The crowd could only watch as a certain cube dropped to the ground. And almost as if it started some sort of revolution, the cubes they had floating in the air also touched the ground– leaving no cube left flying.
How could they not be shocked, when they just saw one of their fellow participants being encased in the cube that was supposedly for the test. Of course, they all knew what happened– the man tried to provoke Riley earlier.
And now, he even tried to attack him during the test by feigning that it was competition. The man probably had a few loose screws in his head or something– might even lack a few chromosomes as well.
Whether or not the man was truly just retarded or just wanted to start something, they didn't know. What they did know, was who Riley Ross is.
Of course, they would know about Riley; how could they not when the news has shown him several times already? In truth, some of them were also skeptical about whether or not Riley was truly capable of the things they show.
Even though the man was retarded, what he made somewhat had some sort of sense in them– they also think that Riley's feats may have been exaggerated due to the fact that he was apparently a future member of the Hope Guild.
But they clearly saw everything that happened just now, Riley was able to easily manipulate the cube that half of them were having a hard time just lifting in the air. And as if it wasn't enough, he made it look as if the cube was liquid, drowning the man insi– !!!
And as soon as their unified thoughts finally realized something, they all turned their attention toward the stone cube. There… there's a man inside of that! Is this even allowed!?
And it was not only them that was thinking about the fact; even Tempo, who was watching from the observation deck, could not help but worry about the man.
"Shouldn't we stop and help the man first?" Tempo said as he looked at secretary Jane.
"It's fine," secretary Jane, however, just shook her head; the tone of her voice, once again returning to its stoic timber. She then pointed towards a wall, filled with multiple monitors that were almost identical to the control room of the simulation hall back in Mega Academy.
"We are monitoring their heartrate," secretary Jane followed up, "And besides No. 24 feeling distressed, he is fine inside the cube. If he can't free himself, then that would just mean his strength is not on par with the stronger registrants– this would make grading him easier."
"...I see," Tempo could only sigh as she heard secretary Jane's words. He still wanted to help No. 24, but he didn't want to unnecessarily impede on government grounds.
"But isn't this test too simple?" And so, the only thing he could do was nitpick, "I thought the tests… test would be more intricate. How would it even be possible to judge someone just by this?"
"I agree," V, who had been keeping quiet, nodded her head before once again returning to watch Riley, "This test sucks balls. They should be fighting supers dressed up and pretending to be villains or something."
"...That too," Tempo chuckled quietly, "But I was talking more about their capacity to save and rescue people. In comparison, this test is just…"
Tempo then looked at the other people in the observation deck; and judging by the fancy suits they were wearing, they were either government officials or businessmen– one and the same, really.
"There should at least be a psych eval or something," Tempo continued to voice out, "Getting a driver's license is a lot harder than this, and I don't even drive. At this point, these people would just end up hurting themselves trying to act as heroes… or worse, hurt someone else."
And with Tempo's long rant, secretary Jane only looked at him; shaking her head as she let out a small but deep sigh, "We need them because of the emergence of the monsters."
"You think these people would be able to handle them? There should at least be some form of training before–"
"That's what the Mega Academy is for," secretary Jane quickly refuted, "If they think they are inadequate, then they could just enroll and train there."
"..." And as Tempo heard those words, he could only shut his mouth in dismay. Tempo had spent years saving people behind the scenes. It wasn't even until his photos started appearing that he decided to finally reveal himself as a superhero.
But now… all it took was this test and a license to become a superhero? What sort of bullshitry is this? Tempo thought before his eyes caught the photographer that was tagging along with them.
The photographer seemed to not be stopping in snapping photos, his lens, solely focused on whatever Riley was doing.
"...You said there would be an influx of registrants soon– is it because of Riley Ross?" Tempo then smirked as he once again spoke to secretary Jane, "Since he's a member of the Hope Guild now… did you think that more registrants would join because they think they would have a chance to be recruited by the Hope Guild?"
"..." Silence was the only answer Tempo received from secretary Jane, but that was enough to confirm his suspicions.
"Sadly for you," the smirk on Tempo's face grew even wider, "That would have the opposite effect."
"You think something like this would deter future registrants?" Secretary Jane scoffed as she looked at the cube.
"And you think Riley Ross will stop there?" Tempo chuckled, "You have no idea how monstrous that kid is. The dude…
…could literally be the resurrection of the phoenix."
The other participants were still staring at Riley. But after a few seconds, they all snapped out of their trance all at the same time; returning their attention to their own cubes.
Although they still had a lot of minutes remaining, they needed to show off as much as possible. And so, once again, the cubes all started floating in the air.
As for No. 24, he was freed by the tan-skinned woman earlier– No. 11. She seemed to be trying to imitate what Riley did earlier, making the cube made of stone look like water.
…And she was successful in doing so, one might even say that she made it flow even more like water than Riley.
As for No. 24, he seemed to have already fainted as he dropped to the floor. No. 11 then started dancing with her hands, letting the liquified cube to gracefully rotate around her; almost like a dragon domineeringly flying around a mountain.
"Oh, that one is good."
The men that were wearing suits in the observation deck started letting out hums of admiration; nodding their heads in unison as they watched No. 11 dance.
"Her control is something that could only be seen in Grade-B and above. But too bad… she seems to be struggling already."
They all then sighed as they saw No. 11 already sweating; her face, clearly trying hard to remain calm.
"Well, if you don't like her… then let my company take her," a man wearing a bright brown suit then let out a small chuckle.
"What are you talking about? I thought your company only dealt with selling coffee?"
"Well…" the man wearing a brown suit smiled, "Starbeans is venturing in the superhero business. My bosses seemed to have taken a liking to superheroes when we did a partnership with Mega Academy."
Tempo, who overheard the men's words, could not help but furrow his eyebrows as the group of men once again caught his attention. They have been writing something on papers and laptops since earlier so he thought that they were the ones grading the participants.
But their conversation just now, could it be that wasn't the case?
Superhero business? What did they mean by that? Could it be that these guys are from superhero agencies? There have been a growing number of them ever since Megawoman was defeated by Darkday, but to think he would be meeting a group of them here.
"Wait…" Tempo then breathed out as he placed his hand on secretary Jane's shoulder,
"...Don't tell me the government is selling out supers?"