Ashley: You're messing with me with this tonic!!

Madelyn's hand still rested on the back of Homelander's hand, and she could feel his fist tightening.

"This is the result of your handling? PR routines with not a shred of originality!" Lu Heng handed the phone back to Starlight. "The public isn't stupid; the shelf life of your little tricks is getting shorter and shorter."

"Last time you spent three days cooking up a story, and you only fooled a fraction of the people. Going to make up another one next time?"

"It's the same old wine in a new bottle—the foundation is crooked. You might be able to cover up this time, but can you cover up the next?"

Starlight, listening from the side, couldn't help but speak up.

"He's right!"

Madelyn turned to look at this newcomer who had only joined the team a few days ago.

Starlight's voice was a little nervous, but firm.

"I joined The Seven because I believed this place represented justice. If the problems within the team are just being covered up instead of being solved, then this justice is fake."

"I firmly support Homelander's decision!"

Homelander glanced at Starlight and nodded repeatedly.

This new girl was actually the second person to stand on his side.

If one counted Lu Heng as the first.

Madelyn's expression remained a smile, but her heart rate had already spiked to 110.

She was losing control of the situation.

"Annie, you're new here, there are some things you don't quite understand yet..."

Madelyn tried to hint for Starlight not to interfere, however...

"She understands enough."

This time, it was Maeve who spoke.

No one expected Maeve to chime in.

She had been drinking from start to finish, looking as if none of this had anything to do with her.

But now, she set down her glass, leaned back in her chair, and stared straight at Madelyn.

"Madelyn, you come in with this same routine every time. You don't take our reputations seriously at all, and in the end, nothing ever changes."

"You mean to tell me you didn't know about The Deep harassing women? You were the one who personally scouted him from the superhero academy!"

"The drugs A-Train is popping shouldn't be available on the open market. I don't believe Vought couldn't track down the source of those bottles!"

"As a Vought executive, you actually know everything; you just don't care!"

Maeve's tone was filled with resentment. "Because they are Vought's biggest brand assets. As long as the sign is still hanging there, it doesn't matter if there are swarms of cockroaches in the back, as long as it brings profit to Vought, as long as it keeps your position in the company secure..."

"Heh!"

Madelyn's smile finally faltered.

Starlight was one thing; she was a newcomer and easily swayed.

But for Maeve, a veteran, to dare to defy her?

The atmosphere in the conference room became very delicate.

Homelander, Starlight, Maeve, and Guardian—the four of them were actually standing on the same side, united against Madelyn?

If the high-level shareholders were to find out about this, Madelyn's position would likely no longer be as secure as it once was.

Ashley huddled in the corner, wishing she could turn into Translucent.

She knew that in this situation, trying to force her way through wouldn't work.

Homelander had already been incited, Starlight and Maeve were adding fuel to the fire, and the instigator was sitting with his legs crossed, enjoying the show.

Madelyn needed to change her strategy.

"Fine."

Madelyn stood up, smoothed her cuffs, and regained her composed demeanor.

"Since everyone feels we should reorganize, then we will reorganize."

She looked at Homelander.

"But I will arrange the press conference. The timing, the wording, and the flow will all be controlled by the PR department. You are responsible for appearing and showing the responsibility of a leader."

"This is my bottom line."

Homelander did not object this time.

He wanted results: A-Train and The Deep gone, and his image restored or even elevated.

As for how the press conference was held, it didn't matter.

"Three days," Homelander added.

"Three days is too short, we..."

"Three days. Any longer than that, and I'll handle it myself."

Homelander's tone left no room for negotiation.

Madelyn's lips pressed into a thin line, and she finally nodded.

She turned and walked toward the door, pausing for a moment as she passed Lu Heng.

"You are playing with fire."

Lu Heng couldn't be bothered to respond.

What he wanted were emotional points; that was the whole reason he had joined Vought in the first place.

Did she really think he was doing this out of the goodness of his heart?

[Key Character: Madelyn Stillwell]
[Emotional Shift: Compromise, loss of control, hostility escalated]
[Ability Points Gained: +2,134]

[Key Character: Starlight — Justice, trust deepened]
[Ability Points Gained: +967]

[Key Character: Queen Maeve — Release, catharsis]
[Ability Points Gained: +1,544]

Current Ability Points: 76,371 / 100,000

After the meeting adjourned, Lu Heng was the last to leave the conference room.

In the hallway, Queen Maeve was leaning against the wall, waiting for him.

"You directed this little play today yourself, didn't you?"

"Homelander's brain isn't capable of grasping this level of logic; he doesn't have the vision for it."

"I merely offered a bit of advice."

"Advice?" Queen Maeve chuckled. "You're using Homelander as a weapon, making him go head-to-head with Vought while you sit back and watch the tigers fight."

Lu Heng leaned against the opposite wall, meeting her gaze across the corridor.

"Since you've figured it out, why did you speak up for me?"

"Because I also wanted to see Madelyn get taken down a peg, and besides, I don't like Homelander anymore."

Queen Maeve's answer was crisp and decisive.

[Key Character: Queen Maeve — Emotional Shift: Appreciation]
[Ability Points Gained: +1,203]

Current Ability Points: 77,574 / 100,000

Lu Heng returned to his office.

He dialed the PR department and specifically requested that Ashley come up.

When Ashley knocked and entered, she looked like a wrung-out rag.

A few strands of hair hung loose by her face, and there was a red slap mark on her cheek.

As for who had slapped her, there was no need to ask.

"Sit!"

Lu Heng acted as if he hadn't noticed a thing.

Ashley sat down, her spine held perfectly straight, her eyes not daring to wander.

"Relax, I don't bite."

Lu Heng poured her a glass of water and pushed it toward her.

"You saw what happened in the conference room today," Lu Heng said, leaning back in his chair with a casual tone. "Madelyn finally compromised. She'll arrange a press conference within three days."

"...Yes."

"How do you think she'll handle it?"

Ashley was silent for a moment before reciting the usual Vought PR playbook.

"She'll find a way to minimize the losses. She'll likely have A-Train and The Deep step down for 'personal reasons,' avoid mentioning any scandalous details, and frame the public narrative around team optimization and upgrades."

"And then?"

"And then... the matter will be considered closed. Vought's stock price will fluctuate in the short term, but stabilize in the long run."

"And what about you?"

Ashley froze for a moment.

"Me?"

"Yes!" Lu Heng looked at her. "From start to finish, you were the first person called in to clean up the mess. You were the one who suppressed the heat on A-Train's video, and when The Deep ran into trouble, you were the one responsible for coordinating it."

"Even when Homelander goes on a rampage, you're always the first one to rush in. In my view, if that doesn't count as a merit, it's at least hard work."

"Yet, she doesn't seem very satisfied with you."

Lu Heng paused, his gaze landing on that palm print.

Ashley's expression changed in an instant.

Don't you dare mess with me!!

How could she not see it now? Lu Heng had just finished messing with Homelander, and now he had set his sights on her!