I am Homelander, Marvel Superstar
Novel Summary
Li Zuguo transmigrates into the Marvel universe as Homelander, starting with a Multiverse Superstar System. The more fans he has, the higher his popularity! The higher his popularity, the greater his abilities! He establishes Vought International and forms the Seven Superheroes. The Seven Superheroes are Homelander's number one superhero fans. Superhero trainees include: Gwen Spider-Man, Mystique, the White Queen, Dark Wanda, Blink, Wonder Woman, Catwoman, the Vampire Princess… Superhero trainees = worship, recognition, and faith in Homelander! The Incredible Hulk is furious, but Li Zuguo's combo punches subdue him. Magneto wants to rule the world, and all mutants become Homelander's number one fans, dreaming of joining the superhero trainees. Thanos wants to snap his fingers and wipe out half the universe's population, but the TV is full of Li Zuguo's fans! Whether it's the invasion of Celestials or dimensional demons, or various worlds and parallel universes…
Chapter 1: Homelander in Marvel
Downtown Los Angeles.
The Mark III crashed heavily through a building, alarms screaming inside the armor as Tony stared at the flashing red warning box inside his visor.
Right thruster energy output at zero.
Backup power system unresponsive.
Obadiah controlled the massive Iron Monger, approaching and laughing wildly, "Tony, your genius brain can't save you!"
Obadiah raised the gatling gun on his right arm, the barrels beginning to spin as they warmed up.
Three hundred meters away, on the roof of an office building.
The night wind blew past.
Li Zuguo took a bite of the hot dog in his hand, looking down at the street below; it had been a while since he had transmigrated and become Homelander.
Originally, he thought he had transmigrated into The Boys, until one day he saw on the news that Tony Stark had been kidnapped, and realized that this was actually Marvel.
Li Zuguo's dreams were instantly shattered, and his inflated ego calmed down.
In this Marvel World, which has Gods, dimensional demons, the purple titan, and all kinds of aliens, a weakened Superman who can be killed is not enough.
Originally, Li Zuguo wanted to lie low, but a system called the Multiverse Popularity Superstar System bound itself to him.
As the name implies, fans and popularity are his strength; the more fanatical the fans, the more popularity points are produced.
The more fans and the higher the popularity, the greater his abilities!
Thus, Li Zuguo started his own personal show, but he gradually discovered that just saving people to gain fans and popularity points was not enough; he was even maliciously attacked by people, and some even called him a Mutant freak.
So he had a new plan.
That was to increase the intensity for Tony, slightly adding some stolen new materials to Obadiah's mecha.
If he had just rushed down to help Tony dismantle the Iron Monger, he would at most be considered a helpful citizen doing a good deed.
The news headlines would still be occupied by the infighting at Stark Industries.
Only by letting this arrogant genius billionaire fall into a desperate situation, on the verge of death, and then descending with an unstoppable posture, would the shocking effect be multiplied.
The savior script—now is the perfect time to cut in.
...
"Hey big guy, I think your playtime is over."
The voice came from above, attracting everyone's attention.
A figure slowly descended from the sky.
He wore a deep blue tight-fitting suit covered with star-spangled patterns, with golden shoulder pads and a belt adding a sense of solemnity.
A star-spangled cape fluttered in the night wind.
The searchlight beam from a helicopter hit the golden eagle emblem on his chest.
Someone screamed.
"It's Homelander! He's here!"
The citizens who were originally fleeing in all directions slowly stopped, after all, watching the excitement is human nature.
Keeping what they thought was a safe distance, the enthusiastic crowd took out their mobile phones and pointed their cameras at the back figure in the middle of the road.
"Oh my God, it really is him!"
"He came to save this Iron Man?!"
Tony lay at the bottom of the pit, looking at the figure wearing the flag-colored cape through his visor.
How does this bastard always manage to steal the spotlight at the perfect moment?
Obadiah was stunned for half a second, staring through the monitor at the man in front of him who wasn't wearing any mecha.
"Get lost! This is a private matter for the Stark family!"
The gatling gun barrels aimed at Li Zuguo's chest.
Bullets poured out.
Dense armor-piercing rounds hit Li Zuguo, making a crisp metallic clanging sound.
The warheads deformed instantly and fell to the ground, not even tearing a single fiber of his uniform—as expected of a system-produced item.
Li Zuguo raised his leg without any wind-up and kicked the side of the Iron Monger's chest reactor.
The massive mecha instantly flew into the air, flying backward for more than ten meters, breaking two lampposts in succession, and finally crashing into a double-decker bus parked on the side of the road.
The bus was cut in half, and glass shattered all over the ground.
Li Zuguo's mind showed a translucent panel.
Fans and popularity points began to jump, but this increase was not enough.
Li Zuguo walked toward the pile of scrap metal.
Obadiah was frantically pushing and pulling the control stick in the cockpit.
The Iron Monger struggled to get up, the hydraulic device on its left arm emitting an unbearable screech.
Li Zuguo walked up to the mecha, reached out, and dug his fingers directly into the thick alloy armor.
The sound of twisting metal rang through the entire Los Angeles neighborhood as the ten-centimeter-thick bulletproof shell was pried open bit by bit.
The internal circuits snapped one by one.
Obadiah's face, covered in cold sweat, was completely exposed to the air.
His bald head reflected the searchlight; he opened his mouth wide, but could not make a sound.
Li Zuguo leaned down, grabbed Obadiah by the collar with one hand, pulled the heavy man out of the mecha, and tossed him onto the open ground nearby.
Obadiah fell face-first, unable to get up for a long time.
[Popularity Points: +3200]
[Fans: +850]
The numbers on the panel increased significantly, and the surrounding flashes connected into one, bright as day.
Li Zuguo turned around, faced the camera, and waved his right hand.
A deafening scream erupted from the crowd.
The Mark III's right foot thruster finally restarted.
Tony flew over unsteadily, landed beside Li Zuguo, and his visor popped open, revealing his face covered in abrasions and oil stains.
"Hey Star-Spangled Boy, I was only three seconds away from finishing him."
Tony pointed at the wreckage of the Iron Monger on the ground, still sharp-tongued.
Li Zuguo withdrew his hand and said,
"Yeah, three seconds is enough for him to smash you into a pulp. Then we could attend the funeral in good order; I even thought of the eulogy."
Tony rolled his eyes.
"Stark Industries' stock will drop three percentage points tomorrow because of that sentence; you have to pay me."
[Superhero Popularity Points +5000 (from Iron Man)]
[Note: The higher the superhero favorability bond, the higher the popularity points provided.]
Still sharp-tongued, but deep down... Li Zuguo kind of liked Tony, because in a sense, they were the same kind of people.
Both liked women, fame, and money!
A low engine roar came from the sky.
A Quinjet hovered above the street.
The airflow blew the dust on the ground everywhere.
A rope descended.
A man wearing a star-spangled uniform slid down to the ground, with a shield on his back.
Captain America Steve Rogers.
He looked around, his gaze lingering on the wreckage of the Iron Monger and Obadiah for a few seconds.
"Stark, are you in trouble?"
Tony pointed at Li Zuguo.
"American Sweetheart, you're late. This Star-Spangled fanatic, just like you, stole my job; he didn't even leave me a complete part to study."
Steve looked at Li Zuguo.
His gaze scanned the uniform up and down.
"Good job, Homelander, but next time you take action, try to minimize the damage to public property; that bus is an asset of the City Hall."
Li Zuguo spread his hands.
"Property? The only valuable thing here is Stark's mouth. If I didn't dismantle this pile of scrap, Mr. Stark would only be developing new weapons in his coffin tomorrow."
Tony pointed at Li Zuguo.
"Hey, don't think that just because you're wearing a tight suit with the flag's colors, you can boss me around. My armor just had a small malfunction, just a bug in the system update."
Steve stepped forward and patted Tony on the shoulder.
"The malfunction almost cost you your life; it's not that hard to admit someone helped you, Tony."
Li Zuguo couldn't be bothered to pay attention to Tony's stubbornness; he watched the popularity points jumping constantly on the panel.
The effect of this show was far beyond expectations.
Chapter 2: You Are the True Heroes!
The media's broadcast van was still working.
A female reporter, accompanied by a cameraman, jogged through the Police cordon and thrust the microphone directly in front of the three of them.
"Mr. Homelander! The mysterious Iron Man! Captain! May I ask if you have formed a new superhero team?"
Tony immediately took a step back.
"Absolutely not. I work alone. I don't team up with spandex-wearing boy scouts or guys in capes."
Steve blocked the camera.
"Ma'am, this is a dangerous area. Please step back."
The reporter ignored Steve entirely, desperately shoving the microphone toward Li Zuguo.
"Mr. Li Zuguo, you just tore apart that giant mech with your bare hands. May I ask how you always manage to appear just in time?"
