Benjamin and Homelander sat across from each other, drinking cola and eating hamburgers and fried chicken, while the notification sound rang in their ears.
[You have made Homelander feel the deep, loving affection of a devoted father.
Homelander has never eaten with his family, nor has anyone ever told him he is a ‘good kid.’ He will always remember that ‘good kid’ you just called him.
The following reward has been obtained: Super Strength Level 5 upgraded to Level 6.]
[Current abilities:]
· Nuclear Shockwave Level 3: Can release high-intensity radioactive energy, capable of incinerating everything and eliminating Compound V from the target’s body.
· Super Strength Level 6: Possesses the super strength of an elite Super.
· Super Durability Level 5: Invulnerable to blades and firearms, immune to conventional thermal weapons and most Super attacks.
· Self-Healing Level 5: Extremely high cellular activity, can rapidly repair fatal wounds.
· Radiation Resistance Level 5: Completely immune to nuclear radiation and all harmful rays.
· Super Speed Level 1: Possesses the speed of an average Super.
· Immortality: The body remains forever at its peak state.
Benjamin didn’t expect such a generous reward this time.
Perhaps it was because he had truly made Homelander feel the deep, loving affection of family?
His strength was already on par with Homelander’s, perhaps even a little more, and now that he had reached Level 6, he had certainly become even more powerful.
Benjamin felt a surge of strength flow through his entire body…
The feeling of growing stronger was undoubtedly fantastic.
However, it was a pity that Benjamin would have preferred to obtain super speed or the ability to fly to compensate for his major deficiencies.
Although he could no longer be overtaken in speed by a shared bicycle, a regular car could still easily pass him.
As for Soldier Boy’s current speed, was it just a little faster than a normal person’s?
He wasn’t sure.
Unlike Soldier Boy’s wandering thoughts, Homelander was using his straw to stir the ice cubes in his glass, which clinked softly in the cola.
While eating, he looked at Benjamin several times.
Because in the elevator, Benjamin had just nodded, saying: “Isn’t that something you do when eating with family?”
Thinking of this, the straw Homelander was holding slipped, becoming bent and making a scraping sound at the bottom of the glass.
He quickly put it back in place and took a sip of cola with his head down.
The cola was no longer very cold, but he drank it very slowly, as if using that gesture to hide something, perhaps the light that had suddenly appeared in those blue eyes.
Homelander suddenly said: “The cafeteria’s chicken thighs are a little salty.”
Benjamin snorted: “Then tell the kitchen to use less salt next time.
Do I have to take care of such trivial matters too?”
At that very moment, the smartphone in Benjamin’s pocket, which he had been using for less than a week, suddenly vibrated.
He took it out and glanced at the screen.
It was a breaking news alert, a CNN headline, with a striking red banner saying “Breaking News” at the top of the screen.
His gaze settled on the headline, paused briefly, and then he turned the phone toward Homelander so he could see it.
On the screen it read: “Starlight to Join The Seven!
Vought Announces Welcome Banquet Tonight, Supernova Annie January to Make Official Debut.”
Starlight was coming.
Tonight.
Homelander glanced at the screen, his expression unchanged.
Of course, he had known for a long time that Starlight was joining The Seven.
“This decision was already made before you became Executive Director.
But of course, if you don’t like this new member, you can kick her out,” Homelander explained quickly.
He didn’t understand why Benjamin cared.
Perhaps it was because he hadn’t approved Starlight joining the group?
Benjamin put the phone in his pocket, picked up his tray, and stood up.
“It doesn’t matter.
Let this be the last time.
Besides, in general, regarding the trivial matters of The Seven, except for today, I won’t worry too much.
You’re still the leader of The Seven.”
Of course, Benjamin wasn’t going to kick out Starlight; he still had to deal with The Deep that night.
After eating, the two parted ways in the elevator.
Homelander went to handle the Compound V matter.
Benjamin got on the elevator, heading toward his new territory, which had already been dubbed the “Office of the Legend’s Return” in less than a day.
The office Vought had prepared for him was located on the 56th floor of the tower, reserved for the Executive Director of the Department of Superhero Affairs.
After opening the door, describing the interior as “luxurious” would be an understatement.
The entire office was roughly the size of a two-bedroom apartment.
A curved floor-to-ceiling window spanned the entire wall, facing the Hudson River.
At that moment, the last rays of sunset were slowly fading from the river’s surface, bathing the entire room in a mix of dark gold and deep blue.
The desk was a solid piece of polished black walnut, large enough to hold a tactical war-gaming meeting.
On the surface, a customized top-of-the-line Vought tablet, a set of paper documents, and a nameplate with the words “Executive Director” stamped in gold were already arranged.
Seven letters in total, representing that Soldier Boy’s control over the superheroes was absolute, and that his status was definitively above Madelyn Stillwell’s. Visit novelping . com for the full chapter.
Meanwhile, in the basement of Vought Tower, the Compound V storage management center, Homelander stood in front of a row of constant-temperature storage cabinets glowing with cold blue light.
The hem of his cape dragged across the epoxy resin floor, casting a dark red reflection.
Before him were two technical supervisors in white lab coats.
A tall, thin man with glasses and a short, stocky man with thinning hair.
Both were trembling to varying degrees.
The thin one was shaking from the knees, while the stocky one was shaking the tablet in his hands.
“All black market distribution channels must be shut down.
From today on, send me a daily copy of the storage area’s exit records.”
“But…
but Mr.
Homelander,” the tall, thin man adjusted his glasses, “if the black market channels are completely cut off, the board of directors…”
“Are you saying,” Homelander turned his head and gave him a smile, “that you want to argue with me about the board’s opinion?”
The tall, thin man’s glasses slipped down his nose.
“No, no.
No opinion.
Close them all.
Close them today.”
Homelander patted him on the shoulder.
The force wasn’t much, but the tall, thin man’s knees visibly buckled.
“Very good.
I like efficient people.”
Homelander, whether consciously imitating his father or not, also liked to pat people on the shoulder.
Soon, A-Train also heard the news.
In reality, he was still confused, but he soon understood that it was probably an order from Soldier Boy.
A-Train sighed; he no longer had to run errands for Homelander.
So…
could he still embezzle more Compound V?
Thinking about the next race, A-Train felt very irritable.
But luckily, he still had quite a bit of inventory left.