"Glasses, contact Winter Xueer. The day after tomorrow’s the operation she mentioned, right? We still don’t know where Ouyang Rui and Evolution Corporation agreed to meet," Xiao Zhan said.
"Honestly, I miss Thirteen now. If he were here, this’d be easy. Just park him outside Ouyang Rui’s door for a few days, and we’d have everything figured out," Glasses Bro replied. "Heard even Double-S Rank Heroes showed up on Paradise Island where he’s stationed."
"Simple. Just tell me where Ouyang Rui is. I’ll go cut him down myself," Lin Jie said.
"Wish I could," Xiao Zhan shot back. "Attacking the Hero Association’s president without evidence? You wanna be nationally wanted?"
"..."
"You two keep an eye on Lin Wan and Mu Mu. I’ll reach out to Winter Xueer," Glasses Bro said.
He vanished the moment he stood up, leaving only a pair of glasses on his seat. Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan exchanged glances, then nodded. Ten minutes later, those glasses dangled from the lightning rod atop the Watchtower.
"Don’t forget to snap a photo when he swaps back," Lin Jie said.
Xiao Zhan gave him a reassuring thumbs-up.
Meanwhile, Glasses Bro found himself in an awkward spot. He was sprawled on the floor of an office, pinning a petite figure beneath him.
"Sorry! It wasn’t intentional—I don’t know why my teleport landed me right on you..." he stammered.
"You pervert! Get off me!" The girl beneath him flushed crimson.
"Oh dear. Doing *this* in broad daylight in an office?" Winter Xueer materialized in the doorway, phone already snapping photos.
"Get up *now*!" The girl slammed a kick into Glasses Bro’s gut, sending him flying. She sprang to her feet. "Delete those photos!"
"No way! Rare footage of my sweet little sister getting pinned? I’m posting this online—and to our family group chat," Winter Xueer grinned.
"Hold on—why was the glasses I used for tracking on *her*?" Glasses Bro groaned, hauling himself up.
"Oh!" The girl’s eyes widened. "No wonder you ‘generously’ gave me glasses. You planted them!"
"So what if I did?" Winter Xueer’s smile turned sly.
"Ugh! Name your price. What’ll it take to delete those?" the girl demanded.
"Just what I asked before," Winter Xueer said lightly.
"Impossible!" she snapped. "The Ouyang and Dong Families are allies now! Pulling stunts like this’ll enrage the clan. I’d rethink this if I were you."
"Oh? But I heard you’ve got quite the fanbase in B City. Wonder what’d happen if these leaked... I’m *so* curious," Winter Xueer mused.
"..." After a tense silence, the girl bit her lip. "Fine. I’ll help. But let’s be clear—this’ll bring the clan’s wrath down on you. Don’t drag me into it."
"Family anger doesn’t matter. Justice does," Winter Xueer said firmly.
"This won’t benefit you at all," the girl pressed.
"Being a Super Hero isn’t about profit. It’s duty," Winter Xueer’s voice hardened. "Do you know how many kids died in Ouyang Rui’s secret human experiments? How many righteous heroes had their private files leaked to criminals?"
"..." The girl fell quiet. "But our families rose to power in Sector C through profit—not justice. Even the Eight Great Clans built their ‘hero legacies’ for gain. If you sabotage that now... you’ll never be a hero again."
"That’s exactly why I hate these clans," Winter Xueer said.
"Whatever. Do as you please."
...
By afternoon, Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan stood in a deserted alley facing two flamboyantly dressed men.
"Blast Bros! Both C Rank Heroes," Xiao Zhan whispered to Lin Jie.
"*Those* bomb-happy brothers making waves lately?" Lin Jie muttered.
"Done whispering? Come quietly for questioning, or we drag you out! And where’s that little girl?" one Blast Bro snapped.
"Lin Jie, you handle this," Xiao Zhan said.
"Seriously? Fourth wave today! Why am *I* always fighting? What’s your job?" Lin Jie grumbled.
"I cover you. Standard combat protocol," Xiao Zhan shrugged.
...
At that same moment, Glasses Bro shivered uncontrollably on the Watchtower’s lightning rod.
"Those bastards hung my glasses *here*?!" he roared. A crowd had gathered below. As he debated escaping without sacrificing his glasses, a massive explosion rocked the amusement park plaza.
"No—Lin Wan and little Mu Mu are over there!" He vanished instantly, reappearing in his favorite convenience store.
"Welcome back!" the clerk beamed.
Glasses Bro zipped past like a gust of wind. Out the door, into a cab...
Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan had just exited the alley when the blast echoed.
"Lin Wan and Mu Mu are still there!" They sprinted toward the plaza.
After they left, a passerby stumbled into the alley—and dropped his groceries. A mountain of unconscious Super Heroes filled the space, every one a rising star with a massive fanbase. Tomorrow’s headline flashed in his mind: *"H City’s Super Hero Killer Strikes Again!"*
...
Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan reached the plaza to find a crowd. Xiao Zhan spotted Lin Wan and little Mu Mu unharmed.
"You okay?" they asked urgently.
"Fine. Hunter fought off terrorists here," Lin Wan replied.
"*Hunter*?" Xiao Zhan’s eyes lit up. "Gotta see this—H City’s only A Rank Super Hero!"
By the time they pushed through, the fight was over. A camo-clad man with a sniper rifle bound several battered figures.
"It’s over. Justice will claim you," Hunter declared.
"Hunter! Hunter!" The crowd erupted in cheers.
As the crowd dispersed, little Mu Mu bounced excitedly. "Sis! Uncle Hunter was amazing! He took down all the bad guys in seconds!"
"Of course. He’s H City’s strongest Super Hero. No comparison to *these* two," Lin Wan shot a look at Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan. "Some heroes are just... lacking."
"Tch. He just hasn’t faced *us*," Xiao Zhan scoffed.
"Exactly. One move, and I’d wipe the floor with him," Lin Jie added.
"With *your* skills? Against Hunter?" Lin Wan sneered. "Mu Mu, if you become a hero, aim for someone like *Zero*—not these jokes."
"Enough. Let’s head home," Lin Jie said, cheeks flushing. "Being idolized by my sister during my chuunibyou phase... still cringe."
"Ugh! *You’re* the one stuck in puberty!" Lin Wan snapped.
"Should we watch a movie after dinner?" Xiao Zhan cut in. "I bought a new one."
"*Zero: I Am Not a Deity*," he announced proudly.
"Pass," Lin Jie deadpanned.
"Yes! Dinner at my place, then the movie—I’ve been dying to see it!" Lin Wan cheered.
As they walked off chatting, Lin Jie paused. "Did we forget something...? Nah. Whatever."
...
Glasses Bro stood bewildered in the empty plaza. "Huh? What happened? Did I miss it? Where’d everyone go?"
