In the clean and tidy round table conference room, four unconscious teenagers leaned back in their chairs.
Shetty sat alone at the head of the long table, picking up the four smartphones in front of her one by one and tapping them silently and frequently.
Wade sat to the side, playing with the frog clock on the table. "It's six-thirty, Ma'am."
Without looking up, Shetty said casually, "Wake Kate up first."
Wade hooked his finger at Kate, who was sleeping face-down on the table, and wisps of air currents were drawn out.
A few seconds later, Kate's eyelashes fluttered violently, and she suddenly opened her eyes, gasping. "Cough... gasp..."
"You... you guys..." She looked around, struggling to sit up in her chair. "When did you... when did you get together?"
Kate pointed at Wade, her voice weak. "So... you're the one who betrayed us!"
Wade slid the surveillance tablet across the table. "Don't talk nonsense. I was knocked out then too. See for yourself if you don't believe me."
Kate picked up the tablet and repeatedly dragged the video progress bar. "You damn guy, how did you... happen to fall on top of me?"
"Who told you to block the doorway? I originally wanted to escape to the hallway, but I was taken down halfway." Wade spread his hands and pursed his lips. "I just woke up too."
Kate frowned at the screen, looking at the irrefutable evidence, while a strong sense of incongruity swirled in her heart.
"Alright, dear, don't be so hard on yourself." Shetty stood by Kate, reaching out to hug her, her voice gentle. "Young people are impulsive and hot-blooded, I understand... but some boundaries, once crossed, come with a price that is unbearable."
Kate hugged her tightly, unable to stop herself from crying. "I'm sorry, blame me, okay? I'm the one who brought them in. It's all my fault!"
Shetty stroked her hair and whispered, "Do you know how much trouble you've caused? Illegally trespassing into the school's highest-security experimental area, damaging public property, attacking security personnel... according to Godolkin University's rules and the security agreement we signed with Vought Corporation, I have every right and obligation to expel you immediately."
"And that's not the end. What awaits you will be a long legal battle and an astronomical amount of compensation that you won't be able to pay back in a lifetime... Your hero careers, even your futures, will end completely at that moment."
Kate trembled slightly in Shetty's warm embrace, as if she could already see that road... stretching out into endless darkness.
Shetty glanced at Wade and changed her tone. "I know, I know your intentions were good. This kind of friendship is precious in today's world... So, I'm willing to give you a chance, a chance to put everything back on track and let everyone move forward."
Shetty let go of Kate and wiped the tears from her face. "Use your ability, dear. Erase all memories of Luke, Andre, and Jordan regarding what they shouldn't have seen last night... then, plant a new memory for them: the five of you had just sneaked into the laboratory entrance when you triggered the alarm and were quickly subdued by the arriving security team."
Kate stopped crying, her eyes full of struggle, and turned to look at Wade. "Then why doesn't he need it?"
Wade stretched his arms and looked down with a smile. "Please... feel free to try."
"Wade's situation is special." Shetty lifted Kate's chin and said softly, "He has already signed a non-disclosure agreement with me, so you don't need to worry about that... Now, tell me, are you willing to save your friends? Are you willing to give them a future without a stain?"
Kate's gaze swept over the still-unconscious Luke and the other two. She took a deep breath, her eyes filled only with determination.
She closed her eyes, and just as she was about to act... "Wait." Wade walked to Shetty's side and whispered, "Ma'am, don't you think this is... too crude? It's like putting a band-aid on a wound that could fall off at any time."
"Luke is a powder keg. Simply suppressing and blocking his memories will only make his next explosion more violent... Next time, he might be even more reckless and cause even bigger trouble."
Shetty frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
"Give them some sweetness." Wade's lips parted slightly. "When Kate alters their memories, plant a subconscious thought that 'Sam's treatment program has improved and he is recovering steadily'... and change the embarrassing memory of being caught by a trap into a hard-fought, difficult defeat."
"What's in it for me?" Shetty asked coldly.
"The benefit is that they will settle down and focus their energy on the 'results achieved' instead of planning the next move. It'll save you a lot of trouble." Wade paused and added, "A fake victory is much easier to accept than complete despair, isn't it?"
Shetty stared at Wade for a moment, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. "Fine, that's a good suggestion."
She turned to Kate and instructed in a low voice, "Do as I say."
Kate did as she was told, touching the heads of Luke, Jordan Li, and Andre.
