Chapter 111
The man was about to turn around, but his body suddenly stiffened.
"Track the real-time location of the phone number I am calling right now, and then, forget about this."
The analyst placed his hands flat on the keyboard, his ten fingers moving with such speed they left a blur. The interface on the console screen switched rapidly, and a secret data channel was forcibly opened.
"Port is ready; tracking can begin at any time," the analyst reported, his gaze locked firmly on the coordinate axis in the center of the screen.
Lu Chen pulled a burner phone from his pocket and opened the only number saved in the contacts.
That was the phone number belonging to Hughie.
A long beeping sound came from the receiver.
Time ticked away. Aside from the monotonous waiting tone, there was no response from the receiver.
In front of the console, the analyst's hands hovered over the keyboard, waiting for the data feedback the moment the signal connected.
A long silence.
Although the phone wasn't turned off this time, it rang for a long time—long enough that Lu Chen thought no one would answer and was about to hang up—
when, on the other end of the line, it was connected.
A slightly nervous male voice came through.
"Hello?"
Lu Chen nodded at the analyst in front of the keyboard.
The analyst began operating, the progress bar on the screen slowly climbing. He silently mouthed that he needed more call time to lock onto the base station signal.
"It's Lu Chen."
A sound of obvious astonishment and panic came from the receiver, followed immediately by Hughie's question, suppressed anger in his tone.
"Why are you calling?!"
This reaction was off.
Lu Chen quickly went over the details on the rooftop in his mind.
The scene was chaotic at the time, the explosions deafening, and debris from the building flying everywhere.
Kimiko was anxious to take her brother and flee, so she didn't have time to see the face of the person who almost caught her brother.
It seemed that after piecing together the overwhelming news reports, she had eventually figured out the truth. He had not only participated in the capture operation but had also almost caught her brother.
"It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I have no choice," Lu Chen slowed his speech, trying to prolong the call as much as possible. "If you had tipped me off earlier, perhaps I could have made proper arrangements, and things wouldn't have turned out so ugly."
There was another silence on the other end of the phone.
Hughie was clearly digesting the information. He was weighing the truth of Lu Chen's words and wondering if he had revealed anything.
"Then why are you calling now?" Hughie's voice was still tense, but the hostility had lessened, replaced by a guarded suspicion.
At this moment, the analyst behind him gave him a thumbs-up, his face full of excitement.
It worked.
In the center of the console screen, a circular area was outlined within the grid coordinates.
"I originally wanted to ask you for help," Lu Chen's tone shifted abruptly, carrying a hint of playful regret, "but your attitude is just too heartbreaking."
After saying this, Lu Chen hung up directly. No extra words, and he didn't give the other party a chance to keep asking.
"I can only pinpoint this area," the analyst pointed to the red circle on the screen. "A radius of about 150 meters. The signal was interfered with by some device; this is the limit."
"That's enough. Delete the records and forget about tonight."
Lu Chen turned and walked out of the office; the night wind howled.
The airflow tore at his sides as Lu Chen flew through the night sky, heading straight for the coordinate area.
Below was a complex, abandoned industrial park. Dilapidated factories, rusted shipping containers, and weed-choked open spaces intertwined. This kind of place was a paradise for rats and homeless people, and an excellent location to hide one's tracks.
Lu Chen landed on the rooftop of an old building.
Relying on his speed and senses, he searched back and forth in this circular area, and soon, he caught a trace of something unusual.
In an Underground Room, the voices of two men could be heard.
Found them.
Lu Chen's figure landed silently on the ground directly above the Underground Room. He didn't act immediately, but instead raised his hand.
An electromagnetic pulse erupted.
An invisible Impact spread instantly from him as the center, penetrating the thick concrete. The faint light inside the Underground Room flickered once and then went out completely; all electronic devices running at that moment failed.
After doing all this, his bones and muscles began to make subtle sounds. After changing his appearance, he headed toward the entrance of the Underground Room.
Bang!
The heavy iron door of the Underground Room was kicked until it dented and deformed, the door frame collapsing with it, slamming into the concrete floor and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Who's there?!"
Hughie and Frenchie were startled and jumped up at the sudden event, but unfortunately, in the absolute darkness and the interference of the EMP, they couldn't see anything.
In Hughie and Frenchie's retinas, only a blurred afterimage remained.
Lu Chen had already crossed the ten-meter distance, both hands reaching out simultaneously.
His left hand gripped Frenchie's neck, and his right hand pressed onto the top of Hughie's head.
"Sleep."
The moment the command was given, both of their bodies went limp.
Lu Chen released his right hand, letting Hughie fall onto the worn-out sofa, emitting a light snoring sound.
His left hand dragged Frenchie and pressed him onto a chair.
Complex fragments of memory flooded in like a tide.
Childhood abuse, the father's fists, Kimiko's smile, those bloody missions, the underground black market trade network.
Lu Chen skipped these useless pieces of information, forcibly searching deep within the memories.
Soon, he found what he wanted: Nina's location.
A black market bigwig who possessed a large amount of intelligence on Superhumans experimental facilities left behind after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Frenchie's memory clearly recorded that Nina had opened a drug trafficking market in an old apartment building in Lower Manhattan, New York.
As long as he found her, he could get the specific route and detention location used by the Soviet Union Military when they transferred Soldier Boy back then.
Unexpected bonuses followed one after another.
He also saw another scene in Frenchie's memory.
Butcher's departure.
Mallory met with Butcher alone after the mission ended; the two talked for a long time in the car.
Afterward, he said nothing and just drove away.
Frenchie asked Hughie, but Hughie didn't know what had happened either, only saying that Butcher left one sentence: "I have some personal business to attend to."
As expected.
Once Butcher found out Becca's location, he would go to find her at all costs, even abandoning his revenge plan for it.
And now, Butcher was likely already on his way to see Becca.
At the same time, a coordinate location also clearly emerged: the location of the witness safe house Mallory had arranged for Kimiko and her brother.
Lu Chen slowly pulled his hand back.
He looked down at the unconscious Frenchie, and a smile gradually appeared on his unfamiliar face.
Soon, he would also know Ryan's location from Mallory.
Chapter 112: Frenchie's Master
Lu Chen slowly withdrew his hand.
After the chaotic memories washed over him, his gaze upon Frenchie held a hint of understanding.
No wonder this guy had deliberately suppressed the story involving Little Nina, burying it in the deepest recesses of his memory, making it so hard to find. After all, it wasn't some romantic encounter worth remembering, but a past where he had been treated as a piece of property and wantonly humiliated.
Little Nina, Frenchie's former "Master".
The psychological trauma left by such a relationship was enough to make a man develop a physiological aversion to any associated memories.
Unfortunately, having fled from Little Nina for so many years, most of the information he knew was likely outdated, and he had only inadvertently learned the location of that drug trading den later on.
Lu Chen grabbed a few thick electrical wires from the side and deftly tied the unconscious Frenchie and Hughie securely to their chairs.
