Why is his holy light red?

Mercury and John were merely acquaintances, barely friends, but they didn't really understand each other.

He didn't even know what John's superpowers were, only that he was a competent security guard and had never heard of any superpowered person acting drunk in front of him.

But that's not a reason for him to become a lawyer, is it?

Mercury looked at his father with great suspicion—"Did you really invite this person?"

"It was the Iron Titan who chose your lawyer," Al quickly explained. "Don't let his youth fool you; he's the best lawyer in the field of specialized litigation related to the Heroes Act. And he truly maintains a 100% win rate."

Mercury was well aware of the self-aggrandizing tactics of low-level real estate agents, so he pressed further, asking, "How many cases have you been involved in?"

John wore a calm and confident smile.

"Twenty-seven games. Twelve of those are against the same federal government you're currently facing."

Before Mercury could process the numbers, John continued, "But this case isn't even a warm-up. Even if you really are an antisocial psychopathic killer, just based on those two detectives' improper interrogation, we already have a 70% chance of winning."

"I'm not a psychopathic killer," Mercury quickly explained.

You can't just say that carelessly; he's going to become the world's richest man.

"That's not important," John replied casually.

This is very much in the style of an unscrupulous lawyer. The truth doesn't matter; winning or losing is what matters. But often, such lawyers are the ones with real skills.

"Time is precious, let's get straight to the point." John's long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the metal tabletop, instantly switching into work mode. "According to the information I have so far, you were intercepted by Federal Agent Ian Wolfe as soon as you stepped out of the airport. According to you, he disguised himself as Mr. Al's colleague to lure you into his car. After you saw through his deception, he pulled out a gun and threatened you, then you fought back, severely injuring him."

"That's about right," Mercury agreed, then added, "He also verbally threatened to kidnap my family, so I lost control."

John nodded. "Sure. Sticking to the 'to protect the family' argument is very convincing."

"I am stating the facts."

"That would be even better." John raised an eyebrow. "It saves me the trouble of writing your lines."

Mercury: "..."

Although the lawyer in front of him seemed utterly devoid of morality, Mercury had to admit that the lawyer's professionalism was indeed very high. In just a few minutes, John had already come up with a set of arguments for him.

"Listen carefully, from now on, this is the only truth." John composed himself and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Because that agent threatened your life and the lives of your entire family, you were stimulated by extreme panic and anger, and unexpectedly awakened superpowers. Because it was your first awakening, you were completely unable to control this unfamiliar power, which led to excessive self-defense."

Mercury took careful notes, but immediately asked, "Wait. Don't we need to investigate their motives for kidnapping me? There's definitely immortality technology behind this..."

"Stop," John interrupted him impatiently. "Don't drag in outside forces in court. The more witnesses you involve, the more likely uncontrollable accidents will occur. Remember who you are—you are just a victim, a minor."

"We don't need to prove who ordered Ian Wolf to carry out the kidnapping; they need to explain why federal agents were pointing guns at you."

"Just like that?" Mercury asked incredulously. "You think you can win like that?"

"Your scenes are finished, now it's my job." John stood up, straightened his collar, and glanced at Mercury before leaving. "One last piece of advice. You just crippled an adult for life, so at least try to show some emotion befitting your age."

"Anger, fear, resentment, regret... anything is fine. Just don't act like a cold-blooded monster. If the jury thinks you're an inhuman psychopath, your story won't be convincing."

John left in a hurry, having talked with Mercury for less than half an hour in total.

After meeting with his lawyer, two federal agents with dark expressions appeared in the interrogation room and announced that the visiting time was over and that Mercury would be sent to the Black Olive Reception Center.

Although John is a highly skilled lawyer with a 100% success rate, it's impossible for Mercury to get bail after crippling a federal agent in the street.

Before the formal trial, Mercury must be taken to the Black Olive Containment Center, which is specifically for people with superpowers.

The brief meeting ended. Seeing his father's worried face, Mercury comforted him, saying, "Don't worry about me. Go back and spend more time with Mother and Sylvia. You'd better take a few days off and stop 'working'."

Mercury wasn't afraid of going to any kind of shelter; his only worry was that his father might be out doing good deeds again these days. What if, like in a melodramatic movie, he saved hundreds of thousands of innocent people only to return home to find his family members murdered? That would be truly heartbreaking.

As long as his mother and sister are safe, Mercury has no worries.

Al nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, no one can hurt our family. You must protect yourself."

After a brief farewell, the cold, heavy handcuffs locked Mercury's wrists once more, and he was escorted into a fully enclosed heavy armored vehicle.

The carriage was dimly lit and filled with a strange smell of sweat and fish.

Armed special tactical squads lined up on both sides, each soldier's nerves taut, gun barrels slightly lowered, deliberately maintaining a safe distance from Mercury in the center.

"Don't be so nervous," Mercury chuckled nonchalantly, his hands moving slightly, causing the heavy handcuffs to clang loudly. "I'm not some man-eating demon."

The vast majority of soldiers remained silent, only a cold, sharp reply came from a corner: "Then don't act like a demon."

Mercury looked in the direction of the sound.

The speaker was a black man with a full head of dreadlocks, also wearing special operations uniform, but without the bulky bulletproof plates or tactical helmet, and with only a small sidearm tucked into his thigh.

Among the heavily armed soldiers who were on high alert in the train carriage, this guy stood out as an outsider.

But judging from his appearance, he's definitely an elite mini-boss in the game. Mercury probably thinks he's also a superhuman and the leader of this escort team.

"May I ask who you are?" Mercury asked. "Morgan, a correctional officer at the Black Olive Internment Center," the dreadlocked black man stared at him with eyes as sharp as knives. "We'll be seeing each other every day from now on. You'd better not cause me any trouble."

A correctional officer is a prison guard.

Mercury remained unfazed by such a blatant warning and hostility.

"Another Morgan. Is that federal agent Morgan your relative?" Mercury asked.

However, the correctional officer Morgan did not answer the question.

Mercury had no choice but to continue asking, "Since you're willing to speak, why not tell me more about this 'Black Olive'? I've heard rumors that those who have been inside call it hell."

"The rumors are true," Morgan replied coldly. "For vicious criminals like you, black olives are hell for punishing the devil."

"That's a bit too much of a preconceived notion," Mercury leaned back, speaking casually. "The judge hasn't even given the sledgehammer yet. If I'm acquitted in the end, your words now will constitute defamation."

Morgan didn't reply; he merely twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing an extremely contemptuous sneer.

Mercury was too lazy to waste any more words.

The shapeshifter he crippled was a federal agent, and the Black Olive Containment Center was under the federal government's jurisdiction. This system was incredibly complex, filled with relatives, colleagues, and comrades-in-arms.

If he crippled one of their men, they would surely try every means to rip him off from behind bars. If that were the case, then Black Olive would truly be a den of wolves and tigers.

The armored vehicle traveled for one or two hours, bumping along.

When the heavy hydraulic doors opened, Mercury found himself inside the containment facility.

There was no sunlight; as far as the eye could see, there was only a gray sky cut off by high-voltage power grids.

Towering concrete walls isolated the area from the outside world, while rows of heavily armed guards looked down upon him from the surrounding towers.

The environment didn't look like a detention facility, but rather a prisoner-of-war camp.

Mercury's boots had barely touched the rough cement when the malicious correctional officer approached him.

Morgan, with a cold expression, commanded from his superior position, "Take off your clothes and submit to inspection."