Chapter 14: Roots and Jealousy
The city buzzed with life, but for once, not from conflict or chaos. Instead, it was the success of the planted Neurogrove Tree that caught everyone's attention. Newscasters ran looped segments showing the tree in its vibrant green majesty at the city center. Children played near it, families picnicked, and elderly couples took their morning walks around the roots that pulsed with quiet energy.
Random interviews with citizens showcased their delight.
"It's like breathing in a piece of heaven," said an elderly woman clutching her scarf against the morning breeze.
"My chronic headaches are gone since this tree was planted," claimed a delivery worker.
In the government office, Alex and Agent Yurei sat across from the Mayor during a live conference call. The Mayor beamed.
"A true marvel, Agent Yurei. Alex, your contribution may redefine our city's image," he said before the call abruptly cut off due to a transmission glitch.
Yurei was unfazed by it.Alex chuckled and turned to Yurei. "How's the spore planting going?"
"Slower than we hoped," she said. "The first tree was powered by combined mental energy. These new sites are growing naturally. It'll take time."
Alex tapped his mug. "We need caretakers. People who can use small amounts of mental energy. Not enough to be heroes, but enough to nurture and monitor these trees."
Yurei raised an eyebrow. "A government job for minor psychics?"
"Exactly. We get trained watchers and eco-defenders in one shot."
She nodded. "I'll draft a proposal."
The Video call abruptly came back, the Mayor posed a serious question. "Could someone scan the tree and steal its secrets?"
Yurei glanced at Alex.
Alex answered calmly, "When it was a seed—maybe. But now? The energy output is too massive. Anyone trying to extract data with tech or mental probing would likely fry their gear... or their brain."
The Mayor leaned forward. "Can it be destroyed? Burned?"
"Not easily. Not now," Alex replied. "We only need to protect the spores. They're fragile. But the main tree? It's almost indestructible."
Meanwhile, the heroes continued their missions.
Shield Maiden stopped a rogue powered individual whose mind had been hijacked by a strange phone. The device emitted short-burst EMPs and attempted to disable her shield. But her ability to absorb force allowed her to deflect the surges and disable the villain with a non-lethal blow. She retrieved the phone, which sparked and hissed in her hand.
Zipline and Fixer were deployed to assist in a flooded district. Zipline rescued trapped citizens from rooftops while Fixer rerouted broken pipelines, preventing further damage. Buster, now an official team member, supported them by breaking through fallen barriers.
After the successful missions, peace returned briefly to the city streets. The strange item cases were becoming more frequent, but for now, the heroes had delivered results. That evening, as Alex reviewed mission logs at his desk, his phone buzzed.
Agent Yurei's message:
"Meeting in Briefing Room 1. All Dispatchers. Attendance mandatory."
Alex blinked. All Dispatchers?
Despite working under the same roof, Alex had never actually met the other Dispatchers face-to-face. Their floor assignments, mission schedules, and team rotations always kept them isolated. Some Dispatchers preferred it that way—territorial, seasoned, with years of experience and private reputations to uphold.
When Alex entered the sleek glass-paneled room, he instantly noticed the difference in atmosphere. The energy was sharp, competitive, and strangely cold. Dozens of eyes scanned him. Whispers floated:
"That's the rookie with the summoning power…"
"Didn't his summon kill Knuckleduster?"
"So this is the guy who keeps making headlines. Summons heroes and plays field commander."
Yurei stood at the front, arms folded, projecting calm authority.
To her left stood Josh Dell, one of the most respected—and feared—Dispatchers in the building. His black uniform was tailored, spotless. His eyes sharp. He gave Alex a small nod, the only acknowledgment he would get.
Josh's team—Juggernaut, Bladeblight, and Giantess—stood behind him like a wall of confidence.
Juggernaut was a towering armored brute, known for tanking artillery fire without flinching.
Bladeblight was slim, clad in flowing steel threads, and could turn anything into a blade.
Giantess stood with a quiet smile, easily two heads taller than the rest, said to manipulate her mass at will.
Their success rate: 98%.
Their rank: S-Class Dispatcher Unit.
Alex shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had heroes, yes—but his team wasn't like theirs. Bliss, Zipline, Fixer… and recently Shield Maiden—they were individuals still carrying burdens from other worlds. He hadn't even fully learned their stories yet.
The other Dispatchers sat in neat rows, surrounded by their loyal sidekicks or second-in-command heroes. Compared to them, Alex looked like someone who had just walked into the wrong room with a glitchy badge.
Yurei called the room to order.
"We've confirmed an increase in rogue items—items capable of hijacking minds, like the EMP phone incident Shield Maiden resolved today. The tree initiative is progressing well, but something… or someone… is escalating behind the scenes. Our surveillance has picked up trace signatures near storage depots and secure vaults."
She pointed to the map behind her.
"We're forming response cells. Teams will rotate for field missions and containment. But we're also here for another reason—Dispatcher parity review."
The room went quiet.
"We're reviewing team structure, support hierarchy, and summoning profiles. Some of you may be asked to adjust your teams. Or train incoming candidates. The system is evolving. The threats are changing."
Alex felt eyes return to him.
Josh Dell smirked slightly and crossed his arms. "About time we reviewed things," he said aloud. "Some of us are carrying a bit too much weight on the field."
There was laughter from the back rows. Not cruel—just confident.
Yurei interrupted before tensions could rise. "We're all on the same side. Josh, Alex's input helped bring the Neurogrove project to life."
Alex said nothing, just leaned forward, resting his chin on clasped hands. His heroes were different. They didn't follow the template. But they worked. They saved lives. Maybe not with polish, but with purpose.
He wasn't here to impress anyone.
He was here to protect his world.
---
Later that evening, as the meeting ended, most Dispatchers began to file out.But Josh Dell stayed behind.
He approached Alex, arms crossed. "Summoner, huh? You're not what I expected."
Alex glanced at him, calmly. "You too. I expected someone taller."
Josh smirked. "Watch yourself. You've got power, but you don't have legacy. The heroes you call… they don't belong here."
"They belong where they're needed," Alex replied evenly.
Josh smirked. "Keep doing your part without screwing ours."
Josh studied him a moment longer before nodding. "We'll see how long that idealism lasts. This city eats its saints."
With that, he walked away.
Alex stood in the now-empty room, alone under the flickering ceiling light. His mind ran through the faces of his heroes—Bliss, Vault, Zipline, Fixer, Shield Maiden. Saints? No.
But fighters, all of them.
He looked down at his palm, where a soft glow of residual summoning energy shimmered.
"Bring it on."
As this farce concluded, he glanced at the digital map of growing Neurogroves and the soft green light radiating from them.
He wasn't just lasting—he was planting roots.
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