My SuperVillain System: Building Legion of SSS-Ranked SuperHeroines
Chapter 53 - Puppet Show

Chapter 53: Chapter 53 - Puppet Show

"What are you doing here?"

Within the hospital room, seated on the sofa, Ytrisia glanced once more toward the bed—where she, the patient, should have been resting.

But instead, Cruxius was lying there, his head tilted back, eyes on the ceiling, completely nonchalant—as if unconcerned about using his influence to push the butler of the Blac family into convincing her to arrange a date.

"...I was worried about you," Cruxius stated, lying on the bed.

His mind, however, was elsewhere—calculating the fallout of the press conference he had just given.

He knew the Hero Association would likely convene a meeting to address it, as they always did at such times when they felt threatened to have their image sullied.

The timing of his message had been perfect. It would be played before all of them.

When the strongest heroes heard it—especially since it was clearly aimed at their most powerful—their pride would be stung.

They would undoubtedly launch an investigation into the source of voice and launch an attack on zone 7, both out of ego and desperation.

After all Cruxius never bet on just one outcome.

First, he made them desperate—by publicly exposing the problem at the first half of press conference.

That way, his words about collateral damage, untamed power, unethical treatment, and considering normal humans as cockroaches would resonate as public sentiment.

This will make the Hero Association desperate to take some big action to clean their public image—and he just served them a target.

It was like first corner someone into the dark and then use a candle to slowly lead them out of it.

He will fulfill his cameo show by using the Hero Association as puppets who are desperate to clear the superheroes’ names.

And the second half of the press conference was about how superheroes also have a very positive side.

Yes, superheroes definitely saved lives—some even died doing so—but people had short memories.

They forgot heroes as easily as yesterday’s lunch.

So he suggested that the heroes would need those metaphorical collars.

Naturally, the tracking devices would become inevitable—not because of people’s questioning—after all, who cares about people who forget things so soon?

But because the higher ups would use this chance to leash the heroes.

Fear of power was universal.

Even the wealthy felt inferior to those who could fly and lift the mountain.

Shareholders would demand action, and the Blac family would ensure it happened with intensity.

In conclusion, since no major heroic event had recently boosted their image, he kept the entire conference focused on discrediting them.

Then, in the second half, he proposed the tracking devices—as a necessary safety measure.

There’s a saying: Turn a setback into a comeback.

The attack on Volta was designed to prove the need for those devices. She had fought two villains, and he made sure of it—just to showcase their necessity.

A portrayal of a hero without tracking devices hardly surviving from the attack of two villains—

But then, the plan hit a snag. She died.

Though she was alive now, he would pivot—make her the first superhero to publicly receive a tracking device.

If reinforcements arrived at the right time, it would reinforce the idea that such tech ensured hero safety—tech that, conveniently, would be manufactured by the Blac Corporation.

After all, he could claim to have saved Volta’s life because of the tracking device.

Of course, there was no such device.

But the public didn’t need to know that.

He would simply say it prompted him to act instantly and help her, hitting a time limit that, with the help of Sugar, allowed him to provide reinforcements against the sudden cowardly attack from villains.

Using Volta’s public image, he’d turn superheroes into cars with advance GPS—always under his watchful eye.

"You could have just asked Darithi. After all, isn’t she the one keeping an eye on me?"

Ytrisia folded her arms and squinted at him as she stepped closer—recalling Darithi’s words and aiming directly at Cruxius. He had been stalking her, and not once had he shown a shred of remorse.

"..."

Cruxius hadn’t expected that. He stared at Ytrisia for a moment, then turned his head back to the ceiling.

A realization settled in—Darithi messed up.

Most likely, Ytrisia had questioned Darithi about the information she had received so quickly regarding the person behind the attack on the headquarters of Channel Poggo.

But of all possible excuses, Darithi had chosen the worst one: that Cruxius had asked her to keep an eye on Volta. Like some lovestruck fool, following his crush in secret.

A strong move from Darithi to act as support lead, maybe—but completely unnecessary right now.

Cruxius sighed. Now that the family head’s calls about the two of them dating might have reached her, she would assume he was behind it all, using his influence to manipulate her and force her into loving him back.

Things could have flowed more smoothly.

Before, she might have doubted the family head. But now, her anger was squarely on him. All because of that one mistake.

A variable he hadn’t accounted for.

"I did. And she said I should remain near Ytrisia... for protection."

Cruxius definitely knew he felt protected beside a hot beauty with a cold face.

The night was beautiful—one of those rare nights that could become even more memorable... if he managed to score a few points with her.

He glanced toward the glass window from the 24th floor where they were present.

"And why is that?" Ytrisia asked, clearly confused by his words. She noticed his eyes briefly flick to his phone before he slowly tore a piece of the bedsheet and began wrapping it around his face.

Her confusion only deepened.

"Well... a superhero is about to attack me. Because of that press conference," Cruxius said matter-of-factly, picking up the remote and switching on the television mounted in the room.

He knew Volta—Ytrisia—might not be aware of the press conference he’d just held. As the screen lit up, the news broke like a siren.

// Breaking News: The heir of the Black family condemns superheroes for unethical behavior and self-serving agendas. Are heroes really what they claim to be? Let’s take a look at his statements... //

’!’

"Wh-What?" Ytrisia’s eyes shot back to Cruxius, stunned as the report played for a few more minutes.

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing—he had actually said those things? Publicly?

"Come on. You know some heroes are psychos," Cruxius replied casually, shrugging as he adjusted the fabric mask around his face.

Only his eyes were visible now—his hair, mouth, and everything else hidden beneath the bedsheet.

He had to look like a victim after all.

Play the part.

Because any moment now, an angry, misunderstood hero was going to burst through that window.

"I mean... I do. But the Hero Association would never—" Ytrisia began, trying to reason it out.

There was no way they’d attack over a press conference, right?

Not when the one giving it wasn’t just some average government lackey—but the heir of the Blac family.

Why would they respond violently and make things worse by proving his words true?

BAM!

Her thoughts were cut off—literally—by a shattering explosion of glass.

’!?!’

Her purple eyes widened in disbelief as the reinforced window shattered like paper.

A clawed hand reached through the wreckage, grabbing Cruxius by the neck.

"Argh!"

"Cruxius!" Ytrisia screamed.