Godolkin University, indoor basketball court.
The cold sunlight shone in the center of the court, where students from the Crime Fighting School sat in a sparse semicircle.
Professor Brink stood in the center, gesturing, "Listen up. When a hero is on camera, every move is magnified... In places without cameras, you cannot recklessly act as a vigilante."
"Remember, the prerequisite for being a hero is protecting yourselves first and maintaining your personal image. If your image is damaged, it doesn't just affect you; it affects company assets. Understand?"
Andre raised his hand and scratched his head, "Professor, if there's a camera, there's footage. Isn't that perfect as evidence?"
Brink shook his head and sighed, counting on his fingers, "Footage can be edited; audio can be manipulated. Who knows if you're saving someone or committing a crime by abusing your superpowers?"
"Think about yesterday's news. Someone could transform into another person's likeness to dump a body... If you can't tell truth from fiction, who's going to protect you?" His gaze swept across the young, confused faces. "If you can't even protect yourselves, don't even dream of being a hero!"
In the front row, Wade was sticking a large "Villain" label on his chest, preparing for the upcoming criminal practice simulation.
He looked at Brink, who was lecturing about sacrificing personal interests for company interests, his gaze vacant and his thoughts already far away.
'No rush to reply to Thomas yet. I'll leave him hanging regarding the meeting for a few days.'
The image of last night's moonlit flight for two flashed in his mind: Mena had fainted repeatedly, and after he revived her, they flew back and forth, scaring her so much she even wet herself a few times.
Wade's mouth twitched involuntarily at the thought.
'At least the training yielded results. Mena can now fly the whole way with her eyes open.'
The price was that he had to use a mix of coaxing and deception, plus a promise of some "extra intimate compensation," before she would agree to keep practicing.
'As the head of the Red River Institute, Mena officially submitted her resignation today. Vought probably won't let her go so easily... Perfect, I'll use the nights during this period to step up her training.'
Wade had been meticulous in choosing a partner. Mena had been an orphan since childhood and was currently alone; she was ambitious, driven, daring, and meticulous.
Crucially, her sunk cost in him was enormous. She had invested nearly a million in initial funding for the first batch of carrier potions, and combined with her eight years of illicit profits and stolen secrets at Vought, she had no way back... It was either fame and fortune or ruin and prison.
"Hey! It's time to get into character. Are you even listening?" Jordan Li punched him on the shoulder in dissatisfaction, interrupting Wade's thoughts.
"I'm listening," Wade replied lazily, then raised his hand.
An invisible gust of air lifted the dejected Kate, who was wearing a "Bystander" label, half a meter into the air.
Looking at Kate suspended there like a broken puppet, looking utterly soul-crushed, Wade felt no pity:'She deserves it. If I hadn't been careful, I would have been trapped in "The Woods" lab that night, unable to get out.'
"You've encountered a superpowered criminal on the street. What would you do?" Brink clapped his hands, urging the students to stand up and speak. "Use your brains! What's the safest way to handle this sudden crisis?"
The morning's practical simulation class passed in a flash. As soon as time was up, the crowd scattered like startled birds.
Andre quickly caught up with Luke, and the two walked away talking in low voices; Kate sat on the steps clutching her knees, sobbing alone, looking isolated.
Jordan Li slung on his bag, hesitated for a moment, then walked over and reached out to her, "Let's go. Time for lunch."
Kate didn't move, only burying her face deeper.
Wade picked up a carry bag and held it out to Kate, "What are you dazed for? Even if the sky falls, you have to fill your stomach first."
Kate looked up at the sound, her bloodshot eyes filled with resentment.
She snatched the bag and shouted in a hoarse voice, "Are you satisfied now? I have nothing left!"
"Satisfied with what?" Jordan Li looked confused, glancing between the two of them.
"Tsk tsk... some people," Wade sneered, grabbing Jordan Li's arm to leave. "When they do something shameful and get caught, they don't think about making amends; instead, they blame others for finding out. Let her stay here and cool off."
Kate grew anxious, bit her lip, stood up, and pushed Jordan Li away, "Lee, you go first. I have something to ask him!"
Jordan Li stumbled from the push, frowning as his gaze swept back and forth between the two, "What are you two... up to now?"
Wade smiled at him, "It's fine. I'll explain it to you later."
Jordan Li was skeptical, but seeing the agitated Kate, he nodded and turned to leave.
Once certain Jordan Li was far away, Kate immediately turned to Wade, pulled off the red glove she always wore, and pressed her cold fingers firmly against the back of Wade's hand.
A strong and chaotic mental surge, like thousands of needles, tried to pierce into Wade's mind: "It was you! You were the one who triggered the lab alarm that night... You sent that drawing too! You just wanted to get back at me!"
"Now Luke hates me, Andre is avoiding me, and everyone is whispering behind my back, saying I'm a crazy woman who toys with people's memories! Are you satisfied now?"
In Wade's mind, a mental defense silently rose like a fortress, firmly blocking her impact.
His expression remained unchanged as he responded coldly with his mind: 'I told you, I wasn't at the school that night...'
"Liar, it must have been you! Only you can read memories! Even if you didn't go, you must have peeked at my memories. Only you could have drawn that!" Kate's mental roar became even more explosive, her hysterical voice coming through in waves of increasing intensity.
Wade felt the mental defense in his mind fill with cracks, on the verge of shattering.
'Not good, she's losing control!' Wade forcefully shook off her hand, floated into the air, and expanded a circular soundproof barrier. "Think what you want. You did those things, and Luke told me everything... He wants to save Sam and is preparing to confront those people."
"If you go help now, maybe they'll change their opinion of you slightly... What can accusing me here like a shrew change, other than making yourself look more pathetic?"
Kate froze in place, a glimmer of light flashing in her eyes, "Is... is that really useful? But Shetty... she won't agree."
Seeing her hesitant and timid manner, Wade mocked, "How old are you? Do you really think of Shetty as your mother? Save those words for Luke and the others."
After speaking, he ignored Kate, flew gracefully out of the basketball court, and headed toward the cafeteria.
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