314. Chapter 313 Charity Gala
"Welcome to the United States, Soldier Boy."
The sudden voice caught Soldier Boy's attention. He immediately looked in the direction it came from but saw no one.
"Hallucinations, goddamn hallucinations again." Although decades had passed, Soldier Boy was certain that the police industry hadn't disappeared. To prevent himself from falling into endless pursuit, he prepared to leave the scene.
"Poor guy, you look like you've got severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD for short. But I can understand, after all, you were tortured by Russia for so many years."
"Invisibility? Who the hell are you?"
Soldier Boy's burst of speed was no less than Homelander's. He weaved rapidly through the crowd and soon reached several thousand meters away.
Along the way, he conveniently changed his clothes and put on a hat printed with the Stars and Stripes Flag.
"Goddamn hallucinations again."
After confirming the surroundings were temporarily safe, Soldier Boy prepared to find an old acquaintance, Vought's former Hero Management Vice President, Legend.
"Forty years have passed. Hasn't the United States changed a lot? And Vought International's influence today is definitely beyond your imagination."
"I can see that."
Soldier Boy was much calmer about the voice reappearing. He had already decided it was his own hallucinations, after all, with his speed, an invisible Supe couldn't possibly keep up with him.
"See that man with the sunny smile on the billboard? His name is Homelander, a member of Vought International's The Seven, the strongest Supe in history."
Soldier Boy ignored the voice beside him and instead hailed a taxi.
Strangely, however, the car door on the other side was also slowly opening at that moment.
"Homelander... is your son. Back then, Vought collected some of your J-liquid and injected it into a Woman, which is how Homelander was born."
Soldier Boy, who had initially dismissed the voice, suddenly changed expression. As if by reflex, he looked at the seat beside him. Vaguely, he saw a humanoid outline, but it vanished in an instant. However, Soldier Boy was certain it wasn't his own misconception.
"Homelander is your son? Hahaha, buddy, you gotta be kidding me." The driver in the driver's seat burst into laughter upon hearing this, as if he'd heard the biggest Joke in the world.
"Buddy, I suggest you get some rest. It's a long ride, and I'll call you when we get there."
The driver figured the man in the back seat was either not fully awake, just woke up from being drunk, or was a junkie. He hoped it wasn't the latter, God knows what a high junkie might do.
"What else do you know? No need to answer now, tell me when we arrive."
After saying that, Soldier Boy closed his eyes and remained silent with his mouth shut.
About twenty minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of a Villa.
"Hey, buddy, we're here. You owe twenty-five dollars." The driver turned his head and said to Soldier Boy.
"Wait a moment."
Soldier Boy reached into his pocket, but the clothes were ones he had just changed into. Forget twenty-five dollars, he didn't even have a single coin.
Just as he felt a bit awkward, the driver seemed to notice his predicament. *Smack*, he pulled a pistol from his waist and slapped it on the steering wheel. "Buddy, this is a small business, no credit. You're not trying to dine and dash, are you?"
"I..." Soldier Boy had just opened his mouth when he found a paper bill miraculously appeared in his pocket.
He pulled it out and saw Franklin's portrait printed on it.
"Oh buddy, you sure know how to joke. I actually thought you were trying to dine and dash, that's a huge misunderstanding." The driver's face went from angry to happy, transitioning very naturally. He stuffed the pistol into his pocket, and after taking the hundred-dollar bill, rubbed his thumb and index finger on it to confirm it was real money before preparing to make change.
"Keep the change."
Soldier Boy pushed open the car door and walked straight towards the Villa.
"Have a good one, sir." The driver rolled down the car window and happily sent his blessings.
Then he stepped on the gas and disappeared around the corner in a flash.
"Why should I believe what you just said? Homelander is my son, do you have evidence?" Soldier Boy didn't believe he would have a son late in life, nor was he willing to believe the words spoken by someone so sneaky and mysterious.
"I'm not the only one who knows about this. Your former teammate, Mindstorm, knows too. If you don't believe me, you can ask him yourself."
Wearing Nimura Furuta's face, Xia Shang slowly walked out of the air.
"Or, you can ask Vought President, Stan Edgar, yourself. He certainly wouldn't deceive you."
"I'll investigate what you've said thoroughly." Soldier Boy was extremely wary of the suddenly appearing Xia Shang.
"In a week, Vought will hold a charity gala. Although the Protagonist is Starlight, Homelander should make an appearance. At that time, you can go see your son."
Xia Shang took a card from his pocket and handed it to Soldier Boy. "When the time comes, call this phone number, and I'll get you in."
Hearing this, Soldier Boy actually started to believe that Homelander was his son. Because when he saw Homelander on the poster, a strange sense of familiarity rose in his heart. Moreover, Homelander on the poster was too similar to how he was back then – just as confident, just as powerful.
Xia Shang followed Soldier Boy to a door with the number PH4. Soldier Boy reached out and knocked on the door.
A moment later.
An old man with a cigar in his mouth opened the door, grumbling. "Who the hell is bothering me at this hour? Don't tell me it's the damn delivery guy who got the wrong place."
*Creak*... The moment the door opened, the old man froze upon seeing Soldier Boy. It wasn't until two or three minutes passed, and the cigar in his mouth was about to fall, that he said in disbelief, "Soldier... Boy?! God, am I seeing this right?"
"Long time no see." Soldier Boy reached out, took the cigar from his mouth, and put it in his own.
"Do you still have my old suit here?"
He took a deep drag of the cigar and exhaled a puff of smoke with a nostalgic look. It was a feeling he hadn't had in forty years.
"Of... of course. Come in. I still have your suit, it should be mostly intact."
The former Vought Executive, Legend, led Soldier Boy into the house.
(end of chapter)