Chapter 2817 - Ch: 11-20

Chapter 11: You Are the Bravest One, Gwen, Million-Dollar Departure

At the very first word from Li Zuguo, the enraged The Lizard charged straight at him.

Li Zuguo's expression didn't change, but the moment The Lizard approached, he threw a punch. No one saw how fast he struck, but The Lizard flew backward at several times the speed he came, slammed into the ground, rolled a few times, and "passed out," motionless.

Simple and violent, one punch.

[Fans + 235 + 358...]

[Popularity + 357 + 486...]

The entire Midtown High School erupted instantly, filled with cheers.

Reporters who had arrived at some unknown time outside the fence scrambled for positions, their telephoto lenses pressed against the wire mesh, glass clinking against the metal with a clattering sound.

The rotor sounds of three helicopters pressed down from above.

Li Zuguo's boots landed lightly on the rubber track. The moment he landed, he slightly adjusted his posture to face Vought International's main camera, his smile deepening by a fraction of a millimeter.

He walked toward the collapsed bleachers, bent down, and used one hand to pry apart the steel pipe pinning the blonde girl's knee. The pipe bent into a strange angle in his hand before being casually tossed aside.

The girl was helped out, but her knee was bleeding, and her school uniform skirt was covered in dust. She looked up, a strand of golden hair falling and hanging by the side of her face.

Li Zuguo saw her appearance, his smile unchanged—this was the bare minimum—and the other girls were rescued one by one.

Gwen Stacy's lips moved, her face filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Mr. Li Zuguo. If it weren't for you just now, my friend and I really wouldn't have known what to do..."

In her excitement, Gwen burst into tears, leaning into Homelander's chest. There was no other reason than having just escaped the hands of the God of Death.

She was still just a high school student who had just experienced a life-or-death situation.

Seeking comfort in such a situation was perfectly normal, but Li Zuguo only offered verbal comfort, his hands remaining in a safe place while comforting her.

He needed popularity right now, not female beauty.

"It's alright, my dear. Everything has been perfectly resolved, and you did very well."

The people around them were exceptionally envious of the girl in Homelander's arms this time.

"Who is this girl? I'm jealous."

"I bet this bitch is definitely faking it. Look, her hand is resting right on his pectoral muscle!"

"I'm really curious how hard Homelander's pectoral muscles actually are."

"I'm more curious why his butt is even perkier than Captain America's. It's too perfect."

"What about Spider-Man??"

Mary Jane was being helped by another girl, coming around from the other side of the bleachers. Her calf was scraped, and she was limping.

[Superhero Popularity + 10000 (from Spider-Man)]

Seeing Li Zuguo and Gwen Stacy in his arms, she paused for a moment, then trotted over.

"Sir."

Li Zuguo turned his head; this angle was for the cameras.

"Just call me Li Zuguo, or Superman works too, since they always get us mixed up anyway."

There was a burst of laughter from outside the fence.

The reporters went crazy, all wanting to get the exclusive scoop.

"Homelander! How did you discover the attack here?"

"Homelander! Are you and Spider-Man in a cooperative relationship?"

"Does Vought International have a statement tonight?"

Homelander stood in the center of the track, the sobbing in his arms gradually subsiding. Mary Jane stood to his left, and Gwen stood to his right—two high school girls, one blonde, one redhead, in school uniforms.

The composition was perfect.

Two Vought International cameras had already been pulled out of the van, positioned even further ahead than FOX.

"Ask one by one."

Li Zuguo raised his hand and pressed down.

"First, I was just passing by. Someone told me the fried chicken shop here in Queens had a half-price sale today, so I flew over to buy two orders."

Someone in the crowd laughed out loud.

Li Zuguo tilted his head.

"Then I heard screaming, and just happened to see a big guy doing some demolition work, so I came over."

Before the interview was over, the sound of engines came from the distance.

Military Humvees rushed in through the school gate, followed by armored vehicles. People in camouflage jumped out, guns raised, spreading out to surround the "unconscious" The Lizard in a semi-circle. The colonel leading the team trotted over.

"Mr. Homelander."

"Colonel."

"We are taking custody of this monster."

"Be my guest."

Homelander stepped back, giving up his position with a wide, dramatic motion, ensuring all the cameras captured him "cooperating with the Military and respecting procedure."

The colonel gestured toward The Lizard.

Several soldiers advanced with guns raised, while two others carried a specialized alloy restraint device. The Lizard lay prone in the sand pit, its ribs rising and falling, the scales on its right forearm completely shattered, revealing the dark red muscle underneath.

Would Li Zuguo be so kind as to let others swoop in and take the credit? Of course not, so he prepared to leave, but Gwen wiped away her tears and blocked Li Zuguo's path.

"Mr. Li Zuguo, I haven't thanked you yet. You saved my life and my friend's."

Li Zuguo raised his hand to gently wipe away the last tear from the corner of Gwen's eye, and he said righteously.

"My dear, I am Li Zuguo. You don't need to thank me; what you should really thank is your own bravery. I saw it very clearly from the sky—you were the bravest one."

Homelander wasn't lying; among the several girls and men, Gwen had performed the best.

Gwen was a bit shy from the praise because she didn't feel she had done that well.

At most, her screaming was a bit quieter... but perhaps she really was the one who performed best? After all, Li Zuguowouldn't lie to her.

Seeing this scene, Mary Jane didn't know why, but her heart felt a bit sour. Homelander was handsome, powerful, and gentle to an excessive degree.

The lights from the media, photographers, and reporters were all aimed at the two of them; no one else was getting any camera time.

Mary Jane was a normal girl; she had vanity, and feeling envious, jealous, or even wanting to take her place was perfectly normal.

"Alright everyone, if you are also my fans, and you encounter a big guy, you can go to the Vought International official website and call the Homelanderhotline. I will arrive as fast as I can!"

Homelander bid farewell to everyone, not forgetting to put in a plug while he was at it.

The reporters swarmed forward.

"Li Zuguo! Say a few more words!"

"The new contract you signed with Vought International..."

Facing the reporters' questions, Homelander only answered one question arranged by the Vought International reporter, then, under the gaze of everyone, shot into the sky, making a million-dollar departure.

At this moment, the Military had become the new hot topic for the reporters.

This colonel was specifically sent by the Military to intercept the situation, but he hadn't expected Homelanderto hand over his trophy so readily.

This made him smell a hint of danger.

Following Homelander's departure and the soldiers' approach.

That lizard monster, which had been lying there looking half-dead and even exposing raw flesh, suddenly opened its eyes, revealing vertical pupils.

The Lizard's tail whipped up, knocking over two soldiers. Its body vaulted into the air, all four limbs pushing off the ground at once, and it darted toward the school gate.

Gunfire rang out in a chorus.

Bullets struck its back, sparks flying everywhere, but the scales didn't break. It had already vaulted over the fence.

The reporters screamed and scattered.

And this scene was captured perfectly by the people from Vought International.

Chapter 12: Unlocking Super Popularity Mode, You Have No Obligation to Face an Unbeatable Enemy

Queens.

In a certain alley, Peter dragged his injured body to a spot; his injuries were not too severe and were healing quickly.

The Lizard today was ridiculously strong; if it weren't for Homelander, Mary Jane might have...

Peter Parker felt grateful while also harboring a hint of envy, envy that the other person could stand openly in the spotlight, accepting people's cheers and gratitude.

However, this did not mean he wanted to expose his identity and become a hero standing in the spotlight.

Everyone has their own choices, and Peter Parker chose to hide, moving away from reporters and leaving alone.

Just as Peter was preparing to shoot a web to leave, Li Zuguo slowly descended from the sky and greeted him.

"Nice to see you again, Spider-Man, or perhaps I should say, Spider-Man."

Li Zuguo came here to recruit, to recruit Peter to join The Seven.

After all, Spider-Man never lacked popularity, they were not on the same track, and he also appreciated the other's character and philosophy.

Li Zuguo was not a good person, but that did not hinder him from hoping his team members were good people.

Peter felt a bit like a fan meeting an idol when facing Homelander, and his voice was unconsciously reserved.

"Mr. Homelander, do you need something from me?"

Homelander landed and took a step forward. The alley was narrow, and the distance between the two instantly shrank to less than two meters.

"Of course I have business. I wouldn't just find a kid licking his wounds in an alley to chat."

Peter's back pressed against the brick wall behind him.

Li Zuguo retreated to a safe distance.

"I want to invite you to join Vought International, and The Seven that I am currently assembling."

Peter obviously didn't know what The Seven was, nor had he heard of Vought International.

"What is that?"

In Li Zuguo's view, this was Vought International's dereliction of duty.

"A company, a team of heroes."

Peter swallowed.