After finishing all this, he walked over to Hughie and gently tapped his finger on his forehead.
A surge of mental energy permeated inward, implanting a simple suggestion deep within Hughie's subconscious.
"When you are desperate for power but have nowhere left to turn, contact Lu Chen..."
Having done all this, Lu Chen turned and left the Underground Room.
Lu Chen's figure merged into the night sky once more, flying towards the drug trading market in lower Manhattan, New York, that was in Frenchie's memories.
It was a dilapidated old apartment building, surrounded by a rough neighborhood.
Lu Chen did not take the main entrance.
He hovered in mid-air, his gaze locked onto a lit window on the third floor, where shadows were moving inside.
"Crash!"
The window glass shattered on cue, and under several terrified gazes, he dropped into the room.
Lu Chen ignored the panicked looks, casually grabbed the nearest thug, and placed his palm directly on top of his head to begin reading his memories.
"Kill him!"
Finally, someone reacted, roaring as they pulled pistols and machetes from their waists and under the table, charging over with malicious intent.
Lu Chen gripped the air towards the crowd with his free hand.
Magnetic Manipulation, activated.
Hum—
An invisible magnetic field instantly enveloped the entire room.
The thugs were horrified to discover that the firearms in their hands seemed to come alive, trembling violently in their palms before disassembling themselves amidst a series of metallic grinding sounds, with parts scattering all over the floor.
Before they could understand what was happening, the disassembled metal parts and machetes flew up like snakes, rapidly reassembling in mid-air into sturdy metal shackles, precisely locking onto everyone's wrists and ankles.
The excess metal turned into tough chains, binding everyone together like a string of candied hawthorns, leaving them unable to move.
Lu Chen released his hand, letting the thug whose memories had been read collapse to the floor.
He shook his head.
This lackey's rank was too low; he didn't even know what Little Nina looked like, and his memories were full of garbage information about drinking and partying.
His gaze swept over the gang members who were bound together by metal chains, still struggling in vain and cursing wildly. Soon, based on the memories of the lackey from just before, he locked onto the boss of this place.
A burly, bald man with a fleshy face and a scorpion tattooed on his arm.
"Let me go! Do you know who I am? You're dead!" the bald man roared, his bluster masking his fear.
Lu Chen walked up to them expressionless and gently placed his palm on the metal chains binding them.
"Sizzle."
Electric Current coverage LV2.
This ability might be a bit weak against Superhumans, but for these ordinary people, it was enough to let them experience what it felt like to wish for death.
Blue-white electric arcs danced along the metal chains, instantly surging through everyone's bodies.
"Ahhhhhh—!"
Piercing screams echoed throughout the room, and the cursing stopped abruptly, replaced by muscle spasms and uncontrollable moans.
A smell of burning and an unpleasant stench of urine soon filled the air.
Lu Chen precisely controlled the intensity of the electric current, enough to make them feel extreme pain without killing them on the spot.
It wasn't until everyone was foaming at the mouth, limp, and unable to make a sound that he withdrew his hand.
The whole World was quiet.
He walked up to the bald boss, ignored his terrified, pleading eyes, and pressed his palm down again.
This time, the information in his memory was much clearer.
So that's how it was.
This was just an insignificant little station among the drug trading markets Little Nina had spread across the globe.
Little Nina herself spent most of her time in Russia, her whereabouts uncertain, elusive as a dragon.
However, regional leaders like the bald man had a special channel to contact Little Nina's direct subordinates to report emergencies.
Having him scour the World to find an elusive gang leader? Too much trouble.
Letting the prey deliver itself to his doorstep was the most efficient way to hunt.
While maintaining Mind Control, he ordered the bald boss to send an emergency distress signal to Little Nina's contact via an encrypted channel, while searching his memories for other nearby strongholds controlled by their gang.
Lu Chen had also "designed" the content of the distress signal for him: they had encountered a bloody gang war with a rival faction, suffered heavy losses, and were requesting reinforcements from headquarters.
To make this act look more realistic, Lu Chen needed some props.
He released his hand, then turned and flew out the window.
A dozen minutes later, when Lu Chen returned to the apartment, he was covered in drug packages of all sizes, and the thick smell of chemicals in the air was almost suffocating.
These were the spoils he had "confiscated" from other strongholds in the bald man's memories; now, they would become the best bait to lure Little Nina here.
"Remember, describe the scene as tragic, say it was a gang vendetta and the goods were stolen."
Lu Chen gave the final order to the dazed bald man, "As soon as you see Little Nina, notify me immediately."
Having done all this, he took all the drugs and shot into the sky once more.
In the night sky, Lu Chen flew at high speed.
The drug packages on him had already been dumped into the sea for disposal; the purpose of this trip wasn't for those things. The animal friends in the deep sea had already drunk so much Water containing Compound V waste, a little more wouldn't hurt.
During the flight, his bones and muscles emitted a series of subtle sounds, and his face and figure changed rapidly, soon becoming a plain, unremarkable White male face.
A moment later, he landed in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of the city.
It was the location from Frenchie's memories, the safe house where Kimiko and her sister were kept, a single-family house that looked completely ordinary.
But under Lu Chen's electromagnetic sensing, all metal around this small house had nowhere to hide.
With his control over metal, his Super Senses locked onto everyone's location.
Under the lawn, in the bushes, behind the attic window across the street, even in the van parked on the side of the road... everywhere were hidden Agents armed with live ammunition, and a crossfire network guarded the place airtight.
It seems Mallory really cares about this pair of siblings.
Unfortunately, these defenses were useless in front of Lu Chen.
He couldn't even be bothered to get close; he just stood behind a large tree a hundred meters away, facing the direction of the house, and made a grabbing motion with one hand.
Magnetic field, erupted again.
In an instant, all the firearms, communicators, metal inserts in tactical vests, and even the spare magazines and keys in the Agents' pockets that he sensed... all metal objects lost control at the same moment.
They either tightly wrapped around the Agents, binding them into metal dumplings, or flew directly off them, converging into a twisted ball of metal in mid-air.
The entire process was silent, and all defensive forces were instantly dismantled.
Lu Chen's figure flashed, appearing in front of the house door.
He kicked directly at the front door.
Bang!
The heavy solid wood door collapsed inward with a boom, and he strode into the house.
Just as he stepped into the center of the living room.
Click.
A slight sound of a mechanism being triggered came from under his feet.
Chapter 113: What Do You Want
A mechanical sound rang out.
A trap.
The word flashed through Lu Chen's mind instantly.
Almost at the same time, white gas began to hiss out from the wall vents and ceiling gaps, rapidly filling the room.
He didn't bother to confirm the composition of the gas and simply held his breath. For Superhumans, anesthesia was often more effective than bullets, and Mallory was clearly well aware of this.
Bang! The thick solid wood floor exploded into a shallow pit beneath his feet. He transformed into an afterimage, shot backward out the door, and landed steadily on the lawn twenty meters away.
