Chapter 41: Date Time
Lu Chen changed into new clothes in the cramped bathroom in the hotel hallway: a dark jacket and a pair of jeans. The new sneakers on his feet were much more comfortable than the hiking boots from last night. He stuffed his old clothes, stained with mud and burn marks, into a plastic bag and tossed it into the trash can.
He smoothed his hair with some water. There was no way to deal with the stubble on his chin, but given his face, he didn't look too sloppy no matter how you looked at it.
12:45 PM, Central Park South entrance.
He arrived fifteen minutes early.
He found a bench, sat down, crossed his legs, and scrolled through his phone. On the surveillance feed, the four babies were still sleeping soundly.
1:02 PM.
A blonde girl wearing a baseball cap and oversized sunglasses walked quickly over from the path on the east side. Denim jacket, canvas shoes—there wasn't a trace of any superhero about her.
Annie January had hidden herself well.
But the rhythm of her walk betrayed her; her steps were a bit faster than someone window-shopping, yet slower than someone rushing, stuck at a subtle frequency of "I'm not in a huge hurry, but I'm not just strolling either."
Lu Chen stood up and tilted his chin at her.
Annie saw him, paused for a moment, then resumed walking at a normal pace. She took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of brown eyes.
"You arrived even earlier than me."
"Just a habit."
The two walked along the path by the lake. Central Parkon a Saturday afternoon was crowded with people walking dogs, jogging, and pushing strollers, but no one gave them a second glance. Two young people walking side by side in a New York park—it couldn't be more normal.
Annie didn't talk much at first, chatting only about trivial things—the weather, the squirrels in the park, and how she saw a new flavor of potato chips at the supermarket yesterday that tasted strange.
But after walking for about ten minutes, it was as if someone had turned on the tap to her chatterbox.
"Do you know what Vought made me do last week?"
"What?"
"Go to a children's charity gala and wear that new suit. The one I told you about, the one Vought insisted I change into." Annie stared at the road ahead, her hands shoved into the pockets of her denim jacket.
"And then?"
"Then I stood on stage in that outfit for two hours, smiling for two hours, and shook hands with over a hundred people. The way everyone looked at me..."
She didn't continue.
Lu Chen didn't respond, just waited.
Annie turned her head to look at him.
"Aren't you curious about how they looked at me?"
"If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to."
Annie turned her head back. After a few seconds, she suddenly smiled.
"You really are different from the people in the Vought building."
"I'm not in the Vought building."
"It's only a matter of time. I saw it—your ranking on your school's official website is rising like a Rocket."
The two sat down on a bench by the lake. Annie bought two hot dogs and a bottle of water; when Lu Chen reached for his money, she stopped him.
"My treat. We agreed it would be my treat."
"Is your activity budget enough? After deducting that 47 million in breach of contract fees from Vought."
Annie almost choked on her hot dog.
"Can you not mention that number while I'm eating?"
Lu Chen tore open a packet of ketchup and handed it to her.
"Annie, have you ever thought about something?"
"What?"
"Vought makes you change your suit, change your persona, and controls every word you say—what are they doing?"
Annie bit into her hot dog and didn't make a sound.
"They are shaping a product. But that product isn't you." Lu Chen didn't look at her either, his gaze resting on a group of pigeons on the lake surface fighting over breadcrumbs.
"What if you tried to show the real Annie January? Not Starlight, not a Vought product, but just yourself. An ordinary person who gets angry, makes mistakes, and spends ages picking out potato chips at the supermarket."
Annie didn't answer immediately.
The wind blew over the lake, ruffling the blonde hair scattered beneath the brim of her hat.
"Do you think anyone would like that version of me?"
"How would you know if you don't try? Things can't get any worse."
Annie lowered her head, staring at the half-eaten hot dog in her hand. After a long while, she gave a soft "Hmm."
The two sat for a while longer. They chatted about this and that; Annie told a funny story about participating in a pageant in Iowa when she was a kid, and Lu Chen talked about his experience working at a convenience store and getting hit in the face with potato chips by a drunk. Annie laughed so hard she swayed back and forth, and her sunglasses almost fell into the lake.
Throughout the whole afternoon, Lu Chen didn't say a single word about Translucent.
When the Sun began to sink to the west, Annie glanced at her phone.
"I have to go back. I have an online meeting at six."
She stood up, took a folded envelope from the inner pocket of her denim jacket, and handed it over.
"For you."
Lu Chen took it and opened it.
It was a printed schedule. Next Wednesday, Translucenthad a fan meet-and-greet at a community activity center in Brooklyn. The time, location, security arrangements, and entry/exit routes were all clearly marked.
"You said before your roommate wanted to meet Translucent? Give this to him, he can go straight in through the VIP entrance." Annie picked up her bag and added casually, "I thought you had forgotten about this."
Lu Chen folded the envelope and put it in his pocket.
"I almost did, actually."
"Then did you come today just to..."
"You asked me to come, so I came." Lu Chen crumpled the hot dog wrapper into a ball and tossed it into the trash. "Even without this thing, if you want to call me, you can anytime."
Annie froze for a moment.
The shadow of the baseball cap covered most of her face, but the lips visible beneath the brim pursed, then curved into an arc.
"Fine. I thought you were actually an old man who didn't understand romance."
"I'm only eighteen."
"Mental age of at least fifty-eight." Annie turned around, walked two steps in the direction she came from, then stopped and looked back. "No need to walk me, there are too many eyes around."
Lu Chen nodded.
Annie turned back, walked three steps, then suddenly doubled back.
It was fast.
So fast that Lu Chen only managed to catch a blurred outline. She stood on her tiptoes, the brim of her hat brushed against his forehead, and her lips planted a kiss on his right cheek.
It was a light touch.
Then she had already pulled away, walking backward, waving one hand in the air.
"I look forward to the day you truly join The Seven."
Annie's voice came from three meters away, the setting Sun plating her entire figure in a warm yellow.
"By then, we can appear together openly, just like Maeve and Homelander!"
She turned, her pace quickened, her golden ponytail swinging back and forth behind her hat, and she quickly melted into the flow of people in the park at dusk.
Lu Chen stood in place, his right hand subconsciously rising, his fingertips brushing his cheek.
On that small patch of skin, there remained the scent of ketchup from the hot dog and some indescribable warmth.
He lowered his hand and looked down at the schedule in his pocket.
Next Wednesday.
Brooklyn community activity center.
"Translucent" fan meet-and-greet.
The phone screen lit up. On the surveillance feed, the four babies were still sleeping quietly, motionless.
Lu Chen turned off the screen and walked toward the park exit.
