Black Robe: Intercepting Starlight at the Start, Plundering Homelander
Novel Summary
The Boys Transmigrating to the Black Robe World,
Lu Jie became a lowly assistant at the bottom of the Vought Corporation. The moment he opened his eyes, his supervisor forced him to send the innocent and charming newcomer "Starlight" to the deep-sea lounge to undergo "unspoken rules." Compromise meant death, resistance also meant death! Fortunately, Lu Jie awakened [Forge Embers], which allowed him to perfectly replicate and enhance superpowers simply by touching a target and collecting their bodily fluids or blood! "Since I'm going to die either way, I'll just drink this soup myself!" Inside the safe house, Lu Jie looked at Starlight's despairing eyes and decisively intercepted her. He not only seized Starlight's "Aurora Control" but also used his ultimate tactics to completely ensnare her, body and soul. Train, Claw Woman, Storm Woman, Queen Maeve… all superpowers, take them! Homelander: "He's the real devil!" Lu Jie patted the beauties beside him: "Sorry, Homelander, your era is over."
Chapter 1: Starting in the Abyss, Intercepting Starlight
In the dark corridor, there were only the sounds of two people breathing rapidly.
"Are you crazy? Where are you taking me?" Annie was being dragged by the wrist, her high heels stumbling noisily against the concrete floor.
Lu Jie did not turn back, his fingers gripping that slender, soft wrist, the warmth of his palm passing through the thin uniform.
"Saving your life."
Ten minutes ago.
Vought International building, Public Relations assistant office area.
Lu Jie opened his eyes from a pile of reports, his mind still reeling from the sharp pain of thirty consecutive hours of overtime in his previous life.
A glass of spiked whiskey was slammed heavily onto the desk, the liquid splashing onto the back of his hand.
"Don't play dead, Lu Jie."
The pot-bellied supervisor leaned in, lowering his voice, his tone filled with undisguised malice.
"Take that drink over there." The supervisor pointed at the anxious blonde girl on a nearby sofa. "Take our new'Starlight' to The Deep's private lounge."
Lu Jie glanced at the girl.
Annie January. Her face was full of innocence, her eyes still shining with the worship of superheroes.
"The Deep specifically asked for her." The supervisor snorted coldly, his fat finger poking Lu Jie's chest. "Don't mess this up, or tomorrow you'll be sent to prison for embezzlement, and I guarantee you won't survive three days in there."
In this building belonging to superpowered individuals, ordinary people are worth less than dogs.
Compromise is death; resistance is also death.
Lu Jie picked up the glass of whiskey.
The moment his fingertips touched the glass, a line of dark red text popped up on his retina.
[Ember of the Furnace activated.]
[Super-powered biological tissue detected; can be forcibly stripped, scorched, smelted, and mutated for its superpowers.]
Lu Jie stared at the text, his heart pounding twice.
"Get moving!" the supervisor urged.
Lu Jie stood up and straightened his cheap suit tie.
He carried the glass over to Annie.
Annie looked up at him, nervously clutching the hem of her skirt. "Excuse me, does Mr. Deep want to see me?"
"Yes, Miss January." Lu Jie's tone was gentle. "Please come with me."
Annie followed him toward the depths of the corridor.
The supervisor nodded with satisfaction behind them.
The moment they reached a blind spot for the surveillance cameras, Lu Jie flipped his wrist, and the spiked whiskey was poured directly into a nearby trash can.
Annie exclaimed, "What are you doing?"
Lu Jie grabbed her wrist, pushed open the heavy iron door marked "No Entry," and pulled her into the stairwell.
Back to the present.
Annie struggled to break free from Lu Jie's hand, her back against the cold wall, her chest heaving violently.
"Who exactly are you? Why did you stop me from seeing Mr. Deep!"
Her eyes were red, still filled with bright expectations for the future.
Lu Jie looked at her, appraising this exquisite trophy that would soon belong to him.
"See The Deep?" Lu Jie stepped closer, his tall frame completely blocking the faint light in the corridor.
"Annie, do you really think that guy who smells like fish wanted to see you to discuss how to save the world?"
"He... he is a senior member of The Seven." Annie's voice grew quieter as she defended him.
"That drink had a triple dose of strong sedative in it." Lu Jieinterrupted her. "There is no one else in The Deep's lounge, just a big bed. Guess what he would 'guide' you to do after you drank that and took off this uniform?"
Annie's face turned deathly pale in an instant.
"No, that's impossible! He's a superhero!"
"There are no heroes in this building." Lu Jie raised his hand, his fingertips brushing over Annie's trembling shoulder, tracing up along the line of her fair neck, and finally stopping by her ear.
"Only a bunch of perverts in spandex, and capitalists ready to put them on a pedestal at any time."
Annie was shivering, tears welling up in her eyes.
Her faith was crumbling.
Lu Jie could feel the tremors from her skin, that sense of vulnerability mixed with fear and helplessness, which was extremely alluring.
"Come with me." Lu Jie held her hand again, and this time Annie did not struggle.
The two went all the way down the stairs.
"Where are we going?" Annie's voice was choked with tears.
"To a place where they can't find us." Lu Jie replied without looking back.
Annie stumbled behind him, the sound of her high heels echoing in the empty corridor.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked.
"Because I don't want to see you become their plaything." Lu Jie's tone was devoid of emotion.
Annie bit her lower lip, and tears finally couldn't help but fall.
She had longed to join The Seven since she was a child, regarding them as the embodiment of light.
Now, this bright and beautiful outer shell had been ruthlessly torn apart by Lu Jie.
"The Deep... how could he do this?" Annie choked out.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg." Lu Jie stopped and looked back at her. "In this building, behind every smiling face you see, there is a man-eating mouth hidden."
Annie backed away in fear.
"Scared?" Lu Jie moved closer to her.
"I... I don't believe it." Annie shook her head. "Homelanderwouldn't allow this to happen."
Lu Jie curled his lips, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
"Homelander?" He recited the name. "He is the biggest monster of them all."
Annie was completely stunned.
"Don't be naive, Annie." Lu Jie reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You only have two choices now. Either go back, drink that wine, and lie on The Deep's bed. Or, come with me."
Annie looked at the man in front of her.
He was just an ordinary assistant, wearing a cheap suit, with the smell of sweat from overtime still on him.
But standing there, he made her feel more real than those high-and-mighty superheroes.
"I... I'll go with you." Annie closed her eyes and lowered her head, as if accepting her fate.
Lu Jie let go of her hand and turned to continue walking down.
Three floors underground, an abandoned storage room.
It never saw the light of day, and the air was filled with a musty smell.
Lu Jie pushed the door open and pulled Annie inside.
The moment the door closed, the whole world plunged into darkness.
Annie nervously grabbed the corner of Lu Jie's clothes.
"Don't make a sound." Lu Jie locked the door from the inside.
"Will they find us?" Annie's voice was as thin as a thread.
"Not for now." Lu Jie walked to the corner in the dark and pulled over a worn-out sofa. "Sit down."
Annie sat down obediently.
Lu Jie stood in front of her; in the darkness, the sound of their breathing was clearly audible.
"You are safe now." Lu Jie said.
Annie couldn't hold it together anymore and covered her face, crying loudly.
The first step of a god falling into the mud is to shatter her illusions.
Lu Jie stood to the side, patiently waiting for her to finish crying.
When Annie's crying gradually turned into sobs, he stepped forward and half-knelt in front of her.
