"I never expected you to be hiding so much, with so many top-tier abilities."
Homelander's gaze darkened, thoughts churning in his eyes as he stared fixedly at Solomon before him.
He had never been a fool. He simply occupied such a lofty position that no one dared defy him, and had long grown accustomed to solving everything through strength, too disinclined to bother with schemes.
But once he calmed down, all the suspicious details instantly connected, forming an unmistakably clear picture.
Solomon's strength had previously been unremarkable, with nothing outstanding about him. Yet in just a few days, he had advanced by leaps and bounds, transforming in every respect. It defied belief.
Combined with Solomon's strange behavior when he first joined Vought, actively provoking Supes everywhere and fighting every one he encountered, a bold conjecture instantly took shape in his mind.
Could it be... that he increased his strength by defeating other Supes?
If so, if I let him keep growing and defeating stronger Supes, it won't be long before his strength completely surpasses mine and he takes my place!
An overwhelming sense of crisis instantly gripped Homelander's heart, and his murderous intent and wariness reached their peak.
But a moment later, all the gloom and hostility vanished from his face. He abruptly broke into a smile and spread his arms in a warm, friendly gesture, his tone exaggerated and enthusiastic.
"Brother, you're absolutely incredible! Having a top hero like you join the Seven is the best thing that could happen to us! I only attacked just now to test your true strength. Your performance was such a wonderful surprise. I couldn't be more pleased!"
His eyes burned as he asked bluntly, deliberately probing and leading him:
"The rate at which your strength has skyrocketed is astonishing. Can you keep