You Were Born to Be a Hero

Before long, Lin Mo arrived at the place where Joanna trained and studied.

However, he did not enter the laboratory directly. Her classroom was actually a laboratory that had been remodeled, somewhat like the Game Room where Lin Mo and Joanna often spent time before.

Instead, he went to the Observation Window outside. This laboratory also had one wall made of glass, allowing people inside and outside to see each other. He only needed to sit there, so Joanna could see him without being distracted by him.

This was also the plan specially proposed by Vought Researcher, which Vogelbaum approved and implemented.

Joanna had noticed Lin Mo's arrival long ago. She was very familiar with his presence; she had already sensed him coming when he got off the elevator.

She happily waved at Lin Mo, signaling for him to wait for her.

The teacher responsible for instructing her smiled and nodded at Lin Mo as well, showing no displeasure at being disturbed.

That was only natural. He could not defeat either of the two little ancestors in front of him, so he certainly did not dare show the slightest dissatisfaction.

Lin Mo smiled at Joanna as well, then casually picked up a book from beside the table and began reading. There were also books carefully selected by the researchers, mostly autobiographies of Superheroes and the like.

While sitting in on her lessons, Lin Mo discovered that most of Joanna's classes had already been changed.

They included subjects such as American history, the national system, the flag and national symbols, and training in facial expressions for the camera.

How to appear friendly, brave, resolute, and perfect.

These things were child's play for Joanna. Her outstanding ability to adjust her performance on the spot while filming Homelander in the original story made it clear that she actually had a great talent for acting.

After reading for a while, Lin Mo turned his attention back to Joanna. This was where his current amusement lay.

The sounds from the classroom carried through the glass. At Joanna's strong insistence, the classroom was not soundproof after all.

Who would not want to watch someone else attend class? There was something incredibly satisfying about watching someone else be taught and educated.

Fortunately, Vought did not need to trouble itself with him. He did not need a teacher to instruct him, and the researchers had discovered that he could study some textbook knowledge on his own, saving them the effort of teaching him basic common sense.

The voices continued to carry over. The teacher inside told Joanna that a hero could not possess only power; they also had to make people willing to believe in them.

"When you walk into a crowd, you can't keep staring at the ground."

The image instructor stood behind the camera and patiently taught her.

"You need to raise your head and open your shoulders."

"Your movements can't be too fast. Otherwise, ordinary people will think you are aggressive and become frightened."

Joanna followed the instructions and walked through it again.

She was wearing a blue one-piece training suit.

A short cape had already been installed behind her shoulders, but it had no practical function whatsoever. It would even create additional resistance when she moved at high speed.

The first time Joanna put it on, she immediately asked, "Why do I have to wear this?"

The teacher replied, "Because it makes you look more like a hero."

"Do all heroes wear cloth?"

"Not all heroes."

"Then why do I have to wear it?"

"Because it makes you look more dignified."

Joanna clearly did not understand.

In her view, fabric could only be judged by whether it kept her warm, whether it hindered her movements, and whether Lin Mo thought it looked good.

"What does Lin Mo think?"

She continued asking.

The teacher instinctively looked toward the observation area.

At that moment, Lin Mo was sitting behind the glass, watching Joanna's image class.

Seeing that Joanna needed him, Lin Mo pressed the communication button, allowing his voice to carry over clearly.

"It gets in the way a little when you walk."

Joanna immediately looked toward the instructor.

"He says it gets in the way."

The teacher was clearly accustomed to situations like this and continued explaining.

"This is only the preliminary design. The length and material will be adjusted for the official costume."

"Can I keep the cape?"

Joanna looked toward Lin Mo again.

"He's not wrong. A cape does make a hero look more impressive. But it's up to you. If you like it, keep it." Lin Mo waved his hand. Was Homelander really Homelander without his cape?

"Really?"

Joanna turned back and looked at the image instructor.

"Since Lin Mo thinks it's good, let's keep it."

The teacher wrote a line on the clipboard and recorded it.

However, Joanna did not get to decide the costume herself. Every detail of her public image had to go through market research, Board of Directors approval, and evaluation by political consultants.

What she liked had never been the most important factor.

The lesson continued.

The teacher marked several positions on the floor.

"This is a simulated accident scene."

"You have just rescued a trapped child, and the reporters will interview you here."

Another staff member raised a microphone.

"Please face the camera and explain why you risked entering the building."

Joanna looked at the camera and displayed a standardized smile.

"When I heard that there were still children inside, I knew I had to go in."

"Every life is worth risking ourselves for."

The teacher immediately nodded and began praising her.

"Perfect, Joanna. You really are a natural-born hero."

However, Joanna did not tell them that she did not believe every life was worth risking herself for.

If the person trapped inside were Lin Mo, she would go in.

If it were a stranger unrelated to Lin Mo, whether she was willing to take the risk would depend on the circumstances. Putting on this act was merely a way to avoid trouble.

Vought likewise did not care what she truly believed. They only needed the version of her in front of the cameras to look as though she believed it.

Before long, today's training ended. The rest of the day would generally be Joanna's free time.

"Lin Mo!" Joanna shouted his name as she ran out of the classroom.

With her speed, she reached Lin Mo's side in the blink of an eye and threw herself into his arms.

"How did I do?"

Nestled in Lin Mo's arms, Joanna suddenly lifted her little head. Her pale eyes blinked softly as she looked at him expectantly.

When she had faced the camera moments earlier, she had still been able to maintain the standard smile Vought demanded. But as soon as the training ended, that carefully crafted heroic shell seemed to be tossed aside by her.

At that moment, she was neither Homelander nor America's most important future Superhero.

She was simply Joanna.

A young girl who had just finished her training and could not wait to receive Lin Mo's approval.

"Of course. My Joanna did the best."

Lin Mo did not hold back his praise. He raised a hand and ruffled her smooth blond hair.

Joanna's eyes immediately curved into crescents.

Compared with the standard smile the teacher had emphasized again and again, this smile was clearly much more natural.

She had not deliberately controlled the curve of her lips upward. She was simply happy because of something Lin Mo had said.

Lin Mo gently patted her shoulder, signaling for her to get down first.