Wade observed secretly from the side, his mental energy drifting out.
He detected that in their brains, a small portion of white light particles in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and amygdala were being forcibly stripped, scattered, and reorganized.'So that's how it's done. So precise!'
Ten minutes later, Kate sat back in her chair, staring blankly at her hands, and slowly put on those red gloves.
Shetty walked back to the head of the long table, a satisfied and kind smile on her face. "Well done, dear."
She looked at Wade and signaled with her eyes. "Now, wake them up."
Wade glanced at the three of them in turn, and a low sound of air currents rang out.
Hiss—
Luke, who was out of breath, was the first to wake up. He bounded up from the sofa, heat waves faintly surging around him.
Wade reached out and forcibly extinguished the fire on him, saying deeply, "Luke, calm down! Ms. Shetty wants to have a good talk with us."
The surrounding air was like a bucket of cold water, dousing Luke's indignation. He spoke stiffly, "I'm sorry, Ma'am."
Kate looked at Andre and Jordan Li, who had just woken up and were also alert, and added, "She's willing to give us a chance, a chance to resolve this peacefully."
Shetty smiled and sat back calmly in her high-backed chair, her hands folded on the table. "I understand everything you wanted to do. I understand your concern for your friend, and I appreciate your... illegal actions."
"So, after careful consideration, we've decided to make a concession... Luke, from today on, the treatment program for you and Sam will follow a completely voluntary principle. There will be no more coercion of any kind."
As she spoke, she picked up an internal communicator. "Bring Sam here."
A few minutes later, the door slid open silently.
Accompanied by two security guards, Sam shuffled in with unsteady steps.
His eyes swept across the room vacantly, and only when he saw Luke did his pupils slowly focus. "Why are you here?"
"Sam!" Luke wanted to rush forward excitedly, but was frozen in place by Shetty's next words.
"Don't be in a hurry yet." Shetty's voice rang out again, her tone cold. "For the overall safety of the campus, some things must be made clear."
She took a transparent bottle containing blue pills from a drawer and pushed it forward.
"Sam needs to take these medications regularly to control his emotional and mental issues... and you will act as supervisors. His stability is your stability; your futures are now tied together."
Her gaze slowly swept across the room, landing on Kate and Wade.
"Come to my office later to sign the non-disclosure agreements." Seeing that everyone remained silent, Shetty waved her hand. "Now, you may leave."
The group left the office impatiently and, escorted by security personnel, left the underground facility.
The heavy alloy door closed behind them, isolating that oppressive space... In the hallway, the morning sun bathed the campus in golden light, the brightness almost piercing.
Everyone let out a long sigh and muttered in low voices.
Sam looked at the sky, his expression somewhat dazed. "Luke, I'm hungry."
Luke hugged Sam's shoulder tightly, ruffled his hair, and laughed uncontrollably. "Hahaha... okay, let's go eat breakfast. I'll get you stuffed."
Andre moved his stiff neck and said with emotion, "Even though we were caught red-handed, at least... at least we succeeded, right?"
Jordan Li also nodded. "Even though we made a big scene, at least it wasn't for nothing."
"I'll tell you a secret: I overheard the senior persuading Ms. Shetty." Wade floated behind everyone, his hands behind his head. "If she hadn't thought on her feet, we really would have been expelled."
Hearing this, Luke turned his head and said with a conflicted expression, "Thank you."
"No, it's nothing, it's what I should do!" Kate opened her mouth and nodded blankly.
She suddenly stopped, pressed her hand on Wade's shoulder, and her mental energy was transmitted: 'Are you crazy? Bringing this up now... what exactly do you want?'
'It would be very interesting if they found out you altered their memories again, wouldn't it?' Wade also stopped, a harmless smile on his face as he glanced at her. 'What I want is very simple. From today on, you listen to me!'
Kate felt a chill run down her spine. "You..."
"Now, give us a smile. We just returned in triumph." After Wade finished speaking, he stopped looking at her and flew ahead to join the small group.
Kate stood alone where she was, the sunlight stretching her shadow long.
She looked at Wade's back, then at Luke and the others who were completely off guard and had their arms around each other's shoulders. Loneliness and despair shrouded her heart.
She had lost her love, her friendship, and her reputation, and in the future, she would be controlled by this ill-intentioned and terrifying man.
And she was only just beginning to taste this bitter fruit.
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