Chapter 131: She's Charging In!
"What's that?" Lorelei pointed curiously at the small black dot approaching in the distance, her hand—
"It's a helicopter, dear," one of the youths vied to say, his voice fast and urgent as if afraid of being interrupted, while the others glared at him.
"Did you call for it?"
"Of course not, we'd like nothing more than to have you all to ourselves!" another youth hurriedly shook his head.
"Yes, you are so beautiful, you should only be held in the palms of our hands," another person chimed in.
"Hehe." Lorelei covered her mouth and chuckled, her fingertips lightly touching her lips.
She loved the way these Stinking Dogs acted, vying to lick her feet and rushing to pledge their loyalty, like a pack of well-fed dogs wagging their tails while waiting for the next meal.
The helicopter in the distance seemed to have noticed them—or more accurately, it had noticed those severed body parts.
The dismembered remains hanging from the withered trees swayed gently in the hot wind, blood dripping down from the severed edges.
"This magic-less bitch still has such a twisted sense of humor, torturing and humiliating her own kind just to show off," Valkyrie looked down disdainfully from above.
"It's quite something, isn't it, Sif? I heard you were the one responsible for this Witch." Green's hand rested on Sif's fair buttocks as he flicked his cigarette ash.
"The Master says what he says," Sif answered with hollow, numb eyes, her body already compliant. However, her face was turned toward Thor, while Thor didn't spare her a single glance the whole time, focusing intently on the writing brush in front of him.
"Fallen in love? My little prince, she's very dangerous," Valkyrie teased.
"Her ability is decent." Green's gaze fell upon Lorelei, who was sitting on a human chair spontaneously formed by the youths.
There weren't many prey left who could actively demonstrate their own value.
Valkyrie glanced at him strangely.
What the hell?!
Facing the Witch known in the Nine Realms for having the strongest charm ability against the opposite sex, his first thought was actually her power—or rather, that artifact around her neck.
"She really is quite like His Majesty." She felt increasingly regretful in her heart, but she also felt it was right.
This little prince was also the most outstanding; naturally, he had the right to choose his breeding partners, while the inferior Thor was merely a breeding machine.
Thor, that simple-minded big oaf, had spilled everything. She knew Green's capabilities; he was definitely the first in line for the throne of Asgard.
"If possible, I truly hope you would consider me, my prince. All my rooms are open to you, and they are very sturdy."
She couldn't help but say it with feigned casualness, her fingers tightening on the control stick.
"Just do what you're supposed to do," Green said coldly. He didn't want Odin to get desperate seeing all his sons' mates snatched away by him.
Valkyrie's expression turned solemn, and she submissively lowered her eyes to show her obedience.
"Yes." It seemed the daily juicing time needed to be extended so she could be liberated sooner.
The feeling of having the best right beside her but not being able to taste it was too painful, especially having to watch her own sister eat so reluctantly and messily.
Argh!! So annoying!!
She had never hated her status as a Valkyrie so much!! Give me sexual freedom!!
She wished she could strip off her Midgardian uniform and throw it out the window, jumping naked into that wasteland to let the hot wind dry her whole body.
"This is truly the most grueling mission!"
She might as well hurry back to her arena to be a thug and find a few more wealthy Sovereign suckers to play with.
Those gold-skinned people were fussy, but they were generous—one opening of their mouths and it was Anulax Batteries, enough to buy her wine for several lifetimes.
[Note: Sovereign: A genetically engineered perfect race possessing a staggering reserve of high-priced Anulax Batteries; their wealth is sufficient to hire mercenaries from across the galaxy and maintain an intergalactic drone fleet;]
[Their society is highly affluent with almost no resource shortages, making them one of the most visibly wealthy civilizations in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.]
Valkyrie felt like life wasn't worth living, so she decided to turn up the intensity on Thor.
Thor, standing in front of her, suddenly shuddered, having a very bad premonition.
"I've already submitted to this crazy woman; she doesn't want to try another weird position, does she?" He felt a bit nervous.
The helicopter jolted slightly in the heat waves, the dust stirred up by the rotors rolling in like a massive yellow curtain, covering everything.
The landing gear hit the ground, and the helicopter settled steadily.
Lorelei raised her hand to shield herself from the rushing dust, the back of her hand over her eyes, her eyelashes trembling in the wind.
Having developed her charm-based magic to the extreme, she knew no other magic at all. It could be said that aside from her Asgardian physique, she was no different from an ordinary person; those grains of sand hitting her face were painful.
Lorelei squinted, looking impatiently as the propellers stopped spinning and the people inside pushed open the door and stepped out.
When the people who walked out felt somewhat familiar, an uneasy feeling rose in her heart.
"Isn't this..."
After seeing the people clearly, her expression turned to shock.
The people who walked out were Valkyrie, the sole survivor of the Elite Valkyrie Legion, looking furious;
Thor, the pale-faced Crown Prince of Asgard;
Sif, her former jailer, who looked expressionless and radiated a "don't mess with me" aura, yet had a satisfied flush on her face;
And a seemingly unremarkable but strong Midgardianman.
"No way..."
Lorelei's lower eyelid twitched. To capture her alone, they had deployed three of Asgard's most elite Second-generation lineup? What had she done to deserve this?!
Obviously, Green had been ignored by her.
"Hi, little bitch, long time no see. Do you still remember the taste of my writing brush?"
Valkyrie started the confrontation immediately, her eyes carrying a contemptuous, condescending smile.
"Fuck you!"
Lorelei cursed back with a nasty expression. Back then, it was Valkyrie who had led a squad to break through her line of hounds, decapitated her command, and locked her up.
"600 years! Do you know how I've lived through these 600 years?!"
"Even if I am guilty, I have already redeemed my crimes after so much time."
"I suggest you think clearly about your current situation and stop talking nonsense to me."
Valkyrie's eyes narrowed, her knife-like killing intent making Lorelei tremble, not daring to say another word.
Although this woman looked casual and carefree, only Lorelei knew how cold-blooded this person who survived the ancient War of the Gods was, and how deep her loyalty to Asgard ran.
Lorelei lowered her head in silence, her hands clenched. She was unwilling to accept being sent back right after coming out; it would have been better never to have tasted freedom at all!
