197. Chapter 197 Feast of Headshots is About to Unfold!
Lamplighter gripped his fist, his tone becoming increasingly agitated. He couldn't suppress his inner impulse and roared towards Xia Shang.
"Calm down, I'm Mr. Jervis, not Stan Edgar. As Vought's Vice President, I still have this much authority." Xia Shang extended his right hand and placed it on Lamplighter's shoulder. "Now there's an opportunity for atonement right in front of you. Promise me, and you can atone for the mistakes you've made. Even if it doesn't work, it can ease your conscience a bit. Besides, if things really develop in the direction you said, you can completely publish the secret information you know online and fight Vought to the bitter end. But before that, I suggest you arrange for your relatives to go abroad so you won't have any worries. How about it? Think about it."
After speaking, Xia Shang walked out of the Meeting Room.
He lowered his head and looked at the wristwatch on his wrist. When five minutes had passed, the Panel immediately popped up a prompt.
[Congratulations, Player, you have significantly altered the original plot and gained 600 points of Fantasy Value]
[Current Fantasy Value is 3650 points]
On the other side, Hughie took the elevator to Floor 42D and saw the Secret Room Lamplighter had mentioned. But the door had an access control device installed by Vought. Now that Lamplighter wasn't there, he couldn't possibly open the Iron Door in front of him.
Fortunately, Hughie accidentally glimpsed the electrical switch box nearby. He remembered that Starlight's Superpower was related to electricity, so he went to the switch box and pushed all the switches on it up. The moment he pushed them up, inside the Dim Room where Starlight was, it suddenly became brightly lit.
It must be Hughie and the others coming to save me! This made the originally despair-filled Starlight suddenly see hope. She didn't hesitate to absorb the surrounding electricity and then unleashed all her strength against the Iron Door. After a loud bang, the Iron Door was dented. Boom! Boom! Starlight hit it three times in a row until the twisted and deformed Iron Door crashed down.
"Starlight!" Hughie's and Starlight's gaze met.
"Let's go."
Because their actions were quick enough, and Homelander and Stormfront weren't in Vought Tower, they quickly and successfully escaped.
...
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Homelander was extremely angry about Starlight's escape.
"If you hadn't stopped me then, I would have twisted her head off by now, fuck!" Homelander roared at Stormfront.
Stormfront, sitting in the extended Lincoln, said nonchalantly, "She escaped, so what? Don't forget, yesterday we already invited her Mother to Vought. Unless she doesn't care about her Mother at all, she'll have to obediently return to Vought."
At this moment, Xia Shang on the side nodded and said, "That's right. Now we need to focus our attention on the upcoming hearing. As for Starlight, after the hearing is over, we can discuss how to handle her."
"I heard Lamplighter is returning recently? Did you arrange it?" Homelander asked.
"That's right. I think A-Train is not suitable to continue being a member of The Seven. His heart problem is a bit serious." As he spoke, Xia Shang pointed to his heart. "According to the latest medical report, his heart can no longer withstand high-intensity exercise; there's a risk of sudden death at any time."
"Well done, Mr. Jervis. You finally did something I'm relatively satisfied with."
As a pure racial discriminationist, Stormfront never treated A-Train well whenever she saw him. Therefore, her idea of wanting A-Train out of The Seven wasn't just for a day or two. But Stan Edgar always kept refusing with the excuse of not being able to find a new member. Now that there was finally an opportunity to get that nigger out of The Seven, Stormfront's mood also became pleasant.
"Your heart... seems to have a bit too many." Homelander stared intently at Xia Shang and said.
"Is that so? It's alright." Xia Shang's expression was calm. Then he turned his head to look out the window. "We've arrived."
Outside the Legislature was crowded with news reporters who came to interview, and supporters and opponents of Compound V. They were holding different flags, waving flags and shouting slogans. At the same time, in order to maintain order at the scene, New York Police specially transferred a wave of police force from other areas. But even so, compared to the dense crowd, it still seemed utterly inadequate.
"I don't think I've ever asked about your Superpower."
After getting out of the car, Homelander stood beside Xia Shang, while nodding at the fans, and asked in a low voice.
"Is that important? If you really want to know, I can tell you after the hearing is over."
"Never mind, I was just a little curious. Since you don't want to say, there's no need to tell me." Anyway, in Homelander's eyes, all Supes were inferior to himself. Although Xia Shang's Superpower was a bit special, that was all there was to it. He had seen some bizarre Superpowers before; Xia Shang just had a special internal organ structure.
"Mr. Jervis, regarding this hearing convened by Senator Neuman, could you please express your opinion? Currently, there are rumors in the Outside World that at this hearing, incriminating evidence that is extremely unfavorable to Vought might appear. What do you have to say about this?"
News reporters from various media outlets were squeezed on both sides of the Passage, and were strictly isolated outside by police officers in uniform.
One male reporter, relying on his long arm, almost shoved the microphone into Xia Shang's mouth.
"I have nothing to say. Please wait and see." Xia Shang pushed away the microphone in front of him and walked straight into the Meeting Hall.
And Homelander and Stormfront followed closely behind him.
Xia Shang casually glanced around. The Meeting Hall was basically full of people; it couldn't be more appropriate to describe it as packed.
Currently, because the hearing had not yet started, most people were gathered together, talking to each other. At the same time, several authoritative media outlets found Xia Shang and the others.
"Excuse me, has Vought President Stan Edgar arrived? Also, what are your thoughts on this hearing?"
"Homelander, do you think the incriminating evidence they present will pose a threat to you? After all, the public opinion regarding you was very sensitive recently. They might accuse you of malicious murder."
"Ms. Stormfront, since you became the newest member of The Seven, there have been constant topics of discussion, and the public opinion tendency has been repeatedly changing. What do you have to say about this?"
Their questions came one after another. Homelander and Stormfront were clearly a bit impatient, but facing these official media outlets, they could only patiently accept the interviews.
"I don't have much to say. As for the outcome of this hearing, I believe the public will judge for themselves. At the same time, I also believe this hearing possesses absolute fairness. Regardless of the outcome, Vought can accept it."
"Time's up. Please, irrelevant personnel leave quickly. The hearing is about to begin."
Victoria Neuman stepped up to the microphone and announced the official start of the hearing.
(End of Chapter)