Popularity Level Increased

"So be it." President Ellis made his decision. "Anthony... I need a detailed proposal. Costs, staffing, jurisdiction... I want the most detailed proposal possible. One that can shut those old bastards in Congress up."

"Of course, Mr. President." Azu's smile was dazzling. "Vought... is always at your service."

He walked back to the desk, picked up a pen, and casually wrote a number on Ellis's notepad.

A... ten-digit number.

"What is this?" Ellis asked, confused.

"Oh, this is Vought International's... projected tax payment for next year."

Azu smiled meaningfully.

"We are a patriotic company, Mr. President. We firmly believe... in giving back to society."

"Not only will we pay taxes to the IRS in accordance with the law..."

Azu lightly tapped the desk with the pen, slow and rhythmic.

"...we will also pay every... 'friend' who supports us the... 'taxes' they deserve."

"..."

"I understand." President Ellis froze for a moment, then broke into a brilliant smile as well. "Mr. Starr, I think... we will have a pleasant partnership."

"I've always thought so."

Azu put away the pen and headed for the door.

"Oh, right." He paused at the doorway and looked back. "About that traitorous vice president... do you need me to 'handle' him? You know, Heat Vision... fast, clean, and it leaves no evidence."

President Ellis's heart abruptly tightened.

Looking into Homelander's azure eyes, he felt an inexplicable chill rise within him.

"N-No need." Ellis's voice trembled slightly. "We... we are a nation governed by law. He will stand trial!"

"What a shame."

Azu shrugged and pulled open the door.

Click, click—!!

Outside, a flood of flashbulbs instantly swallowed everything.

Five in the morning, the White House South Lawn. An emergency press conference.

President Matthew Ellis had changed into a clean suit. Though exhaustion showed on his face, he was buzzing with excitement.

He stood shoulder to shoulder with Homelander.

"...Tonight was one of the darkest moments in American history." Ellis's voice boomed toward the cameras. "But it was also one of our most glorious moments!"

"We witnessed betrayal, but we also witnessed... true heroism!"

He turned toward Homelander beside him.

"I, Matthew Ellis, on behalf of the United States of America, offer my highest gratitude to this hero... Mr. Homelander!"

The flashbulbs erupted again.

"Ding! Popularity gained: +115420!"

"Ding! Popularity gained: +125781!"

"Ding! Popularity gained: +135688!"

"..."

He stepped forward, took the microphone, and wore a humble smile.

"Thank you, Mr. President..."

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over every camera.

"I am merely... an American who did the right thing."

"Tonight's threat has ended, but new threats emerge every day."

"Therefore," he paused, dropping the bombshell of the night, "I am pleased to announce that my company, Vought International, will begin deep cooperation with the Ellis administration..."

"We..." He spread his arms as if embracing the entire nation. "...will protect America. From coast to coast, from the skies to the depths of the sea. With us here... you are safe."

The cheers drowned out his final words.

On the Helicarrier, Nick Fury expressionlessly turned off the screen.

"Hill."

"Yes, sir?"

"Raise Homelander's threat level," Fury said, his one eye narrowing, "to the highest level."

"...Yes, sir."

Ashley's call had already come while Wu Yanzu was flying through the air above Washington.

"Sir! Oh my God... sir!" Ashley's voice was shrill with overwhelming excitement, and she had even forgotten her formal manner of speaking. "Anthony! You did it! You fucking did it!!"

"Calm down, Ashley." Azu floated in the stratosphere. Below him, the sea of clouds had been dyed gold by the rising sun, perfectly matching his mood. "It was just work."

"Work?!" Ashley screamed from the top-floor office of Vought Tower. "Sir! You call that work?! You saved the president! You saved America!!"

"Our PR department has gone insane! CNN, Fox, MSNBC... they're all running the press releases we provided! Time ripped up the cover they had prepared for this week and replaced it with that photo of you 'holding up the wreckage'! The headline is—Atlas of the New Era!"

"The advance box office for Homelander: Origins..." Ashley's voice trembled. "...has tripled in the past hour. The whole industry is speculating that it may break the all-time box office record!"

"Good." Bathed in the morning sunlight, Azu spread his arms, his Stars and Stripes cape snapping behind him. "Now this is the fucking life."

"Ding! Popularity gained: +540812!"

"Ding! Popularity gained: +612404!"

"...!"

"Current popularity: 31202524!"

"Ding! North American popularity level increased—Household Name!"

"Ding! Ability enhancement: Super Strength (1500 tons), Steel Body (Planetary Level+++), Heat Vision (6000°C), Super Speed (Mach 55)!..."

"Haha... hahahahahahaha!!"

At an altitude of ten thousand meters, Azu let out unrestrained laughter.

Avengers Tower, top-floor lounge.

On the enormous 8K screen, Wu Yanzu's "humble" speech on the White House lawn played on a loop.

"...I am merely... an American who did the right thing."

Bang!

Tony Stark hurled a thirty-thousand-dollar whiskey glass into the screen.

"That goddamn blond bastard!" Tony Stark's eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion, and he was still stained with engine oil and the smell of blood from the docks.

He had just returned to New York in miserable condition, flying in a backup suit with Pepper, who was still burning hot.

And this was what greeted him.

"Look at him! Look at that goddamn face of his, plastered with hair gel!" Tony pointed at the perfect smile frozen on the screen, trembling with rage.

"Fuck... 'did the right thing'?! That bastard was already there!!"

Steve Rogers had just finished his morning workout, dressed in a tank top. He stared gravely at the screen. "Tony, calm down. What exactly happened?"

"Calm down?!" Tony sprang up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "I'll tell you what happened, you old popsicle!"

"That blond bastard! He got there at least twenty minutes early! He saved the president, and then... then he fucking hid in the sky! Watching the show!!"

Tony pointed at his own chest. "He watched Killian's bunch of 'barbecues' tear apart more than a dozen of my precious suits like scrap metal! He watched me get beaten into the ground! Watched me get trapped in a can, waiting to die! He did it on purpose!!"

Natasha Romanoff walked in from outside. She had just finished speaking with S.H.I.E.L.D., and her expression was equally grim.