"Do you have your ID card?" Gehera stared at the formally dressed figure of Compass Carburettor, asking as she double-checked his belongings, "Your wallet, and house key?"
"I'll be arriving late today, so don't forget your key." She said before adjusting his collar, standing close, taking care to adjust his appearance before smiling in contentment, "It's your first day, so do great."
"I'm not new to this," Compass Carburettor smiled casually but didn't resist her help. He checked his pant pocket, feeling the house spare key there. After double-checking his bearings, he nodded at Gehera before exiting the house, making his way to the train station nearby.
Gehera left soon after that, driving her car to speed through the district. As she went in the opposite direction, she couldn't give him a lift. There wasn't enough time for that.
Usually, he would have bought a vehicle for his use too, but despite it being a week since he woke up and applied for a driving licence, he had yet to get it. From what he enquired, it might take a few more weeks for it to arrive.
Administration proceeded at a snail's pace in their city, a laughable contrast since even the Academy was constructed in two days.
Compass Carburettor donned a dark-brown suit, wearing mild bushy pants that fluttered in the wind, watching the train arrive at a halt before him. He boarded it alongside other passengers, smiling upon noticing an empty seat as he quickly occupied it.
Staring into the window, he watched the train proceed into a dark tunnel, the sounds of its metallic wheels moving over the tracks were all that filled the air.
Duk-Tak! D-Duk-Tak!
"Where are you going, son?" The old man seated opposite him looked over his newspaper and asked with a smile, rather intent to strike up a conversation. "You look like a celebrity."
"I'm just a temporary professor at the Hero Academy." Compass Carburettor smiled wryly.
"Oh, a temporary professor?" The old man's eyes lit up as he said in praise, "To become one at your age in the Hero Academy means you must be talented."
"I just know a thing or two, nothing spectacular." Compass Carburettor said.
"The more you humble yourself, the more your abilities become humbled too." The old man's tone became sharp, staring at Compass Carburettor to scan him from top to bottom before saying, "I've seen many heroes in my life. But, I can feel that you're stronger than most of them."
"You need to have a small level of arrogance," The old man said in all seriousness, "Otherwise, it feels like you're putting on an act."
"I am strong, but I'm not humble." Compass Carburettor took in the old man's advice honestly, saying, "I've just been humbled by my defeats. Until I attain my goal, I don't have the qualifications to needlessly be arrogant."
"If you are focused, then it's fine." The old man smiled, watching the train come to a halt as he got up and patted Compass Carburettor, "Keep fighting towards your goal, young man. I'm sure you'll achieve it."
"Thank you, sir." Compass Carburettor smiled in response, watching the old man alight the train and walk away on the station platform. The train departed a few seconds later.
His destination was the third stop as Compass Carburettor got down and made his way towards the exit, sighing as he thought, 'As expected of a wise old man. He saw through my strength so easily.'
"No, to be more accurate," Compass Carburettor muttered, "He inferred my strength using his experience. He wasn't a Hero or a Villain but just a regular old man."
At the thought, he smiled, for a random old man was able to predict that he was strong based on his mannerism even without having the means to gauge his strength.
Indeed, one's body language was the perfect indicator of one's strength.
A weak human would tremble upon every step if he was told that there were landmines planted before him. But a strong human, immune to the mines would casually walk through the bomb blasts as if they were taking an evening stroll.
It stemmed from one's confidence in their abilities. Though, that was only in case for someone with a decent level of intelligence. There were often ignorant idiots who had unfounded confidence in themselves, they typically died a dog's death.
And to differentiate ignorant bravado from actual strength required experience. Surprisingly, the old man, with no accomplishments to his name, possessed that.
In his life, he was someone that had coincidentally been a bystander during plenty of fights between Heroes and Villains, having the chance to observe in closeup the way these superhumans fought. The pressure they exuded while doing so could only be felt in real life and not through a screen.
'Coincidentally,' Compass Carburettor smiled, shaking his head as he exited the station and began to walk. The Academy was located just a kilometre away, 'Once this is over, I must invite Rhizen over. He too would be able to provide a solution to Stencil's situation.'
Ten minutes later, he came to a stop, staring at a gigantic palace, built akin to a fortress as it reached a height of three hundred metres, with the main building alone spanning around ten acres.
At its front were words written in large font, carved into the arch that doubled as the gates.
Nampur Hero Academy!
This was the sole Hero Academy in the city-state of Nampur. 'It's grander than I expected. It seems City Scape did some more modifications in the end to suit his tastes.'
Students from all across the state and even beyond streamed into the Academy, having already completed their admission tests. Though hectic, the admission process was completed within a week, and the newly established admission staff at the Academy still managed to filter the students and obtain decent ones.
Compass Carburettor stared at them, observing their body language, attitude, and power, breaking into a smile, for he was excited. 'All of them have a lot of potential for improvement.'
He entered the Academy and headed straight towards the faculty room, entering it to notice countless stares being directed his way. Of course, the stares weren't one of curiosity but contained fear.
For, just moments ago, with the faculty yet to begin their new job, Muscle Lantern broke them the news that the sole temporary teacher of their Academy was actually the infamous Villain that had threatened the peace of their world—the Contained Villain.
Of course, it was Compass Carburettor that told him to reveal it in the first place. The reason?
He planned to be a normal instructor but his instructions would be geared toward dealing with enemies of the multiverse. Hence, he revealed his identity.
