The cafeteria was loud, filled with the clatter of trays, overlapping voices, and laughter echoing off the high ceilings.
Bright midday light streamed through the windows. Ren and Bishop sat at their usual spot with a greasy pepperoni pizza between them and two glasses of chocolate milk.
"God, I hate pizza day," Bishop muttered, eyes glued to his phone, barely touching his slice.
Ren didn’t want to pull out his own phone. He knew exactly how hooked he’d already become.
"Ashley Hunt is really pushing Glitch, huh." Bishop turned the screen toward him.
That was the thing. The two of them spent most of their time together, but lunch was usually the dead zone, the stretch where conversation dried up. Izzy was always the one who bridged the silence. And Izzy wasn’t here today.
Ren picked up his chocolate milk and pulled on the straw, the sweet, cold liquid doing little to settle the quiet tension in his chest.
The table behind them belonged to the big names, Noel Cavinel and his crew. Off in the front corner, Alaska Reeves sat alone, quietly eating.
"I was literally mid-download when Glitch hit the blackout," one voice carried from behind them.
"He went off last night, though."
"Honestly the Hero Body needs to do something about this Glitch guy."
"Glitch is a nobody." Noel Cavinel’s voice cut cleanly over the rest, loud and confident. "He’s not worth the attention. HBM won’t touch him, let alone the actual Hero Body."
The others went quiet while Noel spoke.
"Dumb question, Big N," one of them ventured. "Could you take Glitch? One on one?"
"Any day of the week." Noel didn’t hesitate. "Glitch! Any day."
The table stayed silent.
Ren heard every word. He glanced sideways at Bishop, who was still completely lost in his phone, thumb scrolling lazily.
『...』
A system notification suddenly bloomed in the corner of his vision, glowing softly against the real world.
[Mission set for tonight.]
[Location: Mayvel Bank.]
[A villainess is planning a heist, but the authorities already know. Make sure she doesn’t get arrested.]
He took it in quietly.
『Interesting. 』
His phone buzzed in his pocket. For a split second his eyes lit up with hope.
『Izzy? 』
He pulled it out just enough to check the screen. Camilla calling. He slid it back into his pocket without answering.
『I’ll call back. 』
"You still on the Ashley thing?" Ren asked Bishop, trying to sound casual as he picked up his chocolate milk again.
***
Isabella Garcia walked into the Damage Control building and stopped for a second just inside the entrance. Everything inside was first-class, soaring ceilings, polished marble floors, and sleek modern furniture arranged in perfect symmetry.
『Wow! This is heaven. 』
Portraits of heroes lined the long walls in elegant frames, larger-than-life and perfectly lit. Lady Vega, Flamebird, Red Balls, Ant Queen, and dozens more, every major client the firm had ever represented stared down at her with heroic, camera-ready expressions.
She swallowed hard and made her way toward the imposing reception desk, her new sneakers squeaking softly against the marble.
『Oh God. They’re going to turn me away. 』
The receptionist, a sharply dressed woman in her thirties, looked up. It was immediately obvious that people this young didn’t walk through these doors often.
"Excuse me," Izzy said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I’m here to see Marvin Bliss."
The woman studied her for a second, then picked up the phone and dialed.
"Your name, miss?" she asked while the call connected.
"Isabella Garcia."
"Isabella Garcia," the woman repeated into the phone, then set it down smoothly. "He’ll take you up."
A sleek white robot rolled forward from behind the desk, its lights blinking softly.
Izzy followed it across the vast lobby toward the elevator bank, her reflection stretching long across the glossy floor.
"Thirty-second floor," the robot announced in a calm, synthetic voice, then turned and rolled away.
Izzy stepped into the elevator, the doors closing with a soft chime. She pressed the button for the thirty-second floor.
『This is...』
She watched the glowing numbers climb higher, her heart beating faster with every floor. The polished silver elevator doors reflected her image back at her, silver curls, white top, mini skirt, and the new white-and-pink sneakers she and Ren had just bought.
『Not bad. You don’t look terrible. 』
She quickly fixed her top, smoothing it down. The elevator chimed softly and the doors parted.
Marvin was already waiting just outside, hands casually in his pockets, looking sharp in his tailored suit. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass walls behind him, outlining his figure.
"Isabella Garcia." He used her full name the moment he saw her. "You kept me waiting."
He started walking without waiting for a reply.
"I’m sorry." She fell into step beside him.
"It’s fine, Miss Silver." He glanced over at her. "Do you like the name?"
Izzy’s mouth opened, then closed again. "It’s... a nice name."
"I went through a few. That’s the one that stuck. Unless you’ve got alternatives."
"Yeah," she said. "I’ve got alternatives."
"Wonderful." Marvin stopped walking for a moment. "But I think we’ll go with Miss Silver."
"Mmm." She muttered it as they started moving again down the bright corridor.
"This is your home now," Marvin said, gesturing around them. "The first hero managed by Damage Control. We’re going to reach heights you can’t imagine yet."
"Yeah."
"You’ll do your medicals first," he continued smoothly. "Then we sign."
"Medicals?" That caught her off guard.
"That’s how the industry works. We can’t have you fainting mid-fight."
Izzy looked at him, a flicker of unease crossing her face.
『There’s so much happening behind the scenes. 』
"The team’s ready." Marvin gestured toward a room walled in tinted glass. "I’ll wait out here."
Izzy stepped inside. Marvin stayed outside.
The room was bright and clinical. Two female doctors moved efficiently between sleek machines while a male doctor sat in a chair. He stood the moment he saw her.
"Close the door, please," he said.
She did.
"I’m Doctor Martinho." He offered his hand with a professional smile. "Head of the medical team here at Damage Control."
"Isabella Garcia."
"Isabella. I was expecting you." He nodded toward the equipment. "We’ll need you in lighter clothes."
Izzy looked at him, then at the two women quietly preparing instruments, then back over her shoulder. Through the tinted glass, she could still see Marvin standing outside, watching.
『Oh, hell no. 』
Doctor Martinho caught her hesitation.
"No one outside can see in," he reassured her. "The glass is one-way. If you’re ready, we’ll need you down to your underwear for a few routine tests."
Izzy exhaled slowly. "Okay."