"Dear, don't be unhappy, we'll kill them for you!"
"Exactly, let's go together and tear their flesh off! We'll rip out their hearts to apologize to you!"
Those youths were enraged and shouted one after another, like a pack of dogs waiting for their Master's command to bite.
"Truly troublesome."
Sif, with a fierce look in her eyes, drew her sword and pointed it at Lorelei.
"Surrender, or die!"
She was also full of fire! Although it wasn't just anger...
*Clack, clack, clack.*
Lorelei ground her teeth, staring intently at the four of them. Her gaze slowly moved toward Green, who seemed the weakest, and her eyes suddenly lit up. She had found a way to break the deadlock!
Her intention was almost undisguised to the four experienced warriors.
"Heh."
Green smiled. Seeing that he was interested, the other three tacitly moved a step to the side.
"Kill them!"
Lorelei made a decisive call, pointing at Valkyrie and the other two. Those youths charged forward with howls, while she herself rushed toward Green.
In less than a second, the youths who ran faster than her were taken out by the three.
Valkyrie's blade sliced into the first person's throat and came out the back of the neck, blood spraying everywhere.
Sif's sword plunged into the second person's chest, twisted, and pulled out, bringing a piece of broken rib with it.
Thor hesitated slightly and only broke his opponent's legs. The man screamed and knelt on the ground, rolling around clutching his legs.
But he was immediately finished off by Valkyrie and Sif. Valkyrie's blade split his head from the top, and Sif's sword cut across his neck; he couldn't be more dead.
"Useless," Sif glared at Thor.
Thor opened his mouth but chose to remain silent. He couldn't bring himself to be so decisive against these people who looked just like him.
At the same time, Lorelei's hand touched Green's arm. magic surged from her palm like a virus, trying to infect Green.
"Quick! Take me away! If they dare to follow, you kill yourself!"
She shouted repeatedly, her voice urgent and sharp, the end of her words rising, because she saw the three of them looking over.
But the expected movement of this Midgardian protecting her behind him didn't happen.
He didn't move.
"Hurry, hurry!!"
Lorelei desperately shook Green's arm, her screams sounding exactly like the girl who was being chased earlier.
The same urgency, the same despair.
But Green still had no reaction.
Lorelei also realized something.
Her urging voice gradually faded, as if someone had turned down the volume. She stiffly raised her head with a look of disbelief.
Her beautiful eyes trembled, her pupils reflecting his face—that indifferent face looking down at her, the corners of his mouth hooked in a dry arc.
"You... why are you unaffected?"
"Your desires cannot satisfy me."
Green raised his hand and squeezed her neck.
"Ugh..."
Cold sweat broke out on Lorelei's back, droplets trickling down her spine and soaking a small patch of her elegant dress.
Her body was stiff and couldn't move because it had automatically judged that she couldn't escape the death brought by the person before her and chose to accept it.
And at this moment, she realized how laughable her assumption had been.
This Midgardian... was the most terrifying one!!
Green's knuckles tightened, his grip locking just below her Adam's apple.
He wasn't in a hurry to use too much force, instead slowly increasing the pressure.
Lorelei was like a butterfly caught in a pair of pliers.
Her bloodshot eyes turned toward the others, her left hand struggling to lift.
"Save... me..."
Her tongue protruded, and she spoke unclearly, her eyes gradually rolling back.
"I told you to understand your situation, but unfortunately... you were too arrogant," Valkyrie curled her lip.
"I'll miss you, beauty. Not!"
Thor turned his head away. These days, besides paying his dues, he was forced by Green's orders to learn.
He was also gradually understanding his position. If Green didn't take the throne, he would have to step up.
Everyone in Asgard would be his responsibility. As the Crown Prince, he couldn't question Green for the sake of a Witch who plagued the Nine Realms.
Moreover, Green was his brother, a brother who grew up lonely without the love of parents. What wrong could he do?
Yes, Thor had gone directly to check Green's files, and Green had thrown them to him. This guy didn't even really know how to use a search engine.
As a result, the Green in Thor's eyes now had a layer of filter that Green himself didn't even know about.
Sif, however, was breathing strangely fast, her eyes focused on Lorelei's face.
Her pupils dilated, her lips parted slightly, and her chest heaved, as if she, also a victim of Green, had already projected herself into the situation.
Her hand gripped the hilt of her sword, knuckles turning white, then loosened, then tightened again.
Not long after.
*Crack!*
With a crisp sound, Lorelei's gorgeous face, now twisted with an ugly expression, was strangled to death by Green.
Her hands fell, her fingers still slightly curled as if trying to grasp something, but she caught nothing. Her body went limp in Green's hands like a bag of meat with the bones removed.
Chapter 132: This Curse... Should Be Fine
Gulp... gulp... gulp,
The eye of enchantment on Lorelei's neck sank into her flesh, emitting a chilling sucking sound,
Lorelei's body visibly shriveled,
her cheeks hollowed out and her cheekbones protruded; her skin went from plump to sagging, and from sagging to withered, like a sun-dried fruit,
while the golden surface of the eye of enchantmentbecame more lustrous, and the scales of the serpent body lit up one by one, like polished bronze.
The host, having lost her value, was suddenly consumed by this sentient artifact, or rather, had become a part of its power.
Green watched in silence until Lorelei turned into a pile of ashes in his hand, slipping through his fingers onto the ground and mixing with the sand, until it was impossible to tell which was human and which was dirt.
The pair of golden eyes on the eye of enchantment in his hand actually opened their lids, revealing charming eyes with emerald green pupils that were vertical, like a snake's,
it conveyed a strong sense of desire toward him, yet mixed with a hint of resentment, like a needle hidden in honey.
"Absurd."
Green's knuckles tightened, and the metal deformed in his palm with a creaking sound,
the eyes immediately showed an expression of pain; the pupils contracted, the eyeballs darted around, and it hurriedly begged for mercy,
but Green still did not stop. A woman's scream echoed from the eyes, and bloody tears flowed from the edges, trickling down the serpent's body and feeling cold as they dripped onto his fingers.
Green even added a burst of fel fire to burn it; crimson flames shot out from between his fingers, licking the metal and making a hissing sound.
[The eye of enchantment has sent a request to surrender. Accept? Yes/No]
"Accept."