"Are you done crying?" he asked.
Annie looked up; she couldn't see his face in the darkness, only feel the warmth radiating from him.
"What should I do?" She grabbed Lu Jie's arm as if grabbing a life-saving straw.
"I said, I will protect you." Lu Jie held her hand back, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand.
Annie's body trembled, but she did not pull her hand back.
In this man-eating building, this was the only warmth she could feel.
"Why?" she asked. "You're just an assistant; you can't fight them."
"There is nothing in this world that cannot be fought." Lu Jie's voice was low.
He stood up and pulled Annie into his arms.
Annie gasped, her cheek hitting his solid chest.
"Lu Jie..." She squirmed uneasily.
"Don't move." Lu Jie tightened his arms, trapping her firmly in his embrace.
Annie's breath hit his neck, carrying a hint of sweet fragrance.
"Can you really protect me?" She leaned into his arms, her voice softening.
"As long as you are obedient." Lu Jie's palm slid down her back with irresistible aggression.
Annie's body went limp, and she could only let him hold her.
Chapter 2: Genetic Smelting in the Safe House
There were no lights in the basement, only a faint halo of light leaking down from the ventilation duct.
The air was thick with the smell of stale dust.
Annie leaned into Lu Jie's arms, listening to his steady heartbeat, and her fear subsided slightly.
"Lu Jie, I'm a little cold." She shrank further into his embrace.
Lu Jie didn't speak, merely tightening his arms around her.
The two clung tightly to each other in the darkness.
"Annie." Lu Jie spoke suddenly, his voice low and somewhat husky.
"Hmm?" Annie looked up.
"Close your eyes."
Annie obediently closed her eyes.
She thought Lu Jie was going to kiss her, and her eyelashes trembled with nervousness.
Lu Jie lowered his head, his nose brushing against her earlobe, finally coming to rest at her fair, fragile carotid artery.
His breath was scorching.
Annie hunched her shoulders, her hands unconsciously gripping his shirt tightly.
Lu Jie opened his mouth and kissed that pulsing spot deeply.
At the same time, the sharp fingernails hidden in his cuffs mercilessly broke through Annie's skin.
"Hiss—" Annie cried out in pain.
A drop of blood seeped out, which Lu Jie directly lapped into his mouth.
[Starlight active blood and bodily fluids detected.]
[Mind Furnace activated, beginning to strip the "Aurora Control" gene.]
A roar exploded in Lu Jie's mind.
An indescribable, terrifying high temperature instantly swept through his entire body.
Every blood vessel began to twist; every cell was being forcibly torn apart and then reorganized.
Lu Jie groaned, pushed Annie away, and fell to his knees on the cold concrete floor.
"Lu Jie! What's wrong?" Annie panicked, trying to help him up.
"Don't come over!" Lu Jie gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, sweat instantly soaking his shirt.
His bones emitted a violent grinding sound.
This was a form of extreme torture.
To steal the power of gods, one must pay the price of genetic recombination.
Lu Jie clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his flesh, blood dripping down through his fingers.
He didn't cry out, only gasped for air heavily.
Annie covered her mouth in fear from the side, watching as a faint white light shimmered beneath Lu Jie's skin.
"What... what is happening to you?" Annie said, her voice laced with tears.
Ten long minutes passed.
The pain receded like a tide.
[Fusion successful.]
["Aurora Control" has mutated into "Annihilation Proton Stream".]
Lu Jie slowly stood up.
He opened his eyes in the darkness, his pupils igniting with a blinding white light that illuminated the entire basement as if it were broad daylight.
Annie was blinded by the light and closed her eyes, retreating repeatedly.
Lu Jie clenched his fists, feeling the destructive, tyrannical power surging within him.
He looked at Annie, the light in his eyes gradually fading.
Annie looked at him, and beyond her dependence, there was now a trace of instinctual awe.
"Are... are you also a superhuman?"
Lu Jie didn't answer; he walked over and pulled the girl back into his arms.
"Annie, remember today. In this world, only power determines life and death."
His hand slid down Annie's spine, carrying a strong sense of possessiveness.
Annie's body went limp, and she could only let him do as he pleased.
"Were you... drinking my blood just now?" She asked, trembling.
"Borrowing a drop of your blood in exchange for your life is fair." Lu Jie gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"What do you really want?" Annie looked into his bottomless eyes.
"I want everyone in this building to kneel at my feet." Lu Jiesaid calmly.
Annie shivered.
She suddenly realized that she had just escaped from a wolf's den only to fall into another abyss.
But she had no way out.
"I will listen to you." Annie lowered her head, making her choice.
Lu Jie smiled with satisfaction.
He let go of her hand, walked to the iron door of the basement, and looked out through the crack.
"The Deep won't let this go," Annie said worriedly.
"He won't live past tonight." Lu Jie turned around, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.
Meanwhile, on the 70th floor of Vought Tower.
The Deep, wrapped in a bathrobe, irritably smashed his wine glass against the wall.
Glass shattered all over the floor.
"Where is she? Where the hell did that new girl, Starlight, go!"
He roared at the two security guards at the door.
"Find her! Dig three feet underground if you have to, but find her for me!"
The two guards nodded repeatedly in fear and turned to run out.
The Deep collapsed onto the sofa, trembling with rage.
He was a member of The Seven; when had he ever been treated like this?
"That useless supervisor couldn't even handle a rookie!"
The Deep grabbed the phone on the table and dialed the security department's extension.
"Check the surveillance! See who took her!"
The voice of the security manager came from the other end, trembling: "Mr. The Deep, the surveillance shows that she was taken to the third basement level by Lu Jie, an assistant from the PR department."
"Lu Jie?" The Deep narrowed his eyes. "A piece of bottom-tier trash dares to ruin my fun?"
He hung up the phone, stood up, tore off his bathrobe, and put on his uniform.
"I'm going to skin him alive myself." The Deep gritted his teeth.
Third basement level.
Lu Jie heard footsteps coming from the corridor.
"They're here." He turned his head to look at Annie, who was huddled on the sofa.
"I... I'll go explain to them." Annie stood up.
"Explain what? That you don't want to sleep with him?" Lu Jie retorted.
Annie was speechless.
"Sit down and watch." Lu Jie walked to the door.
Bang!
The iron door was kicked open violently from the outside.
Two heavily armed security guards rushed in, their black gun barrels aimed at Lu Jie.
"Hands on your head! Get down!" one of the guards commanded loudly.
Annie screamed in terror.
Lu Jie didn't move, looking at the two men expressionlessly.
"Did The Deep send you?" he asked.
"Shut up! Get down!" The guard pulled the bolt of his gun.
Lu Jie took a step forward.
"You're looking for death!" The guard pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Gunshots echoed in the basement.
Annie closed her eyes, afraid to look at what would happen next.
However, the anticipated carnage did not occur.
The bullets stopped half an inch from the center of Lu Jie's forehead.
A white light erupted from Lu Jie's body, forming a visible barrier.
The bullets instantly melted into molten iron within the light and dripped onto the floor.
The two guards widened their eyes, staring at Lu Jie as if they had seen a ghost.
"What... what kind of monster is this!"
Lu Jie didn't give them time to react.
He brought his right index and middle fingers together, and two pale white proton beams shot out.
The beams instantly pierced the throats of the two guards.
Not a single drop of blood flowed out.
The wounds were directly melted into charred, hollow holes by the extreme heat.
