Madelyn still had her hand resting on Homelander's. She could feel his fist clench.
"This is how you handled it? The same old PR playbook, not an original idea in sight!" Lu Heng handed the phone back to Starlight. "The public aren't fools. Your tricks are working for less and less time."
"Last time, you took three days to make up a story, and it only fooled some people. Are you going to make up another one next time?"
"Same old medicine in a new bottle. The whole thing is rotten at its core. You might be able to stop this one, but can you stop the next?"
Starlight had been listening nearby. She couldn't help speaking up.
"He's right!"
Madelyn turned to look at the rookie who had joined The Seven only a few days earlier.
Starlight sounded a little nervous, but her voice was firm.
"I joined The Seven because I believed this team stood for justice. If the problems in the team are covered up instead of solved, then that justice is fake."
"I fully support Homelander's decision!"
Homelander glanced at Starlight and nodded repeatedly.
He hadn't expected the new girl to be the second person to take his side.
If Lu Heng counted as the first.
Madelyn's smile remained in place, but her heart rate had already shot up to 111.
She was losing control of the situation.
"Annie, you've only just joined. There are some things you don't understand yet..."
Madelyn tried to hint that Starlight should stay out of it, but—
"She understands enough."
This time, it was Maeve who spoke.
No one had expected Maeve to say anything.
She had been drinking the whole time, acting like 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, every time you come here, it's the same routine. You don't care about our reputation at all, and in the end, nothing ever changes."
"You knew The Deep was harassing women. You were the one who recruited him from Godolkin University!"
"A-Train's drugs shouldn't be available on the market. I don't believe Vought couldn't track down a few bottles!"
"As a Vought executive, you know everything. You just don't care!"
There was resentment in Maeve's voice. "Because they're Vought's biggest attractions. As long as they're still on the marquee, it doesn't matter if they're surrounded by cockroaches behind the scenes. As long as they bring Vought profits, as long as they keep your position in the company secure..."
"Heh!"
Madelyn's smile finally cracked.
Starlight was one thing. She was new and easy to sway.
But Maeve was a veteran. How dare she talk back?
The atmosphere in the conference room turned strange.
Homelander, Starlight, Maeve, and Guardian had all ended up on the same side, standing together against Madelyn.
If the senior shareholders found out, Madelyn's position might not remain as secure as it had been.
Ashley Barrett shrank into a corner, wishing she could turn invisible.
She knew there was no way to simply tough this out.
Homelander had already been riled up, Starlight and Maeve were adding fuel to the fire, and the instigator was sitting there with his legs crossed, enjoying the show.
Madelyn needed a different strategy.
"Fine."
Madelyn stood and straightened her cuffs, regaining her usual composure.
"If everyone thinks we need to clean house, then we'll clean house."
She looked at Homelander.
"But I'll arrange the press conference. The time, the wording, the procedures—all of it will be handled by the PR department. You'll appear and show that you're taking responsibility as leader."
"That's my bottom line."
This time, Homelander didn't object.
He wanted results: A-Train and The Deep gone, and his image restored—or even improved.
He didn't care how they held the press conference.
"Within three days," Homelander added.
"Three days is too short. We—"
"Three days. If it takes longer, I'll handle it myself."
There was no room for negotiation in Homelander's voice.
Madelyn pressed her lips into a thin line, then finally nodded.
She turned and headed for the door. As she passed Lu Heng, she paused.
"You're playing with fire."
Lu Heng couldn't be bothered to respond.
He wanted emotional points. That was why he had joined Vought in the first place.
[Key Character: Madelyn Stillwell] [Emotional Changes: Compromise, Loss of Control, Rising Hostility] [Ability Points Gained: +2,134] [Key Character: Starlight — Justice, Trust Deepened] [Ability Points Gained: +967] [Key Character: Queen Maeve — Release, Venting] [Ability Points Gained: +1,544] Current Ability Points: 76,371 / 100,000
After the meeting, Lu Heng was the last to leave the conference room.
In the hallway, Maeve was waiting for him, leaning against the wall.
"You directed that whole show today, didn't you?"
"Homelander's brain could never work through that logic. He doesn't have the foresight."
"I just offered a little advice."
"Advice?" Maeve let out a soft laugh. "You're using Homelander as a weapon, getting him to pick a fight with Vought while you sit back and watch."
Lu Heng leaned against the opposite wall, facing Maeve across the hallway.
"If you saw through it, why did you back me up?"
"Because I wanted to see Madelyn get knocked down a peg, and I don't like Homelander anymore."
Maeve's answer was blunt.
[Key Character: Queen Maeve — Emotional Change: Admiration] [Ability Points Gained: +1,203] Current Ability Points: 77,574 / 100,000
Lu Heng returned to his office.
He called the PR department and specifically asked Ashley to come up.
When Ashley knocked and came in, she looked like a rag that had been wrung dry.
A few strands of hair hung loose beside her face, and a red handprint marked her cheek.
There was no need to ask who had slapped her.
"Sit!"
Lu Heng acted as if he hadn't noticed.
Ashley sat down, her back ramrod straight, her eyes carefully avoiding his.
"Relax. I'm not going to eat you."
Lu Heng poured her a glass of water and pushed it across the desk.
"You saw what happened in the conference room today," Lu Heng said, leaning back in his chair, his tone casual. "Madelyn finally gave in. She'll arrange a press conference within three days."
"...Yes."
"How do you think she'll arrange it?"
Ashley was silent for a moment, then laid out Vought PR's usual playbook.
"She'll try to minimize the damage. She might have A-Train and The Deep leave for personal reasons, avoid mentioning any details about the scandals, and keep the public narrative focused on improving and updating the team."
"And then?"
"Then... the whole thing will be considered over. Vought's stock will fluctuate in the short term, then stabilize in the long run."
"What about you?"
Ashley blinked.
"Me?"
"Yeah!" Lu Heng looked at her. "From beginning to end, you were the first person they called in to clean up the mess. You were the one who suppressed the video of A-Train. When The Deep got into trouble, you were the one coordinating the response."
"You were even the first one to rush in when Homelander lost it. I'd say you've earned your keep, even if you haven't gotten the credit."
"But she doesn't seem very pleased with you."
Lu Heng paused, his gaze falling on the handprint.
Ashley's expression changed instantly.
Are you seriously messing with me?!
How could she not see it? Lu Heng had just finished dealing with Homelander, and now he had his sights set on her!
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