With Ashley Barrett leading the way, Homelander headed toward another studio.
It was decorated like a small living room, with soft, warm strip lighting and walls covered in Homelander posters.
Klee sat on the sofa. Just moments earlier, staff had asked her mother to step aside.
For a heartwarming promotional video, having a little girl with some name recognition appear was enough.
Klee felt a little uneasy. She did not really like it here. Too many people were watching her, so she hugged her Homelander doll tightly, as though that could give her a little comfort.
The door was pushed open.
Homelander walked in, and the set immediately fell quiet. The photographer, assistants, and lighting technicians all slipped into a practiced state of excitement.
"Ready," someone said quietly.
Homelander put on his standard smile. "Hey, sweetheart. So happy to see you again."
He walked over to Klee and crouched down.
Klee's face was already flushed with excitement, her earlier unease gone without a trace.
"Homelander!" Klee reached out to hug his arm, her body trembling slightly. This was the idol who had saved her life.
Homelander looked at her for a second, then chuckled softly. "It's okay. You don't have to be nervous."
He reached out and patted her shoulder.
"We're just going to chat today, then shoot a video," he said.
The girl murmured an assent, but the doll in her hands had already been squeezed out of shape.
The camera began to adjust, and the flash went off.
Homelander started chatting with her, and the atmosphere on set immediately relaxed.
Only when the photographer announced that the shoot was finished did the set fall quiet.
Staff led the girl aside to rest, while Homelander turned to leave.
Just then, he paused and looked back at Klee, as if remembering something.
"You there, go get one of my Limited-Edition Figurines," Homelander said softly.
Everyone was busy with their own work and did not notice him.
Only Ashley Barrett's ears pricked up, and she hurried off with a clatter of footsteps.
Before long, she returned carrying an exquisite gift box and handed it to Homelander, panting. The box bore Vought's logo and a slogan:
"Heroes safeguard every future."
Homelander nodded in satisfaction. Ashley Barrett really was useful, quick and efficient at getting things done.
"Hey, sweetheart. This is for you."
Homelander walked up to Klee and handed the gift box to the girl.
Klee accepted it with delight. "Thank you!"
"You were very brave that day." Remembering what Klee had done at the press conference, Homelander smiled faintly and rubbed her head.
Although he was already holding back his strength, the motion looked less like patting her head and more like dribbling a ball with one hand.
Klee's little head swayed from side to side under his hand, leaving her dizzy. She thought Homelander meant she had been brave during the plane crash.
Ashley Barrett frowned in confusion, craning her neck to look around the studio for a while before muttering in bewilderment:
"But there aren't any cameras here..."
Just then, Homelander felt someone watching him.
"Starlight?" He looked toward the doorway.
Starlight had arrived a few minutes earlier and waited by the door without interrupting the recording.
"Yes, sir."
She walked into the studio, unsure how to begin.
Holding the gift box, Klee tilted her head up and looked curiously at Starlight.
The clarity in the child's eyes steadied Starlight a little.
Just as she was about to speak, Homelander asked first, "What happened?"
Starlight froze for a moment.
Did Homelander sound much gentler than before?
Then she told him everything that had happened in the office, holding nothing back.
Homelander listened quietly, his face expressionless.
What Starlight did not know was that Homelander's super hearing could pick up the rate of her heartbeat.
A few seconds later, Homelander suddenly smiled, a smile that sent a chill down one's spine.
She wasn't lying. Madelyn was stirring up trouble again.
This time, she was targeting Soldier Boy again. What exactly was she trying to do?
"Starlight." Homelander flashed his trademark smile. "What outcome would you like?"
Starlight was taken aback. "What?"
Homelander slowly raised his head, looking into the vice president's office with his X-ray vision.
More than a dozen medical personnel bustled around, administering treatment.
Roger cursed nonstop, cursing out Vought from top to bottom.
"Madelyn, if you don't give me an explanation, this isn't over!"
Homelander withdrew his gaze. "I mean that bald guy. What would you like to happen to him?"
Starlight was shocked. "Madelyn said she was going to have me..."
"I call the shots at Vought now. Soldier Boy is my father."
Homelander smiled. "Now tell me, what would it take for you not to tell Soldier Boy about this?"
She fell silent. Did Soldier Boy really have that much clout?
At the same time, she caught Homelander's unspoken meaning.
Homelander did not want Soldier Boy to find out about this.
And he had not mentioned what to do with Madelyn, either.
Why?
The question surfaced in her mind, but she still did not manage to ask it.
Because Homelander had already placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come with me. I'll help you get this off your chest."
Then, without waiting for Starlight to say anything else, he turned and left.
Starlight had no choice but to follow.
"Wait, sir. What are you going to do?" she asked, jogging after him. "I'm not getting fired?"
Homelander did not look back. "Of course not. Soldier Boy has a very good impression of you."
Starlight's mind was a little muddled. She did not understand when Soldier Boy had gained so much power.
Enough that a mere "impression" could instantly turn the situation around and pull her out of a hopeless predicament.
She had many questions she wanted to ask, but Homelander kept giving her the feeling of a volcano on the verge of eruption, extremely dangerous.
No more questions. Too scary.
Starlight shrugged and followed silently behind him, choosing to listen to her fear.
"Have Homelander drag Starlight here."
Inside the vice president's office, Roger's voice carried through the security door.
Homelander's hand paused as he reached for the handle, and Starlight frowned in displeasure.
Click.
The lock sprang open.
Homelander walked into the president's office, and everyone's eyes fell on him.
The smile on his face was just like the one on the posters, flawless.
The air was terrifyingly quiet.
Roger, who had been so arrogant moments earlier, instantly shut his mouth. The medical personnel stopped what they were doing.
Homelander looked around before finally settling his gaze on Roger.
Roger came to his senses. "Homelander, you're just in time. Do you know what Starlight did?!"
Just then, Starlight walked in and closed the door behind her.
Roger was dumbfounded, and a sense of foreboding rose in Madelyn's heart.
"John, what brings you here?" Madelyn asked gently.
Homelander ignored her and instead turned to Starlight.
"I promise you, what happened today will have an outcome you're satisfied with."
"But in exchange, don't tell Soldier Boy."
Starlight was utterly baffled.
Why did Homelander keep insisting, over and over, that Soldier Boy must not find out about this?
What would happen if he knew?
Beside them, Roger and Madelyn were both stunned.
What was going on?
From the sound of it, Homelander was here to help Starlight?
Before you continue