Li Zuguo absolutely loved this female reporter. He straightened his back, faced the camera, and flashed a row of white teeth.
This smile had been practiced countless times.
"Everyone, please calm down. Please maintain a safe distance."
His voice, precisely controlled by Super Hearing, could be heard clearly across half the street even without a microphone.
He looked into the camera lens, his gaze affectionate and focused, as if he were looking directly into the soul of every citizen in Los Angeles through the screen.
"Today, I saw children crying and streets burning. I am very sorry. I am sorry I couldn't be here sooner."
Li Zuguo lowered his head slightly, showing a hint of perfectly measured remorse.
"Iron Man is very impressive, but inside that armor is just an ordinary person. As for me, since Heaven has bestowed this power upon me, it is my responsibility to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again."
Although Tony thought the term Iron Man sounded a bit cliché, it seemed unexpectedly fitting for his identity.
Li Zuguo extended his hand, pointing at the worshipful citizens around him, his voice becoming passionate.
"You are the bedrock of this country. You shouldn't have to live in the shadow of steel monsters, nor should you worry about being caught in explosions on your way home from work. As long as I am still in this World, and as long as I can still hear your calls, I promise you..."
He paused and placed his right hand over his chest.
"I will protect you, because you are the true heroes!"
[Popularity: +8567]
[Fans: +2365]
[Popularity Level: Blue Star · North America · Emerging]
The panel in his mind flickered frantically, golden numbers blurring into a stream.
Li Zuguo could feel that as these numbers grew, his senses became sharper, and every cell in his body was rejoicing.
This feeling was more addictive than any drug.
"Homelander! Homelander!"
Someone in the crowd started chanting, and soon the sound swelled into a unified tidal wave.
[Fans +99 +108 +123...]
[Popularity +168 +200...]
"Yes! That's it! Call out to me, worship me, believe in me!" Li Zuguo laughed.
He realized that he seemed to have started liking this feeling of being watched, needed, and the center of attention.
From acting at the beginning to enjoying it now.
Tony Stark let out a disdainful snort inside his armor.
"Oh, come on. Which outdated campaign team wrote his speech? 'You are the true heroes'? Even Rogers wouldn't be able to say something like that."
Steve did not agree with Tony's assessment.
"I actually think that line is quite good."
"Fuck." Tony forgot that Steve actually ate this stuff up, but looking at Li Zuguo facing the camera, he couldn't help but speak up sourly.
"You enjoy this? Being surrounded by a bunch of people with cameras and microphones asking stupid questions?"
Li Zuguo turned his head to look at him.
"It's better than being pinned to the ground by an old bald man. Don't you think, Mr. Stark?"
Tony was choked up for a moment and turned to look at Steve.
"Captain, doesn't S.H.I.E.L.D. regulate unlicensed vigilantes like this? He almost tore down an entire street just now."
Steve's expression was serious.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. will evaluate his actions. But as of now, he prevented a disaster."
Steve looked at Homelander again.
"Homelander, we need to talk about your abilities and your motives."
Homelander put away the smile he had for the camera.
"Of course, I'd be happy to chat, but that bald Director of yours seems to have a lot of opinions about me, so..."
A piercing siren sounded in the distance.
A large number of New York Police and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents were arriving.
Black SUVs surrounded the entire block.
Agent Coulson got out of a car, straightened his suit, and walked toward the three people in the center of the scene.
"Mr. Stark, Captain Rogers, and this..."
Coulson looked at Li Zuguo and opened a file folder in his hand.
"Lucien Lee, codename Li Zuguo. We have conducted some preliminary investigations on you."
Tony savored the name.
"Lucien Lee? That name is dark enough. I suggest you just call yourself Lucifer."
Homelander ignored Tony and looked at Coulson. Lucien Lee—this was his English name before he transmigrated.
"Investigation? S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efficiency is still so slow. I've already dismantled this big guy into parts, and only now have you arrived at the scene to set up the cordon."
Coulson maintained a professional smile.
"We are better at handling the aftermath, for example, helping you clean up this mess and ensuring that this video does not cause public panic."
"Panic?"
Li Zuguo pointed at the cheering crowd around them.
"You call this panic? They love me."
Under the gaze of the female reporter, who was nearly fainting with adoration, he suddenly took off, hovering in mid-air. His Stars and Stripes cape hung down, and everyone's eyes followed him as he rose.
Tony looked up, his mask closing again.
"What is he trying to do now? Perform aerial acrobatics?"
Li Zuguo looked down at the street below.
The sound of sirens, the roar of helicopter rotors, the reporter's broadcast, the sound of people's heartbeats—everything was clearly audible.
Outside the cordon.
A few young college students were frantically recording with their phones.
"So cool! Did you see his moves when he dismantled the mech? It was easier than taking apart Legos!"
"Iron Man was beaten helpless just a moment ago, and he took it out instantly when he came out!"
"I'm going to post this video on Twitter and YouTube. It'll definitely hit a million views!"
Li Zuguo listened to the discussions in the distance.
Super Hearing brought all the sounds of the entire block into his ears; these sounds were the source of his power.
The system's setup was straightforward.
The more fanatical the fans, the higher the Popularity, and the stronger the abilities and prize pools he could unlock.
Therefore, he didn't fly away immediately. Instead, he glided at low altitude over the street, enjoying the cheers, the dense array of cameras, and the flashing magnesium lights.
He even slightly adjusted the angle of his cape, letting the light from the searchlights weave over his body.
It wasn't until the rate of Popularity increase slowed down that the sonic boom sounded again.
Li Zuguo turned into a red and blue streak of light, instantly disappearing into the night sky.
Leaving behind only the wreckage on the ground and the remains of Iron Monger, which were still sparking on their own.
A reporter shouted into the camera: "He's flown away! Li Zuguo ended tonight's battle in an incredibly shocking way. Is he a savior, or an uncontrollable monster?"
In mid-air.
Li Zuguo broke through the clouds, the moonlight spilling onto him. He was a bit excited but held it back.
He summoned the system panel.
[Character: Lucien Lee]
[Title: Homelander]
[Abilities: Super Strength, Super Flight, Heat Vision, Super Hearing, X-Ray Vision, Super Durability, Super Intelligence (Field can only cover self)]
[Popularity: 103589]
[Superhero Popularity: 10000]
[Fans: 56898]
[Popularity Level: Blue Star · Emerging]
Popularity and Superhero Popularity had reached the standard for strengthening and lottery draws.
Unfortunately, except for some fanatical fans, the Popularity produced by most fans was not stable.
Often it would take days or even a week to produce a little.
After all, there comes a day when even heroes are forgotten.
Li Zuguo had a fruitful harvest this time. Of the Superhero Popularity, five thousand was provided by Tony, one thousand from Steve, and the other four thousand from Mutants.
He had learned about Mutants. Because of the suppression by a certain bald Director, the development of Mutants in this Universe was much slower.
It had even become a department that received reports to specifically deal with Mutants.
But Li Zuguo didn't care about that. As long as they were his fans and could provide Popularity, he didn't care what they were.
He needed a bigger stage and more viewers!
Li Zuguo chose without hesitation.
"Strengthen Super Durability, draw!"
Chapter 3: Building a Superhero IP, Popularity Harvesting Matrix
[ Popularity Points - 100,000 ]
[ Super Durability strengthening... ]
[ Superhero Popularity Points - 10,000 ]
[ Junior Superhero Prize Pool drawing... ]
In an instant, Li Zuguo felt countless powers surging endlessly from within his body, constantly strengthening him—this was the feeling!
He was feeling a bit hot-headed right now!
[ Unlocked derivative ability: Impact Resistance Field ]
Impact Resistance Field: A micron-level biological force field spontaneously forms around the body, buffering kinetic impacts. It automatically extends to protect clothing worn close to the body, though its buffering efficiency is halved against energy attacks.
Li Zuguo needed more popularity; Super Durability and adding an Impact Resistance Field were far from enough.
Super Durability only covered the body surface; he still had internal weaknesses.
Only all-encompassing Super Durability, or even a Steel Body, could give him a sense of security.
But the popularity points required for that were massive.
[ Congratulations on drawing temporary compound v × 3! ]
This stuff wasn't very useful to Li Zuguo, unless it was the original Compound V that could eliminate his own weaknesses and rival Soldier Boy.
But it could be used to ramp up the intensity for certain people.
All in all, it wasn't bad.
...
Midtown Manhattan.
Inside an apartment with a monthly rent of 4,800 U.S. dollars.
Li Zuguo was draped over the back of the sofa, with a half-eaten bag of chips and a few cans of soda sitting on the coffee table.
The TV was still on, and the station was looping the street spectacle from thirty minutes ago.
His phone lit up.
Twenty-seven missed calls and over a hundred unread text messages.
