Forget about whether it was a retake or not. What kind of bizarre aesthetic was this?
The self-important, overexcited director, Adam, unveiled the presentation board, revealing a full-length character poster to everyone.
"The poster's background is an abstract design based on the Stars and Stripes."
Adam proudly explained, "As for Ryan's uniform, I mainly wanted to pay tribute to the great Homelander, so I recreated it exactly."
"You deserve this tribute, sir!"
Homelander could no longer hide his smile. He even waved his hands modestly.
But he was only putting on an act. Deep down, he wholeheartedly believed Adam was absolutely right.
I'm exactly the kind of person who deserves respect.
"What do you think?"
This time, Homelander was clever enough to ask Stormfront directly.
He'd noticed that in the previous round of answers, Stormfront had been the only one to support him.
As for Maeve and Starlight, there was nothing worth mentioning.
Stormfront began changing tactics. Instead of butting heads with Homelander, she sincerely quoted a Nazi slogan: "You're the best of us. You're what we ought to be."
Homelander raised his chin in satisfaction, accepting her praise without reservation.
Then he leaned toward Ryan. "Son, what do you think? About the script and the uniform?"
"Um..."
Ryan stared at the poster, at the uniform matching Homelander's, and the cape that was half the usual length.
He couldn't imagine whether he'd even be able to walk in it.
Seeing Ryan's hesitation, Homelander immediately added with confidence, "Look, son. Maeve and Stormfront both said this is the best choice."
"I agree. We'll save this country together, right here in this movie!"
"Is that so?"
Ryan seemed almost persuaded. He looked at Maeve and Stormfront, whom Homelander had just named again.
Maeve gazed up at the ceiling, apparently lost in thought.
Stormfront put on a fake smile and nodded in agreement.
"Then..."
Homelander was already certain he'd won.
The special task force had played a tiny, insignificant part after all. Their strategy... no, my strategy had worked perfectly.
Ryan was about to be convinced and give up on his childish fantasy.
He unconsciously sat up straight, waiting for his son to nod.
Then, as expected, the unexpected happened.
Ryan suddenly pointed at Raven, nearly forgotten in the corner. "Mitchell, I want to know what everyone said. Could you repeat it for me?"
Homelander's upright body stiffened. His head turned mechanically.
Maeve, Starlight, and the others did the same. Everyone's attention once again focused on Raven, who probably wished she could Teleportation herself out of there.
"He, they... said, s-said..."
Ryan was puzzled. Something was wrong. Was the Countess of Crows afraid?
What was she afraid of? Had something happened that he didn't know about?
Even if she could tell Homelander didn't want her to read out the viewers' comments, she didn't know what he was really like. She shouldn't—there was no reason for her to be so scared she could barely speak!
"Caw..."
A short caw sounded at Mitchell's feet.
She lowered her head and quickly glanced at Cameron, whose feathers had fluffed up in fright. Through the crow spirits linked by her superpower, wave after wave of terrifying, surging crimson flooded in.
Red meant terror, signaled malice!
White meant harmlessness, signaled normalcy!
Green meant warmth, signaled goodwill!
Then... when had the crows' spirits turned red?
Mitchell's gaze barely touched Homelander before she darted it away as if she'd been shocked.
Ever since she'd pointed the camera at Homelander!!
Her eyes drifted to Stormfront. The crimson in the spirits wasn't quite as strong as Homelander's, but it came close.
He! She! They both have intense malice toward me.
I'm so scared!
Mitchell's hand trembled. A row of "?"s swept across the comments.
Her terrified gaze fell on Ryan, as if searching for hope in a sea of blood.
Green!
So warm...
Ryan had given me a job!
He'd let me, a drifter with nowhere to go, move into Vought International. This was the place the young supes envied most.
I, I...
Mitchell made up her mind and immediately cut off her superpower.
Ryan had given me hope. He'd helped me realize my dream. I couldn't let him down!
That's right. I am the Countess of Crows!!
She gritted her teeth, moved her phone closer, and rapidly read out the viewers' comments.
"Strongly recommend changing the title to I, Homelander's Son, Am Here to Cash In."
"This isn't a movie. It's a giant PowerPoint presentation plus an extra-long music video!"
"Most disappointing movie of the year, hands down. If you want to eat shit, go watch it!"
"No wonder Homelander's movies are all the same. I recommend the director ascend in a spiral and die on the spot."
"I feel like my intelligence has been pinned down by Director Adam..."
"And this person says..."
"Enough!!!"
Homelander lost it again, cutting her off with a low growl.
He instinctively started to get up and kill her. His eyes glowed red, and he completely forgot that Mitchell was livestreaming him on her phone.
Ryan, seated beside Homelander, reacted quickly and grabbed the back of his cape as he was halfway to standing.
"Dad, are you angry again? But you just promised me yesterday that you'd never get angry again."
"Are you going back on your word?"
Ryan was at it again with his sweet-talking digs.
He couldn't help it. His livestream suggestion had done so much magical damage to Homelander.
He hadn't expected Mitchell to suddenly lose it like that. He'd clearly hinted to her before they came in, telling her to share only a few harmless suggestions.
And now look at her—going straight for the throat. She was just one step away from calling our Homie an idiot to his face!
"Ugh!!"
With Ryan holding him back, Homelander finally came to his senses and noticed the phone camera.
Oh no. His approval rating was in trouble!
Homelander panicked. Think, damn it, think!
He'd even forgotten to switch off his Heat Vision, but somehow, in the next moment, he came up with a plan.
Homelander first forced a smile at the camera. Then he turned his perfect profile away and faced Ryan.
"Son!"
Ryan blinked. He wanted to say, Your Heat Vision is still on.
But he swallowed the words and only acted a little frightened, shrinking back against the chair.
Homelander kept his strained smile. Regret crept into his voice as he said, "Dad really shouldn't lose his temper like that, but..."
Here came the "but."
"But Ryan, that person actually accused you of trying to cash in!"
"How could he say that about you?"
"Dad's heartbroken, because I know how badly you want to make a movie like this, how much you want to tell everyone you're Homelander's son."
I don't! I want to make a Spider-Man movie!
As Homelander spoke, he secretly switched off his Heat Vision.
Then he turned and faced the camera with a sorrowful expression. "As a first-time father, I may have overlooked the parts of the script that didn't make sense."
"But please believe me. I only wanted to fulfill a child's simple wish."
"That's what I should do as his father!"
Before you continue