“If he’d said the subway, I would’ve called the police.
The New York subway hasn’t evolved enough to choke people yet.” Lynn sat down.
“A private debt dispute.
The other party sent someone to corner me at my door.
The police are involved.” Kevin’s expression turned instantly excited yet terrified.
“You say that like you’re filing an expense for printer paper.” Amy frowned.
“Are you alright?” “Still alive.” “That’s not an answer.” “Better than yesterday.” Amy looked at him for a moment and didn’t press further.
Kevin lowered his voice.
“So you won?” Lynn turned on his computer.
“Nobody won.
Someone ended up in the hospital.” Kevin gasped.
“You put someone in the hospital?” Lynn looked at him.
“He choked me first.” Kevin immediately sat up straight.
“Self-defense.
I support the law.” Amy sneered, “You mostly support not getting dragged into it.” Kevin said earnestly, “That’s part of the spirit of the law too.” Several people in the office heard them.
Glances swept over, some open, some covert.
Lynn didn’t look embarrassed.
He couldn’t keep this hidden anyway.
Rather than being secretive, it was better to lay it out in the most ordinary manner possible.
Private debt dispute.
Police involvement.
Self-defense.
These three phrases were enough to form an external narrative.
He wasn’t a suspicious person now.
At least in the office, he was just that unlucky coworker who got ambushed at his door and still made it to work alive.
An unlucky coworker didn’t make people wary—he just sparked gossip.
At 9:16 AM, Martha called him into her office.
She took a look at his neck.
“I got a notification from HR.
The police department might contact the company to verify your employment.” Lynn nodded.
“There was an attack last night.
I was the reporting party.” Martha was silent for two seconds.
“Will it affect your work?” “No.” “That’s not the answer I want to hear.” She took off her glasses.
“If you need time off to deal with legal issues, go through the proper channels.
I don’t want PR or HR suddenly asking me why an employee in Risk Records didn’t report a personal risk event.” Lynn was somewhat surprised.
Martha wasn’t concerned about him, but she was mitigating risk in her way as a supervisor.
That was already rare enough.
“I’ll submit a statement.” “Keep it brief.
Don’t write a novel.” “Understood.” “Also, materials related to A-Train’s event might come in on short notice today.
PR wants them urgently.
If you’re not up to it, let Amy take over.” Lynn looked up.
A-Train.
It was here.
His tone didn’t change.
“I can handle it.” Martha gave him a look.
“Don’t push yourself.” “I won’t.” After leaving her office, Lynn returned to his desk.
First, he wrote a minimal incident statement for HR.
Private debt dispute.
Off-site.
Police involved.
Employee able to work normally.
No mention of Daniel’s details.
No mention of Marcus.
No mention of the System.
Then, he organized the files for Marcus.
All screenshots retained only necessary portions.
Daniel’s threatening text messages.
The re-verification email from Hudson Debt Management Company.
The police incident number.
The appointment slip for injury records.
Since Victor’s identity was incomplete for now, he simply wrote, “Attacker registered by police.” Ten minutes after sending, Marcus replied.
“Sufficient.
Sending dispute notice to the debt company today.
Do not answer Daniel’s calls.” The second gratification hit.
Not explosive, but very real.
The debt line had officially begun to shift.
The piece of paper Daniel had forced him to sign now turned into part of an evidence chain proving Daniel’s ongoing coercion.
At 11:02 AM, Hudson Debt Management Company sent an email.
The wording was far more cautious than before.
They stated that in light of potential malicious evasion by primary debtor Daniel Reed and coercion of the guarantor, relevant debt collection procedures would be temporarily halted from escalating and placed under dispute review.
Temporarily halted from escalating.
Lynn stared at those four words for two seconds.
He didn’t laugh out loud, but his finger tapped lightly on the desk.
The debt crisis hadn’t completely vanished.
But the blade hanging over his head had finally stopped.
At least for now.
Kevin happened to lean over.
“What’s the good news?” “The bills haven’t killed me yet.” Kevin was filled with deep respect.
“Congratulations on defeating one of America’s hidden bosses.” Lynn closed the email.
“Just phase one.” Kevin patted his shoulder, then immediately remembered he was injured, his hand freezing mid-air.