The setting Sun stretched out a long shadow behind him; at the end of the shadow, in the direction where Annie had disappeared, an ice cream truck was tinkling out a discordant tune.
Chapter 42: The Guide and the Lamb
The setting sun cast a long shadow behind him.
At the edge of the shadow, in the direction Annie January had disappeared, the ice cream truck, tinkling with its out-of-tune music, turned the corner and vanished.
Lu Chen withdrew his gaze and wiped away the lingering sensation on his cheek, a mixture of ketchup and some kind of perfume.
He turned and walked in the direction of Queens.
Back at the monthly rental, the four Superhumans infants were still lying quietly on the bed; the effects of the hypnosis had not yet worn off.
He methodically checked their diapers, changing the two wet ones. Then he prepared the formula.
After feeding them, he followed a tutorial video for moms on TikTok to burp them, put the four little ones back on the bed, and tucked them in with a light blanket.
After finishing all this, he sat down on the only chair and took out his phone from his pocket. He pulled up a number.
Professor Brink.
The phone rang three times before being answered, with a sound of indistinct conversation coming from the background.
"Lu?" Professor Brink's voice carried a hint of well-measured reprimand. "My staff says they haven't seen you at the training center for several days. My boy, I know you've been making rapid progress lately, but this is exactly when you can't afford to slack off. The future is watered with sweat, isn't it?"
Old fox. He has to dress up his concern about whether he can recoup his investment in such high-sounding terms.
It seems that his niche at Godolkin University has indeed occupied the space that originally belonged to Jordan, causing this Professor to pay close attention to the quality of his "product."
Lu Chen ignored the reprimand. He adjusted his breathing, letting his voice carry a tone of suppressed panic and helplessness.
"Professor... I, I'm in trouble."
There was a noticeable pause on the other end of the line, and the background noise faded, as if Professor Brink had walked into a quiet corner.
"What happened? Tell me slowly, don't rush."
"I think... I've awakened another superpower." Lu Chen's voice was very low, filled with confusion and fear. "You were the first person I thought of. Professor, do you know why that is? I... I'm a little scared. I... I can't seem to control this ability."
The other end of the line fell into a five-second silence.
Lu Chen could imagine Professor Brink's expression right now. Not worry, but ecstasy.
A rising star with Super Physique and Impact abilities, capable of opening up the Asian immigrant market, was already enough to make him pop the champagne. But this combination of superpowers, while potentially powerful in actual combat, lacked commercial appeal. It wasn't flashy enough, not memorable enough.
But what if, on top of that, a new, more visually striking ability were added?
"What kind of superpower is it?" Professor Brink's tone changed; that layer of mentorship was replaced by an eager, merchant-like enthusiasm.
"I... I found that I suddenly seem to run very fast." Every pause in Lu Chen's voice was filled with newfound helplessness. "I can't control it; I've almost crashed into people several times. My body... seems to have undergone some changes I don't understand. Professor, I'm really a little scared."
Scared? Good, excellent.
Professor Brink loved this kind of dependency, especially between a product and its owner. Fear and helplessness would make the product cling more tightly to its Master, seeking protection.
"My boy, don't be afraid!" Professor Brink's voice became incredibly gentle, filled with a power that inspired trust. "Listen, come back to school right now, and come straight to my office. Trust me, I will help you figure this out. With me here, nothing is a problem."
"O-okay, Professor."
Lu Chen hung up the phone, the panicked expression on his face instantly fading.
He looked at Professor Brink's name on the phone screen and revealed a mocking smile.
I'll dangle a Level 3 Super Speed as bait for you first, and see how you, old fox, handle it. This is also laying the groundwork for the future plan to replace A-Train.
Godolkin University, Professor's office.
Professor Brink hung up the phone, the smile on his face no longer containable. He walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the brightly lit campus, and rubbed his hands in excitement.
Lu Chen! Lu Chen! You really are an inexhaustible treasure!
He turned back to his desk and took out a contract from a locked drawer. He flipped to the last page, and in the profit-sharing column, a glaring number caught his eye.
A 90/10 split.
Professor Brink picked up another encrypted phone and dialed his team leader's number.
"Prepare a top-tier Superhumans ability testing facility for me, highest specifications, with all analysts and equipment in place. Yes, right now."
After hanging up, he pondered for a moment, then dialed another number, one buried deep within the Vought system.
"It's me, Professor Brink. I need you to pull a file for me, highest clearance. Lu Chen, Godolkin Universityfreshman... No, not that damn enrollment file, I want all his records from birth to now, everything!"
This time, he wanted to see the full background of this "product."
A few minutes later, an encrypted file was sent to his computer.
Professor Brink opened the file, and when he saw a few lines of records, he froze.
[Target: Asian male orphan, ID 7749]
[Location: Hope Hospital]
[Records: Multiple injections of Compound V, including iterative products, with no signs of superpower awakening. Classified as a failure, transferred to Vought's 7th Orphanage.]
An orphan classified as a failure, actually awakening abilities at eighteen, and not only that, but awakening a second, or even third time at a speed that defied logic?
He could only think of one explanation.
Professor Brink closed the file, a sense of unprecedented fervor seizing him. He looked out the window, as if he could already see countless banknotes and supreme prestige drifting toward him like snowflakes.
When Lu Chen took a taxi back to Godolkin University, from a distance, he saw a familiar figure standing at the school gate.
It was Professor Brink.
He was actually waiting for him in person at the gate.
Lu Chen's heart sank. This wasn't normal. In his expectations, even if Professor Brink valued him highly, at most he would have an assistant wait downstairs. A powerful Professor holding the key to The Seven, personally deigning to come to the school gate to welcome a student?
This goodwill was too much. Too much to the point of being scorching.
"My boy!"
Seeing him, Professor Brink immediately walked up quickly, opened his arms, and gave him a solid hug.
"Don't worry, don't be afraid." Professor Brink patted his back, his voice more earnest and sincere than ever. "We will definitely figure out your situation. Please... you must trust your Professor."
Lu Chen let him hold him, his body stiffening for a moment.
He could feel Professor Brink's arms wrapped around him applying slight pressure; it wasn't a hug from a mentor to a student, but rather more like an appraiser stroking a peerless treasure.
"Professor, I..."
"I have already prepared the top-tier team, right here at the school's secret testing center." Professor Brink let go of him, but his hand remained firmly on his shoulder, allowing no room for retreat. "They will help you comprehensively test your abilities and help you find a way to control them."
Secret testing center?
Lu Chen maintained a look of tearful gratitude and complete trust on his face, while his brain was working at maximum speed.
If this old guy really discovered that he had not just one or two abilities, but even more...
In the worst-case scenario, if he were really exposed, he would have no choice but to act. Kill everyone in the testing center and go underground.
