Vought International Conference Room.
Vi's victory is playing on a loop on the screen.
Short pink hair, a face covered in dust, and eyes that looked somewhat lost amidst the ruins.
The news headline, in bold font, proclaimed the return of order.
Hero Vi, Iron Fist Ends the Dock Riot!
Vought proves once again: Power needs reins!
Vought's stock price chart shows a reassuring, slightly upward-sloping arc.
Motoko Kusanagi stood to the side, reporting in a steady voice.
"The public opinion regarding the dock incident has been shaped; 73% of respondents believe that unregistered Metahuman pose a direct threat to public safety."
"Wei's personal approval rating has risen by 12%, especially among teenagers. Her jacket has sold out three times in our online store."
"Our allies in Congress have begun drafting the second phase of amendments to the bill, proposing to expand the Directorate General's enforcement powers."
Everything was perfect, like something out of a textbook.
Lynn walked to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whiskey, without ice.
The amber-colored liquid swirls gently in the glass.
He didn't look at the encouraging data.
There was no joy on his face as one would expect from a victor.
It felt like watching an old movie with the same ending a hundred times in a row.
He knows every twist and turn, every line of dialogue, and even when the audience will gasp in surprise.
Perfect.
Therefore, it's boring.
The office door opened.
Several senior executives from the public relations and Strategic Department walked in, preparing for their weekly routine meeting.
Each of them wore a perfectly balanced expression of excitement and awe.
Motoko Kusanagi distributed a document to everyone.
The title is. "New Hero ' Paladin ' Debut Plan".
He was a handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes, whose sunny smile could be printed in a toothpaste commercial.
The backstory is set as a devout orphan who grew up in a church and unexpectedly awakens the ability of "divine protection".
"Based on our market model analysis, the ' Paladin ' persona perfectly fills the conservative market gap outside of Starlight."
"His image is positive enough, and his abilities are biased towards defense, so he won't cause public concern about his destructive power."
"We've spoken with leaders in several of the largest Christian communities, and they're very happy with the setup. We expect him to generate at least $200 million in merchandise and Brand Endorsement revenue in his first quarter."
The head of the Strategic Department quickly added, his voice revealing a glib eagerness to claim credit.
"Moreover, his presence effectively counteracts Vi's overly rebellious street style, making our hero duo appear... balanced and even more impeccable. A complete brand matrix covering all age groups and belief groups, boss."
Lynn turned around and leaned against the liquor cabinet.
He didn't look at the perfect " Paladin," but at everyone present.
Aren't you tired of it?
The smiles on the executives' faces vanished, and they didn't dare to breathe.
" Dark Iron, Soundwave, that worker at the dock who can control metal..."
Lynn's fingertips tapped lightly on the glass, producing a crisp sound.
What are the essential differences between their performances?
"Anger, loss of control, creating a pile of scrap metal, only to be defeated in a much more spectacular way by our heroes. The only difference is whether they smashed cars or containers."
He paused, looking at the group of executives who were frozen in fear.
"These guys are just a bunch of overgrown babies who only know how to smash things."
"The first time viewers see it, they feel excited; the tenth time, they feel at ease; but the hundredth time, they'll only feel... sleepy."
He raised his glass and took a sip.
"Now, you're going to serve me another dish that tastes exactly the same, just on a prettier plate."
The executive who had been speaking eloquently just moments before now had fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
Lynn downed the whiskey in his glass in one gulp.
What we need now is not a hero, but a villain.
"A true, supervillain."
Lynn's gaze swept past the crowd and landed on Hannibal Lecter, who remained silent in the corner.
" Lecter."
Hannibal looked up, his eyes showing interest.
"I need you to design a character."
Lynn's voice turned low.
"He needs to have a tragic past so that all his extreme behaviors have a reason that can be understood, or even evoked sympathy."
"We want people to feel a small voice in their hearts asking themselves when they are condemning him: If I were him, would I become like that?"
"He needs to have a fanatical ideal, a distorted philosophy completely opposed to the 'order' we advocate. He wants to make a segment of the audience, while fearing him, unable to help but think about whether what he says... has any truth to it."
"He wasn't after money, nor power; he was after a false truth that he firmly believed in."
"He must possess the resolve to destroy everything, coupled with an elegant, artistic destructive force. Every appearance of his must be a catastrophe, a visual feast. He must destroy a bridge, like a conductor completing his final movement. He must make people feel a morbid beauty amidst fear."
Lynn walked to the conference table, placed her hands on the table, and leaned forward.
He scanned the pale-faced executives present.
"He will be the current heroes' nightmare."
He will utterly crush the Starlight and make Vi's Iron Fist look like a joke.
"He will tear open the sham peace we've built with our own hands, creating a shocking gash."
Lynn paused.
"Then he will become Vought's most successful 'product' ever."
"Because only in the face of the deepest darkness will people spare no effort to grasp even the slightest glimmer of light."
"And we will be the only ones who sell light."
The meeting room fell silent.
Everyone was stunned speechless by Lynn's crazy and audacious idea.
Only Hannibal.
His eyes gleamed with an almost fanatical excitement.
That's not the kind of obedience a subordinate shows when receiving orders.
Instead, he was a top-tier artist who had finally found an unprecedented creative opportunity where he could pour all his talent and passion into his work.
He stood up and straightened his scarf.
"A fascinating, complex, and extremely dangerous soul."
Hannibal's voice was filled with barely suppressed pleasure.
"Using the world's deepest pain as the embryo, fermenting it with the most obsessive philosophy, and ending with the most magnificent destruction. This is not just a character, boss; it's a work of art."