A week later.
Night shrouded New York City.
Inside the top-floor CEO's office at Vought International headquarters.
Edgar stood before the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the city lights beneath him, a sea of stars. His face was expressionless.
Behind him was Butcher, the "hunter" who had previously fought Vought International from the shadows.
He sat cross-legged on the sofa, brazenly propping his mud-covered combat boots on the glass coffee table.
"Out with it, Edgar," Butcher said, his voice full of curiosity. "You went to all this trouble to get me in here. This had better not be about buying me a late-night snack."
Edgar slowly turned around. Rather than showing the slightest anger at Butcher's rudeness, he offered a faint, businesslike smile.
"Mr. Butcher, we have a common enemy, don't we?"
He walked over to the safe and entered a long, complicated code.
With a soft click, the door opened, and a cloud of icy white mist spilled out.
Edgar took out a metal canister bearing a biohazard symbol.
A bright red label on the canister read "B.C.L. Red."
"As you wished." Edgar pushed the metal canister toward Butcher.
"This is our latest research breakthrough, an upgraded version. In theory, its neurotoxin is enough to take down a Soldier Boy within thirty seconds. Even... an anomaly like Pero would be no different."
Unfortunately, Pero was not a Supe created by Compound V.
A greedy gleam instantly flared in Butcher's eyes, and he reached for it.
"Not so fast." Edgar gently pinned the canister down with one finger. "I've provided you with a weapon. You'll have to do something for me in return."
"Talk."
"It's very simple." Edgar's lips curved into a cold smile. "I want you to find Soldier Boy and take him somewhere."
He pushed a tablet