Chương 67

Stormfront looked across the hospital wing. The remaining members were still inside, and she moved through the rooms, capturing everyone she could reach. She moved from room to room and took each person before they could escape. She did not stay to search the building. She seized the last person in her path and flew away with the group because one important person still mattered to her future plan. That person was Homelander. Adam had refused her offer.

Stormfront had believed there was a high probability that he would never agree to work with her. She had therefore treated him as a threat, not as an ally. The offer alone would not make him obey her. Manipulating Adam would not be easy. Homelander was different. His anger could be directed, and his attention could be held if she chose the right words. Stormfront returned to the room where she had been staying. The room was quiet, but the van beside it had been burned completely.

The ruined van made his anger impossible to miss. She understood what had happened. Homelander had brought the bouquet, and the ruined vehicle showed her how angry he had become after she left. Stormfront had lived long enough to understand human nature. She understood what Homelander needed to hear. He was an attention seeker who wanted the people around him to stop hiding things from him. That was why she had left him behind and come back to him now. She would have to calm him first.

She had returned because he was the person she still needed most. Stormfront entered the room where Homelander was waiting for her. He stood near the center of the room as Stormfront entered and stopped. She said nothing, and Homelander watched her in silence. Stormfront understood that he already suspected she was keeping something from him. She would not reveal everything, but she had decided to tell him the truth that mattered most.

"My name is Liberty," Stormfront said. Homelander looked at her with surprise. He had suspected that Stormfront was hiding something, but he had not expected her to give him an answer so directly. She continued speaking. She told him that she was not a Supe created in the modern era. Liberty was the name she had used before, and the life she had lived had begun long before the world knew Stormfront. She told him how she had survived the years and why the name Liberty had remained important to her.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Homelander listened without interrupting. Stormfront kept talking about her past. She told him about the person she had been. She explained what she had believed and why she had studied people for so long. He understood that she was giving him the truth instead of another carefully prepared story. She did not soften the parts of the story that might frighten him. She saw his expression change.

He found it difficult to believe that anyone could hide such a large part of a life from him. His heart beat faster. She recognized fear beneath his attempt to stay calm. The faster beat told her that the truth had reached him. Homelander was surprised that she had trusted him with this, but he understood that Stormfront had built that trust on purpose. She had chosen the confession because he needed something that belonged only to the two of them. Homelander did not interrupt her once.

"I want to make you the leader of my world, Homelander," she said. Homelander stared at her. Stormfront continued before he could answer.

"A world where my perfect Supe stands above everyone else. When we meet, there will be a child born from us. Think about it, Homelander." She told him that the child would not need Compound V. Their child would inherit what they carried. That power would belong to the next generation. Homelander remained surprised. He looked at Stormfront while she described a future in which they would stand together. Stormfront stepped close to him. She touched his chest. Then she met his gaze.

"Tell me, Homelander. Will you become the leader of my world?" Elsewhere, Butcher sat with the old lady who had been helping him. Victoria Neuman was there too, along with her assistant. Lamplighter sat nearby and listened without speaking. Victoria Neuman heard Lamplighter's account. Butcher watched her while she considered it. The military integration had given Vought and Team 7 more power. The Boys needed a witness who could connect their actions to the company. Butcher waited for Victoria to finish speaking.

Butcher wanted proof strong enough to stop the government from treating Team 7 as a military asset. Victoria remained quiet for several moments. Then she looked directly at Butcher.

"I don't think this will be enough," she said.

"If you want to take action against Team 7, you'll need something much bigger." Butcher listened without moving.

"Bring me evidence that even Vought cannot reject," Victoria continued.

"Without that, the government will keep its deal with them." Butcher understood what she meant. The Boys had information, but information was not the same as proof that could survive a public fight with Vought.

"Fine," Butcher said. He stood and left while the old lady remained with Lamplighter. She watched him quietly, her gun still pointed toward the floor. Days earlier, Adam had just left the facility. He flew through the air and returned to the position where he had sensed the members of The Boys. He descended toward the ground with the same control Superman used when he landed. He did not land like Homelander. When his feet touched the ground, he saw the old lady standing nearby. His arrival made her lift her head.

Her gun was still lowered, and she was breathing deeply. Her face looked sad. Adam realized that he had delayed this moment. He had arrived late. He did not say that aloud. He only looked toward her. The old lady noticed him. She looked up and studied Adam before speaking.

"So you're the one who beat Homelander?" Adam smiled.