"Let's go, my boy." Professor Brink put his arm around him and walked affectionately toward an inconspicuous building deep in the campus. "Let us go and uncover the secrets within you."
The two walked side by side through the empty campus late at night.
One harboring ulterior motives, playing the role of a kind guide.
The other hiding murderous intent, playing the role of a lost lamb.
They walked to a heavy metal door with no markings on it. Professor Brink raised his hand and pressed his fingerprint onto the sensor.
After a soft "beep," the metal door slid open silently to both sides, revealing a corridor that stretched into the abyss.
Chapter 43: Feel Free to Swipe This Card!
The corridor was bottomless, with cold metal walls on both sides and overhead lights every five meters; it was so quiet here that only the footsteps of two people could be heard.
One steady, the other deliberately feigning unease.
At the end was another, thicker door. When Professor Brink pressed his fingerprint again and the door slid open to both sides, a massive space, like an underground hangar, revealed itself to Lu Chen.
Dozens of staff members in white lab coats were busy at their respective stations in an orderly fashion, with all kinds of precision instruments whose names he couldn't recognize flickering with dim blue data lights.
Seeing Professor Brink and Lu Chen enter, everyone stopped their work, stood up straight in unison, and cast looks mixed with curiosity and scrutiny.
This turnout was even bigger than Lu Chen had anticipated.
He was equally curious whether Vought Company's top-tier technology could truly pry into the secrets hidden within his body. For instance, the Heat Vision he could fire at any moment, or the thermal nuclear power capable of melting steel.
"Don't be nervous, kid." Professor Brink draped an arm around his shoulder, introducing him to the group of researchers with a posture bordering on showing off, "This is Lu Chen. From today on, he will be our most important project."
A gray-haired supervisor wearing gold-rimmed glasses stepped forward and respectfully handed Professor Brinka tablet.
"Professor, all equipment has finished warming up; we can begin the tests at any time."
"Very good," Professor Brink waved his hand, "Start with the new abilities."
Lu Chen was brought to a 100-meter track laid with special cushioning material.
"Lu, run a round trip with your best effort." The supervisor adjusted his glasses, while his assistants had already aimed at the various monitoring points on the track.
Lu Chen flexed his ankles. He leaned down slightly, setting himself into a starting stance.
Going all out.
The next second, he dashed out.
"Boom—!"
The researcher by the track only felt a gust of wind rush toward his face; he subconsciously closed his eyes, and by the time he opened them again, Lu Chen was already standing at the starting point of the track once more.
On the screen, a number was incredibly glaring.
Peak speed: 200m/s.
The smile on Professor Brink's face bloomed completely; he almost wanted to applaud this perfect number.
Next was the Super Physique test.
The mechanical arm applied pressure in tons onto Lu Chen; he merely let out a muffled grunt, his muscles bulging, and bore it head-on. The data analyst watched the feedback soaring on the screen, cold sweat seeping from his forehead.
"Professor... his body strength... compared to last week's test data, has... has increased by another 15 percent."
Professor Brink merely nodded with satisfaction, as if everything were within expectations.
The intensity of Impact had not changed; its power was about the same as when he blew his opponent away in the last competition.
The performance portion was over.
The real show was only just beginning.
Lu Chen lay on the examination bed as a massive ring scanner slowly moved over his head. Several researchers held syringes, cautiously drawing blood samples from the veins in his arm.
The moment the needle pierced his skin, Lu Chen's body showed no reaction, but his mind was already tightened to the extreme.
Wisps of faint electrical energy were flowing along his fingertips and into his body.
As long as there was any mistake...
As long as the report about to be released contained any words regarding "thermal energy," "high temperature," or "multiple energy sources"...
This Base, along with everyone and all the data inside, would be erased by him.
Time ticked by, second by second.
The researchers gathered around a core computer, where Lu Chen's physical data was cascading down the screen. They discussed in low voices, frowning from time to time, and occasionally letting out gasps of disbelief.
Professor Brink also walked over, standing behind them with his hands behind his back, staring intently at the screen.
Lu Chen lay quietly; he could clearly hear his own heartbeat, and he could also hear the hushed, confused conversation of those researchers.
Finally, the supervisor with the gold-rimmed glasses walked over quickly, holding a report that had just been printed.
He first handed the report to Professor Brink, then turned to Lu Chen.
Lu Chen sat up and took another Copy. His gaze swept quickly over every word on the report.
[Physiological structure: within the normal Superhumansrange]
[Comprehensive conclusion: The test subject has been injected with multiple different iterative versions of Compound V. These compounds, which usually conflict with each other and lead to the collapse of the test subject, have miraculously fused benignly within the target, and in an unprecedented way, activated different superpowers. The test subject's body possesses extremely high compatibility and evolutionary potential.]
Lu Chen lowered the hand holding the report, his tense body finally relaxing.
His Copy ability had perfectly bypassed this World's technological detection.
Professor Brink finished reading the report; he paced back and forth excitedly, finally stopping in front of Lu Chen. He looked at Lu Chen, and that look of scrutinizing a product had completely vanished, replaced by a near-manic enthusiasm.
"Kid, do you know who your situation reminds me of?"
Lu Chen looked up and asked cooperatively, "Who?"
"Homelander." Professor Brink's voice was trembling, "He is the only person in this World that I know of who has been confirmed to possess multiple 'different' superpowers. Flight, Heat Vision, super hearing, X-ray vision... that is not just different uses of one ability; those are several completely independent abilities! And you... you have now also embarked on this path!"
Professor Brink smiled from ear to ear; he patted Lu Chen's shoulder and gave repeated assurances.
"Promotion! I will give you the highest level of promotion! All of New York, no, the whole World, will know your name!"
As he spoke, he took a black card holder from his suit's inner pocket, pulled out a pure black credit card, and stuffed it directly into Lu Chen's hand.
"I didn't know your background before; living alone in Queens must have been very hard." Professor Brink's voice became incredibly warm, "Come, take this card; there's no password. There's a limit of 100,000 U.S. dollars every month; use it as you please, and if it's not enough, just tell me anytime!"
Lu Chen looked down at the card in his hand, his face appropriately showing an expression of being flattered.
When they walked out of the testing Base, the sky was already beginning to brighten.
"Professor," Lu Chen suddenly spoke up, "I think I need a suit of my own."
"Of course! Of course you need one!" Professor Brinkagreed readily, overly enthusiastic, "How can you be a superhero without a suit! I will contact the best designer at Vought Company immediately to custom-make it for you! You can tell me any requirements you have!"
He personally walked Lu Chen to the dormitory building, even considerately urging him to get some good rest and not to have any psychological burden.
