Chapter 158: Corruption (2/2)

Hat Trick just smiled and put up a hand "Of course, of course, that's understandable I told you, though, I was at the coastline Up there, with the crashi+ng waves and even more waves of variants, it was impossible to set up a stream of my own Not tothere

But you all know ood life-," Hat Trick flashed a smile to one of his all female team meht to protect what nition, and honestly, I don't care that there's no evidence What I care about is that tonight, here and now, all of you are safe, standing, and alive

Now then, if any of you want to support me, you can talk to es to drop likes and follows-

"Sounds like bullsht to ree heroes, too They said you ran And if that's the case, I wonder how you have the balls to even show up here again"

"Run? Me? Ridiculous," said Hat Trick "Look at my past record! I've killed eleven B rank disasters and over a hundred C rank disasters I've never run fro the people…"

While Hat Trick and the crowd argued, Aldrich telepathically tuned in with Seismic

'So, what did he say?' said Aldrich

Seismic looked towards Hat Trick with crossed arms and stern expression, but his mind communicated with Aldrich

'The suave me a bribe to keep h that it would put a big dent in his wallet,' said Seisoing to handle the testimonies of all the other heroes?'

'They don't matter as much,' said Seismic 'If I join Hat Trick's side, then the voices of two A rankers outweighs the voices of all the heroes here It sounds unequal But it's the way it is'

'And about me? Does he think he can bribe me?' said Aldrich

'Yes he does,' said Seis heroes It's called an industry for a reason He's willing to shell out just as many credits to you He also expects you as a newbie to understand that heroes help each other out They cover for each other's mistakes'

'You mean they cover for each other's faults,' said Aldrich

'There isn't much difference between the two Not in this industry,' said Seismic 'It's corruption, plain and simple You help cover what he did up, and he'll help you cover soh ranking hero voices are resources on their own We're celebrities Idols Our voices influence the public What we say can shape how they think How theyus Corps willing to pay to take dos Recordings Silence voices

This is how the B rankers and above keep their ie isn't clean, no?' said Aldrich

'No,' said Seismic 'Because I never cared Not until recently But by then, I had done too e Too much to cover up Search my name on the net, you'll find a hundred articles about how e I caused People I've accidentally killed

Only reason I even have a sponsor is because Hammerhead is one of the corps that don't care They just value strength And that, I have'

'And I' Hat Trick's sponsors aren't like that,' said Aldrich

'Elysium Entertainment is the exact opposite,' said Seise Off of their looks The characters they can put out They basically sponsor actors hell, you'll see their heroes starring in their movies

Hat Trick has a character he can't break He's broken it today Badly Word gets out, he's done for He's willing to do anything to patch this situation

Getting himself in debt to a newco to throw soto do it"

'Hu to send my way?' said Aldrich

'Ten million credits,' said Seismic… 'And fifteen million to me'