NOVEL WEB Chapter 177
It felt like the last few days had been unnaturally quiet. Heros Company, Evil Society, the Liberators, and all sorts of other random groups were all MIA.
As if they all collectively decided to zip their lips, there had been zero activity or news coming from any of them.
Heros Company was at least promoting that they were pressing Evil Society, but the public’s trust in them was already rock bottom, so nobody believed it.
Speaking of the citizens, contrary to what the Liberators hoped, hardly anyone left Heros Company to join other places.
The first reason? They hadn’t been sent any invitations.
The second? There weren’t many brave souls willing to abandon what they’d already built for some unknown new place.
The third reason, though a minority opinion, was more like, “So what? My belly’s warm, I don’t care!”
Citizens’ awareness was secondary. Right now, it didn’t concern us, and it wouldn’t affect our situation or issues.
What really mattered to us was news about Evil Society and Blanca. But since we had nothing at all, it was driving us crazy.
We were almost wishing for bad news just to break the silence. What ordeal was she going through? Had she already surrendered? Or was she still holding out? If she was still resisting, just what kind of trouble was she facing?
With all our nerves focused there, there was no way we could concentrate on our classes.
The overall atmosphere in the Academy felt awkward, and our class’s vibe was just as awkward, which didn’t help either.
But if we had to pick the biggest culprit for our gloominess, it would definitely be Blanca. All we wanted was for her to be safe.
“…Um, yes. That’s it for today’s training. Students, please be careful on your way home… class dismissed. Good work today!”
Even though we habitually gathered to walk home together, there wasn’t much lively chatter happening.
Still, before the news about the Liberators’ defeat against Evil Society broke, it felt like we had some decent conversations.
Now, though, it was like we were back to the level just after that incident… if not exactly that, it was basically close.
“…Ageha. Are you still folding paper cranes?”
“Yeah… I think I’m up to about 2000 now.”
“2000, huh.”
Yeonhwa and Ageha were chatting a little, but instead of lifting spirits, it felt more like they were dragging them down further.
“Minho, any news?”
“If there was anything, I would’ve said it already. Nothing’s changed. It’s almost like everyone’s just dropped dead.”
Seolhwa asked about the news, but I had nothing to reply with. Even if I wanted to, I simply had no answers.
“Blanca…”
Only Lapiz felt sorry. We were also feeling immense stress, but it couldn’t compare to what she must be going through.
Just when I thought today would turn out to be another dreary day like yesterday, someone suddenly blocked our path.
It turned out to be a woman in a black suit who looked like she came from Heros Company.
“I’ve been waiting. I came here secretly because I have something urgent to discuss. Do you have some time?”
For them, it was an unusually polite request.
Usually, Heros Company would gather a bunch of people to pressure us, but this time it was just one person.
“Who are you?”
Lapiz shot a prickly look at the suited woman, but she kindly replied that she was from the information department of Heros Company.
Wait, did someone from the information department just voluntarily let that slip?
“I have news about Evil Society and Blanca, which is why I’m here. Everything I can say outside is pretty much just this.”
Not giving us a moment to register the weirdness, the info agent dropped a bombshell. Wait a minute, with this, we can’t just sit still.
This is too suspicious.
As Lapiz squirmed like she was ready to bolt at any moment, I told her to hang on a second and demanded proof that she was truly from Heros Company.
“What if we get close and you break the black sphere to teleport away?”
Since Evil Society had absorbed the Liberators, it was a scenario that felt all too possible.
“I honestly didn’t think the reputation of Heros Company had dropped this low. To be suspected by future subcontractors, wow. Of course, I’ve already ensured my companions are secure.”
She said this as she showed us her ID.
“Is it okay to show us something like that?”
Ageha looked shocked as if she never expected this level of proof.
“It’s certainly not. But if I don’t do this, you wouldn’t believe me. It’s quite urgent as well.”
Honestly, I was still doubtful, but I couldn’t help but wonder what on earth could make Heros Company stoop so low.
“…Alright, then let’s move.”
Even while getting in the car, I told the others to be ready just in case, but somehow, we headed straight to the headquarters without any detours.
It was in a place visible from the Hero Association so it wasn’t too surprising, but even so, it was definitely big up close.
No wonder it was visible from so far away.
As we followed the suited woman through the bustling office, I suddenly noticed everything around us had gone silent.
So this is the information department.
“You probably already know, but just in case, let me remind you. Everything you’re about to see is strictly confidential and must not be leaked in any way. I trust you understand… let’s proceed.”
The suited woman led us inside a meeting room with such cliché lines.
Inside, there were tons of important-looking heroes and people I’d never met before.
“…They don’t seem to be related to Blanca.”
From what I could overhear, they were targeting her abilities, her physical uniqueness, or even her body itself.
Disgusting.
In situations like this, I envied the villains. They could smash things to bits just because they felt like it, and nobody would bat an eye.
It felt like a bit of a leap in logic, but it was certainly suspicious. Even if it were just a coincidence, it was worth investigating.
“Detailed analysis suggests it’s some kind of black slime-like substance and… it’s highly likely related to the Mimic.”
“So you’re saying all of that is a Mimic? That vast area? Then what are we waiting for? We should go recover it immediately!”
As a bald man became impatient, the presenter asked him to hold on a second, explaining that strange signs had started to surface, preventing them from acting immediately.
“You see, we detected… some kind of ‘activity.’”
The presenter moved to the next slide, displaying two images side by side.
One showed the number of detected life forms, and the other showed the distribution of activity detected.
There was one detected life form, but the distribution of activity was so extensive that it couldn’t possibly belong to a single individual.
“No way…”
“We’ve deduced that the single life response is likely Blanca. The vast activity distribution is probably a result of something she’s created.”
Presumably something humanoid.
The presenter added that.
“W-Wait a second. I don’t understand. There’s no way Blanca would act without a reason! What on earth for…?”
“To find that out. And we’ve gathered you here to capture Blanca.”
Of course.
That was the reason.
“Maha, Hecate, Protean, Phyra, Yukihana, Terra. This is a formal request from Heros Company. Please head to that location, investigate the truth behind the incident, and capture the villain Chemicat.”
The presenter was explaining well, but then handed us documents formally requesting Blanca’s capture.
By calling our hero names, it felt like we were being recognized as heroes and not just students.
“…With just our bare hands?”
“Of course, suitable rewards will follow. Both physical and honorable rewards, I assure you.”
“We don’t need that.”
Lapiz grumbled as if offended, but the presenter didn’t seem bothered at all, easily accepting that Lapiz could feel that way.
“Then how about this? If you capture Chemicat, I’ll let you decide what to do with her, just as you folks wished.”
“How could you…!”
Jinhyeon asked the presenter in surprise, but he simply claimed that Heros Company’s ears were more widespread than we imagined.
The old folks joining us were just as confused, but the presenter brushed them aside, saying they would make the right choice.
It was such a sketchy offer.
Just what kind of ulterior motive were they hiding? It was frightening.
But it was also clear that without this chance, we wouldn’t be able to catch Blanca.
“…Hero Maha accepts the proposal.”
As I indicated my intention to accept, the others reluctantly, or perhaps eagerly, accepted the proposal from Heros Company.
Let’s hope this time we can actually succeed.