Evelyn stepped out of the vehicle, her heels clicking against the pavement. Without missing a beat, she turned to Sebastian. "Have someone inform Diana that I'll be seeing her soon. You're coming with me."
Sebastian gave a slight nod, pulling out his phone as he followed her inside. The message was sent before they even reached Victor's office.
Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Victor sat behind his desk; hands clasped together so tightly his knuckles turned white. His eyes flicked up at Evelyn, cold and unreadable, but the sharp exhale through his nose betrayed his irritation.
Vivian lounged on the couch, legs crossed, absently swirling a glass of whiskey. She barely glanced at Evelyn, her focus elsewhere.
Donovan stood beside Victor's desk, his usual post like a knight guarding his king. At the sight of Evelyn, a small, almost involuntary smile tugged at his lips—but it disappeared the moment his eyes landed on Sebastian trailing behind her. His jaw tightened, hands flexing slightly at his sides before he stilled, regaining composure.
No one spoke at first. The room remained silent, thick with unspoken tension.
Evelyn rolled her eyes the moment she saw them. Seriously? What could possibly be so important about the people he was holding hostage that he looked this furious?
Unbothered, she strode up to his desk, her heels tapping against the floor with purpose. Victor, ever the composed leader, forced a smile—thin, unconvincing. He didn't want her to see him like this, rattled and on edge.
"I'm going to become a hero," Evelyn announced, her voice smooth, deliberate.
Victor's forced smile vanished. His lips pressed into a tight line, unreadable.
Vivian, perched on the couch with her whiskey, paused mid-sip. Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass before she set it down, shifting forward, suddenly invested.
"I know you have history with Heroic Heights," Evelyn continued, her gaze locked onto Victor's. "But if you want to influence the people of Veridia, you need someone they'll trust—" she gestured to herself with a confident smirk— "a hero."
Evelyn lifted a hand, stopping Donovan before he could speak. "When was the last time you received a letter of appreciation?" Her voice was cool, unwavering. "Focus on keeping my father safe."
Donovan stiffened, then gave a small, nervous nod. He straightened his posture, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Victor exhaled, slow and measured, before rising from his seat. Evelyn didn't budge, maintaining her effortless confidence as he moved.
He picked up a small glass from his desk, the liquid inside a deep, unnatural green. Turning toward her, he held it up. "I'll be unveiling my new factory today." His voice was steady, but there was something calculating behind his words. "This—" he swirled the liquid slightly— "has the power to grant you a gift, one designed specifically for you."
He stepped closer, offering her the glass. "If I need anything from you, Donovan will let you know."
A smile touched his lips, but Evelyn could see through it. The irritation still lingered in his eyes, carefully hidden beneath his composed exterior.
Evelyn took the serum without hesitation, her expression unreadable. Before turning to leave, she gestured toward Sebastian. "This is Sebastian," she introduced him curtly, her tone making it clear there was no room for questions. Then, without another word, she exited the office.
The car pulled away from the building, the hum of the engine filling the silence. Seated in the back, Evelyn gazed out the window, her mind already working ahead.
"Sebastian," she said, her tone crisp, "assign a unit to keep tabs on Victor and Vivian. I want updates on their movements, conversations—everything." She didn't wait for acknowledgment before continuing. "Once that's handled, outline the steps for Heroic Heights registration. I don't have time to waste on bureaucracy."
Her gaze flicked to him through the rearview mirror, her expectation clear: efficiency, no delays.
Sebastian skimmed through his phone, gathering the information Evelyn had requested. Without looking up, he relayed the details. "Registration is quick. They'll assess your gift, test your physical capabilities, and verify your ID. That's all."
Evelyn nodded slightly, absorbing the information as the car pulled to a stop. Stepping out, she strode into the building without hesitation. The space buzzed with energy—heroes in full costume moved through the halls, while newcomers stood in line, eager or anxious to be registered.
Before she could take another step, a familiar voice called out.
"Hey! What are you doing here? I was just about to bring this to you," Diana greeted, weaving through the crowd with a confident stride.
Without preamble, she handed Evelyn a sleek, newly printed hero ID. Evelyn took the card, her expression unreadable, though a flicker of surprise crossed her features. She hadn't been expecting it.
