chapter 345

Chapter 345:

– Layla –

Penemue and I were standing inside a private dressing room at Brockton Bay's News Network—or BBN for short. The room was brightly lit, the mirrors on the walls reflecting our purple eyes back at us. Penemue had just finished brushing my hair, and making sure the sexy but businessy outfit I was wearing was perfect. Of course it was, I created it myself and all my clothes at this point were indestructible and enchanted to always stay clean and wrinkle free.

Supreme Goddesses always needed to look the part, even if no one in this world knew what I was.

Penemue paced back and forth in front of me, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. She was biting her nail again, a sure sign she was seriously nervous. Her eyes darted around the room, and finally settled on me, wide with anxiety. "This is going to be big for us, Layla," she said, voice tense. "This interview is going to put us on the world stage. It’s the step we need to really make saving this world easier." She paused and pointed one perfectly manicured finger at me. "So, you can't fuck it up."

Whoa!

Penemue always took business seriously, but sometimes she could get really worked up about it. And right now, she was worked up big time.

Even though she wasn't as well-known in this world as Carol and I were, Fallcorp was her baby. My fallen angel sister absolutely loved Fallcorp—it was her pride and joy. Back on our homeworld of Earth Marvel DxD, Fallcorp and the Grigori had pretty much become the same thing, and Penemue was fiercely protective of the name she'd worked so hard to build. She didn't want anything to mess it up, even here in a completely different universe.

I stepped forward and gently put my arms around her, hugging her tight to calm her down. Her body relaxed slightly against mine, but she still felt tense.

"It's okay, Pen," I assured her softly, smiling as I squeezed her a bit tighter. "I promise I'll be completely serious during this interview." Then I paused, thinking, before adding with a small chuckle, "...Okay, maybe more like seventy percent serious."

Penemue sighed against my shoulder, then pulled back just enough to give me a mock stern look. Her purple eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a tiny hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "You'd better be at least seventy-five percent," she whispered back, poking me in the boob lightly with her finger. "This is important. Now, go out there, and don't let Lois Lane trip you up. She’s got a reputation, you know. She’s a tough-as-nails journalist who always pushes for the truth! Which you know, we can’t actually give her!"

I rolled my eyes dramatically at the name. Lois Lane—seriously. In this universe, the top journalist for BBN just happened to be named Lois Lane. Coincidence? Yeah, right. I'd seen enough universes to know better.

[In every universe with super-powered beings, there will always be a Lois Lane ready to interview them. And then tear them down and expose all their dirty secrets. What do you think she’ll report about you if she finds out how much of a shameless pervert you are?]

The System joked cheerfully in my head.

'Ha ha, very funny,' I thought back sarcastically. I turned back to Penemue, putting my hands gently on her shoulders to steady her. She was still tense, but seemed a bit calmer now.

"Relax, Pen," I said softly, looking into her eyes. "I've done interviews before, remember? I can manage one pushy reporter, even if she is named Lois Lane."

Penemue finally cracked a real smile, her shoulders relaxing now. “I know little sis, now go out there and show the world who they can really rely on from now on. We’ve talked a big game up until this point, but Fallcorp is done talking!”

Damn right we were!

…I smirked to myself, thinking about Penemue’s words as I strutted confidently out of the dressing room and down the brightly lit hallway of the studio. My heels clicked sharply against the polished tile floor with every step, echoing loudly enough that people turned to look.

Honestly, I didn’t mind the attention. My sleek business skirt hugged my curves perfectly, lifting my ass just right and making it look absolutely fantastic. All my lovers always said I had a way of distracting people just by walking, and I took that as a compliment.

Ahead, one of the tech guys—a skinny kid, probably fresh out of college—was rushing by with headphones dangling from his neck and a clipboard in his hand. He glanced my way, eyes widening a little as his footsteps slowed. I caught his gaze, smiled brightly, and gave him a playful wink as I passed by.

His cheeks instantly went beet red. He got so distracted staring at me that he didn’t notice the poor secretary walking straight toward him, her nose buried in paperwork.

