Chapter 158: Corruption (1/2)

Chapter 158: Corruption

Aldrich paid very careful attention to the body language between Seismic and Hat Trick's hushed conversation Seisht, and utterly stiff

A the many people that Aldrich had analyzed in his life, Seis the very few that was nearly ie and facial expressions

Hat Trick, however, was like an open book

Hat Trick put his aresture, but when Seismic stood coldly still, Hat Trick withdrew his arestures and an ingratiating s every sentence as if he was saying "you understand why I did what I did, right?"

In response, Seismic just stood still, and that unnerved Hat Trick more and more

As Aldrich watched, he noted from the periphery of his vision thata wary distance fronized him as their savior, but at the sa looking armor, made him less approachable

Aldrich did not actuallyhero that tried to spread love and hope and waroodness every chance he could He did not want to be sos but failed to deliver on them, because he knew that even if he fulfilled ninety nine out of a hundred grand prole broken one would overshadow all the others he had upheld

There was also the obvious proble was just entirely unsuited to being a shi+ning beacon of hope like Minutee heroes What he did best was leading through cold hard results

At the sanore these people either They were his people after all Or soon to be his people if his gambit to become a Sentinel paid off

"What is it?" said Aldrich as gently as he couldimportant?" said a h very plainly in as basically standard issue body ar and walked with a li hero that had not been able to fight due to his injuries

But still, because he was a hero, the people trusted him to act like a representative to talk to Aldrich "Hat Trick mentioned classified infor about what's going on

I hear that there's been wide scale attacks everywhere but they're e, worried that there ht be another attack"

"Another attack is unlikely," said Aldrich "And whether what they're talking about is iether soon enough"

"And…another thing So all of us have wanted to know for a while," continued the n? We've tried to search for you in the hero database or even whether you were a villain, but nobody's been able to find out anything Or are you a shadow?"

A Shadow So These were entities that had no signs and acted in pure secrecy They were nition of being villains ora shadow proh he valued secrecy, knew he could not hide in obscurity forever He needed the influence and power that having his own na out

"Thanatos," said Aldrich

"Thanatos…" repeated the hero, nodding to hietting saved from death by death itself?"

"Those alk closest to death know the best ways to avoid it," said Aldrich, and at that moment, he watched as Hat Trick patted Seismic's back and flew back over to the crowd

"Citizens of Haven, I'm sorry for the delay, but my business with Seismic over there is done," declared Hat Trick as he tipped his hat at everyone and assuiant adboard "Rest assured, you won't be under another attack

My efforts, along with the valiant fighting of Seismic and the newcomer, and, of course, the noble sacrifice of the many heroes and policeht of a new day!"

"Hoe know that's true?" said a les on his face and the port on the side of his shaved head, he was a techno "I've beeninto every broadcast I could find about this And I've never seen you anywhere!"

Murh the crowd