Lu Chen nodded and turned to walk into the dormitory building.
Behind him, Professor Brink stood in the morning light, watching his retreating figure as he went upstairs. In just one short night, Lu Chen's weight in his heart had gone from "valuable commodity" to "worth a fortune," and now to—a priceless treasure.
An unpolished gem with potential comparable to Homelander.
As long as he could firmly win him over with money, status, and "teacher-student affection" before he truly rose to power...
Professor Brink turned around, sat into his private car, and the smile on his face could no longer be suppressed.
He picked up the phone and dialed the number of a Vought Company executive.
"It's me, Professor Brink. Regarding the list of candidates recommended by Godolkin University to join The Seven... Yes, I want to make a small adjustment."
Chapter 44: Black Noir Strikes
Lu Chen lay on his dormitory bed, staring at the ceiling.
He held the pitch-black credit card between his fingertips, flipping it back and forth.
The card was light, but in his heart, it carried a different kind of weight.
He replayed everything from tonight in his mind.
From the moment he initiated that phone call, to Professor Brink meeting him personally at the school gate, and finally to that top-secret testing center.
Although the result was what he wanted, the process was completely unexpected.
In the original plot, the executives at Vought Company and the Professors at Godolkin University all acted like a bunch of fools, fed fat by capital.
They let The Boys run amok right under their noses, and even a few students could easily sneak into the heavily guarded forest research Base.
This impression, combined with his foresight of the plot and his smooth growth up to this point, had made him complacent.
But tonight's experience served as a wake-up call.
This is not a script; this is a real World.
That massive, cold Vought Company, driven by money and power—whenever it chooses to get serious, its power is almost infinite.
The level of technology in that secret testing Base was far beyond his imagination. Even in the short few minutes—or perhaps faster—between him hanging up the phone and returning to school, a mid-to-high-level executive within the Vought Company system could dig up his entire history from childhood to the present.
If it weren't for the fact that his Copy ability happened to be able to pass as a "benign mutation" of a different version of Compound V, and if Professor Brink hadn't been blinded by the immense temptation of a "second Homelander"...
At the end of the day, all this time, the entity dealing with The Boys was never the behemoth that is Vought Company.
It was merely The Seven, just those "products" pushed to the forefront.
Vought Company's gaze had never truly fallen upon The Boys.
From now on, he must be more careful.
As Lu Chen replayed his gains and losses and drifted into a deep sleep, Frenchie found himself in a crisis.
Cuba, in an apartment in Manhattan.
A-Train paced back and forth in the room, agitated. Popclaw's cold corpse lay on the bed not far away, covered by a thin blanket.
The pressure Homelander put on him, and the instability of his position in The Seven, had him on the verge of a breakdown.
Relying solely on the vague characteristics Popclawmentioned before she died—a self-righteous Brit, a tall, thin white guy, a Frenchman with a buzz cut, and a big black guy—finding these people in New York was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
He needed a more specific target.
A token of allegiance that would allow him to make amends and keep his position.
He returned to New York to Popclaw's apartment, frantically searching the room, until finally, his eyes locked onto a teddy bear on the nightstand.
That was a gift he had previously given to Popclaw.
A cheap "surprise" with a pinhole camera hidden inside.
A-Train rushed over, violently tore open the teddy bear's body, and pulled out a micro-camera and an SD card from the cotton inside.
Fast forward, fast forward, fast forward...
Countless images of Popclaw alone flashed across the screen, until at one moment, another person appeared in the footage.
A thin, small man with a buzz cut.
"That's him!"
A-Train stood up abruptly, took a screenshot of the man's face from the video, and sent it directly to the Crime Analytics Department of Vought Company.
Vought Company's efficiency was terrifying; in a short time, they had dug up all of Frenchie's background information, social connections, and even several possible hideouts.
He immediately reported this intelligence to Homelander.
After learning this, Homelander immediately dispatched Black Noir and A-Train together to eliminate them.
Meanwhile, an oblivious Frenchie was still at their previous Base, holding a few hand-drawn cards, trying to teach Kimiko how to read.
"B-A-N-A-N-A."
He pointed at the crooked banana on the card, repeating it patiently.
Kimiko crouched in the corner, hugging her knees, watching him vigilantly without saying a word.
Just then, the phone on the table vibrated abruptly.
It was the number of Frenchie's girlfriend, Cherie.
Frenchie answered the phone.
"Run!" On the other end of the line, Cherie spoke as fast as a machine gun, "You've been found! Black Noir was just outside my apartment!"
Frenchie's heart sank instantly.
He hung up the phone and immediately dialed Butcher's number.
"Butcher, I've been exposed. I'm pulling out. What about this girl?"
Butcher was silent for a second on the other end.
"That girl is dead weight. Leave her behind and find a way to survive on your own."
The call was abruptly cut off.
Frenchie stared at the phone.
He couldn't do it.
He was a piece of trash—a drug addict, promiscuous, sold arms, worked as an unlicensed doctor.
But looking at her, he remembered how she looked when she was imprisoned in a cage. He couldn't just leave her here alone, like tossing away a piece of garbage, waiting for Black Noir to deal with her.
Screw the right choice.
Frenchie strode over, crouched down, took out the keys, and unlocked the chains on her hands and feet.
"Run."
He said as concisely as possible.
"Run fast, don't look back."
Kimiko looked at him, then ran out without looking back.
Frenchie breathed a sigh of relief and turned to run toward another exit.
Just as he rushed out of the house, a dark shadow blocked his path.
Silent and soundless.
Black Noir.
He stood there like an insurmountable wall, his black combat suit absorbing all the surrounding light.
Frenchie's mind went blank, and he turned to run.
Just as Black Noir caught up and prepared to strike, a figure lunged at him from the shadows, knocking him back.
Kimiko.
She hadn't run.
She had come back.
Kimiko looked at Frenchie. Frenchie read her gaze: staying behind wouldn't help. Frenchie turned and left, finding a hidden spot to conceal himself.
Watching Frenchie leave, Kimiko charged at Black Noiragain, her fist whistling through the air as she aimed for his face. Black Noir tilted his head, seized her arm, spun, and slammed her down hard.
Kimiko's back hit the ground with a thud. She scrambled to her feet, blood at the corner of her mouth.
A second charge. A third. A fourth.
Each time, Black Noir neutralized her with the most precise movements. He had no wasted motions; every punch and kick went straight for a vital point.
The gap was too large.
After being knocked down for the seventh time, Black Noirstepped forward.
He grabbed the back of Kimiko's neck with one hand and drew a tactical knife from his waist with the other.
He stabbed it cleanly into her abdomen. Pulled it out. Stabbed again, until he had carved a large hole in her stomach.
