Afternoon, A-Block classroom.
In the "Crime Analysis" class, Professor Brink was holding court at the podium, speaking eloquently from his lesson plan.
Wade scribbled notes in his textbook, his mind already drifting to the far reaches of the galaxy.
'The Nexus 1.0 individual soldier serum has been sold to the military, but I'll hold onto the 2.0 version with the added invisibility ability for now... If I supply Butcher and his crew with the same stuff, wouldn't that be a breach of contract?'
'Integrity is key! I need to improve the serum; at least the abilities shouldn't be the same as the military version.'
Wade sensed the genetic map within his body. So far, he had accumulated over two hundred useless and fifty-plus useful superpowers of various kinds.
They were all collected by the insects he kept free-range around campus. The sources were either battle arenas, trash cans, or women's restrooms—he had blood from every conceivable origin...
Wade picked up his pen and jotted down a rough diagram of usable ability combinations in his notebook. Sensing the mediocre abilities recorded in his genetic map, he found himself in a dilemma.
[Low-end abilities: Frozen Balls, Glowing Thumb, Flame Sneeze, Color-Changing Eyebrows, Foul Stench, Beastly Ears, Lava Testicles, Bubble Breath, Hammer Hands...]
'It's making my eyes glaze over... It's not like I'm using them myself, so good enough will have to do.' His pen flew across the paper, quickly sketching three stick figures and haphazardly filling in ability combinations.
Before long, three types of "4+2" 2.0 individual soldier serums were designed:
1. Swift-Ghost: Super Speed + High-Speed Thinking + Super Stamina + Invisible Skin + Chaotic Taste Buds + Sharpened Hair
2. Defender: Force Transmission + Super Defense/Strength + High-Speed Healing + Frosty Sweat + Forked Tongue
3. Rage: Rage-Induced Power + Super Strength/Agility + High-Speed Regeneration + Aphrodisiac Saliva + Nose Hair Manipulation
Wade tore off the scribbled manuscript and curled his lips into a smile:
'Perfect for giving Butcher and his crew a boost. Otherwise, if they die off completely, where else will I find so many people who hate Vought and are willing to risk their lives?'
'To go against Vought, one needs to be able to hide well, run fast, and be tough enough to take a hit. These three serums are just right... As long as they don't run directly into The Seven, escaping should be quite simple.'
He put away the manuscript, planning to concoct them in the cave laboratory on his way to deliver supplies to the father and daughter, Anand, after class.
Ring-ring—
The bell rang, and the classroom erupted into a commotion.
Dense notification sounds and video playback audio rose like a tide:
"The Seven's documentary has been released, check it out!"
"Those Supe drug dealers are truly insane!"
Wade had zero interest in that fake documentary that cost $100 to watch; he picked up his phone to check the latest news.
Several top-trending headlines caught his eye:
"Heroes are Immortal! Vought Announces Grand Memorial for Translucent, 72-Hour Countdown Begins!"
"Cruel Retaliation by the Drug Syndicate! Revealing the Truth Behind Translucent's Line of Duty Death"
He clicked through the pushes one by one, extracting a piece of information from the long-winded case announcement: Vought attributed Translucent's death entirely to a bloody retaliation for investigating a transnational drug syndicate, and Homelander had already found the culprits and served justice.
'A vendetta turned into a line-of-duty death, a stain turned into a badge of honor... Vought really knows how to play their hand.'
'I was wondering why Vought hadn't used Translucent's memorial for marketing yet? I've been waiting forever, turns out they were just waiting to link it to selling cereal!'
Wade realized that Vought planning this grand memorial was both to incite public emotion and to thoroughly cover up the truth.
'A memorial... what a perfect stage. If I could play the recording of Translucent's confession under the eyes of the whole world...' This thought, carrying astonishing temptation, flashed through his mind. 'The risk is high, but... it's worth planning.'
Just then, his phone vibrated.
Wade looked closely; it was an exclusive push from the Godolkin University official website.
