Noah activated his skill, Mild-Focus, before he started writing the names of candidates for his team. The skill allowed him to concentrate and quickened his thought's speed making the job a lot easier.
After an hour of going through the whole list, Noah ended up with 12 possible candidates. However, he wasn't so hopeful that they would all join him. It would be good if he found another two besides Kura and Alfred.
Amusingly, one of the candidates was the student council president, who was in charge of the committee of superhumans related issues. Winning her favor would be the fastest way of gathering information. Noah smiled faintly as his mind started to plan for his next target.
…
It was the evening of the same day. Noah changed wore sweatpants and a casual t-shirt before heading out. His first plan was to go to the gym. The obvious reason is to get stronger, and the second was an important reason.
Entering the gym, Noah scanned the people inside before his eyes paused at a girl with a ponytail hairstyle. Her hair was black, her eyes were blue, and she had a fair body. It was none other than the student council president and the next target for Noah's recruitment plans. Even if those failed, it wouldn't hurt to befriend her.
Paying for the subscription with a bleeding heart, Noah took his water bottle and towel to the treadmills. He didn't go beside the president, but the one that was two treadmills away. He didn't talk to the president and he didn't even look at her. His plan was simple, befriend her without being a creep.
After an hour of training, Noah was running when the president stopped. He was speechless. In the past hour, he had to take breaks even though he was kind of fit. What sort of body did the president have? He also felt the president's gaze linger on him as if she recognized him. However, she didn't say anything and went to drink her water.
Noah was okay with that. He didn't want to be forceful on their first encounter. He had a perfect method of approaching the president. Noah looked at the clock, it was time. He waited for a few moments for the news broadcast while looking at his notifications.
[Stamina has been increased.]
[Agility has been increased.]
The screens on the gym changed and showed the GNC news anchor. It was time for the end of the superhumans' issues conference. And the 6 PM broadcast was scheduled to announce its results.
"Greetings, citizens of the world. This is your anchor, Jonah Araki, covering the results of the international conference concerning superhumans. Just now, we've been informed…"
The anchor started listing the result of the conference. To summarize his long speech, the results were as follows:
1. All superhumans have the same rights and duties of regular humans in addition to the following.
2. Superhumans must report their abilities within one week of discovery to the new association, Superhumans Union, managed by superhumans from all nations.
3. Superhumans must not use their abilities for anything that violates the laws.
4. Superhumans who join the union are protected and trained. Any contribution to research will be further rewarded.
5. Superhumans who commit any illegal actions will be imprisoned instantly.
6. Any superhumans who do not wish to join the union will be confined.
7. Superhumans who join the union will have a salary based on their respective abilities.
These were the initial results of the conference to control the situation. 'It is rather simple. Join us and live like a king or get locked up. They can't risk having Weohan's robbery happening again.'
Noah sighed and shook his head. He knew it would turn out this way. However, it didn't matter. The reversal is coming in three months and everything would change. At that time, superhumans would truly control the world.
"Why are you shaking your head?" A gentle voice came from behind Noah. He couldn't help but feel like a fisherman catching a fish. And this fish was a big and beautiful one.
"It's nothing. I just find it saddening that it came down to this." Noah spoke without taking his eyes off the screen
"Saddening? Why?" The president furrowed her brows and asked.
She was working out when she saw the rumored top students a few meters away from her. She didn't know if he saw her but it didn't seem like he recognized her. It did make sense since they haven't met before and she didn't like to appear on photos or videos.
However, seeing him shake his head at the conference result made her curious. She was currently in charge of managing the superhumans in the school and would soon be the link between the school and the soon-to-be-established union.
"They are using the carrot and the stick. You can see their fear of superhumans." Noah answered while drying his head.
"You are not afraid?" The president smiled with interest.
"I am. But those superhuman must also be afraid." It was then that Noah looked at her. However, he was expressionless like he didn't know and was talking to a stranger. He was also glad that his intuition aligned with the system.
[Notification: Potential: 92%. Loyalty: 0%]
"Mm… That makes sense." The president thought and nodded. She then extended her hand for a handshake. "My name is Aria Westbrook."
"I'm Noah Ezra… Wait, you are…" Noah introduced himself before furrowing his brows like he was remembering something.
"Yes, I'm the student council president. Nice to meet you, infamous top student Noah."
"Infamous?" This time Noah was really surprised and his mouth twitched.
The president laughed lightly before she continued. "Well, rumors say that you haven't eaten anything since you entered the school just to focus on studying. Now, I can see that you're a normal human, I hope."
"I hope? Don't make me look like a god, president!" Noah sighed helplessly earning another smile from the president. They chatted for a while before Noah left the gym and headed home.
Unlike his previous demeanor, he now had a grim expression. The conference took drastic measures more than he thought. He needed to be careful from now on to not be found out. He needed to work harder to prepare for any trouble.
Luckily, he received a new trace after meeting the student council president.
[New Trace has been found. Join the Superhumans Committee. Reward: 100TP]
[Description: To be better prepared for the Reversal, you need to know the secrets that surround you and could threaten your life. Learn about superhuman in the Seven Slates School and their characters.]
It was quite easy to join the committee since he had already left an impression on the president. All he had to do now was to apply at school. Hopefully, he would get accepted.
As he was walking back home, Noah's phone rang. He thought it would be Alfred asking him for some studying tips, but he was surprised that it was Jay, his previous class mentor.
"Hey! What's up, Jay?"
"…You don't call me class mentor anymore?" A crisp clear voice answered. Noah hadn't heard it since yesterday morning and he felt like it was ages ago.
After catching up, Noah's heartbeat rose when Jay asked him to meet after school tomorrow. He didn't want to get his hopes up, but wasn't this a date? However, Jay's next word made him stop walking.
"I… have an issue I need your advice with."
"Is everything okay? Do you want to meet now?"
"No. No. It's late and it's not that urgent."
"Well… Okay." After agreeing to meet in a café tomorrow, Noah hung the call before heading home. After feeding Cookie and playing with her for a while, he started reading online articles about hunting before he went to sleep.
The next day, Noah was walking to school when he saw the commotion happening on the streets. A superhuman saved a little girl from an accident this morning. He was then escorted by the police.
Noah felt regretful that he didn't see how he saved her. Luckily, a guy next to him shared a clip he recorded. Opening the clip, Noah saw an average salaryman standing to wait for the pedestrians signal to go green when a child broke off her mother's hand and chased after its toy.
The recording angle was quite shaky because the guy was doing a vlog. Nonetheless, Noah could see the skin of the salaryman going black before he jumped and shielded the girl. He was then flung away but remained unscratched so did the girl.
"This…" Noah felt that he was lagging behind the other superhumans. However, he didn't know if they had an evolutionary ability like he had or a fixed one. Either way, he needed to work harder.