Miracle dreamed that he had become a great hero.
In his sleep, he was immersed in a peaceful world.
Then suddenly—a chill struck without warning, like an icy current piercing his body and shooting straight to the crown of his head!
His body jolted upright as if shocked by electricity. His eyes flew wide open, cold sweat beading across his forehead.
His heart pounded violently, as though it were about to burst from his chest, leaving him barely able to breathe.
Miracle gasped for air, trying to calm his badly frightened heart, but the chill still lingered, making his entire body tremble uncontrollably.
It was only a dream...
[Calm Down]
Miracle told himself.
Blue energy covered his entire body. His racing heartbeat gradually slowed, and his taut muscles began to relax.
Once he had recovered, Miracle looked at his watch.
"Union Year 25."
...
Nearly two years had passed since the [12th Hero Ranking Tournament], and it was now the end of Union Year 25.
Hero Carnival had become the champion of the [12th Hero Ranking Tournament] and claimed the title of X.
But afterward, unwilling to accept management by the FOMO Hero Office, he left FOMO. His Trust Value plummeted, dropping him out of the top ten and costing him his eligibility to enter the next Hero Ranking Tournament.
Carnival had risen to fame on FOMO’s social platform through his demonic music. Once he lost his traffic, he naturally lost his Trust Value as well.
If Trust Value was not maintained, it vanished quickly too.
"Miracle, it’s time to go," Miki’s voice sounded from outside the door. "This was your choice."
"All right."
He put on the hero combat suit that belonged to him and walked out.
..........
Union Year 25.
Birdsong rang through the clear sky as the bell atop an orphanage tower was rung thunderously.
Several children were happily playing soccer on the orphanage lawn when one of them suddenly kicked the ball away.
It landed at the feet of a cyan-haired girl.
"Hey, kick the ball back!"
Several children waved at the cyan-haired girl with smiles.
Her cyan eyes stared at the soccer ball. She picked it up in both hands without saying a word and threw it straight at the children.
But it happened to hit one child squarely in the forehead, making the child burst into loud tears.
This amusing scene happened to fall into the eyes of a stubbly man.
"Grant."
The man was Grant. He was intently observing Cyan’s every move when a voice behind him interrupted him.
When he turned around, a mild-mannered, refined man wearing glasses was standing behind him.
"Let the children sort out children’s matters themselves. You don’t need to worry so much either," he said to Grant with a smile.
Seeing that the visitor was his old friend, Grant smiled as well. "Now that you’re the director, you really do sound more authoritative."
"Oh, stop making fun of me, Mr. Reporter." The orphanage director slowly walked over.
"Stop, stop!" Grant waved his hand.
"We haven’t seen each other in ten years. If we keep flattering each other, I won’t know where to put this old face of mine."
"Hahaha, you started it."
"All right, back to business," Grant said. "I want to entrust this child to you."
........
Outside the window, the children were arguing with Cyan while a caregiver ran over to comfort both sides.
"Where were you throwing that?!"
"Don’t bully her!"
Meanwhile, the two men inside the room continued their discussion.
"Oh... she is one too..."
"Yes." Grant confirmed the orphanage director’s guess. "She’s an orphan."
"All of her family died in that plane crash."
"You mean that plane crash from before?" The orphanage director looked at Grant in surprise. "There was actually another survivor? Why did no one report it?"
Grant immediately turned grave and raised a finger for silence. "Because I was the first person to find her, and I secretly rescued her."
"You? Why?" The orphanage director did not understand.
"There are too many buried scandals behind that disaster, even though the culprits have already been exposed."
"The culprits? You mean Hero Fracture and Hero Vortex?" At the mention of heroes, the orphanage director’s expression visibly darkened.
"The news said they caused the plane crash, but wasn’t it later confirmed that they both died on the day the crash happened?"
"Precisely because of that, no one was held accountable for the people who died in that disaster." Grant’s tone was heavy. "There must have been something suspicious about Fracture and Vortex perishing together too, but the result has not changed. You saw it yourself."
"Even two former Xs ended up like that, so..." Grant sighed.
"I’m afraid she’ll become a sacrifice."
Grant gave a self-mocking smile. "You know the truth now, but when I first tried to report it, I was obstructed at every turn."
"So I’ve already resigned. Don’t call me Mr. Reporter." Grant looked at the orphanage director, whose expression was complicated.
At the site of the plane crash two years ago, Grant had also seen many photographs of the victims with heroes.
But the heroes had abandoned them.
Thinking again of the FOCUS slogan he had once seen, those gleaming words—Seeking Truth, Grounded in Facts—had not only blinded his eyes, but deceived everyone who pursued the truth.
"Sigh..."
"I founded this orphanage to care for children who have lost everything, just as I once did..."
"Grant..."
The orphanage director turned his head and found Grant standing there blankly, lost in thought.
"Grant?"
"Are you listening?"
Called suddenly, Grant snapped out of his memories. "Sorry, I was distracted just now."
"Looking at how absent-minded you are, this matter must be even more complicated than I imagined."
Grant nodded. "I have plans of my own afterward, so I’ll feel more at ease leaving this child in your care."
"Thank you for trusting me." The orphanage director smiled. "Helping these children grow was the original purpose behind opening this orphanage."
"Come to think of it, didn’t you repeatedly run into walls while reporting the truth?" the orphanage director asked.
"By that logic, the Hero Association should have suppressed attention around this disaster. Yet the truth was made public not long after it happened. Do you know why?"
Hearing this, Grant could not help but smile faintly. "Then you’ll have to ask a great hero."
"He has just arrived."
The orphanage director asked in surprise, "Who?"
Grant looked toward the door and greeted the newcomer.
"You’re here."
"Miracle."
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register