Why is his holy light red?

The roar, mixed with loud static from the microphone, made the plastic casing of the walkie-talkie buzz, as if it wanted to reach out of the walkie-talkie and slap someone hard.

Morgan broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

His already gloomy black face twitched, and he slapped the red button on the control panel.

A heavy hiss of hydraulic pressure release echoed as the four robotic arms attached to the circular platform released one after another. The humming stopped, and the gravitational field instantly dissipated.

Mercury finally returned to normal gravity, but immediately felt a strong sense of disorientation.

His muscle memory was still stuck in the state of resisting high pressure, and suddenly returning to normal made him feel like he was floating in the sky.

However, he managed to control his body, preventing himself from jumping onto the ceiling in one step.

Morgan walked ahead silently, his face dark, leading Mercury through the containment center, which resembled an underground labyrinth.

After passing through seven or eight heavy steel gates, they stopped in front of a private office.

It took us almost twenty minutes to walk here, but we finally arrived.

Presumably, the person waiting for him in this office is the warden of the Black Olive Reception Center.

The heavy door was opened, and Mercury expected to see a pot-bellied bureaucrat, but instead found a familiar face sitting behind the desk.

A well-tailored, loose-fitting dark gray business suit, instead of suppressing the woman's curves, was stretched by her full bust line, creating a sense of pressure unique to mature women.

Beneath her neat short blonde hair, her features were striking and captivating. Even though her gaze was somewhat cold, Mercury's heart still raced under her eyes.

Ms. Force.

Mercury remembered the name.

When he was in elementary school, the thing he wanted to buy most was a limited edition poster of this superhero. She was the object of every teenage boy's fantasy. Unfortunately, the popular style at the time was youthful and pure, so Ms. Force lost the title of the most beautiful superhero.

But in Mercury's mind, this is the most beautiful female superhero.

"What a surprise," Mercury said, pulling out a chair and sitting down, his surprise genuine. "I never expected to see my childhood idol here. Ms. Force, I've always been a fan of yours."

The woman behind the desk didn't even lift her eyelids, saying rather coldly, "I'm not called Ms. Force anymore. My name is Erin Channing. You should call me Ms. Channing."

"Alright, Ms. Channing," Mercury shrugged. "Was that gravity machine outside just now made with your superpowers as a reference?"

In his memory, "Ms. Force" was famous for her ability to manipulate multi-dimensional gravitational fields. She once used her superpowers to dismantle an entire reinforced concrete building like tearing paper, a scene he still remembers vividly.

"That's the gravity restraint platform that the Iron Titans developed for us; it does indeed replicate my ability module." Erin Channing rested her fingers on her chin, finally focusing her gaze intently on Mercury. "But that's not the point. The point is, twenty minutes ago, Robert made me a private phone call."

"I don't care whether you're innocent or guilty, and Black Olive doesn't want to get involved in your mess with the FBI."

Mercury caught the key phrase, his eyes flickering slightly: "So, that Morgan correctional officer outside who was determined to kill me was actually a federal agent?"

"You should have already met his father."

"Oh—" Mercury suddenly realized.

The image of Agent Morgan, who looked kind and gentle, immediately came to mind.

So this good cop/bad cop tactic can be used a second time. When he failed to convince himself to confess, he had his son resort to underhanded tactics in prison.

Mercury couldn't help but mutter, "Typical federal government thinking."

But after his rant, Mercury turned to the aloof warden: "So, Ms. Channing stopped the gravity machine just now because Mr. Robert intervened?"

Erin Channing nodded honestly, her tone calm and matter-of-fact: "In this country, nobody wants to offend a billionaire, especially one of the most influential superheroes right now. Since he's asking me to do him a favor, I have no reason to refuse."

Mercury said with great delight, "So, during my month at Black Olive, I'll be enjoying special treatment from the Warden?"

"Don't be too happy yet. I'm just the warden in name only. In reality, the federal government still calls the shots in this black olive branch." Eileen Channing just looked at him calmly: "If the 'care' you're referring to is helping you stay away from those troublemakers who want you dead, I can indeed throw you into solitary confinement. Anyway, you'll be in court in about a month at most."