The two guards fell straight to the ground without even having time to scream.
The air was filled with the smell of burning flesh.
Annie opened her eyes and saw the two corpses on the ground, her face turning pale with fright.
"You... you killed them." She covered her mouth, not daring to make a sound.
Lu Jie crouched down and calmly picked up the service pistol dropped by the guard.
"If they don't die, we will." He tucked the gun into his waistband and turned to look at Annie.
"Annie, welcome to the real world."
Chapter 3: Erasing Traces, Controlling Starlight
Annie stared at the corpse on the floor, covering her mouth as she retreated to the corner.
"Stop looking, come here and help." Lu Jie pulled the walkie-talkie from the security guard's waist and turned off the power.
"H-help?" Annie's voice trembled. "We killed someone! Vought will cut us into pieces!"
"I killed him, not us." Lu Jie shoved the walkie-talkie into his pocket. "But if you run out now and scream for help, The Deep will be the first one to cut you into pieces."
"What should I do?" Annie crouched on the floor and started to cry.
"Stand up and grab his feet." Lu Jie pointed at the throatless corpse on the floor.
Annie shook her head frantically.
"Do you want to end up in The Deep's bed, or do you want to live?" Lu Jie walked up to her. "Pick one."
"I want to live..."
"Then do as I say." Lu Jie bent down, grabbed the security guard by the collar, and dragged him toward the abandoned incinerator outside. "Keep up."
Annie gritted her teeth, stood up, and with her eyes closed, grabbed the ankles of the other corpse.
The bodies were heavy. The two of them followed a corridor that had no surveillance cameras, dragging the bodies all the way to the incinerator.
Lu Jie pulled open the heavy iron door and kicked the bodies inside.
"The kerosene is in the bucket in the corner, bring it over." Lu Jie commanded.
Annie did as she was told mechanically.
The pungent smell of kerosene filled the air. Lu Jie struck a match and tossed it in; the flames illuminated his expressionless face.
"Is it over?" Annie watched the flickering flames.
"It's just beginning." Lu Jie turned and walked back. "Go clean up the ashes on the floor."
By the time the two of them had restored the basement to its original state, an hour had passed.
Annie slumped on the sofa, arms wrapped around her chest, her whole body still trembling.
Lu Jie walked over, braced his hands on the back of the sofa, and trapped her in his shadow.
"Afraid of me?" Lu Jie asked.
"You... you don't look like an assistant." Annie looked up, staring at the bloodstains on the back of his hand.
"In this place that eats people alive, a good person won't last three days." Lu Jie used his blood-stained thumb to gently brush Annie's cheek.
Annie shrank her neck back, but didn't dodge away.
"Annie, from now on, we are in this together." Lu Jielowered his voice, his tone carrying a certain allure.
"They can't find me, they'll definitely get suspicious."
"Then let them be suspicious." Lu Jie's fingers slid to her chin, lifting it with slight force. "As long as you don't leave this room, no one can touch you."
"Will you stay with me?" Annie looked into his eyes, like a drowning person clutching a piece of driftwood.
"As long as you behave." Lu Jie lowered his head, breathing warm air against her ear. "It's very safe here; you can get a good night's sleep tonight."
Annie finally broke down. She reached out, hugged Lu Jie's waist tightly, and buried her face in his clothes.
"I only have you, Lu Jie..."
"Good girl." Lu Jie's palm stroked down her hair, his fingertips grazing her fragile neck intentionally or unintentionally.
Annie's body trembled slightly; this touch, carrying a dangerous aura, gave her a strange sense of security.
"I won't leave here." Annie looked up, tears still hanging from the corners of her eyes. "As long as you don't drive me away."
"How could I bear to drive you away?" Lu Jie lowered his head until their noses were almost touching. "You are my most precious treasure."
A faint blush appeared on Annie's cheeks; she closed her eyes and leaned into Lu Jie's embrace on her own initiative.
After a god falls from the altar, all it needs is a little warmth to turn into the most obedient dog.
Meanwhile. In Brooklyn, New York, at a dilapidated electronic parts store.
Hughie sat behind the counter, staring blankly at the surveillance footage on the screen.
In the footage, a blue blur flashed by, and his girlfriend Robin instantly turned into a mist of blood.
"Watching it a hundred times won't bring her back to life." A gruff voice sounded at the store entrance.
Hughie looked up. A man in a black trench coat with a stubbly beard walked in.
"Who are you?" Hughie stood up vigilantly.
"Billy Butcher." The man walked to the counter and tapped on the glass. "Someone who can help you take revenge."
"Revenge? Revenge against A-Train?" Hughie gave a bitter laugh. "He's a superhero, and I'm just a loser who sells parts."
"Superhero?" Butcher sneered. "They're just a bunch of perverted scumbags in capes."
"Vought has already sent me a compensation agreement..."
"Forty-five thousand dollars to buy your girlfriend's life?" Butcher interrupted him. "Do you think that's a good deal?"
Hughie clenched his fists, his eyes turning red.
"What can I do? I can't even touch the hem of his clothes!"
"That's why I came to find you." Butcher pulled a photo from his coat and slapped it on the counter. "Work with me, and I'll teach you how to drag these false gods off their altars."
Hughie looked at the photo, which showed A-Train in a nightclub, surrounded by women.
"What do you need me to do?" Hughie's voice was a bit hoarse.
"Help me get into Vought Tower." Butcher grinned, revealing his teeth. "To stir up some trouble for those bastards."
"How do I get in? That's Vought Tower." Hughieswallowed hard.
"I'll get you a maintenance worker's uniform." Butcherpatted his shoulder. "You just need to carry this."
He pushed a small black bug toward Hughie.
"Install it under the conference table in the Public Relations Department. Leave the rest to me."
The scene cut back to Vought Tower.
The next morning. Public Relations Department office area.
Just as Lu Jie sat down at his desk, the supervisor walked over, sticking out his big belly.
"Lu Jie, where the hell were you last night!" The supervisor slammed a hand on the desk. "I told you to escort her, where is she?"
"Supervisor, I had a bad stomach last night..." Lu Jie quickly stood up, lowering his head and offering a fawning smile.
"Don't play dumb with me!" The supervisor lowered his voice. "Mr. Deep is very angry right now; you'd better pray that Ms. January just got lost, otherwise we're both finished!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a strong, fishy smell drifted over.
"Lu Jie!" The Deep strode over and kicked over a trash can nearby.
The surrounding employees lowered their heads one after another; no one dared to look at this member of The Sevenwhile he was in a rage.
The supervisor backed away two steps in fear, the fat on his face trembling.
"Mr. Deep, what are your orders?" Lu Jie stood up, bowing his head slightly, appearing terrified.
"Where is Annie?" The Deep approached him, poking his finger hard into Lu Jie's chest. "And where did my two security guards go!"
"I don't know." Lu Jie took half a step back. "I had diarrhea last night and was in the bathroom for half an hour; when I came out, I didn't see Ms. January."
"You're lying!" The Deep grabbed Lu Jie by the collar and lifted him up.
"I really didn't see her!" Lu Jie feigned that he was about to cry. "I didn't even dare to enter the lounge door!"
The Deep stared into his eyes, trying to spot a flaw, but Lu Jie played the part of a perfect coward.
"Mr. Deep, this kid is just a loser; he wouldn't dare lie to you even if he had ten times the guts." The supervisor quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Shut up!" The Deep glared at the supervisor. "Your Public Relations Department is just a bunch of freeloaders!"
