Free Web NovelChapter 31: 31: Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
The silence is the worst part of any fight, because it’s made up of all the things we wish we could say, if only we had the guts.
~ Pete Wentz
_____
The school’s interview room.
Cate sat in the chair with perfect posture, back straight, hands neatly on her knees like she was interviewing for a Fortune 500 company.
Jordan was much the same.
"Alright Cate, I won’t waste time with small talk since we’ve already met."
Hillel set Cate’s file aside.
Jordan and Cate were both students with decent personal morals. At least they hadn’t shown any major red flags yet.
Even if they did, for the sake of ability points, principles were whatever The Guardian said they were. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
After all, he held the right to interpret those things, didn’t he?
"Can I join The Seven now?" Cate reached out and deliberately touched Hillel’s hand.
A mental wave hit him.
"Child, you really think your little trick is enough to show off in front of me?"
Hillel grabbed her hand and pulled her closer.
Cate let out a surprised yelp and fell into his arms.
To her shock, she discovered she couldn’t read The Guardian’s mind at all.
It was completely different from last time.
This time, The Guardian had completely blocked her power.
"How is that possible? Even with special training, no one should be able to completely shut out my telepathy."
"Nothing is impossible. Last time was just me testing your behavior and the strength of your power."
Hillel let go of her. Cate looked pleasantly surprised.
Like she’d discovered some kind of treasure.
A supe completely immune to her telepathy and mind control was the chosen one!
Even her childhood sweetheart Golden Boy didn’t have that kind of resistance.
"So... what job have you arranged for me?" Cate tried to hide her excitement.
"A Vought International internship. Your ability could be useful for interrogating criminals, but..."
"I accept."
"You might want to think it over. A criminal’s mind is usually way more fucked up than a normal person’s... it might..."
"No need to say anything more. I accept working by your side."
Cate looked like she’d found a new continent. Her excitement was written all over her face.
Hillel’s super hearing told him her reaction was genuine.
She really was excited — but not because of the job.
[Key Character: Jordan Li — Emotional Change: Anticipation]
[Ability Points Gained: +2,743]
...
[Key Character: Cate Dunlap — Emotional Change: Tentative → Shocked → Ecstatic → Adoration]
[Ability Points Gained: +2,276]
...
Current Ability Points: 19,456 / 250,000
Monday.
Jordan and Cate arrived at Vought International together to start their internships.
Ashley arranged their positions: members of The Guardian’s oversight team. Internship monthly salary of $8,000, doubling once they went full-time.
Their actual work would be decided by Hillel.
"The Guardian, what exactly is our job?"
When the two walked in excitedly, they found Hillel with his legs kicked up on the desk, a box of pizza and a giant iced bucket of Coke, Pepsi and Dr Pepper beside him.
On the wall opposite, the TV was playing SpongeBob SquarePants.
SpongeBob SquarePants!
"..."
The two were dumbfounded.
What happened to the heroic image? Fighting crime? Being an ambassador of justice?
All they saw was a shut-in stuffing high-calorie junk into his mouth.
Occasionally letting out a loud burp.
When he saw them enter, Hillel gave orders on the spot.
"Jordan, go pour me a glass of water, then sit there."
"Cate, you sit too. Don’t be polite. Treat this like your own home."
Hillel didn’t even look away from the screen as he clicked to the next episode.
He used to love this cartoon back in the day but never got to finish it.
Now he was going to binge it from start to finish.
"Um, sir?"
Cate asked cautiously. "What exactly is our job?"
"Job?"
Hillel chewed on his pizza without looking back.
"Your job is to be on standby. When there’s no mission, do whatever you want."
"When there is a mission, I’ll let you know."
"Just... just like that?"
Jordan, currently in female form, folded their arms with an expression of disbelief.
"Just like that."
"Then what should we do now..."
Hillel pointed at the sofa. "Sit down and watch SpongeBob SquarePants. Squidward Moves Out — a classic among classics."
Jordan and Cate exchanged a glance.
An $8,000 monthly salary, working directly under The Guardian at Vought International, and the main duty was watching cartoons?
Is there any shame left in this world?
Is there any law left?
Is there any pizza left?
Three minutes later.
The two had their feet up on the coffee table, pizza in one hand and cola in the other.
"Let me ask you a question."
Hillel suddenly spoke while still watching the cartoon.
Here it comes!
This must be the real test!
Everything before was just The Guardian putting on an act to lower their guard!
The two perked up, listening carefully. Maybe he was testing their professional knowledge about superpowers.
"So, do you guys prefer Coca-Cola or Pepsi?" freeweɓnøvel.com
Cate: "???"
Jordan: "???"
"Pepsi, I guess," Cate said.
She opened a bottle of Coca-Cola.
"I can’t really tell the difference."
Jordan answered honestly.
"The correct answer should be.. Dr Pepper." Hillel said with a serious look, making them dumbfounded.
In the end, the three of them sat side by side on the sofa watching SpongeBob SquarePants.
The scene was strangely harmonious for a while.
A classic is a classic.
Until the office door was pushed open.
Starlight walked in.
"Hillel, do you want to... tonight..."
Before she could finish, Annie saw the scene on the sofa.
For a woman new to relationships, all she saw was The Guardian sitting with two women, one on each side. One of them even had the exact same blonde hair as her.
Starlight’s smile froze on her face.
"Annie! Perfect timing, come watch SpongeBob with us." Hillel acted like he hadn’t noticed anything and patted the spot next to him.
Starlight stood frozen.
Her gaze swept over Cate and landed on Hillel.
So, does Hillel have a blonde fetish?
The pizza in Cate’s hand nearly dropped to the floor.
She recognized Starlight immediately, but as a woman, her intuition picked up the murderous vibe.
"St-Starlight!" Cate shot up from her seat.
"I’m your fan!"
Starlight’s expression softened a little.
"Thank you."
Then she walked over, sat right next to Hillel, and naturally placed her hand on his arm.
Hillel felt his arm get pinched lightly.
"Stop it, Annie. We’re having fun."
Cate had already scooted to the very edge of the sofa.
She was scared of getting blood on her face.
Jordan was sweating bullets.
Should they switch to male form? Urgent help needed online...
"Ahem, um, we’re gonna go buy more pizza."
"Yeah, Orleans chicken leg pizza."
The two found an excuse and bolted like they were fleeing for their lives.
"Annie, look, you scared the kids." Hillel took a sip of cola.
He could hear Starlight’s heartbeat racing.
"Do you have a blonde fetish?"
"....."
___
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