I bit my lip, trying hard not to laugh, but it was no use. A moment later, the two collided spectacularly, papers flying everywhere as they stumbled and almost fell over. The clipboard clattered noisily to the floor, and the secretary let out a startled squeak.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” the tech guy stammered, scrambling to pick up scattered papers. His face was bright red, eyes darting nervously back to me like he couldn’t quite help himself.

The secretary let out an irritated sigh, brushing her hair out of her face. “Pay attention next time, Jake! Jeez!”

“Oh my gosh, Gina—I’m really, really sorry! I just—I got super distracted, okay? That woman who walked by had the most perfect ass I’ve ever seen in my entire life! Like…damn.”

Then I heard Gina—the secretary—let out a soft, startled sound, like she’d just realized something huge. I felt her gaze land right on me, warm and curious, as I continued strutting confidently down the corridor. “Whoa…” she murmured quietly, almost in awe. “That really is a perfect ass. Like, is this it? Is this seriously my bi awakening?”

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but I still caught every word perfectly. I bit my lip to keep from giggling too loud. If only I had a dollar for every time I accidentally caused someone’s awakening.

I’d probably be even richer than I already was. Or maybe not, considering I had ALL THE MONEY…

…

I reached the backstage area, where the bright lights dimmed down and the noise of the studio audience sounded more muffled and distant. A different secretary was waiting there for me—another young woman, but this one looked far more professional and put-together than Gina had. Her dark hair was pulled neatly back, and she was holding a tablet that glowed softly in her hands.

"Ah, CEO Layla," she greeted me politely, stepping forward quickly. "Lois Lane is all set. She's ready for you and her other guest. Right this way, please."

I paused, suddenly confused. "Wait, hold on. Other guest?" I asked, raising one eyebrow at her. "I thought this was an exclusive, one-on-one interview. That was the whole agreement when we set this up."

The secretary's eyes widened slightly, and she quickly bit her lip, looking nervous. "W-well, yes ma'am. That was the plan. But the network received a call earlier today. Some very powerful people called in—they demanded to be on the show at the same time as you. The studio said their hands were tied. They had to agree."

I narrowed my eyes, not liking the sound of that at all. Penemue had arranged this whole thing as a carefully planned PR moment for Fallcorp. If someone was trying to mess with us, I wasn't going to make it easy for them. "Is that right?" I said, my voice going colder. "Well, maybe I should just walk out right now. My time isn't something the studio can just mess around with."

The secretary's eyes got even wider, and she looked close to panicking. "Please, Miss Layla! You can't! If you leave now, I'll be fired on the spot. I'm begging you—this really wasn't our idea."

I felt a little bit bad as I saw the genuine fear and worry on her face. She wasn't at fault, but still—not my problem. I was just about ready to turn and walk away despite her pleading when suddenly I heard Lois Lane's smooth voice speaking loudly from the stage.

"And now," Lois said, sounding confident and dramatic, "please welcome my first guest of the evening: the Chief Director of the PRT herself, Rebecca Costa-Brown!"

I froze, a slow grin spreading across my face. Oh, this just got interesting. Very interesting indeed. I heard the polite applause from the audience greeting Costa-Brown as she took her seat on stage.

Never mind walking out. This might just be the best opportunity yet to embarrass the PRT publicly.

I could already picture Penemue backstage, watching the broadcast feed and nearly drooling at the thought of making Costa-Brown look silly on live TV.

"And now," Lois continued brightly, "our second guest tonight—the mysterious and very popular CEO of Fallcorp herself, Miss Layla...whose last name no one knows, for some reason!" she joked lightly, drawing laughter from the crowd.

I took that as my cue. Tossing a reassuring smile at the nervous secretary, I stepped forward confidently onto the brightly lit stage, heels clicking sharply as I walked out. Bright lights flooded me instantly, cameras turning my way. The studio audience erupted into loud applause and cheers, noticeably more enthusiastic than when they'd clapped for Costa-Brown. I smirked at that, catching the tight scowl forming on the Chief Director's face as she watched me approach.

Perfect.

"Thank you, everyone," I called cheerfully, offering a small wave to the audience before gracefully taking my seat across from Costa-Brown. I met her eyes directly, letting her see the playful challenge in my gaze.

