The Scumbag's Guide To Heroism novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70: 70 | Verification and a Fair Point

Dr. Hayes continued to scribble notes as I maintained the spectral arm holding his pen in the air. My amber construct glowed softly in the sterile examination room.

"How long can you maintain the construct?" he asked.

"About thirty minutes at full extension before I start feeling the strain," I lied. The real answer was closer to two hours with my upgraded stats, but better to undersell than oversell.

"And the weight limit?"

"Around fifty pounds." Another lie. I’d moved a hundred-pound training dummy yesterday with barely any effort.

He nodded, still writing. "I see. And have you noticed any other manifestations? Secondary abilities, perhaps? Some late bloomers develop multiple functions."

My pulse quickened. This felt like more than standard verification.

"No, just the telekinesis. Force Manipulation, I mean."

"Mmm. And your parents—Vanguard and Reina Belmont—what were their Aspects again?"

I frowned. "You already have that information."

"Humor me."

"My father had Impact Absorption. My mother had Light Step. Neither were remotely similar to what I can do."

He leaned forward. "That’s quite unusual, isn’t it? For a child to manifest something completely unrelated to either parent’s Aspect? Especially as a late bloomer."

"I wouldn’t know. I’m not a geneticist."

"Of course." He offered a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "One more thing. Would you mind removing your shirt?"

"Excuse me?"

"I need to check for an Aspect Core. Standard procedure for verification."

That was bullshit. I’d already been registered at the IHL office. But refusing would look suspicious.

"Fine." I pulled my compression shirt over my head.

He stood and approached with a small device that looked like a handheld scanner. "This detects energy signatures. Won’t hurt a bit."

The scanner hummed as he passed it over my chest, then my back, then my arms. I kept my face neutral despite feeling like a lab animal.

"Interesting," he murmured. "Very faint signature, diffused rather than concentrated. Most unusual for a Channeler-type."

"Maybe because it manifested late."

"Perhaps." He didn’t sound convinced. "You can put your shirt back on."

As I pulled my shirt down, he returned to his seat and made more notes.

"Is there a problem with my registration?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"No, no. Just being thorough." He looked up with that same empty smile. "The academy has procedures for late manifestations. We need to ensure everything is... legitimate."

I kept my face carefully blank. "Legitimate?"

"Some people go to extraordinary lengths to get into Halloran."

I met his gaze and raised an eyebrow. "Okay... and what does that have to do with me?"

Dr. Hayes cleared his throat, clearly not expecting the direct challenge. "I’m simply saying—"

"Isn’t that the point of the exam?" I cut him off, leaning forward. "To weed out contenders from pretenders? Last I checked, that’s what I’m here for – to be tested. Not interrogated about my genetics."

His lips pressed into a tight line. The scanner in his hand made another little electronic chirp.

"Mr. Belmont, your attitude—"

"Is exactly what you’d expect from someone who’s been training their ass off for this opportunity." I stood up, towering over his seated form. "Look, I get it. Late manifestation, famous dead parents, living with the Fitzgeralds – it’s a good story. But I didn’t come here for a medical examination. I came to take the entrance exam."

A vein pulsed in his forehead. Up close, I could see the slight yellowing of his teeth, the patchy stubble on his chin. He wasn’t used to applicants talking back.

"You’re not making a good first impression."

I laughed. "Good thing first impressions aren’t on the test requirements, then."

The Oracle Feed flickered to life in my vision.

Subject: Hayes, Dr. Michael

Current emotional state: Irritated, suspicious

Power dynamics: Attempting to establish authority

Recommendation: De-escalate while maintaining boundary

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