Meeting in Person

No one present spoke.

They could refuse Joanna's request, of course.

The question was, who would do it?

And who would bear the consequences if she lost control?

Vought wanted a hero it could profit from, not a Homelander who might turn around and destroy the company at any moment over Lin Mo.

Seeing the silence around him, Edgar gave a cold snort.

"Bringing Lin Mo into The Super Seven isn't just about using his abilities."

"It would also keep Joanna stable. As long as he stays by her side, she'll be more willing to cooperate with the company's plans. He can also serve as a bridge between Vought and Asian communities, helping us gain broader market support."

"In terms of commercial value, team stability, and political interests, bringing him in is clearly the most sensible choice."

The elderly director seemed to have caught something important. "You seem to think very highly of Lin Mo."

Edgar looked up at him with a cold smile. "I've never valued anyone for who they are."

"I value people who can create value for the company."

"That's what you've always claimed matters most. Or do your standards change when the person creating that value isn't white?"

"Enough!"

The elderly director slammed his palm onto the table.

The dull thud echoed through the conference room.

"Don't bring your personal feelings into the Board of Directors!"

"Personal feelings?"

A trace of unmistakable anger finally appeared on Edgar's face.

But instead of making him lose control, it gave his voice an even more commanding edge.

"Since this meeting began, I've presented ability data, market data, psychological reports, and risk assessments."

"And what reasons have you given?"

"Skin color."

"Race."

"And some supposed image of mainstream America."

"Now you're telling me I'm the one making decisions based on personal feelings?"

The two men stared at each other across the long table.

The tension in the conference room had reached a breaking point.

Several executives even looked away instinctively, unwilling to be drawn into the clash.

Edgar had not yet gained full control of Vought, though his position was high enough.

The projects under his charge were important enough, too. Once Joanna officially joined The Seven, he could become the one who truly held power at Vought, instead of being constantly constrained and obstructed by those on the Board of Directors with more seniority and larger shareholdings.

But until the Joanna project produced real commercial results, Edgar did not have enough leverage to disregard every objection outright.

After a moment, another director broke the deadlock.

"Let's postpone the decision."

"Joanna hasn't officially joined The Super Seven yet."

"Lin Mo's public image, the market response, and the political risks all need a more thorough assessment."

"We'll vote again in a few days."

It was clearly a compromise.

Those opposed were unwilling to agree immediately.

Edgar would not let them reject the proposal outright, either. The simplest course was to put the matter off.

Once more people had traded favors in private, they could decide whether Lin Mo would enter The Super Seven.

The elderly director said grimly, "We'll vote again in three days."

"Until then, no one is to tell Lin Mo or Joanna about these plans without authorization."

Edgar said nothing. He merely straightened the documents in front of him.

When the meeting ended, the others filed out.

As they reached the door, the head of marketing slowed down and called to Edgar.

"Edgar."

Edgar glanced back.

"You know they won't let an Asian into The Seven easily."

"Especially now."

Edgar stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the lights of New York at night.

"I know."

"Then why insist?"

"They'll agree."

The head of marketing frowned slightly, puzzled.

"You sound very confident."

Edgar turned around.

"Vought has never truly cared what race its heroes are."

"All it cares about is whether they can make money and whether they can be controlled."

"Once they realize that refusing Lin Mo will cost more than accepting him, every argument about race we heard today will vanish."

"But the votes are against you right now."

"The votes will change."

"How?"

Edgar did not answer.

The head of marketing watched him for a moment, then turned and left.

The conference room door closed.

Edgar stood alone, Lin Mo's file still displayed on the screen. He was unlike the other Superheroes the company had raised.

Edgar had long known that Lin Mo had understood since childhood that the researchers were using him. Having met Lin Mo many times, Edgar knew they were fundamentally the same kind of person.

Lin Mo cooperated with the experiments, but he had never truly trusted Vought. He showed no obvious aggression, yet Edgar knew someone like him was the most dangerous of all.

A superhuman who lost control of his emotions was not frightening, because Vought could predict his behavior.

Anger, fear, praise, or public opinion could be used to manipulate him.

But Lin Mo had never fully revealed what he truly thought.

The one thing that made him somewhat manageable was that he was not yet that powerful. But if they kept treating him like a test subject they could order around at will, trouble would come sooner or later.

Edgar disliked risks he could not control. Rather than wait for Lin Mo to make his own choice, he would offer him an attractive deal first.

Status, freedom, a place in The Super Seven, and the chance to leave the Bunker with Joanna.

Those things might buy his cooperation for now.

As for the Board of Directors' order...

Edgar picked up Lin Mo's file and switched off the large screen. No one was allowed to tell Lin Mo about the plan without authorization.

That was true.

But he had no intention of telling Lin Mo anything. He simply wanted to meet the young man Vought had kept locked away for eighteen years.

And, while he was there, ask whether Lin Mo wanted to become a hero.

Edgar left the conference room and said to the assistant waiting outside, "Arrange a visit to the Research Center tomorrow."

The assistant blinked.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Should I notify Dr. Vogelbaum to prepare for a meeting?"

"No."

Edgar handed him Lin Mo's file.

"I'm not going to see Dr. Vogelbaum. I want to meet Lin Mo and Joanna alone."

The assistant looked down at the photograph in the file.

"But the Board of Directors just said—"

Edgar stopped walking and gave him a level look.

The assistant immediately swallowed the rest of his words.

"Understood."

Edgar continued on his way.

Behind him, the elevator doors slowly opened.

Before stepping inside, he added one last thing:

"One more thing."

"Don't let the other directors know about this visit in advance."

"Yes."

The elevator doors gradually closed.

Edgar stood inside, his face expressionless.

The Board of Directors thought that by delaying the vote for a few days, they could keep the initiative.

But they had overlooked one thing.

It had never been their votes that would decide whether Lin Mo joined The Super Seven.

It was Lin Mo himself, and Joanna.

If those two made their demands clear, the Board of Directors would have only one choice left.

As for whether Lin Mo would accept Vought's plans...