Watching Kimiko, who lay on the ground without moving.
Black Noir stood up, shook the blood off the blade, and chased in the direction Frenchie had fled.
Only after hearing no more movement outside, and waiting another ten minutes, did Frenchie emerge from his hiding spot. Seeing Kimiko collapsed on the ground, Frenchiescrambled over to her.
There was a large hole in her abdomen, blood gushing out. But her chest was still rising and falling.
Faintly, one breath, another.
Chapter 45: Probing and the Suit
The phone vibrated on the nightstand.
Lu Chen opened his eyes, stared at the ceiling for a second, and reached out to grab the phone.
It was a text message from Hughie.
"Something happened. My companion has been exposed and is being hunted by Black Noir. The girl we brought back, the one related to Compound V, was also almost killed by Black Noir. Are you safe over there? Do you know what Vought Company's next plan is? How many of us have actually been exposed?"
Lu Chen leaned against the headboard and pondered. Black Noir had already made a move, so it seemed they were not far from being fully exposed.
But that was none of his business.
He was currently playing the role of an isolated Avenger deep behind enemy lines.
"Alright, I'll help you look into it."
He typed these words with one hand, hit send, and tossed the phone back onto the nightstand.
On the other side, at The Boys' temporary hideout.
Hughie gripped the phone Butcher had handed him tightly; the reply on the screen was only a short sentence. He looked up at Butcher, who was sitting opposite him cleaning his firearms.
"Are you satisfied?" Hughie stood up abruptly.
"I told you, him being undercover at Vought Companyalone is dangerous! You're asking him to investigate Black Noir and Vought Company's next plan? You're sending him to his death!"
Butcher stopped what he was doing.
"Calm down, Hughie."
"We're blind right now. Your Superhumans helper is the eyes we need to see Vought Company's cards. If he doesn't serve a purpose, what do I need him for?"
"He's not your tool! He told us the secret of Compound V!" Hughie raised his voice, the veins on his neck bulging.
Butcher sneered.
"That touches you?" He stood up, his frame casting a shadow over Hughie. "In this game, no one is innocent. Since he dares to play the double agent, he has to prove his worth. Or are you saying you want to watch Frenchieget sliced into mince by Black Noir?"
Hughie opened his mouth, but the courage he had built up deflated under Butcher's fierce glare. He gritted his teeth, avoided Butcher's gaze, and sat back down in his chair.
He knew Butcher was right; they needed intelligence.
But he felt this way of doing things was wrong.
Taking advantage of the moment Butcher turned to grab a magazine, Hughie quickly typed a few words on the keyboard and hit send.
"Stay safe."
Lu Chen looked at the four new words that popped up on the screen and scratched his head helplessly.
The previous request for help was one hundred percent sent by Butcher.
That man, Butcher, would never truly trust any Superhumans.
In the original plot, he was able to force Hughie to install spyware on Starlight's phone; naturally, he could now force Hughie to squeeze the remaining value out of him, the "undercover agent."
Butcher was testing his bottom line, wanting to see just how deep into Vought Company's core secrets he could get.
Lu Chen set his phone to silent and tossed it aside.
He would let them wait for a few days.
He opened his laptop and clicked on a hidden program.
Several surveillance feeds cut onto the screen; these were the hidden cameras he had set up earlier in that dilapidated hotel in Queens.
In the footage, only four babies were still sleeping. Looking at the yellowed sheets, Lu Chen deeply felt the difficulty of entering the childcare era early, while at the same time looking forward to Wednesday. He closed the computer and organized the current developments.
Frenchie, that sentimental guy, would certainly not abandon Kimiko.
Kimiko currently suffered from severe selective mutism and was completely unable to speak, and her memories were a mess due to the experiments. Lu Chen wasn't sure how strong her care for her brother could be in this state.
If she hadn't run to this hotel alone to find clues about her brother because of the suggestion he had left in her subconscious.
Then, to figure out her history, Frenchie would most likely go looking for Mesmer, that washed-up Superhumans who could view memories through touch.
However, no matter which path it took, the result couldn't be changed. He would just wait and see for now.
Lu Chen got up, washed up, changed into clean clothes, and headed straight for Professor Brink's office.
Professor Brink was sitting behind a large mahogany desk, holding a cup of black coffee and looking at data on a tablet. Seeing Lu Chen enter, he immediately put on an enthusiastic smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bunching up.
"Lu! Did you sleep well last night?" Professor Brink pointed to the leather sofa opposite him. "Sit. Are you here to see me today to start planning your hero image?"
"Not exactly." Lu Chen sat down on the sofa. "I want to bring up a few thoughts I have about my suit."
"Of course! That's a must." Professor Brink's eyes lit up as he set down his coffee cup. "I've already had the PR department draft a few proposals. You're of Chinese descent, so we could go with an Eastern mystical route, or..."
"I don't need any of that. It just needs to be lightweight and durable. It would be best if it could resist high heat and radiation."
Professor Brink was stunned.
He sized Lu Chen up. At Vought Company, every superhero wanted their suit designed to be as flashy as a neon sign.
Capes, spandex, reflective materials, exaggerated logos—these were the selling points, the cash cows for merchandise.
"Resist high heat and radiation?" Professor Brink frowned. "Lu, you have to understand, we are superheroes, not workers going to Chernobyl to handle nuclear waste. Your suit is your packaging, your brand. With demands like that, the design department will have a hard time making something commercially viable."
"Commercial value doesn't necessarily have to be expressed through bright colors. I just need it not to become a burden at critical moments." Lu Chen looked at Professor Brink. "Professor, you saw my abilities last night. I don't want to be hindered by flashy decorations. Besides, our Eastern culture values subtlety more, finding luxury in the ordinary. I think this will help me break into the immigrant market better."
Professor Brink stared at Lu Chen for a few seconds, then finally sighed in compromise.
"Fine, you're an exception. I'll have the equipment department make it according to your requirements." Professor Brink leaned back in his chair. "Anything else?"
"I need a private training room." Lu Chen threw out his second request. "Absolutely private. I don't want to be gawked at like a monkey while I'm adapting to new abilities."
Professor Brink laughed.
"What kind of request is that? In the U.S., the one thing we aren't short on is space." He pressed the intercom on his desk. "Have an assistant take you to the third basement level. Pick any room you like."
Ten minutes later.
Lu Chen followed Professor Brink's blonde female assistant to the restricted area on the third basement level.
The soundproofing here was excellent; the hallway was so quiet you could only hear their footsteps.
He picked a training room that was as big as a basketball court.
The walls were all made of high-strength energy-absorbing materials, and various heavy equipment for testing strength and speed were piled up in the corners.