Media interview requests made up two-thirds of them, and the rest were from various people claiming to be agents, public relations consultants, or brand strategists.
They smelled blood and swarmed in, more sensitive than sharks.
Li Zuguo scrolled through them one by one, his thumb stopping on an email.
"Hello Mr. Li Zuguo, I am James Edgar, Senior Vice President of Pacific Film and Entertainment Group. We are very interested in your public image and hope to discuss a long-term strategic partnership with you in person. Attached is our preliminary business proposal."
Below the signature was the company's logo, next to which was a dense list of produced films.
All of them were well-known commercial blockbusters.
Li Zuguo tossed his phone onto the sofa and leaned back against the chair, staring at the ceiling.
A Superhuman who could tear apart armor with his bare hands and deflect armor-piercing rounds—their first reaction wasn't to run, but to do the math.
How did that famous quote go?
With 300% profit, capital dares to risk the gallows.
The profit margin of a Superhero IP?
300% wouldn't even cover it.
Li Zuguo crossed his legs; this thought had been swirling in his mind for several days.
Relying solely on saving people on the street and beating up a few punks, the growth rate of popularity points was no different from a snail crawling.
There were only so many idiots popping up in New York; after beating them up, he had to wait in line for the next batch.
Moreover, the hype came and went even faster; yesterday's headline was today's birdcage liner.
But this email pried open a door.
Movies, reality shows, comics, merchandise, variety shows, social media.
Every track was an independent pipeline for popularity.
Every channel was a popularity harvesting machine.
The audience didn't need to see him fly with their own eyes; just sitting on the sofa and scrolling through their phones was enough.
The global box office audience for a hit movie was more than all the fans he could accumulate by saving people all over the World.
And it wasn't just him; he could form a team, just like the Avengers. Everyone had their own target audience, and seven tributaries would eventually converge into the same sea.
The popularity pool for him, the leader!
Vought—the moment this thought popped up, Li Zuguoalmost laughed out loud.
That business empire from The Boys in his past life.
Operating Superheroes as commodities, squeezing out every drop of traffic. Of course, that Vought was rotten to the core, and under the skin of the Seven were all lunatics and perverts.
Marvel couldn't be played like that.
Teammates didn't necessarily have to be good fighters, but they had to be reliable, at least maintaining their persona in front of the public. As for a savior, one was enough.
If one team member's reputation collapsed, it would implicate the entire brand; that wasn't just losing fans, it was a chain reaction explosion.
Therefore, he had to choose good people, or at least choose smart people.
Homelander picked up his phone and dialed the number; it was answered after one and a half rings.
"Mr. Li Zuguo! It is a great honor."
"I've read your proposal."
Li Zuguo hadn't actually read it, but it didn't matter.
"That's great! What do you think of our cooperation framework..."
"No."
The other end of the line paused.
"...May I ask which part specifically?"
"All of it."
Li Zuguo changed his lying position, one hand resting on the sofa armrest.
"Your idea is to sign me as a spokesperson, film a few movies, give me a small cut of the box office, and keep the lion's share for yourselves, right?"
This pause was longer; he could hear people on the other side exchanging opinions in low voices. The call was clearly on speakerphone, and an entire decision-making team was sitting nearby.
In the conference room of Pacific Film and Entertainment Group.
James Edgar gripped his pen and exchanged a look with the Chief Legal Officer opposite him. He had been in Hollywood for twenty-three years, signed A-list stars, and negotiated ten-billion-dollar IP licenses—he had seen all kinds of client temperaments.
But the person on the other end of the line had just torn a several-meter-tall steel mech into scrap metal in front of media cameras a few hours ago.
He truly hadn't seen this kind of client before, and the other party could flip the table at any minute.
"Mr. Li Zuguo, our sincerity is absolutely sufficient. The profit-sharing ratio can be further..."
"Let me state my conditions."
Li Zuguo interrupted him.
"First, help me create a company and name it Vought, V-O-U-G-H-T."
"Second, I want absolute controlling interest. What to film, how to film it, who to find—I call the shots. You provide the personnel, the channels, and the operations, but the decision-making power remains with me."
"Third, this company won't just do film and television. I want to form a Superhero team, seven people, and Vought will be fully responsible for their commercial operations and brand management."
Li Zuguo didn't care if the company would be hollowed out or infiltrated, because as long as he was there, he could create another Vought at any time.
Even if the capital behind the six major Hollywood studios and media giants were dissatisfied, so what? That method of eating people only applied to ordinary people.
Homelander was the Homelander; no damn capitalist could escape his Super Hearing and Heat Vision.
In the conference room, the Chief Legal Officer's pen dropped onto the table.
James pressed the speakerphone button.
"Mr. Li Zuguo, the scale involved in your concept far exceeds typical entertainment projects..."
"I won't make you work for free." Li Zuguo stood up and walked to the window, the night view of Manhattancondensed on the glass. "You can try it first."
"Then regarding the decision-making power..."
"Do you think someone stronger than Superman would let others make decisions for him?"
The other end of the line went completely silent.
James Edgar keenly sensed an opportunity; this was the precise judgment of an old fox who had lived in the Hollywood jungle for over twenty years after weighing the chips.
"Vought... is there any significance to this name?"
"You don't need to know; you just need to remember one thing."
"What?"
"Follow me, and the money you earn will exceed everyone's imagination."
Li Zuguo said slowly, "As for those who oppose me, you'd better make sure their health insurance covers all departments."
A dry laugh came from the other end of the line.
"I need to go through the process of reporting to the board, but in my personal judgment... I believe we have a basis for cooperation."
"I'll give you forty-eight hours."
Li Zuguo hung up the phone.
[ System Prompt: Detected host is building a popularity harvesting matrix, "Superhero Team" subsystem activated. ]
Chapter 4: This Is The Life I Wanted, Dammit
Sub-system, Super Hero Team?
A new template appeared in Li Zuguo's eyes.
Seven blank avatars, the one at the very top already filled with his image, the remaining six empty.
[Super Hero Team]
[Member Limit (Temporary): 7 people (including Captain)]
[II. Enrollment Requirements: Target must possess quantifiable potential for public influence, and must be bound upon confirmation by the Captain personally.]
[III. Core Mechanism — Popularity Siphon]
When these four words popped up, Li Zuguo's fingers stopped, and he looked down.
[Popularity points obtained by team members in any public setting will automatically have 25% extracted into the Captain's popularity pool. This extraction does not affect the members' own ability growth.]
[IV. Brand Effect Bonus: When the team's overall popularity reaches a specific threshold, the team can expand its sub-teams and member limit.]
Only 25%. Li Zuguo was very dissatisfied, but having something is better than nothing; after all, popularity is generated every moment.
Once The Seven is formed, even at just 25%, the harvested popularity points will be massive.
What kind of movies to shoot? Shoot himself? That would be too monotonous.
The audience's attention span is like a goldfish's, dispersing in three seconds. If one superhero carries the show alone, the audience will get aesthetic fatigue after two or three movies.
But what if it's a superhero team? Seven people.
Each has their own abilities, each has their own storylines. There will be conflicts, romances, betrayals, and sacrifices between characters.
The audience will argue endlessly over shipping characters, they will vote and fight over who is the strongest. Every argument is traffic, every comment is popularity points.
The Seven. And he stands at the top of the pyramid. The team's leader, the center of the lens, the protagonist of the story.
How to fill the remaining six spots? This World is not short of superpowered individuals.
Mutants, Inhumans, products of various experimental accidents; Vought is responsible for packaging, promotion, and monetization.
All popularity points will eventually flow to him, because he is the boss, he is the pillar, he is the only irreplaceable one.
Li Zuguo finished the milk in his hand in one gulp. This is the life I wanted, dammit!
...
The next day. North American headlines were occupied by three hot topics: Homelander, Iron Man, and Stark Industries.
New York News Times, a female reporter reporting live from the scene.
"Stark Industries will hold an emergency press conference at Stark Tower at noon today, at which time Tony Starkhimself will make a formal response regarding last night's incident."
The camera cut to the entrance of Stark Tower; the female reporter and the broadcast van had already blocked half the street.
...
Stark Tower, first-floor press conference hall.
The camera flashes hadn't stopped since the moment Tonystood in front of the podium.
Hundreds of reporters packed the entire hall, the red lights of the cameras forming a sea.
Tony wore a dark gray custom suit. The bruise on the corner of his left eye was covered with foundation, but when the lights hit it, the purplish-blue outline could still be seen.
His right hand was in his trouser pocket, and his left hand held a white card. The card was given to him by Coulsonten minutes ago.
In the third row, Coulson sat straight, his suit impeccable, with Colonel Rhodes sitting beside him, his Militaryuniform crisp. Both of their gazes were fixed on Tony.
Tony swept a glance at the heads below.
