Free Web NovelChapter 16: Chapter 16: Physical Abilities Enhanced Once Again
Benjamin and Homelander sat face to face, drinking Coke and eating burgers and fried chicken while listening to the prompts ringing in his ears.
[You allowed Homelander to feel the heavy, fatherly love of a caring father. Homelander has never eaten with his family, nor has any family member ever told him, "You’re a good boy." He will remember the "good boy" you just said forever.
Reward obtained: Super Strength Lv5 has been upgraded to Lv6.] freёweɓnovel.com
[Current Abilities:
Nuclear Blast Lv3 (Can release high-intensity radioactive energy capable of burning away everything and erasing Compound V from a target’s body.)
Super Strength Lv6 (Possesses the top-tier superhuman strength of a Supe.)
Super Defense Lv5 (Impervious to blades and bullets, immune to conventional firearms and most superpowered attacks.)
Self-Healing Lv5 (Extremely high cellular activity, capable of rapidly repairing fatal injuries.)
Radiation Resistance Lv5 (Completely immune to nuclear radiation and all harmful rays.)
Super Speed Lv1 (Possesses the speed of an ordinary Supe.)
Ageless Longevity (Body remains forever at peak condition.)]
Benjamin had not expected the reward this time to be so generous. Maybe it was because Homelander had truly felt the heavy love of family?
His strength had already been about the same as Homelander’s, maybe even a little stronger. Now that it had reached Lv6, he had definitely become even more powerful.
Benjamin felt power filling every part of his body.
The feeling of growing stronger really was damn satisfying.
Unfortunately, Benjamin had wanted Super Speed or Super Flight even more, something to make up for his biggest weakness.
Although he would no longer be outpaced by shared bikes now, an ordinary sedan could still easily leave him behind.
As for Soldier Boy’s current speed, it was probably just a bit faster than an ordinary person’s?
He was not too sure himself.
...
Unlike Soldier Boy, who was lost in his wandering thoughts, Homelander was poking at the ice cubes in his cup with a straw, making them clink softly in the Coke.
During the meal, he glanced at Benjamin several times.
Because back in the elevator, Benjamin had agreed. He had said, "Isn’t eating with family something you’re supposed to do?"
Thinking of that, the straw in Homelander’s hand slipped. It missed its mark and scraped against the bottom of the cup with a squeak.
He quickly put the straw back in place and lowered his head to take a sip of Coke.
The Coke was no longer very cold, but he drank it slowly, as if using the motion to hide something. Perhaps the sudden light welling up in those blue eyes.
Homelander suddenly said, "The cafeteria drumsticks are a little salty."
Benjamin snorted. "Then tell the kitchen to use less salt next time. Do I have to handle every little fucking thing?"
Homelander’s face twitched slightly. He was still feeling touched.
Just then, the smartphone in Benjamin’s pocket, which he had owned for less than a week, suddenly began buzzing.
He took it out and glanced at the screen.
It was a news alert, a CNN breaking headline, with a glaring red Breaking banner across the top of the screen.
His gaze paused on the headline for a moment, then he turned the phone toward Homelander for him to see.
The screen read: "Starlight is joining The Seven! Vought announces a welcome dinner tonight as supernova Annie January makes her official debut."
Starlight was coming.
Tonight.
Homelander glanced at the screen, his expression unchanged.
Of course, he had known about Starlight joining The Seven for a while.
"This was decided before you became Executive Director. But of course, if you don’t like the new member, you can kick her out." freewebnoveℓ.com
Homelander hurried to explain.
He did not understand why Benjamin cared.
Maybe it was because Starlight’s addition had not gone through his approval?
Benjamin put the phone back in his pocket, picked up his tray, and stood. "It’s fine. Just don’t let it happen again. Also, generally speaking, aside from today, I won’t interfere too much with The Seven’s daily affairs. You are still the captain of The Seven."
Of course Benjamin would not kick Starlight out. He still needed her tonight to bully Deep.
After dinner, the two separated at the elevator.
Homelander went to deal with Compound V.
Benjamin took the elevator up to his new territory, an office that had already been dubbed the "Return of the Legend Office" after less than a day.
The office Vought had arranged for him was on the fifty-sixth floor of the tower, reserved for the Executive Director of the Supe Affairs Department.
Once the door opened, calling the interior "luxurious" would have been putting it politely.
The whole office was nearly the size of a two-bedroom apartment.
An entire curved wall of floor-to-ceiling windows faced the Hudson River.
At that moment, the last glow of evening was slowly fading from the river, soaking the whole room in a blend of dark gold and deep blue.
The desk was a single polished slab of black walnut, large enough to hold a full tactical planning meeting on top of it.
On the desk sat the latest Vought custom tablet, a stack of paper documents, and an identity plate stamped in gold with the words "Executive Director of Supe Affairs."
Those words represented Soldier Boy’s absolute authority over Supes. His position was unquestionably above Madelyn’s.
At the same time, beneath Vought Tower, in the Compound V Storage Management Center.
Homelander stood in front of a row of temperature-controlled storage cabinets glowing with cold blue light, the hem of his cape dragging across the epoxy floor and casting a dark red reflection.
Two technical supervisors in white lab coats stood before him.
One was tall and thin with glasses. The other was short and stocky, his hairline receding all the way to the crown of his head.
Both of them were trembling to different degrees.
The thin one’s knees were shaking. The fat one’s tablet was shaking in his hands.
"Shut down every black-market distribution channel. Starting today, send me a daily copy of all outbound records from the storage area."
"But... but Mr. Homelander," the tall, thin man pushed up his glasses, "if all the black-market channels are cut off, the board..."
"You mean," Homelander turned his head and smiled at him, "you want to discuss the board’s opinion with me?"
The tall, thin man’s glasses slid down his nose.
"No, no. No objections. We’ll shut them all down. Today."
Homelander patted him on the shoulder. He did not use much force, but the tall man’s knees visibly bent.
"Good. I like efficient people."
Homelander did not know whether he had learned it from his father, but he had also taken a liking to patting people on the shoulder.
Soon, A-Train also received the news.
He did not understand it at first, but he quickly realized this was probably Soldier Boy’s order.
A-Train sighed. Since he no longer needed to run errands for Homelander, then... could he pocket even more Compound V?
Thinking about the upcoming race, A-Train grew irritated.
Fortunately, he still had quite a bit stockpiled.
