Chapter 10: The Seeds of Corruption

Inside the inner metropolitan zone of Sovereign City, the soft murmur of conversations filled a modest café nestled between towering steel structures. The bitter yet inviting scent of roasted coffee beans lingered in the air as baristas moved briskly behind the counter, tending to orders.

At a corner booth, two men in their late thirties sat in silence, sipping their drinks—until a large figure entered.

A tall man with a jagged scar down his cheek stepped inside. He wore a long brown coat and carried two envelopes tucked under his arm. With a subtle nod, he removed his hat and placed it on the table.

"It's been a while, Roger," said the balding man, his voice calm and familiar.

"Yes, it has, Andrew," the scar-faced man replied, easing into the seat.

"There were tremors recently," said the long-haired man beside Andrew. "Small but strange. Could be a sign... maybe an omen. We figured it was worth looking into."

"They sure picked the worst time," Roger muttered, his eyes scanning the room. "I've heard whispers—contraband is circulating in the city. Enforcement's already on edge."

"You mean that drug?" Andrew asked.

Roger nodded once. "Exactly."

"Compound C," Simon—the long-haired man—added. "Popular among rogue hero candidates trying to cheat their way to licensure. Boosts their element control and stamina... but the crash comes hard. Three months in, it gets ugly—seizures, memory loss, elemental instability."

Roger shook his head. "No. This is something else. Far worse."

From inside his coat, he pulled out a small sample, placing it on the table between them.

"This one's new. I've already forwarded a sample to headquarters for analysis. But I need you two to start digging. Quietly. Track it down. Trace the supply chain."

"We'll do our best," Andrew and Simon responded in unison.

"There's more," Roger leaned in, lowering his voice. "I'm heading to the Regional Academy."

Simon raised a brow. "Why the academy?"

"We suspect distribution might be happening inside. Through local academies and licensure schools. Maybe even instructors. If this spreads, it'll corrode everything from the inside—the future of our hero system, tainted before it even begins."

Simon gave a grim nod. "Understood. We'll move carefully."

Roger exhaled, his gaze drifting out the window as steam rose from his untouched cup. The skyline beyond was blurred, almost ghostly.

"This isn't just about drugs. It's about what kind of heroes we're raising."

---

One Month Later

1000 Hours

At the Metropolitan Library, not far from the academy, Jonathan, Carl, and Beatrice sat together at one of the reading tables. The place was quiet, lined with bookshelves filled with material on martial arts, theory, and abilities.

Unlike his friends, Jonathan struggled with academics. As he stared at a thick book laid open in front of him, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him.

Beatrice glanced up, concerned. "You okay?"

Jonathan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah… just a little dizzy."

"What are you reading?" she asked, leaning over to peek.

"Oh… this?" he lifted the book slightly. "It's about chemical enhancers used by Nexlark Corporation."

Beatrice's eyes widened as she scanned the page. "Some of these compounds… they're banned! A lot of these were labeled too dangerous and made illegal years ago."

Jonathan blinked. "What do you mean?"

"That book—it's rare. I think it got pulled from circulation when those drugs were blacklisted," she explained.

Carl added, "Yeah, that looks like a Photomed archive. They used to partner with Nexlark before going underground. Where'd you even find that?"

Jonathan pointed at a red shelf in the far corner. "Over there. It was on that red shelf."

The two groaned in unison.

"Seriously?" Beatrice said, exasperated. "That shelf is labeled 'Do not remove books from the shelf!' You have to read the signs!"

"My bad! I'll return it right now," Jonathan stammered, scooping up the book and sneaking it back before anyone noticed.

---

Meanwhile…

At a quiet metropolitan park, Tyler—one of Gina's allies—sat alone on a bench, eyes darting across the open paths and tree lines. He was waiting.

A sleek black car rolled up to the entrance. A man in a black suit stepped out—polished shoes, sunglasses, and a sharp tie. He approached Tyler with purpose.

"No one followed you?" the man asked.

"No one," Tyler replied, standing.

"It'll cost you 500 mints for this batch," the man said coldly.

"That's a lot more than usual…" Tyler grumbled.

"This isn't the usual," the man interrupted. "It's a new product. The black market's doubling prices. But with this, you'll have a real shot at breaking into the top 10."

Tyler hesitated, then handed over the cash.

"Be careful," the man added. "It's potent. Stronger than anything before. Mind your dosage."

"I know. You always say that," Tyler replied.

"Until next time." The man gave a casual wave and walked away.

Tyler clenched the small package tightly.

I won't be defeated. Not by anyone. Not even that cheater, he thought as he walked away.

His phone buzzed. Gina was on the line.

"Did you get the package?" she asked.

"Yeah, I've got it."

"Good. Head back. We need to test how effective it is."

"My pleasure," Tyler replied, hanging up and disappearing into the city.