The front row was filled with ace reporters from major news agencies and TV stations, mixed in the middle were a few Military industry analysts he recognized, and the last two rows were seated with some strangers with overly upright postures—people from S.H.I.E.L.D.
He looked down at the card in his hand. There were only three lines of text on it.
"The robot that appeared in Los Angeles last night was an experimental security device from Stark Industries. I was personally on my private yacht in the Pacific Ocean at the time and had no knowledge of the incident. Iron Man is my bodyguard, real name cannot be disclosed..."
The script was watertight. As long as he read it, S.H.I.E.L.D.would handle everything else. Chain of evidence, witness testimony, surveillance records—the whole set. Simple, safe, boring.
Tony flipped the card over and back again. The female reporter below couldn't wait any longer.
"Mr. Stark! Regarding Iron Man, who fought on the streets of Manhattan last night, some witnesses claim that you were the one inside the armor!"
"Mr. Stark! What exactly happened between you and Obadiah Stane? Is this an internal power struggle at Stark Industries?"
"Please respond! Homelander's popularity on social media has far exceeded Stark Industries. What are your thoughts on this?"
Tony's thumb stopped at the edge of the card. Homelander. That bastard, dressed like the Star-Spangled Boy, whose white teeth were straighter than a GQ model's when he smiled.
When he stood in front of the camera last night and said, "You are the real heroes," the crowd below went crazy. Completely crazy, and now he was a little crazy too.
Coulson coughed twice, not loudly, but the signal was clear: read the card, read it now.
Rhodes also shook his head slightly at Tony, the meaning clear: Tony, don't be stupid.
However, as a billionaire, playboy, someone who enjoyed the spotlight and was arrogant, Tony didn't even hesitate.
"Everything you said is correct."
Tony looked up and scanned the room.
"Whatever experimental security device, whatever bodyguard, it's all nonsense."
Coulson's right hand had already reached into his inner suit pocket, and Rhodes half-stood up, only to be pushed back down by the officer next to him.
"The fact is—"
Tony pulled the microphone two centimeters closer.
"I am Iron Man."
The whole place exploded. Hundreds of reporters stood up simultaneously, chairs toppled over, flashes were so dense they created continuous exposure, the entire press hall was blindingly bright.
"Mr. Stark! Are you saying you personally wore that armor to fight?"
"Did you start building the armor while you were captured in Afghanistan?"
"How do you respond to the Military's questioning of private armed forces?"
"Homelander saved your life last night, do you admit it?"
Questions piled upon questions, waves of sound drowning each other out.
Coulson slowly sat back, pulled his hand out from his suit, and said into his communicator: "Director, Tony has admitted it."
...
Meanwhile, Li Zuguo also saw the headlines. He was not surprised at all by the news of Tony revealing himself as Iron Man; it would have been problematic if he hadn't revealed his identity.
Li Zuguo was still a hot topic chased by the media, but being diverted was certain, which could be seen from the slowing growth of popularity points in the system.
Not to mention that Tony had the massive entity of Stark Industries behind him; he only needed to announce his identity, and the various departments below him would create hype for him.
Another point: mecha is a man's romance, and it is also sustainably manufacturable.
This gave everyone a fantasy that in the future, perhaps everyone could become Iron Man, flying through the sky and burrowing into the earth.
But becoming Homelander is impossible.
Thinking of this, Li Zuguo almost forgot that he still had to go to Pacific Pictures today.
Let some people who can't recognize reality know what the fuck Homelander means!
Chapter 5: Thinking I'm Superman? I am Homelander!
Pacific Pictures Group Headquarters.
The floor-to-ceiling windows of the conference room faced the Los Angeles skyline, and the afternoon sun made the entire oak conference table glisten.
Nine people sat in twelve chairs, with three left empty.
James Edgar stood in front of the projection screen, the red dot of his laser pointer resting on a line of text.
"Vought International."
"Everyone, this is our soon-to-be-established wholly-owned subsidiary." He pushed the folder to the center of the table.
"Independent operation, independent accounting, focused on the full-chain development of superhero IP."
There was silence for three seconds.
Harold Mitchell, sixty-two, one of the co-founders of Pacific Pictures, spoke first from the second chair on the left.
"James, are you crazy?"
"We are a film group, not a circus. You want to take real money to support a guy who flies around in spandex?"
"This is not a circus, Harold." James said, "This is a commercial entity with an estimated annual revenue exceeding three billion U.S. dollars."
"Estimated."
Linda Warren, forty-seven, the group's head of legal and risk control, chimed in from the end of the long table.
"It's all estimates with no historical data to back it up. How long has this Homelander even been in the public eye, and you want to set up a separate company for him? James, you haven't even finished the due diligence."
"And there are compliance issues." Harold continued, "How do we define the legal framework for an individual with superpowers? Who is responsible if he hurts someone? How do we handle insurance?"
James didn't answer immediately; he turned off the laser pointer and scanned the people present.
Nine people.
Four clearly in favor, three opposed, two abstaining.
Three votes against were enough to ruin the whole thing; the company bylaws were clear: the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary required a two-thirds majority.
"Everyone!"
The conference room door was pulled open from the outside with one hand.
Li Zuguo walked in, his Stars and Stripes cape trailing an arc behind him.
Nine pairs of eyes turned simultaneously.
Some had seen him on TV, but no one had seen him in person.
The Homelander on the screen was a symbol, a flag that could be turned off with a remote control.
The one in front of them was different.
Everyone present was experienced.
Harold had dined with Pentagon generals, and Linda had won antitrust cases in federal Court, but no one had ever sat at the same table as a guy who could burn through steel plates with his eyes.
Li Zuguo didn't sit down. He stood at one end of the long table, less than four steps away from Harold, wearing a standard smile—a perfect curve, perfect charisma.
"Everyone, I am Homelander. James mentioned to me that the board still has some... concerns about the establishment of Vought International."
"So I wanted to come and chat with you all in person."
Harold leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
Decades of experience told him that any occasion where the person involved had to come and "chat" in person was essentially pressure.
"Mr. Homelander, I personally admire your abilities very much, but admiration is one thing, and business is another. Pacific Pictures is not a charity; every investment we make..."
"Return on investment." Li Zuguo finished for him.
"Of course, that's reasonable, but Mr. Harold, have you ever thought about a question?"
"What question?"
"Tony Stark revealed his identity as Iron Man this afternoon. In three hours, Stark Industries stock rose by twelve percent, his social media following grew by twenty-three million, and Fox, CNN, and BBC are lining up for exclusive interviews."
"A mortal. A suit of iron, worth that price."
Li Zuguo tilted his head.
"Then what about me? I can fly, I can stop missiles, and last night on national television, I ripped apart a rogue Iron Mansuit with my bare hands. What do you think I'm worth?"
Linda moved her lips but ultimately didn't speak.
Harold wasn't convinced; he had been in this business too long and had heard too many pretty stories.
"The numbers are impressive, but Stark comes from a background as an arms dealer, and his business empire has tangible support. What about you? An IP? IPs can go out of style, Mr. Homelander. Three months ago, no one had heard your name, and three months from now, perhaps..."
Harold fell silent because Li Zuguo stopped smiling.
A second ago, he was the superhero welcomed by North America—gentle, kind, reassuring.
The next second, he was looking at Harold with a blank expression.
Li Zuguo's patience had limits. Did they really take him for Superman?
I am Homelander!
The entire conference room was terrifyingly quiet.
In a daze, Harold seemed to see Homelander's eyes glowing red, and the scene of himself being shot through in the next second.
He froze in his chair, a layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, and his body made a judgment before his brain could react: he raised his hand.
"Um, Mr. Li Zuguo, I think you've convinced me... I agree to the proposal."
The rest of the board members raised their hands one after another to agree to the proposal.
Li Zuguo blinked, and his smile returned, with the exact same curve.
It would have been better if it had been like this from the start, these damn capitalists.
"Where was I?"
These words were spoken lightly, making everyone's scalp tingle, except for James, who had been a fan of Li Zuguofrom the beginning.
Li Zuguo sat in a chair and started painting a big picture for them.
"Oh right, my value. Everyone, I'm not good at making PPTs, data analysis, or market forecasting; James is better at that than I am. But there is one thing I can guarantee: after Vought International is established, every penny you invest will have a return."
"Not because I can fly. Not because I'm invulnerable... but because this country needs me."
After speaking, he smiled again, this time even more brightly than any previous time.
Harold wiped his forehead; he was sitting right under the air conditioning, so he shouldn't have been sweating.
Soon, it was passed unanimously.
James Edgar was the first to sign.
"Vought International is now officially in the preparation process. Mr. Homelander, regarding the choice of CEO..."
"You do it."
James was stunned for half a second, then overjoyed; it was worth the risk of being fired to have voted first.
Li Zuguo had already walked to the door.
