Starlight's Special Recruitment

Maeve, Black Noir, The Deep, Translucent.

Hm, Azu only saw three.

"Translucent, put your clothes on and come back in." Azu said with his eyes closed.

From an empty spot, an awkward voice rang out: "Yes, boss."

A moment later, Translucent walked in, now dressed.

Maeve asked first: "What did you call us here for?"

Azu pressed something on his phone, and two figures appeared on the command hall screen.

"Princess Frost."

"Livewire."

"They're the new members I've picked for The Seven. I'll meet them later and test their abilities myself."

The Deep said ingratiatingly: "Boss, the people you pick are definitely the best. I'm all for it."

Azu said unhurriedly: "I wasn't asking for your opinion. I'm informing you."

The Deep hit a soft wall, smiled awkwardly, nodded, and straightened his posture.

Maeve shrugged: "If it's just an announcement, you could have sent us a text."

"Yes, that's why I called you here. There's something else."

Azu stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and stood by the window. "Next, I'm going to reorganize The Seven. Survival of the fittest."

"In other words, anyone who doesn't meet the standard, I'll have to tell them to get lost!"

The Deep and Translucent exchanged a glance.

Black Noir didn't move.

Maeve frowned: "What do you mean by 'reorganize'?"

"Reshaping The Seven."

"I'm going to give this team a new lease on life."

Azu turned around, the corners of his mouth lifting. "The reborn Seven won't make movies anymore. No press releases, no tours, no product endorsements, no events."

"We're going back to the basics. Back to the real job of a superhero. Back to the role of 'hero.'"

Everyone looked bewildered, except Black Noir, whose helmet hid his expression.

"Everyone, maybe you've all forgotten that you're 'superheroes.'"

"You've all gotten used to the company's arrangements."

"You've all grown accustomed to reading scripts and putting on a show for the cameras."

"I say enough."

"Yes, enough."

"We're not going to be clowns anymore. Not the company's puppets on strings."

"We're going back to the basics. Vought must do what they should have done long ago—serve us, serve the heroes, instead of making us into damn idols and celebrities!"

Azu smiled faintly. "So, starting today, I'm going to assess all of you."

"I'm going to build a real hero team. An elite that follows my orders, not a bunch of superhuman celebrities waiting for their next gig."

He looked at Maeve. "Of course, Maeve doesn't need to be assessed. I trust her abilities."

The Deep timidly raised his hand: "Boss, then what about our assessment?"

"Don't worry. I'll test you in the areas you're best at."

Azu pointed at The Deep. "For example, you. I'll spar with you in the sea."

He then pointed at Black Noir. "We'll meet on the battlefield."

Finally, he pointed at Translucent. "I'll play hide-and-seek with you."

"The specific time and place for the assessments will be notified to you later by Ashley."

Azu placed both hands on the table, leaned forward, and smiled. "I just want you to remember one thing: I'm serious."

"If you think I'm joking, then I just hope you can still laugh by the end."

"Dismissed."

"Oh, one more thing."

Azu looked at Translucent. "If I ever find out you're peeping in the ladies' restroom again, trust me, I'll skin you alive."

"That's not a metaphor."

Translucent's forehead broke out in a fine sheen of sweat. "I understand, boss."

Azu waved his hand.

Except for Maeve, the others left first.

In the hallway, Translucent whispered, "Is he crazy?"

"Making the company serve us?"

"What makes him think the company would agree to that?"

The Deep shot him a look. "You'd better watch your mouth."

Then he walked away quickly.

Once in his room, The Deep took out his phone and made a call.

A moment later, he said, "Mr. Edgar, this is The Deep. I have something to report."

In the Seven's command hall.

Maeve stood up, spreading her hands. "So, this is the company's new plan?"

"A secret reality show?"

Azu smiled. "It's my plan, dear Maeve. Don't you want to be a real hero, like you originally dreamed?"

"What I'm doing now is removing the shackles from us, letting us become true heroes. Don't you like it?"

Maeve narrowed her eyes but didn't respond.

Azu walked over to her. "If you have time tonight, we can talk openly, and you'll see I'm not joking."

Maeve shrugged. "We'll see."

She headed for the door, then stopped and turned back. "Thanks for letting me through directly. You know, I really needed this job."

Azu smiled and nodded.

"Annie, over here."

Donna waved anxiously, urging her daughter Annie, clad in a white-and-yellow-trimmed battle suit, to hurry up.

"Is something wrong, Mom?" Annie's features were sharp and pretty, her young face still carrying a hint of naivety, her eyes bright and spirited.

Her mother Donna said urgently, "There must be some mistake. Go in and talk to them."

Starlight looked confused. "What mistake? What am I supposed to say?"

"They eliminated you."

Donna pointed at the office ahead. "I just heard the committee members say you've been cut, Annie."

Starlight said in disbelief, "That's impossible. Last round, they said I had a good chance of making the finals."

"I thought so too, which is why I'm wondering if there's been a mistake."

"Anyway, hurry up and go in. See if there's anything you can salvage."

Donna pushed her daughter toward the office. Inside, several committee members were discussing something. When they saw Donna and her daughter enter, one of them immediately said, "Sorry, this isn't a place you're allowed to be."

Donna cut in, "This is my daughter, Starlight. She performed so well—why was she eliminated?"

The committee members' faces turned awkward.

Starlight froze. "So, it's true? I've been eliminated?"

One committee member cleared his throat. "We're very sorry, Miss Annie."

"You're outstanding, really."

"But—"

Donna cried out anxiously, "Why eliminate her? Did she do something wrong? We'll fix it, we'll fix it!"

"Mom." Starlight tugged at her mother, not wanting her to be so embarrassing.

The committee member had no choice but to say, "In any case, we're very sorry."

"Please leave."

Outside the office, Donna still refused to accept the fact.

It was Starlight who comforted her. "Mom, it's okay. I can try again next year."

Donna shook her head. "There won't be another chance this good."

Just then, a group of men in black suits walked over. The one in front said, "Miss Annie?"

Annie looked up. "That's me."

The man nodded. "I'm from Vought. I'm pleased to inform you, Miss Annie, that you've been specially recruited into the Seven."