As he controlled the first squad to enter the safe house, five or six figures in black tactical gear dashed out from the distance.
The lead Agent carried a black case in his hand and, without any nonsense, pressed the switch on the case.
"Hummm—!"
An extremely sharp, high-frequency sonic wave erupted instantly.
Lu Chen frowned sharply. The acute hearing brought by Super Senses LV2 had become a weakness at this moment. His eardrums felt as if they were being pierced by ten million steel needles simultaneously, and a strong sense of discomfort radiated from deep within his brain.
"A sonic weapon specialized for Superhuman hearing." He immediately understood the purpose of this device. That old hag Mallory had indeed left a contingency plan, specifically to deal with those Superhumans with enhanced senses. To ordinary people, this high-frequency sound wave just sounded piercing, but for Superhumans with amplified senses, it was no different from having their brains churned in a blender.
However, that was all it was.
Lu Chen endured the churning pain in his mind and retreated rapidly at a speed beyond human comprehension, putting dozens of meters of distance between him and the source, which finally lessened the maddening effect of the sonic waves.
He raised his head, and a deep blue light suddenly ignited in his eyes.
Two searing blue beams tore through the night sky, sweeping precisely across the position of that Agent squad.
"Ah!"
A few shrill screams rang out briefly, then were masked by the smell of charred meat. The case emitting the piercing sonic waves, along with the Agents carrying it, were neatly sliced in half from the middle.
The annoying high-frequency whistling disappeared completely.
Lu Chen took a deep breath, held it again, flashed his figure, and charged back into the safe house filled with anesthetic gas.
His gaze swept quickly; a floorboard behind the bedroom had been lifted, revealing a pitch-black underground passage entrance.
They ran fast, indeed.
Lu Chen didn't pause at all and leaped directly into the tunnel.
One minute later.
The end of the tunnel was a sewer, where Kimiko was pulling Kenji, desperately climbing up a rusty iron ladder.
Hearing the wind behind him, Kenji turned his head in horror, only to see a blurred shadow approaching instantly. He subconsciously wanted to raise his hand, but his movements looked like slow-motion in a movie to Lu Chen.
Lu Chen didn't even use other abilities, relying purely on Super Speed. He tilted his body slightly, easily dodging Kimiko's pounce.
Lu Chen delivered a backhanded chop, striking her precisely on the back of the neck.
With a soft crack.
Kimiko didn't even let out a groan; her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed limply.
Immediately after, Lu Chen's figure appeared in front of Kenji. Before Kenji's telekinesis could be fully released, one of Lu Chen's hands had already grabbed his wrists.
"Sleep."
Kenji's eyes widened, and he immediately lost consciousness.
Lu Chen looked down at the unconscious siblings, bent down, grabbed Kimiko's ankle with one hand and Kenji's ankle with the other, and turned to walk back the way he came, dragging them like two bags of trash.
The moment his hands touched them, a system panel popped up in front of his eyes.
[Copyable ability detected]
[Super Physique LV3]
[Telekinesis LV4 (This ability requires both hands to be aimed at the target to release)]
Lu Chen didn't stop his pace, calculating in his mind as he walked.
"Select Copy, Telekinesis LV4." Lu Chen gave the order in his mind.
[Copying Telekinesis LV4, estimated time required: 6 hours. Current progress: 0.1%...]
While maintaining the copying state, he dragged the two back to the cabin from the tunnel. The anesthetic gas in the house had mostly dissipated, and Lu Chen threw Kimiko casually onto the floor.
Then, dragging Kenji, he walked to the Agents who were initially bound by metal shackles; some were still struggling in vain, while others had completely given up out of fear.
He extended his free hand, chose an Agent at random, and tapped lightly with his fingertip. The metal strips wrapped around the Agent's mouth quickly receded like liquid, revealing the other's terrified face.
"I'll give you a chance." Lu Chen looked down at him. "Contact your superior. Tell her I'm waiting for her here."
The Agent panted heavily, looking at Lu Chen's emotionless eyes, and finally nodded tremblingly.
Lu Chen returned to the cabin and sat on the sofa in the living room. The unconscious Kimiko was tossed at his feet, and then his other hand rested gently on Kenji's neck.
The copying progress bar advanced slowly and steadily at the edge of his vision. Now, he only needed to wait. Wait for the person who could truly make decisions to appear.
Time passed second by second.
Two hours later.
Several black SUVs stopped on the street outside the safe house.
The car doors opened, and a group of heavily armed Agents quickly got out, aiming their guns and surrounding the entire house.
Mallory stepped out of the middle car. Although this former CIA Deputy Director was advanced in age, her eyes were still as sharp as a knife. With a tense face, surrounded by a few trusted Agents, she strode into the collapsed door.
The scene in the living room made all the Agents tighten their grip on their guns instantly.
Lu Chen sat on the sofa with a confident, imposing posture.
Under his feet was the unconscious Kimiko. And his right hand was resting nonchalantly on Kenji's neck, his fingertips seemingly casually rubbing the location of the carotid artery. Kenji was still in a coma, completely powerless to resist.
The whole room was terrifyingly quiet, with only the sound of the Agents' breathing.
Mallory stood five meters away from Lu Chen, her eyes fixed tightly on this unfamiliar face.
She had read the perimeter report before coming. Instantly subdued the entire elite squad, suspected of possessing metal manipulation abilities; dodged the sonic weapon attack, and used blue heat rays to slice the second squad, along with their equipment, in half; speed too fast for the naked eye to capture. Multiple superpowers gathered in one body.
The first thought that flashed through Mallory's mind was: A super assassin sent by Vought Company to silence them. But seeing the scene before her, she quickly overturned this guess.
If it were really someone sent by Vought Company to silence them, Kenji and Kimiko would have long since become two corpses; there would be no need to keep them alive, let alone specifically have her come over. This kid keeping Kenji alive meant he was waiting for her.
"Put your guns down, all of you." Mallory issued the order. The surrounding Agents looked at each other, but under her stern gaze, they still unwillingly lowered their guns.
Mallory took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She looked at the man sitting on the sofa who was in complete control, knowing that the initiative was entirely in his hands.
"You didn't kill him." Mallory spoke.
Lu Chen looked at her, his right hand still resting on Kenji's neck, feeling the copying progress bar constantly jumping in the system.
"A living witness has value." Lu Chen said nonchalantly.
Mallory narrowed her eyes. The other's sentence completely confirmed her guess. She was silent for a moment, seemingly having made a decision in her heart.
"Speak." Mallory looked directly into Lu Chen's eyes, her tone crisp and decisive. "What do you want?"
Chapter 114: Congressional Special Hearing
Lu Chen's gaze landed on Mallory's wrinkled yet still resolute face; he stood up from the sofa, ignoring the instantly tensed muscles of the surrounding Agents and the muzzles aimed at him.
He slowly extended his right hand toward Mallory.
