of daylight.
"Get together! Get together!"
Someone started the chant, and the entire venue was instantly drowned in this slogan. A combination of a handsome man and a beautiful woman is always the drama the public loves to see.
Vought Tower, rehabilitation training room.
Bang.
A bottle of energy drink was smashed hard against the LCD screen on the wall, liquid splashing everywhere.
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!"
A-Train stared fixedly at the scene of Lu Chen and Starlight hugging on the screen, breathing heavily. His chest felt tight, and every time he breathed, his ribs felt like they were being compressed inward.
He beat his chest hard, trying to alleviate the suffocating feeling that was about to make him pass out.
Ever since he failed to threaten Hughie last time and instead ended up with a broken leg and was inexplicably sent to the hospital, those bastards in white coats discovered his heart condition. The Doctor's exact words were that his myocardium was severely hypertrophic, and if he continued high-intensity sprinting, he could die suddenly at any time.
He had thought that as long as he was careful, reduced the frequency of his missions, and relied on his past fame, he could still keep his spot in The Seven.
And the result?
The company didn't even say a word and directly found a replacement. A yellow-skinned kid!
"Faster than me?" A-Train gritted his teeth, squeezing the words out through his teeth, "These ungrateful sons of bitches..."
He stared at the person on the screen wearing the black and gold combat suit. That suit, that entrance, that line—it was all packaged by the company with heavy investment. Once, all these resources belonged to him.
No. This is impossible. It is absolutely impossible for anyone to be faster than him. He is the fastest man in the World!
The stabbing pain in his heart became more intense, and he stumbled back two steps, collapsing onto the bench. His hands were shaking uncontrollably; he unzipped his tracksuit and pulled out a blue vial from his inner pocket.
Compound V.
As long as he had this, he could win. He had to find an opportunity to leave this pretty boy called Tian Shu behind in front of the whole World, making him eat his exhaust.
Godolkin University, criminal psychology lecture hall.
Cate Dunlap sat in the corner of the last row. She wore noise-canceling headphones, and the tablet in front of her was playing the live broadcast from the New York City convention center.
Today was supposed to be the day she accompanied Lu Chen to the scene. She had even picked out her outfit.
But Shetty suddenly issued a mandatory academic assessment notice, specifically naming her to attend this incredibly boring class, with the nice-sounding excuse that she shouldn't let her studies suffer because of Lu Chen's success.
On the screen, Starlight was smiling while pinning the medal on Lu Chen, and the shot of that hug was zoomed in infinitely.
Cate Dunlap stared at the hand Annie January had placed on Lu Chen's chest.
Her breathing grew shallow, her pupils constricted slightly, and the knuckles of her right hand tightened one by one.
She slowly removed the black leather glove from her right hand, revealing smooth fingers. Her fingertips traced Annie January's face on the screen, her nails almost piercing through the tempered glass screen protector.
Starlight, you bitch!
Vought Tower, president's office.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the night view of New York City was in full view, with thousands of lights stretching to the end of the horizon.
Stan Edgar sat behind the large mahogany desk. He wasn't watching the live broadcast on TV, but was looking down, flipping through a paper file.
The file folder was stamped with a red Top Secret mark.
The first page was the hospital's injection log.
The second page was Lu Chen's growth record at the Queens orphanage.
The third page was the physical fitness test data from Godolkin University.
Edgar turned the page, his fingers pausing on a line of data.
No history of drug abuse, no history of mental illness, and other than having been to the Police station once because of Shockwave, he had no criminal record. Even his posts on social media were as clean as a blank sheet of paper.
A superhero who grew up in an orphanage but could resist all temptations and hold fast to his bottom line.
Such a person does not exist in this World.
If there is, it means that what he wants is bigger than money and fame.
Edgar closed the file.
His fingertips tapped silently on the desk, one beat, then another. The rhythm was even, neither fast nor slow.
A moment later, he picked up the internal phone on the desk and dialed a number.
The call connected.
"Stormfront, it's your turn to make an appearance."