"I can't reveal my identity."

"Who said you had to reveal it?"

Li Zuguo crossed his arms over his chest, that posture was the classic pose on the GG billboard, but in this two-meter-wide smelly alley, with less than an arm's length, the sense of oppression was completely different.

"You can keep wearing the mask, your identity can remain confidential, and Vought International will even provide you with equipment upgrades, medical support, legal protection, plus a fixed monthly subsidy—the figure won't be low."

Peter wasn't tempted, but upon hearing there was a subsidy and it was likely a high amount, he was genuinely moved for a moment.

Li Zuguo continued.

"You almost died at the hands of that lizard today. You are carrying the entire public security of Queens by yourself, with no backup, no resources, and when injured, you can only hide next to a trash can waiting to recover."

Peter said stubbornly.

"I can handle it."

"I saw it. Lying on the ground, handling it very well."

Peter closed his mouth.

Li Zuguo said sincerely.

"You are a true hero. Not for money, not for fame, and you still charge forward after getting beaten. There aren't many people like that these days."

Peter lowered his head and said: "A hero should help others. I am not one. I couldn't even handle that lizard."

Li Zuguo stepped forward and patted Peter on the shoulder, saying earnestly.

"Kid, you don't have to blame yourself. This isn't your fault, because with great power comes great responsibility. You have no obligation to face an enemy you cannot defeat."

Peter's body stiffened for a moment. Uncle Ben had also said this, and now he heard it again from Homelander.

[Superhero Popularity +10000 (from Spider-Man)]

Homelander's eyes brightened slightly, and seeing this, he increased his efforts.

"That's why I came to find you. You have the ability, and you are willing to take responsibility, but you shouldn't carry it alone."

Peter spoke, his voice slightly choked.

"Mr. Homelander, I am very grateful that you saved... saved those students today, and I am also very grateful that you gave me this opportunity, but I have to refuse."

Li Zuguo acted as a listener.

Peter said: "I have my own way. Maybe it's not the best, maybe the efficiency is very low, and I might get pinned to the ground again next time, but this is the way I chose."

Li Zuguo did not force it. He turned around, his cape flying up the moment he turned.

"I understand, but the offer is not withdrawn. Whenever you change your mind, you can come directly to Vought Tower to find me. The door is always open for you."

"There are more people who need me, I can't waste too much time here. Goodbye, Spider-Man."

[Superhero Popularity +2000 (from Spider-Man)]

Li Zuguo's feet left the ground, and his whole body rose vertically, so fast that one second he was standing in the alley, and the next second he was flying away in the high sky with a sonic boom.

Peter leaned against the wall, watching the place where Homelander left, and said in a voice only he could hear.

"Goodbye, Mr. Homelander. Sorry for wasting your time."

Peter's bit of envy disappeared, leaving only gratitude. He wanted to be a hero like Homelander, but under the name of Spider-Man, not Peter.

He also liked the job of a reporter... or rather, a part-time reporter.

He was more convinced of the words from Uncle Ben and Homelander.

With great power comes great responsibility!

At the end of the alley, a stray cat darted out from behind a trash can and disappeared at the corner of the street. Police sirens could be heard in the distance.

The night in Queens went on as usual.

...

Vought International.

The first thing Li Zuguo did upon returning was not to find anyone, but to open the panel.

[Character: Li Zuguo]

[Title: Li Zuguo]

[Abilities: Super Strength, Super Flight, Heat Vision, Super Hearing, X-Ray Vision, Super Durability, Super Intelligence (Effect only covers himself)]

[Popularity: 103686]

[Superhero Popularity: 55000]

[Fans: 698989]

[Popularity Rank: Blue Star · North America · Household Name]

Popularity and fans were still rising, but that wasn't the point. The point was that the system had unlocked new uses for popularity and superhero points.

[Popularity has reached the North American Household Name level and has begun to spread outward, Super Popularity Mode has been unlocked!]

[Popularity Mode: Consuming 10,000 popularity per second can unlock Super Popularity Mode, which can be stacked and consumed.]

[Super Popularity Mode: Consumes 10,000 popularity per second, strength increases tenfold.]

[Superhero prize pool updated, added store to purchase The Boys Universe items separately]

Li Zuguo couldn't help but click his tongue when he saw the Popularity Mode. 10,000 popularity per second; one million popularity was only enough for a little over a minute, but it could instantly raise his strength tenfold, and it could be continuously stacked.

It was like consuming 100,000 popularity per second stacked; Hulk would also be a roadside ant to Li Zuguo.

A bit like a Saiyan.

This mode was terrifying and could turn defeat into victory at critical moments, but the popularity consumed was also massive.

As for the items from The Boys Universe, he also took a look.

The one that made him the most jealous was the first-generation Compound V. This thing could not only solve his aging problem but also comprehensively strengthen all his abilities.

This could be seen from the last season of The Boys, when Li Zuguo injected V1 and blasted the sky with brutal lasers.

But this thing required a terrifying amount of Superhero points.

It required a full 100,000 Superhero points.

If it weren't for Peter providing him with tens of thousands, Li Zuguo wouldn't have even gathered half of it by now.

The bonds and favorability of superheroes were far more difficult than imagined.

Peter's 22,000 was entirely due to his sweetheart Mary Jane, plus Li Zuguo's words touching his soul and the memory kill of Uncle Ben.

Otherwise, having a few thousand would have been good enough.

Thinking of this, Li Zuguo was in a good mood and shouted outside in the office.

"Beautiful lady, please bring me a glass of milk."

Chapter 13: Everywhere, The Day Spider-Man Was Surrounded by Homelander

A new day.

The front page of the New York Times featured a half-page photo.

Peter Parker stood in front of a newsstand at a Queenssubway station. He picked up the newspaper and flipped to the third page.

Homelander was hovering above Midtown School of Science and Technology, arms crossed over his chest, his cape whipped into a flag by the air currents.

In the bottom right corner of the photo, one could still see The Lizard and the girls in precarious danger below the stands.

The headline was just one line: "HE WAS THERE."

"Hey, kid, you buying or not? If not, put it down." The newsstand owner poked half his head out of the window.

Peter put the newspaper back and ultimately chose to buy a copy of Daily Bugle.

The front-page headline was three font sizes larger than the New York Times.

The moment Peter saw the front page, he felt like the world went dark.

"Spider-Man Causes Campus Disaster, Why Must Superhero Homelander Clean Up After the Masked Criminal?"

The accompanying picture was a screenshot of him being pinned to the ground by The Lizard.

The caption read: "Spider-Man was easily subdued in battle. If not for Homelander's timely intervention, more than two hundred teachers and students at Midtown School of Science and Technology would have faced life-threatening danger."

Peter folded the newspaper and stuffed it into his backpack. He really hated Jameson right now, even though the man was his boss.

It wasn't the first or second day he'd been criticized, but today's piece was different.

Today's piece dragged Homelander into the mess as well.

Peter walked into the subway station, swiped his card, and stood at the edge of the platform.

On the billboard opposite was a Vought promotional photo of Homelander, his smile standard, teeth neat, with a line of text below: "Protecting the United States, starting every day."

When was this ad from?

Peter hadn't paid much attention to these before, but now he realized that at some point, Homelander's presence seemed to be everywhere in his life.

...

Queens · Midtown School of Science and Technology.

Peter arrived at the classroom as usual, and the whole class was discussing Homelander.

Someone next to him was looking at their phone, the screen showing a live CNN broadcast. Peter turned his head, his peripheral vision catching the scrolling subtitles.

"[Breaking] The Department of Defense announces the launch of Operation Lizard Hunt, promising to capture the mutant creature within thirty days. The Pentagon: Will utilize previously undisclosed special weapons."

Noon · Cafeteria.

Peter listened to the people in the cafeteria discussing Homelander, but not a single one was discussing Spider-Man. Even though he didn't want to admit it, he felt a bit down.

Harry Osborn, having gotten his food, sat down right next to Peter Parker, his expression unable to hide his excitement.

"Hey Peter, where did you go yesterday? Did you see Homelander? He was so cool. It's a pity I didn't see it live."

Peter didn't understand what he meant.

"What do you mean, Harry? Didn't see it live?"

Harry took out his phone and played a video.

"Peter, you don't know? Look at this video. It's going viral on Twitter, YouTube, and all the major websites!"

"A recording of Homelander's battle from late last night has surfaced, over four minutes long. The recording shows Homelander subduing the mutant creature, The Lizard, within thirty seconds of arriving at the scene and knocking it down onto the school playground."

"However, the National Guard responsible for the follow-up encirclement failed to complete the containment within the effective timeframe, allowing the creature to escape through the underground drainage system."