"Actually, I am on your side."
Mallory stared at his extended hand, trying to discern even the slightest hint of falsehood on this man's face.
But she couldn't see anything.
The other party's expression was as calm as a deep pool of Water, as if he were not the person who had just sliced a squad in half with heat vision.
Shake hands with a Superhuman who possessed multiple terrifying abilities?
Mallory's decades of intelligence career rang alarm bells wildly in her mind.
Who knew what other bizarre methods the other party had.
This hand extended out could be an olive branch of goodwill, or it could be a deadly trap.
Lu Chen saw her hesitation.
There was still no expression on his face, but his right hand, resting on Kenji's neck, tightened slightly, almost inadvertently.
"Ugh..."
The unconscious Kenji let out a painful groan, his face rapidly turning red, and his body twitched instinctively.
This subtle action caused a huge uproar in Mallory's heart.
Kenji was the most important card in her hand against Vought Company, a living witness who could testify that Vought Company smuggled Compound V to overseas Terrorists.
She couldn't gamble.
Or rather, she had no choice.
Mallory took a deep breath and finally made up her mind.
She raised her hand and gripped the hand Lu Chen had extended.
The moment their skin touched, the corners of Lu Chen's mouth curled up almost imperceptibly.
"Have your people leave."
He looked at Mallory and issued his first verbal command.
"Boss!"
"We can't leave you alone here!"
The few core Agents beside Mallory immediately voiced their objections, raising their guns again and aiming them firmly at Lu Chen.
"Shut up, all of you," Mallory suddenly turned her head. "Do as he says. Everyone, retreat outside."
The Agents were stunned.
"Boss?" The lead Agent looked at her in disbelief.
"Get out," Mallory repeated. "That's an order."
The few Agents looked at each other, seeing shock and confusion in each other's eyes, but the habit of obedience cultivated over a long time ultimately led them to choose to execute the order.
They looked back every few steps, exiting the room unwillingly and guarding outside the main door.
In the living room, only Lu Chen, the controlled Mallory, and the sister and brother lying on the ground remained.
Lu Chen did not let go; instead, he pulled her to sit down on the sofa beside him.
He didn't need to ask; he only needed to "see."
A complex torrent of memories instantly flooded his mind.
The rainforests of Africa, the failure of Operation Charlie, the Deaths of one hundred and sixteen subordinates, the chaos and arrogance of the Payback squad... these old fragments of memory flashed by rapidly like a revolving lantern.
Lu Chen bypassed these pasts filled with pain and regret.
He saw how she found Billy Butcher, told him the truth about Homelander raping Becca, and personally ignited the flames of Butcher's revenge.
He saw how she used the safety of family to coerce Frenchie, win over Mothers Milk, and assemble the original The Boys.
Finally, he saw that Fire.
The out-of-control flames of Lamplighter devoured the lives of her grandchildren.
That tragedy was the final straw that broke this strong woman.
Lu Chen moved quickly through these memories, with no ripples in his heart.
These were all intelligence he already knew; this was not what he was looking for.
Soon, he found it.
A detached house located in the suburbs of Pennsylvania, surrounded by what was disguised as an ordinary community, but in reality, was filled with Vought Company's surveillance; Becca and her son Ryan lived in that house.
Found it.
Lu Chen's mental power slowly withdrew from the depths of Mallory's memories.
He let go of her hand, looked at Mallory, whose eyes were still vacant, and issued the second command.
"Take your people and go, leave here. In a few hours, I will let them go."
Mallory nodded and turned to walk outside.
"Boss?"
The Agents' nervous inquiries came from outside the door, followed by Mallory's stern order to retreat.
The sounds of car engines started one after another, and several black SUVs quickly drove away from the street, disappearing into the night.
Lu Chen walked to the broken main door and waved his hand casually.
The door frame and remaining metal fragments quickly converged and deformed, reweaving into a sturdy metal mesh, sealing the doorway completely.
He returned to the living room and glanced at the progress bar still slowly jumping at the edge of his vision.
[Copying LV4 Telekinesis, estimated time required: 6 hours. Current progress: 35.2%]
Two-thirds remaining.
Lu Chen closed the door, sat back on the sofa, and placed one hand on Kenji's neck again, maintaining the contact for the Copy ability.
Now, all he needed to do was wait.
Time passed in silence.
When the first ray of morning light shone into the living room through the gaps in the metal mesh, a storm sweeping through Vought Company was quietly brewing.
New York, and even the morning of the whole World, was completely detonated by a piece of breaking news.
"...Exclusive video just received by this station shows that during an anti-terrorism mission in Africa, Homelander launched a deadly attack on suspected unarmed civilians and children... The scene is horrific, and we remind you that the following footage may cause severe discomfort..."
CNN, BBC, Fox News... almost all mainstream media headlines were occupied by the same video.
In the footage, Homelander, cloaked in the Stars and Stripes, had his eyes light up with terrifying red light, two scorching rays swept across, instantly piercing through the chest of an armed Terrorist along with the civilian holding a child behind him.
#Homelander Carnage of Civilians#
#Vought Company War Crimes#
#Should Superheroes Have Law Enforcement Authority#
Countless tags filled with anger and questioning rushed to the global trending list within just a few hours.
Countless people poured into the streets, gathering outside Vought Company buildings everywhere, holding up signs and roaring angrily.
Vought Company's stock price plummeted in response, triggering a circuit breaker less than half an hour after opening.
In the office of Congresswoman Victoria Neuman, Neuman held a cup of black coffee, her eyes fixed firmly on the playback data on the computer.
The video's view count had already exceeded ten million and was still growing exponentially.
Neuman's gaze did not leave the screen; there was no anger or fear on her face like the ordinary public, but rather a kind of... excitement.
A kind of excitement like a shark smelling blood.
"The opportunity has arrived," Neuman whispered to herself.
She stood up, straightened her professional suit, and her eyes instantly became incomparably firm and... righteous.
She put down the coffee cup, picked up the phone on the table, and dialed the number of her campaign team manager.
"Notify all mainstream media immediately," Neuman's voice became sonorous and forceful. "I want to hold a public protest rally in the square outside the main entrance of the Vought International headquarters. Yes, I want to deliver a speech myself."
Eight o'clock in the morning.
Capitol Hill Square had already gathered thousands of angry people.
They held up protest signs, chanting slogans against Vought International and for punishing Homelander in unison.
Countless cameras and microphones were aimed at the temporary podium in the center of the square.
Victoria Neuman wore a capable dark suit, her hair combed meticulously.
She walked onto the podium with firm steps, facing the surging crowd below, a sorrowful expression appearing on her face.
The square gradually quieted down.
"Today, we have witnessed a heartbreaking scene," Neuman spoke into the microphone, her voice trembling slightly, perfectly showcasing her empathy, "In distant Africa, innocent lives have been ruthlessly taken. And the one who took their lives is none other than the so-called 'hero' we have blindly worshipped all along."