He released his hand in disgust and shoved Lu Jie onto his workstation.
The Deep spat on the floor, the saliva landing right on Lu Jie's leather shoes.
"If you can't find her by the time you get off work today, I'll tie you to a rock and sink you into the Hudson River to feed the fish!" After giving this vicious warning, The Deep turned and strode away.
Lu Jie lowered his head, took out a tissue, and slowly wiped the saliva off his shoe.
The supervisor wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, pointed at Lu Jie's nose, and cursed, "Go check the surveillance! If you don't find her today, don't bother coming to work tomorrow!"
Lu Jie nodded and threw the dirty tissue into the trash can.
Tonight, I'll let you know who the real prey is.
Chapter 4: The Deep's Threat, Tenderness in the Safe House
Late at night. The 70th floor of Vought Tower.
Outside The Deep's private lounge, the red light of the surveillance camera blinked rhythmically.
Lu Jie leaned against a blind spot in the hallway and fished an access card out of his pocket.
This was Annie's access card, with a high enough clearance to open the emergency passage on this floor.
He avoided the patrolling security guards, swiped the card, and slipped into the lounge.
The room was filled with a pungent mix of perfume and a briny, fishy smell. The large bed was in complete disarray; The Deep had just vented his anger here earlier that day.
Lu Jie didn't turn on the lights. Using the neon glow from outside the window, he walked straight into the bathroom.
A wet towel lay tossed on the vanity.
Lu Jie put on medical gloves and picked up the towel to examine it closely. A few curled hairs and skin flakes were stuck to it.
"That's enough." He took out a miniature nano-vial, cut off the parts with active skin tissue and hair follicles, and stuffed them into the vial.
After finishing this, he returned the way he came, leaving no trace behind.
Sub-level three, the safe house.
Annie was curled up on the worn-out sofa, wrapped in a thin blanket, her eyes wide open.
The sound of the door lock turning rang out, and she sat up immediately, startled.
Seeing it was Lu Jie, she let out a long sigh of relief.
"You're back." Annie ran over barefoot and grabbed his arm.
"Why aren't you asleep?" Lu Jie locked the door behind him and took off his jacket, tossing it to the side.
"I didn't dare to sleep." Annie's voice was choked with tears. "Every time I close my eyes, I see The Deep's disgusting face, and the corpses of those two security guards..."
Lu Jie looked at her reddened eyes and reached out to pull her into his arms.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
"Did he give you any trouble today?" Annie leaned against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"He asked about your whereabouts," Lu Jie answered nonchalantly.
Annie gripped his shirt nervously. "You didn't tell him, did you?"
"I told him you had already left New York." Lu Jie lied.
"Did he believe it?"
"Whether he believes it or not is up to him." Lu Jie pinched her chin, forcing her to look up. "Annie, you can only rely on me now."
"I know." Annie looked at him, her eyes full of submission.
Lu Jie's fingers slid down her cheek and stopped at her slender neck.
"What did you do in the room today?" he asked.
"I didn't do anything; I've just been waiting for you here." Annie's breathing became rapid.
"Good girl." Lu Jie lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her lips.
This kiss carried an unyielding aggressiveness. Annie whimpered, her legs feeling weak.
Lu Jie took the opportunity to pick her up, strode to the worn-out single bed, and pressed her down onto it.
"Lu Jie..." Annie pushed at his shoulders in a panic.
"Didn't you say I'm all you have left?" Lu Jie grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head. "Now, prove it to me."
He didn't give Annie a chance to resist. His rough movements tore through her final defenses.
In this dark, sunless basement, the high-and-mighty superhero became a mortal's trophy.
Annie sank into a mix of pain and pleasure, her fingernails leaving red marks on Lu Jie's back.
She closed her eyes, tears sliding down the corners of her eyes.
"Don't cry." Lu Jie kissed away her tears, but his movements became even more ruthless.
Dragging a high-and-mighty false god down into the mire—this feeling was far more addictive than simple possession.
Two hours later.
Annie lay exhausted in Lu Jie's arms, having fallen into a deep sleep. There were still dried tear tracks on her face, but her sleeping expression was surprisingly peaceful.
Lu Jie withdrew his hand and sat up from the bed.
He walked to the corner and took out the nano-vial containing The Deep's hair.
[Superpowered active tissue detected.]
The dark red text on his retina lit up again.
Lu Jie didn't hesitate to pour the contents of the vial into his mouth and swallow it.
[Mind Furnace activated, beginning to extract "Water Control" gene.]
A roaring sound exploded deep within his mind.
A pain even more violent than the last time swept over him instantly.
Lu Jie gritted his teeth and collapsed to the floor. Black blood was seeping out of every one of his pores.
Every blood vessel in his body felt like it was being burned by raging fire, and his heart beat so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest.
He covered his mouth tightly, refusing to let out a single sound, so as not to wake Annie on the bed.
This transformation was a process of pure physical tearing. His bones were restructuring, and his muscles were healing rapidly after being torn apart.
Sweat and blood mixed together, pooling into a small puddle on the floor.
He didn't know how much time had passed when that feeling of ten thousand ants gnawing at his bones finally receded like a tide.
[Fusion successful.]
["Water Control" has mutated into "Blood Control".]
Lu Jie gasped for air, slowly standing up from the floor.
He raised his right hand and made a grabbing motion in the void toward the pool of blood on the floor.
The blood on the floor instantly defied gravity, hovering in mid-air and condensing into a dark red bead of blood.
As his fingers turned, the blood bead changed into various shapes in the air, finally forming a sharp blood needle.
Lu Jie sneered, clenching his fingers tightly.
The blood needle instantly dissipated, turning into a mist of blood that fell to the floor.
"The Deep, don't you like playing with water?" Lu Jielooked at his palm, killing intent overflowing in his eyes. "Tonight, I'll let you play to your heart's content."
The perspective shifts back to Vought Tower.
The top floor, private open-air pool.
The Deep was soaking in the temperature-controlled water, holding a glass of champagne, with a waterproof speaker nearby.
He had just been scolded by Madelyn and was in an extremely foul mood.
"A bunch of losers, can't even find a newbie!" The Deep tilted his head back and downed a large gulp of champagne.
He closed his eyes, enjoying the comfort of the water enveloping his body. In the water, he was the true god.
Suddenly, he felt the water temperature turn cold.
It wasn't the water temperature that had turned cold, but the blood inside his body that was boiling.
"What's going on?" The Deep opened his eyes and touched his chest.
His heart was beating violently, as if something was churning inside it.
He tried to stand up, but found his legs wouldn't obey him at all.
His blood began to defy gravity, rushing madly toward his head and heart.
"Ugh—ah—" The Deep opened his mouth, wanting to call for help, but only a muffled gurgling sound came from his throat.
His eyes rapidly bloodshot, the whites turning a terrifying crimson.
His vision began to blur. In the shadows at the edge of the pool, he faintly saw a figure wearing a janitor's uniform.
The figure stood ten meters away, raising a hand.
With the movement of that hand, The Deep felt his blood vessels were about to burst.
"Help... help..." The Deep writhed and struggled in the water in agony.
Great mouthfuls of blood gushed from his mouth and nostrils, instantly dyeing the surrounding pool water red.
Lu Jie, standing in the shadows, watched this scene with a blank expression.
He controlled his strength, not directly crushing The Deep's heart.
