Homelander's invitation!

Solomon lowered his eyes in silence, neither answering nor moving, his expression calm and unruffled.

Homelander simply assumed the sudden honor had shocked him speechless with joy and gave it no further thought.

The elevator reached their floor, and its doors slowly opened.

"What you need to do next is simple. Take over all of the previous Translucent's work and obediently-"

Halfway through his sentence, Homelander stopped and looked back to find Solomon still standing inside the elevator, not having moved an inch.

A trace of confusion crossed his eyes, and his tone deepened slightly.

"Boy?"

Solomon abruptly raised his eyes, an appropriately delighted smile spreading across his face as he stepped out of the elevator.

"Sorry, I was so shocked that I couldn't react for a moment. I never imagined I'd be able to join the Seven. Please go on. I'm listening."

At that, Homelander once again examined him thoroughly from head to toe, inside and out, scrutinizing this superhuman who had appeared out of nowhere.

"I don't want it to happen again. Come with me. Madelyn will be very happy to see you."

With that, Homelander turned to leave.

Just then, Solomon's cool voice suddenly rang out.

"Excuse me, Homelander. I have something I'd like to say."

The air instantly fell deathly still.

Homelander stopped short, planted his hands on his hips, and slowly drew a deep breath before slowly exhaling.

His previously gentle air vanished in an instant, and the chill surrounding him surged.

He turned around, walked expressionlessly up to Solomon, gripped his shoulder with one hand, and moved behind him.

"Kid, I'm informing you, not negotiating with you."

His long fingers slowly rose and gently gripped Solomon's neck, their pressure gradually increasing with an overwhelming sense of menace.

"Understand?"

Prickles of pain spread from his neck through his entire body. Solomon's muscles tensed, and a chill churned within him.

Before Homelander's terrifying, absolute strength, the carbon-fiber super skin he took such pride in was too fragile to withstand a single blow, not even as hard as ordinary plastic.

The slightest exertion would let Homelander crush his neck in an instant and end his life.

Solomon swallowed, steadied himself, and spoke.

"I can join the Seven, but I won't participate in those pointless publicity stunts."

The pressure from Homelander's fingertips abruptly intensified. An immense crushing force bore down like a hydraulic press, and a feeling of suffocation instantly swept through Solomon's body.

While he could still speak, Solomon rattled off his reasons at top speed.

"What you need is someone invisible to replace Translucent, not a celebrity in the spotlight. The less I appear in public, the lower the risk of my identity being exposed. I look completely different from the previous Translucent. Frequent appearances on camera will give it away sooner or later, and that won't do you or Vought any good."

Solomon had only taken on someone else's appearance, not Translucent's.

He could get through a few appearances without showing his face in the short term, but if he kept appearing on screen over a long period, he would inevitably have to show it. Wouldn't that give him away?

At those words, the pressure from Homelander's fingertips abruptly vanished. He released his grip and patted Solomon's shoulder instead, his expression returning to normal.

"Of course! Your affairs are yours to decide. Come on, let's go find Madelyn."

Solomon relaxed slightly and struck while the iron was hot, bringing up his true objective.

"Besides that, I want detailed files on every superhuman. I want to personally teach every last one of them a lesson."

Homelander paused slightly. He had thought Solomon was merely resentful after someone offended him at the nightclub. Only now did he realize that this young man seemed to harbor intense hostility toward all superhumans.

He pointed at himself with interest and raised an eyebrow.

"Every superhuman? Including me?"

His eyes held a teasing scrutiny as he waited to see the boy's cowardice and retreat, wanting to watch a farce of ignorant boasting.

Solomon looked into Homelander's eyes, wondering whether saying yes would make red lasers shoot from them and blast his head to pieces.

A moment later, he spoke candidly, without backing down.

"Of course that includes you. I'm just not strong enough right now to beat you yet. But as long as I become strong enough, one day I'll defeat you too."

The murderous intent and fury he had anticipated never came.

Homelander froze at first, then threw back his head and laughed loudly, as though he had heard the most ridiculous words in the world, and the ones most to his liking.

"Ha ha ha! Good kid. So innocent and adorable!"

He reached out and patted the top of Solomon's head, his tone carrying condescending appreciation.

"What exactly happened to you to make you hate superhumans so much? Unfortunately, you have no idea how powerful I am. You'll never be able to defeat me in your lifetime. You understand?! Still, I like your ambition. What the Seven needs most is driven newcomers like you! I'll grant your request."

In his eyes, this was merely the arrogant vow of a boy who did not know his own limits, childish but endearing, and not the slightest threat.

Solomon finally breathed a complete sigh of relief inwardly. As long as he could obtain the files on every superhuman, he could openly defeat those with powers, harvest their abilities, and steadily develop. Every part of his plan was perfectly under control.

From that moment on, he officially joined the ranks of the Seven, gaining access to Vought's highest status and resources.

Solomon collected himself and followed Homelander to Madelyn's office.

"Madelyn, look at the surprise I've brought you!"

Madelyn was bent over her desk handling business. At his voice, she looked up and saw the unfamiliar young white man beside Homelander, her eyes full of confusion.

"Homelander, who is this?"

Only then did Homelander realize that he did not even know the young man's name. He simply waved a dismissive hand.

"His name doesn't matter. From now on, he's the new Translucent. Come on, kid, show her your power. Don't be shy."

Madelyn watched Solomon curiously, already having a fairly good guess.

With a slight shift of thought, Solomon's figure slowly faded, vanishing into thin air in an instant and leaving behind nothing but empty clothes.

"Is this Translucent's power? My God, Homelander, where did you find someone with the same power as Translucent!"

Madelyn's eyes instantly lit up. Unable to hide her delight, she hurried forward and reached into the space where Solomon had vanished, feeling carefully from collar to cuffs and repeatedly confirming that there were no flaws.

"It's exactly the same! Wonderful! What's your name, kid?"

Solomon deactivated his invisibility, his figure reappearing as he spoke in an even tone.

"You can call me JS, or simply call me Translucent."

JS was his own name's initials in reverse order, a brand-new identity he had tailor-made for himself.

The new Translucent, JS.

Homelander immediately stepped forward twice, his head held high and his chest puffed out, his face full of pride like a child eager for praise.

"I found him myself!"