Bursts of agreement erupted from the crowd, and Neuman suddenly raised her volume.
"This is not just a mistake, nor is it some collateral damage! This is naked, brutal Carnage!"
Her voice echoed over the square, "As a Congresswoman, I will never allow such atrocities to be smoothed over under the cover of Vought Company's public relations!"
She rested her hands on the podium, her gaze sweeping across the cameras.
"I hereby officially announce that I will unite with multiple Congress members to immediately push for a Congressional Special Hearing!"
Neuman said, word by word, "We will officially classify Homelander's actions in Africa as war crimes! Vought Company must hand over all relevant materials and accept the judgment of the people!"
The crowd completely boiled over.
Cheers, whistles, and applause intertwined, deafening.
Chapter 115: My Dear Son, Your Father Is Here
Cheers, whistles, and applause intertwined, deafening.
Before the crowd's cheers had even died down, a sonic boom echoed above everyone's heads.
A red and blue cape snapped in the wind as a pair of red boots landed on the wooden podium beside Neuman.
Neuman instinctively took a step back.
The boiling square was hit with a pause button. The thousands of protesters fell into absolute silence. Everyone's eyes were pinned on the man who had descended from the sky.
Homelander.
He wore his signature smile, his gaze sweeping over the dense crowd below. In his eyes, this was just a slightly troublesome little crisis. If those useless people in the PR department couldn't handle it, then he would do it himself. As long as he flashed a smile and said a few nice words, these foolish masses would cheer for him again.
He took the microphone from the frozen Neuman.
"Hey, everyone." He adjusted his stance. "I understand that the video online of me subduing the Terrorists has made everyone very angry. I completely understand how you feel."
Someone in the crowd began to boo.
The curve of Homelander's mouth stiffened for half a second before he forced it back.
"I am also very sad." He put on a look of deep sorrow and reached out to press his hand against his chest. "No one wants to see innocent civilians get hurt, that goes without saying."
He paused, his gaze becoming distant, as if recalling some brutal battlefield.
"But to protect our national security... If you have fought side by side with brave soldiers, like I have, you will understand that freedom comes at a price." He raised his voice, trying to infect the crowd with passionate emotion. "Without sacrifice, there is no peace. That man and the child in his arms, they are both heroes; why not look at it that way?"
"Fucking bullshit!"
A roar erupted from the crowd, as if a switch had been flipped.
"Murderer!"
"Get off the stage!"
"You don't represent us!"
A veteran in uniform raised his middle finger and shouted loudly. The crowd was infected by him, and the sound waves surged back exponentially, crashing onto the podium like a tsunami.
Thousands of people roared in unison, the rhythmic chanting making the air tremble. Placards were held high, covered with "MURDERER," "LIAR," and "NOT MY HERO."
Homelander's smile froze on his face.
He was still trying to speak, his lips moving, but the sound from the loudspeaker was completely drowned out.
The people below were still shouting. Over and over again.
"You don't represent us!"
"You don't represent us!"
The smile on his face could no longer be maintained, and the muscles in his face began to twitch.
The faces of the civilians below became twisted and ugly. Every word spat out from those saliva-spraying mouths turned into sharp blades, scraping against his fragile heart.
A scene flashed through his mind: his eyes glowing red, scorching beams sweeping across the entire square. Cutting these ungrateful ants in half, listening to their screams, watching their blood stain this damned square red.
His gaze slowly swept over the crowd. Old men, women, young people holding up phones to livestream. He could imagine the expressions on their faces after the red light swept over them, from anger to fear, from fear to...
To what?
Worship?
No, not anymore.
Bang!
The podium was crushed into pieces by the tremendous recoil. Homelander turned into a red and blue afterimage, shot into the sky, and disappeared into the depths of the clouds in the blink of an eye.
The crowd in the square was stunned at first, then erupted into even crazier cheers. Neuman stood on the shattered podium, the wind messing up her hair. She lowered her head, pretending to adjust her collar.
The smile at the corner of her mouth was perfectly hidden by her collar.
Homelander had completely incited public outrage. As the initiator of this protest, her approval rating would see a blowout in the coming days, and the further step of becoming Vice President seemed within reach.
On the other side, in Los Angeles, in the break area of a film studio.
"Cut! Ten-minute break!"
Stormfront took the phone handed to her by an assistant and unlocked the screen. In the live broadcast, the scene of Homelander leaving in a rage was being replayed repeatedly, and the malice in the comments section was pouring out like a flood.
Her thumb gently swiped across the screen, and the corners of her mouth slowly curled up.
"Poor little boy." She tapped her fingernails against Homelander's face on the screen. "Possessing the power of a god, yet craving the approval of bugs."
The opportunity she had been waiting for had arrived.
What could be better than embracing, understanding, and accepting a god at the moment he falls from his pedestal and is at his most vulnerable and helpless, to quickly control him?
Stormfront locked her phone and touched up her lipstick in the vanity mirror. The face in the mirror reflected a smile of certainty.
Inside the safe house.
Lu Chen sat on the sofa, the phone screen emitting a faint light.
The live broadcast was frozen at the second Homelander broke down and flew away.
He turned off the screen and tossed the phone onto the coffee table.
Whether it was Vought's PR team or Homelander's own pride, he wouldn't appear in public frequently until a solution was found.
The timing was just right.
The progress bar at the edge of his vision reached the end.
[LV4 Telekinesis, Copy progress: 100%]
[Copy complete, ability solidified.]
Lu Chen stood up and stretched his wrists. An invisible force coiled around his fingertips. He aimed his hand at the glass on the coffee table, his mind stirring slightly.
The cup floated up out of thin air, hovering steadily in mid-air.
He made a gripping motion.
Snap.
The glass was crushed in the air by the invisible force, and shards of glass fell rustling to the ground.
Very useful.
He stepped over the sister and brother on the floor and walked toward the gate sealed by a metal mesh. With a wave of his palm, the metal mesh automatically curled to the sides, clearing a path.
In Manhattan, a shop specializing in superhero merchandise.
Lu Chen pushed the door open and entered, walking straight to the most prominent shelf, and pulled down a well-made Homelander cosplay costume.
Ten minutes later, in an empty alley.
Lu Chen put on the cosplay costume, and his physical mimicry transformation activated.
A few seconds later, the person standing in the alley was no longer that young man of Chinese descent.
A perfect U.S. face was reflected in a puddle.
Lu Chen looked down to examine the reflection in the puddle, opening his mouth in Homelander's voice: "Good morning, United States."
Perfect.
A figure shot up from the ground, speeding toward the location of Ryan in Mallory's memory.
Sunlight shone on the Stars and Stripes cape, indistinguishable from the real thing.
In Mallory's memory, the community was surrounded by Vought's surveillance equipment and perimeter security, nominally to "protect" Becca and her son, but in reality, it was house arrest.
But appearing as Homelander, all threats would be ignored by him.
