Alex lightly patted her shoulder, then walked toward Electric Man.
"You must've been pretty busy lately."
"Ice Princess and Element Woman have been chasing the Blue Hawk case, so all the Seven's work has fallen on you and Maeve."
Electric Man quickly said, "Working with Queen Maeve has taught me a lot."
Alex laughed, "You're quite the smooth talker. You must've made Maeve very happy. Don't tell me you two sparked something?"
"You're Electric Man. You should be pretty good at that."
Electric Man was startled and shook his head, "No, aside from work, I've never been alone with Queen Maeve."
"If you don't believe me, you can check the work logs, Homelander."
Alex patted his shoulder, "Relax, just joking."
Maeve said with a dark expression, "That kind of joke isn't funny at all."
Alex looked at her, walked to her side, and whispered in her ear, "Then come to my office later. How about I tell you a joke there?"
Maeve knew exactly what he meant. Thinking back to what happened that night under the moon, her heartbeat sped up, and she didn't know whether to agree.
Alex then continued to Electric Man, "You might get even busier soon. I'll be pulling Maeve out of the Seven temporarily. I need her to help me at the Department of Defense office."
Maeve looked at Alex in surprise, unable to believe this man was sending her into the Department of Defense.
Alex continued, "But don't worry. I'll have Ashley recruit more people."
"Black Noir and Translucent have been missing for a while. Since they have no intention of coming back, I won't force them."
"In that case, we can only recruit new members."
"But until the newcomers arrive, Electric Man, the Seven will depend on you."
Electric Man immediately stood up, "It's my honor, sir."
Alex nodded and smiled, "That's it for now. You can all get back to work."
He winked at Maeve, "Go wait in my office. We'll talk."
Maeve smiled and nodded. As she walked out of the command hall, she ran into Starlight.
Starlight glanced at Maeve, "Is Homelander here?"
Maeve looked back toward the hall, "He is."
Starlight walked in and saw Alex standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, seemingly lost in thought. She didn't dare disturb him and quietly stood to the side.
Alex saw Starlight through the window reflection. He turned around and looked at the girl with big wavy blonde hair and a revealing battle suit.
"Looks like you've been pretty busy lately."
Right now, Starlight was the only superhero in the Seven Tower doing commercials, shows, and media interviews.
It was obvious the girl didn't like it, but in front of Vought's immense financial power and influence, it was hard for her to refuse if she wanted to be a superhero.
This was also the reality for most superheroes in this world. Under Vought's control, they were less like heroes and more like traveling celebrities.
Starlight nodded, looking slightly tired, with a hint of self-mockery.
"Yes. Every day I have to deal with all kinds of media, shoot commercials, say lines written by the marketing department."
"Running around dressed like a stripper… I feel like I'm forgetting that I'm a superhero."
Alex smiled, "Look at it another way. You're building a strong brand image for Vought, for us. So you could say you're our superhero."
Starlight shook her head, "Actually, Homelander."
"I really admire you. I respect you. I do."
A smile appeared on Alex's lips, "Wow, I'm honored."
Starlight smiled, bit her lip, then said, "But that night when Manhattan fell, I felt confused. Can I ask you a question?"
Alex nodded, "Of course. Go ahead. I'm listening, but make it quick. I've got an appointment with Maeve."
Starlight clenched her fists slightly, took a deep breath, and said, "It's about what you did in the Empire State Building."
"I mean, when you killed those people, it must have been for a very careful reason."
"I thought about it. Was it because those people supported Olga Company?"
"I heard from others in the company that Olga was about to cooperate with the Department of Defense."
"So I realized that if they succeeded, their weapons and armor would enter the military."
"And that could lead to more casualties in overseas wars."
"So the people there were accomplices. You killed them to stop that from happening."
"That must be it, right?"
Alex looked at Starlight, "That's what you think?"
"You believe that's why I killed them?"
Starlight nodded eagerly.
Alex burst out laughing, "Oh my God, Starlight."
"Your little brain really tries hard to see the best in others."
"I'm glad you think that way about me."
"But actually…"
"I already told you the reason back then, didn't I?"
Alex stopped smiling and looked at her, "They died because they ordered me around."
"And in this world, no one has the right to order me. That's all."
Starlight was instantly crushed.
But Alex had no interest in her thoughts. After saying that, he walked past her.
A moment later, Starlight let out a long sigh.
———
In a gloomy house—
"So your deputy director played you?"
"Hahaha! That's hilarious. You're like a clown. Sorry, I don't mean to laugh at you, I just can't help it."
The superhero "Storm," dressed in a black and green suit with an asymmetrical hairstyle, covered her mouth as she looked at the sullen Butcher.
The bearded man looked at her, "Is it that funny?"
"You'd better worry more about what we do next now that the CIA's out."
Storm shrugged, "Maybe I should go to Russia. Homelander probably won't go there."
Butcher waved his hand, "Then what are you waiting for? Get your ass moving."
Storm laughed, "You look like one of those guys who got cheated on."
"Also…"
A bolt of electricity struck beside Butcher.
Storm winked at him, "Watch your mouth. I may want allies, but I don't mind blowing your head off either."
"After all, you're not the only one who hates Homelander."
"Worst case, I'll just cooperate with the federal government."
Butcher glanced at the small hole scorched beside him and shook his head.
"The CIA's out, but we can rely on ourselves."
Storm raised an eyebrow, "Got a plan?"
Butcher said, "We can leak information to the media ourselves and expose Vought's scandals."
"But before that, we need that blue stuff. Compound V."
Storm looked at him, "You're going back to steal more?"
Butcher shook his head, "I don't think that'll work anymore. Right now, the only place we can still get Compound V is inside Vought."
"For example, their research facility."
After saying that, he looked at the woman in front of him.
"No! No! No!"
Storm waved her hands, "Don't even think about it. You want me to go back and steal? I might as well wrap myself up and deliver myself to Homelander's bed. If I have to face him anyway, I'd rather it be in bed than in a lab when he catches me."
Butcher looked her up and down, "Maybe Homelander isn't interested in short girls."
Electricity crackled in Storm's hand as she smiled, "Say that again?"
Butcher didn't continue and instead said, "If you're not willing, I actually have another candidate."
"Who?", Storm asked.
The bearded man looked toward the TV. At that moment, an advertisement endorsed by Starlight was playing.
Storm froze, "Her?"
"Are you insane? No, unless she's insane, why would she help you?"
Butcher looked at her, "You're right. She wouldn't help a wanted man."
"But what if it's you, another superhero?"
"You two might have something in common."
Storm pointed at herself, "Alright, even if I'm willing to go."
"How are you so sure she'll help?"
Butcher took out his phone, opened a video, and showed it to her.
"This is footage from the Empire State Building during the Manhattan incident."
Storm took it and saw Starlight fighting for the hostages.
Butcher said, "This girl might be the only superhero whose conscience hasn't rotted away."
"If she finds out about Compound V, about what Vought has done, she might help us."
Storm laughed, "That's it?"
"That's not enough."
Butcher nodded, "You're right."
"If we can make her disappointed in Vought… in Homelander…"
"Then our chance will come."
Storm looked at the bearded man and sighed, "You're not a good person either, Butcher."
"Aren't you the same?", Butcher smiled.
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