"Thanks for the ride."
Lin Ling and Cyan got out of the minivan at the entrance to the Herocom venue, along with several other people and buses that had pulled up nearby.
"You're welcome. Besides, Yue had to help you get back into your cosplay before you came." Wang Ming said, while his wife smiled happily from the passenger seat.
"Of course I wouldn't let them show up here without looking their best." Yue said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Too bad you guys couldn't come with us," Cyan said, sounding disappointed.
"It's okay, it just so happens that this isn't the best time for us to come," Wang Ming explained awkwardly, which caught his wife's attention.
Before they could continue, car horns right behind them began to honk; traffic was already building up in front of the event.
"We better go. Have fun," Wang Ming said as he pulled out in the car.
Lin Ling and Cyan waved goodbye.
"You still haven't told him?" Yue asked a few seconds after they'd pulled away from Herocom.
"...No."
"Why?"
Wang Ming took a few seconds to answer and let out a weary sigh.
"I haven't found the right moment..."
"Is there really a good moment for that?"
"I hope so..."
Lin Ling let a slight grimace cross his face and brought a hand to his forehead.
"Are you okay?" Cyan asked as she and Lin Ling walked across the terrace toward the entrance to Herocom; it was a huge space, befitting the size of the event venue, and an endless line of people stretched out in the same direction as they were heading
"Yeah… just a slight headache from last night's drinking. Actually, I'm more curious about how you look so good in comparison." Lin Ling said, looking curiously at how normal Cyan looked compared to him.
Cyan shrugged in response.
"Luck… maybe."
"Yeah, luck…" Lin Ling said with a light laugh.
"Welcome to Herocom!"
Both had their attention drawn upon hearing that voice a few meters ahead of them; a cameraman was filming the host Cutty.
"I, Cutty, will be broadcasting the entire Herocom for you, thanks to Fomo for choosing me for this edition." Cutty said cheerfully as she posed smiling for the camera; this time she was wearing a white and cyan dress, along with a ponytail in her hair, which was also cyan.
"Today I'm dressed in honor of our angel Lucky Cyan. May she get better soon so we can hear her beautiful songs again... how about a fun fact? The name HeroCom exists because of what used to be called the Heroes Competition, a small competition aimed at attracting more fans to lower-ranked heroes; however, after Fomo's investment, it became the biggest convention event for everyone and adopted the name HeroCom in honor of its past.
"Look, Dad, it's the Firm Man!" A boy wearing a red scarf shouted near Cutty.
"I think we already have our first hero of the day..." Cutty said, heading in the same direction the boy and his father were going; Lin Ling and Cyan, curious, also followed.
Further ahead, near the building's entrance, a small version of the Firm Man statue was on display; the hero himself stood beside it, addressing the crowd gathered around him,
"In every age, no matter the time or place, people yearn for a peaceful world. Maintaining balance means taking on more responsibility and trust; therefore, this statue is a declaration to all heroes: protect the world and stand tall." The hero Firm Man finished his speech, and a wave of applause erupted among the crowd; children looked at each other in admiration and surprise at the hero's words.
"Does he always give the same speech?" Lin Ling asked Cyan as they both clapped.
"I don't know, but the Queen has said he's a hero worthy of respect."
"Hero Firm Man!" Cutty approached the hero, holding his microphone close to him. "Could you tell us how it feels to be here at Herocom?"
Firm Man is a tall, muscular man with short black hair and dark skin. In his hero costume, he wears a tight-fitting black uniform with gold accents. He wears a gold utility belt and massive, reinforced gold boots that reach mid-thigh. These boots are made of thick metal and appear to be the source of his power. In addition, he wears a long red stole around his neck, which he received from a girl he rescued during his debut as a hero. His belt buckle bears the number 10, representing his rank.
"Of course." The hero turned, smiling slightly at the question. "It is an honor to be here and witness so many people showing their affection and trust in heroes. Just as I do today and every day, in my duty as a hero, I will always stand up for all those who need a hero." Firm Man said it loud and clear so that everyone around could hear.
"FIRM MAN! FIRM MAN! FIRM MAN! FIRM MAN!"
The enthusiastic crowd began chanting the hero's name upon hearing his words.