This fish was still useful.
Lu Jie stepped forward, took out a glass bottle, and caught a glob of pure, active blood that The Deep had sprayed out.
"Enjoy yourself, big hero."
Lu Jie put away the glass bottle and turned to disappear into the dark hallway.
The Deep twitched in the bloody water, his consciousness gradually sinking into darkness.
Before losing consciousness completely, he had only one thought in his mind.
That janitor... just what kind of monster was he?
At this moment, the first-floor lobby of Vought Tower.
Hughie, wearing an ill-fitting repairman's uniform and carrying a toolbox, walked nervously through the front door.
Butcher commanded in a low voice through the earpiece: "Don't look around, go straight to the PR department's conference room and stick the bug under the table."
Hughie swallowed hard and walked toward the elevator with his head down.
What he didn't know was that in a nearby surveillance room, Lu Jie was staring at him on the screen.
Lu Jie toyed with the glass bottle filled with The Deep's blood, his lips curling into a cruel arc.
The Boys had entered the game.
The water had finally been muddied.
Chapter 5: Suspicion and Intertwining Plots
Lu Jie sat in the swivel chair, the fluorescent light from the screen illuminating his face.
On the screen, Hughie, wearing an ill-fitting uniform, bent down and crawled under the conference table in the Public Relations department.
"Hurry up, Hughie!" Butcher's voice came through Hughie's earpiece with a faint crackle of static.
Hughie's hands were shaking violently; he nearly dropped the black listening device on the floor several times.
He finally managed to stick the device to the underside of the table, let out a long sigh of relief, and hurried away with his toolbox.
Lu Jie took out his phone and pressed the shutter, aiming it at the screen.
The photo clearly captured Hughie's face and the location of the listening device.
"The show is about to begin." Lu Jie tucked his phone into his pocket and turned to walk out of the surveillance room.
Outside the intensive care unit at Vought Private Hospital.
The hallway was filled with security guards. Madelyn was wearing a professional suit, her high heels clicking crisply against the tiles.
As a senior assistant in the Public Relations department, Lu Jie followed behind Madelyn, clutching a stack of documents.
The ward door pushed open, and a strong smell of antiseptic rushed out to meet them.
The Deep lay on the hospital bed, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot. He was covered in tubes, and the ECG monitor beeped rapidly.
"Ms. Madelyn!" Seeing them arrive, The Deep struggled to sit up. "There's a demon! There's an invisible demon in the water!"
Madelyn frowned. "The Deep, calm down. The doctor says you just had a sudden arrhythmia."
"Bullshit!" The Deep shouted, tugging at his IV tube. "I felt it! My blood is flowing backward! Someone is trying to drain my blood!"
Madelyn turned to look at the attending physician.
The doctor lowered his voice. "He did indeed have severe blood backflow when he was brought in, but his vitals have stabilized now. We suspect it's either an overdose of compound v or neurological hallucinations caused by excessive indulgence."
"I'm not hallucinating!" The Deep pointed at the ceiling. "That demon is in this building! He's going to kill us all!"
Madelyn rubbed her temples impatiently.
"The Deep, your recent scandal has already caused the company's stock price to drop by two percent." Madelyn's tone turned cold. "And now you're causing this kind of crazy scene. For the next few months, you are to suspend all public activities and go to Ohio to recuperate."
"No! You can't kick me out of The Seven!" The Deep panicked.
Madelyn ignored him and turned to walk out of the ward.
Lu Jie stood at the foot of the bed, watching The Deep's breakdown with cold eyes.
The Deep's gaze swept over and met Lu Jie's eyes.
Lu Jie remained expressionless, his right hand behind his back, his index finger curling slightly.
The Deep's heart convulsed violently; the excruciating pain caused him to curl up like a shrimp, and a shrill scream escaped his throat.
The doctors and nurses rushed forward to hold him down.
Lu Jie turned and left the ward, closing the door behind him.
Public Relations Department. Lu Jie returned to the office area.
The glass door of the conference room was tightly shut, and Madelyn was inside meeting with several executives.
Lu Jie stood outside the conference room, holding a cup of coffee.
He noticed a slight, unnatural distortion in the air in the corner of the conference room.
That was the slight displacement caused by light refraction.
Translucent.
Lu Jie lowered his head to take a sip of coffee, hiding his smile.
Translucent loved to use his invisibility to spy in every corner—women's restrooms, locker rooms, and even high-level conference rooms like this.
The distorted outline in the air slowly approached the bottom of the conference table.
The place where Hughie had stuck the listening device.
Lu Jie set down his coffee cup and returned to his workstation.
Half an hour later, the distorted air left the conference room and moved rapidly down the hallway.
Lu Jie picked up his jacket and followed.
He maintained a perfectly safe distance. With his current physical attributes, his hearing and vision were far superior to ordinary people.
Translucent walked out of Vought Tower and got into a black sedan.
The sedan had no driver; the steering wheel turned on its own as it merged into traffic.
Lu Jie walked to the roadside, mounted a motorcycle he had prepared in advance, and twisted the throttle to follow.
Brooklyn, outside the electronics store.
Night had fallen, and there were few pedestrians on the street.
Hughie sat in the shop, holding a rag, wiping the counter absentmindedly.
The black sedan stopped at the mouth of the alley across the street.
Lu Jie parked his motorcycle two blocks away and walked into a dark alley next to the electronics store.
He leaned against the moss-covered brick wall and fished a specially made nano-steel needle from his pocket.
The needle was extremely thin, yet its hardness far exceeded that of a diamond.
The doorbell of the shop rang.
Hughie looked up. "We're closed. Come back tomorrow."
The shop was empty.
Hughie frowned and walked around the counter. "Is anyone there?"
A heavy punch slammed into his stomach.
Hughie screamed, flew backward, and knocked over a shelf.
Parts scattered across the floor, making a harsh, clattering noise.
The air distorted, and Translucent dropped his invisibility. He was completely naked, his skin possessing an indestructible, diamond-like texture.
"Who did you think you could fool with that little gadget you stuck under the conference table?" Translucentapproached Hughie step by step.
Hughie clutched his stomach, unable to stand straight from the pain, and backed away repeatedly.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Hughie shouted.
"Still playing dumb?" Translucent walked over, grabbed Hughie by the hair, and lifted him up. "Vought Tower isn't a place for trash like you. Tell me, who sent you?"
Hughie's face turned bright red, and he kicked his legs in the air.
Translucent raised his fist, his diamond-hard knuckles aimed at Hughie's head.
"Die, bug."
A beat-up pickup truck roared with a deafening engine sound, smashing directly through the electronics store's glass display window!
Glass shards flew everywhere.
The front of the pickup slammed into Translucent, sending him flying through the load-bearing wall behind him.
Hughie fell to the ground, gasping for air.
The pickup's door kicked open, and Butcher jumped out, wielding a heavy, solid iron bar.
"You're late!" Hughie yelled at Butcher.
"Traffic was bad." Butcher spat out the toothpick in his mouth and walked toward the large hole in the wall.
Translucent stood up from the rubble, dusting himself off.
The pickup's impact hadn't caused him any real damage; not even a scratch on his skin.
"Billy Butcher." Translucent recognized the newcomer. "You're still alive, you stray dog?"
"I won't die even after you're dead." Butcher swung the iron bar and brought it down hard on Translucent's head.
CLANG! A loud bang, and sparks flew.