[Throne Brand has been engraved]
The bloody tears on the necklace were now activated by the fel energy into blood-colored tentacles that wiggled like newly hatched snakes, probing the air,
and the rune from Green's throne lit up in those eyes before fading away. When it looked at Green again, its gaze was full of intimacy and dependence,
then it closed its eyes and returned to its original form, the serpent body lying quietly in his palm like an ordinary piece of jewelry.
Its attributes also appeared in Green's consciousness in digitized form.
[eye of enchantment]
Origin: Asgard · Odin's 17th Consort (Medusa Lineage)
Holding Requirements: Apprentice Demon King · Green Morgan and his subordinates
Trait 1: Opposite-Sex Enchantment Rank +1; effect diminishes on same-sex targets.
Trait 2: Adaptive Elemental Affinity (Original enchantment effect has been stripped; current slot is unconfigured)
Trait 3: Gaze of Petrification
High-rank mental projection skill that projects the image of the will onto the physical level, transforming the target's material structure into stone. Ineffective against High God-rank (Planet-rank) targets and above.
[Charge Count] 0/10 times per Earth day
Trait 4: Curse of Lorelei (Soul power amplification from previous holders)
The holder's attachment to Green Morgan is amplified by 150%—300%, manifesting as a pathological increase,
this effect is contagious and can affect nearby females who have favorable feelings toward Green Morgan.
[Note] This effect is judged by the system as a positive buff and is deeply bound to the artifact's traits. Forced removal will result in the simultaneous invalidation of all the above traits.
Description: I love you, Odin. Even if you cut off my head in the midst of our pleasure, I will still love you.
"A curse too?" Green frowned, but he didn't take it seriously. Although the curse was strange, it didn't seem very powerful.
"You guys are certainly relaxed." He stuffed the necklace into his pocket and glanced at the three onlookers and the corpses on the ground.
The corpses lay scattered about, blood still seeping out and staining the sand a dark red.
"Don't kill me, I'll be obedient!"
Unexpectedly, Sif suddenly spoke up as if she had been triggered; she didn't want to go to Valhalla in such a humiliating way, or rather, she didn't want to die, especially not while shrouded in fear,
Green gave her a strange look, wondering what this woman was so afraid of. Did he look that scary?
"Are you... really a Midgardian?"
Valkyrie clicked her tongue. She had sensed the aura of an outer god from the power of the fire that had just emerged from Green's palm.
"Nonsense."
"If you say so..." Valkyrie was clearly skeptical,
In fact, she was more curious about what kind of creature His Majesty had mated with to produce Green, and judging by Green's appearance, His Majesty's genes were still dominant.
Impressive! Various strange images flashed through her mind, and the corner of her mouth twitched.
"Let's go, next destination."
Green didn't bother with the daydreaming woman and walked toward the helicopter,
this thing wouldn't last that far; they had to switch to something with a longer range to reach the other locations.
Well, he heard the Spanish barbecue and wine were good, so they'd go there first. Sif proactively followed behind Green.
"What about them..."
Thor looked at the carnage left on the ground; the dismembered remains hanging from the withered trees swayed gently in the hot wind.
"Please understand your current role, okay? I've adapted faster than you. I already arranged for the local state police to assist in the cleanup when I was on my way here, big boy."
Valkyrie rolled her eyes at him. She had already been integrated into the S.H.I.E.L.D. field Agent system by Green,
"Oh, I see." Thor scratched his head,
*Sigh*.
Valkyrie couldn't see a future for Asgard anymore. She looked at Green, who was walking toward the helicopter.
That little prince seemed the most reliable, but would he be willing to give up his power here to take over?
As for Loki, she didn't even consider him an option. He was too playful and too weak; even Hela ranked higher than him in her mind.
Valkyrie only cared about Asgard. No matter how much she hated it, she could endure it for Asgard's sake. At worst, she could just run away—out of sight, out of mind.
She walked toward the helicopter, with Thor following behind.
Just as the two of them were also walking toward the helicopter, a sonic boom suddenly echoed from the sky.
Someone patrolling their territory had noticed them, and the sonic boom grew louder and louder.
"No way! Are powerful gods appearing this frequently in this World?"
Valkyrie complained, spinning her blade in her hand with the edge facing up, as if waiting for something to drop down.
Green, however, looked as calm as ever, hands in his pockets, clearly having guessed who the visitor was.
A figure emerged from the clouds, trailing a red and blue streak across the blue sky as he rapidly descended.
With hands on his hips and knees bent, his Star-Spangled Banner cape fluttering behind him, he landed in front of Green.
"Hey! Bro."
Homelander bared two rows of very healthy-looking teeth as his gaze swept over the surroundings.
"What happened?"
"Oh no..."
Valkyrie's expression soured. Through the internet, she had naturally learned about this righteous hero who appeared on every channel—the spokesperson with the national flag cape, a sunny smile, and an overflowing sense of justice.
The key was that this guy wasn't just righteous; he was strong enough that he certainly wouldn't let them off easily.
Her fingers tightened on the hilt of her blade; it seemed things were about to get tricky.
"Killed a few people, and an alien visitor," Green said flatly.
"Don't just say it so casually! Try to negotiate or something, hey!"
Valkyrie was having a mini-breakdown. She was already calculating how to handle the other's aggressive reaction, her feet shifting back slightly, ready to cover Green at any moment.
To her surprise, Homelander simply nodded in understanding.
"I see. Have you arranged for someone to handle the scene? If not, I'll take care of it."
"Eh?"
Hearing his words, Valkyrie's expression went blank.
Wait, is the internet a lie? This behavior is way too abnormal, isn't it?
The Star-Spangled Banner cape was still draped over his shoulders, the red and blue spandex still clung to his muscular frame, and that face was still the picture of righteous indignation—but why did he sound like a mob boss?
"My subordinates have already handled it." Green pointed his thumb back at Valkyrie and the others.
"OK."
Homelander leaned to the side, his arm emerging from under his cape to wave at them.
"Hi~"
The sunlight hit his face; that smile was still very white, very righteous!
"Uh, hi..."
Valkyrie forced a smile, the corners of her mouth turning up while her eyes remained still.
