Chapter 23

That night, at the student dormitory of Gotham City D.C. High School, Kent came to visit Robin.

Kent: "How about it? Is the job with the production team real? Have you been accepted?"

— Seeing Robin packing his luggage

Robin: "Yeah, it's real, and I've been accepted too. I'm moving to the single dormitory arranged by the production team tomorrow. I'm completely selling myself to an old lunatic."

— Listlessly

Kent: "Selling yourself? You're exaggerating."

Robin: "Exaggerating? I'm not exaggerating at all. You don't know how twisted Director Gao is. Who knows what dangerous things that old lunatic will make me do."

— Complaining

Kent: "I actually know about this." — In a low voice

Robin: "Huh?" — Didn't hear clearly

Kent: "I mean, at least you can pass Professor Leixiaogu's class and get your diploma. If this job doesn't align with your dreams, you can always look for another opportunity, like riding a donkey to find a horse."

— Comforting Robin

Robin: "Sigh, that's true, but it's not easy to get off this donkey."

Kent: "Ha ha ha, what's so hard about it? Once the show is done, you'll be off, right?"

Robin: "Done? That depends on whether Wayne, the big tycoon, agrees. If he gets hooked on acting, he might keep the show going season after season."

Kent: "What? Wayne, the big tycoon, is playing the lead role?" — His face changed

I (Narrator): "Young man, didn't you refuse to act before? Why are you so surprised?"

Robin: "Yeah, Director Gao got a 200 million RMB sponsorship from Wayne Enterprises. As a condition of the huge sponsorship, Mr. Wayne insisted on playing the lead role."

Kent: "The old lunatic agreed?"

Robin: "He didn't object immediately and seemed quite happy, so he probably accepted it."

Kent: "That bastard!" — Striding away to confront Gao

Robin: "What are you so worked up about?" — Confused

Kent arrived at Gao's suburban villa.

Gao: "My dear son, this is the first time you've come to see me so late. Is there something important?"

— Pretending to be surprised

Kent: "Don't act like you don't know. I heard from Robin that Wayne is going to play the lead role in the reality show."

Gao: "So it's about this. Are you here to accuse me?"

Kent: "Of course. You forced me to stay in Gotham City, making me give up the internship at the Daily Planet in Metropolis. Now you're changing the plan again? Are you trying to ruin me? Besides, Wayne is just an ordinary person. Making him and Robin catch aliens and superhumans is like sending them to their deaths."

— Anxiously

Gao: "My dear son, don't worry. Once you know your new position in the production team, your concerns will be alleviated."

I (Narrator): "New position? Third lead?"

Kent: "Stop being mysterious. What's the new position?"

Gao: "On-set sound technician."

Kent: "..." — Turned and left

Gao: "My dear son, don't be angry. Let me explain..."

— Pulling Kent back

Kent: "What's there to explain? It's clearly a joke."

Gao: "No, no, no. Although you, Bid, and Jordan are part of the camera team, you three also serve as security experts. You will be working with Wayne and Robin to catch the aliens and superhumans. You are a team, a five-person squad."

Kent: "So, even though only they two will be on camera, the actual capture operations will be done by all five of us?"

Gao: "Yes, exactly."

Kent: "What will the audience think? The camera team is more capable than the two superheroes?"

Gao: "Don't worry. I'll add a disclaimer at the beginning of the show: [In the event of danger, the actors will be promptly assisted according to national health and safety regulations. Some content is staged to showcase the superheroes' combat skills. Please do not take it seriously or attempt to replicate it.]"

I (Narrator): "Such a long disclaimer? Usually it's just [This show is purely fictional. Any resemblance to real events is purely coincidental.]"

Kent: "This disclaimer sounds familiar... (thinking) I remember, it's very similar to the disclaimer at the beginning of Discovery's 'Surviving the Wilderness.'"

Gao: "Yes, look at Bear's reality show. Climbing mountains, crossing grasslands, trekking through deserts—his camera team is always with him, very professional and capable, just like you. I just modified the disclaimer from 'Surviving the Wilderness' for our show."

Kent: "Bear's camera team is fully equipped and prepared for any emergencies. What about us? Our equipment might not even be as good as Wayne's and Robin's."

Gao: "That's not the case. You have superpowers. In terms of combat ability, your trio can rank among the world's top three-person teams. Protecting Robin while completing the mission is no problem."

Kent: "Just Robin? What about Wayne? He's the big sponsor of the production and your money bag."

Gao: "Leixiaogu's disciple doesn't need your protection. He won't die that easily."

— Indifferently

Kent: "Wayne is Leixiaogu's disciple? That's surprising. There are rumors that Gotham City's richest man is very timid, always hiding in the well-secured Wayne Tower because he was traumatized by witnessing his parents' brutal deaths as a child..."

Gao: "Those are just smokescreens to cover his true nature, just like making you go to school. You should understand that."

Kent: "But even if he is Leixiaogu's disciple, he's still just an ordinary person. It's not right to leave him completely unprotected, is it?"

Gao: "What's wrong with being an ordinary person? I'm an ordinary person too, and I can still outmaneuver you and your team of aliens and superhumans. Wayne has his own support. Do you think Leixiaogu's 'Shadow' will fully back him?"

Kent: "No, Leixiaogu wouldn't dare to overstep so openly. Wayne's support comes from Wayne Enterprises, which is a major supplier of advanced military and spy equipment to the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency. It's not much worse than what I have. You don't need to worry."

I (Narrator): "Not much worse? You're lying. You use alien technology."

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