"This one will do." Lu Chen took the key card from the assistant.
"Very well, Mr. Lu. If you need anything, feel free to contact me." The assistant gave a professional smile and turned to leave.
After the door closed, Lu Chen walked around the entire training room.
He carefully checked every vent, every mirror, and the gaps in every lampshade.
After confirming there were no hidden cameras or listening devices, he walked to the center of the room, took out his phone, and dialed a number.
The phone rang twice before it was answered.
"Hello? Who is this?" A somewhat impatient young voice came from the other end of the line.
"Lu Chen."
The other end went quiet for a second, then the voice sounded a bit ingratiating: "Oh... Lu. What's up?"
This was Electric Kid with the mohawk.
"Are you free? Come to the third basement level, training room D-04, and spar with me."
"What? No, no, no, Lu, I suddenly remembered I have a date later..."
"As a reward, I'll put in a good word for you with Professor Brink." Lu Chen cast the bait directly. "He listens to my opinions a lot lately. Haven't you always wanted to move up in the rankings?"
Heavy breathing came from the other end of the line.
For these students at Godolkin University, Professor Brink's name was a pass to the Vanity Fair.
No one could refuse such a temptation.
"I'll be there right away!"
Hanging up the phone, Lu Chen tossed it onto the bench nearby.
This was one of the abilities he had scouted in the school; Starlight's power would be greatly discounted without external electrical energy.
If he could generate electricity himself, it would be equivalent to having an infinite energy source, and it might even accelerate his development of flight.
He just didn't know how the speed would be when combined with Thermonuclear Flight.
In less than ten minutes, the door to the training room was pushed open.
Electric Kid walked in wearing tight athletic wear.
His eyes scanned the spacious training room, filled with undisguised envy.
A private training room of this level was something students of his rank wouldn't normally get to use.
"Lu." Electric Kid squeezed out a smile. "I'm here. How are we training? I'll state first, I can't beat you..."
"Close the door." Lu Chen stood in the center of the arena, back to him.
Electric Kid was stunned for a moment, then turned to push the heavy soundproof door shut; with a "click," the electronic lock automatically engaged.
The moment he closed the door, Lu Chen moved.
Super Speed burst forth, and Lu Chen's figure left an afterimage in place.
Electric Kid didn't even have time to blink before he felt a gust of wind strike.
Lu Chen had already appeared behind him, his left hand directly wrapping around his shoulder, and his right hand precisely gripping the back of his neck.
"What the fuck! What's going on?"
Electric Kid was startled, and blue electric arcs instantly erupted from his body.
But it was too late.
Mind Control was activated instantly.
An invisible mental force, like a heavy hammer, slammed directly into Electric Kid's mind.
The layer of blue electric arcs that had just lit up flickered violently and extinguished instantly.
Electric Kid's eyes immediately lost focus, and his body went limp like a pile of mud.
Lu Chen lifted him by the collar with one hand and dragged him to the bench on the side to lay him flat.
At the same time, the system panel unfolded in his line of sight.
[ Copyable Abilities: ]
[ 1. Super Physique LV2 ]
[ 2. Super Strength LV2 ]
[ 3. Current Coverage LV2 (Can release current to cover the whole body, cannot attack away from the body) ]
"Select Copy, Current Coverage LV2." Lu Chen recited silently in his heart.
[ Estimated time: 5 minutes ]
[ Progress: 1%... ]
Lu Chen sat down on the side, resting his right hand on Electric Kid's wrist to maintain skin contact.
This ability should be used sparingly in school; the more people whose memories he modified, the more flaws there would be. Although they couldn't discover that he was copying their abilities, it would sound terrible if word got out that a rising star was attacking people at school every day, and then indiscriminately engaging in intimate contact with both men and women.
Chapter 46: Does a Light Cannon Hurt When It Hits Someone?
[ Progress: 100% ]
The system prompt flashed through his mind, and Lu Chenlet go.
Electric Kid on the bench was still sleeping like a dead pig.
Lu Chen grabbed him by the back of his collar with one hand and dragged him like a sack of potatoes into the locker room restroom, tossed him into the innermost stall, and locked the door.
Turning back to the training area, Lu Chen walked to the console and tapped quickly on the touchscreen.
Snap, snap, snap.
The giant overhead lights in the training room went out row by row.
The basketball court-sized space was instantly plunged into absolute darkness, with only a faint buzzing sound coming from the vents.
Lu Chen stood in the center of the area and stretched his neck.
Current Coverage, activate.
Crackle, crackle. Tiny blue arcs of electricity emerged from the surface of his skin, like glowing little blue snakes, quickly slithering and intertwining until they covered his entire body in the blink of an eye.
Lu Chen raised his hand and watched the electric light dancing on his arm.
The current intensity was average. If he relied solely on this to shock someone, it would be at most the level of a large stun gun, but what he wanted wasn't output, but endurance.
"Let's try the main course."
With a thought from Lu Chen, Light Manipulation was instantly activated.
The blue arcs that had been evenly covering his body seemed to be pulled by some strong force, rushing crazily toward his palms.
The current on the surface of his skin was instantly drained, only to continuously surge out again, while the energy in his palms expanded rapidly.
The blue electric light was compressed to the extreme, and its color began to change from deep blue to incandescent white.
The entire dark training room was illuminated as bright as day by this blinding light.
Lu Chen felt a swelling pain in his palms, a signal that the energy had reached saturation. He suddenly pushed his palms forward.
Boom!
A high-density, high-intensity incandescent beam of light slammed fiercely into the special energy-absorbing wall a dozen meters away.
The intense light produced by the light blast instantly blinded everything around it, followed immediately by a deafening roar. A wave of air mixed with high heat swept across the entire area, making Lu Chen's clothes flap violently.
He walked over to check the damage to the wall.
On the energy-absorbing material, which was claimed to be able to withstand a full-speed collision from a heavy truck without damage, a charred deep pit was left behind. The material at the edge of the pit had crystallized and was still emitting acrid blue smoke.
Lu Chen touched the edge; it was scorching hot.
Blinding, physical knockback, plus high-temperature burning. This combination of skills was much more insidious than a simple light blast. Most importantly, he could now be self-sufficient, completely getting rid of his reliance on the surrounding power grid.
As long as his stamina could keep up and he improved his physical strength, he would be a human self-propelled artillery piece with infinite ammunition.
"Next is the main event."
Lu Chen retreated to the center of the area. The entry for Light Manipulation clearly mentioned flight.
He closed his eyes and recalled the feeling of using Thermonuclear Flight. In essence, both types of flight used the reaction force generated by energy propulsion to propel the body.
He once again urged the current in his body, converting it into light energy; this time, instead of converging toward his palms, he guided it toward his feet.