After all, who would dare stop Homelander from seeing his own son?
Ryan, your father is here!
Chapter 116: I Need to Talk to You About Ryan's Education
The wind in the suburbs carried a dry heat, sweeping across the immaculately trimmed green lawn.
Lu Chen landed slowly on the grass outside the small courtyard, his hands behind his back.
He tilted his face, which wore Homelander's signature smile, slightly upward, his gaze passing over the white wooden fence.
In the yard, that boy was focused on dribbling the basketball in his hands.
The dull thud of the ball hitting the grass echoed again and again throughout the empty courtyard.
Lu Chen adjusted the curve of his facial muscles, making that smile look a little gentler.
"Boy."
He called out to the boy in the yard.
Ryan's movements stiffened abruptly; the basketball lost control and rolled down the sloping lawn to the edge of the fence.
The boy raised his head quickly, a flash of undisguisable panic instantly crossing his face.
He already knew that the man before him was his biological father, the one who had given him life.
But the memory of their last meeting was not good. This man had roughly pushed him off a roof, forcing him to learn how to fly, and even threw a huge temper tantrum in front of him against the mother who had always protected him.
That was not the father he wanted.
"Hey." Ryan replied timidly.
The word "Father," which should have come naturally, just wouldn't come out.
Watching Ryan's demeanor, Lu Chen knew very well what the boy was afraid of.
His Carbon Skin activated instantly; he had to be on guard. If this kid got too emotional and just glared to unleash a blast of Heat Vision, his plan would be ruined.
After making his defensive preparations, Lu Chen took a step forward, walking unhurriedly to the side of the white wooden fence.
He bent down, naturally picked up the basketball that had rolled to his feet, bounced it casually in his hands a couple of times, and then pushed it forward with both hands, passing it gently across.
The ball traced a soft parabola in the air, landing steadily in Ryan's arms.
Ryan instinctively hugged the ball, stunned for a moment.
"Are you still angry about what I did to you last time?"
Lu Chen looked into Ryan's eyes and asked in an apologetic tone.
Ryan bit his lower lip, his fingers unconsciously picking at the texture on the basketball.
"A little." Ryan lowered his head, his voice as small as a mosquito's.
"And your attitude toward Mom was very bad. I didn't like how you treated her."
Lu Chen sighed. He took half a step forward, reached out, and gently placed his hand on Ryan's head to soothe him.
"It was my fault." His voice carried self-reproach. "I was too impatient. I don't know how to be a father; I messed up."
Ryan's body stiffened for a moment, but he didn't pull away.
The warm sensation from the large palm was gentle, completely unlike the rough father who had dragged him to practice before.
"I apologize to you, Ryan." Lu Chen ruffled his hair. "I will go and apologize to your mother afterward as well."
Ryan was completely stunned in place, feeling that gentle yet powerful hand on his head, and fell into a daze for a moment.
He felt that the father before him seemed to have truly changed, like a completely different person from the fierce man he saw last time.
Just as Ryan was experiencing this belated fatherly love, a light screen unfolded on Lu Chen's retina.
[ Super Physique LV5 (Developable) ]
[ Super Strength LV5 (Developable) ]
[ Super Defense LV5 (Developable) ]
[ Heat Vision LV5 (Developable) ]
[ Anti-Gravity Flight LV5 (Developable) ]
[ Super Senses LV5 (Developable) ]
[ X-Ray Vision LV5 (Developable, Cannot See Through Zinc) ]
[ Super Healing LV3 (Developable) ]
Lu Chen's hand was still resting on Ryan's head, wearing a smile, but his heart rate involuntarily sped up a beat.
This panel was too luxurious.
His gaze swept over those rows of "Developable" labels. Lu Chen quickly had a plan in mind.
This was the same situation as when he had previously Copied A-Train and Starlight. The system extracted the upper limit of the abilities this body could reach in the future. Ryan was only nine years old now; his body and abilities were in an extremely immature stage, where even flight was just unconscious levitation, and Heat Vision was completely uncontrollable.
If he really had to wait for him to grow into a full LV5 form on his own, it would take at least ten years, but he was different.
He already possessed a solid physical foundation; as long as he Copied these abilities over, he could fuse them rapidly.
He only needed to perform targeted training and development, and he would be able to form terrifying combat power in a very short time.
Lu Chen looked at Ryan's timid eyes, his mind calculating rapidly.
With Mind Control also at the LV5 level, could he use this ability to completely control the mind of this boy with infinite potential before him?
This was the most crucial question he needed to confirm right now.
He recalled the Godolkin headmaster, whom he judged to also possess LV5 mental abilities; the other party had stated outright that they couldn't control Homelander.
If he were to forcefully use Mind Control on Ryan now, would it trigger an instinctive resistance within this mini-Homelander?
Once the kid lost control of his emotions, his rampaging Heat Vision would absolutely level this area, thereby disrupting all his plans.
Lu Chen quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind and made a decision. He could try, but absolutely not here.
Just as the two were acting out a heartwarming scene of fatherly love and filial piety, the front door of the house was pushed open.
"Ryan!"
Becca, wearing casual light-colored loungewear, rushed out of the house with a panicked look on her face.
She pulled Ryan behind her, stepping between the two like a mother hen protecting her chick.
Lu Chen watched her with composure. He wasn't sure if this woman felt guilty because she had secretly made contact with Butcher, or if she was simply afraid of him.
But none of that mattered to him; he didn't care about this woman's thoughts at all.
"What are you here for?"
Becca stared fixedly at Lu Chen's perfectly replicated face, her voice filled with obvious defensiveness.
"Relax, Becca. I'm just here to see my son."
He gave the boy a reassuring look, then turned his gaze back to Becca's face.
"Let's go inside. I need to talk to you about Ryan's education."
Lu Chen's tone was flat, yet it carried an irresistible firmness.
Becca gritted her teeth, standing motionless, her face full of resistance and vigilance. She knew too well what kind of person Homelander was; she absolutely did not want to be alone in a room with him.
However, just as she was about to refuse, her clothes were suddenly pulled gently from behind.
Ryan peeked half his head out from behind her, his small hand gently pushing on her lower back.
Deep down, the boy still longed for fatherly love, and he didn't want to miss this rare opportunity.
He felt that the man who had gently stroked his hair just now, and even promised to apologize to his mother, might have truly changed.
This gentle-mannered father was, to him, an excellent opportunity for his parents to get to know each other again.
"Mom, I'll be fine out here by myself. Go inside and talk to him."
Ryan looked up at Becca and persuaded her tentatively.
Becca turned her head, looking into her son's expectant eyes, and felt a sudden sharp pain in her heart.
She knew that Ryan had always longed to have a father like a normal child, but the truth behind it was just too cruel.
She hesitated for a long time, her gaze darting back and forth between Lu Chen and Ryan several times, her heart filled with struggle.
