The Figurehead

At that moment, Fang Can's reveal completely confirmed their suspicions.

This invisible pressure really was something only a Superpowered could wield.

A feverish sense of happiness surged through them.

They were actually classmates with a Superpowered!

This was great! A Superpowered! They were saved!

Thanks to the way people in New Nation were taught from childhood, the idea that Superpowered were superior had been ingrained in their bones.

Although it wasn't mandatory, lessons in etiquette already taught students how to kneel when meeting a Superpowered. It had become basic manners.

In their eyes, Superpowered were an entirely new, higher race, almost as if they were reproductively incompatible with ordinary people.

So after Fang Can revealed his identity, it didn't matter what his powers were. On a personal level, he had already surpassed ordinary people by far.

As for Fang Can, he should have sternly rebuked this bad habit. Unfortunately, the Superpowered they were kneeling to was him.

Fang Can: Kneeling is a little extreme, but since the people of New Nation enjoy it, I can hardly refuse. I'll just go along with it.

As for what his classmates were thinking?

The fact that they could keep from humming with joy after learning they'd spent three years in the same classroom as a Superpowered proved their willpower was impressive.

Watching them tremble with excitement after he revealed his identity, Fang Can continued calmly:

"I originally wanted to get along with you as an ordinary person, but it's clear the situation won't allow that. So I had no choice but to come clean."

As he spoke, Fang Can slowly put away his Heart Manifestation. In just a dozen seconds, he felt it had used up a third of his energy.

As soon as he withdrew it and its intimidating effect vanished, everyone in the class surged toward him. They wanted to reach out and touch the legendary Superpowered, to get close to him.

But just before they could, they snatched their hands back as if they'd been shocked.

Touching him without his permission would be a clear act of presumption.

Looking at the young man before him, the history teacher spoke first. "Lord Fang Can, what should we do now?"

"Whatever you like." Fang Can shook his head gently.

"The situation is urgent, and order could collapse at any moment. I'll allow you to spread my name and use my reputation to maintain order."

Fang Can kept it simple. Apart from the loss of signal, the city was no different from before. The only problem was that people had lost confidence.

Carnival Day was less than ten days away. Once they made it through, all order would be restored.

As for whether they knew how to borrow his authority, that didn't matter. Once word got out that Fang Can was a Superpowered, plenty of people who wanted to uphold order would step forward.

With that thought, Fang Can put a hand on the history teacher's shoulder. "You all, move aside."

The crowd parted automatically, opening two paths. Fang Can passed through them impassively and headed out of the classroom.

As the history teacher was still thrilled that a Superpowered had touched him, one of the students asked, "Fang Can... sir, where are you going?"

"Home," Fang Can said without looking back.

"Th-then what about us?" a student asked, bewildered.

"Do whatever you want."

Watching him leave the classroom, everyone hesitated. But when they heard the chaotic uproar from the other classes, a girl gritted her teeth and quietly followed Fang Can.

Soon, a second student followed. Then, swept up by the crowd's momentum, the entire class—including the teacher—fell in behind him.

Fang Can did nothing to respond. He neither agreed nor objected, easing their nervousness.

Compared to the chaos in the other classes, their orderly procession quickly caught the attention of those nearby.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

A student from another class hurried over and asked them what was going on. They thought this was the school's latest instruction.

Seeing how shaken the other student looked, the people in the procession felt a surge of superiority. "See the person up front? He's a noble Superpowered."

"A Superpowered?!" The student's eyes widened. But seeing how certain they all looked, he hurried off.

A minute later, a series of stomping footsteps sounded on the stairs. Students and teachers from several classes hurried down and joined the line behind Fang Can.

In just a few minutes, the crowd following him had grown to over a hundred people. They all trailed behind him in silence, and no one left.

But that was only the beginning. As their numbers grew, more and more students noticed them.

One class, two classes, three classes...

By the time Fang Can reached the school gate, every teacher and student in the school had gathered behind him.

Some tried to approach Fang Can and talk to him, but students from his class stopped them, saying they couldn't risk offending the noble Superpowered.

Soon, Fang Can and the thousands of teachers and students following him set off toward his home.

Once the crowd reached a certain size, people naturally began to cling together.

In a city where the authorities had announced that order was lost and could no longer keep the public safe, most people instinctively sought out a group. Only together could they feel secure.

After they left the school, the thousands of silently walking students soon caught everyone's attention. Once people approached and learned what was happening, they chose to join them.

Hearing the uproar from the city in the distance and comparing it with the reassuring sight of this silent crowd, people began to regain the confidence they had lost.

Suddenly, a student pulled out his phone and said, "My parents are in Z City too. It's dangerous out there, so I should tell them to hurry over and join us."

His words immediately reminded everyone else. Soon, the quiet procession grew noisy as people tried to contact their friends and family in Z City.

Two thousand... five thousand... ten thousand... twenty thousand...

Like a snowball rolling downhill, the crowd following Fang Can soon swelled to at least tens of thousands.

There were students, office workers, shut-ins, retired seniors, drivers, teenagers on bikes...

Under the psychological pressure of the Superpowered, an unlikely crowd of people from all walks of life somehow managed to avoid any disorder.

It was as if humility and politeness had been carved into their hearts.

Fang Can knew exactly what was happening behind him, but didn't interfere at all. All he'd done was calmly announce his identity. Everything else had fallen into place as naturally as water flowing downstream.

Apart from Fang Can's classmates, no one had seen him demonstrate his powers. Still, no one dared doubt the truth of it, and no one questioned him.

Because right now, they needed a Superpowered to take charge. Even a fake one would do.

If they started questioning him now and he really was a fake, wouldn't they be in serious trouble?

And so, with trust founded on suspicion, Fang Can successfully led the tens of thousands to his doorstep.

Inside, Jiang Ning'an had been meditating when she heard the commotion. ??? Wait, have people from the modern world invaded?

I'd originally wanted the protagonist to be a little timid, but then wouldn't that disappoint all you readers?

So screw it. I've got this covered as the author. What could possibly go wrong? What are you afraid of? Just do it!