200. Chapter 200: The Packed Supe Selection Event!
Stan Edgar straightened his back, his expression solemn: "If the approval rating falls below 60%, Vought will voluntarily cease the research and use of Compound V."
"This event is expected to begin next Monday and will last for one week."
"Excuse me, please forgive me for interrupting your remarks. There are comments asking, what will be the consequences if Compound V is not legalized? Will it affect their daily lives?" A staff member standing in front of the Meeting Room screen posed the question that Stan Edgar had prepared beforehand.
"Of course." Stan Edgar sat back down on the chair. "Imagine, if a Super Terrorist were to break into a School right now and prepare to carry out a massacre, who could protect them? The security guards at the School, or the Teachers who are powerless? At that time, every minute and second would be extremely precious."
"But if Compound V is legalized, Vought can cooperate with the Police to launch a rescue. With Homelander's speed, he can reach any location on the Map of America in a short time. Not only that, the Ministry of Defense and some other departments will also have their own Supes, which can effectively protect the safety of the American Public."
"What if Compound V cannot be legalized?" the staff member continued to ask.
"If it cannot be legalized, it means Vought International does not possess the qualification for rescue. Vought and its Superheroes will be blacklisted."
Stan Edgar's calculations were ringing clearly in Xia Shang's mind. As expected of the Vought President, he had probably planned everything long ago.
First, through Victoria Neuman, launch a terrorist attack at the hearing, then livestream to show that this matter had nothing to do with Vought. You know, the list of victims this time also included Vought staff members. If Xia Shang, a dignified Vice President, had also died in the attack, it would have been perfect.
But since Xia Shang didn't die, they could only pin the blame on Starlight, using this to get rid of Vought's suspicion.
And, while the public was in panic, announce the launch of a survey to promote the legalization of Compound V. 60% approval rating? With the current situation, let alone 60%, even an astonishing 90% might be achievable.
The result of the survey was self-evident. In the end, even if the government didn't want to acknowledge the legalization of Compound V, they would have to pass the plan under the pressure of the public! This was public opinion. After all, everyone held a ballot. As long as the President still wanted to be re-elected for the next term, he had to respect the opinions of the public.
"Thank you, Mr. Jervis, for answering the question raised by that netizen. There is another comment here asking if the legalization of Compound V means everyone can become a Supe? Can he go to the Hospital to inject Compound V?"
The staff member nodded to Stan Edgar.
"Hmm, that's a very interesting question, but unfortunately, Vought temporarily has no plan in this regard, because it involves many complex social problems."
Half an hour later, the livestream ended at Stan Edgar's signal.
After everyone left the Meeting Room, Stan Edgar only kept Xia Shang.
"Next week's survey will be personally handled by you. I don't care what means you use, the approval rating must exceed 60%. I will talk to the finance department, so don't worry about budget issues. At the same time, Starlight's position needs someone to replace her. The plan you proposed before is good. As for A-Train, he is a black person after all, and still has some value."
"You will also be responsible for his marketing and promotion. Of course, if you feel under too much pressure, you can also give this mission to Ashley Barrett."
"Let's give it to Ashley Barrett. I also have to host the Junior Supe Selection Event recently," Xia Shang said in a deep voice.
"Alright then."
Stan Edgar was quite satisfied with Xia Shang's tactfulness. Mr. Jervis's momentum had been too strong recently, which was not a good phenomenon for him as a manager.
...
Several days later, the Supe Selection Event at New York Stadium officially opened. The scene was almost a sea of people, with not a single empty seat.
Meanwhile, Xia Shang in the Locker Room was flipping through the newspapers from the past few days. Although the US Government promised the public they would do their best to investigate the accident that happened at the hearing, four days had passed, and there was still no progress.
Therefore, they lost the trust of the public. At the same time, under the shadow of Super Terrorists, the sense of crisis in the public's hearts grew heavier. And currently, the only thing that could bring them a sense of security was Vought International, so for a time, the topic of legalizing Compound V topped the trending topics on major social media platforms.
In the streets and alleys of the United States, you could always hear people discussing Compound V.
Under powerful social pressure, the US President officially declared a national state of emergency. Due to just one hearing, the negative public opinion about Vought had a spectacular reversal! In the stock market, you could almost see Vought's stock price constantly rising with an unstoppable momentum.
"Mr. Jervis, this is the list of contestants for this event and their superpowers."
The Deputy Head of the Marketing Department pushed open the door of the Locker Room and handed a list to Xia Shang.
"When does the selection event start?"
The Deputy Head looked at his watch. "In ten minutes."
"I see. You can go out first."
Today was the finals of the selection event, which inherently drew attention. Coupled with Vought International's buzz recently, it directly maxed out the heat of this selection event. It was hard to imagine that tickets priced at twenty US Dollars were snatched up in three minutes, and even the price on the Secondary Market was speculated up to one hundred twenty US Dollars.
You know, just from this item alone, Vought raked in 1.6 million, and that's not even counting the merchandise sold, which were the big earners. Tickets were worth a few dollars; the Homelander T-shirts priced at one hundred fifty US Dollars were the huge profit. Who knows how much extra revenue this selection event added to Vought.
"Okay, Mr. Jervis, please rest first. I will inform you when the event starts."
"Okay." Xia Shang opened the list of selected entrants in his hand.
A total of forty-eight people, divided into seven groups. The last two people from each group would enter the finals, and then six people would be selected from the fourteen to become members of Vought's Little Seven.
Xia Shang roughly scanned it. The superpowers of a few people caught his attention.
(End of Chapter)