Ashley was covered in sweat and didn't dare respond to Homelander.
She said quietly, "Mr. Batalon's reporter asked me to ask you: the president has already released his statement first, so should his news still be reported?"
Homelander shook his glass and smiled, "Report it."
"Why wouldn't we?"
"At the very least, everyone needs to know what the president did."
Ashley wiped away some sweat and said, "Also, the White House called. The president wants to meet with you."
"What do you think?"
Homelander glanced at the party behind him, "Sure."
"But not now."
"I have guests to entertain."
"Tell him to come see me at Seven's Tower tomorrow."
Ashley hurriedly nodded, "I'll go reply to the White House right away."
After Ashley left, Homelander took out his phone and called Victoria Neuman.
A few seconds later, the call connected.
Homelander smiled, "Come to Seven's Tower tonight. I have some good news to tell you tomorrow morning."
After Neuman agreed, she asked with a laugh, ["Why do you have to wait until tomorrow morning to tell me?"]
["Can't you tell me now?"]
Homelander took a sip of the vodka in his glass, "Then there'd be no surprise."
["All right."]
["I like surprises the most."]
["I'll come over after I finish the work at hand."]
The call ended.
Homelander put down his phone. Seeing Starlight looking toward him, he gave her a slight nod, then turned around and looked at New York's jewel-like, dazzling nightscape.
Starlight withdrew her gaze. Suddenly, she felt someone watching her. She turned her head and saw Maeve approaching with a smile.
Coming up beside Starlight, Maeve picked up a grilled steak from a food stall and said, "Do you need me to help you?"
Starlight gave Maeve an inquiring look.
"You wanted to talk to Homelander just now, didn't you?"
Maeve cut off a small piece of beef, skewered it directly with her knife, and brought it to her mouth.
Starlight reacted strongly.
"No, I didn't."
"I just happened to see him."
"It's not what you think."
"My stomach feels a little uncomfortable. I need to go to the bathroom."
"Excuse me."
Watching Starlight flee the venue as if for her life, Maeve laughed.
"If you didn't want to that much, why are you getting so worked up?"
At that moment, the reporters nearby let out startled exclamations.
"Did you get the news?"
"The president has already released an apology statement at the White House."
"Mr. Batalon has also reported on the president meeting with the superhuman criminal at the military base today."
"Well, things are getting lively now. Who knows how many people won't be able to sleep tonight."
Hearing this, Maeve picked up a glass of wine and walked over to Homelander.
Homelander glanced at her, "Come to my room tonight."
Maeve raised an eyebrow, "Can I refuse?"
Homelander shrugged, "Suit yourself."
Maeve turned around and looked at the reporters, "The president has already made the first move."
Homelander nodded, "I know. But it doesn't matter."
"Some things can't be salvaged through one or two rounds of PR."
"Especially when his opponent is me."
Maeve looked at his confident smile, and her breathing became slightly heavier. She said, "Tonight, I'm going to be on top."
Homelander froze for a moment, then smiled, "That depends on whether Neuman agrees."
Maeve immediately looked toward him.
"She can't beat me."
Homelander looked up at the night sky with a broad smile, "Tonight is going to be lively."
Just as he said, tonight really was lively.
After the president's apology from the White House went public, it immediately sparked a wave of questions.
Once Batalon's news came out, the entire Federation erupted.
People voiced their opinions on forums and across the internet. Often, they could argue for hundreds of posts over a single question or point of view.
Later, the focus of the argument became whether the president had known in advance that the Soldier Boy he was meeting was a superhuman criminal.
Those supporting the president insisted that Rick Archibald had been deceived.
The opposing side pointed out that Soldier Boy had already caused destruction in Midtown earlier, so the president could not possibly have been unaware.
The two sides argued fiercely, causing the number of people online across the Federation that night to break a new high.
The battle in Homelander's room at Seven's Tower that night was also intense.
Maeve and Neuman fought fiercely over who would take the initiative.
The intense battle continued until almost dawn.
When Homelander woke up, he moved Neuman's hand away and shifted Maeve's leg aside before he could get out of bed.
He took a shower, changed into casual clothes, and then had someone bring breakfast.
After taking a sip of milk, Homelander saw a helicopter flying over from the distance. It looked like it was going to land on the rooftop of Seven's Tower.
"Here early."
Homelander finished the milk in two or three gulps, walked to the door, and knocked.
"Get up, ladies."
"We have guests."
A moment later, in the corridor on the 99th floor of Seven's Tower, President Rick Archibald, accompanied by General Mac, was walking toward the CEO's office.
Homelander would receive them there.
General Mac's face was as dark as the sky before a storm, "This is too much!"
He said in a low voice, "Homelander actually made you, Mr. President, come to him. What does he mean by that?"
"Does he think he can already place himself above the entire Federation?"
President Rick Archibald was not as impulsive.
He could even still smile, "General, hasn't Homelander always been above the Federation?"
"I don't mind lowering myself to come see him."
"As long as he's willing to meet, there's still room to ease this situation."
"No matter what, that's still better than an all-out war."
General Mac knew that as well. He simply still couldn't accept it.
Soon, they arrived at the office.
From a distance, they saw Homelander's assistant, Ashley, waiting at the door with Vought executives.
"Welcome, Mr. President."
"This is such an honor."
"Can I take a picture with you?", Ashley said excitedly.
It was her first time facing the president in person. After all, given her position, normally she would never have such an opportunity in her lifetime.
Rick said very generously, "Of course."
So while Ashley shook his hand, someone beside them was already recording the moment with a camera.
"This way, please."
After shaking hands and taking a photo with the president, Ashley hurriedly opened the office door and invited the president and General Mac inside.
She closed the door again, then said to the person taking the photos, "Hurry, send the pictures to Batalon and have him publish them in the newspaper."
"Once the newspaper comes out, our company's stock is going to rise!"
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