469. The Collapse of the Tower!!
In the early morning, the first ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, casting its glow on the world.
It was a beautiful morning, the air so fresh and the temperature so comfortable that one couldn't help but want to stay in bed a little longer.
However, this peaceful dawn was shattered by a morning news report that turned everything into chaos.
The news ca suddenly, without any warning, broadcasted by major dia outlets. Although it was only a few short sentences, it hit like a bomb, delivering a heavy blow to the hearts of everyone who saw it.
[According to reliable sources, Vought International has previously conducted inhumane human experints on superhumans, and their creation of the Compound V will completely change human genes.]
[The origins of all superpowered individuals are now explained at this mont, and we understand that these powers were not a gift from God but rather the result of those tragic experints.]
[For decades, Vought International has established contacts with parents and hospitals around the world, injecting newborns with compound V in hopes of turning them into superhumans.]
[It is reported that more than ten states, led by Texas, have protested to Vought International, urging them to release company information. However, Congress has yet to make any statents, and the investigation is ongoing.]
[According to information from the securities regulatory departnt, from the morning until now, Vought International's stock market has sharply declined, with several investors planning to withdraw their capital.]
[Vought International has yet to provide any feedback.]
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Vought Corporation Headquarters
Almost all employees of Vought Corporation had put down their work and were staring blankly at the news on the screen, not knowing what to do next.
It wasn't just them— even the Seven were in chaos during their eting.
Holander stared at the screen in a daze, his expression complicated, his eyes twitching. No one knew what he was thinking at that mont, nor did anyone care, as the others were also stunned by the news.
Before this information was revealed, each of them had believed that they were chosen by the heavens.
But now, they suddenly realized that their powers weren't a divine gift. Instead, they ca from a bottle of blue dicine.
This revelation hit them hard, especially Starlight. She couldn't imagine that her whole life up until now had been a lie. Her mother had planned out her entire future from the mont she was born.
Looking back, her mother had forced her to undergo all kinds of training, but upon reflection, none of it was what she wanted. Dance, Taekwondo, singing—her childhood had been spent in training and auditions.
Suddenly, Starlight stood up. She now just wanted to find her mother and clear up all the questions in her mind, including why her father left. She had to find out the truth.
The quiet atmosphere in the eting room was broken by Starlight's actions, and at that mont, Holander ca back to his senses.
"Stop."
Starlight, just as she reached the door, heard Holander's voice. She paused and stopped in her tracks.
"I don't rember giving you permission to leave," Holander's voice was calm and steady, but it carried an undeniable authority, making it hard to read his mood.
Starlight's heartbeat quickened. She slowly turned around, looking at Holander and speaking, "I need to go back and ask my mother for the truth. I—"
"Not so fast," Holander interrupted her before she could finish. "The eting isn't over yet. Starlight, sit down."
"But—"
"I said sit down."
Holander's gaze locked on Starlight, filled with murderous intent, though his face wore a smile.
Under his stare, Starlight felt a chill run down her back. She glanced around at the others in the room and slowly moved back to her seat, sitting down quietly.
Seeing this, Holander nodded, then reached up to turn off the television, his gaze shifting toward the others in the room as he spoke.
"Brothers and sisters, the reason I called you here today isn't for anything else. I have reason to believe that our enemies have already declared war on us. While we weren't looking, they have already begun to take action against us."
Pointing at the blacked-out television screen, Holander continued.
"I know this news is hard for all of you to accept. Yes, it's the sa for . But right now, we don't have ti to dwell on this. Deep, tell them what you know."
"Yes, Holander," Deep, still reeling from the realization that his tragic past and his absurd gills were all the result of Vought Corporation, quickly responded.
"My friends in the ocean reported sothing to . Last night, they found the body of the Translucent in the trench."
"What?!"
A-Train was the first to shout.
Although they had seen many dead bodies before, this was the first ti one of their comrades had died. It was hard to imagine how soone as powerful as the Translucent could have been cruelly killed.
"Yes, this is very sorrowful, I must admit," Holander said seriously, then quietly walked behind Starlight. "And I have already found so clues about the murderer of the Translucent."
