Negotiations

At Vought International headquarters, in the VIP reception room.

A middle-aged man with a receding hairline sat on the sofa. He checked his watch, then looked up at the night view outside the window.

Towering buildings stood shoulder to shoulder, their colorful lights shining against one another. Traffic filled the streets, and pedestrians streamed past. Looking down through the reception room's enormous floor-to-ceiling window felt like gazing across a vast distance at a glittering river of stars.

The man marveled at the beauty of San Andreas at night. Baltimore could not compare.

He was the mayor of Baltimore, a major port city on the Federation's east coast. He had flown to Vought International headquarters by private jet that day to discuss a crucial deal with its vice president, Madelyn.

The mayor looked a little anxious. He had brought plenty of bargaining chips, but he still had no confidence in how the talks would go.

Whether the deal succeeded would directly affect his chances of winning another term as mayor. He knew full well that Vought International held all the leverage.

Madelyn, with her keen instincts, knew it too. That was why she had dared to leave a mayor waiting in the VIP reception room for half an hour.

At last, Madelyn opened the door and came in.

"Sorry, something came up at the last minute," Madelyn said apologetically. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long, Mr. Steve."

Steve was the mayor's name.

"Not at all. I only just sat down," Steve said with a wave of his hand. "Besides..." He picked up the coffee on the table and took a leisurely sip. "Your coffee is excellent."

Madelyn smiled. "I prepared a little gift for you."

She handed him the gift.

It was a postcard bearing Homelander's picture.

It even had Homelander's autograph.

"Thank you so much. My son will love it."

Steve had brought his son along. Vought International's reception staff were showing the boy around.

"I'm glad. Just don't secretly sell it online," Madelyn joked.

Steve gave a token laugh, then turned serious. "All right. Let's get down to business."

Madelyn wiped the table and sat across from him.

"Baltimore is a beautiful city, but its crime rate has remained stubbornly high in recent years," Madelyn began. "According to the statistics, murders are up sixty-two percent this year over last. As mayor, you must be under tremendous pressure."

Steve's expression grew grave. He knew those figures all too well. They were why he had come such a long way.

"So do you have a solution?" he asked.

Madelyn pressed a button in her hand. A projection of a superhero slowly appeared on the wall behind her.

"Tank-Top Master. I believe he's the superhero who best matches what your residents want. He has an exceptionally strong sense of justice and strength to rival any member of The Seven. Given your current situation, he's the ideal choice."

Steve knew the name. Tank-Top Master was one of the superheroes who had risen rapidly in recent years, winning strong support from both Vought International and the public. If not for his limited experience and a formidable rival in Starlight, he might well have replaced Lamplighter on The Seven this very year.

What was more, Tank-Top Master spared no effort in fighting crime. Criminals feared him.

Baltimore did need a hero like him.

"We can offer you a three-year exclusive contract, a full public relations team, and ten percent of gross merchandise sales," Madelyn added. "Baltimore will also receive fifty percent of the rights to Tank-Top Master's likeness. During that period, he'll serve only the citizens of Baltimore and actively participate in all related marketing campaigns."

"What's the price?" Steve asked.

That was the heart of the negotiation. A company like Vought International, whose ultimate goal was profit, would even send Homelander to serve as a city's hero if the price was right. The trouble was that no city could afford him.

Baltimore might not even be able to afford Tank-Top Master.

"Three hundred million dollars a year," Madelyn said with a smile. She knew it was expensive, but she was ninety percent certain she could close the deal.

It wasn't Steve who needed a city hero. It was Baltimore's citizens. What Steve needed was their support.

With that support, he could win another term and keep profiting from those sources of under-the-table income no one knew about.

Steve smiled awkwardly. The price was indeed higher than he had expected.

"Two hundred million. That's the most I can offer," Steve said firmly.

Madelyn shook her head.

She knew she held the leverage.

Steve's expression hardened. Before setting out, he had prepared for the worst. If Madelyn refused to budge, he would have to use his final bargaining chip.

He did not want to.

"I think you should accept my offer." There was a faint threat in his voice.

"Why? Cities are lining up for Tank-Top Master," Madelyn said, still smiling.

Steve leaned forward slightly. He looked Madelyn in the eye and said softly, "I know about Compound V."

As he spoke, he caught a subtle change in her expression.

The flash of alarm on Madelyn's face vanished almost at once, but he knew he had struck a nerve.

"What's Compound V?" Madelyn asked, feigning confusion.

Having seen that change in her expression, Steve was certain he had won. He leaned back into the sofa.

"Just some rumors. But if the public believes them, they could ruin a great many of your company's superheroes. We're good friends, though, aren't we? I can assure you the rumors will remain rumors. No one will take them seriously."

Steve was sure Madelyn understood what he was implying.

After a moment of silence, Madelyn shook her head. "I'm sorry, Steve. I don't know what you're talking about. But my price is still three hundred million dollars a year. If we can't agree, Tank-Top Master will have to appear in another city's brochures instead."

Steve smiled. He stood and offered his hand. "I hope you'll reconsider."

They shook hands, outwardly cordial.

Steve turned and left the room, leaving Madelyn standing there with a dark expression.

Steve was certain that Madelyn would contact him and accept his offer before he returned to Baltimore.

What he did not know was that Homelander had watched his entire negotiation with Madelyn through the reception room wall with his X-ray vision.