The two exited the room and entered the living area.
"Hey, check who I brought," Frankie announced Billy's arrival before Hughie.
"..."
After such a long time apart, Hughie pursed his lips upon seeing Billy—unsure what to say at first.
"Snap out of it. We've captured Bulletproof. Better leave quickly." Frankie understood this location required immediate departure. He hadn't disposed of the dismembered corpse inside the room—who knew what chaos might erupt once discovered? They needed to escape during this temporary window.
Everyone returned to the car.
The awkward atmosphere finally eased when Hughie spoke first. "How did you capture Bulletproof? Where is he now?"
"Here ya go." Calmly, Billy retrieved a ziplock bag from his pocket containing some white powder residue. Shaking it slightly, he tossed it toward Hughie.
"Bulletproof was captured by Billy. Actually, he saved my life," Frankie said while nervously patting his backside.
"You didn't kill him?" Hughie looked surprised after receiving the bag, observing the unconscious miniature figure inside.
Billy leaned against the sofa seat, cigarette dangling. "Honestly, I wanted to crush him directly. But then I thought—he might still have some use for you."
Hughie blinked in slight surprise.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Though their estrangement remained, improvement had occurred compared to before.
"Have you continued hunting supes recently?" Hughie suddenly asked.
Billy exhaled smoke, frowning. "I realized weeds never truly die—they regrow unless completely uprooted. That's why I disbanded The Boys."
"Your decision makes perfect sense." Hughie felt relieved Billy understood. Indeed, as long as Vought existed, new supes would continuously emerge. Eliminating them required removing Vought itself.
"We'll discuss rejoining later. You contacted me through M.M.—what urgent matter called for this meeting?"
Truthfully, pride prevented Billy fully reconciling. After all, he voluntarily left The Boys initially. Returning without explanation made him feel like a homeless vagabond.
"Take a look." Hughie handed over a note.
Reading its contents, Billy showed visible shock. "This came from the Mysterious Man?"
"No—the Vought VP Jervis found this note on his desk." Hughie repeated Xia Shang's words from earlier that morning.
"Did you offend the Mysterious Man recently?"
M.M. asked from the side.
"Offend him? I don't even know who he is!" Billy coldly replied, dialing the phone number written on the note.
Unexpectedly, the call connected smoothly.
Half a minute later, Billy lowered the phone grimly. "It really was him."
"What did he say?" Hughie immediately asked.
"He wants us to rescue Soldier Boy—the leader of Payback."
"Soldier Boy? Isn't he dead?" M.M. recalled an old online article mentioning Soldier Boy's supposed death during foreign warfare, with most team members perishing alongside him.
Billy shook his head. "Seems Soldier Boy survived—and holds significant secrets. Otherwise, the Mysterious Man wouldn't be so desperate to find him."
"Can't we just refuse?" The question escaped Hughie's mouth unfiltered.
Billy sneered. "Certainly—if you're willing to abandon everything you currently possess, then retreat underground like before, making yourselves impossible to trace."
His words immediately darkened the car's atmosphere. Obviously, Hughie couldn't abandon his current identity, and M.M.'s group refused to relinquish their relatively stable lives.
...
The next afternoon, an unexpected visitor entered Xia Shang's office.
Currently seated before his computer reviewing documents submitted by Ashley and others.
Generally, major decisions belonged to Edgar, while Xia handled minor affairs. Flipping through the papers casually, he soon opened his interface to check Fantasy Points. Despite no major events occurring over half a year, his total reached over 8000 points. Just movie-related earnings contributed 600 points—meaning doing absolutely nothing could still reach ten thousand within four months maximum.
"Hmm?" Suddenly lifting his gaze forward.
Queen Maeve entered through the door.
"Maeve, this must be your first visit here. Want anything to drink?" Seated comfortably, Xia Shang made no move to stand.
"Thank you, but I have more important matters." Queen Maeve maintained a serious expression.
Before coming, she received threats from Stormfront. After much hesitation, she decided to discuss matters with Jervis.
Xia Shang smiled slightly. "Let me guess—this concerns both of us. Otherwise, you wouldn't seek me out—we don't exactly share deep friendship."
"You're clever, Jervis. In that case, I'll speak plainly." Confirming Homelander and Stormfront weren't present at Vought Tower beforehand, Queen Maeve approached cautiously.
"I believe cooperation benefits us both."
Saying so, Queen Maeve placed a smartphone on Xia Shang's desk.
"Earlier, Stormfront approached me, demanding I publicly accuse you of sexual harassment during media interviews. Her intentions were clear—she wants you ruined and expelled from Vought."
Picking up the phone, Xia Shang curiously browsed the photos. "So you want to counterattack using these pictures. Why not handle it yourself instead of seeking me out?"
Queen Maeve remained calm. "I personally witnessed you falling unharmed from over ten meters high. Surely you aren't ordinary, Mr. Jervis."
"We met long ago. My mentor praised your skills back then. Who'd imagine that former minor character would gradually rise to become Vought's current Vice President?"
"What does that prove?" Xia Shang shook his head, feigning confusion.
"Don't things seem progressing too smoothly? Unless something unexpected occurs, you'll become Vought's next CEO following Edgar's retirement."
"So?" Xia Shang smiled.
"Therefore, we should join forces to eliminate that bitch—Mr. Mysterious Man."
Apologies—I returned to the countryside to visit elders. Suffering severe motion sickness and headaches these past two days resulted in poor updates. Truly sorry.
(End of Chapter)