"The World's first natural Mutant…"
Ron narrowed his eyes.
This was the first sentence Stormfront had said to him.
Was this why Stormfront abandoned Homelander to find him?
Following this line of reasoning… did Vought Corporation have something specifically designed to counter Mutants created by Compound V?
But in the original plot, Stormfront didn't seem particularly keen on building a good relationship with Ryan.
Because Ryan was still young?
But it would only take a few years, and for a century-old faction that had been suppressed for decades and for Stormfront, who was hundreds of years old, this time wasn't particularly long.
"Or perhaps this point, while important, isn't particularly crucial?"
Ron thought to himself, having deduced some key information in just a few seconds.
"Ron, what did that woman mean by the first supernatural human?"
Suddenly, Starlight looked up, frowned, and asked.
"That woman?"
She, who had just been the only one to applaud and welcome Stormfront, now referred to Stormfront as 'that woman'.
Because she had just noticed that Stormfront seemed to be subtly seducing Ron, and in fact, the very open Stormfront hadn't intended to hide it at all.
"As a Superhero, have you never wondered why there have never been evil Mutants in the World?"
Ron glanced at her and asked.
"Uh—because God chose?"
Starlight was born into a religious family and, using the mainstream explanation she had heard in church, blinked and tried to answer.
"Have you forgotten Ezekiel, who your followers hailed as a Superhero representative, hugging and kissing two men in that club?"
He raised an eyebrow, speechless.
The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is a sin, a detestable and shameful act.
"…"
Seeing Starlight fall silent, Ron revealed the truth: "Actually, Vought Corporation is not a company that signs and operates Superheroes, but a pharmaceutical company, with its main product being Compound V…"
"Vought Corporation is a pharmaceutical company? But…"
If Ron hadn't said it, Starlight would have started to doubt upon hearing this, but thinking that Ron wouldn't lie to her, she instead asked.
"What is Compound V?"
Looking deeply at Starlight, Ron said: "A miraculous invention that can transform infants into Mutants…"
"And you…"
After a while.
"Wait a minute, Ron, are you saying my abilities aren't natural?
I became a Mutant because my mother had Vought Corporation inject me with Compound V when I was little!"
"Yes."
Although a bit cruel, that was the truth.
"How could this be? How could she do this to me?!"
Her face pale, Starlight took two steps back, unable to accept it.
After hearing everything, the impact of this news on her was immense, and she immediately felt a deep sense of betrayal and anger.
Her entire life had apparently been secretly controlled and decided by her mother, and she had been kept in the dark until now.
If Ron hadn't told her, she might have been kept in the dark indefinitely.
…
Upon learning the truth, Starlight went home and had a big fight with her mother, leaving home in a huff. Ron comforted her well for a few days in his apartment.
A few days later, Stormfront, who had been severely frustrated and lost confidence after Ron's initial move, and hadn't seen him for days, turned to Homelander.
One had ulterior motives and pretended to be unintentional, while the other feigned ignorance and deliberately cooperated.
As one of the organizers and participants of the first Superhero party, Stormfront's openness goes without saying, and Homelander liked her type. The two quickly got together like dry wood and raging Fire, passionately in love.
Although Stormfront had her own agenda, always wanting to implement the Nazi ideology of Aryan Superman and cleansing the entire World, she didn't forget the goal of her faction.
Homelander pretended to be immersed in her 'uniquely charming' tender embrace, and was 'recruited' along the way, easily extracting information from her.
…
This day, inside Vought Corporation.
"President Ron, I might have found a Superhero suitable to join The Seven and fill A-Train's vacant spot."
Ashley said cautiously and flatteringly, leading the way and bringing Ron to a spacious training room.
A short man, agile as a monkey, wielded a long staff with powerful swings, then suddenly threw the staff, easily piercing through a rubber dummy, displaying extraordinary strength.
"President, please allow me to introduce you to the Superhero Blindspot. If he can join The Seven, it will certainly demonstrate Vought Corporation's inclusivity and 'diversity'."
She emphasized, looking at the Superhero she had chosen.
Blindspot heard their voices and ran over. He wore a gray blindfold over his eyes and, using his powerful hearing to pinpoint sounds, excitedly approached them.