…

I immediately noticed something else about Chief Director Costa-Brown that nobody else in the whole studio would have been able to see. At this point, nothing in the multiverse could fool my eyes, no matter how good it was.

She wasn't actually the older woman she looked like on TV or in public appearances. Instead, there was a super powerful illusion around her—some kind of parahuman power—that made her look like she was maybe in her forties, all professional and experienced. But underneath the illusion, she was young. Shockingly young. She couldn't have been older than nineteen or twenty.

But that wasn't even the most shocking thing. Even worse, I could clearly see something else that sent a chill straight down my spine. Her soul—it was black. It was soaked in an unbelievable, mind-numbing amount of sin.

‘Holy fuck,’ I thought to myself, stunned. ‘Even the alternate DOOM who tried to take over Latveria back home didn't have a body count as high as this fucking woman.’ It was honestly terrifying to look at, and I'd seen some seriously twisted souls in my time.

[She has to have access to multiverse travel, Host. Otherwise, how could she possibly be responsible for the deaths of literal billions of people? No one could kill that many in just one world.]

I nodded slightly, agreeing silently with the System. Yeah, this was definitely something I needed to talk about later with Penemue and Carol. Because holy shit—the PRT was clearly way more shady and dangerous than we'd ever believed.

But for now, I had to keep it cool. I was live on national television after all, with Lois Lane looking at me like a hawk and cameras pointed straight at my face. Taking a slow breath, I put on my best fake smile and settled back comfortably in the chair.

Across from me, Costa-Brown returned a stiff, professional smile of her own, although her eyes showed how much she did not like me.

I could feel the tension between us, crackling like static electricity.

Finally, Lois Lane broke the silence. She cleared her throat, leaned forward slightly in her chair. "All right, everyone," she announced brightly, turning to the audience with a smooth, practiced ease. "Tonight is a very special double interview! Let’s get started!” Lois Lane started off the interview smoothly, her eyes bright with excitement. The cameras focused on us, and the lights made the whole stage warm. She leaned forward just a little and gave me a big, friendly smile. "First of all, Layla, let me congratulate you and Fallcorp on all your amazing success lately," Lois said cheerfully. "Your company has been making waves everywhere—not just because you're making so much money, but because you're creating some pretty incredible inventions. It's like something out of a science fiction movie!"

I smiled warmly at her, nodding a little. Honestly, it felt good to hear someone say that. I knew Penemue was probably grinning backstage right now, proud as heck that Fallcorp was getting this kind of praise on live TV.

Lois continued, turning to the camera and audience now. "But beyond just the inventions, Fallcorp has really shaken things up in the hero world, haven't they? Just one week ago, the infamous villain Lung and his entire ABB gang were completely dismantled by Fallcorp's very own Captain Marvel. A huge win for this city!"

The audience broke into applause again. I glanced at the Chief Director out of the corner of my eye, seeing her mouth tighten slightly.

Oh yeah, she definitely wasn't liking all this praise I was getting.

[Haha! Suck it bitch!]

Lois turned back to me, a playful twinkle in her eyes. "And on top of that, I recently heard that Fallcorp has also managed to recruit Armsmaster—the former leader of the Bay’s Protectorate—after he publicly resigned from the PRT. But that's not all! Apparently, you've also brought another young parahuman onto your team whose name hasn't even been announced yet. It seems like you're quietly putting together quite the team of respectable heroes!"

I opened my mouth to respond, ready to confirm her statement and maybe tease a bit about who that new recruit might be, but I never got the chance.

Chief Director Costa-Brown suddenly snorted loudly, leaning forward abruptly in her seat. Her voice was sharp and cold, cutting right through the warm atmosphere Lois had built up. "Respectable heroes? Hardly! Armsmaster broke his government contract the moment he quit the PRT. Actions like that prove he can't be trusted as a hero anymore. Clearly, he cares more about money and personal gain than his responsibility to the public!"

The audience stirred at that, whispers and muttering filling the studio as they processed her harsh words.

"Wait, what? Armsmaster quit for money?" someone whispered loudly, sounding confused.

"I thought he was one of the good guys!" someone else muttered back.

Lois Lane raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the sudden hostility. She looked over at me, curious to see how I'd react.

