As both a superstar and a superhero, once Qi Li finished greeting the general public and stepped off the stage, he naturally had to mingle with the high-society elites who truly controlled the resources.
Backstage, Qi Li shook hands and chatted cordially with each of them in turn.
Cyrus Vance Jr., the Manhattan District Attorney for New York County, offered high praise. "A truly magnificent showdown. It's thanks to superheroes like you setting an example, Bronze, that our local crime rate remains at an all-time low."
Wilson Aramboles, Chief of the NYPD Special Operations Bureau, was even more direct: "We eagerly look forward to the day superheroes like you truly join our ranks, Bronze."
As a link in Vought's vast network of connections, Aramboles had consistently supported the superhero military contracting bill Vought recently proposed to Congress.
A number of congress members, corporate executives, and Hollywood heavyweights also stepped forward one after another to offer their congratulations.
Overall, on an occasion like this, regardless of what they truly thought inside, the outward atmosphere remained exceptionally harmonious.
Yet there were always exceptions.
Qi Li looked at the woman standing before him. She was dressed in a well-tailored black women's pantsuit, with features reflecting mixed Middle Eastern and Southern European heritage.
Had she not introduced herself as a member of Congress, Qi Li would have thought she was some Hollywood starlet.
"Your eyes tell me you think I shouldn't be a congresswoman."
Victoria Neuman clasped Qi Li's hand, looking directly at him with a palpable assertiveness. She gave a faint smile as she spoke.
Feeling the softness of her palm, Qi Li politely released her hand and offered an explanatory smile: "Rather than blaming me, blame God for blessing you with such striking beauty, Representative Neuman."
Neuman was momentarily taken aback.
Still, Qi Li's words noticeably warmed her smile. "Vicky. Just call me Vicky."
With that, Neuman sized him up once more and said earnestly, "I think I finally understand why so many people adore Bronze."
Qi Li smiled faintly. "Call me Qi Li. Does that include you, Vicky?"
Neuman pursed her lips before answering, "If you weren't a superhuman, maybe."
Qi Li acted surprised. "Sounds like you have quite an issue with superhumans, Neuman."
Neuman shook her head, then nodded. "You're too powerful, aren't you? Just like what you showed on stage earlier. Guns, tanks, artillery, F-22s—none of them can lay a scratch on you. Humanity's so-called high-tech weaponry is reduced to scrap metal before you. There's simply no one who can keep you in check. It's like an un-defusable bomb whose timer has expired; you never know when it's going to go off."
"Of course..." Neuman paused, Qi Li's reflection cast in her brown eyes, and asked, "you'd probably say that there are still superheroes in this world. But if superheroes commit crimes, who will hold them accountable?"
Qi Li shrugged. "As far as I know, Elmira locks up quite a few superhuman criminals."
Neuman offered a scoffing smile. "That's only a tiny fraction. Far too many remain at large. For example... Heh, never mind."
Neuman let the subject drop.
Qi Li shook his head slightly.
America, this remarkable land, waved the banner of equality and freedom on the surface, while secretly obsessing over racial narratives in the shadows.
Now that the superhuman population was growing, a new class had naturally been drawn.
A class that oppressed others, of course, rather than one being oppressed.
Qi Li had never bothered worrying about such matters.
Perhaps Congresswoman Neuman here would become the vanguard of the anti-superhuman, anti-Vought crusade down the line.
But so what?
Neuman had gotten one thing right.
Superhumans were too strong.
As long as he held onto his superpowers, nothing was ever truly a problem.
"I won't take up any more of your time; real movie stars are heading your way," Neuman said, her polite smile returning. She glanced to her left and right, gave Qi Li a wink, and turned to leave.
"Oh, right!" Just as she turned, she seemed to recall something and looked back. "I forgot to congratulate you on winning today's duel, Qi Li. Putting everything else aside, it really was an exquisite match."
"Thank you." Qi Li nodded politely.
Before he could even pull his gaze away from Neuman's departing figure, two distinct scents of women's perfume drifted in from both sides.
The "real movie stars" Neuman had mentioned.
Quite a few Hollywood celebrities and film crews had attended today's event.
The ones arriving now were the two leading ladies from the smash-hit movie Little Women, which had just crossed two hundred million at the box office.
To his left, Emma Watson's eyes sparkled as she looked at Qi Li:
"Bronze, your performance earlier was simply incredible! Is your body really made of flesh and blood, not steel?"
She reached out a hand, still holding back with a touch of modesty, stopping short of immediately touching him.
Saoirse Ronan, approaching from the right, had already laid a hand on Qi Li's abs, boldly and directly extending an invitation to the superhero who had just shown such overwhelming might:
"Bronze, are you free tonight?"
Hearing that, Emma Watson glared fiercely at the woman beside her, mentally cursing, Bitch.
Saoirse Ronan glared back without flinching, inwardly cursing in kind, Prude.
The two had been clawing at each other ever since joining the film cast—feuding over billing, storylines, publicity, box-office credit, and now, squabbling over a man.
If Qi Li wanted, he could easily have brought both glamorous stars together for a contest in the same arena.
Yet a real feast was waiting for him tonight.
He could only decline like a gentleman, though at the suggestion of the two unsatisfied temptresses, he gave out his contact info impartially to both.
With the outsiders handled, all that remained were his own people.
Perhaps provoked by the two actresses, Kate edged in with a sense of urgency, hooking her arm through Qi Li's to assert her presence.
Qi Li didn't push her away.
"Outstanding work, Qi Li."
Indira Shetty looked at the young couple before her. As she congratulated Qi Li, she cast Kate a look that signaled, You did just as well.
Kate tightened her grip on Qi Li's arm and shifted her gaze, a guilty conscience flickering across her face.
Qi Li, with complete naturalness, expressed his "concern": "How is Derek? Is he doing all right?"
Shetty had already learned of Derek's death.
Hearing Qi Li ask this, she gave him a long, searching look. After a pause, she said:
"Derek... is gravely injured. He's currently undergoing treatment, but hope is slim."
Derek dying on the spot versus lingering for a while before succumbing to his injuries carried vastly different implications and consequences.
Whether Qi Li had done it deliberately or accidentally, Godkin University had been in his corner from the very beginning, and that wouldn't change now that the duel was over.
Naturally, the university's upper management chose to delay Derek's official time of death, making the choice that favored Qi Li.
Chapter 32