The solid iron bar bent into a U-shape.
Translucent didn't even flinch, backhanding a punch into Butcher's chest.
Butcher groaned, staggered back five or six steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Is that all you've got?" Translucent sneered, striding toward Butcher.
In the dark alley, Lu Jie watched this scene, the nano-steel needle held between his fingertips.
This was the best opportunity for him to acquire the diamond skin and invisibility abilities.
He closed his eyes, and the Blood Control within him quietly began to circulate.
Chapter 6: Intercepting Translucent, Ambushing in the Dark
Translucent grabbed Butcher by the throat and lifted him into mid-air.
Butcher grabbed Translucent's wrists with both hands, kicking his legs wildly, his face turning a purplish-red.
"The stupidest thing you've done in your life is messing with The Seven." Translucent tightened his fingers.
Hughie was running around in a panic nearby; he grabbed a screwdriver from the ground and rushed over to stab Translucent in the back.
The screwdriver snapped directly.
Translucent backhanded Hughie, sending him flying.
Butcher rolled his eyes, his consciousness starting to blur.
In the dark alley, Lu Jie opened his eyes.
"Now is the time."
Lu Jie opened the fingers of his right hand, aiming at the back of Translucent's head from a distance.
Blood Control, activate.
The blood flow in Translucent's body was extremely fast; this was a characteristic of a superpowered individual's high metabolism.
Lu Jie's will turned into an invisible hand, directly cutting off the supply channel of the carotid artery to the brain.
Translucent's originally arrogant movements stopped.
He felt a wave of intense dizziness, and the scene before his eyes began to go black.
The physiological reaction caused by cerebral ischemia could not be immunized against, even by diamond skin.
The force of Translucent's grip loosened, and Butcher fell to the ground, coughing violently.
"What... is going on..." Translucent clutched his head, swaying back and forth as he retreated two steps.
He felt his heart beating with great difficulty, as if his blood had been drained.
Although Butcher didn't know what had happened, he was a battle-hardened veteran and would never let such an opportunity slip by.
He caught a glimpse of a high-voltage wire in the corner that had been knocked over, sparking with blue electricity.
Butcher scrambled up and grabbed the high-voltage wire.
Translucent tried to turn invisible, but the lack of oxygen to his brain made it impossible for him to concentrate on using his superpower.
Butcher slammed the high-voltage wire onto the back of Translucent's neck.
A strong electric current coursed through Translucent's body.
While diamond skin could stop bullets and blades, it couldn't stop high-voltage electricity.
Translucent twitched all over, rolled his eyes, and fell straight to the ground, unconscious.
Butcher threw away the wire, panting heavily.
"Go get the car!" Butcher roared at Hughie, "Get him into the car!"
Hughie scrambled toward the pickup truck in a panic.
Butcher turned to look for a rope.
During this brief window, Lu Jie walked out of the dark alley.
His footsteps were extremely light, without making a single sound.
Lu Jie walked to the side of the unconscious Translucentand crouched down.
Translucent's skin surface still maintained the state of carbonized diamond, indestructible.
But Lu Jie knew his weakness.
The weakest skin tissues of the human body are behind the ears and the rectum.
Lu Jie pinched Translucent's chin and turned his face to the side, exposing the area behind his ear.
The nano steel needle in his hand found that extremely tiny gap in the soft tissue and pierced it with force.
The soft tissue without diamond protection was easily pierced.
Lu Jie drew a tube of bright red active blood and pulled out the steel needle.
He put the blood collection tube into his pocket, stood up, and disappeared back into the darkness.
The whole process took less than ten seconds.
Butcher returned with chains and tape, completely unaware that anyone had been there.
He tied Translucent up tightly, and together with Hughie, they lifted him into the trunk of the pickup truck.
The car started and quickly drove away from the scene.
Lu Jie walked out of the shadows, watching the pickup truck disappear at the end of the street.
"Good job, worker." Lu Jie sneered, then turned and walked toward his motorcycle.
Safe house.
On the third underground level, the iron door was pushed open.
Annie was sitting on the sofa, dazed, and stood up immediately upon hearing the movement.
Lu Jie took off his coat and threw it on a chair, his body carrying the chill of the night wind.
"You're back." Annie walked over and poured him a glass of water.
She was wearing a loose white shirt, the hem just covering her thighs; this was the clothing Lu Jie had prepared for her.
"Did it go well today?" Annie handed him the water glass, asking cautiously.
Lu Jie took the glass and took a sip: "Very well, The Deep has already been kicked out of New York."
Annie's eyes lit up: "Really?"
"When have I ever lied to you?" Lu Jie put down the glass, reached out to put his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his arms.
Annie leaned obediently against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
"As long as you stay here obediently, no one can hurt you." Lu Jie's fingers ran through her blonde hair.
"I'm not going anywhere." Annie tilted her head up and took the initiative to kiss Lu Jie's chin.
After spending these few days together, she had completely accepted her current situation.
Rather than returning to that hypocritical and dangerous Vought Tower, it was better to stay by the side of this man who could give her a sense of absolute security.
Lu Jie lowered his head and bit her lip.
Annie let out a soft moan, wrapped her arms around his neck, and responded passionately.
The two fell onto the sofa, and the buttons of the shirt were torn open.
In the cramped basement, the temperature rose rapidly.
Lu Jie's movements carried his usual aggressiveness, and every touch made Annie tremble uncontrollably.
She grabbed Lu Jie's shoulders, completely losing herself in the interweaving of pain and pleasure.
The pride of a god was completely crushed, leaving only the most primitive instincts.
An hour later.
Annie fell into a deep sleep, her breathing even.
Lu Jie sat up from the sofa and put on his clothes.
He walked to the corner of the basement and took out the tube of Translucent's blood from his pocket.
The dark red blood flowed in the glass tube, emitting a faint energy fluctuation.
Lu Jie pulled out the stopper and drank the blood in one gulp.
[Detected active blood of Translucent.]
[Mind Furnace activated, beginning to strip the "Carbon Super-Material Skin" and "Light Refraction" genes.]
Boom!
The furnace ignited within his body.
The pain this time was even more intense than when fusing with The Deep.
Lu Jie knelt on the ground, his hands digging into the concrete floor, his nails curling and bleeding.
He felt every inch of his skin being forcibly peeled off, and then injected with molten iron.
His bones made grinding sounds.
Carbon elements were crazily reorganizing within his cells, changing the physical structure of his flesh.
Lu Jie bit his lip, blood flowing into his mouth with a metallic taste.
He could not make a sound; he could not wake Annie.
This transformation was the ultimate test of willpower.
A layer of fine diamond texture began to appear on the surface of his skin, and then quickly faded into his flesh.
Immediately after, the light refraction gene began to fuse with his cells.
Lu Jie's body appeared and disappeared in the darkness, the surrounding light being twisted and swallowed.
Two whole hours.
The pain reached its peak, then receded like a tide.
Lu Jie lay on the floor, panting heavily, sweat pooling beneath him.
[Fusion successful.]
["Carbon Super-Material Skin" and "Light Refraction" have mutated into "Void Boundary".]
Lu Jie stood up and exercised his stiff neck.
He walked over to a dilapidated mirror.
With a thought.
He disappeared from the mirror.
This was not a simple invisibility.
Lu Jie raised his hand and pressed it against the adjacent concrete wall.
His palm encountered no resistance and went straight through the wall!
Void Boundary.