It seemed her little prince was an acquaintance of his. Why did this feel like a gathering of evil gods?
Thor and Sif also responded with the same polite manner.
Homelander squinted as he observed them for a moment, then turned back and warmly patted Green on the shoulder.
"You haven't looked for me in a long time. Without you, I have to deal with the harassment of those idiots with no one to talk to."
"Don't you know how to video call? And where's my Toilet Girl?"
Not long ago, Homelander had sent over several lists of talent for Green to choose from, and Green had made his selection.
"It's all arranged. Her global tour finished the day before yesterday. We're building hype, redirecting the fans from Translucent's crowd,
who would've thought the goddess those creeps are drooling over on TV or cookie boxes every day is your plaything? Hehehe... want her now, Bro?"
"Sure, I'll have a taste first." Green readily agreed, then turned to give orders to the three others,
"Bring back those three pieces of the staff."
"Understood." The three nodded.
Homelander made a move to carry Green,
"Whoa, no thanks. You'll just go wild again in a bit." Green stepped back, placing a palm against his chest.
"Come on, Bro, how long has it been since we hung out?" Homelander leaned in closer.
With a thought from Green, black membranes unfurled from beneath his shoulder blades; the skeletal structure expanded, and the wingtips sliced through the air, stirring up a gust of wind.
"Wow, cool! A new skin." Homelander watched in surprise, but it was just surprise; he remained confident in his own power.
"Want to race?"
"Loser buys the drinks."
"Deal."
The two high-fived in unison with a crisp 'clap',
While Homelander was still warming up, Green kicked off the ground and soared directly into the air.
The dragon wings flapped behind him, and the airflow kicked up the sand and dust from the ground, hitting the three in the face.
*Pffft! Pffft!*
The three stood there speechlessly, like NPCs.
"Cheating again, my friend."
Homelander wasn't angry; he laughed and performed an inward-toed frog jump, catapulting himself upward like a cannonball.
In the blink of an eye, the two had vanished into the clouds.
Chapter 133: Withdrawn Thor
"Phew—two such willful guys." Valkyrie fanned the dust in front of her and cursed in annoyance.
She looked up at the clouds that had been pierced through, falling silent for a moment.
Hypocritical, cold, powerful—the superiors here seemed very adept at playing this part.
She began to feel a sense of awe for Midgard, a Worldrumored to be backward. Those who could survive in such a realistic environment were no pushovers.
"Heimdall! Send me back!"
Sif, standing before her, shouted toward the sky, her voice sharp and urgent.
"Heimdall, stop playing dead!"
"Alright, stop shouting. Can't you see you're already the Little Prince's private property?" Valkyrie felt helpless toward this sister who didn't realize how lucky she was.
"I don't have time to joke with you! I hate this place! I hate the air here! I hate the people here! I want to go back! Heimdall!" Sif continued to scream regardless.
"Ah~~ Fuck!" Valkyrie gave Thor a look and nodded her chin toward Sif, signaling him to handle it.
"Sif..." Thor had just started to approach,
"Get away, you gutless bastard! I hate you even more!"
Losing control of her emotions, Sif drew her sword and pressed it against Thor's neck, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Why didn't you stop him on the helicopter just now! You just watched—did you enjoy seeing me humiliated?!"
Her voice was sharp as she wailed.
Now that a certain terrifying individual had left, she finally dared to vent her emotions.
"You knew all along that I've always loved you, and what happened? You just let him pin me down in front of you, treated like some bitch to be toyed with at will, without any dignity! You didn't even give me a single glance!!"
Tears streamed down Sif's face as she pursed her trembling lips; her lips were shaking, her chin was shaking.
Her voice trembled with a pitiful plea.
"I came to save you..."
"Why... why weren't you willing to come and save me for once?"
Thor opened his mouth, his lips twitching slightly, before finally lowering his eyes. It was true he was strong, but when it came to these matters, he tended to shrink away, unwilling to face them—or perhaps, he was simply too tolerant.
Valkyrie drew her sword and flicked Sif's blade away.
The force was clever—not heavy, but very precise.
Sif's sword bounced away from Thor's neck, flipping through the air before its sharp half buried itself into the curb, the blade vibrating with a hum.
A small cut appeared on Thor's neck, a line of blood beads seeping out and trickling down.
"Enough. Remember your status." Valkyrie shot Sif a cold glance.
A woman driven to madness is capable of anything; she couldn't leave Thor's life in Sif's hands.
Valkyrie did not shear her sword; she let it hang at her side, blade down, ready to be raised at any moment.
"Status?" Sif gave a miserable smile, poking her finger at her own chest. Her smile was bitter, the corners of her mouth curling up while the corners of her eyes drooped.
"My status is that of a subject, a guard. I have done my duty. Even though Heimdall strictly forbade us from helping you with your trial, we came anyway."
She stepped closer, staring at Thor like a she-wolf, her tall stature almost allowing her to look him in the eye.
"Look into my eyes! Look at me!!"
Thor let out a breath and raised his head to meet her gaze.
"Look at what his subjects received? Betrayal."
"I would be willing to die for you, Sif," Thor said, his voice raspy.
"Is that so? But that's not what I want to hear."
Sif stared fixedly at Thor for a few seconds, the soft light in her eyes completely vanishing, replaced by a profound, cold severity.
"You are no longer my king."
"Not now, and never again."
After she finished speaking, she seemed to undergo a transformation; her aura became somewhat similar to Valkyrie's—hard, cold, and resolute.
She immediately turned, walked to the road to pull out her sword, and headed for the helicopter. Her pace was quick, as if she were tearing away the weak version of herself that had been standing there, foolishly waiting for an apology from Thor.
Leaving behind a dejected Thor.
He clenched his teeth, the muscles in his jaw bulging and then receding. He said nothing, but he held his head high, his gaze firm, like a stone that had its edges smashed away to reveal a harder core within.
If this was how it had to be, he was willing to bear this hatred; there was no shame in it.
"You look somewhat decent now." Valkyrie crossed her arms, a certain meaning in her eyes.
"I had no choice," Thor said coldly.
"That's why you're the most pathetic God of War I've ever seen. Why don't you learn from your brother? He clearly has more reason to be willful, yet he handles these trifles so much better."
"I have two brothers."