I kept my face calm, even though inside I was annoyed. Costa-Brown had just taken a cheap shot at us—at Fallcorp, Armsmaster, and at me personally. No way was I gonna let her get away with that.

I took a deep breath and then smiled confidently, looking directly at Lois Lane and then out to the audience. "Actually," I admitted openly, "money was one of the big reasons Armsmaster decided to quit the PRT and join Fallcorp."

As soon as the words left my mouth, there was a sudden wave of confusion in the audience. People started whispering louder, looking at each other in surprise. I could practically hear what they were thinking: Wait, what? Armsmaster really quit for money? Is she serious?

Lois Lane's eyes widened a bit, clearly startled that I'd admit something like that so easily on live TV. She probably expected me to deny it or sugarcoat it. Beside her, the Chief Director's face curled into a smug, triumphant smirk. She looked at me like she'd just won our argument. Like I was some kind of rookie who had made a huge mistake and given her exactly what she wanted.

But I didn't panic or back down. Instead, my smirk slowly widened. I'd been expecting exactly this reaction. And now it was my turn to explain.

"See," I continued smoothly, leaning forward just a little, my voice calm but seductive enough to fill the entire studio, "Armsmaster isn't just some random hero. He's one of the best Tinkers in the entire world. The truth is, he has the skills, the drive, and the determination to easily become a hero on par with legends like Alexandria, Eidolon, or Legend himself—the Triumvirate."

I noticed the chief director flinching at that statement for a second.

The audience fell suddenly quiet, pausing to listen closely as my words sank in. I could see surprise spreading across their faces. Even Lois Lane looked slightly impressed, eyebrows raised as she listened carefully.

I kept going, not letting up for a second. "The only thing Armsmaster was missing—the one thing holding him back all these years—was money. The PRT never gave him enough resources or funding to reach his true potential. But Fallcorp? We've solved that problem."

Lois looked curious now, leaning closer and clearly intrigued by what I was saying. "And how exactly has Fallcorp done that, CEO Layla?"

I smiled at her again, keeping my confidence up. "Simple. We've given Armsmaster an unlimited budget. No restrictions, no limits. Anything he needs, he gets. Because that's what a hero of his caliber deserves!"

Gasps and murmurs went through the audience again, louder this time. Eyes widened, jaws dropped. People glanced at each other excitedly, imagining what someone as smart as Armsmaster could do with unlimited money backing him up.

I took that moment to flash the audience a playful wink, adding, "And by the end of this interview tonight, everyone watching will understand exactly what I'm talking about."

Lois Lane tilted her head, smiling warmly at me, clearly intrigued. "That's a very bold statement, Layla. I'd certainly love to see a Brockton Bay hero reach that kind of incredible potential. It sounds like you might have something special planned?"

I chuckled softly, giving her a little shrug. "Let's just say I like giving nice surprises. Don't worry, you'll see soon enough."

Inside my pocket, I could feel my phone resting against my thigh. I was waiting for it to buzz.

Meanwhile, I glanced over at the Chief Director. Her face had gone from smug to angry. Her eyes narrowed, and I could almost see smoke coming out of her ears. She hadn't expected me to turn things around like that. Now, instead of looking bad, Armsmaster looked like a hero who'd finally gotten the support he deserved.

The audience didn't seem angry or upset with Armsmaster anymore, either. I saw people nodding thoughtfully, murmuring about how great it would be to see what Armsmaster could build with unlimited resources.

The Chief Director wasn’t about to give up that easily, though. Before Lois could even open her mouth to ask another question, Costa-Brown leaned forward aggressively, pointing her finger right at me like she'd caught me red-handed doing something awful.

"You act as if Fallcorp is so generous and noble," she said sharply, eyes burning into mine. "But if you were really as good as you pretend, you wouldn't have secretly grabbed the best healer in the entire world along with her whole family! Why don't you admit to everyone that you've completely taken over the local hero team New Wave behind everyone's backs!"

Her voice was sharp and accusing, echoing loudly through the studio. The audience gasped out loud. Whispers and murmurs rose up instantly, filling the air.

"What? Panacea left New Wave?" one woman said anxiously.