Not only can it perfectly refract light to achieve invisibility, but it can also make the body particle-ized for a short time, penetrating all solid matter.
Lu Jie pulled his hand out, and the wall remained intact.
He deactivated the void state, and his body reappeared in the mirror.
He picked up a paper cutter from the table and slashed it hard against his arm.
The moment the blade touched his skin, a faint diamond luster appeared on the surface.
Snap.
The blade of the paper cutter snapped directly.
Lu Jie looked at his unscathed arm and smiled with satisfaction.
With this ability, he would be able to come and go as he pleased in this building.
"Translucent, I have accepted your legacy."
Lu Jie turned to look at the sleeping Annie on the sofa.
Next, it was time to see how Butcher intended to deal with that big trouble.
Chapter 7: Night Hunter, The Boys' Initiation
The lights in the safehouse were very dim.
"Are you leaving?" Annie grabbed the corner of the quilt, her voice soft.
Lu Jie buttoned his shirt and looked back at her. "If I don't clock in, how can I prove I was working overtime last night?"
"Will they find out Translucent is missing?" Annie got out of bed barefoot, walked up to him, and reached out to adjust his tie.
"They already have." Lu Jie took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her waist, his palm pressing against the thin fabric. "But this fire won't burn us."
Annie leaned against his chest and looked up. "What on earth did you do?"
"I'm just letting someone else do the dirty work." Lu Jiepinched her cheek. "Stay here and wait for me to come back."
"Come back early." Annie bit her lower lip. "I'm scared being here alone."
"Scared of what?" Lu Jie chuckled. "Scared I'll eat you, or scared of the monsters outside?"
"Scared you won't come back." Annie hugged him tightly.
"Don't worry, my prey hasn't been fully harvested yet." Lu Jie pushed open the door and melted into the shadows of the hallway.
Vought Tower, 82nd-floor conference room.
"Useless! You're all useless!" Madelyn slammed a stack of documents into the supervisor's face.
The supervisor trembled with fear. "Ms. Madelyn, we really can't find Translucent. His tracking chip was found in a trash can in Brooklyn."
"A grown man, a member of The Seven, just vanished into thin air?" Madelyn propped her hands on the table, her chest heaving with anger.
"We have already dispatched all security teams." The security captain stood aside, sweating profusely.
"What good are security teams? Check the surveillance! Find out who he met yesterday!" Madelyn roared.
"Surveillance shows he went to the PR Departmentyesterday and then left the building," the supervisor quickly replied.
Lu Jie stood in the corner, quietly changing the filter paper for the coffee machine.
"What did The Deep say?" Madelyn turned and asked.
"Mr. Deep is still in the hospital. He keeps mumbling about a demon draining his blood," the supervisor said, wiping his sweat.
"Tell him to get the hell to Ohio for a vacation! Don't let the media see him looking so crazy!" Madelyn rubbed her temples. "Go find out who Translucent has been in contact with recently!"
"Yes!" The supervisor scrambled out of the room.
Lu Jie walked up to Madelyn with a cup of hot coffee. "Your black coffee, Ms. Madelyn. No sugar."
Madelyn took a sip of the coffee. "Lu Jie, the PR Department is a mess right now. Keep a close eye on the media for me, don't let them write anything crazy."
"Understood, ma'am," Lu Jie replied submissively.
"Go on then," Madelyn waved her hand.
Lu Jie exited the conference room and took out his phone, glancing at the red dot on the screen.
It was the micro-tracker he had left on Hughie last night.
"Time to check on the progress of those wage slaves." Lu Jie walked toward the elevator.
An abandoned underground bomb shelter in New Jersey.
"What the hell is this thing?!" Butcher kicked the iron cage.
Inside the cage, Translucent was stripped naked, his hands and feet bound by iron chains. Although he was awake, he was still dizzy from the previous lack of oxygen to his brain.
"He's not even afraid of armor-piercing bullets." Frenchieheld a chainsaw, sweating profusely. "His skin structure is harder than diamond."
"Then cut him with the chainsaw!" Butcher roared.
"It's useless, all the blades broke." Frenchie threw the ruined chainsaw onto the ground.
Hughie shrank in the corner, clutching his head. "Let's just let him go. Vought will kill us all."
"Shut up, Hughie!" Butcher walked over and grabbed him by the collar. "When your girlfriend was turned into mush, did Vought let her go?"
Hughie's eyes reddened, and he said nothing.
Translucent sneered from the cage. "Billy Butcher, you homeless dog, there's nothing you can do to me."
"Is that so?" Butcher turned to look at him.
"When Homelander finds this place, you'll all be sliced into pieces."
Frenchie's eyes suddenly lit up. "I have an idea."
"Spit it out," Butcher looked at him.
"His skin is indeed hard, but what about his inside?" Frenchie picked up a pack of C4 explosives. "His internal organs can't possibly be made of diamonds too, right?"
"What do you want to do?" Butcher asked.
"Stuff it into his weakest spot." Frenchie pointed at Translucent's lower body.
The smile froze on Translucent's face. "Don't you dare!"
"Good idea." Butcher grinned, revealing his grim teeth.
In the shadows of the bomb shelter, Lu Jie leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets. He was in a state of nothingness, with even his breathing and heartbeat perfectly concealed.
These guys are quite creative, Lu Jie evaluated in his mind.
"Hughie, come help," Frenchie called out.
"I'm not going!" Hughie shook his head frantically.
"Hurry up, kid!" Butcher dragged Hughie over.
For the next half hour, the bomb shelter was filled with Translucent's curses and screams.
Frenchie successfully stuffed the C4 inside and connected it to the remote detonator.
"Who's going to press this?" Frenchie asked, holding the detonator.
Butcher glanced at Hughie in the corner. "Give it to him."
"I'm not doing it!" Hughie backed away frantically. "I don't want to kill anyone!"
"You have no way back, Hughie." Butcher shoved the detonator into his hand. "Think of Robin."
Hughie looked at the detonator in his hand, his hands shaking like a leaf.
Translucent panicked. "Hughie, don't do anything rash! I promise I won't tell Vought, I swear!"
"Weren't you acting pretty arrogant just now?" Butchermocked.
"Hughie, you're a good person, you're not a killer!" Translucent started playing the emotional card. "Think of your father. If you go to prison, what will happen to him?"
Hughie hesitated. He looked at Translucent, then at Butcher.
"Press it, Hughie!" Butcher urged.
"I can't do it..." Hughie let go, and the detonator dropped to the ground.
Translucent let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, Hughie, you're a smart guy. Let me go, and I'll give you money, lots of money. Vought has plenty of money."
"Shut up, you scumbag!" Butcher cursed.
"How much can you give me?" Hughie suddenly asked.
Translucent thought he had a chance. "Ten million! No, twenty million! Just let me go!"
"Are you out of your mind?" Butcher grabbed Hughie. "You think he'll give you money? He'll only slice you into pieces and feed you to the dogs!"
"I just don't want anyone else to die." Hughie covered his face.
Just then, taking advantage of Butcher's distraction, Translucent forcefully broke free from a loose chain and swung a fist at Hughie.
Terrified, Hughie fell backward onto the ground, his hand landing right on the fallen detonator.
"No—" Translucent screamed in despair.
A loud explosion echoed in the enclosed bomb shelter.
Flesh and bone fragments splattered everywhere.
Lu Jie stood in place without moving. The flying chunks of flesh and internal organs passed right through his intangible body, splattering onto the wall behind him.
