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Compared to the "strong on the outside, weak on the inside" Homelander in the original work, who was once "scared" to tears by Soldier Boy, the current Homelander, who has received slaanesh's blessing, doesn't value family as much as he did in the original.
He even decisively kicked his "illegitimate son" out of his residence after learning that he had secretly contacted his archenemy, Billy Butcher, multiple times behind his back.
If loyalty isn't absolute, then it's absolutely disloyal!
Such a son is better off without!
Homelander's heart is no longer as fragile as it once was.
And this, precisely, is his truest nature.
On the other hand, after Homelander learned that his "genetic father" was Soldier Boy, he specifically checked the files related to him.
And he successfully discovered records in one file marked "Top Secret" about Soldier Boy possessing a special superpower that can nullify the superpowers of all "supes" (in fact, it deactivates the Compound V within the target)!
Of course, the supes mentioned in this file specifically refer to the superheroes catalyzed by Vought Corporation using Compound V.
And Homelander is naturally among them.
It was due to these two complex emotions that Homelander instinctively felt the urge to escape at that moment.
But now, after Queen Maeve's words, his frantic pursuit of traffic and popularity has once again taken the upper hand.
Cluck, cluck, cluck...
Just then, slaanesh's seductive voice suddenly echoed in Homelander's mind.
You don't need to fear that man at all, because only when you can overcome the fear in your heart and successfully cross this mountain will you be qualified to obtain the powerful strength to slaughter gods and demons... Go, with your own strength, reap ultimate pleasure from death!!
Facing the deity's revelation once again, Homelander's gaze gradually shifted from his previous entanglement to determination, "Alright, then let that old guy show off a little longer!!"
Then he turned to Ashley Barrett, smiled, and instructed, "Immediately contact the editor-in-chief of The Daily Bugle and tell him that I will accept his live interview on this matter..."
Queen Maeve: "???"
Ashley Barrett: "Huh?? Oh!"
...
...
New York streets.
Billy Butcher and Hughie Campbell rushed to the scene after seeing The Daily Bugle's exclusive scoop.
They were the ones who released him, and now that something has happened, they, of course, have to take responsibility!
What's more, after personally witnessing Soldier Boy's "chest blast" causing Kimiko to lose her superpowers, Billy Butcher urgently wanted to find him and discuss how to deal with Homelander.
Ding ding ding—
Just then, Billy Butcher's phone rang, and when he took it out, it was a series of encrypted numbers, causing his brows to furrow.
"Hello, it's me, who are you?!"
In response to his question, Nick Fury's uniquely oppressive and gloomy voice immediately came from the other end of the line.
"Don't ask me who I am, we met at the hospital before... I'm calling you today just to confirm one thing, I hope the bastard who caused a big explosion in Midtown Manhattan that appeared in the news just now isn't the person I'm thinking of?!"
Hearing the other party's highly recognizable voice, Billy Butcher's mind immediately recalled the one-eyed black man he had seen in Starlight's hospital room before.
After all, if it weren't for the top-secret file and the four vials of Temporary Compound V that the other party provided him, he wouldn't have been able to find Soldier Boy, let alone rescue him alive from the heavily guarded E Ross secret laboratory.
So he said without hesitation, "If nothing unexpected happens, it should be the person you're thinking of!"
"Motherfucker!!"
Nick Fury couldn't help but curse loudly on the phone, "Are you all a bunch of useless people? I clearly gave you detailed intelligence and 4 vials of Temporary Compound V, and you still managed to screw it up?!"
"Sir, please watch your language, we don't want to see this happen either... What's more, there's no point in saying this now."
Billy Butcher, knowing he was in the wrong, suppressed the urge to curse back and tentatively asked:
"We are currently rushing to the scene, um... if possible, can you help us find Soldier Boy's whereabouts?"
"Find your mother!"
Nick Fury, who was in a fit of rage, clearly didn't want to provide any more help to Billy Butcher, this useless person, and immediately threatened him in a commanding tone:
"I don't care how you do it, or what method you use, just make sure you deal with that bastard as soon as possible and don't let him cause any more trouble, otherwise... I will take care of all of you, including that bastard!!"
With that, he angrily hung up the phone.
Fu*k, Fu*k, Fu*k!!!
Billy Butcher, known for his sharp tongue, had never suffered such humiliation before, and he cursed at the hung-up phone fiercely, immediately drawing a puzzled look from Hughie Campbell beside him, "Who called just now?"
"Nobody, just a damn black guy."
Billy Butcher said dismissively, then the two turned the corner and successfully entered the scene of the incident with their CIA agent IDs.
Even the usually cold-blooded Billy Butcher was somewhat shocked upon seeing the unrecognizable remains of the building, which could no longer even be called a building, after the explosion.
"Did that bastard do all this?!"
No wonder that black guy cursed so much just now...
"Hughie?"
Just then, a slightly puzzled female voice suddenly came from the side, followed by a Pirate woman in a dark blue female uniform walking over.
"Evie?!"
Hughie Campbell's heart immediately pounded when he saw this, because the other party was his colleague at the Bureau of Superhuman Affairs, but he didn't expect her to arrive so quickly, and coincidentally met him here.
But the problem was, he had taken sick leave before, and now he had no legitimate reason to be here?
If he couldn't explain it well, it might arouse the suspicion of Victoria Neuman, the "Head-Popper."