White light lit up under his feet like two miniature plasma thrusters.
Lu Chen's body slowly lifted off the ground. Ten centimeters, half a meter, one meter.
"If I were to combine Thermonuclear Flight and light-based flight..."
A crazy idea popped into Lu Chen's mind. If two different types of kinetic propulsion erupted simultaneously, the speed would definitely be as fast as a real bolt of lightning.
But that wouldn't work for now. Although this training room was large, it wasn't enough for him to sprint at full speed. If he really tested the combination, he would definitely smash through these three underground floors.
He glanced at the electronic clock on the wall. It was about time; he had to go watch the kid.
Lu Chen cut off the energy output and landed steadily back on the ground. The training room was plunged back into darkness.
He walked to the console and turned all the lights on. Then he went to the restroom, dragged Electric Kid, who was still lying on the ground like a corpse, out, and threw him onto the open space next to the bench.
Next was the cleanup.
Lu Chen crouched down and placed his right hand on Electric Kid's forehead. Mind Control, activate.
Invisible mental energy entered the other person's brain. Lu Chen familiarized himself with the process and found the memory of Electric Kid entering the door, then erased it directly.
Next, he began to weave a new scene: Electric Kid entered the door excitedly wanting to show off his strength, rushed toward Lu Chen with electricity sparking all over his body, but was dodged by Lu Chen with a sidestep, who then followed up with a heavy punch to his face, knocking him unconscious on the spot. Memory implantation complete.
Lu Chen stood up, looked at Electric Kid's unscathed face, and frowned. "This won't do, it's too fake."
He shook his right hand, controlled his strength, and aimed at Electric Kid's left eye socket. Bang. He threw a punch.
Electric Kid let out a muffled grunt, his eyelids twitched violently, but he still didn't wake up.
"Too little force?" Lu Chen pursed his lips, adjusted the angle, and added another punch. Bang.
This time it landed solidly on his brow bone, making a dull thud. "Urgh!"
Electric Kid twitched violently, let out a scream, and suddenly opened his eyes. He clutched his face and began rolling on the ground.
Lu Chen immediately put on a concerned expression and crouched down. "Hey, buddy, are you okay?"
Electric Kid was in so much pain that tears streamed down his face, and his left eye swelled up at a speed visible to the naked eye. He stared fixedly at Lu Chen through the swollen slit of his eye, his brain replaying the tragic scene of him being instantly killed by a single punch, and a surge of anger rushed to his head.
"Fuck! Can't you control your damn strength!" Electric Kidcovered his face, squeezing the words through his teeth, spit flying out, "I have a date! If I had known, I wouldn't have come to practice with you even if it killed me!"
He struggled to crawl up and leaned against the bench, panting heavily.
Lu Chen spread his hands with an apologetic look. "My bad, I really didn't control my strength."
He took out his phone and tapped it a few times. "Ding."
The phone in Electric Kid's pocket rang. He was stunned for a moment, then took out his phone with one hand to take a look.
Transfer record: $5,000. Electric Kid's expression froze instantly. The curses that hadn't yet been uttered were stuck hard in his throat.
His ranking at school had always hovered in the middle, and the subsidy Vought gave was only enough for daily expenses. For him, $5,000 was definitely a huge sum that would allow him to splurge at a bar.
"Consider this my medical expenses and compensation for emotional distress." Lu Chen patted him on the shoulder, his tone gentle, "You can go back and rest now."
Electric Kid rubbed his eye socket, coughed twice, and tried hard to hide the corners of his mouth that were curling up crazily.
"This... how could I accept this? It's just sparring, injuries are inevitable. We're all classmates."
He quickly shoved his phone back into his pocket, as if afraid that Lu Chen would change his mind, and turned to walk toward the door.
Just as he was about to reach the door, he suddenly stopped and turned his head. "Um, what time?"
"It's noon, you can just go get something to eat." Lu Chenreplied casually.
"Not that." Electric Kid pointed to his swollen eye and said seriously, "I mean, what time is the next sparring session? I need to plan my schedule in advance so it doesn't conflict with other things."
Lu Chen looked at his serious demeanor and almost laughed out loud. "Wait for my notification."
"Alright, call me anytime, I'll be there whenever you need me!" Electric Kid gave him a thumbs up, pushed open the door, and walked out with a light step, his very back exuding joy.
Watching the heavy soundproof door close, Lu Chen shook his head. This was the power of the dollar.
In the melting pot that is Vought, no one says no to money. As long as you pay enough, never mind taking two punches, letting him offer his other eye to be beaten wouldn't be a problem. This was good news; in the future, if he needed to Copy other people's abilities, he could just pay for "sparring partners." Besides, he might as well use the 100,000 monthly allowance.
New York, another safe house.
Frenchie leaned against a wall covered in graffiti, his eyes bloodshot. He stared at the tattered mattress in the corner. Kimiko was lying on it.
The horrific hole in her abdomen that had been pierced by Black Noir had completely healed, not even leaving a scar. This terrifying self-healing ability was simply a miracle.
But she was still curled up, clutching her knees tightly, like an overly frightened Beast, staring vigilantly at everything around her.
Frenchie sighed. He walked over and sat down two meters away from her. This distance wouldn't make her feel threatened.
He took a hamburger out of his pocket, unwrapped it, and pushed it gently toward her. "Eat something." Frenchie's voice was very soft, "We're safe."
Kimiko looked at the hamburger on the ground, swallowed, but didn't move. Frenchie didn't rush her, just sat there quietly.
He remembered how she had rushed toward Black Noir. He was a rotten person, but he knew what gratitude was. If it hadn't been for this girl turning back, he would have already been cut into mincemeat by Black Noir.
"I know you're looking for the way home." Frenchie looked into her eyes, "The memories in your brain are chaotic and painful, right? I know that feeling too."
Kimiko raised her head, and a glimmer of light flashed in those guarded eyes.
"I can help you." Frenchie slowed his speech, trying to make his tone sound sincere, "I know a guy. His name is Mesmer. He is a Superhuman; as long as he touches your hand, he can see your memories. He can help us figure out what exactly you've been through."
Kimiko stared at him fixedly. Frenchie didn't avoid her gaze. A full minute passed.
Kimiko slowly reached out and grabbed the hamburger on the ground. Frenchie's tense shoulders finally relaxed.
"Good." He stood up, brushed the dust off his pants, "We'll leave after you finish eating."
He knew Butcher would never agree to this plan. Going to find an washed-up Superhuman and exposing their tracks was, in Butcher's eyes, suicide. But fuck Butcher.
He owed this girl his life.
Frenchie turned toward the door to start the beat-up van.
