That's Just Too Cruel

Li Xin: "??"

Hao Jingye and Song Linwei: "..."

Would that... really keep Li Xin in line?

The thought had barely crossed their minds when Li Xin roared, "That's just too cruel!!"

This woman had hit him right where it hurt.

Clearly, this threat was a serious one to him.

Dealing with someone with superhero delusions required equally dramatic methods. Cursing him to die a horrible death would not only be beneath them, but might not even bother Li Xin.

For an "Iron Man" determined to become a "superhero," losing face was the one thing he could least accept.

Sheng An remained perfectly calm and tilted her head. "Are you signing?"

Li Xin's expression shifted again and again, turning livid one moment and pale the next.

Finally, he clenched his fists and forced a single word through gritted teeth. "Yes!"

The agreement was finalized in duplicate.

Li Xin picked up the pen to sign, then suddenly frowned and gave Sheng An a suspicious look. "You didn't deliberately set a trap for me, did you? Did you know all along that I'd destroy the equipment?"

Hao Jingye: You finally figured it out.

Song Linwei: There's still hope for this kid's brain.

Sheng An blinked, looking utterly innocent. "How could I? Weren't you the one who destroyed the equipment? How could I possibly have planned that? You're overthinking it."

"Really?"

"Really." Sheng An spread her hands, her expression innocent.

Li Xin snorted and lifted his chin. "True. I'm not that easy to trick."

With that, he signed away his freedom with a flourish.

No, wait-it was an employment contract.

At the sight, the corners of Sheng An's lips curved upward.

Someone with delusions like his clearly would not be easy to bring into the fold. She could not keep relying on threats forever.

He would not listen to anything else, either.

Better to dig a pit first and get him into it before worrying about the rest.

He undoubtedly thought it was only three months, something he could grit his teeth and endure.

But once he boarded this ship, he could forget about getting off.

She had kept watch all last night. How could she not have known his patience was running out?

Sheng An put away the agreement with satisfaction. Their department now had another member.

-Even if he was an underage Metal-Type Ability User with superhero delusions, he still had some ability.

Li Xin sat in his chair with his legs crossed, his face full of defiance. "Go on, then. What do you want me to do? Let me make this clear first: my powers are incredibly strong. If it's something trivial, don't bother asking me to step in. There's no challenge in that."

Arrogance was written all over his face, as though he were waiting for someone to beg him.

Sheng An could not be bothered with him and merely replied, "We'll discuss your duties later."

Then she turned to Song Linwei.

Song Linwei looked back at her in confusion.

Sheng An said, "Now, let's discuss the terms of Mr. Song joining us."

Song Linwei froze.

Li Xin: "?"

He looked utterly bewildered. "What do you mean? You want my uncle to join the Special Affairs Office?"

Sheng An tapped her fingers on the table, perfectly composed. "Yes. I'm inviting Mr. Song to join our Doomsday Special Affairs Office as a member of Group B."

She acted as though she had no idea what a bombshell she had just dropped.

Even Hao Jingye was a little surprised.

Song Linwei stood stunned for a long while before saying, "I'm not an Aberrant. I don't have any special abilities, and I'm not a regressor..."

Sheng An shook her head and looked at him earnestly.

"The Doomsday Special Affairs Office does recruit Aberrants, but our purpose is to fight the apocalypse. Naturally, we don't only need Aberrants. We also need people who can contribute.

"You're a smart man. Your flexible mind is your greatest strength. A regressor's value lies in their memories. Superpower People are still rare now, but once the apocalypse arrives, there will be plenty of them.

"But there aren't many smart people of the kind I'm looking for. You're one of them."

Sheng An did not know where these "Aberrants" came from, but those she had encountered so far were each stranger than the last, all with very strong personalities. Put them together, and problems were bound to crop up constantly.

Besides, without a good head on their shoulders, they could not make proper use of their powers.

She needed smart people to help them reach their full potential.

Hao Jingye was one. Song Linwei was another.

Song Linwei fell silent.

Li Xin's expression was downright strange.

He leaned forward and could not help interrupting. "Hey, don't think winning over my uncle means I'll join you."

Sheng An looked at him expressionlessly. "Oh, I wasn't planning on having you join. You're just a contract worker. Your uncle is the talent I want on our permanent staff."

So, kid, could you quiet down?

Li Xin: "???"

-He began questioning his entire existence.

Was she really not inviting his uncle just to win him over?

Was he really that worthless?!

Sheng An looked at Song Linwei again, her gaze intent. "So, Mr. Song, are you willing to join us?"

Song Linwei looked dazed.

Sheng An clearly valued him, and it was not because of his nephew.

He could sense all of that. He simply had not expected that, with the apocalypse looming, someone would still value him...

It left him with complicated feelings.

In truth, learning that the apocalypse was coming, and that there would be countless Superpower People in the future, had made him deeply uneasy.

He had wondered whether having no abilities would mean he no longer had any value.

Now, Sheng An was telling him-

Even without any abilities yet, he still had considerable value.

Being valued like this was exceedingly rare, and it moved him deeply.

Was he willing?

There was really nothing to agonize over.

It was not just about Sheng An's trust. What was the Doomsday Special Affairs Office? It was a high-level department specially established by the state, a department under its direct authority with the highest clearance, and one of the most crucial places after the apocalypse.

Once the apocalypse arrived and the state began fighting it, following its lead would offer the best chance of surviving well.

-This was the best choice.

Besides, working in such a special department, fighting on the front lines against the apocalypse alongside someone like Sheng An-wasn't that something to look forward to?

Song Linwei's breathing quickened, and his voice turned hoarse. "All right. I'll join."

Sheng An smiled and extended her hand. "Welcome, my teammate."

Song Linwei also reached out and shook her hand, speaking softly. "Thank you, Team Leader Sheng."

Their hands clasped between them, lending the moment an inexplicable sense of ceremony.

Li Xin stared, dumbfounded.

This superhero who proclaimed himself the "Child of Destiny" looked utterly lost.

So he, "Iron Man," could not even measure up to his ordinary uncle?

His uncle was a permanent, official member, while he was merely a contract worker?

Holding that three-month contract, Li Xin felt more bewildered than ever before.

What happened to being Iron Man?

What happened to the superhero saving the world?

Why wasn't this anything like he'd imagined??

Sheng An said to Song Linwei, "How about we arrange jobs for your parents, your sister, and your brother-in-law? Consider it a benefit of joining us."

Her smile was meaningful.

Song Linwei froze again.

Then, meeting Sheng An's gaze, he suddenly understood.

Song Linwei smiled. "All right."

-This was a benefit offered to him, but it was not for his sake.

In just a few sentences, Li Xin's grandparents, parents, and uncle all had "jobs" during the apocalypse, and clearly, they were all permanent positions.

Only Li Xin, "Iron Man," still sat dumbly to one side with his three-month contract.

He could not help growing anxious, too. "What about me? What am I going to do?"

Sheng An finally turned to him with a slight smile. "Attend classes first."

Li Xin: "!"

-What the hell?