Butcher Noticed Something Was Wrong!

But Solomon waved his hand in refusal without even thinking, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Fuck! I refuse! I don't want to get myself killed. Taking on Homelander with you would be suicide!"

With that, he turned and walked away, his steps brisk and decisive. He did not pause at all, afraid Butcher would keep pestering him.

Butcher stood where he was, smiling as he watched Solomon disappear around the corner, but the amusement in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by deep suspicion.

How could there be such a coincidence?

Solomon had just happened to stumble upon A-Train and Mesmer's secret conversation.

Solomon had just happened to hear something related to them, and had just happened to capture Mesmer, too.

It was too convenient, so convenient that it seemed someone had deliberately arranged it!

He turned to Frenchie, who understood immediately, nodded lightly, and said:

"You guys head back first. I'll go get some things we need for tomorrow's expo."

As soon as he finished speaking, Frenchie hurried off in the direction Solomon had gone. Kimiko froze for a moment, then caught on and quickly followed.

But when Frenchie reached the corner Solomon had turned, it was already deserted. Solomon seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving not a single trace.

Frowning, Frenchie raised a hand to his throbbing head and scanned the area around the corner, his voice full of surprise and confusion:

"How did this guy get away so fast? Did he take a car? But it's only been a few dozen seconds. How could even the car be out of sight?"

He sighed, his tone full of helplessness. Unable to find Solomon, he could only give up the search for now and head back toward Butcher and the others.

For now, getting ready for tomorrow's Faith Expo was more pressing.

In the shadows not far away, Solomon silently watched Frenchie leave, his expression darkening completely.

Butcher... had he noticed something off about me after all?

He considered it silently. Butcher was no simpleminded, arrogant idiot like Homelander. The fact that he had fought Vought International for so many years and stayed alive, even escaping death multiple times, was enough to prove how meticulous and deeply calculating he was.

But when exactly had this guy noticed something was wrong with me?

Forget it. It doesn't matter. So what if he knows?

Find Ezekiel first!

Where would Ezekiel be right now?

After a moment's thought, Solomon had his answer. The Faith Expo was tomorrow, and as its organizer, Ezekiel was bound to be at the venue overseeing the setup right now.

"Let's go take a look."

Solomon murmured to himself, then moved, vanishing from the spot like a phantom.

But instead of going straight to the expo venue, he first returned to Vought Tower, planning to send his double.

In Solomon's apartment on the ninety-ninth floor of Vought Tower, his double slowly opened his eyes. The next second, he jolted in fright, every hair on his body standing on end.

There was actually someone standing beside his bed!

"Is there something wrong with you?"

Homelander stood beside the bed with his hands on his hips, looking impatient, his brows tightly furrowed and his voice full of reproach.

"I couldn't wake you no matter how much I called! Your heartbeat and breathing had both stopped. I thought you were dead!"

Judging by his appearance, he had clearly been standing beside the bed for quite some time.

Solomon suppressed the turmoil inside him, silently counting himself lucky.

Fortunately, he had activated his invisibility when he left. Otherwise, with Homelander watching him from so close, there was no telling what flaws he might have spotted.

Fuck, this Homelander really leaves me speechless.

Solomon cursed inwardly, not daring to let any of it show on his face. He slowly sat up, the covers sliding off him.

"Sorry, Homelander."

He feigned an apologetic tone and casually made up an excuse.

"It's a side effect of my power. When I sleep, I enter a state of suspended animation and lose all awareness of the outside world. Unless I wake up on my own, no one can wake me."

After all, Supes in this world had all sorts of powers, including every bizarre ability imaginable. This excuse was hardly outrageous, and it was enough to fool him.

Homelander shook his head disdainfully and sneered without restraint:

"What a shitty power! Instead of sleeping at night, you insist on sleeping during the day?"

His gaze turned cold, his voice carrying a threat that allowed no argument.

"If I ever catch you sleeping during the day again, I'll put you in a state of actual death. Do you understand?"

Solomon nodded hurriedly, answering as he climbed out of bed:

"I understand, Homelander. It definitely won't happen again."

He wore only a pair of boxer briefs, his expression still respectful, though inwardly he had already cursed Homelander eight hundred times.

"By the way, what did you need me for?"

Solomon took the initiative to change the subject, afraid Homelander would keep harping on his sleeping.

Homelander stepped forward and grabbed Solomon by the neck, squeezing so hard he nearly crushed it out of shape. Then he forcibly pressed Solomon's ear against the front of his body, his voice icy and full of accusation:

"What about the job I gave you? Where's the information I wanted?"

Solomon did not resist. He knew resistance would be useless, too. The gap between his strength and Homelander's was far too great, and resisting now would only enrage him completely.

Enduring the choking pressure on his neck, he said hoarsely:

"I went, but I didn't hear anything."

Homelander's grip instantly tightened. Solomon felt as though his neck was about to snap. Breathing grew harder and harder, and his vision began to darken.

"Why did Maeve say she didn't see you in the bathroom?"

Homelander's tone grew fiercer, a crimson glow gradually rising in his eyes, his laser eyes ready to fire.

"You fucking dare lie to me? Do you think I won't dare kill you just because you've replaced Translucent?"

Homelander's eyes glowed red, his laser eyes already primed. If Solomon's answer displeased him even slightly, he would blast the guy to death.

Solomon's mind raced, and he hurriedly spoke, a trace of panic in his voice.

"I didn't eavesdrop on Maeve. I listened in on someone else. A-Train. A-Train's been frantically searching for someone from France lately. I heard someone contact him, saying they had information about that person from France."

The crimson in Homelander's eyes instantly faded, and his grip slowly loosened. Solomon staggered back a few steps, clutching his neck as he coughed violently and gulped down air.

He knew about A-Train's situation. A-Train had indeed contacted him earlier, saying someone had a lead on that person from France, but the person had been adamant about only giving the information to A-Train himself.

"You don't need to concern yourself with A-Train's business for now."

Homelander frowned, his voice still displeased.

"Keep a close eye on Maeve! What she does every day, where she goes, who she talks to-don't miss a single detail. Tell me everything!"