Impossible, I've Rendered Service to the Company

"Oh? Really?"

From a few meters away, the Deep let out a questioning laugh, his tone amused.

"Of course it's true, although..."

Starlight spoke as she turned her head, about to mention there were others—mostly Queen Maeve.

But the sight that met her eyes made her jaw drop, frozen in place.

"What's wrong? Don't you admire me?"

The Deep, now stripped to the waist, stood completely at ease, as if nothing was out of the ordinary, hands on his hips with a smug grin.

"Oh, shit..."

Snapping back to reality, she was utterly stunned, a wave of nausea hitting her as she felt humiliated. She hurried toward the exit, desperate to escape this place.

"Hey hey, come on, you're just leaving?"

As she reached the door, the Deep crossed his arms, his voice dripping with veiled threat.

"Looks like... you don't really want to join the Seven after all!"

"What do you mean?"

Realizing she was being coerced into a sleazy deal, Starlight whirled around in fury, raising her hands, ready to use her powers to teach the Deep a lesson.

In the room's screens, sparks flickered as electrical energy was drawn through the air, gathering around her.

Her ability let her absorb light and electricity to fuel her attacks.

"Whoa, easy now.

I know you might be strong, but you need to understand—I'm the second-in-command of the Seven. Under Homelander, I'm the top dog. I have the say on whether you stay or go!"

The Deep raised his hands.

"Starlight goes crazy, loses her mind, attacks Deep of the Seven—unfit to be a superhero. How's that sound for a reason to kick you out?"

He exuded confidence, as if holding all the power, looking down on her. His words came slow and loaded with meaning as he stepped closer.

"I hear you've wanted to be a superhero since you were a kid. Think about your mom who supports you, think about the fans who love you. Do you want to let them down?"

"I..."

Starlight's hands, ready to unleash her power, hesitated.

Her mother had sacrificed so much to make her a superhero, working hard since she was little to fund her career, enduring plenty of hardship.

And those fans who'd quietly cheered her on before she made a name for herself.

"But... do I have to give in to this disgusting creep?"

She gritted her teeth, the thought churning in her mind.

"Relax, it's not that hard..."

Seeing her waver, the Deep smiled with smug confidence, ready to push further. He was sure he could make this girl, who'd dreamed of being a hero since childhood, taste his Deep-sea caviar.

Click!

Suddenly, the high-tech door slid open.

A figure walked in slowly.

"Damn it, who let you in!"

Seeing an unfamiliar outsider, the Deep's bravado collapsed. He scrambled to pull up his pants, stumbling back in panic, shouting in fury.

Though he was a pushover within the team, he still had some power and status at Vought International.

"Justice drove me in."

Ron sat down casually by the conference table, leaning back, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, as if watching an amusing farce.

"I can't stand watching some clown pretend he's hot stuff, trying to coerce a new recruit."

He said slowly.

"Oh, by the way—did you know he's at the bottom of the Seven's pecking order?"

As if recalling something, he glanced at Starlight, puncturing the Deep's lie in one sentence.

"What?"

Starlight was stunned.

"He's a total waste. Even Translucent ranks higher than him."

Unlike the Deep, whose bluster crumbled at the slightest poke, Ron exuded a quiet strength and confidence in every move.

"N-No... that's not true." Panic flickered across the Deep's face as he tried to bluff his way out, but the damage was done.

"You disgusting bastard!"

Realizing she'd almost been tricked and threatened by this creep, Starlight shoved her hands forward in fury.

With a crackle, a surge of electricity shot through the air, sending the Deep flying backward.

"Who told you that? Who the hell are you?!"

Blasted back a dozen meters, Deep scrambled up clutching his chest, face flushed red, blood trickling from his mouth, and demanded furiously at Ron.

Who? Who had leaked the secret that he was the lowest-ranked member of The Seven?

This wasn't something an outsider should know.

"Me?

I'm here to inform you that you're fired from The Seven."

"Fired? Impossible. Why?"

"Because I'm joining The Seven. You're making room for me."

Ron stated the reason calmly.

"On what grounds?"

Deep's eyes widened in disbelief. He'd served the company, earned them money—there was no way they'd just swap him out like this.

"Who are you? I've never seen your file in Vought's superhero database!"

Nearby, Starlight looked puzzled. The Seven had always filled vacancies, never replaced members outright. Was this real? Could it be that Deep's attempt to coerce her had already been discovered, and Vought was handling it this fast?

"On this!"

Ron sat in his chair, expressionless, a crimson light flaring in his eyes.

Sizzle!

A scarlet laser beam scorched the air, crossing it at light speed.

"Ah, Home... Homelander!..."

The next second, Deep clutched his lower body and collapsed with a piercing scream.

A power he knew all too well made him instinctively cry out for mercy, but he caught himself halfway—why was someone else using it? Then agony and psychological shock drowned his mind.

He writhed on the ground like a shrimp on a hot griddle, body arched, twisting in pain.

"Ah, it's gone, I can't feel it, aaaaah..."

A pitiful scene that would make any witness weep.

"Shut up. You're being a bit loud."

But Ron, utterly devoid of sympathy, snapped at him.

As if his own actions had nothing to do with him, he coldly ordered Deep to stop screaming.

"He... he might find that hard to do."

Starlight covered her mouth in shock, shrinking back nervously. Even she, who loathed Deep, thought this was a bit too much to ask. Which male could endure that kind of pain?

"No... I, aaaaah!"

Terror filled his mind and body, but Deep's consciousness blurred from the pain, unbearable, and he kept screaming.

Frowning at the noise, Ron's eyes glowed deep red again.