"Those are the words of a true hero! The hero who will always stand tall, FIRM MAN!"
"Wrong, wrong, wrong..."
At the same time, Lin Ling noticed that nearby, a girl with long black hair was watching all this commotion with a frown on her face while muttering something darkly.
"That's not who you really are—you're not that hero...."
Lin Ling broke out in a sweat, exasperated, upon hearing part of what she was saying.
I guess there are all kinds of fans around here...
HEROCOM - DOS AREA
"Excuse me."
A couple and their son, who had been walking absentmindedly, turned their attention when someone called out to them.
"I'm taking photos for the DOS album about Herocom. Could I take a picture of you?" It was Liu Zhen.
"Sure."
The couple hugged their son as they posed with smiles for the photo.
"All done... thank you so much. The album will be posted on DOS's Fomo profile later."
"We're looking forward to it."
"I want to see Smile," the boy said eagerly while in his father's arms.
"We're on our way, champ."
The family walked away as Liu Zhen waved goodbye with a slight smile on his face.
Then he began looking at the rest of the photos he had taken so far—various people with their families, smiling and having fun at Herocom, so many people cosplaying as the hero they trusted.
Soon his smile faded, and a melancholic expression appeared on his face.
"Having trouble taking good photos?"
A new voice spoke near him, startling him.
"Huh!?" He looked to the side and saw the heroine Queen standing a few meters away from him; she was wearing her hero uniform with her mask activated.
"Don't scare me like that—I'm not young enough for this kind of thing anymore…" Liu Zhen said with a sigh.
"…Sorry."
Both were leaning against a wall, watching the crowd of people walking by. Even with the voices of the crowd, the heavy silence between them was palpable.
"So… how's it been going so far?" Liu Zhen said, trying to strike up a conversation with his own daughter.
"Well... I've taken photos with several fans, announced the new clothing line, answered some reporters' questions..." Queen said calmly, but Liu Zhen could tell from the way she spoke that she was tired.
"Did they ask about—"
"Cyan? Yes, and I didn't have any decent answers for them...."
Another silence stretched between them; Liu Zhen clenched his fist in frustration at the situation.
"Cyan—"
"You don't need to say anything, especially if it won't change anything." Queen interrupted her father once more, this time speaking with a firmer tone in her voice.
Liu Zhen then looked at his own daughter and saw that she was gazing in the direction of the museum honoring Lucky Cyan—
Several fans looked admiringly at the photos from the heroine's past concerts, as well as items characteristic of her: her hero uniform with roller skates, her special guitar, her lucky spray can, and her yo-yo.
"Hey, take a picture of me next to the guitar—it'll bring me luck," a young girl said to her friend as she posed beside the guitar.
"Do you think these four-leaf clover stickers are enough?" a young man asked as he walked with his group of friends out of the museum.
"Sure! Lucky Cyan's luck will help us in the next challenges." Another friend said, holding an identical sticker in his hand.
"I hope so... the last one I bought didn't help me, and I ended up wasting the money I had."
"...you aren't heroes; you're just entertainment..."
Queen then gripped the spear she was holding in one hand even tighter as she recalled that woman's words, then turned to leave.
"I know it's hard to accept hearing that..." Liu Zhen began to speak calmly, and Queen stopped to listen to what he wanted to say. "Cyan is more than just a Lucky charm; people have a hard time seeing the truth... but I'm certain that if there's anyone who can change this world into a better place, it's you, Yuwei." Liu Zhen finished speaking in a firm tone to his daughter.
Queen remained silent for a few seconds without responding.
"The Johnnies went to visit Loli and Ghostblade. I'd better head back so I don't leave the fans without a hero to greet." Queen said calmly as she started walking again.
Liu Zhen just sighed wearily as he watched his daughter leave.
Your father will never stop believing in you...
HEROCOM - ENTRANCE
"Here are your VIP passes," said an employee as he handed Lin Ling and Cyan their badges. "They grant you backstage access to the heroes as guests and allow you to skip the lines for various attractions. You also have a guaranteed spot in the cosplay contest if you're interested. Enjoy HeroCom."
Lin Ling and Cyan nodded with satisfaction as they entered the event.