"I need someone who knows the business to handle the front-end for me. You are in charge of Vought's affairs."
Li Zuguo had countless ways to leave, but this time he chose the simplest one.
Taking the elevator like the company's employees. And when the employees in the company saw Homelander in his uniform and cape waiting for the elevator with them, they also had expressions of disbelief.
A female employee was the first to speak, unable to help herself.
"Um, sir, excuse me, are you Homelander?"
Homelander opened his arms and smiled.
"I'm... ma'am, obviously."
"Mr. Homelander, your glutes seem better than Captain America's, can I..."
Meanwhile on social media.
The promotion for Iron Man was overwhelming, and Stark Industries' stock rose in a straight line.
At the same time that afternoon.
After Li Zuguo's logical and well-founded negotiation,
Pacific Pictures passed and registered Vought with astonishing efficiency. In just one day, Vought went from an empty shell to a large, tangible company located in Manhattan.
The promotion across online media and social media, and the internet army, were all in place in one step.
"Homelander joins Vought International."
The topic topped the trending searches on every platform less than ten minutes after it was posted.
An unknown company, with the support of Homelander, emerged out of nowhere.
Chapter 6: Marvel · Vought International, Automatically Smiling for the Camera
On Twitter.
Taiwan Novel Website has a large collection, super convenient.
"Official announcement! Homelander has officially joined Vought International!"
Social media reposts broke one hundred thousand within twenty minutes, and the comment section was filled with nothing but question marks.
"What kind of company is Vought International?"
"I looked it up, the business registration date is... today??"
"This isn't a scam, is it?"
However, before the wave of skepticism could even ignite, Pacific Pictures had already started pushing content out on behalf of Vought.
Brand image videos, interview teasers, partnership announcements—one after another, the pace was rapid.
...
The headquarters office of Vought International.
Located in a central office building in Midtown Manhattan, it wasn't just a few floors, but the entire building.
James is the CEO of Vought International, in his early forties, wearing a tailored suit, his hair combed perfectly, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, surveying the streets below.
He was smart enough to know who the real boss of Vought was, so the most important thing now was to let Homelander see his efficiency and capability.
That was why, on his first day at Vought, James made a decision.
The assistant walked in quietly.
"How many resumes have we received?"
"For the position of Homelander's personal secretary, as of just now, four hundred and seventy-two."
James didn't turn around.
"Send them all to me; I want to personally vet them."
The assistant handed over the pre-screened list. Jamestook the list and began flipping through the resumes, moving very quickly; most were swiped away in three seconds.
Appearance, figure, and education were placed first.
James needed a professional secretary who could soothe Homelander when he was angry.
In the eyes of Hollywood giants, beauty and unspoken rules were the most normal things in the world.
He locked onto two resumes he was somewhat satisfied with.
The first one.
Name: Natasha Romanoff.
Her work history was clean, six languages were listed in the language column, and the remarks section read, "Proficient in corporate information management and high-end business reception."
In the attached photo was a rare beauty, red lips curled lazily, a dark gray pencil skirt wrapping around perfectly proportioned curves, white shirt with two buttons undone—not too much, not too little, just enough to make people want to take another look.
The second one.
Name: Raven, just graduated from New York University, formerly worked as a model, her appearance and figure were also top-tier.
There was a sentence at the end of the resume: Homelander's super fan?
James picked up the phone on the desk and dialed the assistant.
"Schedule these two people for an interview tomorrow at nine in the morning."
When Natasha received the interview notification, she was in the car. The message was in a standard format, sent by Vought International HR, with time, location, and dress code requirements—nothing missing.
She placed her phone facedown on her lap. Outside the car window was the evening traffic of Manhattan. She had already memorized the briefing for this mission.
Originally, her infiltration mission was to approach Iron Man Tony of Stark Industries.
Due to Homelander's performance during this period, Director Nick Fury's attention toward him had risen exponentially.
This Homelander, who could tear through steel and was suspected to be a Superman or a Mutant, was the true threat to the U.S.
Nick Fury urgently wanted to control information and weaknesses regarding Homelander, so he sent no fewer than ten S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents to infiltrate Vought.
Natasha flipped the phone over; the screen showed the Vought official homepage, and the background image was that promotional photo of Li Zuguo.
This blond young man smiled very handsomely, smiling equally at every stranger who clicked onto this page.
Natasha stared at that photo, going through the contact path in her mind. She was going in as a secretary; the person she would be directly dealing with was Homelander... it was a bit threatening.
As for James, he was just a capitalist; she had never cared about him.
...
Eight o'clock.
Vought headquarters.
The interview was scheduled in a small conference room on the twenty-second floor of Vought headquarters.
Natasha arrived eight minutes early, but when she entered, James was already sitting inside.
There was another woman inside. Her appearance and figure looked perfect; she was undoubtedly her competitor.
Mystique's originally relaxed mindset also became vigilant; this woman's appearance could actually compare to the one she had carefully chosen.
Natasha sat down opposite, her back straight, hands folded on the table, her attitude very upright.
James held the resume and asked as usual.
"Six languages, to what extent can you handle them?"
"Business negotiation level."
"Why did you choose a company that was founded only two months ago?"
Natasha answered directly in Russian.
"Because a new company has more room for growth, and who wouldn't want to work with a superhero? At least I want to try."
Just at this moment, the elevator door at the end of the corridor opened.
Li Zuguo walked out wearing his uniform, followed by a management team. One person was holding a venue confirmation form, head down, talking to the person beside them.
Natasha quickly sized up Li Zuguo, and a question surfaced in her mind: Does this Mr. Superman wear his uniform everywhere?
While Natasha was thinking, Raven had already stood up and ran over "excitedly."
This seemed a bit abnormal to Natasha, but she also felt that fans were creatures that couldn't be viewed with common sense.
At this moment, Li Zuguo was discussing the upcoming press conference with Vought's Agents.
Previously, his traffic and fans were all organic, lacking cohesion.
At first, saving people might get media coverage and crowds taking photos, but once it happened too often, he was no different from a firefighter.
In other words, people got used to it.
Not to mention that some media and online outlets had people behind them intentionally distorting facts to consume dark traffic.
What Vought's management team needed to do was bring their own camera crew, filming in high definition to ensure that every time Li Zuguo saved someone, it was captured.
And every time he saved someone or defeated an enemy, the pose had to be the coolest, most graceful, and photogenic.
Finally, invest in publicity and create buzz.
Establishing the company and even Homelander's personal accounts would increase the fans' cohesion and sense of honor!
This was the current optimal plan.
At this time, Raven had already rushed over "excitedly," and several security guards hadn't been able to stop her.
"Li Zuguo, I'm your fan. Could you please give me an autograph?"
Li Zuguo was about to get angry at being interrupted, but seeing the woman take out her phone and turn on the camera, he subconsciously smiled again.
Fuck!
"Of course, no problem, beautiful lady. It's my honor."
James breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this; from yesterday's negotiation, he knew the man before him wasn't as easy to talk to as he appeared.
He hurriedly ran over and apologized.
"Sorry, sir. She came to apply for the position of your secretary and is also your super fan, so I wasn't able to stop her..."
"It's okay, James."
Li Zuguo signaled that it was fine and incidentally signed an autograph for the female fan in front of him.
Natasha observed: Although James was the CEO, the one truly in charge was Li Zuguo.
James quickly introduced Raven's resume to Li Zuguo, as well as Natasha, who had followed behind.
Which one to choose as the personal secretary and assistant would be decided by Li Zuguo himself.
Li Zuguo felt the name Raven sounded a bit familiar, but the face wasn't, but he definitely recognized the one behind.
Black Widow infiltrating Vought International?
Chapter 7: Observation Conclusion: Homelander is strong, but he craves love.
Vought Tower executive office.
Li Zuguo sat on the sofa, Raven and Natasha sat opposite him, while James stood awkwardly to the side.
To be precise, James had set a challenge.
A challenge regarding a public relations crisis, which the two interviewees were to answer.
Obviously, Natasha's ruthless answer better aligned with the company's interests, while Raven, the fresh college graduate, fell short.
Li Zuguo also understood why Black Widow wanted to infiltrate Vought; clearly, in the eyes of that Motherf*cker, he was more dangerous and uncontrollable than Tony.
However, he didn't care. He currently only valued an employee's capability. He would use them for now and replace them when someone suitable came along.
"Mr. Homelander, which lady do you think is more suitable for the secretary position?"
Li Zuguo raised his index finger and shook it.
"No, no, no, James. I don't have to choose, and Vought isn't short on funds."
James, an old fox, immediately understood that Homelander had taken a liking to both, and he instantly put on a smiling face.
"Of course, Mr. Homelander is right. Congratulations to you both. Your professional skills are excellent. From now on, you are members of Vought. I will have an assistant take you to get your badges in a moment."
