“Edgar,” Homelander began, his tone formal enough, yet clearly revealing a hint of impatience, “I’ve brought him here.”
CEO Edgar nodded and turned his head to look at Su Kai.
Su Kai immediately lowered his head, wringing his hands together, striking a standard pose of contrition.
“Go ahead, what happened?” Edgar’s voice was steady, devoid of emotion.
Homelander snorted, crossed his arms, and walked to the side, looking as if he couldn’t be bothered to waste words.
Madelyn stepped forward, opened the folder in her hand, and spoke in a crisp, decisive tone:
“Edgar, I need to report to you regarding the recent series of actions by the member ‘The Deep,’ specifically those from yesterday and this morning, and request your decision on how to handle it.”
She glanced at Su Kai, her gaze growing even colder.
It seemed Madelyn had already learned everything Su Kai had done through the lounge’s surveillance facilities.
“First, yesterday afternoon, in Conference Room C-7, The Deep used his so-called ‘senior’ status to engage in severe and heinous sexual coercion against the newly joined member, ‘Starlight.’
Based on Starlight’s emotional state afterward and…
some circumstantial evidence, it can be basically confirmed.”
As she said this, she flipped to the next page of the folder and continued,
“Second, this morning, in The Seven’s public lounge, not only did The Deep not restrain himself, but he also publicly caused secondary harm to Starlight with insulting language.
This directly led to Starlight losing control of her emotions, using her powers to attack, causing damage to public property, and severely disrupting the work environment.”
Madelyn spoke quickly, every word like a nail.
“These two incidents, especially now that Starlight has just joined and media attention is extremely high, have already caused substantial damage to our brand image and team reputation.
Starlight is currently extremely emotionally unstable, and it is difficult to guarantee whether she might publicize this matter.
Once this is exposed, it will deal a huge blow to the positive superhero image of The Seven in the eyes of the public.
At the same time, it may cause our previously invested promotional resources to go down the drain, and even trigger unnecessary legal and public opinion risks.”
She closed the folder and looked at Edgar.
“I believe The Deep’s behavior has seriously violated company values and The Seven’s code of conduct, and he is no longer suitable to remain in the core team in an important position.”
After listening, Edgar tapped his fingers twice on the desktop.
He did not look at Su Kai, but instead looked at Homelander.
“John, what is your take?”
Homelander tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a smile with no warmth.
“My take?
My take is that the sooner this rat dropping is removed, the better it is for everyone.
The Seven doesn’t need a piece of trash who only knows how to talk to fish and can’t keep his pants zipped; he’s an eyesore.”
These words were spoken without mercy.
Su Kai buried his head lower, his shoulders trembling slightly, as if he were afraid.
But inside, he was rejoicing.
Yes, just like that, scold me even harder.
Hurry up and sweep this “rat dropping” out.
Edgar finally turned his gaze to Su Kai.
“The Deep.”
Su Kai started, hurriedly raising his head, forcing a fawning and somewhat flustered smile onto his face:
“Edgar, I…
I can explain, it was all a misunderstanding.
I just wanted to mentor the newcomer, maybe my methods were a bit aggressive, but I absolutely did not…”
“Enough.”
Edgar interrupted him, his voice not loud, but carrying the unquestionable authority of a superior.
Su Kai immediately shut up.
“Your ability,” Edgar said slowly,
“is merely communicating with marine life, which has a certain auxiliary value in specific aquatic missions.
But other than that, your comprehensive contribution assessment in The Seven has long been at the bottom.”
He paused.
“And now, your behavior has exceeded the bottom line that the company can tolerate.
Vought does not need a ‘hero’ who brings negative news and internal conflict.”
Su Kai shouted “Nice” in his heart.
“So,” Edgar looked at Madelyn, “what is your proposed solution?”
Madelyn was clearly prepared.
“Transfer.”
She said it very crisply,
“Immediate transfer out of the core group of The Seven, away from the media and the sight of headquarters.
We need to give Starlight and the public an explanation, and we also need to prevent him from causing any more trouble.”
Edgar nodded.
“Where to transfer him?”
Madelyn thought for a moment.
“I remember, on the shores of Lake Erie in eastern Ohio, there is a remote town called ‘Granville Point.’
There is a coastline observation and patrol station there, under the jurisdiction of our subsidiary’s environmental monitoring department, which is always short of staff.
The work involves patrolling along the lakeshore, recording hydrological data, and occasionally assisting the local police in handling minor security issues on the lake.”
She looked at Su Kai, her eyes devoid of any sympathy.
“Since The Deep’s ability is communicating with marine life, going there to ‘utilize his expertise’ couldn’t be more appropriate.
Away from the big city, no media attention, light workload; it’s just the right place for him to properly ‘reflect.'”
Su Kai almost couldn’t hold back his laughter.
Granville Point?
Just by the name, it sounds like a godforsaken place.
And shoreline patrol?
Compared to the “big things” he did in The Seven, it’s practically being exiled to the frontier.
Perfect.
It’s fucking perfect!
Edgar hesitated almost not at all, nodding decisively.
“Fine.
Madelyn, arrange the handover procedures immediately.
The Deep, you have twenty-four hours to pack your personal belongings, after which a car will take you to the airport.
Once you arrive, there will be a local person in charge to meet you.”
He took one last look at Su Kai, his gaze like that of someone looking at an expired product about to be disposed of.
“Remember, this is the last chance the company is giving you.
At Granville Point, stay out of trouble and do your job.
Do not let the company hear any more negative news about you, understand?”
Su Kai immediately nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, forcing an expression of tearful gratitude and deep regret onto his face.
“Understood!
Thank you, Edgar!
Thank you, company, for giving me another chance!
I will definitely reflect properly!
I will never do it again!”
However, what he was thinking in his heart was:
Reflect?
Fuck reflection, I’m going there to stir up trouble.
Homelander, standing to the side, was clearly very satisfied with this result; he sneered and turned to walk out, not even bothering to say goodbye to this old member, The Deep.
Madelyn also took the folder, nodded slightly to Edgar, and walked briskly out of the office in her high heels, not looking at Su Kai once the entire time.
Only Edgar and Su Kai remained in the office.
Edgar picked up his tablet again and waved his hand.
Su Kai immediately bent his waist, backed out of the office, and then gently closed the door.
The moment the door closed, the expression of panic, fawning, and remorse on his face vanished completely.
Replaced by a cold calmness.
He turned around and walked unhurriedly in the direction of his room.
The corridor was very quiet, with only his own footsteps.
“Ohio, Granville Point…”
Su Kai murmured the name, the corners of his mouth slowly curling into an arc.
Away from the surveillance of Vought headquarters, away from the eyes of that group from The Seven, on the shore of a lake in a remote, unnoticed town.
Is there any place more perfect for development than this?