Lin Ling couldn't help but look around at everything—crowds of people everywhere, making it hard to walk without bumping into someone. Even some low-rank heroes were walking around, trying to catch the public's attention, along with small shops and stalls selling various hero-related items, In addition, several drones were flying around the area
"It's way more intense than I imagined..." Lin Ling said to himself, still taking in the scene.
Cyan, standing beside him, smiled slightly at his reaction.
"Excuse us."
Lin Ling and Cyan's attention was drawn to a small group approaching them: a girl in her own Lucky Cyan cosplay, another in Queen's cosplay, and a young man dressed as Little Johnny.
"Can we take a picture with you?" The girl in the Lucky Cyan cosplay asked Cyan.
"Sure." Cyan smiled naturally in response.
"Could you?" The girl in the Queen cosplay held out a small camera to Lin Ling.
"No problem."
The group gathered with the two Lucky Cyans in the center while Lin Ling took the photo.
"Done," Lin Ling said as he handed the camera back.
"Thank you!"
"Hey, can you take a selfie with each of us?" the young man dressed as Little Johnny said excitedly.
"Of course."
Lin Ling, who was standing a little apart from the group, watched them in silence.
Cyan smiled and chatted with them so calmly and naturally that Lin Ling couldn't help but reflect on the scene.
Of course this is natural for her…
Lin Ling didn't realize it, but the smile on his face faded as he watched Cyan interact with those fans.
"HEY YOU!"
Lin Ling jumped slightly in surprise when he heard someone shouting louder than everyone else. He looked in that direction and saw a strange man sitting at a small table with a sign that read, "Truth Above All."
"DO YOU HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA OF THE FRAUD YOU ARE WEARING!?" The man pointed at Lin Ling, who looked around, trying to figure out who he was talking to, until he realized it was him.
"Me?" Lin Ling asked, pointing at himself.
Irritated, the man clumsily got up from his table and approached Lin Ling. He was a tall, thin man with long black hair, wearing a long traditional olive-green coat over an elegant black suit with gold trim, fastened by an olive-green and gold sash.
Is he a hero?
"People like you think he's a model hero. You don't see the truth! Nice is the most flawed of them all, hiding his lies behind a fake smile." The man spoke a little louder, with noticeable contempt in his tone, drawing the attention of a few people.
Lies?
"But who can I fool? People like a pretty face, and I have to admit, congratulations on that cosplay—for a moment I thought you were the real thing."
"Let me guess... did you dress up as Nice to feel special? To act like you had no flaws?" After all, who wouldn't want to play the role of the perfect hero? Everyone's dream... " The man circled Lin Ling as he spoke with a mocking tone in his voice.
"W-what!? I—"
"Even that bland little girlfriend of his benefits from these lies—it's a shame."
Upon hearing these words, Lin Ling lowered his head, hiding the expression he had at that moment.
"Take back what you said..." Lin Ling said calmly.
"What?" The man couldn't hear him clearly.
"I said—"
"Enough."
Suddenly, two security guards grabbed the man's arms.
"What!? Let me go—"
"You've already been warned not to bother the visitors."
The security guards began to escort the man toward the exit.
"Bother them?! I'm just showing him the truth!"
"Who was he?" A man cosplaying as the hero Smile, who was nearby, asked his friend, who was cosplaying as the hero X.
"A hero? I think his rank is 250—"
"I AM RANK 249!"
The hero shouted one last time before disappearing out the exit.
Lin Ling sighed in relief at the end of this strange situation.
"Excuse me."
Lin Ling turned around when he heard someone else calling him.
"Can we take a picture with you?" Three girls approached him; the one who asked the question had striking green hair.
Lin Ling blinked a few times, surprised by the question.
"O-oh, sure."
The three gathered together, smiling for the photo.
"Hey, could you do the Nice pose?"
Lin Ling nodded, and after a few seconds raised both hands, pointing at the camera, and smiled in the style of Nice.
"Nice."
"Thank you." The young woman said enthusiastically, pleased with the photo she'd taken.
I guess those attempts to imitate Nice paid off…
"Are you some kind of long-lost twin brother of Nice?" One of the young women asked, hopeful about the idea.
Lin Ling laughed nervously at that question.
