"So that's how we'll do it."
President Matthew Ellis finally made his decision.
"Anthony… I want a complete proposal. Costs, personnel, jurisdiction—everything. I need something airtight. Something that shuts those old fossils in Congress up for good."
"Of course, Mr. President."
Antony smiled brilliantly.
"Vought is always at your service."
He walked back to the desk, picked up a pen, and casually wrote down a number on Ellis's notepad.
A 10-digit number.
Ellis frowned.
"And this is…?"
"Oh, that?" Antony replied lightly. "That's Vought International's estimated tax contribution for next year."
His smile carried unmistakable weight.
"We're a patriotic company, Mr. President. We firmly believe in… giving back to society."
"We won't just pay our taxes—fully, legally—"
The pen tapped the desk in a slow, deliberate rhythm.
"—we'll also make sure that all the… friends who support us receive the 'taxes' they're entitled to."
"…I see."
Ellis paused—then broke into an equally radiant smile.
"Mr. Starr, I believe we're going to work very well together."
"I've always believed that."
Antony capped the pen and headed for the door.
"Oh—one more thing."
He stopped, glanced back casually.
"That traitorous Vice President… would you like me to handle him for you?"
"You know—heat vision. Quick. Clean. No evidence."
Ellis's heart skipped a beat.
He stared into those calm blue eyes and felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"N–No. That won't be necessary," Ellis said quickly. "We're a nation of laws. He'll stand trial."
"What a shame."
Antony shrugged and opened the door.
Click—click—click—FLASH!
The hallway exploded with camera shutters.
-----
5:00 a.m. — White House South Lawn
Emergency Press Conference
President Ellis stood tall in a fresh suit. Exhausted—but energized.
Homelander stood beside him.
"Tonight was one of the darkest moments in American history," Ellis declared.
"But it was also one of our finest."
"We witnessed betrayal—but we also witnessed true heroism."
He turned to Antony.
"I, Matthew Ellis, on behalf of the United States of America, extend our highest gratitude to this hero—Homelander."
Flashbulbs erupted.
[Popularity +115,420]
[Popularity +125,781]
[Popularity +135,688]
Antony stepped forward, accepting the microphone with practiced humility.
"Thank you, Mr. President."
He scanned the cameras.
"I'm just… an American who did the right thing."
"The threat tonight is over. But new threats appear every day."
Then he dropped the bombshell.
"I'm proud to announce that my company—Vought International—will enter a deep strategic partnership with the Ellis administration."
He spread his arms wide.
"We will protect America. Coast to coast. Sky to sea."
"With us here—you are safe."
The cheers drowned out the rest.
-----
Somewhere Above the Clouds — S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier
Nick Fury shut off the screen.
"Hill."
"Yes, sir?"
"Raise Homelander's threat level," Fury said coldly.
"To maximum."
"…Understood."
-----
High Above Washington — Stratosphere
Ashley's call came through before Antony even cleared D.C. airspace.
"Sir—my God—Anthony!" she shrieked. "You did it! You fucking did it!"
"Relax, Ashley," Antony said calmly, floating above a sea of golden clouds.
"It was just business."
"JUST BUSINESS?!" she screamed from Vought Tower.
"You saved the President! You saved America!"
"Our PR department has lost its collective mind! CNN, Fox, MSNBC—they're all running our copy!"
"TIME Magazine scrapped their entire cover lineup and replaced it with you holding the wreckage."
"The headline is—'The New Atlas'!"
"And ticket presales for Homelander: Origin—"
Her voice shook.
"—have tripled in one hour. Analysts think it might break box-office history."
"Good."
Antony bathed in sunrise, cape snapping behind him.
"Now that," he murmured, "is living."
[Popularity +540,812]
[Popularity +612,404]
SYSTEM UPDATE
Current Popularity: 31,202,524
North America Popularity Rank: Household Name
Ability Enhancements Unlocked:
Super Strength: 1500 tonsSteel Body: Planetary-Grade +++Heat Vision: 6000°CSuper Speed: Mach 55
"Hahahahaha—HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Antony laughed freely at ten thousand meters above the Earth.
-----
Avengers Tower — Upper Lounge
The 8K screen replayed Homelander's "humble" speech on loop.
"I'm just an American who did the right thing."
CRASH!
A $30,000 whiskey glass shattered against the screen.
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!!"
Tony Stark stood shaking, eyes bloodshot, shirt still stained with oil and blood from the docks.
He'd barely gotten Pepper back to New York.
And this was what greeted him.
"Look at him!" Tony snarled, pointing at Homelander's frozen smile.
"That smug, hair-gelled face!"
"'Did the right thing'?! That bastard was already there!"
Steve Rogers entered, towel around his neck after morning training.
"Tony—slow down. What happened?"
"Slow down?!" Tony exploded.
"I'll tell you what happened, popsicle!"
"That blond asshole showed up 20 minutes early. Saved the President—then stayed hidden in the sky!"
"He watched Killian's human furnaces tear my armor apart!"
"He watched me get pinned! Watched me trapped in my own suit, waiting to die!"
"He did it on purpose!"
Natasha Romanoff stepped in from the hall, fresh from a S.H.I.E.L.D. call—her expression grim.
The room fell silent.
The age had changed.
And everyone could feel it.