The next day, on the large bed.
Wade rubbed his eyes and woke up, smelling the faint fragrance in the quilt, recalling everything from last night.
The two returned to the hotel, took a bath together, and went to bed. Everything was normal.
It was just that Annie was very restless in her sleep, constantly clinging to her like a giant octopus. No matter how much she tried to push her away, it was no use: 'This feels so strange, I've always been the one hugging others.'
Wade felt the unusually hot and oppressive body behind him, and carefully pushed away the limbs pressing on him: "Annie, it's time to get up, we're going to be late!" With that, he got up and jumped off the bed.
Because Annie refused to reveal anything, he still had to investigate the two former 'Teen America' members he encountered last night. He didn't have time to sleep in.
As the face of the local church, that couple should be able to unearth deeper ties and interests related to Vought.
Annie mumbled, poking her head out of the quilt, and checked her phone: "It's only 6:30, why are you getting up so early? The expo doesn't start until nine."
Wade took off his pajamas and casually said, "Aren't you going to work? I also want to stroll around the venue."
Annie looked at his back distractedly and swallowed: "Your figure is really good... slender yet shapely. How do you train?"
"I'm just naturally thin..." Wade, about to get dressed, hadn't finished speaking when he was pulled into the quilt.
"Mm?! What are you doing..."
"So fragrant and soft, hehe... let me hug you for a little longer."
"No, don't... I'm ticklish!"
The two playfully wrestled in the quilt for half an hour before separating and getting up to wash up... At Redwood Lake Park, a large banner with the words "Faith Expo" hung at the entrance.
Looking around, vast lawns and gently sloping woodlands were evenly distributed, naturally suitable for tiered viewing.
Groups of people were setting up awnings, transporting exhibits, and arranging stalls. Besides Vought staff, many believers and volunteers in casual clothes were busy on site.
Annie and Wade walked into the venue side by side. The two hugged goodbye: "See you, I'm going to do my makeup and change clothes."
"Okay, I'll look around first."
Wade wandered alone among the exhibition stands. Everywhere he looked was filled with Vought's distinctive style.
In front of each stall, there were several boxes of blue drinks. The sign read: "Homelander Baptized Mineral Water, Bathed in the Glory of the Lord and Heroes," priced at $50 a bottle.
He watched pedestrians open bottles and drink heartily, pressing his lips together: "Are they selling bathwater or hand-washing water? Isn't this just a blatant IQ tax?"
The stall next door sold necklaces and accessories. The sign read: "Starlight Necklace, Strengthen Your Faith." Business was equally booming, and staff in monastic robes were bored, playing on their phones.
Wade stopped in front of a much more normal-looking doll stall, tapped on the table, and asked the white-bearded old man arranging the dolls: "Sir, I'm just looking around. May I ask if all churches can participate in this expo? Like Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and so on?"
The white-bearded old man looked at her with surprise and patiently explained: "Young lady, this is different from traditional expos. Most of the participants are Christians... well, we're a bit more traditional."
Wade pointed to the most prominent promotional stand at the entrance and asked curiously: "Excuse me, I'm from out of town. May I ask what these two churches are? And I haven't seen that gentleman and lady before?"
The white-bearded old man put down a doll and said proudly: "The gentleman on the left is Pastor Standard of Hope Lutheran, and the lady on the right is Sister Superior, the Chosen Nun of our Gospel Lutheran Church."
"They are the chosen ones, sent by the Lord to save and bless us... Young lady, would you like to learn about our Gospel Church?"
Wade picked up a plush doll dressed in a pure white nun's habit, his expression turning troubled, and paid casually: "Sir, may I ask if Sister Superior can forgive my sins?"
The white-bearded old man put the money into the donation box and said with a chuckle: "Of course, Sister Superior is in the northeast tent. Meetings will continue until tomorrow noon."
Wade sighed, clutching his chest: "My sins are grave, and I deeply wish to quickly quell the unease in my heart..."
The white-bearded old man bowed and fumbled for a moment, then handed over a promotional card: "Please see, this is the explanation for Sister Superior's exclusive Consolation Ritual."
"Thank you, sir." Wade took the card and flipped through it, secretly grumbling, 'Twenty thousand? That's robbery!'
He then went to several other stalls with the same tone, obtaining two other different promotional cards: the "Holy Duo Baptism Ritual" featuring Homelander and Ezekiel (Note: Limited VIP seats, requires additional bidding); and Standard's "Confession Guidance Ritual."
Wade put away the three cards and walked towards the less crowded hillside in the distance, unable to help but complain: "Annie has no standing at all. She doesn't even have a 'Starlight Illumination Ritual.' Is Vought not giving her resources, or is she unwilling to go along with them?"
He had seen through it: the essence of this Faith Expo was a super ATM, a conspiracy between Vought and the church, packaging star-chasing and close contact with a religious facade, specifically to fleece the wallets of devout believers and ardent fans.
Wade arrived at the park hillside, sat on the lawn, and started playing with his phone: "Let's check some information first."
First, the disbanded "Teen America" group. Historical members included General, Standard, Drummer Boy, Sister Superior, and Starlight, a total of five people.
General was the former team leader, stationed by Vought with the army in the Japanese archipelago; Standard and Sister Superior were chosen by the church for their abilities; Starlight and Drummer Boy participated in talent shows and went solo.
He scrolled through the screen, looking at pictures of them as children, muttering: "This General looks fierce and evil, definitely a bully. Standard and Sister Superior look like lackeys."
He had tried to probe Annie's memories with his psychic power last night and found only her and Drummer Boy's experiences of being bullied and cold-shouldered by the other three when they were children.
They hadn't seen each other for over ten years and had no idea about each other's current situations.
"The only ones I can safely contact now are Sister Superior and Standard. I'll start by researching their lives." Wade tapped the phone screen repeatedly, searching for relevant information.
"Standard," Wade Whitman. Most of his ability demonstration videos were of him speaking at rallies, with the audience highly excited, suggesting he possessed speech-related abilities.
"Sister Superior," Eva Lake. Her ability demonstration videos mostly showed her radiating white light with a loving expression, and those she touched became extremely relaxed and calm, clearly indicating healing abilities.
Both were second-tier supes, city guardian heroes contracted by Vought with the local government of Iowa.
Wade looked at the increasingly lively gathering below, muttering to himself: 'This pair is practically custom-made for proselytizing. Entangled with the church at Vought's behest, they're probably not good news.'
In broad daylight, Standard and Sister Superior couldn't possibly expose themselves. He had to find a way to investigate their base of operations.
"I'll start with Sister Superior..." Thinking this, he picked up his phone and sent the information about Standard to Hughie, "Anyway, we have two days. Let's get them to do something first."
Wade stood up and walked towards the tent with the most surging crowd below. A scent combining sandalwood and floral notes drifted with the wind.
He got closer and saw a winding queue outside the tent, two-thirds of whom were male believers.
Most of them wore robes, their faces full of piety, but their eyes were filled with unrestrained excitement.
Under the Sister Superior portrait flag fluttering in the wind, several security personnel in black Vought logo shirts sternly maintained order, a stark contrast to the fervent believers.
Wade, holding his ritual pass, stood at the end of the line, looking up at the Sister Superior portrait flag fluttering in the wind:
'She's tall and holy, and her magnificent figure is unmistakable even in such conservative clothing. No wonder so many people like her.'
'The Consolation Ritual costs twenty thousand dollars per session. I hope it doesn't disappoint me.'
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