As soon as he finished speaking, the blacked-out screen suddenly lit up, and the next mont, a man who looked quite weak appeared on the screen.
"Hughie?!"
"Is it him?!"
Both Starlight and A-Train couldn't contain their shock.
The two of them knew this man. Starlight had once accidentally sat on the sa bench with Hughie in the park. After talking for a while, they beca friends due to their similar views on life.
As for A-Train, there was no need to explain. He had once caused Hughie's girlfriend to be brutally hurt on the street. In order to get Hughie to sign a confidentiality agreent, he had personally apologized and compensated him with several thousand dollars to settle the matter.
Now, seeing that this man was the murderer of the Translucent, both of them were shocked beyond words.
Starlight had just started to stand up when two hands suddenly slapped down heavily on her shoulders, forcing her to remain seated.
Holander leaned down and brought his head close to Starlight's ear, whispering softly.
"I heard that you and this 'Hughie' have a rather special relationship. Didn't you arrange his entry ticket to the event at the rally?"
"Goddamn! Starlight, you're dating a criminal?!" A-Train slamd the table in anger.
"I haven't, I don't even know who he is! We've only t twice!" Starlight imdiately retorted.
But Holander clearly wasn't willing to let her off that easily. "t twice? I heard that you two often go out drinking together. Looks like our Starlight is preparing to help our enemies."
"It's really not like that! Holander, you have to believe ," Starlight said, growing more serious. She had no ti to consider anything else now. If she didn't explain this properly, she knew she would never get out of this eting room.
"He deceived ! I had no idea why he ca close to . If I had known he killed the Translucent, I would have killed him imdiately. I swear!"
"Really?" Holander squinted his eyes.
"I swear, with your abilities, you'll know if I'm lying," Starlight's voice trembled slightly, but she spoke firmly.
Holander stared at her for a long while, the veins on his forehead pulsing.
Finally, he relaxed his hands, turned, and walked back to his seat.
"This matter must be addressed. The enemy has already targeted our comrades, and we must unite. We cannot allow them any opportunity."
His gaze swept across the people in the room, and he continued.
"I know the news about compound V has affected all of you to so degree, but I hope you understand that this is just a smokescreen created by those evil people. They want to use this to disrupt our judgnt."
No one spoke, their expressions all varied.
So much had happened in one day, it was difficult for them to process it all. Who knew what else would happen next?
At that mont, the door to the eting room suddenly opened, and a tall African-Arican man walked in.
The abrupt scene caught everyone's attention. When they saw the man, they quickly realized who he was—Stan Edgar, the current boss of Vought Corporation.
Of course, if Alex were here, he might call him by his nickna, "Uncle Fried Chicken."
Holander seed displeased that his eting was interrupted. He frowned as he looked at Edgar, his expression showing clear dissatisfaction.
But Edgar didn't seem to care about Holander's thoughts. After entering, he quickly walked to the center of the table, looked around, and spoke.
"I just received intel. Our secret research institute, the Sage Grove Center, has been attacked by the enemy. Inside, there are many pieces of evidence and files that are harmful to us. You must go out imdiately and resolve this issue."
"What Sage Grove Center? Is it the place where they do illegal human experints?" Queen Maeve crossed her arms and asked sarcastically.
Hearing the implications in Maeve's words, Edgar, however, couldn't explain in detail. No one knew better than him how catastrophic the consequences would be if those things were exposed.
If they could still try to explain or maneuver around the issue of compound V, then the data in the Sage Grove Center, once revealed, would be the final nail in the coffin.
"I know you're all struggling to accept this right now, but I need you to understand one thing: The position and wealth you have today are all thanks to the support of Vought Corporation. Right now, we're all in the sa boat. If Vought falls, none of you will be spared," Edgar said, staring at the superheroes in the room.
"Now, imdiately mobilize. I don't want to say this a third ti!"
.....
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470. The Seven.
471. One-on-One with the Seven!
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473. Where to Begin?
474. Soldier Boy.
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