“Uh, mental high-five.” Amy said from the side, “You’d better not touch him, Kevin.
The last guy who touched him went to the hospital.” Kevin slowly pulled his hand back.
“I’ve always respected personal space.” Before noon, the materials for A-Train’s event arrived.
The sender from PR was still Ivan, CC’ing Ashley.
Subject: [A-Train Brand Event On-Site Material Archival and Emergency Messaging Sync] Lynn clicked it open.
The files contained event time, location, brand details, route arrangements, and media interview passes.
The location was near Midtown Manhattan.
Time: afternoon.
A-Train was expected to make a brief appearance for brand photos and fan interaction.
In the notes was a line: [Hero Management Notice: Please control fan proximity on-site to avoid unplanned high-speed mobility demonstrations.] Avoid unplanned high-speed mobility demonstrations.
Lynn looked at those words, his eyes darkening.
Vought already knew the risk.
Or at least knew A-Train’s state wasn’t fit for ad-lib performance.
But the event was proceeding anyway.
Because of the brand, the media, the schedule, the exposure, the contracts.
Everything had more momentum than safety.
As he finished the preliminary screening for archival, the System suddenly sounded.
[Potential Supe-related risk event detected.] Lynn’s actions froze.
“Details?” [Current information insufficient.] “Can you locate it?” [Current level insufficient.] Lynn closed his eyes briefly.
Great.
The System remained useless when it came to saving lives.
It was merely reminding him: The landmine you know about is indeed still there.
He continued working.
This was the hardest part.
Knowing disaster was coming, yet lacking the power to stop it.
Unable even to show that you knew.
At 1:45 PM, Starlight appeared on the floor where Records was located.
Not specifically to find Lynn.
She had been brought by an assistant from Hero Management to retrieve an old speech authorization confirmation file.
She shouldn’t have had to handle this personally, but that was how it went for rookies.
Unfamiliar with procedures, she went wherever she was told.
She was wearing street clothes today, a light coat from Vought over them, her hair casually tied up.
Looking more like Annie than on camera.
The assistant was communicating with Martha at the front desk.
Starlight stood beside them, her eyes sweeping across the work area.
She saw Lynn.
She also saw the marks on his neck.
She froze for a moment.
Lynn looked up, meeting her gaze.
Starlight walked over a few steps, lowering her voice.
“Are you alright?” Lynn closed the file in his hands.
“Personal trouble.” “Doesn’t look like minor trouble.” “New York local specialty.” Starlight didn’t smile.
She looked at his injuries, genuine concern in her eyes.
“Did someone hurt you?” “Someone tried.” She heard the distinction in those words.
*Tried.* Meaning the other party hadn’t fully succeeded.
She looked at him and suddenly said, “Do you always talk like that?” “Like what?” “Like you’re writing an accident summary for a fire.” Lynn was slightly taken aback.
That was spot on.
So spot on it didn’t sound like something someone who had known him for only a few days would say.
Starlight realized she had been a bit too direct.
She bit her lip.
“Sorry.
I just…
a lot of people in this building are like that.
Changing the words for terrible things as if that makes them less terrible.” Lynn looked at her.
After a brief silence, he said, “Sometimes changing words is to cover things up.
Sometimes it’s to hold out until you can handle them.” Starlight was stunned.
Behind her, the assistant called, “Starlight, the document is ready.” She called back in response, then looked at Lynn again.
“So can you handle it?” Lynn said, “Working on it.” Starlight nodded.
She looked like she wanted to say more, but the assistant was already rushing her.
Before leaving, she whispered, “If you need help, you can ask.” The words were very sincere.
And very dangerous.
Lynn looked at her.
“Thanks, Annie.” Starlight’s footsteps paused slightly.
That name wasn’t a brand.
Not a slogan.
Just herself.
The expression on her face softened a bit.
Then she turned and left.
In the office, Kevin slowly poked his head out from behind his monitor.
“She talked to you again.” Lynn looked at him.
Kevin lowered his voice.
“Bro, did you save her cat or something?” Amy said coldly, “If you shut your mouth, someone might talk to you too.” Kevin immediately shrank back.
At 3:22 PM.
The first news notification popped up.
“Sudden chaos in Midtown Manhattan; apparent mishap at superhero event site.”