"I'm telling you to learn from the ruthless one, not the prankster."
"Perhaps." Thor took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, his hanging hands clenching into fists.
"But you'd better show some spine for me. Give. Me. Gold. So we can all be free." Valkyrie stepped closer and patted him.
"..."
Thor pursed his lips, and his lightning power surged—surged!
"Ngh... Hiss! Ngh—!!"
With an expression like he was struggling on the toilet, a spark of lightning finally broke through Mjolnir's guidance and acted on a specific part of his body.
"Oh~~ Not bad. I'll be watching your performance when we get back. Don't drop the ball then." Valkyrie showed a hint of satisfaction.
"You don't need to tell me! I'll fly." Thor had regained some of his masculine confidence.
In Green's words, he had gone from a 0 to a 1, though how long he could maintain it was hard to say.
"Heh, just don't crash halfway, or you'll have to go to Green for reimbursement."
Valkyrie turned and walked toward the helicopter, her dreadlocks swinging behind her.
Thor glanced at the surrounding corpses, then withdrew his gaze and followed Valkyrie.
Inside the cabin, Valkyrie glanced at Sif, who was silently wiping her sword, and sat down beside her.
"Need some counseling, girl?"
"No, call me 'Lady' now. I'm no longer a virgin," Sif said coldly, still carrying a hint of resentment.
"OK." Valkyrie shrugged and watched Thor head toward the cockpit.
"Actually, ending an infatuation with a man who doesn't love you is the start of a beautiful life. You should be happy."
Thor's footsteps paused for a moment before he sat down and closed the door.
"And then falling into the hands of another Midgardian I have no power to resist, becoming his sex machine—where exactly do you see my happiness?"
"But at least you enjoyed the pleasure—the top-tier kind in the entire Universe." Valkyrie tilted her head, the corners of her mouth curling up.
"Your body was quite honest, I could tell."
"Humph." Sif gave a cold snort.
Valkyrie smiled playfully and shook her head. She leaned close to Sif's ear and whispered a few words.
Upon hearing them, Sif's eyes widened. She looked at Valkyrie in shock, her mouth slightly agape.
"You're not joking, are you?"
"What would I gain from lying to you? Otherwise, why do you think Heimdall didn't open the Bifrost Bridge?" Valkyrie pulled a piece of gum from her suit jacket, bit into it, and chewed, her cheeks bulging.
Sif lowered her head, wiping her sword absentmindedly.
"Serve your new king well. Using the skill you have for wiping that sword would be quite a move."
Valkyrie grabbed Sif's hand and pressed it against her own belly, palm flush against the skin, and breathed warmly into Sif's ear. The breath brushed against her earlobe, turning it pink.
"Next time, let him find the right path, or take the initiative to invite him. Don't be shy; you're already his property."
Sif bit her lower lip, her teeth sinking into the flesh.
She felt the warmth beneath her palm, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
"You're right. And I'm going to fight for something better for myself."
She turned to look at Valkyrie.
"How to please a man—teach me."
"Oh~~ Baby, my tuition is very expensive," Valkyrie teased.
"What do you want?"
"What I want is actually quite simple." Valkyrie hooked her thumb into the waistband at the small of Sif's back and gave it a tug.
Sif understood instantly, her face flushing red.
"How can I give that to you? It's too dirty."
"It doesn't matter. You know? I can suck Alien Slugs directly out of a creature's brain."
"Eww—!!"
In the cockpit, Thor listened to the fooling around in the back. He helplessly tucked a photo he'd cut out of a Fashion Male Model Magazine into his Norway Guide and closed it, tossing it aside.
Yes, he didn't know the way. He'd talked a big game, but if he asked now, he'd likely be killed by Valkyrie.
Anyway, let's just get on the road.
Chapter 134: Annie? Starlight
At the Vought Company press conference, cameras flashed with blinding, uncomfortable, and incessant white light. Microphones of all sizes were shoved right in front of the blonde sweetheart.
"As a new generation idol, how do you view the recent public criticism regarding your 'over-commercialization'? Do you feel that your heroic image has been hijacked by capital?"
"I have always believed that the essence of a hero does not change because of external forms. Whether it's fighting crime or spreading positive energy, it is all a contribution to society."
"There are rumors that your fan base has a tense relationship with Homelander's fans. Can you respond to that?"
"Homelander has always been a role model I look up to. Between us, there is only healthy competition and mutual encouragement."
"Are you still a virgin?"
She paused, her smile remaining bright. "As for this question, when my personal documentary is released, everyone will naturally know."
Laughter erupted from the audience—they were professionally trained, after all. The topic was exhausted, and a commercial break was slotted in.
Starlight took a deep breath and walked off the stage, raising her hand to fan her face.
"That was ver—y good!" Ashley, despite her high heels, habitually quickened her pace, stumbling slightly as she reached Starlight.
"Haha, thanks."
"So, what's my next agenda..." She unscrewed a bottle of sugar-free soda, took a sip, and asked cautiously. "Oh! There isn't any, dear. Leave the rest to A-Train."
"That's good."
Starlight breathed a sigh of relief. She could finally go back to the dressing room and take off this damn tight uniform. There wasn't even room to wear underwear; it was chafing her to death. She grabbed the soda on the table and gulped it down, the bubbles bursting on her tongue, while glancing at the exit, ready to slip away.
Just then, a message popped up on Ashley's tablet. Her expression changed as she read it, but she immediately put on a practiced smile. "One more thing, sweetheart."
"Hmm, what is it?" Starlight's face fell, but she quickly changed her expression, forcing a smile before she had even swallowed the soda in her mouth.
"Homelander wants to see you, in the conference room."
Starlight's pupils dilated. "Really?" she asked in surprise, her voice rising half an octave.
"Uh-huh, of course. After all, you are a popular rising star." Ashley also chimed in with a smile.
"Then—then I need to go touch up my makeup quickly..."
"No, no need. It's just an offline meeting, no need to be so formal." Ashley soothed.
"OK!" Starlight clenched her fists to encourage herself. "How do I look?" she asked Ashley expectantly, tilting her head as her blonde hair slid off her shoulder.
