What If I Refuse

His complexion was charred black, his suit was neat, and his expression was calm and inscrutable, with two cups of coffee still resting on the table.

Seeing Lin Mo enter, he picked up the coffee on the table, took a shallow sip, and then looked Lin Mo up and down.

"Sit. This counts as our second official meeting."

That was right, this was already Lin Mo's second meeting with him. As early as several years ago, Edgar had specifically come to visit him in person. Reason and circumstance dictated that, as the direct formulator in charge of the Homelander Project, he felt it necessary to meet with both Lin Mo and Joanna.

Having chatted with Lin Mo back then, and relying on his shrewd discernment, he immediately understood roughly what kind of person Lin Mo was, so he felt very confident about this conversation.

"Lin Mo."

"I know you."

Lin Mo casually pulled out a chair and sat down.

"The person at Vought in charge of the Joanna Project."

Edgar did not deny it, as the news had naturally been leaked by him.

"To be precise, the person responsible for deciding her future commercial direction."

"That sounds much better than head of the experiment."

Lin Mo leaned against the back of the chair and lazily let out a yawn.

"So, you traveled all this way just to tell me what you do?"

Edgar looked at him, smiled, and revealed a set of good teeth.

"I like talking to smart people."

"Then cut the crap." Lin Mo retorted in a flat tone.

The conference room fell briefly silent for a moment.

Edgar gave Lin Mo a deep look. He always felt that Lin Mo seemed different from a few years ago, carrying some kind of indescribable oddness, but right now this matter was more important.

"Alright."

"Then I'll be direct."

He picked up a document from the side and pushed it in front of Lin Mo.

The English letters at the very top were striking.

[THE SEVEN]

The Super Seven.

Lin Mo glanced at it without reaching out.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm preparing to have you join the Super Seven."

Edgar stated the purpose of his visit.

"Along with Joanna."

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow slightly.

As expected, much to what he had guessed, Vought was definitely going to find work for him to do.

Edgar continued, "You two are about to reach adulthood."

"Continuing to keep you in the underground Research Center has no meaning whatsoever."

"Joanna will become the new leader of the Super Seven under the identity of Homelander, and you likewise possess the qualifications to enter The Seven. A public identity identical to Joanna's, a hero title, independent lodging, commercial resources, a personal team, and even a certain degree of freedom of movement."

"You didn't have these things in the past, but as long as you accept, you can have them all."

Upon hearing this, Lin Mo suddenly smiled.

"That sounds pretty good."

Edgar's expression did not change.

"It is good to begin with."

"Ordinary people work hard their whole lives and still can't get these resources."

"Do you think I'm the same as ordinary people?"

"Of course not."

Edgar leaned his body slightly forward and pointed at the document.

"That's why Vought is willing to give you a higher price tag."

A higher price tag—that was just putting it nicely; it was nothing more than the fact that he had value to Vought.

However, he had long since grown numb to this, and immediately asked Edgar in return.

"So in your eyes, how much am I worth?"

Edgar paused.

"This isn't a question of price."

"Is that so?"

Lin Mo reached out and tapped the documents on the desk, mocking.

"Yet what you people call public identity, superhero title, commercial resources, and so-called freedom sound like welfare benefits."

"In reality, it is nothing more than repackaging a company product and treating us like tools."

Edgar's gaze narrowed slightly.

Lin Mo sneered: "Moving me from the underground laboratory to in front of the lenses."

"Designing a costume for me, then fabricating an American Dream story, like being discovered by Vought since childhood, receiving training, voluntarily becoming a superhero after reaching adulthood, and then letting advertisers use my face to sell soda, sneakers, insurance, and toys."

"Oh, right, and by the way, telling all Asian Americans--"

"Look at that!"

"Vought supports minority groups as well."

The entire conference room fell silent.

A faint smile hung on the corners of Lin Mo's mouth, but the bone-chilling coldness emanating beneath that smile directly enveloped Edgar.

"Am I right?"

Edgar looked at him, and only after a long moment said: "You are sharper than what was written in the research report."

"Research report?"

Lin Mo put on an expression of sudden realization, the smile on his face deepening a bit.

"Indeed, you people really did write quite a lot of things about me."

"Psychological evaluations, behavioral analysis, and the emotional connection with Joanna."

"Let me guess."

"Is there also a line..."

"Using me can effectively stabilize Joanna's emotions?"

Edgar finally did not answer him immediately.

Because this was the answer, and this was Vought's thought all along.

Lin Mo leaned his body backward, and his voice followed.

"So you are not here to give me freedom."

"You just think that me turning from an asset in the laboratory into an asset in front of the lenses can make more money."

"More importantly, with me around, Joanna will not lose control."

"You can safely push her out to the public, letting her make money for Vought, increase your bargaining power, and help you climb step by step to Vought's highest position."

"As for me."

"Just utilized along the way."

Lin Mo's eyes stared straight at Edgar.

"Right?"

This time, Edgar did not deny it.

He only said calmly: "I am a businessman, and utilization is naturally mutual."

"You need freedom, and I need a stable The Super Seven."

"You need to leave here, and Vought needs you and Joanna to create profits."

"Each taking what they need, there is nothing unfair about it."

"The world has always been like this."

Lin Mo narrowed his eyes slightly.

This indeed sounded very much like Edgar, who never pretended to be a good person, nor wasted time talking about morality; interests were interests, and a transaction was a transaction.

At least he was a bit more pleasing to the eye than those fellows who talked about for the country and for humanity on their lips, but turned around and injected Compound V into infants, and better than someone who casually abandoned teammates for the sake of revenge.

What a pity.

Edgar was currently making a mistake.

He seemed to actually think Lin Mo needed the things Vought provided.

"What if I refuse?"

Lin Mo asked in return.

Edgar looked at him.

"You will not refuse."

"Why?"

"Because you want to take Joanna away from here." Edgar analyzed the pros and cons for him.

"And in America, without Vought's permission, you have nowhere to go."

"No identity, no social records, no bank accounts, no legal past."

"You don't even exist in the normal social system."

"And—"

Edgar paused.

"You should know how much Vought has invested in you."

"The company won't allow its assets to just leave like that."

The smile on Lin Mo's face gradually faded.

"So this is a threat?"

"It's a fact."

Edgar said, "You might be very strong."

"But according to existing tests, you're not as dangerous as Joanna."

"Yet you are more rational and cautious than Joanna, which is precisely your advantage and also your weakness. You consider consequences, but Joanna doesn't."

"So you won't choose to go to all-out war with Vought."

Edgar's tone remained steady.

Clearly, he had prepared thoroughly before coming, and had even calculated the reactions Lin Mo might have.

Lin Mo couldn't be bothered to keep talking either; with this bunch of capitalists at Vought, perhaps he shouldn't have wasted words with him in the first place.

Yet Edgar still thought he was conceding by default and continued, "I don't want to threaten you."

"On the contrary, I am giving you a choice that both sides can accept."

"Join The Super Seven, and you get your freedom."

"Joanna can also leave with you, and Vought gets two top-tier heroes."

"This is the most rational solution."

Listening to Edgar's words, Lin Mo was so angry he laughed. They treated people like commodities, yet grandly called it the most rational method.

"Rational?"

"Yes."

"Edgar."

"Hmm?"

"Did you misunderstand something?"

Edgar frowned slightly.

Lin Mo raised his head, held up a single finger to gesture at Edgar himself, and his voice echoed throughout the entire conference room.

"The reason I was willing to reason with you people before wasn't because I'm only capable of reasoning."