The Next Step Is Mine

Dust billowed everywhere.

The officers and soldiers who had just been knocked to the ground scrambled up, covered in dust, then saw a figure emerge from the smoke.

His golden hair was slicked back, his face sharply defined, and a warm, sunny smile rested on his lips. He wore a Blue battle suit. Though he lacked the Stars and Stripes cape, people still recognized him.

"Homelander."

"Why is he here?"

"This is going to be trouble."

The soldiers whispered among themselves, showing no excitement whatsoever.

Azu heard their words and took in their expressions.

Finding it strange, Azu casually grabbed an officer and asked, "Who's in charge of the camp?"

The officer pointed toward a tent. "Colonel Yuri, sir."

Having gotten his answer, Azu ignored him, lifted off the ground, and shot into the tent with a whoosh.

Colonel Yuri, who had handled the previous international airport hijacking incident, had once again been assigned to deal with the Silver Tree Town situation. He was looking at a screen when he suddenly heard the sound of wind.

Then Homelander arrived in grand fashion, and Yuri's brows nearly twisted into knots.

During the last airport incident, he had already experienced Homelander's utter arrogance.

Seeing this Super again gave Colonel Yuri a massive headache.

"Hello, Colonel."

Azu got straight to the point. "You shouldn't be here."

"I suggest you withdraw immediately. This place will soon become a battlefield."

Colonel Yuri planted his hands on his hips and said imposingly, "That's exactly what I wanted to tell you, Homelander."

"I don't know how you found out that Silver Tree Town was in trouble, but unfortunately, we can't allow The Seven to interfere this time."

Azu gave him a questioning look.

Colonel Yuri gestured. "Come with me."

He led Azu to a screen, picked up a remote, and pressed a button. Footage appeared on the display.

It was clearly some kind of basement. The lighting was dim, but quite a few people could be seen lying on the floor.

They were curled into balls, breathing rapidly. As the camera moved closer, Azu saw that their skin had turned black, their hair had fallen out, and their veins bulged grotesquely. They had mutated.

One word flashed through his mind.

Nightcrawler!

Then a ridiculous, comical face appeared on the screen.

More precisely—

A Joker.

"To everyone at the Department of Homeland Security, by the time you receive this video, more than two thousand residents of Silver Tree Town will already be in our hands."

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself."

"My name is... never mind. You can call me 'Joker.'"

"Midnight Clown."

The Joker made an exaggerated face at the camera. He stuck out his tongue and let out a "Wah!"

Then he stepped back two paces and took out a dagger to peel an apple.

"Right now, more than two thousand residents of Silver Tree Town are enduring tremendous suffering."

"They've been poisoned."

"With an extremely potent and terrifying virus. It will make them violent, highly aggressive, and exceptionally bloodthirsty."

"You wouldn't want them released. You wouldn't want to see them wandering through other cities or towns."

"For now, we have the situation under control."

After peeling the apple, the Joker took a crunchy bite, then pointed at the camera. "There was no need for things to go this far."

"But time and again, you ignored our demands. You even let that damned Homelander of yours kill two of our important companions."

"That made me very angry."

"So now, it's time for you to bear the consequences."

The Joker spat out an apple core and revealed a sinister smile. "Now, not only do we want two companions serving sentences in Luxe Island Prison released."

"We also want you to designate an area for our use and recognize our right to autonomous governance."

"If you don't give us an answer within twenty-four hours, look at those poor people behind me. They'll become killers, and all of it will be your doing!"

The Joker raised another finger. "Oh, right. If you inform that damned murderous freak who flies around in the sky."

"Then no matter the outcome, these negotiations will end in failure."

"We'll immediately release these dangerous but pitiful people."

"On the other hand, if you agree to our demands, I'll provide the antidote and return these poor people to normal."

"Whether these 2,174 people can continue living normal lives rests on the decision of you gentlemen."

"Think carefully, but don't think for too long."

The video ended there.

Colonel Yuri turned around. "That's why you can't be here, sir. I must ask you to leave."

Azu smiled. "Believe me, they no longer have lives ahead of them."

"I mean those residents."

"True mercy is helping them find release, not turning them into bargaining chips for extremists."

"So leave the rest to me. Either withdraw, or surround the town and make sure those black things can't get out."

Just then, the sound of a helicopter landing came from outside the camp. A moment later, a soldier jogged in to report.

"Reporting, sir. The other members of The Seven have arrived."

Colonel Yuri's temples throbbed as he shouted, "Homelander, this concerns the lives of two thousand people! You can't just take over this matter!"

"This is an incident under the Department of Homeland Security's jurisdiction!"

Azu had no intention of arguing with him and strode toward the tent entrance.

At that moment, a young officer blocked Azu's path.

"Enough! What do you think this place is?"

"This is the military, a sacred place that cannot be violated!"

"Not some playground for your hero games!"

He noticed Colonel Yuri looking over.

The young officer was secretly delighted, thinking this was a good opportunity.

A good opportunity to impress his superior.

As for Homelander, he was not particularly worried.

After all, just as he had said, the military was here. Would Homelander really dare kill him?

If he did, Vought could wait for bankruptcy!

So he became even more forceful, even poking Homelander in the chest with a finger as he shouted.

"From the very beginning, I never trusted superheroes like you."

"You lack oversight, you're arrogant and reckless, especially you, Homelander!"

"Without your powers, what the hell are you? You might just be a farmer, or some bottom-level employee working himself to the bone at a company only to be despised by his boss!"

"Without your powers, you're nothing!"

"So what gives you the right to boss people around here?"

The young officer pointed at the entrance. "Now, I want you to get out, take your superpowered friends, and get the hell out—"

Before he could finish.

Azu had already grabbed him and flung him upward.

The officer screamed as he smashed through the tent, flew into the sky, and sailed into the distance.

Staring at the blue sky and white clouds overhead, Colonel Yuri stood dumbfounded, unable to believe Homelander had actually done it.

"You—"

"Do you know what you've done?"

Azu spread his hands. "What did I do?"

"I merely helped you get rid of an ill-mannered brat."

"May God bless him."

Azu insincerely made the sign of the cross over his chest, then flew into the sky toward Silver Tree Town.

Colonel Yuri shook his head. "Madness... madness."