Chapter 361

Chapter 361: Why Are You Wearing Those Clothes?

With the sound of the door lock clicking shut, “Blood Puppet” was completely cut off from the outside world.

The place he found himself in was neither good nor bad. Given his current position and abilities, even in confinement, he wouldn’t be placed in a typical dark and dreary underground cell.

However, the repercussions of his impulsive actions were far from favorable, and the council members had no intention of letting him experience a detention that felt like a vacation.

Thus, in a stalemate, he ended up locked in this room.

There was a bed, a small table with a pen and a stack of writing paper, and a radio in the corner.

This was the environment “Blood Puppet” would have to adapt to for an unknown number of days.

In the corner, there was a crude sewage system, and his two meals a day would be delivered through a crack in the door.

Next to the bed was a window without curtains but with a guardrail, through which he could see the sun beginning to set.

Compared to an ordinary jail cell, this place seemed more like where someone with mental issues should stay.

“Blood Puppet” sat on the bed, lost in thought for a moment, then forced himself to sit up.

He cautiously got down from the bed and approached the small table, not to write about the events that had transpired.

He skillfully turned on the radio, which emitted a comforting sound of electricity.

Thankfully, it still worked.

Tuning into the channel his teammates mentioned, “Blood Puppet” heard the familiar voice of the broadcaster.

Clearly, the victorious humans needed a grand celebration, and tomorrow’s medal ceremony would serve as a release for this excitement.

The broadcast had already begun to warm up, and “Blood Puppet” listened carefully to the empty chatter, while a sense of anticipation slowly stirred within him.

Approaching his fortieth birthday, it seemed he had finally found someone worthy of his trust.

He hoped she wouldn’t disappoint.

—

On November 13, Year 52 of the New Era, at 9:30 AM.

The largest hall in Hope City was located near the spire in the inner city.

Fortunately, the previous battle caused by the invasion of the Fifth Level Griffin had not destroyed this building. The hall was built less than a kilometer away from the spire to facilitate some actions by the council members.

Not everyone had the right to enter the spire; those receiving awards for the first time might cause unnecessary trouble if they rushed into that building.

Thus, this hall was created, but ironically, in the thirty years since its completion, no council member had personally attended here for an award ceremony.

Generally, award ceremonies took place in small halls across various districts or within the military, while a slightly more formal ceremony would be held here, with Wencheng usually sitting in the center as the highest authority.

The hall had gone into lockdown the night before, partly because some members of the longevity faction were unable to act and should not be seen in a bad light.

On the other hand, it was also for their safety; although no council member had ever been assassinated by anyone other than another member in the past decades, necessary precautions were always essential.

As for seating arrangements, Sharma seemed to realize that her brash behavior had gone too far, slightly stepping back to accept Zhong Ding’s suggestion.

The five incapacitated council members were seated in the center, while the able members of the inheritance faction sat around them.

This act of giving up the center seat did not serve to endear Matthew and the others; they felt it was simply how juniors should behave, responding only with a snort.

Sharma was not angered by this; after all, while Matthew’s group had won face, the members of the inheritance faction gained something of value, so it was a win-win situation, wasn’t it?

The procedures for the ceremony had already been communicated to the staff in various departments.

If the blonde first arrived, they would be the first to receive their honor.

If they arrived last, they would be the grand finale. In short, everyone had to make way for the blonde’s arrival, giving them at least the due respect.

So by the time the clock struck ten, the hall was filled to capacity.

Apart from the ten council members seated at the front center, there were three full circles of their people outside, and beyond that were the dignitaries from the inner city and the heroes about to receive medals.

Unfortunately, or perhaps understandably, that blonde was absent from the gathering.

He might have wanted to go last, they thought, justifying his unexplained absence.

After the most capable host under Matthew’s command delivered a speech filled with superfluous words, the highly anticipated ceremony finally commenced.

At this moment, residents from the inner city and outer city, totaling millions, gathered around radios and collective projections, waiting for the exhilarating moment.

Due to the blonde’s absence, the order of awarding medals shifted from the expected high to low to a new sequence from low to high.

Groups of soldiers and superpowered individuals not from the front lines took turns stepping onto the stage, with many being carried, highlighting the dangers of the earlier battles.

They received the applause and encouraging glances from the highest authority council members, but the honor of being awarded directly by them did not belong to them.

Whenever a set of medals was finished being distributed, inspiring words would resonate in the ears of the crowd.

Finally, after the gold-plated medals were awarded, the last round of medals began. The hall, the inner city, and even all of Hope City visibly buzzed with excitement, the atmosphere poised to reach an indescribable peak.

As if responding to the rising cheers, a Figure with Golden Hair descended from the sky outside the hall.

The soldiers guarding the entrance had already anticipated who was approaching, and upon meeting the person’s friendly gaze, they moved aside to clear the way.

With waves of applause following, everyone inside understood what had happened.

In an instant, countless pairs of eyes and several cameras turned to focus on the figure walking into the main hall, even the nearly lifeless council members turned their heads to see.

On stage, the host, momentarily shocked, quickly recited the prepared lines. His professionalism ensured he didn’t falter, but as he watched the approaching figure, he felt an odd sense of disharmony about them.

What exactly was it?

While pondering this, the host mechanically continued to recite his dialogue.

However, when he suddenly recognized what was amiss with that person, his tongue instinctively stumbled, producing an imperfect syllable—

Why are they dressed like a council member?