That wasn't actually what Li Zuguo meant, but he couldn't be bothered to explain.
...
The next day at noon.
The Vought Tower press room was packed.
There were even fifty-five extra people standing in the aisles, with cameras and microphones set up like a missile launch array.
CNN sent two teams, and FOX sent three.
A front-page reporter from the New York Times sat in the first row, the title bar flashing with a cursor.
In the center of the stage, a red Vought logo hung on the backdrop.
The lights in the room dimmed for three seconds.
A beam of white light shone vertically down from the center of the ceiling.
Li Zuguo slowly descended from the beam of light to the podium. He was wearing that custom deep blue cape uniform, and the star-spangled eagle emblem on his chest shone blindingly under the spotlight.
Without giving the reporters any time, Li Zuguo began speaking directly.
"I know you didn't come here today to listen to a guy in a cape talk nonsense, so I plan to save everyone some time."
"As of today, I have officially joined Vought International."
The sound of shutters exploded.
Li Zuguo didn't even blink, staring at the camera flashes as he continued.
"But that's not the point. The point is for every criminal on the streets of New York who is currently planning a home invasion, armed assault, kidnapping, or extortion!"
He tilted his head slightly and softened his smile toward the camera.
"Your good days of doing evil end here."
Someone in the press room gasped.
Applause and shutter sounds filled the room, with more momentum than Stark Industries had a few days ago.
Natasha stood behind the side curtain, holding the Vought badge she had just received. In her view, Homelander was more like a showman.
Just like when he saved people before, he would pose for photos without any hesitation.
Raven stood beside her, clutching her folder to her chest, her eyes full of envy.
Since the death of her beloved Destiny, her emotions rarely fluctuated this much.
Homelander was shining—that kind of righteous, unhidden light that placed himself before the whole World.
He had Super Strength, so he stood on stage and said, "I am the strongest."
He could fly, so he flew for everyone to see. He had Heat Vision, so he...
Raven pursed her lips. Mutants couldn't be like this; they had to hide, shrink away, operate in the night, breathe in the shadows like rats in a sewer, and lock their true selves under their skin, never to see the light of day.
This was the first lesson she had been taught since she was born.
Mystique envied that Homelander could stand on stage, with the World's cameras pointed at him, packaging, displaying, and selling his abilities, and then having everyone love him.
Applause, cheers, worship.
Why couldn't other Mutants be like that?
"Homelander is just immature, and many people are already eyeing him."
Raven's body stiffened. Charles.
She subconsciously glanced at Natasha beside her. The other woman was staring at the stage, flipping the badge between her fingers, completely unaware of the abnormality on her side.
"Don't be nervous, Raven. I'm only speaking to you."
The stream of consciousness in her mind was calm; the voice of Charles Xavier echoed in Mystique's mind.
Raven replied in her heart: "Are you spying on me?"
Charles: "I am spying on him."
Raven questioned.
"What do you mean?"
"I locked onto him a few weeks ago. I spent a lot of time trying to communicate with him, but it was like he was wearing a magnetic helmet; there was absolutely no response."
There was a trace of rare confusion in Charles's mental fluctuation.
"His ability spectrum is extremely broad: flight, strength, heat projection, enhanced senses, shock-resistant force fields... Any one of these alone would be enough to classify him as a Level 4 Mutant. All of them combined are comparable to an Omega, and he's an all-rounder who is exceptionally stable."
Raven's back pressed against the cold metal frame of the side curtain. Omega level?
In the entire X-Mansion archive, there were fewer than five names labeled as Omega: Phoenix, Magneto, Storm, Iceman, and Charles himself.
"But that's not the problem," Charles continued. "The problem is that he doesn't know."
"Doesn't know what?"
"Doesn't know that he is a Mutant, doesn't know about the X-gene, doesn't know that there is a group of people in this World just like him, and doesn't know that this group is being hunted, registered, and locked in glass prisons while the government decides if they still count as human."
Charles stated.
"He thinks he is Superman—a unique, heaven-sent, fate-chosen Superman. He saves people, accepts cheers, enjoys the cameras. He doesn't feel he needs to hide because he never thinks he is the same kind as anyone else."
Raven didn't answer. She asked curiously.
"Is it possible that he really is Superman?"
"Raven, he is colorful. I can be certain he is our kind." Charles's stream of consciousness slowed down.
"His mind is not mature. He craves to be loved, craves to be needed, craves to stand in the middle of the crowd and be the only one looked up to. This desire has already been exploited by Vought International. If he is exploited by other forces..."
An immature Omega-level Mutant being pushed in the wrong direction by the wrong people—Raven was too familiar with this picture.
She had seen it in Eric.
"So you want me to get close to him?"
Charles: "I want you to understand him. At the right opportunity, tell him that only Mutants can give him love, that we are his own kind. Bring him back to the school, Raven, before anyone else figures him out."
"Who is 'anyone else'?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D., the Military, and... some organizations whose names I haven't read yet. He is too dazzling, Raven. Things that are too dazzling are either treated as lighthouses or targets."
"Among all Mutants, Raven, you are the most suitable for this mission..."
"No, we are just in a cooperative relationship. I don't have that obligation, fuck."
The connection was broken. Raven couldn't help but want to curse, but seeing the change in Li Zuguo's eyes, Charles's words gave her great inspiration.
Homelander was strong, but he craved love.
Natasha turned her head at this moment and glanced at her.
"You don't look right."
Raven forced a smile.
"The air conditioning is too cold."
Natasha didn't say anything more, and her gaze returned to the stage.
At this point, the press conference had finished.
One could imagine that tomorrow, or perhaps by this afternoon, public opinion would explode.
Chapter 8: Mutant? No, no, no, it's Superhuman!
North America ushered in a new era.
An era called Superheroes.
Homelander and Iron Man had truly stepped into the limelight for the first time, exposed to the public eye as household-name superheroes.
With massive publicity, their fame skyrocketed; even Captain America Steve paled in comparison to them. People are always fond of the new and tired of the old.
...
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Fury slammed the remote onto the table.
The circular screen in the conference room was looping news clips from the past seventy-two hours.
On the left, Homelander was hovering over a California wildfire, using his Heat Vision to cut a firebreak. The firelight illuminated his cape, and the firefighters on the scene applauded in unison.
On the right, Homelander was taking photos with fans in Times Square, with the line stretching for three blocks.
"Who can tell me," Fury's single eye swept from the left side of the screen to the right, "is this a disaster relief scene or a fucking Grammy red carpet?"
No one answered.
Hill stood at the end of the long table, her tablet lit up as she flipped through a page of data.
"Over the past week, Homelander's social media engagement has surpassed Iron Man's by fourteen percent and Captain America's by thirty-seven percent. Vought International's stock price has risen eleven points."
Fury didn't look at her.
"I wasn't asking about the stock."
"I know you weren't," Hill finally looked up. "But for every point Vought International's market value rises, we lose a bit of leverage."
"They have already rejected our third cooperation proposal."
The wording was very polite: "Homelander's schedule is centrally arranged by the group; we are not accepting coordination suggestions from external agencies at this time."
On the screen, that wildfire rescue clip looped again. After cutting the firebreak, Homelander didn't leave; instead, he landed next to a fire truck and patted the shoulder of a fire Captain whose face was covered in soot.
The fire Captain froze for a second, then smiled.
The camera happened to capture this moment.
Fury's expression was grim. Every time he went out, there were cameras; every time, there was a "coincidental" touching moment; and every time, it was broadcast during prime time.
This wasn't a hero saving people; this was a reality show actor clocking in for work.
"Is Natasha in position?"
Hill nodded.
"She has entered as a new employee in Vought International's PR department. She has initially gained Homelander's trust and is currently his assistant."
"Tell her to keep a close watch." Fury turned around to face the screen. "I want weaknesses, whether physical or psychological. What does this guy fear, what does he want, and when will he lose control?"
Hill asked curiously.
"Do you think he will lose control?"
Fury picked up the remote on the table and pressed pause.
"He will definitely lose control!"
The image froze on Homelander's face—perfect smile, perfect angle, perfect lighting.
...
Stark Tower, top floor.
The same news clip was playing on another screen.
Tony Stark was sprawled on the sofa, holding a glass of whiskey with ice. On the screen, Homelander's face was half-blocked by Tony's feet, with his slippers propped on the edge of the coffee table, precisely covering that blond head.
"Look at this face, always ready to be loved. A classic love-starved personality. A long-term lack of stable emotional attachment objects during growth, filling self-identity through external positive feedback."
"Tony."
Steve Rogers stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, arms crossed over his chest.
"I'm not here to listen to your psychological profiling."
"Then what are you here for? To watch his variety show debut with me?" Tony pointed at the screen with the remote. "You have to admit, this guy's camera presence is better than yours. At least he knows which way his cape should flutter."
Steve didn't take the bait.
