"I’ll help you fight against this... Hospital."
"...Huh? Why?"
And now, Adam didn’t know what to feel about that. The country manager of IBAA US told him that they would help find the Hospital, and now Leona was saying she would help him fight against them.
He... doesn’t understand that at all.
"I... don’t understand," he voiced out. Gazing down at Leona’s hand at first, before looking back at her eyes.
"You’ve only known for a day, and the ti we spent together’s even shorter than that. I... don’t understand why you’re helping ."
"The Ga changes people that only those who went through it can understand." Leona smiled at Adam before also gazing down at her hand, which was now being caressed by the miniature golems previously surrounding her.
"I’m sure you’ve gone through it, too. You trust strangers with your life. You kill strangers. It’s just... life changes after that."
Grace.
No. How could you even compare what you’ve gone through with these people, Adam? You’ve only participated in the Ga once, and you had the assurance that you weren’t going to die... these people had to fight for their lives for at least half a year.
"But even if I wasn’t dragged into the Ga..." Leona continued. "...I haven’t t anyone in my life as sincere as you, Adam. It’s almost... scarily refreshing."
"Oh..."
"So, I’ll help you fight against those scum. Get rid of them, and learn more about it at the sa ti." She shrugged. "What is that if not a win-win situation, no?"
Beatrice nodded firmly. "I will help as well."
"Heh..." Harvey shook his head, smirking while pointing at Adam. "I knew it. I knew you gave off main character energy the mont I t you."
"Main character... energy?" Adam looked confused.
"Yup." Harvey’s smile widened. "And girls, you don’t understand n at all. Even if we all offered to help Adam, he’ll refuse. He’s a man’s man. He’ll want to face this shitty fucking Hospital alone and make them pay by himself."
Harvey stared directly into Adam’s eyes. Leona and Beatrice glanced at each other, subtly nodding in agreent.
Adam, however, said, "No...?"
Harvey blinked. "What?"
"I don’t care if it’s just , with soone else, or even if it’s a completely different person," Adam said. "I just want the Hospital to answer for what they’ve been doing. And if they’re still doing things, they need to be stopped."
"Oh..." Harvey blinked again. "Well, if that’s the case, then fuck yeah, I’ll go! Let’s go fuck up so nerds! Heroes together, strong!"
"Harvey." Beatrice quickly pulled Harvey down before he could jump. She was about to say sothing, but then noticed... sothing. Sothing that made even Harvey sit back down slowly on the floor by himself.
It was a smile.
A hint of it, but a smile nonetheless. For the very first ti since they t him, Adam smiled.
"Thank you," he whispered, his eyes looking down. "I barely know any of you, and you’re willing to talk and help . I’ve... never had that before. Not like this. And...
...I like it."
"You..." Leona bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.
"Oh, baby... no." She leaned forward and enveloped Adam in a tight hug.
Adam instinctively leaned away but found himself trapped in her embrace.
"You must have been so lonely," she whispered. "I’m so sorry. I’m sorry you had to endure all of that."
"That..." Adam blinked a few tis, unsure of what to do or say besides, "Thank you."
A slight awkwardness veiled over him, and he glanced at Beatrice, who offered him a warm smile. Then he turned to Harvey... and nearly stopped breathing.
How could he not?
Harvey’s eyes were incredibly wide, his lips pressed together, his face contorted as he fought back tears... and he was staring at him.
This lasted several minutes before everyone regained their composure.
Leona began to tidy up her scattered papers while Beatrice brought in snacks and coffee. With everyone relaxed now, Beatrice let out a sigh as she sat closer to Adam.
"Do you know anything else about the Hospital?" she asked. "Is there soone there, do you think, who could help?"
"There... might be soone. There was a doctor who was kind to . I can’t rember her face or na... just that she was the only one who showed kindness. She’s the one who helped escape." Adam’s words almost humd as he tried to recall her face. "Sotis I think maybe I created her in my mind to cope. But soone from the Hospital told she was alive."
"Soone from the Hospital?" Harvey asked. "Was that... who you fought in that building?"
Adam nodded. "I was hoping she would see my appearance on TV and reach out. But she hasn’t. Either she’s dead, the Hospital is stopping her, or she’s staying away, which I can’t bla her for at all. I want her to stay as far away as possible from the Hospital if she also escaped from them."
"Why not just make another video?" Leona suggested.
"Huh?" Adam looked confused.
"Ah, that’s right. No social dia." Leona smiled. "You should create an account. We all have social dia. I have around 800,000 followers."
"800—?" Adam stared at her in shock, unable to comprehend such a number.
"I have 1.2 million," Harvey added casually. "Everyone on the team has social dia. Even Buster."
"Even the ratatusk?" Adam whispered, "...Mira?"
"2.6 million followers, last I checked," Harvey grinned.
Adam was absolutely stunned. Mira was quiet and straightforward—she didn’t seem like the type to have a social dia presence at all.
But then, Harvey placed both palms on his head, waving them like cat ears. "People like furry content."
"Furry content?" Adam had no idea what that ant. He then slowly turned to Beatrice, the most stoic mber of the team.
Beatrice looked away. "I have... four million followers."
"She’s the most famous of us, man."
Adam’s jaw dropped. What could she possibly be doing in her videos to have that much?
"You’re... all famous," he said in amazent.
"I can argue you’re more famous than us combined, sweetie." Leona softly chuckled. "And it’s expected—Heroes are rare, and we’re governnt Heroes always in the public eye. People are bound to follow what we do."
"Right..."
"You should create an account. Maybe this doctor will reach out?"
Adam stayed quiet for a mont and shook his head.
"No..." he said firmly.
"Not until the Hospital is gone... and not until I’m stronger."
And stronger he did.
After that night, Adam cleared dozens of Leaks—so even not considered High-risk at all. If a Leak was flagged outside and far from where people are, if there were no active High-risk Leak, Adam would go there.
Of course, the guilds didn’t like that at all. But Adam didn’t care, nor did he notice.
The only thing he noticed was the growing number floating in front of him.
[Free Status Points available...
...42.]
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