**Chapter 71: The Deep's Soaring Popularity**
"Then let's try its power in an extreme state." Xia Shang grabbed the rubber dummy's head. An intensely concentrated blue light burst from his palm, instantly melting the dummy's head. It flowed downwards like liquid, emitting a plume of black smoke.
The destructive power of this radiation had increased by at least double.
And the price paid was that the eyeball he had spent four days building was completely rendered useless.
"It seems before entering the Fantasy World, I still need to gather more eyeballs. Besides, the current fusion progress has only reached 3%." After speaking, the scrapped eyeball on Xia Shang's palm automatically detached, and the wound healed within a few breaths.
...
On the other side, the ocean documentary filmed by The Deep was successfully completed.
As soon as the documentary was released, it instantly took the internet by storm. Coupled with Vought pushing it behind the scenes, the effect was better than Madelyn Stillwell could have imagined.
In just two days, The Deep's popularity continuously soared, even surpassing A-Train and Starlight in one fell swoop, ranking third among The Seven.
And his popularity was still skyrocketing, showing no signs of decline, as if he had the momentum to surpass Queen Maeve and Homelander in one go.
Queen Maeve and Homelander, due to the previous Plane Crash Incident, saw their respective public Approval Ratings plummet significantly. Their current buzz and rate of popularity growth simply couldn't compare to The Deep, who had suddenly exploded in popularity.
Moreover, there is currently a rumor circulating that the judges for the American Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature are considering letting the documentary filmed by The Deep compete. The reason is simple: the documentary filmed by The Deep is sufficiently real and also reflects the most serious ocean pollution problem today.
These days, if a film doesn't have elements of criticism, satire, and enough to make humans reflect, and still wants to win an award? That's simply dreaming. Those old men at the Oscars won't even take a look.
At this moment, Vought Tower.
Inside the vice president's office, the phone by Madelyn Stillwell's hand kept ringing.
"Yes, what is it... You want The Deep to appear in your movie, what? To reflect the environmental protection elements contained behind the scenes of the movie, but isn't your movie a mecha monster genre?"
"Monsters can also be formed due to environment pollution, hmm, this reason is indeed very reasonable. You can discuss the details with Vought's Operations Management Department. As long as the appearance fee is in place, Vought has no objections." Early in the morning, dozens of phones from people wanting to cooperate with Vought came in, and Madelyn Stillwell's old face broke into a wide smile.
You know, ever since the Plane Crash Incident occurred.
Vought was practically like a rat crossing the street, everyone avoided it, afraid of getting into trouble.
However, reality is a world composed of interests, and America is especially so.
Compared to the smiling Madelyn Stillwell, Homelander, sitting in The Seven's Meeting Room, was not in a good mood.
The matter of Compound V, coupled with his own plummeting popularity, made him extremely depressed.
...
"Ashley Barrett is too much. The Deep's matter was clearly handled by you alone, who in the entire company doesn't know that? And what's the result? As soon as you achieved results, she snatched your project away. If it were me, I definitely couldn't stand it." Baruch originally thought that Xia Shang, whose project was snatched away, would curse Ashley Barrett together with him.
However, Xia Shang calmly drank his coffee, as if he wasn't the one whose fruits of victory were taken.
"Buddy, do you know who is the most miserable person at Vought?" Without waiting for Xia Shang to speak, Baruch continued: "It's honest people. I'd say you can't be too honest, otherwise anything will dare to step on you."
"I'm not in a hurry, what are you rushing for?" Looking at Baruch's indignant appearance, Xia Shang said with a smile.
He was very clear that if it wasn't for Madelyn Stillwell directing behind the scenes, Ashley Barrett wouldn't have snatched The Deep project from his hands. It seems last time he had Vought President Stan Edgar step forward, causing Madelyn Stillwell to mistakenly think he was Stan Edgar's person, which is why she would be wary and suppress him.
If Xia Shang was in another department, Madelyn Stillwell definitely couldn't suppress him so openly. Unfortunately, the Public Relations Department is Madelyn Stillwell's direct department, and even the President couldn't easily interfere.
"Brother, I'm convinced, your magnanimity is comparable to the seven oceans."
Baruch shook his head and left Xia Shang's Office.
After he left, Xia Shang turned his chair, facing the computer screen.
Looking at the All-Star Promotional Campaign above, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
The good show has just begun. His credit isn't something anyone can snatch away just because they want to; trying to take everything will only choke you.
[Congratulations player, you have slightly altered the original plot, gaining 410 fantasy value]
Evening arrived.
A light rain began to fall in New York's sky. Inside a high-end restaurant next to a central Manhattan Street, Starlight was sitting by the window, looking outside through the glass, seemingly waiting for someone's arrival.
To be honest, The Deep's sudden popularity made her very uncomfortable. In her opinion, a scumbag who likes sexual harassment simply didn't deserve the various titles people were giving him now. Someone like this could even be called a global environmental protection ambassador, the most loving superhero in history... just thinking about it was a bit ironic.
If she hadn't learned from Xia Shang that this project was handled by him, Starlight would definitely have stood up to expose The Deep's true face.
About three minutes later, a man in a suit, holding an umbrella in his right hand, appeared on the streets of Manhattan.
Soon he walked into the restaurant.
"I'm not late, am I?" Xia Shang folded his umbrella and casually handed it to a waiter nearby.
"No, you're very punctual."
Starlight smiled and opened her mobile phone. The time displayed on it was exactly the time Xia Shang had agreed upon.
"I heard the project about The Deep you were handling was snatched by Ashley Barrett, do you need my help?" After Xia Shang sat down and finished ordering, Starlight asked with concern.
"Are you trying to comfort me?" Xia Shang said jokingly.
Starlight shrugged, "Looking at you, it seems you don't need my comfort."
"I haven't lost yet, the game has just begun." Xia Shang nodded like a gentleman and took the drink handed by the waiter.
"What do you want to do?" Starlight furrowed her brow, she sensed that Xia Shang might be planning something big.
"It's very simple. At the All-Star Promotional Campaign tomorrow afternoon, I need you to expose The Deep's sexual harassment scandal." After Xia Shang lowered his head and took a sip of the cantaloupe juice, he said calmly.
Starlight looked at Xia Shang in disbelief and said with a shocked expression: "Oh, God, I think you must be crazy. You actually want to personally destroy a superhero. If Vought finds out, Madelyn Stillwell definitely won't let you off, and also, The Deep will kill you."
Xia Shang raised his head and met Starlight's gaze with deep eyes. He folded his arms and intertwined his fingers, just quietly looking at Starlight like this.
For a moment, Starlight felt that the secrets deep within her heart were all seen through by Xia Shang before her.
"How does it feel to be surpassed in popularity by a scumbag who once harassed you? Unwillingness or perhaps anger?" Xia Shang smiled.
(End of Chapter)