"How spectacular." Lu Jie took out his phone and pressed the stop recording button.
Covered in blood, Hughie stared blankly at the pile of mangled flesh left in the cage.
"Good job, kid." Butcher patted Hughie on the shoulder.
"I killed someone..." Hughie muttered to himself.
"Welcome to The Boys." Butcher lit a cigarette.
Lu Jie walked up to the pile of mangled flesh. He took out a glass vial, picked up a piece of liver containing a high concentration of carbon, and put it inside.
Although this thing could no longer provide abilities, it could be used to extract residues of compound v to develop targeted genetic toxins.
"Keep up the hard work, wage slaves." Lu Jie put away the vial, turned to walk through the thick concrete wall, and disappeared into the night.
Chapter 8: The False God's Wrath, Taming Popclaw
The next day, Vought Tower.
An oppressive atmosphere enveloped the entire first-floor lobby.
All employees, including executives, assistants, and janitors, were gathered here. No one dared to speak, and everyone tried to breathe as quietly as possible.
On the electronic screen in the center of the lobby, a bounty notice for Translucent's disappearance played on a loop.
Lu Jie stood at the very back of the crowd, his head bowed, looking like a submissive, low-level worker.
The temperature of the air dropped a few degrees.
Accompanied by heavy footsteps, a red and blue cape swept across the polished marble floor.
Homelander arrived.
He wore his signature fake smile, but there was pure killing intent deep in his eyes.
"Good morning, everyone," Homelander's voice echoed through the lobby.
No one dared to respond.
Homelander walked to the very front of the crowd, his gaze sweeping across every face. "We have lost a family member. Translucent is missing."
Madelyn stood to the side, her face grim. "We are doing everything we can to search for him."
"Search?" Homelander turned to look at her. "A member of The Seven was kidnapped on his own turf, and your PR Department can't even fart out a single word?"
Madelyn lowered her head. "It was our failure."
"No, this isn't failure." Homelander stepped into the crowd, one step at a time. "This is betrayal."
He stopped in front of an executive. "Was it you?"
The executive's legs went weak with fear, and he fell directly to his knees. "Not me! Homelander, I swear!"
Homelander ignored him and continued forward. A dangerous red light glowed in his eyes, his vision penetrating walls and human bodies.
Standing in the back row, Lu Jie kept his heart rate at sixty beats per minute, perfectly masquerading as a terrified ordinary person.
Homelander stopped in front of Lu Jie.
The oppressive pressure of absolute power was enough to break the mind of any ordinary person.
"You, raise your head," Homelander ordered.
Lu Jie slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with terror. His teeth were chattering, and he could barely stand steady on his legs.
"What's your name?" Homelander stared at him.
"Lu... Lu Jie, sir," Lu Jie stammered.
"Are you afraid?" Homelander leaned in close, smelling the cheap cologne on him.
"Y-Yes, sir," Lu Jie swallowed hard.
The red light in Homelander's eyes gradually faded. He let out a contemptuous laugh. "Trash."
He turned and walked back to the center of the lobby. "Listen up. No matter who did this, I will find them. And I will crush their bones inch by inch."
With that, Homelander soared into the sky, shattering the glass of the skylight and disappearing into the horizon.
Only then did the people in the lobby dare to breathe heavily.
Lu Jie kept his head down, the fear in his eyes vanishing without a trace.
"Man-child," Lu Jie sneered in his heart. "Your era will soon come to an end."
Back in the PR Department.
Lu Jie sat at his workstation, opened his computer, and pulled up a financial statement.
Translucent was dead, and The Deep was ruined. The next target had to be a prey that could provide a speed advantage.
A-Train.
Lu Jie's fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard. A-Train had been in terrible shape recently due to his drug addiction, making this the perfect opportunity to strike.
But he couldn't go straight to A-Train. It was too easy to expose himself.
He needed an insider.
A transaction record popped up on the screen. A-Traintransferred money to a private account on a fixed monthly basis.
The owner of the account was Popclaw.
"You're the one," Lu Jie closed his computer.
Late at night, Queens, New York.
Outside an upscale apartment building.
Lu Jie stood in the shadows of a street corner, dressed in casual black clothes.
He looked up at a lit window on the seventeenth floor.
"Void Boundary."
Lu Jie's body particleized. Ignoring the access control and security guards, he walked straight through the walls and made his way up the stairwell.
The seventeenth floor, Popclaw's apartment.
Deafening rock music played in the room.
Popclaw, wearing revealing pajamas, was leaning over the glass coffee table in the living room, snorting a powdery substance through a straw.
A drug derived from compound v.
After taking a snort, she threw her head back and let out a soft, satisfied hum.
Just then, the wall behind her rippled like water.
Lu Jie stepped out of the wall.
Popclaw saw the dark figure behind her in the reflection of the glass coffee table.
"Who's there?!" she shrieked, two sharp bone claws popping out from her wrists.
She spun around, thrusting her bone claws toward Lu Jie's throat.
Lu Jie didn't even dodge.
The bone claws pierced straight through Lu Jie's neck, but not a single drop of blood spilled.
"What?" Popclaw was stunned.
Lu Jie deactivated his void state, grabbed Popclaw's wrist, and twisted it hard.
"Ah—" Popclaw screamed in pain, her bone claws forced back into her body.
Lu Jie pinned her down onto the sofa, pressing his knee against her chest and covering her mouth with one hand.
"Shh, don't scream," Lu Jie's voice was soft, yet carried a deadly threat.
Popclaw struggled desperately, but Lu Jie's strength was far beyond her imagination.
"Do you want to live, or do you want to die?" Lu Jie asked.
Popclaw stared at him in terror and nodded.
Lu Jie released his grip. "Very good."
"Who the hell are you?" Popclaw gasped for air. "Do you want money? Take all the money on the table!"
"I don't want money." Lu Jie pulled out a syringe containing a powerful anesthetic. "I need you to do something for me."
"What is it?" Popclaw shrank back.
"Keep an eye on A-Train for me." Lu Jie twirled the syringe in his hand. "I want to know his every move."
"You're crazy! He's in The Seven!" Popclaw yelled. "He'll kill me!"
"If you don't agree, I'll kill you right now." Lu Jie pinched her chin, pressing the needle against her carotid artery.
Popclaw felt the genuine killing intent. She knew the man in front of her wasn't joking.
"He's been in a terrible mood lately because Vought's executives are putting pressure on him over the incident with The Deep," Popclaw tried to bargain. "It will be dangerous for me to get close to him."
"That's your problem." Lu Jie tightened his grip. "Be my dog, or be a corpse. Choose one."
"I... I promise." Popclaw compromised.
"Good girl," Lu Jie smiled.
He put away the syringe, his eyes scanning Popclaw's exposed body.
"Since our cooperation is settled, shouldn't we have an in-depth exchange?" Lu Jie's finger brushed across her collarbone.
Popclaw's body went limp; she understood what Lu Jiemeant.
In this circle, the body was the cheapest bargaining chip.
"As long as you don't kill me..." Popclaw bit her lip and voluntarily pulled open the straps of her pajamas.
Lu Jie pressed down on her.
Conquering a superhero's mistress was yet another trampling of a false god's dignity.
The sofa shook, and the rock music drowned out the suggestive sounds in the room.
While venting his desires, Lu Jie was already calculating his next step.
"A-Train, your death is not far off."