In the end, she lost to her son's pleading eyes and let out a helpless sigh. "Don't wander off, just play in the yard. I'll be out in a minute."
Chapter 117: Daddy Is Taking You Out for a Few Days
After a while, Ryan could not suppress his curiosity and quietly leaned against the window, peeking into the living room.
Mom was smiling.
That man was smiling too.
They were sitting on the sofa with a coffee table between them, but the atmosphere looked wonderful, just like the moms and dads in ordinary families on TV. Ryan saw Mom get up to pour the man a glass of Water, and when the man took it, he said something that made Mom laugh again.
The corners of Ryan's mouth curled up as well; he loved this scene so much.
Just as Ryan was watching in a trance, Lu Chen in the living room suddenly turned his head, his gaze landing precisely on the window.
The boy was startled and instinctively wanted to shrink back.
But Lu Chen had already beckoned him over, his smile gentle, showing no sign of reprimanding him for peeking. Ryan hesitated for two seconds before pushing the door open and walking into the living room. He stood by the coffee table, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Mom and Dad.
"Did you two make up?"
Ryan's voice carried a cautious probe, along with a hint of irrepressible anticipation.
Lu Chen looked at this little Homelander with infinite potential before him, his smile becoming even more kindly. "Of course. Everything from back then was a misunderstanding, and your mother and I have already talked it out."
He reached out and naturally grabbed Ryan's arm.
"Ryan, do you want to go out and have fun with Daddy for a few days?"
Ryan's eyes lit up. He had never left this yard since he was born; the outside World had a fatal attraction for him. What's more, it was with his father.
But he immediately remembered something and turned his head to look cautiously at Becca.
"Of course your mom agrees too." Lu Chen looked at Becca, who was sitting opposite him. "It just so happens she has things to be busy with these next few days, right?" Lu Chen's tone was relaxed.
Becca nodded: "Go and have a good time with your father for a few days, Ryan. Mom has a lot of things to handle lately."
"Awesome!" Ryan was so happy he jumped on the spot.
The three of them walked to the yard gate.
"Go on, have fun." Becca stood on the steps and waved.
Lu Chen stepped forward and gave Becca a solid hug.
"Go and rest." Lu Chen whispered the command into Becca's ear.
Immediately after, he erased all traces of his appearance that afternoon, replacing it with a violent thundercloud.
In Becca's altered memories, the sky had suddenly darkened that afternoon, and the woman named Stormfront had descended from the sky, forcibly abducting Ryan right in front of her.
Lu Chen turned around and looked at the excited Ryan.
"Let's go, son." He reached out his right hand. The moment their skin made contact, Lu Chen silently recited in his heart: Select Heat Vision LV5.
He had a better candidate for physical constitution, so he was currently lacking decisive attack power.
[Starting to Copy Heat Vision LV5 (developable), current progress 0%, estimated time required: 24 hours.]
"Do you want to fly?" Lu Chen looked down at Ryan.
Ryan was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously.
Lu Chen gathered the boy into his arms, and the next instant, Lu Chen's feet left the ground, flying in the opposite direction of New York.
Two hours later.
Somewhere in the primeval forests of Canada. The boundless coniferous forest was like a green ocean, rarely visited by humans.
Lu Chen landed with Ryan in a clearing.
"What's wrong, Daddy?" Ryan let go, still wanting more, and stepped onto the thick fallen leaves.
"Daddy is tired, let's rest for a bit." Lu Chen told a casual lie.
Now, it was time to verify the most important question: could Mind Control be effective?
Lu Chen maintained skin contact: "Ryan, jump up to the tree."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ryan's body suddenly stiffened.
If it were an ordinary person, or even a Superhumans, upon hearing this command, even if they knew they couldn't jump to a tree branch over ten meters high, they would walk to the tree like a marionette and jump in place in vain until the command was lifted.
But Ryan did not move.
The boy suddenly clutched his head in pain. "I... I can't do it... Daddy..." Ryan's voice carried a sob, and his body began to tremble violently, as if there were two souls inside him fighting for control.
Lu Chen frowned; the absolute forced command was being instinctively rejected by this body that had inherited Homelander's genes.
Lu Chen watched the faint red light overflowing from the corners of his eyes; if brute force wouldn't work, then he would try going along with his emotions. He wrapped his arm around Ryan's trembling shoulders, his tone becoming gentle: "Ryan, are you tired? If you're tired, just sleep for a while. Daddy is here, it's okay."
This sentence was not a command; it was an inducement. He used Mind Control to give a push along with the instinctive feelings of Ryan's body. If he was uncomfortable, then rest; this wasn't coercion, it was care.
The red light between Ryan's fingers flickered twice and slowly dimmed. The boy's tense body gradually relaxed, and his hand covering his head slid down.
He leaned against Lu Chen's chest, his eyelids becoming heavier and heavier, and his breathing soon became steady.
Lu Chen let out a long breath; he had guessed right. Direct commands would trigger instinctive resistance, but indirect influence by amplifying his physiological needs could work.
Looking at the sleeping boy in his arms, Lu Chen's gaze flickered.
Since behavioral control was restricted, what about memory modification?
Let's try it.
Lu Chen placed his palm on Ryan's forehead. His mental power probed out again, entering the boy's sea of memories.
Step one: start with insignificant details. He found the memory of Ryan playing in the yard that afternoon. In the scene, Ryan was bouncing a basketball.
Lu Chen moved his mind slightly, erasing the basketball and replacing it with a volleyball. The modification process was exceptionally smooth.
Success.
It seems basic memory tampering is feasible. Next is step two, core memory testing. Lu Chen took a deep breath and found an important piece in Ryan's memory: the image of his father.
He replaced the image of the father in Ryan's memory—from that Homelander in the red and blue uniform—with Butcher's face, full of stubble and looking fierce. His mental power turned into a carving knife, and just as it touched that core memory.
Hum!
Ryan in his arms suddenly jolted, his eyeballs spinning wildly beneath his eyelids. The boy's breathing became rapid, and a terrifying energy fluctuation emanated from within him.
He was about to wake up, and he would wake up in extreme panic.
Lu Chen immediately withdrew the second modification, and all memory images returned to their original state.
The energy fluctuation stopped abruptly. A few seconds later, Ryan opened his eyes in a daze.
"Daddy... how did I fall asleep?" The boy rubbed his eyes, his gaze filled with confusion.
"You were too tired, and I flew too fast, making you a little dizzy." Lu Chen stroked his head without changing his expression.
He had already reached his final conclusion. Important memories, core memories, cannot be touched. Perhaps if he copied the mental abilities of Godolkin and combined them, it could be done, but currently, he was still a bit short.
Lu Chen looked at the slowly jumping Copy progress bar on his retina. Since the hard approach wouldn't work, he would go with the soft one. Anyway, this kid now fully believed that he was his prodigal father who had turned over a new leaf. He would just have to accompany him for two days.