"A Department of Defense spokesperson refused to comment on the matter, but an unnamed Pentagon official stated: This was a serious tactical coordination error."

The Military was backed into a corner by the video.

In the roughly four-minute video, Homelander resolved the fight in thirty seconds.

The remaining three-plus minutes were the National Guard running around on the playground, staring at each other in front of the empty sewer opening.

This video has already been viewed over twenty million times on Twitter.

The top comment in the section was one sentence: "We pay so many taxes every year to support the Military, and the result is that they aren't even as good as someone in a spandex suit?"

The Military had to do something.

Halfway through watching, Peter's phone vibrated. It was a message from Mary Jane.

"Did you see the news? That piece in Daily Bugle."

Peter typed: "I saw it."

Peter stared at the screen. MJ didn't know that Spider-Manwas him.

She was just standing up for Homelander. From her perspective, Homelander was the hero who descended from the sky yesterday, and Spider-Man was that masked person who almost killed all their classmates...

Even though a week ago, MJ was still happy because Spider-Man had mentioned her name.

Peter thought for a moment and replied.

"Daily Bugle is always like this."

Mary Jane replied instantly.

"I mean the Military one, capturing The Lizard in thirty days? Are they serious? That thing ran through the sewers. The entire New York underground drainage system is hundreds of kilometers long. How do they plan to find it?"

Peter didn't reply, because he was thinking about this question too.

Seeing that Peter hadn't replied for a long time, Mary Janesimply brought a few of her girlfriends over and sat down.

"Hi Harry. Hi Peter, what are you thinking about?"

Harry smiled and greeted them, and Peter came back to his senses and shook his head.

"I was thinking about the parallel Universe that Mr. Sam talked about in class today."

Mary Jane shrugged, clearly uninterested in questions about the Universe, and continued talking about Homelander.

As one of the people saved yesterday, she had a lot to say.

Harry was drawn into the topic, but as soon as he spoke, he made Mary Jane shut her mouth.

"Hey, MJ, I heard that the first person Homelander saved was a girl in school named Gwen Stacy, and there was an exclusive hug. Is that true?"

Mary Jane's expression looked a bit ugly. Coincidentally, Gwen Stacy happened to sit down not far away, surrounded by a circle of people, including even some teachers.

Now, quite a few people in school had become loyal fans of Homelander, teachers included.

As the first girl to be saved by Homelander and even given a one-sided hug, Gwen naturally received a lot of attention.

But most of the questions were about what it felt like to cry against Homelander's chest muscles.

"Did you touch his abs?"

"No? That's such a pity."

Gwen blushed from these kinds of questions. The curiosity of her classmates and teachers was constantly reinforcing her memory of yesterday.

There was even a brain-induced illusion: did she really accidentally touch them?

...

Meanwhile, inside Vought Tower.

Li Zuguo watched his skyrocketing popularity and fan count, as well as the Military's so-called Lizard Hunt plan in the news, and almost laughed out loud.

The appearance of the Military undoubtedly provided a contrast for him, making this super rescue appear even more perfect.

"Natasha, you did very well. I'll double your bonus this quarter."

The video going viral online was precisely Natasha's idea. She was worthy of her title as Black Widow, directly causing the Military to break down and release a statement overnight.

Raven envied Natasha for being able to receive Homelander's praise and rewards; she simply didn't understand these things.

Natasha was wearing red-bottomed high heels, a sharply tailored black suit skirt wrapping around her waist, the curve of the pencil skirt hugging just right, and her red hair was casually tied behind her head.

"Thank you. It is my honor to serve you, sir."

In just a few short weeks, Natasha had already become a capable assistant in the President's office; her professional ability was extraordinarily strong.

In comparison, Mystique Raven seemed a bit mediocre, but she was stronger than Black Widow in one aspect.

That was loyalty + shapeshifting!

Li Zuguo liked this rare quality and ability.

"Raven, what's the schedule for tonight?"

Raven handed him some milk and said.

"Sir, tonight is the Ellen Show, one of the highest-rated reality talk shows in the United States."

Chapter 14: Participating in a Reality Show · Number One in U.S. Ratings

Burbank · Warner Bros. Studio.

"The Ellen Show," also known as the Ellen Show.

Outside the studio, a line of over two hundred people had already formed, because today's guest list had been leaked in advance — Homelander.

Therefore, the audience for this episode was exceptionally large.

Li Zuguo stood in the backstage corridor, an earpiece plugged into his ear.

The assistant director was reading through the schedule nearby, but he didn't hear a single word; his Super Hearinghad already penetrated three soundproof walls.

In the audience, two girls were whispering and shrieking: "I swear, if he flies in, I'll faint on the spot."

The other replied: "Did you watch the video of him saving people yesterday? That lizard monster was punched by him..."

Li Zuguo had already taken off his earpiece.

The assistant director was still reading: "Ellen will first play a news clip from Midtown School of Science and Technology from yesterday, then introduce you. For your entrance, we suggest..."

Raven straightened the collar of Li Zuguo's cape, and while doing so, she surreptitiously touched his pectoral muscles—they were even harder than the audience said.

What Li Zuguo needed to do today was deepen the impression he left.

He wanted to be the only "superhero you would want to fly into your living room."

The music started.

Ellen's opening monologue came through the wall panels.

"Alright, alright, I know you aren't here to see me today. Honestly, I'm a little hurt. I've been hosting for so long, and this is the first time I've felt like I'm just an opening act."

Laughter erupted from the audience.

"But I understand you. After all, I watched that video yesterday too. After watching it, I sent a text to my wife and said: Honey, I think I need to change careers."

Even louder laughter.

"Alright, no more nonsense. Ladies and gentlemen — Li Zuguo!"

The moment Li Zuguo walked out from behind the curtain, the decibel level in the entire studio doubled.

He was wearing his iconic suit, his cape swaying slightly as he walked. His pace was neither fast nor slow, and every step fell perfectly in rhythm with the audience.

Ellen walked over, clapping, her expression one of genuine astonishment.

"Alright, I take back what I said earlier. I'm not just an opening act; I'm just background scenery."

Li Zuguo smiled and reached out, saying:

"Ellen, thank you for the invitation."

Ellen pointed to the sofa and said:

"Please sit, please sit. You know, I had prepared a very grand introduction, but after you walked out, I felt any words would be superfluous."

Li Zuguo sat down in a relaxed posture, but his back was straight. He didn't cross his legs, occupying the space perfectly without being aggressive.

Ellen turned to the camera and said: "I'm sure many people already know about what happened at Midtown School of Science and Technology yesterday. Let's play a clip first."

The big screen lit up.

The footage, shot on a mobile phone, was shaking violently.

High in the sky, Homelander descended. The Lizardcharged in anger, then suddenly flew backward at several times the speed, slamming into the ground and rolling a few times before "passing out" and lying still.

No one even saw how he attacked.

Low gasps of amazement came from the audience.

Ellen turned to him: "Alright, first of all, what exactly is that thing?"

Li Zuguo spoke eloquently according to the script: "The Military's preliminary investigation has only confirmed that it is some kind of genetic mutant. It's not extraterrestrial; it's homegrown on Earth."

"Homegrown on Earth? That's great. I thought we had already used up our quota for aliens."

Ellen asked, continuing amidst the laughter of the entire studio.

"Those hundreds of students yesterday—if you hadn't appeared, they would probably already be..."

Li Zuguo took over, his smile fading slightly, his expression becoming serious.

"There would have been casualties. That monster was very aggressive. When I arrived, a young man in a spider suit was already fighting it."

"Spider-Man?"

"Yes, he was very brave, but the difference in size was too great."

[Superhero Popularity +1000 (from Spider-Man)]

Li Zuguo paused for a moment.

"And there was another girl."

Ellen raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

"When I went in, the other two girls were already too scared to speak, but one girl was very brave. She was holding an iron rod, standing in front of the other two."

"A sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, facing a monster over two meters tall, standing there with an iron rod."

The studio went quiet.

Li Zuguo continued to recount the situation at the time.

"I think this kind of courage doesn't come from superpowers, but is innate. At that moment, I just wanted to applaud that girl's courage."

Applause broke out. This time it wasn't shrieking; it was the kind of respectful, uniform applause.

Ellen asked curiously:

"Do you know what her name is?"

"Gwen Stacy."

"Gwen Stacy," Ellen repeated, turning to the camera and smiling.

"Gwen, if you are watching this episode, Homelander says you are very brave, and the American audience thinks you are very brave too!"

The audience applauded.

...

Outside the camera's view at this moment.

The Ellen reality show shot directly to the top of U.S. ratings, and not just because of The Lizard and the official's weaknesses yesterday.

The bigger reason was that this was the first reality show to feature a superhero.