"Dark Star, I… oh, one of the strongest Superheroes on Earth. It's an honor to meet you, Sir."
"You can find me without using your eyes?"
"Yes, I can hear the rustling of wind and grass hundreds of meters away, and easily distinguish other people's voices and heartbeats."
Looking at the Japanese-American hero Blindspot, Ron raised an eyebrow, then turned to Ashley, repeating a phrase with a pointed meaning.
"Inclusivity and 'diversity'?"
"Yes."
Ashley looked uneasy, asking nervously.
"Is… is there anything wrong, President?"
"No, you did very well. This is indeed very important for Vought Corporation.
It's just… not inclusive enough, not 'diverse' enough!"
Shaking his head, Ron looked at Blindspot.
"You can hear the wind, hear the rustling of grass?"
"That's right, Sir." Blindspot puffed out his chest, somewhat proud. Although blind, his other auditory senses were extremely powerful.
"Then what if I do this?"
Ron's gaze was playful, like looking at a ridiculous monkey.
The next second, heat vision shot out instantly.
Blindspot didn't react at all, and a brand new Deep #2 was created.
"Ah…"
A piercing scream echoed in the room. Blindspot writhed on the ground, clutching his groin in pain, blood flowing everywhere.
"You can hear the wind, but can you hear the light?"
Turning and slowly walking away, a disdainful voice left two commands.
"Take him for a sex change operation. When he comes back, arrange a Black boyfriend for him, have him claim he was bullied in school as a child, that he's a vegetarian, supports women's rights, animal protection, and environmental protection, and then have him join The Seven."
"As for better demonstrating Vought Corporation's inclusivity and diversity, don't let him stay at headquarters. Arrange for him to give speeches everywhere."
"Yes… yes, Sir."
Ashley, who had been stunned by the string of words, looked at Blindspot, who was almost unconscious from pain, and cold sweat ran down her forehead. She quickly came to her senses and responded.
…
Back in his office, Ron sat down and called Homelander, preparing to ask about his gains.
Homelander pushed the door open, but meeting his cold gaze, he instinctively stepped back and knocked on the door.
His actions were faster than his thoughts. When he reacted, he felt a little sad in his heart. This retreat was just a small step in reality, but it represented a big step in the decline of patriarchy.
After letting Homelander in, Ron stared and asked.
"Did you get the information I asked for?"
"This is the first time I've learned that Vought Corporation has so many things I didn't know about."
Recalling what he had learned from Stormfront, Homelander's expression became unusually grim and serious.
To recruit someone to one's own side, one cannot possibly not reveal who the enemy is and how powerful the enemy is.
He pretended to be infatuated with Stormfront, which made Stormfront lower her guard and tell him some of Vought Corporation's deepest secrets.
"Such as?"
"Vought Corporation has an antidote called Anti-Compound V, which can suppress the mutated genes caused by Compound V and temporarily eliminate a person's superpowers."
"It can be poisoned, it can be sprayed…"
At this point, Homelander looked at Ron.
"She said that because of this, Vought Corporation is never afraid of creating powerful Mutants they cannot deal with.
Including… including me!"
He clenched his fists, his voice difficult and tinged with anger.
Had he always been seen as a self-important Joker in the eyes of the true Vought Corporation executives?
Although Homelander had Super Speed, given his usual arrogant and careless personality, it was not impossible for him to be ambushed if he was momentarily unaware.
"Oh?"
Ron looked thoughtful, it was pretty close to what he had guessed.
Even people outside Vought Corporation had things to counter Mutants, so it was impossible for Vought Corporation itself, which developed Compound V, not to have research in this area.
"She also said that if anyone isn't afraid of Anti-Compound V, it might only be you."
Homelander added.
Anti-Compound V was like many things in other Universes that specifically countered Mutants, but couldn't counter other super-powered individuals.
"Might?"
He caught that word and asked.
"There have never been natural Mutants before. You and Ryan are the only two.
Ryan completely inherited my abilities, perhaps his mutated genes inherited from me, and are also affected by Anti-Compound V.
And you are like a second mutation, perhaps…"
Ron understood and waved his hand, signaling him not to say more.
"Let's talk about the true controllers of Vought Corporation now."