"Did Fallcorp really take the whole team?" another asked, sounding confused and worried.

"Oh no, does this mean Panacea won't help sick people anymore?" a concerned voice murmured.

I kept my expression calm, waiting patiently as the shocked whispers quieted a bit. Lois Lane turned toward me, eyes narrowed slightly with interest. "Layla, is what Chief Director Costa-Brown says true? Did Fallcorp actually recruit the entire New Wave team, including Panacea?"

I let out a quiet chuckle, smiling confidently again. "Yes, Lois. That’s exactly true. Panacea—and the rest of New Wave have officially joined Fallcorp as heroes and healers."

The murmurs picked up again, louder this time. People looked worried, asking questions about Panacea, wondering if their favorite healer would still be around for them. Clearly, Panacea was incredibly popular and important to the people here.

"But," I quickly continued, raising my voice clearly above the noise so everyone could hear me clearly, "that doesn't mean anything bad for Brockton Bay or the world. In fact, it's actually fantastic news." The whispers quieted down a bit again, everyone turning toward me with curious eyes. I looked directly at Lois Lane, then back out at the audience, speaking calmly and clearly. "Panacea will continue healing people, just like always. But from now on, she'll be working in new clinics and hospitals that Fallcorp will be opening soon, right here in the city. And here's the best part," I said, letting a dramatic pause hang in the air, "every single service we provide, every single treatment—will be completely free. No charges, no fees. Not one dollar."

The audience gasped loudly again, but this time it was excitement instead of worry. I saw people's faces lighting up, smiles and whispers spreading quickly through the crowd.

I nodded, keeping my voice steady and warm. "Here's the thing most people don't realize. Before, Panacea offered her healing for free, because that's the kind of wonderful person she is. But the hospitals she worked with still charged patients money for the exact same services she gave for free. Amy—Panacea—had no idea that was happening, and when she found out, she was incredibly upset. It was shady and unfair, exploiting her generosity for profit."

There was more muttering now, but angry muttering directed at the hospitals instead. People shook their heads, upset at what they'd just learned.

“That happened to me!”

“My medical bill was so high even though she healed my broken leg in like 30 seconds!”

"Now," I continued, my voice clear and proud, "she'll be fairly paid by Fallcorp and treated with the respect and support she deserves. And all our clinics will treat people completely free. We're here to help, not to squeeze money out of sick and suffering people."

Lois Lane leaned forward, clearly impressed. "That's a pretty big promise you're making, Layla. Is Fallcorp really prepared to offer completely free healthcare to everyone?"

I gave her another confident grin. "Absolutely. Our inventions, our tech, our resources—they've made us extremely successful. We're making more than enough money already. We have no need to charge for medical services. Our goal isn't just profit, it's to genuinely make the world a better place." Then, just for good measure, I flashed a playful wink at Lois and the cameras. "And besides, you'll soon find our new medical practices aren't too far behind Panacea's own powers. We've got a few incredible inventions in healthcare about to be unveiled!"

That got the crowd really excited. Applause burst out suddenly, louder and louder, filling the entire studio. People clapped, cheered, and shouted encouraging words toward me and Fallcorp. I caught a glimpse of the Chief Director, who looked like she might explode with anger at any second.

The Chief Director wasn't ready to give up yet. She sat up straighter, eyes narrowed sharply at me. Her voice came out cold and fierce, cutting right through the applause that was just starting to die down. "You and Fallcorp sure love talking a big game, don't you?" she snapped, clearly angry. "But other than Captain Marvel taking down Lung and putting a few dangerous toys out on the market, what exactly have you accomplished that's really worth all this praise?" I raised my eyebrows at her, letting her keep talking. Her voice got louder, filled with frustration. "You haven't sweat blood and tears, facing the villains and monsters out there! You haven't risked your lives like real heroes have, fighting day after day just to keep people safe! Not like the PRT have!"

The audience murmured again, some nodding slightly, some looking worried. The Chief Director had clearly touched a nerve for some of them. I could see she thought she'd found a weakness to exploit, a place she could finally hurt our image.