In the past, they invited celebrity couples, superstars, singers, and even politicians, but this was the first time for a superhero.

The audience was very intrigued; they wanted to see what the difference was between a superhero and an ordinary person.

S.H.I.E.L.D.

Nick Fury watched Homelander on the screen, his face darkening. In his anger, he slammed a hand onto the table.

"Motherfucker, what exactly does this spandex-wearing freak want? A superhero participating in a reality show?"

Natasha, who was beside him, added:

"Homelander's tie-in comic is coming out in a few days too."

Nick Fury's expression darkened even further, although others couldn't tell.

"How is your observation at Vought going? What kind of conspiracy is this Homelander plotting?"

Natasha was silent for a moment before saying:

"He is planning to film his own exclusive superhero movie and build a theme park, as well as how to become the most popular superhero in the United States, wanting to crush Captain America and Iron Man in terms of popularity."

Nick Fury's single eye stared fixedly at Black Widow.

"Nothing else?"

"Does loving to drink milk count?"

A look of disbelief appeared on Nick Fury's face.

"What?"

Although Natasha didn't want to admit it, it was indeed true.

"Just kidding. Although Homelander likes to put on a show, he is indeed fighting crime."

Nick Fury pinpointed the issue.

"No, he is just a giant baby who lacks love and could turn against us at any moment."

Natasha felt that lacking love wasn't really a flaw, but Nick Fury was already extremely angry, so she chose to keep quiet.

...

In front of the television.

Gwen's phone was exploding with calls and messages.

Just because on the highest-rated reality show in the United States, Homelander had praised her as a brave girl again.

That chubby guy Ellen actually asked if she was there in front of the entire American audience.

Oh my god...

Looking at the handsome man talking eloquently on the television, she felt her heart beating exceptionally fast.

Queens · Forest Hills Apartment.

Peter watched the reality show and silently sent a message to Mary Jane.

"MJ, did you watch the Ellen reality show? Homelandermentioned Spider-Man."

Of course, Mary Jane saw it, but she felt that all this praise should have belonged to her.

She should have been the girl mentioned by Homelanderand remembered by the American audience!

Gwen Stacy just happened to throw herself into Homelander's arms a step earlier.

As for Peter's message, Mary Jane glanced at it and didn't even have the desire to reply. Compared to Homelander, Spider-Man was just a masked messenger of justice.

The reality show on TV was still continuing.

The number of people watching was also more and more unusual than imagined.

Chapter 15: Two Heroes on Stage, Self-Titled Comic: Homelander Origins!

"Alan."

The director's voice came through Alan's earpiece; he pressed his hand to his ear, his expression changing to show the excitement of "I just received a bombshell piece of news."

Alan turned to the audience and said with surprise,

"I've just been informed that we have another guest today, an... uninvited guest."

The audience began to stir upon hearing this.

Li Zuguo was a bit curious about who exactly that uninvited guest could be.

The door to the backstage passage opened.

An arrogant man wearing sunglasses walked out, dressed in a dark gray three-piece suit with his tie loosened halfway, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.

Playboy, billionaire, genius scientist, former Middle Eastarms dealer, and superhero Iron Man!

The audience erupted again.

This wasn't much of a surprise to Li Zuguo.

Tony walked over, waved the coffee cup in his hand at the audience, and then flopped onto the sofa next to Li Zuguo.

"Sorry I'm late, traffic was backed up."

Alan: "You flew in from New York."

"Yeah, the air was backed up too; you know, there are more and more people flying in the sky these days." Tony said, turning his head to glance at Li Zuguo.

"Hi, Star-Spangled Boy."

"Hi, Stark," Li Zuguo replied.

Tony sank into the sofa, his posture excessively relaxed.

"How's this for a surprise?"

Li Zuguo made an exaggerated face-palming gesture.

"It's absolutely terrible."

Alan seized the opportunity: "So, to both superheroes, everyone has always been curious about your relationship—are you... friends? Colleagues? Or rivals?"

Tony took a sip of coffee: "We're... practitioners in the same industry, only he's the rookie, and I'm the veteran."

Li Zuguo certainly wouldn't admit that.

"Tony, how long have you been Iron Man, three months?"

Tony smiled nonchalantly.

"If you count the technical accumulation, twenty years."

"Twenty years, but in the few months since I appeared, the crime rate in New York has dropped by fifty percent, and across the U.S. it's dropped by twenty percent."

Tony really had nothing to say to that, because if you really talk about his identity as an arms dealer, the rise in crime rates might even be related to him.

Alan slapped the table: "Alright, alright, I think I need some popcorn."

Tony put down his coffee cup and turned his body toward Li Zuguo.

"Seriously, about that lizard incident yesterday, well done. The precision and force control were very good, and there was no collateral damage. For someone without an AI-assisted targeting system, that's quite rare."

The audience laughed.

Li Zuguo replied with a bit of helplessness.

"There were fans of mine at the school, and I heard their cries for help; everyone knows..."

The rhythm of this conversation was hijacked by Tony, which wasn't a bad thing; the stronger the chemistry between the two, the longer the screen time, and the greater the reach.

But one detail was stuck in his mind: Tony Stark had come uninvited.

A genius with an extreme desire for control wouldn't appear on someone else's show for no reason; he didn't come here just to steal the spotlight.

Alan was asking Tony about his new armor.

Tony was answering in his usual way—thirty percent truth and seventy percent jokes, with very low information content but extremely high entertainment value.

Alan raised his hand.

"One last question! Chosen by audience vote: if the two of you were to fight, who would win?"

The audience went wild.

Tony didn't hesitate.

"He would win. On a physical level, I have zero chance of winning; he could crush my armor like a soda can."

The audience went quiet for a moment, not expecting this answer.

"However," Tony raised his coffee cup to the camera, "I always have a backup plan, and that goes from a backup plan to an ultimate contingency."

Li Zuguo didn't expect the arrogant man to boost him at the end; was he asking for something from him?

Alan stood up: "Alright! Today's show..."

After the show, backstage.

Tony raised his glass to signal him.

"Mr. Star-Spangled Boy, I'd like to take you out to dinner next Tuesday. I have some things I'd like to discuss with you in person."

Li Zuguo readily agreed, because when Tony finally admitted he couldn't win, both his fan count and popularity value saw a proportional surge.

Iron Man had a massive fan base, and they were very combative on social media sites like Facebook; there had always been debates over which of the two superheroes was stronger.

Now that their idol had taken the lead and admitted defeat, no matter how stubborn the fans were, they would be crushed by Homelander's fans.

His popularity naturally skyrocketed.

...

A few days later.

As the broadcast of the Alan show fermented.

Because Homelander and Iron Man appearing on the same stage again caused a huge uproar, the most furious person was none other than Nick Fury.

After all, Tony Stark was one of the candidates for his Avengers initiative, yet now he was hanging out with Homelander. Of course, Nick Fury would never admit that his hatred for Homelander stemmed from his rejection.

Nick Fury had issued invitations on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.more than once, but they had all been rejected for various reasons.

The only time they had a conversation, Homelander flew off halfway through to film a commercial.

Putting aside his suspicious identity, there was even a slight possibility that Nick Fury had turned from love to hate.

Next were the Mutants across the country who saw the news.

Many Mutants believed that Homelander was one of their own, and that he was just lucky enough to have Mutantabilities similar to Superman, which was why he was so popular.

Some even felt, "I could do that too," and asked, "Why is he the one who gets recognized and liked by the public?"

But the reality was that the day after a Mutant popped up, they would receive an anonymous report and be dragged back by the Military, HYDRA, or some other faction to be dissected and studied.

Smart Mutants, such as the three major Mutant factions:

The Hellfire Club, the Brotherhood, and the Mutant Academy.

They were all secretly sending people to make contact, with roughly the same goal.

To use Li Zuguo to rehabilitate Mutants' image, or to hope that he would join their own faction.

It was just a pity that most Mutants had features that were too obvious; currently, only Mystique had successfully approached him.

But what gave Professor Charles a headache was that Mystique seemed to have her own ideas.

She had even started refusing to communicate with him.

This was not good news.

...

A new week.

Taking advantage of the momentum from the Alan show, Vought International officially launched the self-titled Homelander comic.

Homelander: Origins!

It mainly told the story of Homelander being captured by aliens as a child and subjected to various experiments, only to return as an adult with a heart for justice to save the Earth.

The main selling point was a mix of individual heroism and a "beautiful, strong, and tragic" character design.

Furthermore, the comic subtly mentioned the concept of The Seven for the first time, which received widespread approval from most of the audience.

That day, 300,000 copies of the comic were snatched up in less than three minutes of release.

It is worth mentioning.

Tony personally sponsored 10,000 copies for his own collection, and also sent them out as employee benefits for Stark Industries.

