Meeting Butcher

Seven Tower, 88th floor.

Inside the Vought CEO's office.

Wearing reading glasses, Edgar stared at the email on his computer screen, sent to him by the event organizers.

In the email, the organizers stated that Homelander had selected two Supers, personally appointing them as new members of The Super Seven.

At the same time.

Homelander had personally eliminated an unknown girl.

"Annie."

"Codename 'Starlight,' from the Midwest."

Edgar spun his pen. "Why did he eliminate this naive little girl? Does she pose a threat to him?"

"Or does this girl have some leverage over him?"

Edgar picked up the receiver and called his secretary: "Use a special invitation to bring Miss 'Starlight' Annie to see me. The meeting time is—"

After giving this order, Edgar set down the receiver. Just then, a video call request appeared on his computer.

The next moment, a window popped up on the screen, showing a laboratory scene. A man in a white lab coat, wearing glasses, with a brownish-yellow beard and plump cheeks, appeared in the center of the frame.

"Good evening, Mr. Edgar."

Edgar gave a slight nod. "Good evening, Mr. David."

"Any new progress on our 'Saint Project'?"

David let out an awkward dry cough and said, "I'm sorry, sir."

"It's still the same."

"Even though we cloned Homelander's cells, the 'Saints' we cultivated, like other Supers, only possess a single talent, or at most two."

"They can't possess multiple different talents like Homelander."

"I believe compound-talent Supers are probably impossible to replicate."

"Homelander should be an anomaly, even if we use the same formula."

As he spoke, David shook his head, making the fat on his cheeks wobble like a rattle-drum.

Edgar sighed. "Homelander is already starting to lose control."

"He killed Madelyn. I might be next."

"The only reason he hasn't acted yet is that he doesn't think the time is right."

"He's selecting new members for The Seven. It's possible he'll replace the original members one by one."

"Do you know what that means?"

"Homelander wants to build a team of Supers loyal to him!"

"Once that team is formed, there will be nothing left to stop him."

"So before that happens, I need a trump card."

"A trump card that can control Homelander, put a leash on this beast. Understand?"

David bit his thick lips, then said, "Actually, I've had an idea these past two days."

"Instead of trying to create a Super similar to Homelander, maybe we should change our approach."

"After all, even if we could cultivate another Homelander, at best we'd only match him."

"But if we change our thinking—for example, stripping Homelander of his talents. That way, once he becomes an ordinary person, even The Deep could defeat him."

Edgar raised an eyebrow. "Is that possible?"

"Yes."

"As long as we can suppress Homelander's super-factor, or reduce its activity level, we can turn Homelander into an ordinary person, or a slightly special Super like The Deep."

Edgar nodded. "That's a good idea. Start researching immediately. I'll funnel research funds to you through another channel."

Avoiding Vought's internal channels was to prevent Homelander from finding out.

David nodded. "I'll get to work now."

"Go ahead."

At the video store.

Hughie was organizing merchandise when he heard the bell above the door ring. He turned around and saw a Bearded Man walk in.

"Looking for a nanny cam?"

"We've got a promotion going on."

He saw the Bearded Man pick up a Teddy Bear, so he said that.

The Bearded Man shook the Teddy Bear: "How many nannies do you think would shake a baby really hard?"

Hughie was confused: "Sorry, what did you say?"

The Bearded Man shook the Teddy Bear vigorously: "You know, like shaking a ketchup bottle to get the last bit out."

"One percent? Or less?"

Hughie frowned: "I don't know."

The Bearded Man continued: "Funny thing is, they dumped this junk globally and sold a billion of them."

Hughie shook his head: "Sorry, I don't understand."

"Hughie." The Bearded Man curled his lip. "What happened to Robin, that's a real shame."

"Who are you?" Hughie said warily.

The Bearded Man pulled out a badge: "FBI Agent, Billy Butcher."

"I want to talk to you about Robin."

"Don't you want to do something for your girlfriend?"

Hughie stepped back two paces: "Listen, Agent, this is over."

"A-Train got what he deserved, it's done, alright?"

"Is it really done?"

The Bearded Man Butcher shook his head, twirling a finger above his head: "Do you really think that guy flying around up there is going to protect us?"

"That's just a performance, a show, dear Hughie."

"Do you know how many people die every year because of Supers?"

"Robin was definitely not the first, and she won't be the last."

"Do you want to see more Robins die?"

Hughie shook his head: "I don't know, I don't know about these things, Agent."

"But I do know that Homelander was the one who brought justice that day, and he was the one who punished A-Train."

"What he did, I saw it, I saw it with my own eyes."

"As for what you're talking about, sorry, I haven't heard of it."

"If you don't want to buy anything, could you please leave."

"Please don't disturb my life."

Butcher was about to say something else when the bell on the door jingled again, and someone chuckled: "I think he's right, Agent."

"If you don't want to buy anything, you should leave."

Hughie's eyes lit up, a smile spreading across his face.

The Bearded Man's eyes widened in shock, then turned fierce, before a roguish grin tugged at his lips as he twisted his waist and turned around.

He looked at the Blond Man standing in front of a shelf, wearing a blue suit and draped in a stars-and-stripes cape, browsing the merchandise.

"And you? Are you here to buy something, sir?" Butcher said with a smile.

"Of course."

Picking up a Teddy Bear, Azu shook it: "I think this one's fine."

Then he placed it on the counter: "Please wrap it up for me. It's a gift."

Hughie nodded repeatedly: "Yes, please wait a moment, Homelander."

Azu smiled, turned around, and looked at Butcher: "Want to have a chat, Agent?"

"I'd love to, but I can't. At least not right now."

Butcher shook his coat and headed for the door: "Next time, Mr. Homelander."

Azu said nonchalantly: "Is that so? I thought you might be interested in 'Becca.'"

Butcher stopped at the door.