"What is the price?"
Lance Blue’s question was brief and direct as it fell into the quiet living room.
He did not avoid Miki’s gaze. His lake-blue eyes were clear to their depths.
Miki’s reflection shone in his eyes.
Miki smiled.
This time, there was less polite geniality in his smile and more genuine appreciation.
"Good. I like directness."
He leaned forward slightly, his hands folded over his knees. "The price is very clear."
"First, Miracle will belong to DOS."
"From now on, each of your public actions and every major decision must align with DOS’s overall interests and public-image strategy. Naturally, we will fully respect your personal wishes, provided they do not conflict with the Hero Office’s core interests."
"Second, it is not about concealing the truth forever. Rather, we will release it ourselves at the moment when it will do the least damage to DOS and best propel your personal reputation to a certain peak."
"That is both part of the deal and a means of protecting you. Being dragged into the aftermath of a conflict between the two major Hero Offices too early would not benefit you."
"Third..." Miki’s gaze passed over Grant before returning to Lance Blue.
"You need to grow quickly—strong enough to truly represent DOS’s new image in the rankings and before the public."
"We need a savior-like hero to offset the stain Fracture left behind."
"And you are the perfect choice."
He spoke with blunt honesty, without any ornate packaging.
Lance Blue remained silent.
Yvette Grant sat a little farther away, her expression as calm as ever.
Grant was watching him without saying a word.
They were all waiting for his answer.
"What if I refuse?"
"Then the truth will remain in my hands, but when it is revealed and in what form will depend entirely on DOS’s interests," Miki said.
"You may have to wait a very long time. Or you may never see the justice you seek."
"And you will lose all the resources DOS can provide, facing a more complicated and more isolating environment as an independent hero."
Miki’s reply was equally direct, even carrying a trace of well-meaning advice.
"You are a smart boy. You should understand that pure idealism often cannot take a single step in the face of reality."
"Only through cooperation can everyone get what they need."
Lance Blue lowered his head and looked at the pale-blue terminal on his wrist.
The number [2,801,080] glowed quietly.
He remembered his resolve as he charged into the fire, the key Mrs. Carter had handed him, and that distant patch of cyan.
He needed power. He needed a voice. He needed to stand higher in order to see more and protect more.
And signing this contract was the simplest path to the summit, though the steps bore the name DOS.
Lance Blue raised his head.
"All right."
There was no impassioned oath, no stirring speech—only one calm word.
The smile on Miki’s face finally spread in full.
"A wise choice."
He operated the data pad again and brought up a brand-new electronic contract, more detailed and substantial than the last.
"This is the formal agreement. You may examine the terms carefully, and if you have any questions, you may raise them now."
"Elliot, as your temporary guardian, will also need to sign his consent."
Grant took the data pad and rapidly skimmed the dense legal provisions and list of promised resources, his expression shifting uncertainly.
He only said in a low voice, "I’ll contact Elliot."
Lance Blue also completed his identity verification and signature on his terminal at the designated spot.
A reply came from Elliot as well. Both parties agreed.
A faint flash of light passed over the screen. The agreement took effect and was simultaneously uploaded to the Hero Association and DOS’s core databases.
"Welcome to DOS, Hero Miracle."
Miki rose to his feet and held out his hand.
Lance Blue shook it.
"Next," Miki said, withdrawing his hand as his tone turned businesslike, "DOS’s media department and public-relations team will begin work within forty-eight hours."
"We will first selectively release part of the technical analysis concerning responsibility for the plane crash. The focus will be on the severe dereliction of duty by individual heroes and loopholes in systemic oversight, directing public anger toward accountability for heroes’ personal conduct and inadequate Union supervision, rather than a complete rejection of the hero system itself."
"At the same time, we will prominently announce that you have signed with us, portraying you as a miracle born amid disaster and a representative of the heroic spirit of a new age—one completely severed from the past."
"This will put you at the center of public attention, and your Trust Value will undergo another substantial increase."
Lance Blue nodded.
............
Miki’s estimate had been conservative.
The following seventy-two hours were nothing short of a meticulously orchestrated storm of public opinion.
First, several authoritative media outlets led by FOCUS suddenly released summaries of internal technical reports, directly linking the plane crash to heroes engaging in prohibited combat. The revelation caused a tremendous uproar.
Immediately afterward, DOS held an emergency press conference. Founder Miki attended in person and, with a grief-stricken expression, acknowledged that its former hero Fracture bore inescapable and grave responsibility. At the same time, he announced that DOS would comprehensively reform its internal oversight system.
Then, at the moment when public sentiment was at its angriest and most bewildered, the conference lights focused on Lance Blue as he walked onto the stage in a simple dark-blue training uniform.
"And today, we would like to introduce a new hero to everyone."
Miki’s voice rang through the venue’s loudspeakers. "He was not born from our training system. In the flames of that tragedy, he saved lives and lit hope through the purest courage and kindness."
"He is Miracle. He came from among the people, and his very existence is both the finest warning to this system and its greatest hope—what, in the end, should heroes fight for?"
"Today, DOS is honored to announce that Hero Miracle has officially joined us."
"We will devote everything we have to working alongside Miracle to build a new era for heroes—one that is more responsible and more worthy of trust!"
The camera’s close-up settled on Lance Blue’s calm yet resolute face.
His image—blue hair and blue eyes—overlapped with the silhouette of him charging into the fire from earlier reports, creating a powerful impact.
The Trust Value number began to rise at an unprecedented speed.
[3,000,000]!
[3,500,000]!
[3,710,782]!
When the number finally slowed to a stop at around [3,750,617] on the evening of the fifth day, the Hero Association’s real-time rankings updated.
Hero Miracle: fourth in the Hero Association rankings.
And that was merely the result of one press conference and the sustained publicity that followed.
Lance Blue looked at the new number on his terminal, but felt little joy.
He understood that behind those numbers lay the expectations, curiosity, and admiration of countless people.
As well as the force of public opinion carefully guided by DOS.
They were both power and shackles.
.........
The [12th Hero Ranking Tournament], held once every two years, was the most prestigious hero competition and drew the attention of all.
Here, the strongest heroes in the world would be chosen.
Union Year 23 was already in the past. It was now January of Union Year 24.
The greatest dark horse of this tournament was undoubtedly Hero Miracle, who had surged from obscurity into the Hero Association’s top five in less than a month.
But the truth was not what they expected.
A few days later, the Hero Association officially announced the schedule and final participant list for the [12th Hero Ranking Tournament].
Miracle’s name was not among them.
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