Hearing about this personnel change,
A-Train gasped, and The Deep was in disbelief.
Maeve's eyebrows slightly raised, while Starlight looked into the conference room in shock—
Homelander stood in the shadows, his face terrifyingly gloomy, his fists clenched tightly, as if on the verge of exploding, desperately suppressing his anger.
Everyone quickly and cautiously withdrew their gaze, not daring to look further, fearing that a single glance would cause an explosion, drawing Homelander's volcanic rage and becoming unlucky scapegoats.
They then looked at another figure, that unbelievably young man.
Could it be that just now in the conference room, Homelander was directly stripped of his Captain position because he contradicted Edgar's decision and had an issue with Infinitoid?
Maeve and the others instantly had endless conjectures mixed with surprise in their hearts.
[Conquest Points +13]
[Conquest Points +78]...
"Everyone, we'll be teammates from now on."
Russell, with his arms crossed, walked out of the conference room, greeted everyone, and left.
Starlight, The Deep, and the others nodded and greeted him in return, afraid of being even a second late.
After watching the two people who made him feel pressured leave, Homelander slightly unclenched his fists. He recalled the scene in the conference room just now—Edgar's voice was as cold as ice:
"What do you think you are? A baby engineered in a lab, Compound V made you. The secret formula is more important than you, the company is more important than you, and you—" That indifferent tone stated a fact and then continued, "Are not irreplaceable!"
Edgar ordered him to "learn to clean up his own mess like an adult"—telling him to personally handle the fallout caused by the Compound V leak, perhaps even having to personally eliminate evidence, including those "partners" who knew too much.
As for the Superheroes who had already been born, they all had to be brought back!
And the most humiliating part was—he was temporarily stripped of his Captain title within the company, yet externally he had to act as if everything was normal.
Homelander's teeth ground together with a clicking sound, but in the end, he said nothing.
He still feared the unfathomable Vought.
...
Noon, on the eve of the press conference in front of Vought Tower.
News of The Seven adding a new member just days after introducing Starlight caused a rush of media outlets, like sharks smelling blood, all wanting to get the first-hand news of the new member, Infinitoid.
"Another new member, is The Seven going to become The Eight?"
"I heard that Translucent might have been killed, but the news hasn't been announced yet. This Infinitoid should be filling Translucent's spot."
"But Vought's publicity doesn't seem like it's for a replacement newcomer at all?"
Firecracker squeezed into the front row of the media area, listening to the conversation between two reporters. She held her phone, the screen showing a promotional poster, which was what Vought had released to announce the new member.
She hadn't seen that cold, solemn, and majestic battlesuit, but she was very familiar with that face.
Firecracker lightly bit her lip, her brows furrowed in disbelief, not quite daring to believe.
"Infinitoid is out!"
Just then, reporters in the front row of the media area crowded to take photos first, the crowd surged like a lake, flashlights flickered incessantly, flashing wildly, almost blinding people's eyes.
Firecracker, as a passerby, was quickly pushed to the back, but she still saw the young figure who subsequently emerged from Vought Tower.
He was wearing a brand new uniform, shining brightly under the spotlight, and casually waved and smiled at the cameras.
"Everyone, welcome the new member of The Seven." Madelyn, Vought's Vice CEO, who only appeared on important occasions, raised her voice into the microphone to announce, "Infinitoid!"
That young and handsome face instantly awakened Firecracker's memories.
It... it really is him.
Seeing that Infinitoid in person was her student boyfriend, she widened her eyes, unable to believe it, even doubting if this was a hallucination caused by her desire to get revenge on Starlight.
"Is that Vought Vice CEO Madelyn?
I've photographed her at a few charity galas before, a strong, dignified, and confident woman with a powerful aura. Now she's announcing like an MC, with a smile on her face, and she looks... a bit like she's trying to please that Infinitoid?"
"Impossible, right? How could a CEO try to please an employee?"
"I wouldn't be so sure. Starlight joined The Seven through an audition, but this Infinitoid just appeared out of nowhere, right? You can't find any information about him online."
"Hiss, now that you mention it..."
Several reporters nearby took photos while speculating about this Infinitoid's mysterious background.
A joyful light appeared in Firecracker's eyes.
If it's true...
Infinitoid waved his hands twice on the stage and then left, as if he had just come out to show his face, leaving the media puzzled.
In the past, Vought Superheroes on stage would be tearfully excited, expressing immense gratitude to Vought in their words, wishing they could stay in front of the flashlights and not leave, using their debut to gain maximum exposure.
Why does this Superhero seem so indifferent to exposure?
"Excuse me, sorry, excuse me..."
Seeing Russell about to leave, Firecracker quickly squeezed through the crowd, chasing after Russell who was about to return to the building.
"Infinitoid, Infinitoid!~"
Bypassing the media, her attempt to rush forward was immediately blocked by the security guards at the building entrance.
"Stop, madam."
"Let me pass, I know Infinitoid."
"Then what's Infinitoid's name?" Three or four security guards stood expressionlessly, linking arms to form a human wall, blocking her like security guards at a celebrity concert stopping crazy female fans.
"He... his name is... uh..."
Seeing Russell about to enter the building, Firecracker's heart was burning with anxiety. She instinctively opened her mouth, but her brain suddenly froze.
Come to think of it, she really didn't know the name of the man she had spent a night with.
"Can't say it?
Madam, please step back and cooperate with our work."
The security guards were used to this; not to mention just pretending to be friends, there were even those who claimed to be Superheroes' underground girlfriends or even secret wives.
"Infinitoid, Infinitoid!" Firecracker Girl quickly shouted louder.
"Firecracker?" A voice from the side drew attention. Russell, who was about to enter the building, stopped when he saw Firecracker being stopped by the security guards and raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise.
"Let her through."
They really know each other?
The security guards looked at each other and moved aside.
"I told you, I know Infinitoid." Firecracker snorted proudly and left a sentence behind.
...
"I almost didn't recognize you.
It's only been a few days, how did you lose so much weight?"
In the top-floor apartment of Vought Tower, Russell handed Firecracker, who sat down and kept looking at the luxurious decor, a glass of Water. Russell was surprised not only to suddenly see Firecracker but also by her changes.
Sitting on the sofa now, Firecracker had redyed her hair. It was no longer the copper-orange color similar to bullet casings, but a brighter orange, which, combined with her fair skin, instantly made her look several years younger.
In addition, she had lost a lot of weight. She wasn't wearing that blue and red battlesuit, but a beige women's windbreaker, slender and slim, like a completely different person.
If he hadn't been counting the days, Russell would have thought several months had passed in The Boys World.