Lu Heng ignored Butcher's attempt to drive a wedge between them.
Until he'd wrung every last bit of usefulness out of these people, he wasn't about to kill them off.
For Viltrumites, there were only three ways to grow stronger: breaking through their limits in a fight to the death, naturally gaining power as they aged, or crossing the insurmountable gulf of bloodline.
Royal blood was naturally stronger than ordinary Viltrumite blood.
He had to climb... step by step... all the way to the top!
He was going to become Zuzongren!
"Butcher, I know a little about your background."
Lu Heng slowly lifted Translucent's corpse, a faint red glow flickering deep in his eyes.
Omega Beams.
He vaporized Translucent's head on the spot.
It was a warning to Butcher.
"You hate Homelander and want to kill him. I don't care about that, but you'd better not do anything unnecessary."
"My powers aren't as limited as Homelander's."
Lu Heng flew away.
The Boys were left behind, trembling in fear.
"Goddamn it! Butcher, you bastard, what the hell have you gotten us mixed up in?"
Frenchie had nearly pissed himself. Once he'd recovered, he started cursing.
Mother's Milk also looked relieved to have escaped with his life.
Guardian had just picked him up, and he'd nearly been carved up like a chicken.
"Man!" Butcher ignored his two companions' complaints and turned to Hughie with a grin. "Scared and ready to crawl back? Welcome to Daddy's world, kid!"
One minute later.
Lu Heng dropped Translucent's corpse into the conference room.
Ashley jumped in fright.
"My job's done. If anyone doubts that this is Translucent, run a full DNA test."
"Oh, man! You're my Superman!" Homelander exclaimed, grabbing Lu Heng by the shoulders.
He didn't even glance at Translucent on the floor.
He knew it was Translucent, not some random corpse Lu Heng had found to pass off as him.
[Key Character · Homelander — satisfaction, dependence, trust] [Ability Points Gained: +3,120] Current Ability Points: 11,978 / 250,000
Just like that, he'd gained three thousand!
Awesome!!
Homelander wanted to invite Lu Heng for an in-depth discussion about the true heart of a hero.
But Lu Heng wasn't interested.
He vanished over the horizon like a meteor.
Homelander watched Guardian fly away, told Ashley to file a report, then turned to Translucent's corpse and started muttering to himself.
"I never did get that steak. Might as well go back and sleep."
Lu Heng yawned.
His body clock was calling.
No, better head down to the docks and grab some fries.
Just as Lu Heng was about to place an order, a message popped up on his phone.
[Starlight: Guardian, are you busy right now? Want to go out for a meal? (´・ω・`)]
Starlight wanted to go out to eat with him?
Did she have something else planned?
[Guardian: Sure. Pick a place.]
[Starlight: There's a 24-hour Greek restaurant on Ninth Avenue.]
[Guardian: Uh, never been there.]
[Starlight: I sent you the location! It's easy to find!]
[Starlight: ヾ(≧▽≦*)o]
[Starlight: Hurry up! I'm already here!]
[Starlight: (｡•́︿•̀｡) It's awkward sitting here alone.]
Lu Heng watched the string of emoji messages pop up.
She was... pretty cute!
One minute later.
Lu Heng made the trip in three seconds.
He spent the remaining fifty-seven searching for that damn Greek restaurant.
After circling the block several times, he finally spotted the restaurant sign. The wind had torn off one of its corners.
The restaurant had a small storefront, with a laundromat on one side and a tattoo parlor on the other.
A few junkies leaned against a utility pole by the roadside.
Unless they opened their mouths and showed their teeth, no one would realize there were actually two people standing there.
The decor inside, though, was a sharp contrast to the street outside.
Wooden tables and chairs, with Greek landscape paintings hanging on the walls.
An old jukebox in the corner played lazy, atmospheric jazz.
Starlight sat by the window, looking listless and unhappy.
She'd seemed to be in a pretty good mood when she'd sent him all those emojis.
When Starlight saw him come in, she waved right away and forced a smile.
Lu Heng picked up the menu.
It was all Greek to him.
"I can order for you! Their grilled lamb chops are especially good, and so is the lasagna. See which one you like."
"I don't mind. Just order a few things. I'm kind of hungry."
Viltrumites could go without food for a long time, but they still liked the occasional high-protein meal.
It helped them recover their strength and heal their injuries.
Starlight rattled off a huge order.
Grilled lamb chops, salad, lasagna, Pita Bread with Hummus, and fried calamari.
"Let's get an order of fries too."
"Oh, and a bottle of white wine."
Lu Heng gave her a look.
"Kids shouldn't drink."
"I'm nineteen. I'm an adult!" Starlight insisted that the waiter bring the wine.
"And I need a drink right now."
Lu Heng could see that Starlight really wasn't doing well, so he didn't stop her.
But it looked like he wasn't going to get much sleep tonight.
"I... I broke up with my boyfriend!" Starlight's voice was low, and she looked dejected.
Oh, double whammy!
He'd thought Starlight had something important to discuss, but it turned out to be personal.
"Uh, when did that happen?"
"A few days ago. But he asked to get back together today, and I said no."
Starlight sniffed.
Then she told him the whole story.
Lu Heng more or less understood what had happened. Starlight's boyfriend had seen the first part of the conference room video and assumed Starlight had given in to The Deep's advances to get famous.
He couldn't stand the thought of being cheated on, so he'd broken up with her.
Then Vought released the full video and clarified that Starlight hadn't just given herself away.
Her boyfriend came crawling back, all smiles, asking to get back together.
"Your boyfriend's Supersonic, right? He's a supe too?"
Starlight nodded. "Yeah. I also found out he cheated on me."
Oh, double whammy!
The openness of foreigners never failed to broaden Lu Heng's horizons.
With such a beautiful girlfriend, he'd still cheated on her. Tsk!
"Well, congratulations on getting rid of a scumbag."
Lu Heng raised his glass and took a sip.
He shook his head.
He couldn't understand it.
Was Supersonic an idiot?
"Thank you. You're still the best. You were willing to help me from the very beginning."
Starlight had no one left she could trust.
After A-Train had been exposed for using drugs, Annie learned about Compound Five as an insider.
Later, she asked Ashley about it. Ashley thought Starlight was on Guardian's side, so she told her the secret of Compound Five.
That's when she learned she wasn't a supe by birth at all. Her mother had signed an agreement when she was little, selling her to Vought International as a test subject.
Betrayed by both her family and her boyfriend, Starlight had no one she could confide in.
Then she'd thought of Guardian.
Lu Heng was currently shoveling food into his mouth.
As he ate, he said, "Honestly, with what you've got going for you, men who'd be into you could line up from Brooklyn all the way to Paris. Why get hung up on just one guy?"
"You gave up a single tree, and there's a whole forest out there!"
"Sorry, these fries are too dry! Viter, get me a Coke. Pepsi, please!"
Watching Guardian focus entirely on his food and wolf it down made Starlight feel a little better without her even realizing it.
She hadn't eaten much herself. After finishing a bottle of white wine, she ordered a bottle of whiskey.
"Alcohol tastes awful."
Before you continue