Queen Maeve

Meanwhile.

Homelander still stood where he was, his breathing growing heavier. Soldier Boy's words drove into his mind like nails.

"Why should I believe you?" He wanted to demand an answer, but his chest felt so clogged, as if something were about to explode, that he could not get a word out.

Watching Homelander's expression, Soldier Boy felt little relief. He knew very well that the man before him was Homelander.

A human nuclear bomb with an extremely unstable mental state. One wrong move, and all of New York could go up tonight.

Though that would not hurt him, it would create a massive obstacle to his plan to redeem Homelander.

"Hey, what are you thinking about, you pussy? Are you just going to stand here like an idiot forever?" Soldier Boy impatiently tossed his finished cigar onto the ground.

For a while, the situation remained at an impasse.

Suddenly, a sonic boom rang out in the distance.

Boom!!

A blur rushed toward them.

It was A-Train.

[Ding]

[Key character detected: A-Train.]

[Mission issued: Stop A-Train from smashing through Hughie's girlfriend.]

[Mission reward: Exchange points ×10]

[Note: As the host's changes to the world deepen, the system will gradually unlock more functions. The skill point exchange shop has now been unlocked.]

[Current exchange points: 100]

"The system upgraded?" Soldier Boy raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. With a thought, a system panel that only he could see appeared before him.

It looked thoroughly high-tech.

His gaze fell on the exchange points field. Looking at those 100 points, he figured they must be the reward for completing the mission to make contact with Homelander.

Wait, that's not right.

The system clearly said at the start that the reward was a level increase for an ability I already possessed.

How did it turn into exchange points?

Is this fucking system trying to stiff me?

He was just about to question the old popsicle system when he was interrupted.

"Uh, boss, how are you doing?" A-Train looked at Homelander first, speaking cautiously.

Homelander ignored him without even turning his head, and A-Train's scalp instantly prickled.

Shit.

The less Homelander said, the worse things were.

Rule two of Homelander horror stories:

When Homelander said nothing, it was best to get away from him immediately.

A-Train swallowed, repeatedly glancing back and praying Queen Maeve would hurry up.

He had originally intended to carry Queen Maeve on his back, but she had insisted on running herself and would not let him touch her.

An urgent, sharp presence approached.

She's here!

Queen Maeve's tall figure came to a stop beside them in the street. Black-and-gold armor encased her slender body, and the night breeze lifted her beautiful long hair.

Queen Maeve.

[Ding]

[Key character detected: Queen Maeve.]

[Current exchange points sufficient. Would the host like to spend 10 exchange points to scan this character?]

"Hm?" Soldier Boy made a puzzled sound.

Since when does this system have pop-up ads?

[Host detected saying "hm." Interpreted as consent to scan. Deducting exchange points...]

"Fuck, wait!" Soldier Boy sensed something was very wrong, but it was already too late.

[Exchange points successfully deducted.]

[Current exchange points: 90]

[Character: Queen Maeve.]

[Age: 36]

[Height: 1.73 m

[Weight: 57 kg]

[Measurements: ******]

[Underwear color: *]

[Currently possesses:

Level 1: physical immortality

Level 3: super strength, super stamina

Level 4: super jump, combat instinct, super durability, Martial Arts

Level 5: super healing, Martial Arts]

[Scan complete]

(I know you're all upright gentlemen, so I replaced everything you wouldn't want to see with asterisks.

*System, I'll fucking take a red-hot poker and **** Soldier Boy unleashed a torrent of abuse at the system in his mind.

He had fallen for the fucking system's thunderous dirty trick.

Meanwhile, Queen Maeve had barely come to a stop before her gaze settled on Soldier Boy, clear shock in her eyes.

As a member of the Seven, she naturally knew what Soldier Boy represented.

A legend.

An icon of an era.

A true hero.

And now, this man who should have been dead for decades stood before her, having even casually sent Homelander flying once.

"Wow." Noticing Queen Maeve's gaze, Soldier Boy looked at her and whistled.

"This chick's nice. Way better than the models Vought used to send to my room."

Maeve: "..."

A-Train: "..."

Familiar.

Far too familiar.

That punchable way of talking was exactly like what was in Vought's files.

Homelander finally turned his head slowly.

He glanced at Maeve, then at A-Train, his blue eyes filled with a frighteningly complicated mix of emotions.

A chill ran down A-Train's back under his gaze.

Because he suddenly realized that Homelander's current state was just like the sea before a storm.

Calm on the surface.

But beneath it, everything could swallow a person whole.

"Where are Madelyn and Black Noir?" There was not a trace of warmth in Homelander's voice.

"Boss?" A-Train was dumbfounded. He saw that the rims of Homelander's eyes were red.

"I asked you where Black Noir and Madelyn are."

Homelander let out a suppressed growl. "Look me in the eyes and answer my question!"

His eyes lit up with a dangerous red glow. This time, the heat vision poised to fire was at full power.

An extremely faint sizzling sounded, like a low-frequency hum. They felt the temperature of the surrounding air rise along with it.

A-Train stared in terror, waving his hands and backing away. "At Vought Tower, in the conference room."

He had no doubt that, at this very moment, if he said one word too many, he would never speak again.

Having received an answer, Homelander calmed slightly. The humming faded, and the lingering red in his eyes receded.

He looked at Soldier Boy, his mouth hanging open for a long while, but he did not know what to say.

Soldier Boy patted Homelander on the shoulder. "Go on. Vought must have files documenting everything I told you."

"Oh, and spare Black Noir once you find out the truth."

Feeling the pressure on his shoulder, Homelander's eyes widened, his pupils contracted, and even his breathing stopped for half a beat.

He had never experienced a casual, affectionate pat on the shoulder from an elder like this.

His super senses could even feel the warmth of Soldier Boy's palm through his suit.

An unprecedented feeling of being cared for rose within him, leaving him at a loss.

The laboratory had not taught him how to accept love.

A few seconds later, Homelander came back to himself. There was no longer a trace of resentment in his heart toward the man who had hit him.

Without a push, without even moving his legs, he took off from where he stood, instantly breaking the sound barrier and shrinking to a tiny speck in the sky as he flew toward Vought.