Chapter 105: Recruitment

With the victory and defeat also dividing between Richard and Tina, this battle between parents and children came to an end.

Bringing back a group of parents bound tightly with swift confinement, the group returned once again to the grand estate perched at the summit of the mountain.

In the freshly renovated hall, several children sat in a daze, their expressions carrying the distant quality of a half-remembered dream.

Everything? Just like that, it had ended?

Clap, clap, clap!

The sound of applause suddenly pierced their trance.

Gu Zhongyan addressed them calmly. “It’s over now. Your parents have all been taken into custody. I’ve already contacted SHIELD. They will reach out to the FBI, arrange transport, and bring your parents in for trial. The charges will cover their collusion with the Los Angeles Police Department and the years of harm inflicted on innocent youths through the Jubilant Church.”

“This matter is essentially concluded. Do you have any thoughts on what comes next?”

The children stared, stunned, and fell into heavy silence.

The moment they had fled their home, they had prepared themselves for a long fight against their parents and the certain promise of sending them to prison.

Yet when that day finally arrived, they realized they had planned for the battle but had never imagined the deeper terror of becoming true orphans.

Though they had left home before, there had always been a place they could return to.

Now, once their parents were imprisoned, they would be left with nothing—no home, no safety, no future to claim as their own.

The realization left them adrift, uncertain about what lay ahead.

Watching the children drift again into blankness, Gu Zhongyan’s eyes held a quiet understanding.

He knew life was never a fairy tale. The moment the fighting ended, the dream of a perfect happy ending would dissolve. Beyond that brief victory stretched the tedious, ordinary days that waited for them no matter how strong their powers had grown.

“Should any of you find yourselves unsure about the days ahead,” he said, “I am willing to hear your questions.”

The six of them lifted their heads as one, eyes wide, grasping at his words like drowning men clutching a last scrap of driftwood.

“Go on,” Alex, the black kid, said first, his tone steady.

Gu Zhongyan continued without hesitation. “Your parents’ crimes are severe. This lifetime offers little hope of release from prison. Worse still, once the truth surfaces, their businesses, experiments, and every illegal gain accumulated over the years will almost certainly be seized and sealed.”

“You will lose not only your family but also your property. I doubt any of you wish to spend the rest of your days wandering like street urchins.”

“Your lives stretch long ahead of you—dreams still unfulfilled, experiences you have yet to taste. If all of that vanished along with your parents’ crimes, the cruelty would be almost unbearable.”

“I therefore hope you will accept my full support and join my team.”

“Your team?” The children exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncertain.

“Precisely.” Gu Zhongyan nodded, gesturing toward Su Yan and Richard. “Just as they did.”

“After everything that has happened, you should understand that the world is far more complex than you once believed. This crisis is no isolated accident. Countless disasters have already unfolded across the planet, yet they remained hidden because someone has quietly protected the truth. In New York I have witnessed several such events. To harness the full strength of our abilities, I established the Defenders Alliance there.”

“Since you possess extraordinary gifts, you should not be hidden away. I would like to see you six establish the Young Defenders Alliance here in Los Angeles. Together you would stand with us, guarding the peace of this region.”

“What do you think?”

A ripple of reaction passed through the group. Some considered the offer with care. Others bristled in open resistance. A few burned with eager excitement. One simply shrugged, expressionless.

Chas spoke first, his voice heavy with opposition. “This is too much. I don’t belittle any of us, but we’re still minors. Honestly, if you three hadn’t appeared when you did, we might all be dead. I have no desire to keep living in this dangerous world. What about the rest of you?”

Jelly, however, shook her head. “I don’t agree. We have powers now. We should use them—to help others, to atone for our parents. Abilities can be trained and strengthened. Ours may be weak at present, but with proper guidance we can become far stronger. I think the proposal is sound.”

The two were on the verge of clashing when Alex cut in.

“If we joined your team, what exactly would it look like? What are your plans?”

Every head turned to Gu Zhongyan.

He smiled inwardly. Alex had zeroed in on the heart of the matter at once—the practical details rather than the romantic thrill.

“Joining is entirely optional,” he said. “I will not force anyone. Your decision rests solely on whether you wish to accept the risks. That said, my offer is generous. You would receive complete funding for all living expenses and education. Your daily needs and learning materials would not fall short of what your parents provided. Training would be tailored to each of your abilities, ensuring the team can protect an entire region. Nicole would study advanced magic under my guidance. You and Chas would receive instruction from specialists in mechanics and the internet, preparing you to become technological innovators. Jelly, Carolina, and Gutt would each be granted alien technology to enhance their powers.”

“Even within the team you would retain the right to live your own lives. If a mission becomes too dangerous and you choose to withdraw, I will not compel you. It is, after all, only a voluntary partnership.”

“Should you decide against joining, I will still arrange to meet your basic needs and help you grow up like any ordinary person. That is the limit of what I can offer.”

“Any further questions?”

“No.”

Alex shook his head, then turned to his companions. “The terms are exceptionally favorable. I find them workable. I will join.” He looked around. “What about the rest of you?”

“Me too! Me too!” Molly exclaimed, barely able to contain her excitement.