Kimiko took a bite of the cold hamburger, watching Frenchie's back. In the chaotic memories in her brain, the image of a dilapidated motel vaguely emerged. That was the suggestion Lu Chen had implanted.
But now, she had a clearer choice. Someone was willing to help her, in a more direct way.
She swallowed the food, stood up, and followed him.
Chapter 47: Everyone Is Busy, Being Busy Is Good.
A deathly silence filled the van.
Frenchie sat in the passenger seat, not daring to look at the person in the driver's seat beside him. Mothers Milk's hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands were bulging.
"I'll say it again, this is a fucking terrible idea."
In the back seat, Kimiko heard the two arguing. She gripped the seat beneath her and continued to silently watch the streetscape rapidly receding outside the window.
"I owe her, Marvin," Frenchie said in a low voice. "If it weren't for her, I'd be nothing but a pile of meat right now."
"So you're planning to drag all of us to our deaths? To find Mesmer? A washed-up mind-reading freak! You were like this back then, and you're still like this now!" Mothers Milkroared, spraying spit everywhere.
"Fuck that! I told you not to bring that up again!" Frenchiewas also getting fired up. He turned around abruptly. "Do you think I forgot? But we can't just treat her like a disposable tool! She isn't one!"
Mothers Milk slammed on the brakes, swerving the car to a stop on the side of the road.
He turned his head and said, word by word: "She is a hot potato. Vought is looking for her, and heaven knows who else is. The best thing for us to do right now is to find a hole to crawl into, not go strutting around to find a Superhuman who has long been on Vought's list!"
"Mesmer can help her recover her memory! Figure out who she really is! Where she came from!"
"And then what? How can you guarantee he won't snitch? And then let Vought follow the trail to find us? Frenchie, use your chemical-filled brain to think for a second! I have a family!"
Frenchie's shoulders slumped. He looked back at Kimiko. The girl was watching them, and in those eyes, there was no fear, only a vast, vacant emptiness.
That emptiness gouged at his heart.
"Just this once." Frenchie's voice softened, carrying a hint of pleading. "Help her this one time. Then we'll disappear, I promise."
Mothers Milk was breathing heavily. He looked at Frenchie's pleading eyes, then glanced in the rearview mirror at the girl huddled in the corner. Finally, he restarted the car.
"FUCK! Just this once."
At CIA headquarters, Butcher slammed a small glass vial filled with blue liquid onto the metal tabletop.
"This is the thing I mentioned to you before." Butchergrinned. "The Superhuman booster, Compound V. But it has another function you definitely don't know about."
He leaned forward, bracing his hands on the table.
"It can create Superhumans. Those spandex-wearing sons of bitches at Vought were all created using this stuff. It's not a gift from God, it's not natural-born power—it's just a shot of serum."
The woman sitting opposite him—CIA Deputy DirectorSusan Raynor—finally reacted. She picked up the small vial and examined it against the light.
Butcher sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. "With this, and the internal intelligence I can provide, you can rightfully bring Vought down for good. Take those Superhuman sons of bitches who are trying to get their hands on the Military, every last one of them, and lock them all up. For example—Homelander."
When he mentioned that last name, every word carried deep-seated hatred.
Susan put down the vial.
"Even if what you say is true, we can discuss other terms. Providing funding, safe houses, and new identities for your team—all that is possible. But..."
She paused, looking directly at Butcher. "Homelandercannot be touched."
The smile on Butcher's face vanished instantly. "What did you say?"
"I said, we cannot touch Homelander," Susan repeated. "Moving against him is suicide. I don't want to see my department wiped out."
She leaned back slightly and added, "We both know what happened to Mallory. Besides, Vought's interests are too deeply tied to the government and the Military; an open confrontation would cause political turmoil that none of us could afford."
The air froze. Butcher stared at her intensely. They would rather hold onto a nuclear bomb that could detonate at any moment than take the risk of dismantling it.
"So, you intend to keep licking the boots of that blond psycho?"
"This is based on realistic considerations, Butcher."
"Fuck your realistic considerations."
Butcher stood up abruptly, grabbed the Compound Vsample from the table, and shoved it back into his jacket.
He pulled open the office door and walked out without looking back, the loud slam of the door echoing through the hallway. The partnership was terminated.
Walking down the cold corridor, Butcher's mind raced. Getting revenge on Homelander was the only thing he had left to do with his life.
Since bargaining chips like mass-producing Superhumansand meddling with the Military weren't heavy enough, what the fuck else could he add to the pile?
A thought flashed through his mind. Kimiko.
They had previously found out that A-Train would regularly deliver goods to that noodle shop in Chinatown. Now, knowing that Compound V could create Superhumans, everything clicked. A-Train was delivering Compound V. That girl was an experiment, or perhaps even a finished product.
Figuring out her memories could reveal what shady business Vought was really up to with Compound V. This might be an even more powerful weapon than "creating Superhumans" itself.
He needed to find Frenchie and the others.
He returned to the safe house and forcibly took Hughie's phone; he needed to see first-hand intelligence, not information filtered through Hughie's retelling. Then, he took Hughie with him, following the location of Mothers Milk and Frenchie on the phone, and hurried over.
Queens, that dilapidated motel. Lu Chen skillfully mixed the formula, tested the temperature, and then shoved the bottles into the mouths of the little ones.
The little ones immediately began to suckle away.
After changing diapers and disposing of the trash, Lu Chenleaned against the wall and unlocked his phone. Kimikostill hadn't come.
Being love-struck is truly terrifying. Frenchie, that love-struck fool, along with another who is literally "brainless," were probably already pouring their hearts out at Mesmer's house.
Forget it, plans never keep up with changes.
He opened his messaging app and sent a text to Cate. [Same place tomorrow? I have some new findings.]
Then, Starlight. [How have things been lately? Have you tried the self-destruct method I told you about?]
After finishing all this, he put on his coat. As per his routine, he lulled the fed babies into a deep sleep. Since Kimikohadn't come, he couldn't waste any more time. It was time to scout the venue where Translucent would be attending.
The night was deep. Only one floor lamp was left on in Madelyn Stillwell's office.
Homelander was lying on her lap, facing her open chest, sleeping like a baby. His golden hair was spread across Madelyn Stillwell's skirt. That face, which was usually sunny, cheerful, and full of U.S. spirit, now held only serenity and contentment.
Madelyn Stillwell's fingers gently traced his cheek. "Sleep, my good boy." She leaned down and whispered in his ear, "This World doesn't deserve you. They are all just a bunch of ants, a bunch of idiots who need you to save them, yet are afraid of you."
Her lips were almost pressed against his ear. "But you have me. I will always be here."
Three parties, each with their own things to do.