And most importantly, if Victoria Neuman found out that he was investigating the case with Billy Butcher, then the false trust they had just established would instantly vanish!
She might even use her superpower to "head-pop" him?
Thinking of this, Hughie Campbell calmly signaled Billy Butcher with his eyes to 'leave first,' then stepped forward to the other party and said:
"Hey, good morning, Evie... Um, I mean, has Victoria arrived yet?"
"No, but she should be here in a few minutes."
The Pirate woman named Evie then looked at Hughie Campbell's right arm and said somewhat puzzledly, "Didn't you say your arm was broken when you took leave? How is it now...?"
She didn't continue, but her meaning was already very clear.
Hughie Campbell's heart trembled upon hearing this; his right arm had indeed been broken before, but because he had injected Temporary Compound V during the rescue of Soldier Boy, his broken arm had healed automatically under the effect of the medicine.
He hadn't expected to meet a colleague here, so he had forgotten to wear a cast for disguise.
Now that he had been exposed by his colleague, he could only come up with a clumsy excuse on the spot:
"Yes, I went to the hospital for another check-up later and found out it was just a severe sprain... Um, don't worry, I'm fine, that's it, see you later!!"
With that, he turned and left on his own, circling back to Billy Butcher's side, who was currently holding a special radiation detector, testing the radiation levels at the explosion site.
Hiss hiss crackle—
A harsh noise came from the detector, and the electronic pointer pointed directly to the dark red area symbolizing above 100usv/h.
"It's confirmed, it's that bastard."
"Oh, damn it, Billy, I think we've really gotten ourselves into big trouble this time..."
Hughie Campbell clutched his hair in pain; his conscience was not yet completely extinguished like Billy Butcher's.
If the tragedy before them was indeed caused by Soldier Boy, then those who released him would also be responsible for the 19 innocent lives lost.
This made Hughie Campbell feel extremely guilty and remorseful.
If they hadn't been so reckless then, and had made thorough preparations and plans in advance, the current tragedy shouldn't have happened, and Kimiko wouldn't have lost her superpowers because of it...
Billy Butcher, who was beside him, seemed to see the struggle on his face and immediately comforted him in a very bastardly way:
"Hughie, although I know you might think I'm a cold-blooded bastard, but now... we must hurry up and solve this big problem at hand."
"I hope you can help me deal with Soldier Boy, that's what we should do, and after that... I will never bother any of you again!"
"Don't... don't say that."
Hughie Campbell quickly shook his head and said, "I volunteered for this, and to save Starlight, I'm willing to pay any price!!"
"But for now, I suggest we go find Marvin first, I think he must have clues to help us find Soldier Boy faster."
Billy Butcher's face immediately showed a hint of approval, "As expected of you, Hughie!"
...
...
The Daily Bugle Live Stream Room.
"Today, a malicious terrorist attack occurred near 59th Street in Midtown Manhattan... Oh, although the authorities haven't classified this incident as a terrorist attack yet, based on the information I currently have, it already is."
John Jameson looked playfully at Homelander, who was sitting upright opposite him, with a professional fake smile on his face, trying to maintain his image in front of the camera, and asked:
"So I'd like to ask, Mr. Homelander, how much of a threat do you think this incident will pose to New York and even the entire U.S.?"
"Do you want to hear the truth?"
Homelander asked back, his fingers intertwined, with a relaxed expression.
John Jameson's eyes flickered; although he knew the other party was being mysterious, he still cooperated and nodded, "Of course, The Daily Bugle has always pursued the truth, and I'm sure you're aware of this, which is why you proactively called to schedule our interview after the incident, right?"
Playing this game with me?
You don't even know how many years I've been in the news industry?
John Jameson subtly warned Homelander that this was his home turf, so don't be too presumptuous, or else he wouldn't give him a way out later.
Unlike other reporters, John Jameson, who had Karl backing him, wasn't afraid of Homelander at all, so he naturally spoke and acted much more assertively than other reporters.
And the latter immediately understood.
Although Homelander has always looked down on everyone.
But the traffic of The Daily Bugle is simply too massive, and it has a huge number of loyal fans, so even Homelander, who is "the only one above and below heaven," in front of John Jameson... no, to be precise, in front of "traffic," Homelander also had to rein in his temper.
This is called being overwhelmed by the situation!
"Well, in my opinion, there's no threat at all... Yes, you heard me right, whether it's to New York or to the U.S., this outdated supe is not a threat!"
"Very good, I noticed you just mentioned the word 'outdated.'"
John Jameson said with interest, "So that means you already know the true identity of this supe?"
"I think The Daily Bugle's vast loyal fans must be very eager to know if he is indeed the Soldier Boy I previously reported on?"
And why Vought Corporation deliberately concealed the whereabouts of this supe, who holds extraordinary significance for Vought Corporation and was even once promoted by them as 'the hero of heroes,'
And why, after disappearing for nearly 30 years, did he cause such a large-scale terrorist attack as soon as he returned to New York?"
This series of questions, at first glance, gives a very sharp feeling, but in fact, John Jameson was deliberately giving Homelander a step to publicly explain to the public, which would alleviate Vought Corporation's external public opinion pressure to the greatest extent.
And this was John Jameson's special "reward" for Homelander's "understanding the rules" response just now.