Arnold watched the "Titan" armor fire toward the top of the hall, watched the tongues of flame spewing from its muzzle, watched the bullets shatter the chandeliers overhead, watched the roomful of guests clutch their heads, scream, and crouch down.
For one fleeting instant, Arnold thought he was dreaming.
Otherwise, how could something so absurd be happening?
Impossible!
It couldn't possibly be like this!
A voice in Arnold's heart was screaming.
This wasn't the script I set up!
Tonight, I was supposed to be crowned king.
How could something like this happen?
After the burst of gunfire, every guest in the hall had crouched down.
And with that, Edgar, protected by Starlight and the others, Maeve on the stage, and Azu hovering in midair with both feet off the ground
became especially conspicuous.
Just then, Colonel Yuri's voice rang out from inside the "Titan" armor. "Arnold, hurry up and make it stop!"
"What is going on!"
"I can't control it."
Suddenly, the colonel's voice vanished. Then "Mr. Z's" voice rang out from the armor again. "A hostage should act like a hostage. Keep your mouth shut, Colonel."
"Unless you want me to burn your mouth to a crisp!"
After that, the "Titan" armor turned toward Azu, and "Mr. Z" said, "Homelander, Olga Company is our common enemy."
"I imagine you won't interfere in this matter, will you?"
"If you like, you can leave with the people from Vought, but everyone else has to stay."
"What do you think?"
At once, gazes from all over the hall turned toward Azu.
Under the eyes of everyone present, Azu gave a soft laugh and said, "First, if I want to leave, or if I want to take someone with me,"
"I don't think that pile of scrap metal you're wearing can stop me."