What a crazy idea.
"No, I'm just a fan."
The young woman visibly deflated upon hearing that answer.
"Hey, we better go; we'll run out of time for Nice's Q&A session." The third girl said worriedly.
"That's right! Let's go before we run out of time!"
The three of them immediately ran off, leaving Lin Ling watching in silence.
So that's what fans of a hero like Nice are like...?
Lin Ling then let his gaze drift to his own wrist, looking at the number, which was the same as last time.
"Sorry I'm late."
Lin Ling snapped out of his awkward reverie upon hearing Cyan approaching.
"They really liked that cosplay…" Cyan said with a nervous laugh.
"I can't blame them; it's not every day I see someone who looks so much like Lucky Cyan." Lin Ling said with an amused smile, briefly forgetting the question that had been tormenting him just a moment ago.
"I could say the same about you, Nice's twin brother." Cyan returned the teasing with a smile of her own.
"Of course you heard that." Lin Ling felt embarrassed upon realizing what Cyan knew.
"I could hear a lot of things. What was the problem with that guy from earlier?"
Lin Ling sighed wearily before answering.
"Someone who wants to reveal the truth... or so he says."
"We're now inside Herocom!" Cutty walked through the crowds, smiling at the camera. "How about we interview some heroes who have their sights set on a spot in the top 10?" Cutty was now approaching a booth where a hero was standing.
It was a stylish-looking booth; the red and black colors made the space stand out, along with several mirrors scattered throughout the area. It was also shrouded in darkness, with small lamps illuminating the area near the mirrors.
"Excuse me..." Cutty approached the hero, who was greeting some fans. "Hero Drakula, could you tell us what you think of Herocom?"
A hero dressed in elegant attire: a dark red vest paired with a black dress shirt, pants, shoes, black gloves, and a black cape with a red lining. His face had a striking appearance—unusually fair skin, red eyes, and black hair slicked back.
This hero is a true vampire, currently ranked 34th. Drakula, popular among teenagers but not so well-liked by children, usually sees a big boost in popularity around Halloween; he has been seen as a vampire since childhood.
"But of course..." Drakula smiled slightly, confidently, at the question. "This is a beautiful moment where I can meet the dear fans who support my persona. I'm grateful that you're here to appreciate the beauty you trust so much—I exist because of you." Drakula said calmly and serenely, drawing applause from some nearby fans.
"Amazing! Another question: why so many mirrors? As far as I recall, your reflection doesn't appear in them."
Drakula chuckled slightly at this question.
"That is a reminder that a simple pane of glass will never capture what only the best eyes can see; the fans are the only ones who see the best." Drakula turned and smiled at his crowd of fans, who cheered excitedly at this gesture.
"Thank you very much, I hope you enjoy the event even more." Cutty said goodbye, satisfied to be near all that cheering, and soon approached another booth with another hero.
The next booth had a wild appearance; decorations of a dense forest were prominent everywhere, and some people were walking inside the booth.
"Do you have a moment for us, Hunter?"
Hunter, a tall, muscular hero, intimidating to many, his face lacking any kindness, a bald man, he wore orange protective goggles; even so, marks that looked like scars from an animal attack were visible on his left eye.
He wore only a brown leather jacket with a fur collar on top, a necklace with what appeared to be an animal's fang hanging from his neck, pants the same color as the jacket, and black boots.
A hero made for hunting, Hunter, currently ranked 51st, a hero admired by fans seeking something more "wild"—a controversial hero, once a hunter wanted for illegal hunting, he became a hero after saving campers from a bear attack, evenstill, he is judged for his past and his unfriendly demeanor, preventing him from climbing the ranks.
Note: his true hero name is: The Indomitable Hunter, the Ruler of All Biomes, Unmatched in the Art of the Hunt, though no one calls him that.
Hunter just looked at Cutty for a few seconds without showing any change in his expression.
"Hurry up."
"O-ok..." Cutty coughed lightly to compose herself. "What do you think of the Herocom so far?"
"...Tedious, nothing worth setting my eyes on. I hope to find something that challenges me soon; the fans are craving it." Hunter's tone was emotionless, expressing his boredom.
