Chapter 53: Set Up
The young lady flashed an awkward smile as she stepped out of the way, letting them into the house.
Sitting on the sofa with a pale face and faded blonde hair was Noah. He gritted his teeth in pain as he stared up at Nicholas.
"Phantom? Are you the one who cancelled my ability?" he asked, looking towards Nicholas.
"Yes" Nicholas said calmly.
’I thought as much, just how many abilities does he have?’ Noah couldn’t help but ask himself.
"You faked your death so you could hide from the culprits? Why didn’t you report to the Association?" Selena cut in, her sharp gaze fixed on Noah.
He stared at her, wincing in pain as he tried to shift his position, his sister quickly rushed to his side helping him.
"Not quite... I didn’t fake my death, Teddy is dead. Even if I survived, that hero isn’t coming back."
Selena stood shocked by Noah’s words.
"I barely survived their attack. Teddy Teddy didn’t let the blade dig too deep. It was two kids that attacked me, but after that, I decided to quit. I can’t give up my life if the association only rewards fame and popularity rather than those of us who actually go out there and stop crime." Noah said with a bittersweet smile, "As much as I want to be a hero, this is the best decision I can make right now"
Selena’s lips parted, but no words came out. He was right, and she knew it.
"That doesn’t matter now, we need information on the people who attacked. You said they looked like kids? A girl wearing a gown?" Nicholas asked.
"Yes, the girl wore a gown, and the boy was just... weird." Noah said, the memory of Hexi and shadow flashing in his mind.
Hearing the description, Selena’s eyes lit up with realization. "The same kids that attacked at Kevenhoff Town?"
"Yes" Nicholas confirmed, "As I suspected, they were also the ones behind the breach."
"You mean the breach we had not too long ago?" Selena asked, the dots connecting as she rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Oh that’s right! They also mentioned something after they thought they stabbed me, one out of fifty... So it seems there are still more heroes they’ll be attacking." Noah said as he remembered Hexi’s words.
"The information they got their hands on are the heroes whose information hadn’t yet been moved, and those are heroes who had been added over the past 5 months, and they were about 54 within that time" Selena said calmly.
"What?!! I joined around that time" Julie jolted, "Does that mean they’ll come for me too?"
Selena could only smile wryly as Julie freaked out, "Supervisor Selena, I’m not the biggest streamer yet! I can’t die. Please save me!" Julie said dragging Selena’s arm.
Selena tried her best to remain calm, a vein slowly rising up her neck as Julie held onto her wailing.
"That’s what we’re doing! Can you calm down and allow us to plan!" Selena exploded, making Julie jolt as she smiled wryly, "Oh.... I forgot,"
Selena let out a calming breath as she turned her gaze back to Noah, "It seems they’ve been going for the lower rank heroes.. since the last five that died were below rank D"
Nicholas paused for a brief moment, "That means we can guess who they’ll attack next. There are only three lower-ranked heroes left."
"Yes, but we can’t just do anything. If they notice we’ve seen their pattern, they probably won’t attack anymore" Nicholas said.
Selena turned to him, she didn’t know why, but she felt he already had a plan, "Then what do you suggest we do?"
"We bring all their targets to one place." Nicholas said with a stern face, his mind swirling with thoughts.
"Won’t that make them cautious?" Selena asked.
"Not if we put two others who aren’t their targets... That way it’ll seem like a coincidence, but we have to make them come together for a good reason... Five heroes walking together can get anyone suspicious"
Selena paused for a moment pondering, "I can have Dana tell the heroes to go in groups due to the recent killing. That way it won’t seem too suspicious!" Selena suggested, her eyes lighting up in excitement.
With everything coming together they could actually catch the villains this time.
"They probably don’t know that we know their number, if I’m not mistaken the fly I faced in Kevenhoff will also be there... So even with a team of heroes they’ll feel confident that they’ll be able to stand their own. The issue is the two we’ll pair the three target heroes with. If we pair them with two weak heroes, then they’ll most probably suspect"
"You’re not wrong. We have to bring a hero they feel they can handle" Selena pondered, rubbing her chin, "We can pair them with two C-rank heroes. That way it won’t look too suspicious."
"That sounds like a great idea" Nicholas complimented.
"Don’t look down on those impure kids... they’ve got powerful abilities and I didn’t last long enough to understand the extent of their power. If anything they could be rank B and above, each of them" Noah said, the shadow bear flashing in his memories.
Nicholas glanced at him, "Don’t worry about their abilities. If I’m there, then that won’t be an issue"
’All their attacks have been during the night hours... That’s enough time for Void to cooldown. They’re strong but that’s only with their ability’ Nicholas thought, remembering his battle with Zayx.
Noah glanced at him nodding calmly.
"I’ll have Dana post the information on the forum and pair them with the C-rank heroes, you’ll be on standby and we’ll wait for them to make their move" Selena said, a small smile climbing up her face.
"Sounds like a great plan!" Julie said with a large smile beaming on her face, ’Ohhh, this is going to be so juicy! A perfect stream, if I get this on live heck it’s gonna blow up!’
"You’re a bit too happy, you do know you’re being used as bait?" Selena asked glancing at Julie.
’Bait for peak cinema? I’m all for it!’
"You don’t have to worry about me, supervisor Selena, with Phantom by my side I’m sure I’ll be alright. Besides, we’ve made a great plan! What could possibly go wrong?"
"Let’s not get too confident yet," Selena let out a quiet sigh turning her gaze to Noah, "I hope to change the association someday, and I’ll make sure heroes like you will get the recognition you deserve. Please don’t give up on Teddy till then" Selena said as she glanced at Noah.
She learnt how the association operated and even though she still did her work regardless, she hoped to one day change the system and give heroes the actual recognition they deserved.
Noah looked at Selena for a long time, giving an awkward chuckle as he ran his head through his blonde hair, "I don’t know to be honest, but I’ll see... It’s a surprise to see supervisors like you who still care about the heroes and not the money they get fed from the association. I would consider coming back" Noah said with a smile.
"...And Phantom you’re doing a great job, I always thought you were like the other farming fame and popularity without caring about the people. But I’m glad to see you’re not like them" Noah said as he turned to Nicholas.
"Yes, I’m only doing this for my mo—" Before he could complete his words, his mouth was slammed shut by Selena’s hands.
"Thank you Noah, we’ll be leaving now" she said as she dragged Nicholas with her towards the door.
Noah chuckled, "Sure! Good luck with the mission and don’t die out there."
Selena flashed him a smile, "I won’t" with that she dragged Nicholas with her outside the house and Julie followed behind the two.
Noah’s sister helped them outside before coming inside and meeting him, "You never told me Phantom had a girlfriend"
"I’m only just finding out myself. Didn’t know he’d get so close with his supervisor, if only he knew what their work was" Noah said as he stared at the door.
[A/N: Apologies for late Chapters! The second Chapter will be dropping soon. That said, the discords needs your presence! So why don’t you take a moment to join us hehehe]