Efforts have their rewards.

That Tuesday.

Li Zuguo brought Natasha along and arrived on time for the party Tony was hosting at his company.

Chapter 16: The Rager Party, the Goody-Two-Shoes with No Vices

Stark Tower.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the night view of Manhattan; inside, over a hundred people were holding an evening party.

The lighting was warm, a jazz band played in the corner, and the crowd was scattered throughout the room, consisting of politicians, arms dealers, tech upstarts, and Hollywood producers.

The crisp clinking of champagne glasses, the rhythm of high heels clicking on the marble floor—some were chatting about stocks, others about the latest season of reality shows.

Tony Stark stood on the stage, holding a glass of whiskey in one hand and a microphone in the other as he spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

Tony's amplifier drowned out the background music on the entire floor, drawing everyone's attention.

"I said there would be a special guest tonight. Some of you didn't believe me, thinking I was just bragging."

Tony spread his hands and said.

"When have I ever bragged? Let us welcome my friend—Li Zuguo!"

The elevator doors opened right on time.

Li Zuguo was wearing that uniform; he raised his right hand and waved to the crowd with a smile.

The whole room erupted in cheers instantly.

Some people whistled, some raised their glasses above their heads, and some even took out their phones to start filming.

In the corner, a woman in a sequined dress shrieked, and her male companion quickly grabbed her.

He walked through the crowd.

When someone reached out, he shook their hand.

When someone raised a glass, he clinked it; when someone called his name, he turned his head and gave a perfectly timed nod.

From the elevator to the bar, in thirty seconds, Li Zuguomade everyone in the room feel like they had been noticed.

Tony had already tossed the microphone to a staff member nearby and walked up to him; his first sentence was not a greeting.

"Are you serious, sweetheart? You wear this thing everywhere? I'm hosting a cocktail party, not a Halloween bash."

Homelander took the champagne handed to him by a waiter but didn't drink it.

"People expect Li Zuguo."

Tony leaned against the bar, raising his glass with a relaxed posture.

"You're even more conceited than I am. Oh, right, I heard from the people downstairs that you brought someone with you?"

Li Zuguo turned his head. Natasha Romanoff walked over from the crowd, wearing a long black dress with a slit up to the mid-thigh, her red hair pinned up, revealing her entire neckline.

She was also holding a glass of champagne, but there were no lipstick marks on the rim; she hadn't taken a sip.

Natasha walked over and stood beside Li Zuguo.

Tony looked her up and down and let out a whistle.

"Alright, is this your secret girlfriend?"

"Personal assistant," Li Zuguo corrected.

"Personal assistant?" Tony repeated, his pronunciation making the phrase sound like it meant something else entirely.

"You know, I was originally going to help introduce you to a few models, actresses, or former gymnasts, but it seems completely unnecessary now."

He raised his glass to Natasha.

"Stark Industries welcomes you to jump ship. Double the salary, no overtime, and the boss is better looking than him."

Natasha glanced at him.

"Mr. Stark, I am responsible for Mr. Li Zuguo's entire schedule, including screening out parties that aren't worth his time."

"Tonight almost didn't pass the screening."

Tony raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Zuguo, as if to confirm, is this really just a secretary?

Natasha continued her verbal assault.

"At the very least, my current boss doesn't make me remember his ex-girlfriends' birthdays."

Three or four guests who were eavesdropping nearby turned their heads away simultaneously, pretending to look at the holographic projection on the ceiling.

Tony was rendered speechless and could only look at Li Zuguo and say.

"Your secretary is even more ruthless than Pepper. As her boss, aren't you going to do something about her?"

Li Zuguo replied seriously: "The United States promotes freedom."

Upon hearing this, Tony rolled his eyes, took another sip of whiskey, and set the glass down.

"Fine, small talk over. Follow me; there's a quiet place upstairs."

Li Zuguo set down the untouched champagne glass. Before turning away, he scanned the hall; phones were still recording, so he gave one final smile.

Natasha followed behind him, keeping exactly one step of distance.

The upper hall.

Tony turned around, the expression on his face changed. It was no longer the playboy persona from the party.

"Come in, let's talk about something serious."

Pepper was there too. Tony briefly introduced the three of them, and then Pepper took Natasha aside to discuss serious matters.

The two walked to the window.

Tony got straight to the point.

"I've run into a bit of trouble. I'm planning to restart the Stark Expo, but the government doesn't agree. They even consider the Iron Man suit a high-risk weapon, want me to hand it over to the state, and are even planning to hold a hearing."

Li Zuguo asked: "So, what do you think?"

Tony spread his hands.

"Don't even think about it. I am Iron Man; the suit and I are one. To hand over the Iron Man suit is equivalent to handing over myself. No one can have it."

Li Zuguo countered: "So what do you need me to do?"

Tony said seriously.

"Get some insurance, and your support."

"Just that?" Li Zuguo said.

Tony hesitated for a moment before stating his true purpose.

"No, no, no. I also hope you can use your Super Intelligence—hmm, just like in that comic book of yours—use your Super Intelligence to think for me, how to solve this palladium poisoning problem."

This question really stumped Li Zuguo; his Super Intelligence wasn't the traditional kind found in comics.

Even if he did have a true Super Intelligence, it was impossible to create something from nothing without the corresponding knowledge in his brain.

However, for the sake of Superhero Points, he pretended to think, and then, as if a flash of inspiration struck him, he said.

"Tony, perhaps you can find the answer in the things your father left behind. He was a true genius."

Li Zuguo's inner thoughts were completely different: If all else fails, I'll just inject you with a dose of Compound V.

After hearing this, Tony wore an expression that said, "Are you kidding me?"

"That's your Super Intelligence? Fine, Star-Spangled Boy. I'll go look for answers from my father. From now on, Stark Industries will be fully open to Vought commercially."

"Thanks, Stark," Li Zuguo replied politely. With the help of Stark Industries, Vought could completely separate from Pacific Pictures and become the true Vought International.

Of course, without Stark, Vought could still do it today, just not as quickly.

Tony's expression was indescribable upon hearing that nickname.

"Stark? Your accent is too heavy. Forget it. Next month, a racing team I sponsor is competing in the Monaco Grand Prix. Do you want to come and watch?"

Li Zuguo smiled again.

"To pay tribute to your father, right? I'll come to cheer you on next week."

After the conversation ended, Li Zuguo didn't participate in the subsequent group party or the luxurious nightlife; he took his secretary, Natasha, and returned to Vought early.

Facing Li Zuguo, who didn't touch a drop of alcohol and went home on time, Tony added another evaluation to his mental list.

A goody-two-shoes with no vices.

What the hell; there's actually someone like this in high-society America.

Chapter 17: Fear of Cyberbullying, Lacking Love, What Kind of Peerless Good Man in the U.S. Is This?

Vought International. Inside the office.

Li Zuguo looked expressionlessly at the newspapers on the desk; this was the data Raven had collected over the past few days.

On the front page of the Daily Bugle, a heavy blue truck was impaled by several uprooted street trees.

The headline read: "Homelander Saves a Robber, Price: Roadside Trees, a Truck, and a Delivery Man with Fractured Bones."

A small note in the bottom right corner of the picture stated: The delivery man is currently at St. Vincent's Hospital with four broken ribs and a ruptured spleen.

He turned to the third page of the second newspaper.

There was an aerial photo of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, where the road surface across three blocks had cracked, the asphalt had flipped up, the underground water pipes had burst, and the water had risen to knee height.

The headline was even shorter: "Demolition Capability Comparable to a Nuclear Bomb."

It wasn't just print media; similar hot topics were appearing on the internet as well.

A post on Twitter.

@NYCTruthSeeker: I've tallied Homelander's rescue records for the past month, and the direct property damage is nearly 100 million U.S. dollars.

Indirect losses include: traffic paralysis, business closures, and medical expenses that are still being calculated. The total loss caused by all the crimes he "prevented" in the same period is 47 million U.S. dollars. Is this kind of rescue really meaningful?

The top comments below:

"When he caught that bank robber, he shattered the entire building's glass curtain wall. The falling glass shards cut eleven passersby. Eleven! And the robber was holding a fake gun."

"My mom's car was parked on Third Avenue, and when he caught the criminal, it crushed the roof. The insurance company said this counts as collateral damage from a superhero, so they won't pay."

"When Homelander caught the bus, it snapped in two. Physics is simple: his force was applied to a single point, not distributed evenly across the surface of the object. He can't hold anything up at all."

"We don't need a Superman like this to save us; he only causes more property damage!"

Clearly, Li Zuguo was being cyberbullied; his past rescue operations were basically being dug up to settle old scores.

