"Although Vought switched from the Nazi side to America in the last century and created superheroes for the country to send into battle, helping it win the war, once the war ended, the government ultimately did not like Vought's past service to the Nazis."
Homelander revealed the secret of Vought's internal power shift that he had learned from Stormfront.
"At the same time, the country coveted the existence of Compound V. Under the government's covert direction, it helped shift Vought's power toward Dr. Reed, who had greater prestige within the company and had created Compound V firsthand."
America believed Reed was merely a scientist who only knew how to bury himself in a laboratory, making him easier to control than Vought.
"Discarding the tool once it has served its purpose."
There was no surprise in Ron's eyes.
To those in power, as long as someone below them was useful, they could tolerate their stains. Once they were no longer useful, those stains became glaring and offensive. Besides, how could America possibly not be interested in something as powerful as Compound V?
"So Vought's true controller really is connected to Reed."
Reed, the creator of Compound V, had long since died. But Ron had looked through Vought's early personnel changes. Scientists and executives who had been close to Reed were all heavily promoted, which was enough to infer it.
"Later..."
Homelander continued.
Though Dr. Reed was intelligent, he was not good at scheming and had little interest in money or business. But in his early years, he had wanted to challenge himself. Using his own genes and Compound V, he carefully created a test-tube baby, attempting to create the most powerful superhuman.
After succeeding, he regarded that baby as his greatest work and named him Arthur, raising him with great care.