[Campus Notification]
Notice regarding organizing outstanding students to participate in the "Vanguard" Community Service Program
Scope: Students ranked in the top 100 on the campus leaderboard this semester.
Objective: To enhance the school's social image, strengthen students' practical combat abilities, and increase media exposure, we are organizing special community service activities this weekend.
Requirements: Form teams freely (2-4 people/group). Team registration and service project selection must be completed via the link before 10:00 PM tonight.
Available projects are as follows:
1. [Public Order Maintenance] Partnering units: New York Police Department and the DEA. Content: Assist with neighborhood patrols, case analysis, and early warning of potential criminal activities.
2. [Disaster Rescue] Partnering units: New York Fire Department. Content: Participate in simulated urban search and rescue, fire control, emergency medical assistance drills, etc.
3. [Community Development] Partnering units: City Community Service Center. Content: Participate in public facility repairs, assistance for the elderly, environmental protection publicity, etc.
4. [Border Patrol] Partnering units: Customs and Border Protection.
Content: Assist with port patrols, identity verification, and handling illegal entry cases.
An angry Jordan Li pushed through the crowd and walked over.
Wade sensed something was off and immediately erected a two-meter soundproof barrier around himself.
Jordan Li noticed the classroom had suddenly gone quiet and immediately dropped his guard, slamming the table: "Did you finish watching that documentary? We've become tools for their propaganda!"
"It was expected." Wade put away his phone, his tone calm, "Did you see the notice?"
Luke sat to the side, mouth wide open with a grin: "We've become outstanding student representatives; they even thanked us at the end of the film!"
Andre spoke up: "I think we should go to the DEA's subordinate zone to participate in the practice. Only by coming into contact with real cases can we further infer the... truth behind those archived pieces of evidence."
Jordan Li hesitated: "Isn't that too risky? What if Vought finds out and investigates..."
Wade waited for them to finish, then spoke slowly: "Split into two groups. You three, go to the DEA."
Jordan Li and Andre frowned slightly, waiting for his explanation.
Wade analyzed: "The DEA must have come into contact with the production and circulation of blue crystal, and there must be files recorded."
"And you?" Andre asked.
"Cate and I are going to Customs and Border Protection." Wade pulled up the brief introduction interface from the web.
"Most of those stowaways are screened and detained before being deported... We can go and understand how those people got in, as well as their subsequent placement situation."
Jordan Li, Andre, and Luke looked at each other, none raising an objection; they all knew what the so-called "understand" meant.
Wade turned to look for the blonde figure, flying toward the back row.
Luke and the others were extremely repulsed by Cate, so the grouping suited their wishes perfectly, and it was convenient for them to continue observing Cate's mind control abilities.
Cate was lying prone on her desk in the corner, with not a single person within a circle around her.
Wade flicked his finger, and the phone under the desk flew out immediately: "Weekend practical activity, you're in my group."
Cate raised her head, chin slightly tilted: "Not going!"
Wade turned his head, pondering for a long time, his heart full of suspicion: 'Why is this woman getting more and more stubborn? Didn't I just knock her down a peg this morning? Is her skin itching for another lesson?'
"Listen to me." He reached out and pressed on Cate's glove, saying in a deep voice, "We are going to a nearby site of the Customs and Border Protection to investigate how Vought screens and transports stowaways... Contact those people in the bureau and, by the way, dig out something useful from their minds."
Cate's fingertips were subconsciously scratching the desktop, and she said irritably: "Why is it so much trouble? Can't you just find an opportunity to post it online?"
Wade reached out and made a virtual grasping motion at her head: "Without investigation, there is no right to speak. If you expose those archives and evidence directly, without head or tail and without any basis, do you think Vought's PR department is just for show?"
Cate felt her scalp go numb and couldn't help but shiver a few times, continuing to lie on the desk in silence.
Wade stopped his hand movement and transmitted a thought: 'Little blondie, do you need me to help you recall how to answer?'
Cate buried her face in her arms, and after several seconds, she breathed out in a muffled voice: 'I... I know... Master.'
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