"People inside, listen up. You're surrounded. Put down your weapons and surrender!"
Outside the motel, a stern voice rang out.
Mallory looked at Frenchie and said, "Do you still have a Temp No. 5?"
Frenchie nodded and took out a bottle of green liquid, "This is the last bottle."
"Ma'am, you don't know."
"Every time I use it, I feel awful afterward. It's like being soaked in a vat of alcohol day and night."
Mallory said, "Right now, either you use it to get us out of here, and then we worry about feeling awful afterward."
"Or we put our hands up and surrender. Which one do you choose?"
Frenchie pulled up his sleeve, "I swear, I'm never going back to prison again."
"Not even if I die."
He drew Temp No. 5 into a syringe and looked at the TV, "I never thought the president would be this shameless, actually pulling something like burning the bridge after crossing it."
Mallory smiled as she smoked, "Do you think he's a good person?"
"Compared to his political career, sacrificing you and me doesn't amount to anything."
"But if he won't let me have an easy time, then he can't blame me for not holding back."
Frenchie looked at her, "Ma'am, what are you planning to do?"
Mallory took out a handgun, "Whatever we do, we have to get out of here first."
"Are you ready yet?"
Frenchie pushed all the drug in the syringe into his body. He closed his eyes, and streaks of light flashed through his veins.
He took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, blue snakes of electricity were already leaping between his hands.
Frenchie glanced at Mallory, "All right. Let's make a big scene."
———
[Outside the Motel]
The FBI had surrounded the area. Dozens of police cars formed a circle, and three helicopters were circling overhead.
With this kind of setup, forget people, even flies wouldn't be able to get out.
At that moment, someone inside shouted, "We surrender. We're coming out. Don't shoot."
The helicopters' lights fell on the motel. Two people walked out into the light.
An operations supervisor looked at his tablet and compared their appearances. He confirmed that they were the former Security Department member Mallory, whom they were after, and a Frenchman named Frenchie.
The operations supervisor picked up the radio and used the loudspeaker on a police car to call out, "Now, get down on the ground and put your hands where I can see them."
"Okay."
"No problem."
"Go to hell!"
Frenchie shouted and thrust both hands toward the operations supervisor. Electricity jumped through the space between his palms and the operations supervisor.
Then a bolt of lightning flashed and struck the police car beside the operations supervisor.
BOOM!
The police car's fuel tank exploded.
Flames erupted, sending the police car and everyone nearby flying.
At the same time, Mallory, who had dropped to the ground, also shot and blew up the fuel tank of a police car with her handgun.
Then Frenchie released balls of electricity toward the helicopters in the sky.
Crackling currents swept across the three helicopters like whips. Their engines immediately failed, alarms sounded in the cockpits, and the pilots desperately pulled on the controls, but could only watch helplessly as the helicopters crashed into the motel, into the ground, and into the police cars.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out, and the FBI and police began shooting at Frenchie.
But Frenchie, temporarily transformed into a superhuman, was impervious to bullets. When bullets struck him, he didn't feel a thing.
"Although that stuff really packs a punch afterward."
"But every time I use it, it feels damn good."
"This feeling of being able to do anything is really great!"
Frenchie whistled, then began spinning in circles, balls of electricity continuously roaring away from his hands.
Anyone hit by the electricity was instantly charred, while the cars short-circuited and exploded.
By the time Frenchie finished his spin, some of the FBI agents and police were dead, others were injured, and they were no longer capable of capturing them.
Only then did Mallory get back to her feet and brush the dirt and dust off herself, "Let's go."
She walked ahead.
As they passed several police cars, an injured police officer raised his handgun toward her.
Without even looking at him, Mallory shot and killed the officer.
"Ma'am, where are we going?", Frenchie hurried after her.
"New York!", Mallory shouted.
———
[New York]
Under the dark sky, the city at night was like a dazzling jewel, glittering with captivating light.
Every building and every beam of light in the city told its own story in the depths of the night, creating an irresistible charm.
The towering skyscrapers were each decorated with colorful lights, like imposing giants quietly looking down upon the city below.
The skyscrapers of Manhattan looked even more magnificent at night. Their glass windows reflected the moonlight and lights, making the city appear even more dazzling.
The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, these iconic buildings appeared even more solemn in the night.
Homelander stood on the rooftop of Seven's Tower, looking down over the city.
Like a master surveying his own backyard.
With a smile on his lips, Homelander raised his glass and took a small sip.
Behind him, a grand party was taking place.
Right on the open-air rooftop of Seven's Tower, glittering colored lights decorated the entire venue like a dream.
On the huge main stage, a large screen played upbeat music, while bright lights flashed onstage, stirring everyone's hearts.
On the artificial grass, countless balloons and colorful flags drifted in the breeze, seemingly complementing the stars in the night sky.
Food stalls were scattered everywhere. The aromas of barbecue, pastries, ice cream, and all kinds of other food filled the air. The reporters attending the party held food in their hands, eating and chatting, smiles all over their faces.
In the music pavilion, a professional band was playing pop music. The singing echoed through the night sky, making people sway along with the music.
On the small stage beside it, a dance performance was underway. The performers were dressed in elaborate outfits and danced with enthusiasm.
Ashley had also invited a popular singer, who was performing onstage.
The lights and sounds of the party could be seen and heard even from a block away.
At this moment, Ashley hurried over and handed a tablet computer to Homelander, "Something happened, sir."
Homelander raised an eyebrow and took the tablet. On the screen, President Rick Archibald spoke with a solemn expression.
["Members of the press, viewers watching this screen, and citizens of the Federation."]
["I want to take this opportunity to formally offer my deepest apologies to Homelander."]
["Because I was deceived by Mallory, a former Security Department employee, I made an incorrect judgment about Homelander."]
["I mistakenly believed that Homelander intended to destroy this country, so I followed Mallory's advice and secretly met with a superhuman."]
Listening to the president's apology, Homelander laughed, "I never thought the president had a trick like this up his sleeve."
"No wonder he's the president. He's shifted the blame onto Mallory. That way, if I do anything to him, I'll become the unreasonable one who doesn't understand the bigger picture."
"Ashley, learn from this. This is what you call PR."