"Very cute. He will definitely like it." The second half of Ashley's sentence sounded like she was talking to herself, and a trace of fear flashed in her eyes. Although that person wasn't as moody as Homelander, he was inexplicably terrifying!
However, there was no denying that he was very handsome! When she went to Tech Knight's secret dungeon parties, she would fantasize about him... If, if he were a real person... how wonderful that would be.
"You are also lucky to be favored by My Lord, bitch." She used an even deeper smile to mask her jealousy of Starlight.
"Okay!" Starlight nodded heavily. "Then I'm going." She pointed toward the perimeter.
"Go, go. Leave this to me." "Then I'll leave it to you." Starlight bowed slightly and politely, then turned and left.
"Oh, right." Ashley called out. "Hmm?" Starlight turned back. "Remember, maintain respect!" Ashley reminded her solemnly.
"Of course!" Starlight found it somewhat amusing. Did she look like someone who didn't know the rules?
"Hair treatment tonight, my treat." Starlight made a finger-gun gesture at Ashley and raised an eyebrow.
"Heh." Ashley smiled, though the meaning was unclear. Starlight smiled faintly and turned to leave.
Behind her, Ashley withdrew her gaze and smile, returning to her sharp-tongued persona. "Hey! I said make the lighting brighter in this section! Can't you hear me?!"
Starlight walked with a light step all the way to the elevator, but unexpectedly, Queen Maeve, also in her uniform, walked over as well. The two exchanged surprised glances. The elevator doors opened, and they stepped in. As the doors closed, the space, shared by just the two of them, fell into a brief silence.
"Finished?" Maeve, as the senior, spoke first, her tone gentle.
"Yes, it's a bit tedious. Of course, I don't mean to complain; this life is a beauty I couldn't have imagined." Starlight said happily.
"Right, yeah." Maeve looked at her as if looking at her former self, her eyes filled with nostalgia. Her lips moved, wanting to say something, but she pressed them shut.
"Uh... hehe." Starlight felt a bit awkward under her gaze, kept smiling, and casually pressed the floor button.
When Maeve saw the floor she pressed, the smile on her lips vanished, becoming somewhat unpredictable. "You... are going to the conference room?"
"Yeah, Homelander wants to see me." Starlight tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, as if she were going to meet a long-admired idol.
"Fuck." Maeve cursed. According to the news she received, it wasn't just Homelander, that dangerous figure, in there; there was also a madman—a madman who dared to blow up an overpass just to kill a politician, engaging in indiscriminate slaughter. That time, after he sniped his target ahead of schedule, he stopped the detonation and even won a Good Citizen Award, getting some money.
"What's wrong?" Starlight asked, puzzled by her reaction.
Maeve looked at her, her eyelid twitching. She could warn her, but she didn't want to be targeted by that owl. She might survive, but Elena would definitely die, or even suffer inhuman torture.
[Note: Elena, Maeve's girlfriend, non-superhuman. To protect herself and deal with the company and Homelander, Maeve initiated a breakup and hid her orientation. Now, due to the plane crash, she is having a mental breakdown and is seeking to reconcile with her.]
"Nothing, just perform well." She forced a smile and patted Starlight on the shoulder.
"Of course, after all, it's my first offline meeting. Do you have any advice?" Starlight leaned in.
As for event signings and such, Starlight had approached Homelander a few times, but he would just look her over and leave. However, she thought he was evaluating her, which made her very nervous now, and she kept breaking into a sweat.
"...Just obey." "Obey, right, obey..." Starlight nodded, seemingly understanding, and muttered to herself.
Just then, the elevator dinged. It had reached the floor. The doors slid open to both sides, revealing the bright hallway outside.
"Then I'm going..." "Hmm." Starlight smiled and turned to walk out of the elevator, completely unaware of the complex look in Maeve's eyes behind her.
"Two damn perverts..."
Starlight was unaware of these harsh words. With a pilgrim's mindset, she stood in front of the conference room door.
The smart door sensed her approach and unlocked with a click. The door slid open, and dim light poured out. Two people were sitting inside, their backs to the light, making their faces appear very dark.
A tall man was begrudgingly pouring wine for the smug Homelander.
"Oh, Starlight is here." Homelander noticed her and greeted her enthusiastically, grinning to reveal his two canine teeth. "Come, come, come over."
Starlight had a bit of stage fright. She averted her gaze from Homelander's face and glanced at the strange man.
After pouring the wine, he took the glass in front of Homelander into his own hand, then sat beside him, examining her with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
"Some Vought Company executive, I suppose... How does he look like he has a stronger aura than Homelander?"
Starlight, already nervous, became even more so. Her fingers twisted her skirt.
"This wouldn't be some final test, would it?" Various images flashed through her mind—interviews, assessments, screenings—just like what she had experienced when she first joined Vought Company.
"Hi... Hi! Homelander." She squeezed her sweaty palms, stiffened her neck, and approached with a sheepish smile, trying to keep herself from appearing too flustered.
"Hello." Then she nodded politely toward the man.
"Heh." Green smiled lightly but did not respond.
"How is it? Are you adapting well to Vought Company?" Homelander shot a glare of annoyance at Green, who had snatched the wine, and then turned to greet Starlight.
"Of course, of course. Everyone here takes great care of me. I've never been so satisfied." Starlight replied quickly.
"That's good." Homelander pressed on the armrests and stood up, the chair creaking under him.
"Good~" He took a step forward, his shadow shifting from behind and enveloping Starlight completely.
"Hero merchandise, individual chapters in fashion magazines—the samples from advertisers alone are enough to keep you well-fed, right?"
"Ye... Yes? What do you mean?" Starlight's eyes wandered, not daring to look directly at the approaching Homelander.
"Have you ever thought about why you were selected?"
Homelander affectionately placed his hand on Starlight's shoulder, leaned down slightly, and brought his face closer, his breath brushing against her temple.
"Of course it was... the assessments, all of them." Starlight maintained her confidence and puffed out her chest, but her slightly rapid breathing betrayed her chaotic heart.
"Hmph, hahaha..." Homelander laughed. He glanced sideways at Green behind him, noticing that he was drinking on his own and not cooperating at all.
Homelander's smile immediately faded. The curve of his mouth flattened, the light in his eyes dimmed, and his whole face shifted from bright to gloomy in less than a second.