"Oh, so I take it you're aiming for the top 10 in search of that challenge?" Cutty ventured this question to the hero.
"The top 10 lacks challenges that get my heart racing... until recently."
"So is there someone you want to challenge—"
"AAAAAHH" someone screamed inside the booth as they got caught in a rope trap and hung upside down.
"No more questions," Hunter told Cutty, cutting off any further conversation as he approached the trapped person to free them.
"Thanks..." Cutty said, looking lost as she realized what this hero's booth was all about.
Cutty soon decided to head to another interview; she approached a third nearby booth. This one had an Old West style, with decorations typical of that era, as if you were in a small town of that sort. The standout feature of this booth was a target shooting game with toy guns where several children were having fun.
"Falco! The cowboy hero, could you spare us a moment?"
Falco, the cowboy hero, wore a worn-looking brown overcoat, a gray dress shirt, black pants, big brown boots, and most notably, a large cowboy hat the same color as his overcoat. His appearance was simple: a small chevron-style mustache and messy black hair, he seemed to be an older hero.
Currently ranked 17th, he is a formidable hero when he has firearms in hand, with precision and speed like no other. He gradually drew attention over the years of his career as a hero; his cowboy style was designed to captivate a younger audience.
"O-oh, I think I can fulfill this request from a beautiful woman..." Falco said drawlingly, a slight smile on his face, but a faint blush was also noticeable on his cheeks.
Cutty laughed awkwardly at seeing the hero acting like that.
Is he drunk?
"What do you think of Herocom so far?"
"Fun... lots of people are having fun, I'm having fun." Falco then looked around, spreading his arms dramatically. "What matters is that we're having fun right now!" Falco shouted, then immediately began laughing to himself.
"Sorry... they said it would be cool for me to say something like that... let's just say I'm happy to be in a place where people like me." Falco then pulled a small metal flask from inside his overcoat and began drinking without a care.
Surprisingly, he's the weirdest one so far...
Cutty thought, sweating comically at this hero's mannerisms.
"SMILE!"
"IT'S SMILE!"
Suddenly everyone's attention was drawn to the screams of fans; the hero Smile was walking nearby with a vast crowd surrounding him. It was noticeable that both children and adults were carrying handheld masks featuring the hero's face, but the smile area was missing—where those wearing the masks had replaced the hero's smile with their own.
Smile is a tall, athletic, and muscular man with blond-yellow hair and brown eyes, which he usually keeps closed. In the past, he was younger and had a smooth chin, but as the years passed, wrinkles began to appear, and he has since grown a beard.
His hero costume consists of a tight-fitting bright yellow and orange jumpsuit with a logo of a smile inside a white diamond on the chest and a yellow cape.
"SMILE, AN AUTOGRAPH PLEASE!"
"SMILE! SMILE! SMILE!"
Smile smiled and waved at everyone; he even picked up a child in his arms and posed for a photo with her.
"What are you waiting for? Are you going to miss this opportunity?" Falco said calmly to Cutty, who was taking in this sudden fan frenzy.
"Huh…? You're right!"
Cutty immediately dashed off so as not to miss this opportunity.
Falco then took on a serious expression as he watched the scene created by the hero's presence.
Everything is fun… but so colorless…
Herocom - Loli's dressing room
Luo Li was in her dressing room, taking the time to make adjustments to one of the gloves on her combat suit; aside from the glove, her helmet was sitting on the table next to her, and she was currently wearing the rest of her armor.
Knock knock
"Come in," Luo Li said in a low voice without stopping what she was doing.
"Surprise!"
Upon hearing that familiar voice, she turned to be "attacked" by an adorable little animal.
In response, Luo Li hugged him affectionately.
"It's always good to see you guys."
"I can say the same." The pair was Little Johnny and his son Big Johnny, who was now being petted by Luo Li.
"I'm already getting tired for today…" Little Johnny said as he flopped down on the couch in Luo Li's dressing room. "Interviews, talks, announcements… it feels like this stuff never ends…" Little Johnny was tired of the fact that this was the most common thing for a hero to do.
"It's my first time at Herocom as a heroine…" Luo Li said, recalling the times she'd come to Herocom more as a fan.