But before I could respond, Lois Lane quickly cut in, turning toward Costa-Brown with a disapproving frown. "Now hold on, Director. I don't think that's entirely fair. Fallcorp is still very new, and their track record so far has been impressive. You can't expect them to have solved every problem overnight."

Costa-Brown shook her head, looking stubborn. "Wishes and promises don't equal results, Miss Lane," she said harshly.

Just then, my phone buzzed gently in my pocket, vibrating slightly against my thigh.

[Oh? Are they done already?]

The System chimed curiously inside my head.

I glanced down quickly, pulling my phone from my pocket. A small smile spread across my face as I saw the message on the screen. Perfect timing. This was exactly what I'd been waiting for.

The Chief Director made an irritated grumbling sound, looking offended. "Excuse me, CEO Layla. Checking your phone like some bored teenager isn't very professional," she scolded me.

[Wow, she really does not like you…]

I just chuckled lightly, sliding my phone casually back into my pocket and leaning forward confidently. "Sorry, Director. Just checking an important update. Because you're right—talking big isn't enough, right?"

I turned toward Lois Lane with a confident grin, then shifted my gaze to the eager faces of the audience. Everyone leaned forward, looking curious again, sensing something big was coming.

"You all wanted real results, right?" I announced, speaking clearly and strongly. "Well, here they are. I just got confirmation of some breaking news from the heroes of Fallcorp. Captain Marvel, Armsmaster, some members of New Wave, and our newest young hero, Weaver—have just completed their first big team mission working for us!"

Costa-Brown scoffed slightly, rolling her eyes. "Oh? And what's that supposed to mean?" she asked sarcastically.

I smiled wider, letting the suspense build just a little before delivering the final blow. "It means," I said clearly, "they have successfully taken down every single member of the Slaughterhouse Nine. They captured almost all of them alive, so those monsters can finally face justice for all the horrible things they've done!"

For a moment, there was total silence. Shocked faces stared back at me from every direction, mouths hanging open, eyes wide with disbelief. Then, the silence exploded into the loudest applause and cheers yet. People jumped out of their seats.

"Oh my god!" someone shouted loudly from the front row. "They got the Slaughterhouse Nine?! For real?!"

Beside him, a woman grabbed his arm excitedly, practically shaking him. "This is incredible! I can't believe Fallcorp pulled it off!"

I saw people cheering and giving each other high-fives. A group toward the back of the audience started chanting, "Fallcorp! Fallcorp! Fallcorp!" until others joined in, raising their fists and voices proudly.

Near the aisle, an elderly man who had probably seen all sorts of horrors living in Brockton Bay had actual tears in his eyes, smiling wide like a kid who'd just gotten the best birthday gift ever. "We finally got them," he said quietly, but his voice was shaking with emotion and gratitude. "Those monsters won't hurt anyone ever again."

One of the cameramen pumped his fist into the air, smiling broadly, and another one whispered excitedly, "This is history, man! We're watching history right now!"

Even Lois Lane stood up from her chair, clapping eagerly, a huge grin on her face. "Wow! Incredible news!" she exclaimed, clearly excited herself.

My heart swelled with pride. This was exactly the reaction I'd been hoping for!

Then my eyes caught sight of Chief Director Costa-Brown again. She looked stunned, completely frozen, her mouth half-open like she'd forgotten how to speak.

…But even more interesting was her chair. Her hands gripped the armrests so tightly, her fingers had literally warped and twisted the metal underneath. Not that anyone else noticed with all the sudden celebrations…

XXX

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Here is the list of Current Advanced Chapters on there:

The Fallen Gamer ch 346-350 The Finale!

The Fox Hole 114

That’s not wizard magic 11

That’s not wizard magic 10

Thats not wizard magic 9

The Blood Queen 64

The Fox Hole 113

Thunder and Black Wings 41

That’s not wizard magic 8

That’s not wizard magic 7

That’s not wizard magic 6

Thunder and Black Wings 41

The Fox Hole 112

The Blood Queen 63

The Blood Queen 62

A Systematic Tale: The Hero 35

The Fox Hole 112

A Systematic Tale: The Hero 34

The Blood Queen 61

The Fox Hole 111

Thunder and Black Wings 40

A systematic tale the hero 33