I was acting crazy in North America, and all the crazy people there took it seriously.

Chapter 83 The Most Anticipated First Heroes List
Of course, it's because of the media's idolization!

Fox River No. 2 prison was already surrounded by reporters from all over the United States!
The warden also straightened up, glancing sideways, and said, "I've heard that quite a few of you have a lot of complaints about our prison? Well, that's fine, we don't have time to receive you anyway. Please go back the way you came."

However, all the reporters said, "Who the hell cares about your prison these days?! (No way!) We're all supporters of your prison! Let us interview that amazing escape team!"
Indeed, the entire United States is now stunned by the prison break team's feat!
How did they plan their prison break? How did they successfully carry out their escape? And what were they thinking when they actually applied to return to prison?

Americans are desperate to know all this!
Reporters then used all available resources to frantically dig for information about this team.

As the investigation deepened, the focus began to shift to Ethan, who was leading the investigation.

Then, the reporters were blown away by the newsworthy aspects of him!

The reason he was imprisoned was unremarkable, and there was no injustice involved; it was simply manslaughter.

But after he went to jail, he started acting like a scoundrel!
In that hellish prison in Tennessee, filled with despair and violence, he managed to secretly connect with seven fellow inmates from different backgrounds and with different motives, forming a team with a common goal of escaping... This cohesion itself is a miracle.

His design and leadership of the prison break plan demonstrated the rigorous and sophisticated professional knowledge of engineers;
When the team was at odds over sentences and risks, he cleverly injected new beliefs through inspiration from The Sun.

After successfully escaping, he carried on with his beliefs to the end, reaching his goal with high morale...

Any one of these points alone is enough to amaze people.

When all these qualities are embodied in one person, only one word comes to mind for the reporters:

god!
Ethan's account was not without its modesty, but his seven fellow inmates, after successfully arriving at Fox River No. 2 prison, were indeed accepted and lived a comfortable prison life they could not have imagined, began to admire Ethan like the waters of the Mississippi River, praising him to the skies in the interview!
The reporters wrote with great enthusiasm, their pens flying across the paper!

The following day, the front pages of major newspapers across the United States focused their reports on Ethan!
"The birth of a hero!"

"Engineer, Philosopher, Leader: Ethan's Prison Break Legend!"

"He dug a tunnel to 'hope' with a spoon!"

The audience was completely captivated.

Ethan's story fulfills all their desires for a heroic narrative: wisdom in adversity, courage in dire straits, a rebel against tyranny, and a dramatic "bright" ending.

Furthermore, journalists delved into the inner workings of that Tennessee prison, revealing shocking details of abuse, corruption, and inhumane conditions that greatly amplified public sympathy for Ethan and others!
Countless lawyers lined up to contact Fox River State Penitentiary, offering to provide Ethan and others with free legal services, help them with appeals, and even reduce their sentences—this wasn't just about riding the wave of popularity, but about genuinely helping their idol!

Yes, thanks to the reporters' relentless digging, everyone loves Ethan!
Well, probably except for the prison guards who are chasing him.

Everyone seems to be able to find something admirable about him—

Cowards admire his amazing courage in resisting tyranny!
Intellectuals admire him for using knowledge and wisdom to change his destiny!

The dreamer was struck by his romanticism in "seeing the light" and resolutely heading towards it!

Even the most conservative law and order advocates have absolute respect for his eventual choice to return to prison rather than go completely free! Of course, all of this is predicated on Ethan being a well-educated white man, and a rather photogenic one at that.

Amidst all this commotion, The Sun released its latest issue.

The front page of the newspaper featured only one photo: Ethan and his seven fellow inmates standing in the exercise yard of Fox River State Penitentiary, sunlight streaming down their faces. Ethan, standing prominently in the center, wasn't looking at the camera, but rather tilted his head slightly to gaze into the distance, a strange smile on his face, as if he were a free man.

The photo is titled "The Prison Break Team".

This issue of The Sun has only one theme: the "America's Heroes Ranking" has been updated!

As usual, this edition introduces the list of heroes—

In response to popular demand, we are dedicated to highlighting contemporary heroes who have achieved remarkable success in "unconventional" and "gray" fields. We will feature one or two outstanding figures each month, aiming to "record alternative legends and showcase extraordinary lives."

Then, we proudly present this month's "Heroes of the Month"!
Ethan, the King of Prison Break

Synopsis: "He may not be the most technically skilled prison escapee in history, but he is undoubtedly the most legendary! He transformed an escape into a great journey about freedom, dignity, and hope."

Recent achievements: Led seven companions to successfully break through the reinforced concrete cages of Tennessee State Prison; crossed three states and led a team tempted by the imminent freedom to unexpectedly return to prison.

A hero's declaration: "The strong redeem themselves, the king saves others!"

Commentary: "Some birds are destined to be caged; their plumage is so beautiful and dazzling. When they fly out of their cages, you will sincerely congratulate them on gaining their freedom."

The "King of Prison Break" tops the list of heroes, surpassing the "Lucky Baron" and the "Chief"!
The following four pages, written with the detailed style of reportage and full of emotional embellishment, recount Ethan's entire legendary experience in great detail, from his observations after being imprisoned, to his secret planning, to overcoming engineering problems, to providing psychological support during the team's crisis, to the thrilling journey north, and finally to that earth-shattering "surrender".

The author writes with highly provocative prose: "It's legendary for a prisoner to escape alone from the high walls, but Ethan measured freedom with the precision of engineering, ignited hope with the wisdom of a philosopher, and led seven companions through the darkness with the courage of a leader!"

"Some escapees use their escape to protest injustice, but Ethan uses his return to prison to seek the light!"

"His return to prison, rather than his escape, is better than a hundred successful prison breaks, because he escaped the prison of life itself, and his path in life has been greatly broadened."

"His escape was not a continuation of crime, but a magnificent pursuit of a bright future. That is the true king of escape!"

"He may be the most transparent hero in terms of identity, or he may be the hero who has no further achievements, but at present, we unanimously place him at the top of the list of heroes! As a tribute to this legend!"

The article is so moving and inspiring that it leaves the reader deeply moved and unable to put it down.

This issue of The Sun went through several reprints, yet it still sold out completely!

This is widely recognized across the United States as the most deserving and well-deserved edition of the "America Heroes" list!
……

(End of this chapter)