The manager dared not ask any more questions and hurriedly agreed:
"All right, it's settled! But I'm afraid there won't be enough time to prepare tonight. I'll spread the word first. How about you come back tomorrow?"
Solomon glanced around the empty hall. There really weren't many Supes left, so there was no point staying. He nodded:
"Sure, I'll come back tomorrow."
He patted the manager's shoulder again, then turned and left.
The manager kept staring after Solomon until that floating uniform vanished through the doorway. Only then did he let out a long breath, muttering inwardly.
This had better really be Homelander's orders. Otherwise, just wait until Homelander deals with you.
A statement from the club could indeed keep the situation under control. Once most Supes heard the news, they would either cooperate willingly or simply stay away.
But Vought's upper management, along with those powerful Supes, would find out about this sooner or later.
If Translucent was merely venting on his own initiative, plenty of people would come after him when the time came. The manager had no reason to take that risk alongside him.
After leaving the club, Solomon opened his superpower panel with a thought.
Name: Solomon Strength: Level 2.01 Energy: Level 1.31 Defense: Level 2.08 Healing: Level 3.001 Hearing: Level 1.9 Vision: Level 1.1 Speed: Level 3.005 Abilities: carbon-fiber super skin, super speed, bone spikes, self-duplication, spark, levitation, shapeshifting, Ant-Man transformation, super-speed healing, rainbow fart, hair growth, light eyes Rainbow fart: Can actively release rainbow-colored farts. Has no actual offensive or support effects. Release timing can be freely controlled. Hair growth: Can control hair across the entire body to grow rapidly. Cannot control the hair's movement. Hair has the same hardness as that of an ordinary human. Light eyes: Both eyes can emit a faint glow comparable to a poor-quality light bulb. While glowing, the user's vision is covered in white light, making it impossible to see.
Solomon couldn't help rolling his eyes at the three new abilities on the panel.
Holy crap, each of these three abilities is worse than the last. No wonder nobody's even heard of these Supes!
Rainbow fart goes without saying. It's a complete joke. At least I can control it freely. Otherwise, having rainbows come out every time I fart would be utterly mortifying.
Hair growth looks somewhat useful, but it only makes hair longer. It can't harden it or control it. It's no different from trash.
Light eyes is even more useless. The weak glow is bad enough, but I can't even see properly while using it. It's just making trouble for myself.
Despite his complaints, Solomon still managed to find a sliver of usefulness.
Hair growth might complement abilities he acquired later that could increase hair hardness or control hair.
Although light eyes was of little use, it might have some effect when paired with Starlight's light-energy attacks.
Starlight's ability depended on a light source. Without light, she couldn't attack, and light eyes could provide a faint light source. Even if he couldn't see while it was glowing, as long as he locked onto his target beforehand, he might be able to use that light energy to attack.
Aside from those three lackluster abilities, his base stats had also improved considerably.
His strength had successfully broken through to level 2, reaching the standard of a fairly powerful Supe. He was no longer weak.
His energy had increased by 0.2 levels, thanks to the two Supes with hair growth and light eyes.
His defense had increased by 0.03 levels, his healing by 0.001 levels, and his hearing had surged by a full 0.3 levels. Only his speed and vision hadn't increased at all.
Solomon nodded in satisfaction. Although the abilities he'd gained were trash, the stat increases were real.
Solomon had just stepped onto the ninety-ninth floor of Vought Tower and hadn't yet turned toward his apartment when an urgent, furious voice called out from behind him, stopping him.
"What have you done?! Translucent!"
Ashley strode toward him furiously, her high heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. Her face was full of anxiety and reproach, and she got straight to the point:
"You beat up three Supes at the club! And you attacked Ezekiel! Do you know Ezekiel is about to hold the Faith Expo? That expo is critically important to both Vought and the Church!"
Solomon spread his hands, his face blank with confusion. He hadn't remembered that rubber man's name at all and casually asked:
"Who's Ezekiel? Oh! I remember. That gay rubber guy?"
Ashley's expression changed in fright. She immediately raised a hand to cover her mouth and urgently scolded him in a hushed voice:
"Shh! Do you have a death wish? Don't say things like that! Ezekiel belongs to the Church, and he's always publicly advocated against homosexuality. If word of this gets out, it'll cause huge trouble!"
Solomon couldn't help laughing, his eyes full of mockery and scorn.
Against homosexuality?
That guy had his arms around four or five men at once in the club, acting all flirty and suggestive. How the hell was he against homosexuality?
"Don't make me laugh, Ashley."
His tone was dismissive.
"Does the Church promote itself by having him crawl up men's assholes? Besides, I didn't hurt him at all. I let him leave in one piece. If there's really a problem, go talk to Homelander. He agreed to let me do this."
Ashley snorted, her eyes full of disbelief, but offered no further argument. Her tone was stiff as she said:
"He'd better really have agreed to it. Madelyn wants to see you. Oh, and Homelander's in her office too."
Solomon paused, then shrugged indifferently.
He hadn't lied. Homelander really had tacitly agreed back then. Even if they confronted each other face-to-face, he wouldn't be worried in the slightest.
"Let's go."
Solomon followed Ashley straight to Madelyn's office.
When he pushed the door open and entered, he saw that Homelander and Madelyn were indeed both there. Wearing his Stars and Stripes Cape, Homelander stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows in his usual pose, hands clasped behind his back, gazing out at the city.
Madelyn sat behind her desk, looking down as she worked through some documents. Only when she heard them did she slowly rise.
Ashley quickly glanced at the two of them, then tactfully withdrew, gently closing the door and leaving the three of them alone.
"JS, we meet again."
Madelyn spoke first. Her tone was gentle, without the slightest hint of accusation, and even carried a measure of warmth.
"Have you been settling into the Seven lately?"
Solomon's gaze first landed on Homelander, and he grumbled inwardly.
Look at Madelyn. She's composed and measured in how she handles things. No wonder she's held on to the vice president position.
Then look at Homelander. Aside from being powerful, his emotional intelligence and shrewdness fall far short.
Solomon put those thoughts aside and replied with a smile:
"It's been good. Homelander's always looked after me."
Only upon hearing his own name did Homelander slowly turn his head. His face was expressionless, his gaze settling calmly on Solomon, yet it held a barely perceptible sense of pressure.
"Who told you to attack Ezekiel?"
He spoke in an icy, utterly level tone, yet it carried an authority that brooked no argument.
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