Chapter 28: The Bellwether

Page (1/3)

At that moment, Fang Can’s confession confirmed their suspicions beyond all doubt.

That invisible pressure really was something only a superpowered individual could possess.

Then an ecstatic, almost feverish happiness surged through them.

They were actually classmates with a superpowered individual.

Wonderful! It was Lord Superpowered! They were saved!

Through the teachings and examples instilled in them from childhood in the New Nation, the belief that superpowered individuals were a superior race had been carved into their very bones.

Although no one was explicitly required to do so, in certain etiquette classes students were taught how to kneel when appearing before a superpowered individual. It had become a basic form of courtesy.

In their eyes, superpowered individuals were an entirely new, superior species—one that seemed to possess a reproductive barrier separating it from ordinary humans.

Thus, once Fang Can revealed his identity, it did not matter what his power actually was. On a personal level alone, he had already surpassed ordinary people by far.

As for Fang Can, he should have harshly condemned such a vulgar custom. Unfortunately, the superpowered individual they were kneeling before happened to be him.

Fang Can thought: Kneeling as a form of etiquette is rather extreme, but since the people of the New Nation clearly enjoy it, it would be rude of me to refuse. I suppose I can only go along with it.

As for what these classmates were thinking?

The mere thought that they had spent three years studying in the same classroom as a superpowered individual was enough to make them tremble with excitement. The fact that they could restrain themselves from humming with joy was proof of their iron will.

Looking at his classmates, whose bodies were trembling with excitement after his identity had been revealed, Fang Can continued calmly:

“I originally intended to associate with you as an ordinary person, but clearly the present circumstances do not permit that. So I had no choice but to reveal the truth.”

As he spoke, Fang Can slowly withdrew his psychic manifestation. In only a dozen seconds, he already felt that one-third of it had been depleted.

The moment the manifestation vanished and its intimidating effect disappeared, everyone in the class surged toward him. They wanted to reach out and touch him, to experience direct contact with the legendary superpowered individual.

Yet just before making contact, they all withdrew their hands as though they had been shocked by electricity.

Without the other party’s permission, touching him directly would constitute an obvious act of presumption.

The history teacher was the first to speak to the young man before them.

“Lord Fang Can, what should we do now?”

“Do as you please.” Fang Can gently shook his head. “The situation is critical, and order may collapse at any moment. So I permit you to spread my name and rely on my reputation to maintain order.”

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

Fang Can’s answer was concise. Aside from the loss of communications, nothing in the city had changed from before. The only real problem was the loss of confidence.

The Festival Day was less than ten days away. If they could simply endure until then, all order would be restored.

As for the fact that these people might not know how to invoke his authority, that did not matter. Once word spread that Fang Can was a superpowered individual, countless defenders of order would naturally step forward.

With that thought, Fang Can placed a hand on the history teacher’s shoulder.

“Move aside for a moment.”

As the crowd automatically parted, creating two paths, Fang Can passed indifferently between them and headed out of the classroom.

While the history teacher was still delighting in the fact that a superpowered individual had touched him, one student called out, “Fang Can… Lord Fang Can, may I ask where you are going?”

“Home,” Fang Can replied without turning around.

“Then… what about us?” another student asked in confusion.

“Do whatever you want.”

Everyone hesitated as they watched him leave the classroom. But when they heard the chaotic uproar coming from the other classes, a girl gritted her teeth and quietly followed Fang Can.

Once there was a first, a second soon followed. Under the influence of the crowd, every student in the class, along with the teacher, began walking behind Fang Can.

Fang Can did nothing in response. He neither agreed nor objected, which allowed their nervous hearts to relax.

Compared with the disorder in the other classrooms, this orderly procession quickly attracted the attention of those around them.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

A student from another class hurried over and questioned them, assuming that the school had issued some new directive.

Looking at the other student, who was still shaken, the entire procession felt a surge of superiority.

“See the person in front? He’s a noble superpowered individual.”

“A superpowered individual?!”

The questioning student’s eyes widened. But seeing how certain everyone appeared, he hurried away.

A minute later, a succession of heavy footsteps thundered on the stairs. Students and teachers from several classes rushed downstairs and joined the procession behind Fang Can.

Within just a few minutes, the line behind Fang Can had multiplied to more than a hundred people. They all silently followed him, and no one left.

But this was only the beginning. As their numbers grew, more and more students began to notice them.

One class, then two, then three…

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

By the time Fang Can reached the school gate, the teachers and students of the entire school had gathered behind him.

Some people tried to approach Fang Can and strike up a conversation, but the students from his class stopped them, claiming that no one was permitted to offend the noble superpowered individual.

Soon, Fang Can and the mighty procession of several thousand teachers and students behind him began walking toward home.

Once a crowd reached a certain size, the instinct to band together would emerge on its own.

In a city where the authorities had officially announced that order had been lost and could no longer provide its people with a sense of security, most would instinctively merge into a collective. Only then could they feel safe.

Before long, after they left the school grounds, the silent march of thousands of students drew everyone’s attention. Once they came forward and learned the reason, they chose to join.

Listening to the distant uproar of the city while comparing it to the reassuring silence of this large and powerful procession, the confidence that had previously vanished began to return to the hearts of those present.

Suddenly, one student took out his phone and said, “My parents are in Z City too. It’s so dangerous outside right now. We should have them come here and join us as soon as possible.”

His words instantly reminded everyone else. Before long, the quiet procession became noisy as people did their best to call relatives and friends who were also in Z City.

Two thousand… five thousand… ten thousand… twenty thousand…

Like a snowball rolling downhill, the crowd behind Fang Can quickly swelled to at least tens of thousands.

There were students, office workers, shut-ins, retired seniors, drivers, young cyclists…

Under the psychological pressure exerted by a superpowered individual, men and women of every background and every age gathered together, yet, remarkably, not a single disturbance occurred.

It was as though humility and courtesy had been carved into the hearts of every person in the crowd.

Fang Can understood perfectly what was happening behind him, but he did not interfere once. From beginning to end, all he had done was calmly announce his identity. After that, everything had unfolded naturally, like water flowing along its proper course.

During the entire process, apart from Fang Can’s classmates, no one had witnessed him display his abilities. Yet not a single person dared doubt whether the matter was genuine, and no one came forward to question it.

Because what they needed now was a superpowered individual to take charge of the situation. Even if it was fake, that would be fine.

If someone questioned it recklessly at a time like this and it turned out to be false, wouldn’t everything truly fall apart?

And so, on the foundation of trust born from suspicion, Fang Can successfully led tens of thousands of people in silence all the way to his front door.

Inside the house, Jiang Ning’an was meditating and regulating her breath when she sensed the commotion outside.

What the—had modern society launched an attack?

Page (3/3)