"The first Herocom of many... the best part is that with so many people in cosplay, it's easy for us to walk through the crowd without being noticed."
"I don't think it's very easy to make a cosplay just like my armor..." Luo Li smiled slightly at the idea of seeing fans cosplaying as her.
"Don't underestimate a true fan." Little Johnny smiled playfully at Luo Li; she still knew very little about events like this. "I walked past the Fomo venue—there's a huge stage this time... is it true that you're going to sing a song?" Little Johnny asked calmly, though genuine curiosity was visible in his eyes.
"...Yes, and I won't lie and say it has nothing to do with Cyan, but in this case, it's just a way for me to express myself through music like she does—a way to reach out to her and thank her."
"I see... I just figured it would be harder after the... you know."
Luo Li nodded as she recalled what Little Johnny was referring to.
39 A.C. – 3 days after the incident at the ruins
"You should eat more slowly," Cyan said as she sat on the bed next to Luo Li, who was wolfing down her meal.
"Sorry..." Luo Li said, calming down. "I just can't stand staying here any longer, unable to do anything..."
"It's okay, the doctor already said you'll be discharged today; they've also notified your mother."
"Okay…" An uncertain expression crossed her face as she heard this. When she woke up on her first day in the hospital, her mother was the one by her side. It had been the saddest moment of her life to hear what had happened to her father because of her; they had both cried over everything, but the conversation hadn't gone much further than that.
I don't know how I'm going to deal with this going forward...
Luo Li wanted to stay by her mother's side as much as possible, but the more she thought about it, the harder it seemed—what she needed to do, the justice that needed to be served.
The hospital room door opened, revealing the heroine Queen; just like Cyan, she was dressed in casual clothes.
"I'm back."
"What about The Johnnies?" Cyan asked, already knowing where she had come from.
"They're fine. Little Johnny won't stop talking about the training he needs to do... he's definitely going to go far." Queen smiled slightly at what to expect from that pair of heroes.
Cyan chuckled softly upon hearing that.
"I'm sure he will."
Luo Li watched this interaction in silence; they all seemed close-knit, but something was bothering her.
"Did you… come just for this?" She didn't feel right asking that question; she was grateful for their company, but the situation for everyone was still a delicate one.
Cyan and Queen remained silent for a moment, only confirming Luo Li's suspicion.
"Well…" Cyan began hesitantly; it seemed difficult to say.
"You'd better see it with your own eyes." Queen said as she picked up a remote control and turned on the TV in the room to the news channel.
"City X is still coming to terms with the recent incident at the ruins, a tragedy that resulted in the deaths of dozens of people. What intrigues the public most is that there appears to have been a conflict between heroes during the incident.
Rumors suggest that one of those involved, the hero E-soul, initiated the conflict with the hero Ghostblade and the heroes The Johnnies, which reportedly hindered the heroes' support against the forces of darkness that attacked. When questioned, the hero said it was a situation that got out of control. The entire situation was not well received by fans, and it is expected that E-soul's ranking will drop significantly.
The hero Ghostblade and Mighty Glory have announced the end of their partnership; Ghostblade's departure from Mighty Glory makes the whole situation even more mysterious regarding what exactly happened at the ruins...
"Isn't that good?!" Luo Li asked, puzzled by what seemed to be bad news. E-soul clearly didn't have good intentions when he attacked Ghostblade and The Johnnies; he's already suffering the consequences of his actions.
"There's more..." Queen said, making Loli look back at the TV.
"Another hero had also just commented on the incident: the hero Nice, who defeated the forces of darkness, preventing the incident from escalating further."
"WHAT!?" Luo Li asked in shock at what she heard.
"Let's now review what the hero said."
"NICE!" "NICE!" "NICE!"
A crowd surrounded the perfect hero, who kept flashing his signature smile at everyone.
"Could you tell us about the incident at the ruins?"
Nice's expression immediately changed, and a melancholy look appeared on his face.
"I'm sorry I didn't arrive sooner to prevent more lives from being lost. I still have a lot to improve on as a hero. I hope you can continue to trust me to achieve that goal. Thanks to the heroines Queen and Lucky Cyan, I realized I can also count on other heroes. Without their rescue, some would still have lost their lives, so thank you. I'll do my best to remain worthy of the trust you've placed in me and reach the level of the great heroines that they are." Nice finished speaking with a serious expression on his face, lending more weight to his words.
