Sister, You're So Cool, But This Isn't What I Imagined

"Ryan, this is the exclusive living area, lounge, and staging area for The Seven."

"Except for your father's room, all the other members of The Seven live here."

On the 99th floor, Ashley followed closely behind, providing the introduction.

Azu had disappeared somewhere, and Ryan was getting bored waiting, so he decided to wander around; he needed to familiarize himself with the place where he would be living in the future.

Besides, it would be best to make a few new friends.

Among the members of The Seven, the one he favored most was Queen Maeve.

At this current stage, well... although my Homie has already bullied her quite severely, she shouldn't have completely turned against him yet; she was likely still caught in indecision.

"Up ahead is the common area..."

The walls on both sides of the corridor were lined with a neatly arranged row of giant, gold-framed portraits, capturing each superhero at the height of their glory.

Several workers were busy in front of one of the portraits.

Ashley keenly caught his lingering gaze and immediately began to explain: "That is the portrait of A-Train. Since he is no longer a member of The Seven, it must be taken down."

She raised her hand to point at another empty space on the wall, her attitude as if she were stating an insignificant trifle.

"This Gallery of Glory only retains active members. Once someone is out, has their contract terminated, or is expelled, all visual displays related to them are completely cleared away at the first opportunity."

"And this one here belongs to The Deep."

Ryan looked at the portraits on the wall one by one.

Aside from A-Train, who was being taken down, and the now-blank space for The Deep, there were only portraits of Homelander, Queen Maeve, Starlight, Black Noir, and Stormfront on the wall.

There were a bit too few people.

Once he got rid of Stormfront, there would only be four left.

And among these four, Black Noir could be killed by his old man at any moment; the only variable was when his grandfather would make his comeback.

Save him?

He couldn't save him. Ryan didn't think he had the ability to save Black Noir.

After all, aside from Azu, he had absolutely no influence over that old popsicle who had been studied for decades and was single-mindedly focused on revenge after waking up.

He would leave his worries for tomorrow.

As if making small talk, Ryan asked casually: "Ashley, why did A-Train retire from the team?"

"Because..."

Ashley stammered.

Just then, a voice came from behind them: "Because he was kicked out by your father, Homelander."

"Starlight?"

Ashley frowned slightly and instinctively retorted: "A-Train retired due to physical reasons. And Starlight, wasn't your schedule for today supposed to be filming a movie?"

The superhero who appeared behind them was none other than the evil...

Ryan smiled enthusiastically: "Hi Starlight, I've seen your stage performances. The songs you sing are wonderful; I like them very much."

"Stormfront isn't here, and neither is Maeve, so the production has been halted."

Starlight replied to Ashley first as she walked over, then turned to Ryan and said gently: "Thank you, I really like your interview show as well."

She paused, seemingly with more to say, and added: "You accomplished things that many people couldn't. That was great, Ryan!"

"Is it... did I apologize to that mother?"

Starlight hesitated for a moment before nodding with a smile: "Yes, whether it's you or me, when we make a mistake, we must have the courage to admit it. That's very impressive. Remember to keep it up."

"Mm!"

Ryan responded with a positive and affirmative attitude.

While he beamed brightly at Starlight, he was secretly thinking to himself.

Starlight seemed to be acting as a spy right now. Oh right, she should have already become Hughie's girlfriend; otherwise, setting her up with my Homie would have been a great idea.

Too bad, she was already taken.

And having been through it, she wouldn't be easy to fool.

Hmph, regardless of who ends up being the stepmother, I absolutely cannot let Stormfront take the position.

Ryan calculated the idea of tethering Azu with the rope called love, but when he snapped back to reality, Starlight had already quietly walked away.

He wondered how his mother, Becca, was doing now.

He waved goodbye to Starlight's retreating back, thinking that he could learn about Becca's current situation through her.

Furthermore, Starlight would surely pass news of his situation here back to that side; that was something he could exploit.

"Let's continue the tour, Ashley. What is that over there?"

"Oh, oh, right. That is the Combat Training Room, but usually, no one is in here..."

"Bang! Bang!"

"Switch out, another round!"

Ashley's introduction was interrupted once again, and the source of the sound was the Combat Training Room they were already approaching.

Ryan quickened his pace, arriving at the door and peering inside with eager anticipation.

Inside the spacious and cold training room, high-intensity lights illuminated every detail of the fighting arena.

On the modified boxing ring in the center of the floor, Queen Maeve, with her beautifully curved yet lethally sharp physique, was sparring against several super-powered individuals with enhanced physical strength.

They were fighting with extreme ferocity.

The terrifying battle roars, the blood splattering from time to time, and the sweat hitting the canvas all served to illustrate the intensity of this training session.

"Boom—!"

Suddenly, Ryan felt the ground tremble.

Queen Maeve's missed punch shattered the boxing ring directly, causing the sparring partners to change color on the spot and scramble off the ring.

One of them stepped down and asked in a deep voice, "Maeve, did you almost lose control again?"

"Yeah."

Queen Maeve spotted the small figure at the door and waved her hand at the sparring partners. "That's it for today."

"You, yes... that's right, you, kid, come here."

Ryan was still wondering how to strike up a conversation and introduce himself, but Queen Maeve had already beckoned him over.

The first thing she said upon meeting him was a disdainful, "Ryan, you're too weak. You need training!"

?

Ryan's mind was full of question marks. He replied timidly, "Uh... I'm only eight."

Maeve acted as if she hadn't heard him, continuing to lecture him on her own logic: "You are different. You must become strong."

"I watched yesterday's interview."

Yes, everyone watched it, I know.

Ryan thought to himself, that was one of the reasons I did the interview—to let you all see a glimmer of hope in this rotten world.

But, Queen Maeve, isn't this pace a bit too fast?

I haven't even conned... no, I haven't even had the chance to show you my personal charm yet, so why are you already so on board?

"But, why do I need to be strong?"

He was still stalling.

Maeve spoke with a double meaning: "Because you are Homelander's son, Ryan!"

"Hahaha..."

Suddenly, a pleasant laugh rang out from the doorway once more.

Walking in along with this seemingly happy sound was Azu, whose thoughts were far less clear and whose heart was far more unsettled.

As soon as he entered, he said, "Maeve, I admit your combat skills are truly impressive."

"But?"

Queen Maeve tilted her head slightly.

Azu's large hand patted Ryan on the shoulder, then pulled him close as he replied, "But just as you said, Ryan is Homelander's son."

"He inherited my bloodline..."

Yet he will not replicate my madness!

"He is destined to be strong, just like me..."

But his true nature is fundamentally different from mine!