That rapidly changing expression made Starlight very anxious. Her shoulders shrank slightly under his palm, though she didn't dare shrink too much.
"Sir?" Homelander was silent for a few seconds, his eyelids lowered as he looked down at Starlight, and suddenly spoke, uttering a sentence that made Starlight feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
"Take off your clothes." The words were soft—not a negotiation, not a threat, and devoid of any extra emotion.
"Huh?" Starlight stared blankly at the indifferent face of the person before her, seemingly unwilling to believe the words, yet her pupils contracted.
"Is that difficult for you?" Homelander didn't even move his eyeballs, just stared at her like that. "Don't make me repeat it a second time."
"Uh..." Starlight's throat felt as if it were stuck with a wooden plug. Her lips moved twice, but she only managed to squeeze out this one garbled syllable, only daring to show a look of pleading in her eyes.
Homelander's left cheek twitched, and Starlight felt a sense of inhuman cold-bloodedness. Her mouth pulled downward, the corners of her lips tugging into a crying expression, but she dared not cry.
"Alright, John, don't give her a hard time." The man spoke, and the pressure enveloping Starlight immediately eased significantly.
She could finally breathe. Her expression collapsed, and she quickly shifted her gaze to the man for help, but unexpectedly—
"Let her keep them on; otherwise, she won't be anything special." The man's words were like a knife, stabbing into her chest and twisting.
Starlight's expression froze instantly.
"You heard him, small-town girl." Homelander spoke, his voice pressing down from above her head. "Go serve him, satisfy him. Do whatever he asks."
"I... I came to the Seven to fulfill my ambitions." Starlight said tremblingly, her fingers still clutching her skirt, her knuckles white and drained of color.
"No, no, no. You, your personality, everything you have now, you only have because you are attached to him." Homelander pursed his lips.
Upon hearing this, Starlight's expression crumbled. She looked at the man by the table in disbelief.
"Originally, I intended to pick a black cat for him, but he chose you, giving you this costume that is adored by thousands." Homelander continued, "You are just an actress who gets fucked, only you are more expensive than any prostitute."
"No... that's not it... it shouldn't be like this..." Starlight's worldview and values collapsed amidst these words.
The principles she had been instilled with since childhood—helping others, saving civilians—so that she could have more. As long as she stood high enough, those weak people would look at her with worship and admire her.
But upon reaching the Seven, her fate was to become a mistress to a man she didn't know, who had no fan traffic, or even worse, a... toilet?!
But her lack of action made Homelander impatient. "I said do it, so you must!" He grabbed the back of Starlight's neck, forced her to her knees on the ground, and dragged her.
"Wuwu... wu, don't, don't..." Starlight crawled on all fours to Green's front. He uncrossed his legs and looked at her with a smiling face.
"Do you still need me to feed you?" Homelander barked. "Uh... uh..."
Starlight's eyes became completely unfocused, tears streaming down blankly. A little girl, wearing a handmade dress, standing on the stage of the school auditorium, the lights hitting her face, warm and bright, incredibly fulfilling. Back then, she had made up her mind to stand on a higher and bigger stage.
Her innocence, her hypocrisy, all the unknown transactions she had made to stand in this glamorous position—those nights, those drinking parties, those scenes she didn't want to recall but could never forget, flashed through her mind. All of this, all of this... at the moment she chose to obey, it all turned into a joke. "Mm..."
Chapter 135: Homelander, Do You Want a Son?
"How was it?" Homelander looked at Green with an almost fawning expectation.
"Average," Green leaned back in his chair.
"But with this skin, I'll barely give it a 'good'."
He missed Helen a little; among so many women, that veteran gourmet's oral artistry was the best.
But Gwen didn't like seeing those things, so Green had discarded Helen as an option.
Green chuckled.
"Alright, considering it was a gift from you, I'll give it an 'excellent' of course."
Homelander was happy, though he remained reserved. He watched Green enjoy himself with satisfaction, as if he were enjoying it vicariously.
"Ahem! If you like, we can swap her for a black pearl to play Starlight next time."
Green felt Starlight's dissatisfaction. As for how he knew...
"Stop right there. I don't do that political correctness stuff."
"I don't want you to be bound by that either," Homelanderwaved his hand.
"My point is that black bodies are more comfortable."
"If I want it, I'll find it. It's better for Starlight to remain a fixed character."
"Mmph..." Starlight let out a muffled groan.
"Suit yourself," Homelander shrugged, picked up the glass Green had half-finished, and plopped down to the side.
He leaned back so hard the chair tilted, and he kicked his legs up onto the table.
"Ever heard of Islamic extremism?"
"Mm-hmm?" Green tilted his head back, his mind blank, responding casually.
[Note: Islamic extremist Supe terrorist organization—The Shining Light Liberation Army. They kidnap and force-inject Compound V to create Supe Terrorists.]
[One of the protagonists of 'The Boys', Kimiko, had her family killed by this organization; she and her brother were forcibly taken and experimented on.]
"My intel says a few Supe Terrorists have smuggled themselves in. What? Weren't you smuggling Compound V to them? Is it biting you back now?"
"I suspect those rats hiding in the wall cracks are trying to cooperate with them. Dodging and hiding... it's disgusting."
"They're called The Boys, right?"
"They even have a team name?" Homelander said amusedly.
"An anti-Supe vigilante group. Just a few small fry."
How could he not know? With S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra's massive intelligence networks behind him, Green knew how many times they jerked off every day.
"Can you help me take them out?" Homelander asked.
"If you want. But a friendly reminder: The Boys aren't the point. They're a black-ops team directly under the CIA. In other words, they're a hidden hand of the President, authorized directly by the White House."
He tilted his head.
"Otherwise, without the CIA as their secret benefactor, umbrella, and intel source, how could they play blind-man's buff right under your nose? However, if they die, there will be a nasty ripple effect."
Green smiled as he watched Homelander's expression gradually sour.
"What did you hear? Sweetheart." He looked down and gently ruffled Starlight's hair.
Starlight hurriedly shook her head in terror. If these words leaked, she would be the first to die—that was for certain!
"Continue."
"Yes... yes..."
"Then what should I do? Just watch them cause trouble?"
