Free Web NovelChapter 15: 15: Don’t make this harder ...on yourself.
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
___
Vought Tower, The Seven conference room.
Everyone had shown up.
Maeve sat on the left side of the long table with a glass of whiskey in front of her, already drinking hard this early in the morning.
Black Noir stayed planted in the corner like a statue, completely still.
Cartoon characters floated across the table in front of him. He didn’t need to talk to have full conversations with his imaginary buddies and keep himself entertained.
Translucent’s seat sat empty, but the chair still had a clear ass print on it.
A-Train parked himself on the far right, looking like he was about to shit himself. His legs jittered nonstop under the table while his fingers drummed anxiously on the wood.
Ever since Hillel publicly slapped the shit out of him, A-Train’s standing in The Seven had tanked hard.
Starlight sat next to Maeve, quietly watching everyone. She’d only been on the team a few days and was still trying to wrap her head around this freakshow.
Of course a big moment like this wouldn’t skip The Deep. His face filled the big screen on a remote feed.
He was at his place in Seattle. The way his expression looked a little too happy, plus the camera cutting off below the waist, made it pretty fucking obvious what he was up to. freewebnσvel.cøm
Whatever. Far away from the real core of The Seven, he could jerk off all he wanted.
Could things get any worse than this?
Right as the tension ratcheted up, Homelander finally walked in.
He pushed the door open nice and slow, cape trailing in a perfect sweep behind him.
Even his face stayed locked in character: serious, righteous, with just the right touch of heartbreak.
He kept the act going even in front of his own team.
He dropped into the head seat, folded his hands on the table, and swept his eyes across everyone.
"I called you all here today because I’ve made a decision."
The whole room went dead silent.
Even Translucent didn’t dare breathe too loud.
"The Seven is the symbol of America, the gold standard of justice, the lighthouse the whole world looks up to."
"But some recent shit, ehm, pardon my language, some recent misshaps have forced me to think... has our team been infiltrated by people who don’t fucking belong here?"
A-Train’s legs shook even harder.
On the screen, The Deep’s face went visibly pale.
"Yeah, fuck the language, all you need to know is starting today, I’m doing an internal cleanup of The Seven."
Homelander’s eyes landed on the screen first.
"And Deep."
"...Here," The Deep’s voice crackled through the speaker.
"Everyone’s seen what you’ve brought to The Seven, but your powers are too limited and your real value is basically zero."
"And your personal life..."
Homelander paused. "I won’t spell it out in front of everyone. I’ll give you some dignity."
"I suggest you voluntarily step down from The Seven. Vought will find you something else... Go out with some class. It’s better for all of us."
The Deep’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, his face twisting weirdly.
"Homelander... oh.. haah.. I can change..."
"No need." Homelander’s cool was already cracking.
"You just need to get the fuck out of my team. And don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing right now, you goddamn fish fucker!"
The Deep on screen snapped to attention on reflex, and the camera angle suddenly showed his full body.
"..."
Octopus tentacles...
Maeve glanced up, took one look, and let out a disgusted snort.
"Ew.." Starlight turned her head away fast. This pathetic guy was more sleazy and disgusting in private. What the hell was I thinking, making him my Idol in school?
The fantasy shattered completely.
Homelander’s gaze shifted to A-Train.
"A-Train."
A-Train jolted like he’d been hit by lightning. frёewebnoѵēl.com
"Vought helped cover up your drug habit, but that shit only fools kids. Nobody actually buys those PR lines."
"You nearly killed a civilian during a community run, and the video’s still all over the internet. You really think you deserve to keep wearing that suit?"
A-Train’s lips trembled hard.
"Homelander... please... I can quit, I’m already quitting... just give me one more chance..."
"A chance?" Homelander tilted his head. "I gave you chances. Vought gave you chances. You snorted them all up your nose."
"No! That’s not fair!" A-Train shot up from his seat, sending the chair flying backward into the wall. "You can’t do this to me! How many years have I busted my ass for The Seven? Endorsements, commercials, events—I never missed one!"
"So you think your only value is commercial?" Homelander laughed. "Then go talk to Vought’s finance guys. Don’t bring that shit to me."
"You can’t do this!" A-Train’s voice went shrill. "I’ve fought wars for Vought! I’ve bled for this team! You can’t treat me like this! I’m going to Madelyn! I’m going to Edgar! I’ll take this straight to the top brass! To the fucking top!!!"
Right then the conference room door swung open.
Ashley burst in, clutching a fat stack of documents, her hair already half wrecked.
"Stop! Everybody stop!"
She stood there panting by the table and slapped the papers down hard.
"Homelander, you can’t make this call on your own! A-Train and The Deep still have active contracts. Forced termination means breach penalties, commercial compensation, lost brand licensing..."
"I don’t give a fuck!!"
"You should!" Ashley’s voice shot up an octave. "A-Train’s sneaker collab pulls in 500 million a year. The Deep’s ocean merch does 300 million! Kick them and Vought loses 800 million straight off the books!"
"What the hell does 800 million have to do with me?"
"It has everything to do with you! Your personal brand is tied to The Seven! If The Seven’s revenue tanks, your endorsement deals will—"
Homelander’s eyes lit up.
Not a figure of speech.
They actually glowed with intensity.
Two red beams flickered deep in his pupils, like twin stars ready to burn everything down.
Ashley’s words died in her throat.
She’d forgotten for a second who she was talking to. This was Homelander.
If the guy ever operated on logic, she wouldn’t be pulling her hair out in clumps.
The temperature in the room dropped like a stone.
Everyone felt that crushing pressure.
In raw power, Homelander was untouchable in The Seven. Who the fuck would dare face him head-on?
Right then another voice cut in from the doorway.
"Ashley, don’t make this harder ...on yourself."
Hillel leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, looking as casual as a neighbor dropping by for coffee.
"This is an internal matter of The Seven. The leader has the right to decide the retention of members. You’re from the PR department; you have no say here."