"No… this can't be happening." Luo Li spoke in a low voice, but it was clear she was trembling.
"Luo Li—"
"HOW CAN PEOPLE FALL FOR HIS LIES!?" Luo Li shouted, cutting off whatever Cyan was about to say. "HE IS NOT A HERO! BECAUSE OF HIM, EVERYONE..."
Tears began to fall from her eyes as she recalled the incident.
"This isn't fair... Dad, Nuonuo, Da Xiong... everyone who died because of him... and he's still walking around smiling like he's some kind of hero...?"
Cyan looked at her with concern; it seemed increasingly difficult for her to say anything.
"And what about you two?" Luo Li now looked at them with a slightly irritated expression. "Why didn't you do anything? I told you everything he did! He can't—"
"Unfortunately, it's not that simple," Queen said calmly, looking directly at Luo Li. "I can say I believe you, but what we have isn't enough to prove Nice's actions. Right now, it would be like an endless tug-of-war—our word against his."
"Are you just going to let this slide!? Are you going to ignore everything that happened!?" Luo Li couldn't calm down.
"I'm sorry, but for now, this is our limit. The HAC itself already wants to ease all this pressure stemming from the questioning about the conflicts between heroes."
"So… no justice?" Luo Li asked emotionlessly, tears still streaking her face.
Queen fell silent; the look on the girl's face was clearly one of disappointment. There was nothing else she could say; in the end, the word of the agencies alongside the HAC carries the most weight.
"Can you leave me alone?" Luo Li said, head bowed, preventing them from seeing the expression on her face at that moment.
"Luo Li, we—"
"I don't want to ask again." Luo Li interrupted Cyan, who in response simply stood up and left the room with Queen.
Luo Li spent a few minutes crying alone, still coming to terms with this reality.
RING RING
Suddenly, she heard her own cell phone, which was on a small table next to the bed, signaling a notification. She picked it up and looked at it disinterestedly until her eyes widened upon seeing what it was.
You've caught our attention.
"An email from the Fomo agency…" she said, still surprised by what she was reading.
A few days after Luo Li was discharged from the hospital
Luo Li was finishing packing her bags in her room; some of the hero-themed items she used to have in her room were gonegone—they had ended up in the trash; a car from the agency was waiting for her. Fomo had provided a workshop for Luo Li's exclusive use; the shared floor in the Heroes' Tower wasn't enough, nor was the basement of her house.
Luo Li let her gaze drift to a photo frame sitting on a table near her. It was a picture of her, her father, and her mother at a Lucky Cyan concert—her father had even taken time off work so they could all go together.
"Luo Li."
Luo Li froze slightly upon hearing that voice calling her.
Li Yan, her mother, was certainly standing behind her. Luo Li turned around hesitantly; it was still difficult for her to face her own mother.
"Hi… Mom…"
"Are you sure?" Li Yan asked calmly, though her concern was evident.
"...I can't just stand by; I won't accept things ending this way... I'm going to bring justice to Dad and everyone they've hurt..."
A melancholic silence stretched between the two.
Until Li Yan stepped closer and pulled her daughter into a hug
"I'm sorry... for not paying more attention to you, to who you wanted to be..."Li Yan sobbed quietly as she spoke. "I could have done more.... maybe I..."
"Mom... it's not your fault at all. This decision is mine now..." Luo Li hugged her back even tighter.
Li Yan remained silent, still savoring the embrace.
"I know... I trust you. Just promise me one thing: always be the heroine you want to be. Don't let anyone change that about you... that's what your father and I would want."
"I will..."
Back to the present
"I thought it would be hard for you to do something like this for Cyan..." Little Johnny said, recalling that even he hadn't been able to bring himself to talk about the incident at the ruins.
"I'm still upset about what happened, but it's not fair for me to blame them like that—they're trapped in this too. Cyan has helped so many with her music; I am grateful for the hero she is to everyone."
"I'm sure Cyan would thank you from the bottom of her heart for that..." Little Johnny smiled slightly.