"A month in solitary confinement? I'd go crazy!" Mercury shook his head.

The solitary confinement cells in prison are not just dark rooms; they are not only dark but also extremely cramped, making it impossible to lie down or sit. One can only lean against the wall for support.

In a place like this, it's impossible to get a good night's sleep. If you stay there for too long, your limbs won't get any stretching and you'll become useless.

Even if Mercury possessed the power of red holy light, he didn't want to be locked in a dark room for a month.

Erin Channing smiled and said, "I also think it's inappropriate, so after seeing your performance in the security checkpoint, I have a new suggestion."

"What suggestion?"

"Do some chores for me this month and resolve some problems that I can't handle personally. In exchange, I can, within my authority, fulfill some of your reasonable requests and help improve your living conditions."

Eileen Channing leaned forward slightly, a subtle gesture that caused her loose collar to open even wider.

Mercury's gaze inevitably swept over the undeniable undulations. Even though he knew this wasn't the time for inappropriate thoughts, a normal teenage boy would inevitably have a few images flash through his mind when faced with the suggestive allure of a mature woman.

He coughed lightly, quickly gathering his thoughts, and shifted his gaze back to the other person's eyes: "What kind of work does Ms. Qian Ning intend for me to do?"

Eileen Channing had taken in his evasive glances. She gave him a charming smile, as if she could see right through the boy's thoughts.

"There are some people in Black Olive who haven't been keeping quiet lately." Her tone turned much colder. "Someone's doing illegal business on my turf. I need an outsider with a clean background, someone who hasn't been bribed, to get to the bottom of this. Ordinary people can't handle this job; if they even dare to glance at it, they'll be dead without a trace."

"But you're different. You're capable enough to protect yourself, and that's the most important thing. Black Olive's death quota for this year is already full, and I don't want to write any more reports."

She leaned back in her chair, adding with a half-smile, "As a reward for covering for you, I can guarantee you'll have a good time. If you really feel lonely in this godforsaken place, I can even make an exception and arrange a beautiful roommate for you. How about it?"

"No need for that," Mercury said decisively, shaking his head.

Fantasizing is one thing, doing it is another.

If he had to risk his life for someone else in exchange for that kind of service, he would always have the illusion that he was indirectly selling his body.

Moreover, he is not even a minor according to the legal age.

"However, I do have a few practical requirements." Mercury held up three fingers, stating his price. "First, I need a device with internet access; second, I can't compromise on three meals a day. I've heard that even stray dogs outside won't eat the food served at Black Olive Restaurant, so I need something that's actually edible; third, I need a private bathroom; and fourth, I need money."

Erin Channing thought for less than two seconds before replying: "These can all be resolved. I'll let you go online, but I won't provide you with separate equipment. Your meals will be specially provided, with extra meals delivered directly to your cell, but for the sake of appearances, you'll still have to take your tray to the main dining hall at mealtimes. As for a private bathroom... the conditions will be limited; you'll only be allowed to use it once a week at most."

"As for the compensation, how much do you want?"

Mercury thought for a moment and asked, "How much do you think Mr. Robert's favor is worth? I'm receiving your preferential treatment because I'm doing you a favor, not because of Mr. Robert's phone call. So, how about we convert this favor into cash as my payment?"

Erin Channing glanced at Mercury and couldn't help but say, "Greedy brat, Robert's favor is worth astronomical sums to many people, something I certainly can't afford. But I can give you a special privilege: all the cash you seize during your investigation of this deal is yours. Let's see how capable you are."

Mercury knew the chances of making a fortune were slim, since large transactions certainly wouldn't happen in prison, but he didn't promise to definitely find out anything from the investigation.

This month's privileges are basically free; whether it costs a lot or a little money depends on the situation.

If he refused the warden's request, he would likely be locked up in solitary confinement for a month.

Therefore, Mercury nodded and said, "Deal."

"Very good." Eileen Channing patiently reminded him, "Be prepared, the black olive oil industry is a deep and complex place, and life won't be as easy as you think."

Mercury said, "Wait, you still haven't told me what kind of deal you want me to investigate?"

Erin Channing paused for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "A drug that can temporarily enhance superpowers."