"Ambassador of the Motherland"

"~~~!"

With a melodious opening theme, the screen transitioned from darkness to light, revealing the live studio of a news program.

The camera first focused on a dynamic projection of the Kremlin's main gate before pulling back and panning right, where a female host in a white suit sat at the side of an L-shaped desk, speaking at a brisk pace:

"Good evening, everyone, and welcome to this episode of New York Looks at the World. I am Monica Electra. Three days ago, on July 18th, a horrific terrorist attack occurred in Mozhaysk, a small town on the outskirts of Moscow. Who planned and organized this attack? What impact will this have on us, and will it affect the relationship between the United States and Russia?"

The host paused deliberately at this point.

The camera pulled back further to reveal the full studio, where an officer in a U.S. military uniform with graying temples sat on the other side of the L-shaped desk.

"To discuss these topics, we are honored to have Lieutenant Colonel Denzel Wharton, a U.S. Army officer and expert on the former Soviet Union."

"Hello, Monica," the officer replied as soon as the host finished speaking. "Greetings to all the viewers watching New York Looks at the World. I am very happy to be here to help provide some clarity."

"Then, Lieutenant Colonel, I believe you, like the audience at home, have seen the video footage and interviews released by Russian news. Who do you and the military believe is most likely responsible for planning this terrorist attack?"

"Hmm..." The Lieutenant Colonel appeared thoughtful, seemingly weighing his words before responding: "Based on the available data, one thing we can be certain of is that the personnel who attacked the Gogoski-Ruff Military Industry were highly trained, with military proficiency equal to, or perhaps even exceeding, that of the active-duty special forces of many nations.

Furthermore, based on years of research and our intelligence analysis, the turmoil and chaos following the collapse of the Soviet Union led many former Soviet military personnel to defect, flee, or become mercenaries—or simply turn into hitmen for organized crime.

Therefore, judging by their combat experience, coordination, clear objectives, and proper division of labor, there is a high probability that the operatives who launched this attack were former Soviet military personnel.

As for who planned the attack, neither I nor the military can give a definitive answer, as there are too many suspects—such as competitors of Gogoski-Ruff Military Industry or extremist organizations that want to see Russia return to the Soviet era. All of these are possibilities."

"Former special forces involved in a terrorist attack... My God, just hearing you say that makes my skin crawl. Thank goodness I live in the United States, in New York..."

Zzzzt!

Before the host could finish her sentiment, the screen was manually shut off, plunging the room back into darkness and silence.

The large screen displaying New York Looks at the World was mounted in an exceptionally spacious, well-lit conference room.

Looking out through the fan-shaped floor-to-ceiling windows on the south side, one could admire the deep blue sky at noon and the Empire State Building two blocks away.

From this, it could be inferred that the high-rise building housing this conference room was located on Manhattan Island on the U.S. East Coast.

Combined with the ubiquitous "Vought International" branding, the true identity of this high-rise was obvious: the headquarters of the arms company that developed Compound V—Vought Tower.

At this moment, three people sat around a "V"-shaped table designed with the Vought International logo.

Sitting at the sharpest point of the V-shaped table, with his back to the floor-to-ceiling windows, was the person of highest status: a man in a sharp suit with dark skin, his expression behind his glasses revealing nothing but indifference.

To the left of the "V" sat a male researcher in a white lab coat with a receding hairline, and to the right was a female executive in a blouse and skirt.

These three were Stan Edgar, the board representative and CEO of Vought International; Jonah Vogelbaum, the Chief Security Officer and Director of Research; and Madelyn Stillwell, the Vice President of Vought.

"Ms. Stillwell," Edgar broke the silence, addressing Madelyn first. "The attack on the Ruff Research Center has caused quite a stir. Surely, you have already investigated who organized, planned, and launched this attack, haven't you?"

Hearing this, Madelyn glanced at the paper file in front of her and replied with a slightly evasive look: "Mr. Edgar, the truth is that we cannot pinpoint who the mastermind is. The only ones who knew the specific location of Soldier Boy and had the strength to organize a raid of this scale are the CIA."

"The CIA. Of course, I could have guessed they were the most likely culprits without you telling me. But, Ms. Stillwell, can you be 100% certain it was the CIA? And not a domestic U.S. arms manufacturer that competes with Vought International?"

When Edgar finished, he emphasized the word "domestic."

Although Edgar maintained a stoic expression, his presence still made Madelyn feel incredibly tense. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and hurried to say:

"I cannot be 100% certain. Atlas has been busy with mining operations in Africa recently and voluntarily withdrew from all arms tenders for this year and next. Also, Translucent's intelligence gathering in Seattle confirmed that although they are still very resistant to the Superhero Security Act, they are observing the attitudes of other peers and waiting for an opportunity.

Besides, Atlas recently signed a cooperation agreement with us to create stylish uniforms and armor for the upcoming Seven. Since their aesthetic standards have always been high, we can exclude them from the list of suspects.

Next is Lockheed Aerospace Manufacturer; their entire focus for this year and next is on the acquisition and merger with Martin Marietta. Currently..."

"No need to continue; anyone could have found that out," Edgar interrupted Madelyn's report, turning his gaze toward Vogelbaum. "Dr. Vogelbaum, what is the status of the Homelander? Can he perfectly surpass the now-obsolete Soldier Boy in every data point?"

"Theoretically, there is absolutely no problem," Vogelbaum replied much more calmly. "Soldier Boy's physical defense might be slightly stronger than John's, but in terms of laser power, strength, speed, and reaction time, he has long since shattered all records. Even if our competitors have Soldier Boy as a weapon, it will be to no avail.

The only issue is his state of mind..." Vogelbaum looked at Madelyn sitting across from him and added meaningfully, "That will require the help of our Vice President Stillwell, as there is nothing that can truly control him."

"I will do my best," Madelyn sighed heavily.