He wasn't Superman and didn't have a bio-force field; his force field could only wrap around and contain himself.

When he lifted a car, the force was transmitted from his ten fingers to the car body. The metal had to bear the entire weight at those ten points, and then it would bend, break, and disintegrate.

He could catch anything. But anything he caught would shatter.

Natasha looked at the data and explained, "Sir, this is a premeditated attack. You don't need to pay attention to it; Vought International will step in to help you resolve it."

Natasha hoped Li Zuguo could stay calm. Once he started retaliating, he would be defined as anti-human.

No one wanted to face an opponent like Superman, and Black Widow was no exception.

Moreover, after observing him these past few days, she felt that Li Zuguo wasn't the dangerous element that Nick Furysaid would turn against them at any moment.

Raven, however, did not agree with Natasha's view; she was considering things entirely from Homelander's perspective.

"No, I think we should make those people pay the price so they can learn to shut up."

Natasha frowned: "Doing that will only make an already bad situation even worse."

Li Zuguo ignored their argument. He knew that there must be someone behind such a massive wave of negative press, but that wasn't the reason he was angry.

It was the popularity points and fans constantly fluctuating on his panel. And those vicious comments—this definitely had to be paid trolls!

Li Zuguo took a deep breath. He had thought he didn't care about these things, but now that he was actually being cyberbullied, he found that he still cared a little.

"Fuck, these damn peasants. I worked so hard to save them, and they actually turn around and..."

Thinking of this, Li Zuguo's eyes became slightly "red," but he held it back.

"Raven, can you go pour me a glass of hot milk?"

Li Zuguo's voice interrupted their argument. Raven glared at Natasha before replying, "Okay, sir."

After Raven left, Li Zuguo took out his phone again to check Twitter, YouTube, and other sites.

He discovered that although many people were bashing him, there were also many fans defending him.

"Are you okay, sir?"

Natasha was very concerned about Li Zuguo's state; after all, her mission in infiltrating Vought International was to find his weakness.

But so far, she had found that Li Zuguo's only weakness seemed to be a fear of being cyberbullied? But the essence of fearing cyberbullying was actually just a lack of love.

Li Zuguo regained his composure and smiled, "I'm fine, Natasha."

Natasha looked at the forcibly smiling Li Zuguo, not knowing what to say. This Superman-like figure seemed to never have those bad habits.

No clubbing, no smoking marijuana, no partying, his social life was pitifully small, he didn't drink, and he didn't even have any nightlife.

With Homelander's ability, he could completely do whatever he wanted. This could be seen from the insane powerful figures and politicians on a certain island; Homelander could be even crazier, but he didn't.

The things he cared about most every day were popularity and fans; the thing he cared about most was the audience's evaluation of him.

Even just now, after being cyberbullied, he didn't get angry and do anything irrational; instead, he quickly controlled his emotions and didn't affect anyone else.

In this U.S. where people constantly get high and chase women, what kind of peerless good man is this, damn it?

In comparison, is lacking love such a big flaw? Since he lacks love, wouldn't it be fine to just give him love?

Trading a bit of love for an emotionally stable Superman—isn't that a worthwhile deal?

Natasha felt that Nick Fury's prejudice against Homelanderhad already outweighed his rationality, and at the same time, she realized this was an opportunity.

She looked at Homelander, who was sitting alone on the sofa silently digesting his emotions, walked over with lazy steps, and sat down gently beside him.

She elegantly raised a hand, her fingertips grazing his golden hair as if by chance, and then slowly pulled his head into her embrace, pressing it against her chest... The soft and warm heartbeat was transmitting temperature beat by beat.

"It's okay, sir. That's not your fault. You don't have to bear it alone; you still have your fans and you have me."

"What?"

Li Zuguo was in a state of confusion. What was going on? Did he say something to Black Widow? Was she coaxing him like a child? Damn it, I am Li Zuguo...

[Superhero Popularity +5000 (from Black Widow)]

Li Zuguo, who was about to struggle, suddenly calmed down when he saw the superhero points. Rubbing his cheek against that softness, the heartbeat sound in his ear was clear and dense... He suddenly felt that it wasn't unacceptable.

"Clang!"

The moment he heard the sound, Li Zuguo broke free from Natasha's embrace and put on a cold expression.

At the door, Raven was glaring angrily at Natasha, who was slowly smoothing out the wrinkles in her clothes. On the ground at her feet, the spilled milk was splashed everywhere.

Beside her was a terrified James, who was even stammering incoherently.

"Sorry sir, I, I..."

Walking in on the boss doing something was a major taboo in the workplace, especially when it involved the hidden side of Homelander.

At this moment, Homelander was also expressionless.

He should have detected the two of them before they entered, but he had been too relaxed just now—not because he had been captured by Black Widow, of course, but because he had been stunned by her sudden action, plus the superhero points.

"Go."

Hearing this, James didn't hesitate at all and trotted away, not forgetting to close the door before he left.

The office was instantly left with only three people.

Chapter 18: The Opportunistic Bitch, Speaking Invitation

Raven didn't understand.

She had only gone out to pour a glass of milk, and this bitch Natasha had actually taken advantage of her absence to swoop in.

She could even imagine the process: Homelander getting cyberbullied, feeling hurt and vulnerable inside, and then this bitch stepping up to comfort him, guiding him bit by bit...

Finally, taking advantage of the situation.

Having been at Vought for so long, and serving as Li Zuguo's secretary and assistant, she naturally realized that Li Zuguo was actually very sensitive to public opinion.

Just as Charles had said.

Encased beneath Homelander's Steel Body was a soft heart; his heart was not impervious to blades or bullets.

His heart had always longed to be loved, longed to be needed... and so.

"Natasha, can you tell me what you were just doing?!"

Black Widow wasn't afraid of a little secretary, nor would she feel guilty about being caught on the spot.

"Is there a problem with a secretary comforting her boss?"

Raven's eyes were sharp.

"There is a problem. Is that the right way to comfort him? You even comforted him right into your arms?!"

The two women were at daggers drawn, almost ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

One was Mystique, the other a top S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent; if they fought, they might actually tear this office apart.

Of course, the possibility of an actual fight was low, as it would expose their respective identities in front of Li Zuguo, but a verbal spar was still possible.

Li Zuguo knew this as well, and he couldn't be bothered to listen to the two of them bickering.

"Stop. I need to be alone for a while. Also, help me call James back over; I want to ask him about something."

When he said this, Li Zuguo had his back turned to Natasha and Raven the entire time, showing no favoritism.

Even though the two women didn't get along, neither would dare to cross Li Zuguo and risk being disliked.

Natasha and Raven walked out together.

Not long after, James trotted into the room. James was smart enough not to mention what had just happened.

"Sir, regarding the widespread negative reports in the newspapers and online, I have found that there is indeed a mastermind behind it, though only a small portion is actually true."

Li Zuguo turned around and said.

"Continue."

James laid out his plan and countermeasures in detail.

First, throw out a bigger news story to cover it up and divert attention; second, try to provide compensation to the citizens who suffered heavy losses.

James had already thought of a bigger news story: the incompetence of the Military.

Half the time had already passed, and the Military's so-called Lizard Hunt plan hadn't seen any progress; that lizard monster was hiding in the shadows of the city's sewers.

No one knew when it would appear and cause mass destruction and killing like it did that day at Midtown High School.

With Homelander as his backing, James was incredibly bold; who would have dared to use the Military to divert attention in the past?

Li Zuguo nodded; this plan was indeed good, but today's incident with James made him realize that he needed to find one of his own people to be the CEO.

James could return to Pacific Pictures to be a president or something in the future, and he would back him up then.

"Then proceed according to your plan, but there is one point: the compensation must be sufficient."

Li Zuguo didn't want a situation where hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation were filtered through layers of bureaucracy and only a few thousand ended up in the hands of the victims.

By then, there would probably be a few more hardcore haters.

This was not what he wanted to see.

James said seriously.

"Don't worry, Sir. I will strictly execute the compensation matter. The business with Stark Industries has been connected. With their channels, the comics should be able to roll out comprehensively, and the merchandise and movie plans are also ready to be put on the agenda."

Li Zuguo nodded. He was relatively at ease with James; he just needed to keep a slight eye on the Military.

James began to talk about the next matter.

"By the way, Mr. Li Zuguo, the school authorities of Midtown School of Science and Technology, to thank you, have invited you to give a speech this week."

Li Zuguo didn't really want to go, but James flattered him.

"Eighty percent of that high school are your fans now. This can actually serve as a publicity point, equivalent to a persona promotion; many politicians like to do this during elections."

Li Zuguo felt that what James said made sense, but what he cared about was that twenty percent were actually not his fans.

"Then schedule a time."

