I Am a Hero With A Hundred Abilities-Chapter 37: Ch 36. Hidden Agenda

Alex rested his head on Emily's shoulder, inhaling the scent of her freshly washed hair.

"I heard some news," he murmured.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice still light.

"Ethan was hospitalized."

Her expression shifted instantly, her brows furrowing. "Really, Alex? You had to ruin the moment by bringing that loser up?"

He chuckled. "That's a bit harsh. He was your boyfriend, after all."

"Don't remind me. I still don't understand why you even told me to approach him in the first place. He had nothing and worst of all he awakened as a low-rank hero. What was the point of me acting like I cared?"

Alex went silent for a long moment, eyes distant.

"Guess I just wanted to see the loser suffer," he said eventually, his tone more casual than sincere.

Emily frowned. She had heard this excuse before, but it never sat right with her.

If Alex wanted to humiliate Ethan, there were easier ways. The role she played—the false affection, the emotional manipulation—and worst of all, the drug...

Her thoughts darkened. It wasn't just emotional. That drug—Devotia—wasn't something to be used lightly.

Once ingested, it latched onto the subject's emotional patterns, deepening their fixation on the person they spent the most time with.

It wasn't just cruel—it was deliberate. Too calculated for something as simple as spite.

As she stared at the wall, Alex tilted her chin toward him, smirking. "Hey. What are you thinking about while I'm right here?"

"Nothing," she said softly, looking away. "And don't get any ideas. I just showered."

"Shame. I was just thinking how funny it'd be if that loser could see us now," he said with a wicked grin.

"Weirdo."

But despite her words, she let him pull her onto the bed.

Inside the room, the air grew heavier, the tension giving way to passion as soft moans and whispered names echoed against the walls—an intimate symphony that filled the room, fueled by lust, control, and a twisted sense of satisfaction.

****

The next morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room.

Emily lay sprawled across the bed, the sheets tangled around her petite frame, her breathing slow and even—clearly exhausted from the night before.

Outside on the balcony, Alex stood shirtless, a cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling lazily into the crisp morning air.

His expression was calm but distant, lost in thought.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he glanced at the caller ID before answering.

"Did she know anything?" the voice on the other end asked, sharp and demanding.

"No," Alex replied flatly. "She didn't know anything about the matter."

A frustrated click of the tongue followed. "Tch. Useless. I don't even know what you see in her. I could find you a dozen women better than her in this city, yet you keep refusing."

Alex exhaled smoke slowly, unfazed. "She's just a pet. When I get bored, I'll move on to the next."

There was a pause. Then the voice—his father—spoke again, colder now. "Fine. Just don't embarrass the family."

Alex didn't bother responding to that. His tone sharpened instead. "Any news about that loser?"

A rustle of papers on the other end. "It wasn't easy, but we found something. He and his sister are staying at the Lancaster estate."

Alex's eyes widened in shock. "The Lancaster estate? Are you saying they found out something? That's not possible—he was completely normal at the academy."

"Maybe he was," his father said. "But something must have changed. That's the only explanation."

Alex stood in silence, his mind racing. If Ethan was now under the Lancasters' protection, things were far more complicated than he'd expected.

"So... what now?" Alex asked quietly.

"Now, we watch," his father replied. "If he shows any signs of possessing what we're looking for, we act. Immediately."

The line went dead.

Alex lowered the phone, his cigarette burning low between his fingers. His gaze drifted over the city skyline, but his thoughts were far from the view.

He stood there silently, smoke curling around him, eyes narrowed and mind deep in thought.

****

Ethan stepped through the tall glass doors of City X Hero HQ, his presence drawing subtle glances from those nearby.

He wasn't here for fame, nor for the mission rewards. What he needed—desperately—was a path to grow stronger.

His boots echoed faintly against the polished floor as he made his way to the mission counter. Behind the sleek reception desk stood the same guide from before.

Her platinum-blonde hair was tied into a neat bun, and her form-fitting uniform hugged her figure with professional elegance.

The moment she spotted him, her eyes widened in surprise. Ethan's name had made waves in recent reports—after all, he had been involved in a Duality Incident, a scenario that usually left most heroes in critical condition... or worse dead.

She had heard rumors, but no details—no one ever bothered to update a low-level mission guide on what really happened.

"You're... back?" she asked softly, almost to herself.

