Free Web NovelChapter 43: 43: Hidden Achievement: The Mastermind
The only ones who truly understand the world are those who have seen its darkness.
~ Ayanokoji
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"A-Train?"
Homelander suddenly clapped his hands. That’s right! How the hell did he forget about him!
"Yeah, sorry. I was being too narrow-minded just now!"
Homelander apologized over and over.
A-Train really was the perfect pick. He had already been kicked out of The Seven and was sitting on the bench, but even a discarded piece could still be used to the fullest.
If he just loosened up a little and hinted there was a chance for A-Train to come back, wouldn’t the guy work himself to death for him?
"That’s right, bro. A-Train is perfect for this. We stay behind the scenes as the masterminds. Let someone else handle the dirty, tiring shit!"
"Even if A-Train can’t do it, there’s still Shockwave!"
"Didn’t Shockwave brag about wanting A-Train’s spot? He can handle this too. Once it’s done we just dump his body in the ocean."
Facts proved The Guardian had a much darker heart than Homelander.
Homelander raised an eyebrow. This reminded him of something.
"Don’t tell anyone about this," Homelander said quietly. "I only told you because I trust you."
"But you just tried to make me do the dirty work. That’s pretty hurtful!" Hillel said with a fake smile.
"My bad, brother. I can make it up to you."
Homelander gestured for Hillel to name his price. He was Vought’s biggest star. There was nothing he couldn’t arrange.
"Before, Ashley was pushing supes to the top brass. The annual stability payments were hundreds of millions, right?"
"Yeah. A bundled contract for a second-tier supe starts at three hundred million a year."
Hillel put both hands on Homelander’s shoulders like he was giving him a massage.
In reality he was testing him.
Homelander wasn’t used to other people touching him, but right now he didn’t resist at all.
"Very good. In that case, as one of the top five most popular supes in America, isn’t it a bit ridiculous that I’m only getting tens of millions a year?"
Homelander nodded. It really was ridiculous. The Guardian’s salary should start at a billion.
"You and I will go ask Edgar together. With me backing you, there’s a good chance it’ll work."
"No! No! No!"
Hillel shook his head. "What is my status and what is his? Do I still need to beg him? Wouldn’t that be like kneeling for scraps?"
Homelander looked confused.
"But... but only Edgar has the final say on salaries."
Hillel fired up his Omega Beams and used them to shave Homelander’s growing stubble beard.
"I have this. Can I stand tall and get paid what I’m worth?"
"Uh... I... I guess so."
Homelander couldn’t figure out why Hillel wasn’t scared of Edgar. Why he even looked down on the man who held everyone’s life and death in his hands.
"Don’t be so vague, Homelander. You are the god of Vought. In the future you’ll be the god of all America. Hesitating like this doesn’t suit a man!"
Hillel punched Homelander’s shoulder.
The hit only made Homelander sway a little, but it lit a fire in the ambition buried deep inside him.
"I... am a god?"
"Yes. Look at our power. We can fly. We have heat vision. We can boil an entire ocean. Does Jesus have shit like that?"
"Hey, don’t say that. How can we compare ourselves to Jesus!"
Homelander looked around nervously and quickly covered Hillel’s mouth.
"You’re just too scared. Now, he turned water into wine, what a useless superpower. A real god should make them cower, right?"
"Don’t... don’t talk like that. I’ll go ask for you, okay!" Homelander was genuinely freaked out.
America was a religious country. If people found out he and The Guardian were talking shit about God here, he figured the whole country wouldn’t forgive them.
"Good. Don’t lose face. Go have a showdown with Edgar!"
Seeing his goal achieved, Hillel gave him some encouragement.
The panel went crazy.
[Key Character · Homelander — Emotional Climax: Trust (Extremely High), Ambition, Desire for Control, Dependency]
[Ability Points Gained: +3,456]
...
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: The Mastermind]
[Successfully guided a key character to make a decision that changes the landscape of the world]
[Bonus Reward: Ability Points: + 5,000]
...
Current Ability Points: 72,659 / 250,000
Oh yeah!
"That’s settled then. I’ll go see Edgar tomorrow. You go talk to A-Train. Sound good?"
"Fine."
Homelander’s suggestion was exactly what Hillel wanted. He still wasn’t sure if A-Train had learned his lesson yet.
Homelander left.
...
Hillel honestly felt like Homelander was pretty easy to get along with. His lifestyle was solid. He didn’t fuck around. Sure, eight years ago, he forced the diabolical bastard’s wife. freёweɓnovel.com
He didn’t smoke, didn’t do weed, didn’t touch drugs. Compared to other supes he was basically a living saint.
He only killed the occasional capitalist or politician.
Yeah. Homelander was a sunny, cheerful good boy!
That’s right!
That’s how it was!
The bedroom door opened.
Starlight poked her head out.
"He gone?"
"He’s gone."
"What you two were talking about... I caught some of it. He really wants to inject Compound V into terrorists just to push that bill?"
Starlight looked nervous.
"And you actually said ’Turn water into wine? What a useless superpower’ earlier?"
"You’re committing blasphemy, you damn heretic!"
Hillel looked shocked.
"Oh? Girl, don’t think that I don’t know what you talk about in your youth guidance tents. Does God know about this lady’s wild side in bed?"
Starlight bit her lower lip, hooked her finger in Hillel’s belt, and dragged him toward the bedroom.
The more of Hillel’s dark side she saw, the harder it was for her to pull away.
She knew this was wrong, but she just couldn’t bring herself to hate him.
"Want it?"
Annie put on a weak little expression but yanked her shirt up.
How long does it take a human to get undressed?
Hillel’s answer was zero point zero three seconds.
"But... we should talk first..."
Starlight pushed Hillel against the wall. A crack spiderwebbed across the white surface behind him.
The rough play between supes was always insane to normal people.
"This isn’t right. We’re supposed to be superheroes. We should be doing good deeds for the public."
Hillel’s eyes kept drifting downward.
Is this how you do good deeds?
"This is definitely wrong, but do you think we can stop Homelander, America’s number one supe?" Hillel pinned her hands back and slammed her against the wall.
The force felt like nothing more than a light touch to her.
"Mmm-hmm! You’re The Guardian. He sees you as a friend. He’ll listen to you." Annie turned her head.
"Is that so? Not necessarily. Homelander has his own mind. He won’t be easily swayed. I can only play along with him and try to limit the damage to innocent people."
Hillel’s hips were working extra hard today.
"Mmm-hmm? Haah~ I only heard you giving him advice and even throwing A-Train under the bus. That guy may have fucked up, but he shouldn’t become some... ohh~ some dark tool." freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Annie glanced at Hillel. He was clearly doing it on purpose so she couldn’t finish her sentence.
"The reason for picking A-Train is because he still has some sense of boundaries, and getting kicked out of The Seven is only temporary." Hillel said.
"Mmm-hmm!! What does that even mean?"
"It means everything else can be fake, but my feelings for you are real. Just remember that!"
Hillel’s shirt ripped.
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