Homelander, You Have a Super Brain Too?

The sudden turn of events brought Ryan's smooth performance to an abrupt halt.

He felt a momentary flash of panic.

Then, he immediately realized something and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.

17:21!

Exactly twelve hours had passed since his rampage began at dawn.

So...

My superpowers and other abilities have all recovered.

Realizing this, Ryan's expression shifted dramatically.

He looked at Azu, who was still stunned and embedded in the wall, and said with feigned fear, "I didn't mean to, Dad. I... I didn't know I had so much strength, I was just really angry!"

As Ryan ran over anxiously, he scrambled for excuses and justifications, much like a child who realizes they have caused trouble and tries to defend their actions.

"I just wanted to grow up to be a great hero like you!"

So you better act well, even if it's just a facade, and set an example for your son.

"But you don't like me, you don't even want me to be like you!"

To hell with Stan Edgar's words, let his convoluted logic tie itself in knots and burn out his brain cells, then just forget all that nonsense.

Finally, reaching Azu's side, Ryan hesitated, half-raising his arms as if wanting to help his father up but not daring to.

He added a touch of acting to his eyes, hiding a sense of trepidation and unease, looking just like a startled fawn in the woods.

"Dad, are... are you okay? Are you... still mad at me?"

Meeting that gaze, Azu's anger vanished completely.

His son had never displayed superpowers before; this sudden, violent impact hadn't hurt, but it had certainly jolted him into clarity.

Once he came to his senses, his first reaction was a wave of intense guilt.

Seeing Ryan like this while drowning in guilt—and having just returned from his revenge at the laboratory—the nightmarish past and the sight of his son before him suddenly overlapped.

This child, the way he looks when he's scared... he's just like me.

But you, Homelander, look at what a fine job you've done; you've terrified Ryan!

In that instant, Azu had an epiphany!

"Hahaha... son, Dad isn't angry."

He grabbed Ryan's arm and used it for a light leverage, though in reality, he secretly activated his flight ability to pull himself out of the wall.

The cape is dirty!

Ashley, who had been frozen in shock by the series of events, saw Homelander acting as if nothing had happened, and the first thought that crossed her mind was that his cape was dirty.

Homelander's cape was something he cherished immensely.

As someone close to him, Ashley knew perfectly well that he would even carefully lift the cape every time he sat down, terrified of causing a wrinkle.

But now, what was she seeing?

Homelander didn't even care about that cape?

Azu's mind was entirely on his son; he had forgotten about the Stars and Stripes Cape, the substitute for the only blanket that had belonged to him and provided him warmth in the laboratory during his childhood.

I cannot lose Ryan!

What should I do?

Beg him?

Beg him not to leave me, not to take away that one, precious love?

Or admit my mistake?

Ryan likes it when people admit their mistakes; he is very brave, and I have admitted mistakes before, even if Ashley ended up taking the fall.

Azu crouched down and placed his hands on Ryan's shoulders, his face serious: "Son, Dad needs to tell you something."

Ryan blinked, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

"What is it, Dad?"

He was full of anticipation.

He was looking forward to what Azu was about to say.

Come on, brave Azu, speak your heart.

A young tree needs pruning to grow straight, and a person needs... I've just been too good to you, always indulging you and letting your ego inflate.

After this, let's see if you still have wild thoughts.

Ryan returned an encouraging, sparkling look.

Azu nodded heavily: "You were wrong!"

"Ah?!!"

Ryan was definitely not acting this time, he swore.

Azu's voice was somewhat gentle. He looked at his son's surprised expression, raised a hand to lightly pat his tender shoulder, and said, "Queen Maeve is not my girlfriend."

"Ah!"

"Haha, I know you're surprised by this, but son, this is the truth!"

Is that what I'm surprised about?

I obviously know you and Queen Maeve broke up, but is that what I was expecting?

Are you sure?

I... why am I not even sure myself anymore?

Azu stood up and wrapped his arm around his son once more, though this time the movement was very soft.

He half-turned to look at Queen Maeve, who was still clenching her fists: "Son, I know you've watched my old interviews. I did indeed say that Queen Maeve and I were a couple, and we were very much in love back then."

Ryan nodded blankly.

Azu let out a wistful sigh: "Sigh, I still love you, Queen Maeve. But you had a change of heart, and your new lover is actually a..."

"Homelander, are you, are you sure you want to say these things in front of a child?"

Queen Maeve felt a bit lacking in confidence. This lunatic!

Azu gave a reckless smile: "Why shouldn't I say it! Queen Maeve, I only just found out about this, so I am very, very angry!"

"You dumped me for a woman!"

"I am Homelander! You are truly such a disappointment!"

"Ah!!!"

The person with their mouth hanging wide open, unable to close it for a long time, had now become Queen Maeve.

"You..."

She really wanted to say, you perverted man-child, you only found out about this today?

Then what the hell, were the lesbian films I shot during this time something I did voluntarily? Wasn't it forced by you, a piece of trash and a bitch with a heart the size of a needle tip?

"Son, your father has never been that great when it comes to matters of the heart."

Azu didn't spare a glance for the tool Queen Maeve anymore, only looking down at Ryan: "That is why I don't want you to be like me, and why I said you were wrong."

"I... was wrong?"

Ryan's tone wavered, his eyes dull and hollow.

You managed to dodge the main responsibility and circle back to this—truly worthy of you.

Azu had even moved himself with his own words. He crouched down once more and pulled Ryan into a hug: "Son, Daddy loves you."

"Oh, how touching!"

There was even someone nearby to kiss his ass.

Ashley clutched her chest like a damsel, jumping for joy: "Sir, you have once again proven your great, mountain-like fatherly love."

After the flattery, she whispered a reminder: "Ryan, you love your father too, don't you?"

Ryan glanced at Ashley, knowing she meant well, but...

Forget it. At the very least, this neutralized the conspiracy of that old bastard Stan Edgar. There's no need to dwell on trivial rights and wrongs.

Plus, there's the experience points gained after that burst of acting.

Not a loss.

But I've noted this down. We'll settle the score in the future.

"Daddy, I love you."

Azu received the answer he wanted and released Ryan with satisfaction.

He gave Ashley an appreciative look before reprimanding her insincerely: "Too much chatter."

"Ashley, 'in the future', focus on your 'work'."

Ashley beamed.

It seemed the storm had passed, and everything was back to normal.

So, had a world where only Queen Maeve was hurt been achieved?

"Ding."

A notification arrived on Ashley's work tablet.

She picked it up as if to show off and read aloud: "Vought Group Superhuman Regulation Article 7: For newly awakened superhumans brought under control, their superpower type, ability strength, and usage restrictions must be registered immediately!"

"Information must be filed into the Superhuman Archive."

"Please submit Ryan's... within 48 hours of receiving this notice..."