Evelyn lifted her gaze, her expression unreadable, but Diana smirked—she could already tell what was coming.
"You're wondering how I pulled that off, right?" Diana said before Evelyn could speak. "I'm Seraphina's assistant. When she's not around, everyone answers to me. Honestly, even if she were here, they wouldn't dare refuse." She gave a small shrug, as if it was just another day of bending the system in her favor. "Good luck with the whole hero thing."
She turned to leave, but Evelyn wasn't finished.
"Just like that?" she asked, stopping Diana in her tracks. "Aren't you supposed to be giving me objectives or something? Or am I missing a step?"
"There are five ranks: Paragon, Sentinel, Elite, Specialist, and Novice," Diana explained. "Right now, you're a Novice, which means you're limited to low-risk tasks—rescue operations, crowd control, that sort of thing." She gestured toward a board displaying available missions.
Leaning in slightly, she dropped her voice. "We'll talk about the people you rescued later."
With that, she stepped away to assist others, leaving Evelyn standing there, unimpressed. She glanced around at the bustling room, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"Crowd control? Seriously?" she muttered under her breath.
"With our numbers, we could complete multiple novice missions efficiently, Ms. Evelyn," Sebastian offered, ever pragmatic.
Evelyn shook her head. "No, I doubt they'd let one person take on that many missions at once. We'll have to find the crimes ourselves—something my soldiers excel at. Sebastian, get to work."
Without waiting for a response, she strode toward the mission board, scanning the available assignments. Spotting a woman behind the counter, she approached. "How do I take on a mission?"
The woman barely glanced up. "Just give us the mission number, and we'll determine if you're eligible."
Evelyn raised a brow. "Based on what?"
The woman finally looked at her, unimpressed. "Your rank."
Evelyn scanned the list again, her eyes locking onto a human trafficking mission. Without hesitation, she recited the mission number to the woman behind the counter.
The woman glanced up, then let out a short, amused laugh. "Are you trying to get trafficked yourself? Look, even if you think you can handle it, we have to follow protocol."
She tapped a separate list on her desk and continued, "Here's something more within your rank—some wanted criminals have been spotted in the area. The higher their bounty, the more points you earn, and the faster you'll climb the ranks." She slid the paper toward Evelyn with a knowing smirk.
"Appreciate it," Evelyn said as she accepted the mission tag. She turned it over in her hand, then looked back at the woman. "How do you confirm mission completion?"
The woman leaned on the counter. "You won't be working alone. Missions are requested by someone who needs assistance, and they'll be the ones to verify your involvement. Once it's done, they sign off on it. If for some reason they don't, bring the tag back, and our team will handle the verification."
Evelyn waited, expecting the woman to provide the contact details. Instead, the woman simply stared back at her, unbothered.
"How exactly am I supposed to contact them?" Evelyn asked, raising a brow.
Without a word, the woman handed over a small mission card. One side displayed the mission number and type; the other listed the requester's contact and location.
"Turn it over," the woman muttered before shifting her attention elsewhere, already done with the conversation.
Evelyn sighed, pushing open the doors just as Sebastian fell into step beside her. Before they could leave, Lucas and Ruby entered, spotting her immediately.
Both grinned. Evelyn, unsurprisingly, did not return the sentiment.
"See? Once you get a taste, you can't stop," Lucas teased.
Ruby pulled her into a brief hug before snatching the mission card from her hand. "Wanted criminals? Not bad for a first mission. Don't stress too much—the people assigned to it will have your back." She handed the card back with a reassuring smile.
As she turned to leave, Ruby nudged Lucas. "Told you she'd end up a hero."
With an amused shake of her head, she walked off, leaving Evelyn staring after her.
"I'm going to need some soldiers and a customized pistol," Evelyn said with a small smile.
Sebastian, ever prepared, reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek white pistol. "Already ahead of you. Lightweight, no need to reload. The bullets vanish on impact—silent and untraceable."
Evelyn took the pistol, running a hand over its smooth surface before securing it in her holster.
Sebastian wasn't done. He held out a pair of glasses next. "These will enhance your gift and make using the pistol even more efficient."
Evelyn arched a brow. "How exactly?"
"You'll understand after the mission," he assured her.