He actually felt that speaking at a pub could stir up more emotion.

One day later.

Virginia.

Inside the secret laboratory at Culver University.

General Ross angrily slammed the newspaper onto the table.

The Washington Post: "Lizard monster attacks sewer sanitation workers; where is the protection promised by the Military?"

There were five other newspapers spread out on the table: the New York Times, the Daily Bugle, two local tabloids, and a Military weekly.

The Military weekly's headline was the most polite, but the meaning was the same—what the hell are you guys doing?

The Lizard Hunt plan had been launched for fourteen days, with a promised deadline of thirty days. It was more than halfway through, and there was no progress.

General Ross had actually figured out the identity of The Lizard; he knew it was Dr. Connors, a former Militarydoctor.

But knowing was one thing; he still couldn't catch The Lizard because he was hiding in the sewers throughout the city.

General Ross pressed the intercom button on the desk.

"Have Dr. Banner come over."

Three minutes.

Bruce Banner walked in wearing a crumpled lab coat, his ID badge hanging crookedly on his chest, his dark circles deeper than last week.

"General." Banner stood at the door without walking in.

"The progress on gamma rays."

Banner lifted his chin.

"What progress? We are still in the theoretical modeling stage; I stated that very clearly in my report last week."

General Ross interrupted him.

"So you're telling me it will take at least six more months of basic validation?"

"Yes, at least."

"There are no six months left."

Banner explained.

"General, gamma rays aren't something that can be sped up just by you rushing it. The safety thresholds for radiation dosage, stability tests for gene sequences, carrier proteins..."

General Ross didn't want to hear these theories and gave a direct order.

"I'll give you one month."

"One month isn't even enough to run the animal trials."

"Then skip the animal trials."

Banner pulled his hands out of his pockets.

"General, what are you saying?"

General Ross stood up, the newspapers on the table swept aside by his elbow. He said longingly: "Bruce, have you watched those videos from yesterday?"

"Do you know what Homelander means?"

Banner didn't know; he only knew that General Ross was losing his mind.

"It means a Super Soldier." General Ross's hand pressed onto the table. "Not those half-finished products we made in our lab, not that kind of out-of-control trash, but a truly perfect and controllable Super Soldier."

A thought occurred to Banner.

"So General, you want to take a sample from Homelander?"

General Ross said: "Yes, just a strand of hair or a drop of blood, and the Super Soldier—no, I should say the Superman Soldier—will no longer be a fantasy."

Banner always felt that this was courting death; the other party didn't look like he had as good a temper as Superman.

"Then General, who do you plan to send to get it? If he doesn't cooperate, what do you plan to do?"

General Ross didn't answer.

"That's not a part you need to worry about. Your part is the gamma rays. I will handle the volunteers for the three-month human trials; you just get the plan done."

Banner was resistant to human experimentation, but he clearly didn't have the authority to make the decision.

As for the so-called volunteers, were they really volunteers?

General Ross made another phone call after Banner left to fully divest from Osborn, that is, Oscorp.

He had invested billions of dollars into human enhancement serums without getting a single piece of data.

Connors, the only one in the group with any progress, had turned himself into a lizard monster.

He had no patience left.

PS: I changed the English name Bruce Li earlier. The English name is now [Lucien Lee], so it won't conflict with the original name. Everyone, feel free to read on.

Chapter 19: An Avatar Is Not Out of the Question · The Little Spider-Man in the Sewer

Warm Reminder: I changed the English name Bruce Li earlier; it is now [Lucien Lee], which won't conflict with his original name. Everyone can read with peace of mind.

Vought International.

Li Zuguo looked at the Super Popularity points on his panel, which had reached a total of seventy thousand, still thirty thousand away from the first-generation Compound V.

As for the popularity points, they had reached over nine million. He didn't intend to use them for strengthening for the time being. Unless he could upgrade to Steel Body in one go, he planned to reserve them for the consumption of Super Popularity Mode.

[Character: Li Zuguo]

[Title: Li Zuguo]

[Abilities: Super Strength, Super Flight, Heat Vision, Super Hearing, X-Ray Vision, Super Durability, Super Intelligence (Field can only cover himself)]

[Popularity Points: 9076465]

[Super Popularity Points: 70000]

[Fans: 1546488]

[Popularity Level: Blue Star · North America · Household Name]

Homelander felt that true fans were still few. The system's judgment criteria should be quite strict; one must reach a certain standard to be considered a true fan.

Just like those who are religious, there are devout, fanatical believers, and naturally, there are fake believers.

The popularity points produced by devout believers, fake believers, and passersby were completely different.

Furthermore, fans are not followers of a religion; Li Zuguowould lose some due to various reasons if he didn't appear in the public eye for a long time.

Otherwise, given his current popularity, it was impossible to have so few fans. After all, the official accounts registered by Vought International on various social platforms had over three million followers combined.

This was data without any padding.

As for Li Zuguo's own account, it hadn't been officially registered yet; he was still considering it.

This matter had its pros and cons.

He called Raven; it was time to head to Midtown High School.

Raven said she would follow Li Zuguo no matter what; she would not give Natasha another chance to get close to Li Zuguo alone.

One could tell from how carefully she had dressed up today.

She had her platinum blonde hair meticulously coiled behind her head, wearing a crisp white shirt with the collar slightly open, accentuating her slender waistline, and a black tight skirt on her lower body, wrapping around her straight, slender legs.

She tilted her head slightly to look at Li Zuguo, her posture respectful but her eyes lazy, looking every bit the ascetic yet alluring secretary.

There is a saying: having Mystique is like having the whole World. Li Zuguo didn't quite agree with this saying.

Because he felt that an Avatar was not out of the question.

"Mr. Lucien, your collar needs adjusting. May I?"

This time, Raven used Li Zuguo's English name. After all, if she called his Chinese name, many people wouldn't be used to it, or rather, the structures of the two were different.

Tony had complained about that name more than once.

"Of course. Next time, just fix it directly; you don't need to ask me." Li Zuguo was still very concerned about his own image.

Raven took a few steps forward and stood in front of Li Zuguo. She was about a head shorter, so she had to stand on tiptoe slightly to reach out and fix the tiny flaw on Li Zuguo's chest.

Taking this opportunity, she could smell the scent of a man on him, mixed with a crisp, cool fragrance.

Many people in this country had body odor, but this man didn't have any, even though he wore a uniform all day.

Raven's hand finally slid from the collar to his chest, pretending to be unintentional, before falling. She dared to be so bold purely because Natasha had given her a sense of crisis.

"Alright, sir."

"Then let's go."

New York · Queens.

Midtown School of Science and Technology.

There were no classes from this morning until noon, but there was a lecture at noon, and everyone had been mobilized.

The folding chairs were removed and replaced with cushioned row seats moved from the auditorium, and red carpets were laid in the first three rows.

A flag of Vought International—a blue eagle on a white background—was added to the podium, hanging side by side with the American flag.

Gwen Stacy stood in the backstage corridor, holding a schedule card in her hand, with "12:00 Student Entry, 12:15 Principal's Speech, 12:20 Guest Introduction (by Student Gwen Stacy), 12:22 Guest Speech" printed on it.

"Are you nervous?"

Mary Jane asked, leaning against the corridor wall with her arms crossed.

Gwen flipped the schedule card over. "I'm okay."

Mary Jane said faintly.

"You know I signed up too, but they said one person was enough."

Gwen didn't respond; Mary Jane continued to speak on her own.

"Because he only talked to you, I got cut."

Gwen said helplessly, "MJ, you know I didn't..."

"I didn't say it was your problem," Mary Jane smiled slightly. "I just think it's funny. A superhero saved the whole school, and the school's criteria for choosing who to receive him is based on who he had more contact with."

Footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

Harry Osborn jogged over. He greeted Gwen first, then looked at Mary Jane.

"MJ, the front is already full. Flash took the seat in the very middle of the first row and almost got into a fight with Brad..."

"My dad seems to be preparing to cooperate with Vought on a commercial level. I told him Homelander is coming to our school today, and he asked me to hand over a business card. Do you think I have a chance to hand it over?"

Mary Jane glanced at the schedule card.

"There's a photo session after the speech. Probably... maybe?"

"Great." Harry slapped his thigh, then looked left and right and asked, "Where's Peter?"

"Did he come today?" Mary Jane asked.

Harry took out his phone and flipped through it.

"I sent him three messages, and he hasn't replied. I remember he quite liked Homelander."

There was a commotion in the direction of the gymnasium.

The backstage door was pushed open, and the dean poked half his body in.

"Student Stacy, five minutes."

Gwen nodded, folded the schedule card, stuffed it into her skirt pocket, and left the corridor without paying attention to the two of them.

