At the same time, on Long Island, New York.
Inside a huge, luxurious detached mansion.
Stan Edgar frowned as he held his phone as far from his beleaguered ear as possible.
Coming through the old-fashioned receiver was Stormfront, laying out one elaborate murder plan after another, each more devious and vicious than the last.
Edgar couldn't be bothered to engage, but since he still needed her, he had no choice but to endure it.
He adjusted the volume, trying to drown her out with the interview playing on the TV, but it didn't work.
That only made his already gloomy mood even worse.
Edgar shook his head and sighed. "Ryan..."
"What?"
Stormfront hadn't heard him clearly and asked in surprise.
On the show, host Cameron Coleman was grandly introducing today's young star to the audience.
It was bizarre and abrupt how things had ended up this way.
Yes, when Edgar thought back on it, those were the only two words he could use to sum it up.
During the day, he had missed Ashley's work report because of a secret meeting with his daughter, Neuman, and because he'd been screening a group of suitable people to "issue threats" at Stormfront's request.
By the time he realized what was happening at the company, it was already too late to stop it.
And that was how things had ended up like this.
Homelander had brought his son onto a prime-time talk show, brazenly appearing on the program.
The number of viewers watching the interview live had already topped a hundred million, and more were pouring into the channel by the second.
"Edgar!!"
"I'm listening, Ms. Vought."
Edgar sighed. "Don't get worked up. One interview doesn't mean anything. Tomorrow, I'll send out an internal company form for registering supes. Once we confirm Ryan's powers, we'll decide what to do."
After a pause, Edgar looked at Ryan on the TV, who was about to speak, and said slowly, "He's just a child who's been well protected by his mother. He won't be a problem for Homelander for much longer."
Stormfront fell silent for a moment.
Edgar could even clearly hear the interview playing on the other end of the phone.
Only when a young, sincere voice rang out in both rooms at the same time—"Sorry, I don't know that word"—did Stormfront speak again:
"He'd better not be!"
"This is The Cameron Coleman Hour! I'm your all-time favorite host, Cameron!!"
"Welcome to my Spotlight Zone!"
After an opening spiel that was familiar to the audience, energetic, and effortlessly charming, the handsome, well-built host Cameron Coleman took the stage.
The audience, already seated in the studio, smiled and applauded. They shifted from a relaxed posture into a more attentive one, ready for tonight's big-name guest to take the stage.
At that moment, Cameron, whom fans often called Cam, began reading the introduction for the guest.
"All my friends here in the studio, and all of you watching on TV and in the livestream—have you got your applause, your cheers, your screams... all ready?"
The audience responded with enthusiastic shouts: "Of course... you even have to ask... we've been ready for ages..."
"Don't blame me for not warning you: today's show is a global exclusive, the one everyone's been waiting for, the blockbuster special you've all been desperate to see!"
Cameron's delivery was as rousing as ever. "I dare say the whole world is waiting for today's episode..."
"Waiting for what?"
"Oh! Oh! Be patient, my friends. I'll tell you."
At that very moment, everyone who'd been following and watching the interview before the show started cursed in unison:
"Shit! Cameron's doing that 'be patient' thing again."
"We've talked about superheroes. We've talked about urban legends. But today!"
Cameron put on an exaggerated air. "We've invited Vought Group's biggest star once again—the undisputed number one in popularity worldwide, always dominating the conversation, always on fire: Homelander!"
"Let's give Homelander the warmest welcome as he takes the stage!"
The moment Cameron finished speaking, a roaring wave of sound swallowed the entire studio, sending the atmosphere straight to its peak.
The audience invited to the TV studio screamed and leapt to their feet. Their applause rolled like thunderclouds gathering, reaching a deafening volume in seconds.
The spotlights overhead all swung toward the guest entrance.
Blazing beams cut through the shadows, and the figure everyone had been waiting for appeared, walking out at an unhurried pace.
Homelander's blond hair was still styled to perfection, and he wore his signature public-facing smile.
His Stars and Stripes Cape trailed behind him. As he stepped onto the stage, he waved to the audience and the cameras. But instead of taking command of the room as he usually did, he pressed a hand downward, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
Then Homelander started walking back.
At that, host Cameron read the next line in sync with him: "In the early hours of today, a rumor about Homelander started circulating online, drawing plenty of comments and reposts from netizens..."
The studio audience couldn't see it, but on the TV and livestream, a blurry photo showing only someone's back suddenly appeared.
On a deserted rooftop somewhere in New York, the Countess of Crows watched the show on one phone while livestreaming on another. She cried out, "Oh my God, did you see that? That's a picture of me!"
"Just last night, right on this rooftop, I really did meet Homelander. He even smiled at me."
"Yes, I swear, Homelander called that cute, handsome boy his son."
The Countess of Crows was doing two things at once. The crow Russell and Cameron helped keep an eye on the viewers' questions, calling out whenever a new comment appeared.
As if to prove her words, Homelander, who had turned and walked back, was now stepping onto center stage again, holding a little boy's hand.
The host came over to greet him. "Hi, Homelander. Nice to see you again."
Homelander replied, "Yes, I've missed the atmosphere here. It's as great as ever." He gave a thumbs-up.
"Thanks, that's so sweet of you."
After exchanging a few greetings with Homelander, Cameron eagerly looked at the boy beside him and asked, leadingly, "Homelander, I see you've brought a new friend with you today."
"Oh, oh, be patient. Don't rush to answer that question just yet."
Cameron took charge. "Let's have Homelander and his little friend sit down first, and then we'll go to a commercial break."
The scene cut—
Vought Fresh Farm Milk (Homelander's favorite)!
Produced only from young, God-fearing cows raised right here in America. Pure white and wholesome.
Drink it and be strong and powerful, just like Homelander.
The only choice for true patriots.
The scene cut back—
The people in the studio were now seated on opposite sides.
Ryan shifted a little closer to Homelander, conveying with his body language, "I'm a little scared, but with you here, everything will be okay."
"Homelander, could you introduce the little boy sitting beside you?"
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