"Mr. Homelander, will you give up competing with Mr. Carl?"
"Sir, will you use your privileges to force a different outcome?"
"Sir..."
"..."
The reporters' questions grew increasingly pointed, all revolving around the land rights dispute between Carl and him. Homelander answered each one with a smile. No matter how angry he felt inside, he kept smiling on the surface.
No one noticed that Ryan had quietly retreated more than thirty meters away. The clamor of voices in his ears made him extremely uncomfortable. Those sounds also seemed to have become especially clear, as though someone were holding him by the ears and shouting into them.
Ryan covered his ears and slowly crouched down.
As Homelander answered the questions, he glanced idly toward the lake. Tiny insects skipped across the surface, sending out slowly expanding ripples that looked just like the traces left by skipping stones.
A genuine smile curled his lips as he unwittingly recalled those peaceful moments just now.
"Get the hell out of the way. You don't know shit about Homelander."
"Move! Move!"
Just then, the fans at the back shoved their way forward.
The reporters kept asking questions without end. Homelander hadn't reacted excessively, but the fans had had enough. They pushed the reporters aside, and those who refused to budge took plenty of elbows.
The fans surrounded Homelander. Their purpose was far simpler than the reporters': they just wanted to get close to Homelander and take pictures with their idol.
"Mr. Homelander! I grew up watching your movies!"
"Could you give me an autograph? Please!"
"Sir, look here! Over here!"
Countless phones rose into the air, their flashes firing nonstop. The tense atmosphere instantly turned into harmony between fans and their idol.
Homelander thoroughly enjoyed the feeling, too.
He was lost in the feeling of