Chapter 118: This Is My Once-in-a-Lifetime Plea
Lu Chen pulled his phone out of his pocket and swiped open the screen with one hand. Since he was going to play, he might as well do it right. He opened the map, his gaze sweeping across northern Canada, finally resting on Jasper National Park in the Rocky Mountains.
Snowy mountains, glaciers, horseback riding, cowboys.
For a nine-year-old boy who had been locked behind walls since childhood and had never even been to a town, this was an absolutely irresistible temptation, like a dimensional strike.
"Let's go. Daddy's taking you to a great place."
He scooped up Ryan, his feet leaving the ground as a wild wind swept up the fallen leaves, and the two of them shot into the sky like a blur.
Half an hour later, at a small town on the edge of Jasper National Park.
Lu Chen landed with Ryan in the back alley of an empty guesthouse outside the town. He looked down at the conspicuous star-spangled uniform he was wearing and frowned slightly.
"Daddy, are we there?" Ryan poked his head out curiously, looking at the rolling snowy mountains in the distance, his eyes shining like stars.
"We're here, but Daddy has to change his clothes first." Lu Chen ruffled his hair. "You know, Daddy is a big star. If I go out dressed like this, people will crowd around us. Wait for me here for two minutes, and don't run off."
"Okay!" Ryan nodded obediently, standing completely still in the corner.
Lu Chen turned and walked into the storage room in the guesthouse's backyard, closing the door behind him.
Calculating the time, the duration of Physical Mimicry LV4 was nearing its limit. He took a deep breath and deactivated the mimicry.
His muscular outline shifted, and that blonde-haired, blue-eyed face quickly melted and reorganized, turning back into the black-haired, black-eyed Chinese-American youth.
Lu Chen looked down at his palms. This mimicry ability was useful, but it had a time limit, and he had to deactivate it periodically to refresh the cooldown.
He found a loose plaid shirt and a pair of jeans in the storage room and put them on, then closed his eyes and activated his ability once more.
A few seconds later, "Homelander" appeared once again, though this time he was wearing casual clothes, looking just like a burly North American man who happened to look exactly like Homelander.
Opening the door, Ryan was still standing obediently in the same spot.
"Let's go, son." Lu Chen walked over and took his hand. "Our adventure begins."
The next few hours were like a dream for Ryan.
Lu Chen rented a massive Columbia Icefield snowcoach. As the six giant tires rolled over the ancient glacier, Ryan leaned against the window, staring out at the deep blue crevasses and the dazzling white snow, his face red with excitement.
"Daddy! Look at that!" he shouted, pointing at a massive ice formation in the distance.
"I see it." Lu Chen leaned back in his seat, but his gaze fell upon their clasped hands.
On his retina, the progress bar that only he could see was slowly rising.
After getting off the snowcoach, they went to the Glacier Skywalk. Standing on the glass walkway suspended over two hundred meters in the air, with an abyss right beneath their feet, Ryan was too terrified to take a step at first, clinging tightly to Lu Chen's leg.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Lu Chen squatted down and looked directly into the boy's eyes. "Even if the glass breaks, Daddy will catch you."
These words seemed to have a magical effect; the fear in Ryan's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a blind trust. He let go, cautiously took a step on the glass, and then giggled.
In the afternoon, they went to a forest ranch at the foot of the snowy mountains.
Lu Chen rented two horses and lifted Ryan onto one. Wearing a slightly oversized cowboy hat and holding the reins, the boy was both nervous and excited.
Lu Chen rode beside him on the other horse, occasionally reaching out to steady him.
"Good job, just like a real cowboy," Lu Chen praised.
Ryan turned his head, his smile brighter than the sunshine. He had never been this happy in his entire life—no high walls, only endless scenery, and his dad.
"Daddy, can we come here again in the future?" Ryan asked softly.
"Of course. As long as you want to, we can go anywhere." Lu Chen smiled.
As night fell, Becca suddenly snapped her eyes open on her bedroom bed.
"Ah!"
She let out a distorted scream and sat up abruptly, drenched in cold sweat.
Her mind was entirely filled with that violent thundercloud.
This afternoon, that woman dressed in a black suit, with blinding lightning coiling around her body, had descended from the sky.
She had watched helplessly as the woman choked Ryan by the neck, soaring into the sky amidst a blinding flash of lightning, disappearing into the clouds with him.
"Ryan! Ryan!"
Becca rolled out of bed like crazy, not even putting on shoes, and stumbled out of the bedroom.
She rushed into Ryan's room.
The bed was neatly made, and the Lego blocks on the desk were still half-assembled.
No one was there.
"Ryan... My Ryan..." Becca collapsed to the floor, burying her face in her hands, her desperate cries echoing through the empty house.
Ryan had been taken. Her only hope, her sole reason for living, had been snatched away by that monster.
In her despair, her peripheral vision caught the phone that had fallen to the floor.
Tonight was the time she and Butcher had agreed to meet.
Billy.
Yes, she still had Billy. He would definitely have a way to deal with those Superhumans.
Becca messily wiped the tears from her face, her gaze turning fierce. She rushed back to the bedroom, pulled a small bag from under the bed, and hastily stuffed a few clothes into it.
At the edge of the forest outside the safehouse, a dark figure quietly lurked in the underpass.
Butcher wore his signature dark trench coat, his rough fingers gently rubbing the binoculars in his hand.
He had already been waiting here for half an hour.
According to their agreement, Becca should have slipped out to meet him by now. But he felt a faint sense of unease. Just as he was wondering whether he should force his way in, Becca drove her car into the underpass.
A figure scrambled out, looking panicked.
"Becca," Butcher called out, stepping from the shadows.
Once Becca saw who it was, her tears burst like a broken dam. She threw herself into Butcher's arms.
"Billy... Billy..." She clung tightly to Butcher's trench coat.
Butcher froze. She was trembling all over, her despair transmitting through her body to him.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Butcher cupped her face, his gaze turning extremely dangerous.
"Ryan... Ryan was taken..." Becca sobbed, unable to speak clearly.
Butcher narrowed his eyes, feeling a strange, bizarre sense of pleasure in his heart.
"It was a woman. She descended from the sky with lightning and snatched Ryan away..."
Butcher's brow furrowed into a tight knot.
A woman who could use lightning... Stormfront? That new member of The Seven Vought had just introduced? What was she doing here?
"Billy, please..." Becca gripped Butcher's wrist tightly. "Help me find him. I know you don't care for that child, but he is my everything."
Butcher looked at the tear-streaked, breaking woman before him, feeling a sharp pang in his heart.
He didn't know what kind of feelings he should harbor toward that child.
But he looked into Becca's eyes—eyes that had once been full of light, but now held nothing but ash.
"Alright." Butcher took Becca's hand in his. "I promise you, I'll bring that little brat back. And then, we'll leave together, to a place where no one can find us."
Becca finally let out a sigh of relief, her entire body going limp in Butcher's arms.
"Let's go. It's not safe to stay here."