"This method is wrong. A hero shouldn't be like this, turning saving people into a PR event, performing in front of the camera, treating every disaster as material to boost exposure."
Tony retracted his feet from the coffee table and sat up a bit straighter.
"Oh? Captain Popsicle wants to give me a moral lesson?" Tony stood up from the sofa, walked around the coffee table, and approached the screen.
"Let me help you recall: 1943, the War Bond tour. You were wearing that Stars and Stripes spandex suit, performing on stages in 127 cities across the country, pretending to fight Hitler. You gave a thumbs up to the American housewives in the audience, they screamed, you smiled, and the government counted the money in the back."
Steve's jaw tightened.
"That's not the same."
"How is it different?" Tony tossed the remote onto the coffee table.
"Because you actually went to fight Hitler afterward? So that performance in the beginning doesn't count as a performance?"
"The difference is," Steve's voice lowered, "I proved later that that wasn't all there was to it."
"Right." Tony walked back to the sofa, sat down again, and picked up his glass.
"So the question is."
He pointed the rim of his glass at the frozen, blond smiling face on the screen.
"Will this sweetheart have an 'afterward'?"
...
Vought Tower, top floor.
Inside Li Zuguo's exclusive floor-to-ceiling window penthouse office.
Li Zuguo was sitting on the sofa, while Raven was on the side reporting the data from these past few days, as well as the olive branches extended from various circles.
These included S.H.I.E.L.D., the Military, the CIA, and Mutants...
Li Zuguo opened his eyes. He knew that at this point in time, the Military had been trying to restart the Super Soldier program, and scientist Bruce Banner had mutated into Hulk after a failed gamma ray experiment.
However, in a few days, Li Zuguo's popularity points would be enough to evolve from Super Durability to Steel Body.
Even Hulk wouldn't be able to kill him.
The Military contacting him was nothing more than wanting to study and utilize him.
As for S.H.I.E.L.D. and the United States government, there was no need to engage with them for now; he wouldn't become some Avenger.
However, he was quite willing to engage with Mutants, as they could be recognized by the system as superheroes and provide superhero popularity points.
After all, the Superhero sub-system was still empty.
The arrogant Tony and Steve were obviously not going to join The Seven; in this case, Mutants were very suitable.
When the time came, Li Zuguo would give them a new name: "Superhuman."
"Why are the Mutants contacting me?"
Raven spoke according to what Charles had said, and she thought so too.
"They think that you, Mr. Li Zuguo, are also one of the Mutants, and they believe your situation is dangerous."
Li Zuguo was amused.
"I am not a Mutant. The name 'Mutant' is too ugly; I call them 'Superhuman'!"
"Superhuman?"
Raven heard this term for the first time.
Li Zuguo said pleasantly.
"Superhumans are born to stand in the spotlight like me, become the center of the World, and shoulder the responsibility and mission of saving and leading humanity toward a bright future."
For those few superhero popularity points, Li Zuguo could be considered to have gone to great lengths.
[Superhero Popularity Points +10000 (from Mystique)]
A question mark slowly appeared in Li Zuguo's mind.
What?
Chapter 9: That Cute Lizard Monster Is Mine!
Mystique?
Although the name sounded familiar, Li Zuguo really hadn't considered her as Mystique; after all, according to the timeline, Mystique should have already joined the Brotherhood by now.
And now she had actually joined Vought International to apply for the position of his secretary...
Li Zuguo had to use his Super Intelligence to think this through.
It seemed necessary for him to recruit a few loyal talents.
Otherwise, if the entire Vought International was filled with traitors and he was fighting alone, how would that be any different from him infiltrating Vought by himself?
Although he didn't care, he didn't like that feeling either.
If it weren't for the fact that Mystique provided 10,000 Super Hero Points as protection money, Li Zuguo would have shown her exactly what a real Homelander was like right now.
Raven asked with some disbelief.
"Mr. Homelander, do you really think so? You must know that every country considers Mutants to be the source of chaos..."
Li Zuguo smiled.
"Of course, but sweetheart, let me correct you once more: they are called Superhumans. You should have already heard about the plan for The Seven."
[Super Hero Popularity +1000 (Mystique)]
Li Zuguo loved this feeling; he might just know how to win over the hearts of Mutants now.
"Yes, sir, I have heard about it from James."
In Raven's eyes, Li Zuguo was glowing. The hair on her skin stood up, and she almost wanted to confess her identity as a Mutant... no, as a Superhuman.
But she held back. She absolutely could not tell Li Zuguonow; that would be a betrayal.
She needed to find a suitable opportunity to confess.
Her long-standing vigilance suppressed the palpitations in her heart; she had to perform meritorious service first.
Moreover, in her heart, she ultimately didn't believe that humans would accept a blue-skinned heroine...
Li Zuguo still wanted to say something to see if he could squeeze out a bit more Super Hero Points, but Natashawalked in with a report.
On it were the schedules for Homelander's comics, merchandise, movies, and tomorrow's hot topics in the city center.
It had to be said that although Natasha was a double agent, she was indeed smart, and Li Zuguo found her very easy to use.
In this regard, Mystique, Raven, couldn't compare.
However, Mystique's shapeshifting ability was more useful to Li Zuguo; he had to find an opportunity to make her show her cards voluntarily.
After confirming the schedule for tomorrow, Li Zuguodismissed the two and remained in the office alone to pull up the system panel.
[Character: Li Zuguo]
[Title: Li Zuguo]
[Abilities: Super Strength, Super Flight, Heat Vision, Super Hearing, X-Ray Vision, Super Durability, Super Intelligence (Positioning can only cover himself)]
[Popularity: 1,035,898]
[Super Hero Popularity: 30,000]
[Fans: 568,989]
[Popularity Level: Blue Star · North America · Household Name]
There were still too few true fans. As for that million in popularity, Homelander didn't hesitate at all and used it all to strengthen his Super Durability.
His popularity points instantly dropped to just a fraction.
A surge of power gushed out from the depths of his body. It was neither hot nor painful, and the whole process lasted about five or six seconds before quietly receding like a receding tide.
Li Zuguo hadn't even started to enjoy it before it ended.
However, the improvement was significant. The original Li Zuguo's Super Durability still had weaknesses.
Queen Maeve had caused damage to Li Zuguo's ears with just a sharp sword and strength.
But now, Li Zuguo could let her attack; even vulnerable parts like his ears, or even rinsing his mouth with an AK, would be effortless.
This was true, all-encompassing Super Durability.
...
Fifth Avenue, Manhattan.
Three black SUVs blocked the middle of the road, trapping an armored truck from Wells Fargo dead in its tracks.
"Hurry! Hurry the fuck up!"
The man wearing a Joker mask swung an iron hammer at the back door of the armored truck. On the third strike, the lock deformed; on the fifth, the entire door was ripped open.
The two guards inside the truck were curled up in the corner, their guns having already been confiscated by a second robber through the window.
New Yorkers were well-traveled and experienced, but robbing an armored truck on Fifth Avenue in broad daylight was a first.
The robber had already pried open the cash safe.
Bundles of hundred-dollar bills were stacked neatly. Just as he reached out to take the first stack:
"I suggest you put the box down."
The voice came from directly above, and everyone looked up at the same time.
A person was hovering in the air, about fifteen meters off the ground.
His red and blue uniform remained motionless in the airflow, and the Stars and Stripes cape spread out behind him. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his posture relaxed.
Li Zuguo, or as the media more familiarly called him, Li Zuguo.
The robber who was directing traffic with an AR-15 reacted the fastest, raising his muzzle and pulling the trigger.
Seven consecutive shots.
Li Zuguo ignored the bullets. Two beams of red light shot from his eyes, instantly melting the barrel of the AR-15. A second Heat Vision followed, sweeping across the belt buckles of the three robbers.
Three belts snapped at once, and three pairs of pants slid down simultaneously.
After a brief silence, the onlookers on Fifth Avenue burst into laughter.
The robbers turned pale and pulled up their pants, crouching on the ground, not daring to move. The one directing traffic had it even worse; he was wearing boxer shorts with Minions printed on them.
NYPD sirens approached from afar.
But the first to arrive at the scene was not a police car.
A van with the Vought logo screeched to a halt at the intersection. The door slid open, a female reporter jumped out, followed by a burly man carrying a camera.
Li Zuguo was about to leave, but seeing this, he slowly descended.
"Homelander! Homelander!" The reporter trotted over, excitedly saying: "Can you give us a few minutes? All of North America is watching!"
Li Zuguo turned, faced the camera, and flashed a standard smile revealing eight teeth.
"Of course, sweetheart. Serving the people is my greatest joy."
The female reporter smiled and handed over the microphone.
"Can you describe the situation just now?"