"I don't need her to thank me, just for my music to reach her." Luo Li allowed herself to smile as well while still stroking Big Johnny on her lap.
"When we're all free for the day, how about we go eat at the food court? I've heard some people say that XFC is great as always." Little Johnny said, getting excited about the idea, his son following his father's example.
"I've always wondered… how did they get permission to use the image of X?"
"HEROINE LOLI!"
Suddenly, the dressing room door opened, revealing what appeared to be one of Herocom's support staff; he looked worried.
The three heroes looked at him curiously.
"Did something happen?"
"The hero Ghostblade is missing!"
HEROCOM - BACKSTAGE ENTRANCE.
"You may proceed," a security guard told Lin Ling and Cyan after checking their VIP passes.
"I thought this place would be quieter," Lin Ling said, looking around; heroes and staff were everywhere backstage.
"No! I already told you to speak up more clearly—'X is my target location.'" Someone scolded what appeared to be a pirate-style hero.
"Remember, you have one chance to grab the audience's attention." Another person encouraged a pair of witches heroines.
"It really is more chaotic than last time." Cyan commented as she walked and observed all kinds of heroes nearby; other fans and cosplayers were walking around, taking advantage of their own VIP access.
"The DOS area is further back; at least it should be quieter over there—" Lin Ling was interrupted when he bumped into someone wearing a hood.
"Sorry." Lin Ling turned to apologize, but the hooded person had already continued walking without looking back, blending into the crowd. He then let his gaze drift downward and noticed something had fallen to the ground.
A card?
Lin Ling crouched down and picked up this strange card—a black card with gold detailing.
It looks like one of those tarot cards...
Lin Ling then turned the card over and was puzzled by what he found. The card seemed to be missing something in the center, as if it had been erased; all Lin Ling could see was the number seven in the corners of the card.
Was it from that person...?
Lin Ling stood up and tucked it into a pocket Yue had sewn into his clothes; he'd probably still be able to find that person.
"Cyan—"
Lin Ling turned to face Cyan, but she wasn't there.
What!? Why does this keep happening!?
Lin Ling looked around and saw Cyan's distinctive hair; relieved, he approached her.
"Cyan, I thought I'd lost sight of you again—"
Lin Ling froze the moment the person turned to face him.
"Oh, Nice!?" It was a Lucky Cyan, but not Cyan—it was clearly a cosplay, visible from the face.
Damn-
"There you are, Nice."
Lin Ling jumped in surprise at the sound of that voice; it seemed to belong to someone who was both irritated and authoritative. He turned around, and his eyes widened when he saw who it was.
"Miss J?"
The manager of the Perfect Hero was staring at Lin Ling impatiently.
"Of course it's me, and what's wrong with your voice? Actually, never mind. Grab him."
Suddenly, a small group of men in suits grabbed Lin Ling.
What!?
"I was worried when Mr. Shang called for you; I thought you wouldn't come back before the fans got angry. At least now everything's fine." Miss J. As they walked toward somewhere, Lin Ling was carried by the men in suits.
"Wait! I'm not—"
Lin Ling was cut off when one of the men placed some throat lozenges in his mouth.
"This should help with your voice; the fans would be worried if you showed up like this."
Soon they arrived at a stage with a large curtain in the background.
"Okay, everyone to your places—we're about to start." Miss J said as they left Lin Ling on stage, still processing what was happening.
I can't believe even they mistook me for Nice… wait, my pass…
Lin Ling remembered that with his VIP pass, he could prove once and for all that he wasn't Nice.
Where is it?
Lin Ling tried to pull it out of his pocket, but only that tarot card was there.
When did I lose it!?
"You finally showed up. I thought you were going to leave me to deal with the fans all by myself."
Lin Ling froze completely upon hearing that voice; it was a voice he knew very well. Turning around, he found the person he was already certain it was.
A slender young woman with blonde hair and lilac-colored irises, wearing a tight-fitting white uniform with gold and black details, long sleeves, and a high collar that covered most of her neck; gems in shades of pink and purple arranged in the shape of a four-leaf clover framed a darker circular gem on her sternum, her hair was tied back in a long ponytail—this is the girlfriend of the perfect hero, Moon.
"Xiao Yueqing."