Ethan didn't acknowledge her astonishment. He had no time to entertain shock or sympathy. His gaze was firm, his voice even. "Are there any dread beast elimination missions available?"

The guide blinked, slightly taken aback by the directness. "Um... no, none right now," she said, hesitating.

Then she seemed to remember something. "Actually... there's a low-priority tracking assignment. It's not dangerous. Might be suitable, considering—" she stopped herself.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, immediately sensing the patronizing undertone. He didn't blame her, though.

From an outsider's perspective, he should be recovering in a clinic somewhere, not standing here requesting battle missions.

Still, he frowned inwardly. A tracking mission wasn't what he needed. He was trying to trigger an overflow potentially leading to instant level growth. A glorified recon job wouldn't help him reach that edge.

If he had a choice, he would've just hunted Dread Beasts on his own. But the Hero Association forbade unauthorized monster extermination, citing vague reasons. It was frustrating.

Because heroes Were supposed to fight dread beasts Why regulate that?

But Ethan bit back his annoyance. He wasn't strong enough—yet—to challenge the system openly.

"I'll take it," he said finally.

The guide smiled, relieved.

"That's good to hear."

She pulled up the mission data on her terminal before transferring it to his communicator.

"Your target is a Level 1 villain, known as Veilspur. Last seen in the Duskline district, near the abandoned metro tunnels."

Ethan accepted the information with a nod. His expression remained unreadable, but internally he was already calculating how fast he could complete this and return for something more worthwhile.

"Hope there's a better mission waiting after this," he thought grimly.

Without another word, he turned and left the Hero HQ, as he made his way toward the shadows of Duskline—ready to begin the hunt.

****

At Asterveil Academy, nestled in the bustling heart of District 7, the students of the Humanitarian Relief Committee gathered in their usual meeting room—a spacious, sunlit hall lined with posters, donation boxes, and photos from past aid missions.

The walls told stories of tragedy and resilience, of destroyed neighborhoods and the people trying to rebuild them.

At the center of the group sat Lisa, Ethan's younger sister. With her calm composure and unwavering sense of duty, she had become the heart of the committee.

As president, she had spearheaded dozens of relief projects, managed outreach programs, and worked tirelessly to restore trust between the academy and their mission.

Today's meeting had been about finalizing plans for the upcoming "Light Against Shadows" Festival, a fundraising event meant to support families displaced by villain attacks and Dread Beast rampages.

Their world was in constant turmoil—no week passed without some new incident, some new scar carved into the city's structure.

While the Hero Association focused on containment and combat, it was groups like Lisa's that provided solace and support to those caught in the aftermath.

The meeting had technically ended thirty minutes ago, but the room still buzzed with light chatter and laughter as the committee members lingered.

"I'm really going to miss you, prez," one girl sighed, leaning against the edge of the table with a smile.

"Yeah," another added. "Ever since you took charge, this committee actually means something."

"I remember how the school used to ignore us," someone else chimed in. "They thought we were just a bunch of soft-hearted idealists. Now? We're practically partners with the admin."

"Well, what did you expect?" said a boy near the window. "There's no one more stubborn than our president. I still remember the time she cornered the vice principal just to get a funding approved!"

That earned a round of laughter, and Lisa chuckled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"I wish you were staying an extra year," someone murmured.

Then, a quieter voice asked, "Hey, prez… is it true? Your brother got discharged from the hospital?"

Lisa nodded. "Yeah. He was discharged yesterday."

"It must've been serious if you missed school for it," another said gently.

She nodded again, her expression sobering slightly. "It was… but he's okay now. He'll be more careful moving forward. I'm sure of it."

Just as a warm silence fell over the group—

---

BANG!

An explosion rattled the ruins of a collapsed building in the outskirts of Duskline District, dust and debris scattering in all directions.

Ethan stood at the center of a war-torn alley, breathing heavily, his shirt torn at the shoulder, blood trickling from a fresh gash across his arm.

Around him, five villains emerged from the shadows—each one flaring with dangerous power.

One's fists were encased in molten metal. Another's body flickered like a mirage. A third radiated cold so intense the air shimmered. They were circling him like wolves scenting weakness.

Ethan clenched his fists, grit his teeth, and hissed under his breath.

"...Shit."

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A/N I will release an extra chapter if I get 90 power stones or 30 Golden tickets. Sorry for the late release just got released from the station.

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