Li Zuguo tilted his head, making a thoughtful expression. He had practiced the duration of this pause—1.5 seconds, not too long, not too short—enough to make the audience think he was seriously recalling, without appearing dull.
"Alright, sweetheart, it's quite simple. I was... uh, patrolling."
He wasn't patrolling; he was eating lasagna on the roof of an Italian restaurant on Seventh Avenue, but that wasn't important.
"Then I heard the gunshots. You know my ears."
Li Zuguo pointed to his ears, "They work better than your satellites. So I flew over to take a look, and three gentlemen were attempting an 'early withdrawal'."
The surrounding crowd roared with laughter.
The female reporter followed up: "We noticed you used your eyes to cut the robbers' belts? Is this some kind of new enforcement strategy?"
Li Zuguo lowered his head and chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly. He had also practiced the amplitude of this laugh.
"Look, I could have thrown them into the Hudson River, or I could have smashed them into the asphalt, but it's such a beautiful day, and there are so many tourists on Fifth Avenue... I think making everyone laugh is much better than giving everyone nightmares."
"Besides, you have to admit, Minion underwear is quite cute."
Laughter erupted from the cameraman behind the lens and the onlookers.
Li Zuguo wanted to say something else, but Raven's voice came through the small earpiece in his cochlea: a lizard monster had appeared at Midtown High School in Queens.
This was good news, and also a hot topic.
So Li Zuguo immediately adjusted his plan.
"Alright, the interview is over. I seem to have heard someone calling for help at Midtown High School in Queens again. See you next time, everyone!"
After finishing his sentence, Li Zuguo struck that iconic pose and shot into the sky, rushing to Queens at full speed.
That cute lizard monster was his!
Chapter 10: The Friendly Neighborhood Homelander
New York · Queens
Midtown School of Science and Technology · Restroom.
A creature over two meters tall, covered in deep green scales with a darker ridge along its back and horizontal stripes on its belly, its snout protruding and filled with sharp teeth—The Lizard—burst directly out of the restroom.
It felt an endless surge of power welling up inside its body, with nowhere to release it.
At the same time, accompanied by chaotic memories in its mind—Vought, research, Compound V, the unauthorized fusion of lizard genes...
But its sanity was gradually being swallowed by this power, and it was drawn to the fleeing humans.
The faucet in the restroom was still running.
Peter Parker was crouching in the innermost stall, changing his suit, but the next second, the door of the adjacent stall flew off its hinges.
The entire door panel was ripped off from the inside and slammed into the tiled wall opposite, breaking two tiles.
Before the dust even settled, that thing was already standing in the middle of the restroom, head lowered, nostrils flaring as it sniffed for something.
The men's restroom was very small.
Two rows of stalls, four sinks, and a mirror. Peter saw himself in the shattered mirror, his mask pulled only halfway up, his chin still exposed.
He yanked it all the way down.
"Hey."
The Lizard turned its head, its slit pupils locking onto him.
Peter sprang directly out of the stall, stepped onto the edge of the sink, vaulted over The Lizard's head, and shot a web from his right hand, plastering it over those slit pupils.
The Lizard raised a claw to rip it off.
Peter landed on its back and slammed his left fist into the scales on its lower back.
The Lizard angrily tore the webbing from its face, its two-meter-long body turning within the four-meter-wide restroom. Its tail whipped across, smashing an entire row of sinks; porcelain shards flew, pipes burst, and jets of water sprayed up to the ceiling.
Peter dodged by pressing against the ceiling, but The Lizard's claws followed, five hooked talons piercing the ceiling just ten centimeters from his head, ripping out a chunk of plasterboard and steel rebar.
Peter let go, landed, rolled backward twice, and his back hit the restroom door, sending the door panel swinging outward.
He scrambled into the hallway.
There were people in the hallway—three boys standing by the water cooler, holding soda cans. They watched as a person in a red and blue spandex suit rolled out of the men's restroom, followed by a two-meter-tall green lizard.
The soda cans dropped.
"What the f*ck!"
"Run!"
There was no need to shout a second time; the three of them turned and bolted.
The Lizard smashed through a section of the wall on the side, leaving bricks and dust scattered everywhere.
The hallway was longer than the restroom.
Peter shot a web onto the ceiling's fire pipe and swung over its head. The Lizard jumped up, its claws grazing his lower leg. The outer layer of his suit was torn, though his skin wasn't hurt, but the force knocked his trajectory off course.
He crashed into the emergency exit at the end of the hallway.
Peter tumbled outside along with the door. A flash of confusion crossed his mind: why had his Spider-Sense failed... or was it that the monster's speed had suddenly increased?
On campus.
The Lizard followed, crawling out through the hole in the emergency door. It stood on the steps, facing the direction of the playground, feeling a surge of irritation in its heart.
The next second, these thoughts were swallowed by rage.
The Lizard let out a long roar toward the sky.
The sound waves bounced back from the school building's corridor, and everyone on the playground froze.
One second of absolute silence, then screams erupted from all directions.
Hundreds of students began to scatter and flee.
The Lizard jumped down from the steps, landing on the rubber track and creating two craters, then charged straight toward the densest part of the crowd.
Peter attached a web to a flagpole and swept across half the playground. He landed behind The Lizard, wrapping two webs from behind around its neck, crossing them over its chest.
He pulled.
The webbing went taut, his feet sliding across the rubber track, leaving two white marks as he was dragged forward by the manic Lizard. The Lizard didn't even turn its head.
Peter cut the web, shot a new one onto the canopy of the stands, swung around from the side, and landed directly in front of The Lizard.
"Hey! Look at me, your opponent is me."
The Lizard lowered its head, shoulders leaning forward, and charged straight at him.
Peter dodged to the side, but its shoulder grazed his chest. The impact carried him three meters away, his heels carving a white line into the track as he barely managed to steady himself.
The Lizard didn't stop after hitting him; it charged toward the stands, where there were people underneath.
Students who couldn't escape scrambled between the metal supports under the stands, crouching in the shadows.
Peter's gaze swept across. On the left side of the stands, behind the third row of supports, a shock of bright red hair made him recognize her instantly.
"Mary Jane, NO!"
This was the first time Peter Parker felt anger.
And on the right side of the stands, in the innermost position, there were several other girls crouching in the triangular space formed by the supports and the ground.
The Lizard was still charging. Peter shot two webs, one attaching to The Lizard's left leg, the other wrapping around its right ankle.
He pulled simultaneously, throwing his entire weight into it, his heels anchoring into cracks in the track.
The Lizard stumbled. It looked down at the webbing on its feet, raised its leg, and gave a yank.
Peter was flung off the ground, spun half a circle in the air, and slammed his back against the metal beam of the stands.
The Lizard slammed into the main support in the center of the stands, the sound of twisting metal echoing across the entire playground.
The stands began to shake, the supports on the left started to buckle, and it was on the verge of collapsing at any moment.
At the edge of the playground, a bunch of news vans had pulled up at some point.
A row of telephoto lenses stood outside the fence. A helicopter was circling above the campus.
The aerial footage was cutting into live broadcast channels: Vought's logo, FOX's logo, CNN's logo.
A student wearing a baseball cap was hiding behind the school building, recording a video.
The video feed was shaking violently. Spider-Man was lying on the ground, and that green monster was walking toward the stands. Debris from the metal and concrete canopy was falling, and several girls were trapped underneath.
The Lizard stood upright in front of the stands, its massive shadow blocking out the afternoon sun.
"Whoa there, little guy, calm down. Bullying students isn't exactly a skill."
A figure slowly descended from the sky.
He wore a deep blue spandex suit covered in stars and stripes patterns, golden shoulder pads and a belt adding a sense of solemnity, and a cape with the stars and stripes rippling behind him despite the lack of wind.
The photographers outside the playground all turned their lenses. The helicopter lowered by twenty meters.
This scene made the students who had been fleeing stop in their tracks.
"God, is that Superman?"
"No, that's Homelander. John, do you never watch the news?"
"Did you see that? He just flew down!"
"I don't care who he is, just take that monster down!"
Some bold students even took out their phones to start filming and recording.
And the few girls trapped under the stands wore expressions of survivors who had just cheated death.
Peter Parker also breathed a sigh of relief; it should be fine now.
Anyone who pays attention to the news now knows this superhero, the friendly neighbor Li Zuguo.
Even if it's just a kitten, he will step in to help.
The current situation was exactly the result Li Zuguowanted, although there was a slight mishap; the temporary compound v had indeed leaked from his hands.
But he had wanted to find someone to research whether this stuff could be mass-produced.
He hadn't expected it to fall into Connors' hands, and the guy was crazy enough to fuse the two directly. No wonder Spider-Man couldn't handle it.
But even after turning into The Lizard and drinking the temporary compound v, in front of him, it counted as nothing more than an elite mob.
He landed slowly and looked at The Lizard.
"Alright, little green monster, that's enough."