"It's You?"
Butcher recognized Russell, who had suddenly burst out and effortlessly dealt with the special forces team.
If it wasn't for this mysterious guy dragging him to find Mallory, he still wouldn't know the 'truth of Soldier Boy's death'.
"Infinitoid!"
Hughie exclaimed.
Videos about Infinitoid saving the plane and preventing a second World Trade Center tragedy had long since spread wildly online.
Now, few people in the World don't know this hottest Superhero.
When Hughie saw the video and interview at the time, he couldn't believe Infinitoid was the nameless superhuman they had encountered in the abandoned restaurant that day.
Mother's Milk and Frenchie breathed a huge sigh of relief. Regardless, they were at least temporarily saved.
"What are You doing here? Are You also after the weapon to kill Soldier Boy?
To kill Homelander, to eliminate a competitor within Your own company?"
Butcher's eyes lit up, and he licked his lips.
News of the conflict between Homelander and Infinitoid had spread everywhere along with the hijacking case.
He hated all superhumans, but if there was a chance to use a tiger to swallow a wolf, he wouldn't mind cooperating with a superhuman.
However... a moment of doubt flashed through Butcher's mind. Why was Infinitoid so slow? As a superhuman, he had come up behind him instead.
He didn't know Russell had already been here and looked around.
"I am indeed here for the 'weapon'.
Glancing at the replaced vault door deep within the laboratory, it seemed this experimental Base already knew someone had visited. Russell chuckled lightly and looked at Butcher and Hughie.
If Edgar hadn't found the records of a few people leaving the country, he might have been a step late and missed out on these two promising temporary superhuman candidates.
Looking for the weapon, what are they doing?
The two were confused by his gaze and exchanged a look.
"I saved Your lives, asking for a return isn't too much, right?"
"How do You want to be repaid?" Butcher asked suspiciously, suddenly having an ominous feeling.
...
"Good news, only three votes are still undecided, but victory is assured. The bill for Superheroes to enter national defense is now inevitable."
Hanging up the phone, Madelyn turned back, her face beaming with satisfaction, and shared the good news with Homelander on the office sofa.
"Not bad."
Homelander didn't seem particularly happy. He just said it indifferently.
Superheroes entering the national defense system had nothing to do with him. It only reminded him of that white-caped figure he resented.
Recently, Homelander had been plagued by negative news, close to collapse, so he certainly couldn't be happy.
Madelyn was aware of her advantage over other senior managers. It was thanks to her special relationship with Homelander that she became a valuable asset and gradually rose to the position of Vice CEO.
However, she couldn't go against the board's wishes. It was Homelander's fault for foolishly opposing the board, but she still had to appease him.
"Do You still remember Becca from the marketing department?"
Madelyn sat down close to Homelander's shoulder on the sofa, a smile on her lips, about to comfort him like a mother and let him lie in her arms, when Homelander suddenly brought it up.
In the past, Homelander would have eagerly seized the opportunity to be close to her, but today he seemed unusually different.
"Who?"
Startled to hear that name, Madelyn pretended to be confused.
"Becca Butcher. I suddenly remembered her recently. She was considered missing by the police for a long time. The timing of her disappearance was very coincidental, it was the day after I was alone with her in the office for a few hours..."
Homelander's deep eyes were like a deep well, clearly reflecting Madelyn's face. Her slightest expression had nowhere to hide.
"Why are You suddenly asking about her?"
Madelyn was a little flustered.
Homelander before her was like a different person. He no longer showed her affection, no longer casually expressed any childlike emotions towards her.
It was as if he had grown up a lot overnight, but she couldn't figure out what could make a man who had never grown up suddenly mature.
"Why can't I ask? Is there anything special about her?"
Homelander gave a half-smile.
"Alright... alright, I admit there's one thing I've been keeping from You all these years, breaking our promise of no secrets. But I was also doing it for Your own good, afraid You couldn't handle the blow."
Madelyn's smile was awkward, and her voice was intermittent.
"That Becca Butcher got pregnant with Your child after that day. Vought found her and protected her, but she miscarried soon after.
Her frail body couldn't provide the nutrition Your child needed.
Yes, You once had a son."
Madelyn realized.
The only thing that could make a man instantly grow up was the news that he was a father. How did Homelander find out about this?
"Miscarried?"
Homelander stood up expressionlessly, his chin slightly raised.
"This is a different version from what I heard from Vogelbaum."
"You went to see Vogelbaum?"
Madelyn's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
She had never seen Homelander display such a cold demeanor towards her before, but she wasn't unfamiliar with it. It was a sign that Homelander was extremely angry and about to kill someone.
Why, when Homelander, who had always been most infatuated with and trusting of her, had a problem, did he not come to her first? This was very wrong.
"Did someone tell You something?"
"Answer my question!"
Homelander's eyes lit up with crimson lasers.
"No... no, calm down, John."
Madelyn sprang up from the sofa in fright, retreating with a pale face.
Could it be that during this time, the company letting public opinion attack Homelander had truly angered this giant baby who desperately needed love, pushing him to the brink of losing control?
"Don't call me that name, call me Homelander.
John was the name Vought gave me to market me as being born into a normal family!"
"But... but, Homelander is also the name Vought gave You."
Madelyn was confused.
What did You say!"
Homelander angrily appeared in front of Madelyn as if teleporting, grabbing her head with both hands, making her look into his eyes.
"Say it again!"
"Don't hurt me, Homelander."
With Homelander's strength that could easily crush steel, just a slight move could crush Madelyn's head like a watermelon. She trembled with fear, as if facing a man-eating monster.
"You're right, I was born in a Vought laboratory and grew up according to the life Vought arranged for me. My name, image, even my pursuits and dreams, were all given to me by Vought!"
Homelander's expression was filled with resentment, mixed with a deep sense of his own pathetic pain. This pain further fueled his towering rage and killing intent, his eyes bloodshot.
"I'm just a deformed child who was forcibly shaped and raised within the iron framework set by Vought! I'm like a doll dressed up by others, without the right to be myself.
I can't even think of anything that belongs to me."
"You think I'm pathetic, right!"
"No... no, I never thought that."
It was as if decades of grievances and anger had suddenly found an outlet and were about to burst out. Looking at the increasingly agitated Homelander, Madelyn was terrified and almost burst into tears.