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In the afternoon, at the lounge of the training area.
Homelander had just finished his shower, wearing a bathrobe and holding a glass of hot milk, leaning against the railing and watching the training ground below.
Wanda was currently sweating profusely alone below, constantly encouraging herself.
"Faster! Faster!"
"Ten more for this set!"
After this period of special training, supplemented by T-VEX stock solution's enhancement, Wanda's originally slender figure now had clear abs.
The muscle lines on her arms were tight and smooth, sweat sliding down her flushed cheeks and dripping onto her collarbone.
"Phew... phew... nine... ten!"
After finishing the last set of strength training, Wanda collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
She looked up and saw Homelander at the upstairs railing.
Their eyes met in the air.
Wanda's eyes instantly lit up, and her exhaustion seemed to vanish.
She quickly scrambled up, grabbed a towel to wipe her sweat, and ran up the stairs with light steps.
"Well done, your form is very standard," Homelander praised. "As expected of the girl I value most."
"But I still feel it's not enough... Jessica said my physical fitness and reactions are my weaknesses, which is why I was suppressed so hard by that acrobat... oh no, Agent Barton."
Wanda felt a bit embarrassed by the praise and quickly unscrewed a bottle cap to drink water. A few droplets slid down her slender neck and into her deep cleavage.
"No need to be modest, you are very... outstanding."
Homelander's appreciative gaze swept over her, and he gave a masculine smile.
"However, overtraining will be counterproductive."
He reached out and naturally helped her tidy the messy hair on her forehead.
"You need to balance work and rest, sweetheart. If you wear yourself out, Pietro will be crying to me all day."
Wanda's heart raced at this intimate gesture. She twisted her towel with her fingers and said softly:
"I... I'm not tired. I want to become stronger. I want... I want to be of help to you."
"You've already helped."
Homelander's tone was gentle, and he was about to say more.
The hurried clicking of Ashley's high heels broke the romantic atmosphere.
She walked over quickly, came to Wanda's side, and said professionally, "Miss Maximoff, the company's legal department has pushed several times. You need to sign the 'Vought City Hero Contract' as soon as possible, otherwise your health insurance and salary card can't be processed."
Wanda glanced at the contract in Ashley's hand, her shy expression turning hesitant.
She looked up at Homelander and summoned her courage to say:
"Um... Anthony, can I not sign this?"
"Hmm?" Homelander raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Not satisfied with the salary? I recall Ashley offered you S-Rank treatment?"
"No, it's not about the money," Wanda waved her hands hurriedly. "I don't want to be some city hero, dealing with robbers or finding cats for old ladies."
"I want to join The Seven."
She took a step forward, closing the distance between her and Homelander, and looked up at him.
"I want to deal with real crises just like you. I want to stand by your side and fight alongside you."
"Just... just like Jessica."
When mentioning Jessica, there was a clear hint of competitiveness in Wanda's tone.
This little Witch has quite the ambition.
However, The Seven's current roster was indeed a bit awkward.
Although there were actually only six people: himself, Jessica, Angela, Robbie, The Invisible Man, and Pietro.
But the public promotion has always been 'The Seven.'
That seventh member who absconded with the money—Deadpool, Wade Wilson—even though he wasn't around, his name was still on the payroll.
"Well..."
Homelander put on a troubled expression.
"Wanda, I really want you to join The Seven too. Truly."
He sighed and spread his hands.
"But the roster is full."
"Full?" Wanda didn't believe it and counted on her fingers. "But... one, two, three... there are clearly only six people right now! Even that guy who only knows how to turn invisible is there, why can't I?"
"Shh—"
Homelander raised a finger.
"There's one more, Wade. Although you haven't met him, he is indeed a member."
"He... well, he's on a top-secret mission."
Homelander talked nonsense with a straight face.
"He's enduring humiliation to protect the peace of Earth. We can't just kick him out; that would be inhumane, right?"
The light in Wanda's eyes instantly dimmed.
"Oh... I see..."
She lowered her head, her voice filled with disappointment.
"Then... do I only get to go on patrol?"
Seeing her looking so aggrieved, Homelander changed his tone.
"However..."
"If you really don't want to sign that hero contract, I do have a special job opening here."
"What position?" Wanda looked up, her expectations rising again.
"As you can see, although Ashley is an excellent assistant, she is, after all, an ordinary person."
Homelander pointed to Ashley standing nearby.
"In many dangerous situations, she can't follow me."
"So I need a... special assistant."
"Someone with powerful abilities, who can protect themselves and stay by my side to help me at any time."
"How about it, Wanda? Are you willing to humble yourself and be my assistant?"
Wanda was stunned.
Anthony's assistant?
Able to stay by his side at all times?
This sounds... ten thousand times better than being in The Seven!
Wanda's mind immediately flashed back to the dozens of workplace romance dramas she had watched since coming to the United States, and the corners of her mouth curled up uncontrollably.
"Oh, yes I do!"
"Um... I mean, since it's for work, then of course I have no problem with it."
Wanda tried to suppress her inner ecstasy, acting reserved as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Very good."
Homelander nodded with satisfaction and turned to the expressionless Ashley:
"Did you hear that? Draft a new contract. The position is Special Executive Assistant to the President of Vought. The salary will be based on the S-Rank hero standard."
"Yes, boss." Ashley turned around without a word and walked away in her high heels.
But her mind was screaming with complaints: This isn't hiring an assistant; it's clearly picking up girls! Sigh, my poor Jessica.
After Ashley left, Wanda winked at Homelander, her eyelashes fluttering like fan blades.
"So, what does this assistant of yours need to do now?
"I heard... you like drinking hot milk?"
"I can heat some for you now? Guaranteed to be your favorite... 45 degrees?"
Homelander raised an eyebrow. This girl was getting into character quite quickly.
"Haha... I like 37 degrees too, sweetheart," Homelander joked. "But let's talk about the hot milk later; right now, I'm considering something else."