Chapter 72: Standing at the Very Top of Vought Tower, Looking Down at All of New York
"Isn't this a great opportunity? It helps both you and me."
"I can't do that. Madelyn Stillwell will kick me out of The Seven." Starlight shook her head. Keeping her job was more important to her than exposing The Deep's ugly face.
"In my opinion, you don't understand Madelyn Stillwell at all. Even if she fired anyone else in the company, she wouldn't choose to fire a member of The Seven. Vought isn't hers in the end; it belongs to the Shareholders. Firing you would only cause Vought International's Shares to fall. She can't afford that consequence."
Starlight was silent for a few seconds. She had to admit, Xia Shang was right.
But based on this reason alone, it still couldn't convince her to step forward and accuse The Deep. "I don't think I can face Madelyn Stillwell's wrath," Starlight said frankly. "And what about The Deep? Your action doesn't just offend Madelyn Stillwell; it offends The Deep too."
"Could I trouble you for a napkin, please? Thank you."
After the Waiter handed him the napkin, he silently walked away, waiting for Xia Shang's next instructions. Not listening to customer conversations was part of their professional conduct.
Xia Shang placed the napkin on his chest and smiled slightly: "First, as long as you don't say anything, no one will know I'm the manipulator behind the scenes. Of course, even if they guess correctly, it doesn't matter.
Second, I've already contacted The Deep in advance. Contrary to what you said, he doesn't hate me; in fact, he's extremely grateful."
"Why?" Starlight asked subconsciously.
"If even you are dissatisfied with The Deep's surging popularity, imagine how others feel." Xia Shang cut a piece of steak and put it in his mouth.
Starlight wasn't stupid either. She immediately realized who Xia Shang meant by 'others'.
"Homelander!"
"You guessed right. At The Deep's current rate of popularity growth, he might threaten that person. Do you think that person would allow something like that to happen? So when The Deep learned his popularity was about to surpass that person's, do you think he felt fear, or terror?" After Xia Shang swallowed the juicy steak, he said with a smile.
"All of this is part of your plan?" Starlight looked at Xia Shang as if he were a Monster.
"More or less," Xia Shang said calmly.
However, Starlight still didn't understand Xia Shang's motive. He single-handedly propped up The Deep, and now he wanted to bring him down again. Was it just because he had nothing better to do?
Clearly, Xia Shang wasn't doing this because he had nothing better to do. Besides, a single steak wasn't enough to fill his stomach anyway.
"I don't understand why you..." A flash of inspiration struck Starlight's mind. "Ashley Barrett, that's right. You want Ashley Barrett to step down, and you want to become the Head of the Human Resources and Public Relations Department yourself."
"But how can you guarantee that Madelyn Stillwell will definitely promote you? She could just promote someone else to be the Head."
Xia Shang used a paper napkin to wipe the oil stain from the corner of his mouth, "Because for Madelyn Stillwell, that person's opinion is also very important. So we had a simple cooperation. He wants The Deep's popularity to plummet, and I just want the position of Head of the Public Relations Department. Both sides get what they need. It was a perfect cooperation."
"'Terrifying,' Starlight couldn't help but exclaim."
"'Thank you for the compliment.' Actually, from the air disaster onwards, to President Stan Edgar stepping forward, every step was within Xia Shang's plan. Perhaps there was a bit of protagonist's halo-like luck, but for Xia Shang, it was just an attempt. Even if it failed, he wouldn't lose anything, so why not do it?"
Moreover, once the matter regarding The Deep explodes, it will inevitably deal a significant blow to Madelyn Stillwell's authority.
You should know, Xia Shang isn't just eyeing the position of Head of the Public Relations Department.
Vought is a very special company. Only Heads or high-level personnel above Head are qualified to interfere with Superheroes. In order to better analyze and fuse the superpowers of Superheroes in the future, Xia Shang must do this. He wants to climb up step by step, eventually standing at the very top of Vought Tower, looking down at all of New York.
"'What are you thinking?'" Xia Shang asked after finishing the last piece of steak.
"'Actually, you don't need to worry too much. What you lose is far less than what you will gain. As far as I know, there are tens of millions of members in women's protection associations. As long as you expose The Deep, you can get their support. You should know, feminism, this kind of thing, is sometimes a very useful tool.'"
Starlight felt that Xia Shang was simply like Asmodeus from the legends of Tebia, a demon who specifically tempted women to fall. "'I'll think about it some more.'"
After saying that, Starlight hurriedly left the restaurant, as if tigers and wolves were chasing her.
Xia Shang watched her retreating back, raised his hand, and drank the last sip of juice in his glass.
He knew Starlight would agree. After all, a person's personality can't change in a short time.
...
Meanwhile, the investigation team formed by Billy and the other three made significant progress in investigating Compound V.
Mother's Milk investigated through a channel and found out that since 1971, "Samaritan's Embrace," founded by Ezekiel, under the investment of Vought International, had secretly transported Compound V to over fifty hospitals worldwide. This means that no Supe is born naturally; they are all ordinary humans who were given injections of the drug.
"'Is Starlight too?'" Hughie couldn't help but ask.
These past few days, following Billy's request, he tried to contact Starlight. Although the two didn't develop into a romantic relationship, their relationship was still quite good.
"'That's right. She is also a Supe created by injecting Compound V.'"
Mother's Milk put down the thick stack of information in his hand and continued: "'Except for Homelander, information on everyone else can be found. All the information I have doesn't record how Homelander became a Supe.'"
"'Okay, being able to find this much is already a pleasant surprise.'" Billy was very satisfied with Mother's Milk's investigation results.
However, Frenchie on the side raised a different point of view: "'Then how do you explain Kimiko? You should know, when we rescued her, she wasn't in a hospital; instead, she was injected with Compound V in a dungeon.'"
"'Perhaps...'" Frenchie's words seemed to overturn Mother's Milk's investigation conclusion.
Billy frowned, finding it difficult to sort out the connections, but one thing was certain: everything was inseparable from Vought International.
"'Mother's Milk, you're responsible for continuing the investigation. See if you can find any clues about Kimiko.'" Billy then turned his head to look at Hughie and said: "'You come with me to a place. Let's see if there are any clues there.'"
Immediately after, Hughie followed Billy to a Support Group. The members of this Support Group were all indirect victims of Supes.
It can be said that most of them had been saved by Supes at some point, but were injured as a result and left with lifelong disabilities.
So this group of people gathered together, forming the Support Group.
Billy had known about and contacted this Organization a long time ago. At that time, his wife Becca disappeared after being raped by Homelander. Almost everyone thought she was dead. Billy, filled with immense grief at the time, accidentally walked into this Support Group.
Some readers said they couldn't understand what the protagonist was doing in these past few chapters, so I've provided a detailed explanation. This also serves to advance the main plot in 'The Boys'. It might be due to my writing style or skill being insufficient, causing some readers to be confused. I apologize for this.
Secondly, I also don't want everyone to use a 'God's Perspective' to understand the protagonist's schemes, but rather to consider the rationality more. If there are any issues, I will revise them promptly.
Finally, I want to say something to all the readers who have been following along until now.
This book will go premium on Saturday. I will do my best to write 10,000 characters daily after it goes premium. Please be sure to support it then.
Lastly,
Thank you to all the readers who have been supporting me. Your votes, rewards, and continued reading are all the motivation supporting me to keep writing. I thank all the readers again. Thank you for your support! I am extremely grateful!
(end of chapter)