"Dismantling them doesn't always require force. A few discordant companions are enough."
"Heh, an official underground organization teaming up with foreign Terrorists to oppose you—oh, wait, accurately speaking, to oppose Vought. Sounds great."
"That's not funny," Homelander said irritably, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Don't worry, they can't pull it off. I'll handle it; it's an easy task," Green said.
"You're the best," Homelander felt relieved after hearing this, looking at Green with a gentle sense of reliance. He had never seen Green fail.
"None of those other losers do anything useful. As the strongest, I'm under a lot of pressure!" In the blink of an eye, he started cursing his teammates.
"And Madelyn, she's actually brushing me off at this critical juncture. For what? That baby she had after being played by some random man?" Homelander felt a bit aggrieved.
"How is he more important than me!"
He suddenly turned furious and slammed the table. The Seven or eight-meter-long solid wood conference table instantly exploded.
"Mmph... Gulp!"
Starlight was so scared she scrambled forward on her knees, trying to get closer to Green for a sense of security, but she couldn't make it even halfway.
Green watched him finish venting with an expressionless face, then leaned back and rubbed his face. Starlight was still trying hard to hold back her breath, not daring to cough.
He suddenly spoke out of the blue.
"John, I found your son."
The scene went instantly silent. A strange yet terrifying atmosphere spread through the room, dyeing every inch of air an invisible black.
Starlight didn't dare move, as if she were dead.
Her eyes rolled up, her pupils reflecting those two men.
One sitting in a chair, one standing amidst the splintered wood, like two statues about to collide.
Green didn't care about this toilet girl and gazed calmly at Homelander.
Homelander had his hands pressed against the sides of his face, squeezing the skin into folds. In those pale blue eyes visible through his fingers, his pupils slowly contracted.
"You... you're not joking, are you?"
"I have no need to lie to you, John."
Hearing this, Homelander seemingly calmly placed his hands on the broken tabletop and let out a breath.
"You must be joking."
He smiled at Green with a teasing, bantering tone, but the smile had no warmth; it looked pasted onto his face.
"Do you believe me then?"
Green took the whiskey that had fallen on the table. The liquid poured from the bottle into his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing. His gaze remained fixed on Homelander.
Homelander's smile slowly vanished. His face tightened as he stared deathly at Green.
"How do you know?"
"Because I am Green Morgan."
After gaining high-level access to the intelligence network, Green had deliberately investigated and recorded all the events and people from the blurry nodes in his memory.
His memory was a large part of his treasure.
Hiss—
Homelander took a deep breath, hands pressing against both sides of his face.
"OK, OK. I believe you."
He pointed forcefully at Green, his canines biting his lower lip.
"So that means many people have been lying to me, treating me like a Joker!"
"Hmph, good, very good."
He paced back and forth, seemingly suppressing his rage.
"I trusted them so much!"
"John."
"I gave them my most precious trust!"
"John."
"I loved them, and they betrayed me!!"
Homelander roared.
"John!"
"What!!"
Green's voice made Homelander turn his head. Red light shot out from his pupils, trailing two thin streaks in the air.
"Don't push your luck."
Green stared at him, his eyes also switching to Dragon Pupils.
"Calm the hell down."
Homelander's distorted face twitched rapidly. Finally, he stiffened his neck and retracted the red light from his eyes, leaving only two pale blue pupils still trembling slightly.
Green did the same. His Dragon Pupils changed from gold back to black, the vertical slits expanding into circles.
"I'll take you to see your son. I've only confirmed the general location and haven't had time to enter yet."
Green spoke to Homelander, who was gripping the back of the chair to overcome the emotions in his chest, as if nothing had just happened.
"Okay."
Homelander nodded in agreement. He glanced at 'it'.
"I can wait for you."
"No need."
Green casually pushed Starlight away. Caught off guard, she fell flat on the ground. Her eyes darted around, and she took the opportunity to lie on the floor and play dead.
However, she didn't hear any footsteps. She peeked a glance back and nearly peed herself.
The two of them were looking down at her.
"Are your legs broken?" Homelander asked coldly.
"No, no, no."
Starlight stood up nimbly and hurriedly wiped her mouth.
"What is your name?" Green spoke.
"Annie January."
Starlight answered instinctively.
But seeing Green's expressionless reaction, she quickly changed her tune.
"Starlight. I am Starlight of The Seven."
She even struck a pose as she spoke, a bright light emitting from her palms. However, in the eyes of the two men, she was just a small lightbulb.
Starlight also noticed the contempt in their eyes and sheepishly withdrew her power.
"Listen, sweetheart."
Green placed his hand on Starlight's shoulder.
"Yes!" Starlight's body jolted, and she stood at attention.
"With this title, you are a Superhero with a massive fan base. Everyone will adore you. You'll have a wealthy life, a handsome boyfriend, and the noble life of the upper class."
"Yes, you are the most successful small-town girl."
"Are you happy?"
"Ha... happy." Actually, Starlight wasn't that happy, but she was afraid of dying.
"Now, kneel," Green said calmly.
"Hehe..." Homelander sneered from the side.
"Yes, okay." Starlight wasn't as resistant as before. She slowly knelt down, tilting her head up and looking at Green pitifully, her eyes rimmed with red.
"What are you now?"
"Your... your toy."
"Good."
Green patted her face, then snapped his fingers by her ear.
Snap!
Her face twitched in fright and her shoulders hunched up as if she'd been shocked.
"This is the dog bell for your identity shift. Understand?"
"Understood! Very clearly!"
She said tremulously. She knew she was trapped, like a dog on a leash.
"Don't try to challenge my bottom line or do anything for'self-satisfaction'. Believe me, having nothing and vanishing from the face of the earth mean the same thing to me."
Green pressed his index finger to her forehead.
"I am everywhere, and I know everything."
Starlight looked at him blankly, at his eyes.
Fear filled the cavity of her brain to the point that she didn't even remember when the two men in front of her left.
"Oh, my god... Oh, my god!"
She tried to use the edge of the table to stand up, but her legs were weak, like two noodles with the bones removed.
She sobbed with a mournful face, her shoulders twitching. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes and flowed down her cheeks.
She was too afraid.
How could she not be?!
At this moment, she understood what Maeve meant by 'obedience'.