She could only be considered an acquaintance with Mary Jane and Harry; their relationship wasn't that good, and it was already good enough to say hello and exchange a few words.

Especially since Mary Jane was the one leading the conversation.

The sound of a loudspeaker came from the direction of the gymnasium.

The principal was speaking, and there was a round of applause every few seconds.

The school had brought out external speakers and set up horns on the playground to provide a live broadcast for students who hadn't grabbed a seat.

"...We are very honored... Vought International... Homelander... has made a huge contribution to the safety of our school..."

At this time, inside the city sewer.

A little Spider-Man had secretly sneaked in here. He was looking for a little lizard, but what was terrifying was...

Peter didn't find The Lizard, but instead found only a layer of skin, a piece of translucent green lizard molted skin several meters long. That monster had grown again.

Even though he realized the danger, he didn't leave immediately but quietly groped along the traces.

Finally, he followed the traces to a sewer outlet.

That direction was Oscorp...

Peter suddenly realized that he possessed spider mutation abilities, and The Lizard all pointed to the behemoth that was Oscorp.

He was no match for The Lizard, and Oscorp was dangerous. Reason told him he might need to find a helper.

Iron Man, Captain America... He wasn't familiar with these two superheroes. Finally, he thought of Homelander.

The superhero who, like Uncle Ben, said, "With great power comes great responsibility."

[Super Popularity Points +2000 (From Spider-Man)]

"?"

Li Zuguo, who had just arrived at Midtown School of Science and Technology, was stunned looking at the Super Popularity points that had suddenly popped up.

Chapter 20: Perfect Shots · Gwen's Heroic Heart and Admiration

Midtown High School.

Gwen followed the teacher through the backstage corridor and pushed open the door.

The first thing she saw wasn't Li Zuguo, but seven or eight staff members in black suits, with earpieces in their ears and tablets and schedules in their hands.

There was also a tall, blonde woman standing in the innermost position.

The principal stood at the edge of the crowd, nodding three times faster than usual, while the vice-principal stood nearby holding a stack of documents, smiling so widely that his gums were visible.

Gwen's gaze swept past everyone and landed in the center of the room.

Li Zuguo sat on a folding chair, his right hand resting on his knee, his left hand holding a paper cup of coffee. His suit appeared more saturated in color under the fluorescent lights than it did outdoors.

He was listening to the principal, nodding and smiling occasionally. Every reaction was just right—not overly enthusiastic, yet not appearing perfunctory.

Gwen's heart rate accelerated.

The seventeen-year-old girl stood a few meters away from the most popular superhero in the U.S., her palms sweating, and the lines she had prepared turning into a jumbled mess in her head.

The dean cleared his throat.

"Mr. Li Zuguo, this is the student representative who will be presenting the flowers later."

Li Zuguo turned his head with a natural movement, setting the coffee cup down from his lips onto the table beside him.

He stood up, his height of over 1.8 meters appearing even taller indoors. He looked at Gwen and revealed a smile.

It wasn't the fake smile seen on Vought merchandise; it was a curve of the lips that made one truly feel he was happy to see you.

"Oh, let me think. You must be Gwen Stacy, right?"

"Hi, we meet again."

Gwen's mouth moved faster than her brain.

"Hi, Mr. Li Zuguo. I didn't expect you to remember me."

She regretted it a little as soon as she said it; it was too generic. Everyone in the U.S. who met him probably said the same thing.

Li Zuguo didn't show that "here we go again" expression. He took a step forward, shortening the distance to within a normal social range.

"Of course I remember. That day, everyone was running away, but you were the only one who bravely stood your ground. I mentioned it on The Ellen Show."

Gwen felt a bit ashamed.

"Mr. Li Zuguo, actually, I'm not as brave as you think."

Li Zuguo shook his head.

"No. An ordinary high school student, facing that kind of monster without screaming or breaking down—do you know what that means?"

Gwen shook her head, feeling curious at the same time.

Li Zuguo said earnestly.

"It means you have a brave heart."

Raven, standing nearby, lifted her eyelids slightly and then lowered them again. As long as it wasn't Natasha, it was fine.

Li Zuguo continued.

"I've met many superheroes. Some have strength, speed, and can fly, but they aren't necessarily brave, because bravery isn't given by superpowers; it's innate."

Li Zuguo extended his right hand with a natural gesture. Gwen looked down at that hand; the knuckles were slender and clean, and the nails were neatly trimmed.

As if possessed, she reached out and took it. His fingers were long, and his palm felt very warm.

Gwen was stunned herself; what on earth was she doing?

Li Zuguo was slightly taken aback, but the situation was still within his control. He took the opportunity to hold Gwen's hand, looking into her beautiful blue eyes.

"You have the potential to be a superhero, Gwen. Not everyone has a brave heart; it shines like gold."

Gwen's throat moved. He said she was an ordinary person with the potential to be a superhero, but standing before Homelander, being looked at by those eyes, and being struck by that phrase "brave heart," Gwen Stacy realized she had developed a thought she had never had before.

"Thank you, Mr. Li Zuguo."

[Superhero Value +10000 (from Spider-Woman)]

Gwen tried her best to make her voice sound steady, polite, and decorous.

Looking at the prompt on the panel, Li Zuguo thought, *This works too?*

But the system soon gave a prompt: because Gwenpossessed a heroic heart, she also qualified.

This was truly a pleasant surprise. Spider-Man's Superhero Value was unexpectedly easy to farm, and Li Zuguo felt it necessary to return the favor.

If he happened to draw Compound V in the future, he might let Gwen try it.

At the same time, he prepared to brush up on his public speaking and communication skills. Often, an inspiring speech and choice of words could be more useful than fighting crime.

The combined effect of the two was far more than 1+1=2.

"No need to thank me; you deserve the praise. See you on stage later."

Seeing Li Zuguo preparing to leave, Gwen, out of some selfish desire, stopped him. Raven saw this and was about to step forward to block her, but Li Zuguo stopped her.

"Gwen, is there anything else?"

"May I know your name, Mr. Homelander?"

Li Zuguo asked in return.

"Is that important?"

Gwen nodded: "It's important to me."

"Lucien Lee."

[Superhero Value +5000 (from Spider-Woman)]

Li Zuguo liked spiders; he loved spiders to death!

Gwen read the name to herself, but Li Zuguo had already left first—the speech was also important.

After Li Zuguo left, the dean nearby was almost crying—the touched kind.

"Student Stacy, you are amazing. Mr. Li Zuguo's evaluation of you is surprisingly high."

...

Gymnasium.

The scattered applause faded.

The principal wiped his sweat, placed the microphone on the stand, and retreated behind the curtain. Hundreds of students below were still whispering, no one caring about what had been said in the opening remarks.

"Next segment."

Before the announcement was finished, a beam of light exploded through the dome of the gymnasium. A hole was torn in the skylight, and a figure descended slowly amidst the golden sunlight.

Vought's photographers snapped pictures frantically; every single shot was perfect and ready for publication!

Li Zuguo hovered in mid-air, his cape snapping in the air currents. He landed slowly, and the moment his boots touched the stage floor, the entire gymnasium went wild.

Screams and cheers merged into one.

A girl in the front row collapsed to the ground, her legs going weak.

Li Zuguo stood still. Sunlight poured down from the broken skylight, hitting his face perfectly, his features and jawline well-defined.

"Children."

Li Zuguo spoke. The whole venue instantly quieted down; hundreds of people held their breath. He didn't need a microphone.

"I'm not here today to lecture you on grand principles. Standing here today, I want to talk to you about..."

On stage, Li Zuguo talked about responsibility, courage, and how young people were the future of this country. Every sentence hit the beat, and every pause was just right.

His gaze swept across the crowd, occasionally landing on a student, making that person feel as if they had been chosen.

Gwen looked at Homelander on stage, genuinely feeling that he was shining, her inner admiration unconcealed.

[Superhero Value +3000 (from Spider-Woman)]

During a pause in Li Zuguo's speech.

A strand of white silk stuck to the metal beam on the edge of the skylight, and a red and blue figure swung in through the beam of light, did a somersault in mid-air, and landed on the left side of the stage.

He landed in a crouch, one knee on the ground, one hand supporting him on the floor.

It was Spider-Man!

The whole venue fell into dead silence.

The occasional cheer was suppressed; everyone wanted to know why Spider-Man had appeared so suddenly.

Li Zuguo wasn't angry about being interrupted; he was just curious about what Peter wanted from him, after all, he had inexplicably provided two thousand Superhero Value points just a moment ago.

Peter's voice came from behind the mask. He felt the situation was serious and couldn't care about anything else.

"Mr. Homelander, I'm sorry to interrupt your speech, but I need your help."