470. The Seven.
470. The Seven.
Although everyone was feeling confused and conflicted, under Stan Edgar's powerful aura, the heroes exchanged looks and, in the end, stood up and left the meeting room.
They couldn't exactly say how they felt about Vought Corporation right now, but there was some truth to what Edgar said—they were already in the same boat.
If Vought Corporation's ship sank, they wouldn't fare any better.
At the very least, the fame and wealth they had built up so far would vanish, and that was something most of the people present couldn't accept. Besides, they had no time to think about these things right now.
Unbelievable news kept pouring in—Translucent's sudden death, the public revelation of Compound V, and then the secret human experiments Vought had been conducting.
So many complicated pieces of information were revealed in a single day, leaving them with no time to think about what their future might hold.
Now that Edgar had given them orders, they naturally prepared to follow them. At least for now, this would give their chaotic minds a chance to rest.
"Homelander, you stay. There's a press conference coming up, and I need you to stand by my side," Edgar said, raising his hand and stopping Homelander as he passed by.
"I stay?" Homelander paused, his expression one of displeasure.
"The situation at the Sage Grove Center is under control, but Vought's legal team and the department need a high-profile figure to stand with me at the press conference and address the issue of Compound V," Edgar explained.
"I don't think I need to clean up your mess. Where's Madelyn?"
At that moment, Homelander was still fixated on his dear Madelyn. Although he had met Edgar only a few times and knew the latter was at the top of Vought, he wasn't keen on giving him face.
"I know you and Madelyn are close, but the issue with Compound V is too big. Someone needs to step up and handle it," Edgar casually replied.
Homelander's expression grew complicated as he tilted his head, looking at Edgar beside him. "So you want Madelyn to bear all of this on her own?"
"This is the last resort. I don't want it to come to this, but for Vought's sake, I need you to explain the matter clearly in front of the media. With your influence, you can still help salvage the situation."
Edgar, unfazed by Homelander's gaze, looked directly at him and spoke word by word.
"If you refuse, The Seven will go from being the world's top superhero organization to a group of outcasts. By then, you'll just be a joke."
"You're threatening me?" Homelander's face darkened.
"You can take it that way," Edgar replied calmly. "The leak about Compound V is already happening, and both China and Russia are keeping an eye on us, so don't expect me to indulge you or take care of your feelings."
Taking a deep breath, Homelander, with a face full of fluctuating emotions, finally suppressed his anger.
He knew Edgar was right. With such a big issue at hand, he had no choice but to step up and do what needed to be done for Vought Corporation. Even though he didn't want to, he had no other option but to show up.
Homelander had grown up without parents. While he always presented himself as stable and righteous in front of others, only he knew how soft his heart was and how much he craved love.
The Seven were his family, and he cherished this organization. Since it was tied to Vought, he had no choice but to help Vought through this crisis.
Sage Grove Center
Amid the ruins, Alex casually sat on a collapsed stone block.
The last time he found himself in this kind of environment was in the wasteland universe. Back then, he sat on the ruins of the X-Men headquarters, waiting for the surrounding gang forces to come and kill him. This time, though, the heroes were the ones he was waiting for.
However, before the heroes arrived, he received an unexpected phone call.
"Hello."
"Oh my god, you finally answered, Alex! Have you seen the news? I bet you're just as shocked as I am, right? Oh my god, I can't believe it! My superpowers come from that damn Compound V!"
When the phone connected, Emma's enthusiastic voice came through.
From her tone, it was clear that she was in shock. It seemed that even someone as carefree as her couldn't immediately accept such absurd news.
"I just asked my mom, and guess what? She said she didn't know anything about this. The moment I heard that, I knew she was lying to me. When I was a kid, to train my abilities, my mom even forced me to diet. Damn it!"
"Uh..." Alex opened his mouth, but comforting people had never been his strong suit.
"I've finally figured it out. From childhood to now, I've always been just her tool to make money. Even now, she doesn't care about my feelings."
Emma gritted her teeth and spoke with anger.
"When I was sick as a child, she didn't care, but since I awakened my superpowers, she started taking special care of me. Now she suddenly remembers I'm her daughter? She thought I wouldn't remember my childhood? Ha! I remember everything clearly."
"Alright, Emma, I know you're very emotional right now, but I need you to stay at home. It's not safe out there, understand?" Alex said.
"Yeah, I know. I've been staying inside. I didn't even open my livestream. There was a breaking news report earlier. Several superpowered people killed their parents. It's causing a lot of panic."
Emma sighed. Perhaps only someone like her, who was also an awakened one, could understand those people.
There were many superpowered individuals living in the spotlight, but in contrast, there were also many people who awakened useless abilities. Some were lucky enough to develop impressive powers, while others struggled with even basic survival.
With the arrival of the information age and the internet, public information had become more transparent, and Emma had seen many tragic stories of superpowered individuals online.
Compared to them, her abilities were relatively good. There were many who struggled with everyday life, even being abandoned by their parents and left in orphanages.
One of the most memorable superpowered individuals to Emma was a "Birdman." Unlike the woman with wings on her back, this birdman's wings were his two arms, and his legs had turned into bird claws. This made even basic activities, like eating, a problem.
This superpowered person had grown up in the scornful gaze of his peers. No matter where he went, he was a freak.
One day, he couldn't take it anymore. The boy spread his wings and leapt from a high building, flying off toward the distance.
However, freedom and the open sky weren't waiting for him. Before he could even fly out of the city, he accidentally collided with a power line, instantly getting electrocuted and losing his life.
That night, the incident made the news, but the host didn't explain the actual situation, instead portraying him as a criminal trying to steal and flee the scene.
Shaking her head, Emma pushed the chaotic thoughts from her mind and changed the subject.
"By the way, Alex, what are you doing?"
"Me?"
Alex looked around. The ruins were still smoldering with faint black smoke, and the air was filled with various foul smells. He couldn't help but awkwardly smile.
"I'm having some barbecue."
"Unbelievable! After such a big event, you're still leisurely having barbecue?" Emma held her forehead. "I haven't had an appetite all day. Ugh, I feel terrible."
"You should still eat something. Otherwise, your stomach will hurt."
"Yeah, this damn superpower of mine... it's like, I can't eat, but I can't not eat either."Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Alex smiled slightly, just about to speak, when his gaze suddenly shifted. It seemed like he sensed something, and his expression became more serious.
"Never mind, I've got something to deal with."
"You were eating barbecue, though. What could there possibly be to deal with?" Emma asked, curious.
"Yeah, I'm eating barbecue, but it's a buffet. The waiters are bringing out new dishes, and there are a lot of people around getting ready to grab them. I can't fall behind."
In Alex's line of sight, several figures in battle suits landed on the lawn in the distance.
"Looks like some really good food."
.....
📢30 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
For advance chapters: /Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
471. One-on-One with the Seven!
472. What Does It Mean to Be a Card Master?
473. Where to Begin?
474. Soldier Boy.
475. 'The Sword of Michael'