106. Chapter 106: Vought's Crisis Has Just Begun
"Fuck, if he's exposed, I'm finished." Mother's Milk quickly went to the computer to check his bank account. A-Train being able to find Hughie meant they were exposed, which in turn meant his current bank account was very dangerous. He had to hurry and transfer the money out of the account.
Billy, standing nearby, also took out his mobile phone to check the surveillance at home, only to see unknown individuals breaking into his house.
"Oh, shit, my account is frozen!" Fortunately, Mother's Milk kept his composure. He knew this wasn't the time to dwell on his bank account being frozen. He had to notify his family members to leave quickly, otherwise, they would likely end up like Hughie.
"Who leaked the secret? Your good friend?" Billy couldn't help but say sarcastically.
"Impossible, she doesn't know anything."
Hughie defended Starlight while packing his things.
"It doesn't matter, I'll kill her," Billy said, somewhat exasperated. Just as the evidence in his hand was enough to bring down Vought, at this critical moment, the four-person investigation team was exposed, completely disrupting all his subsequent plans.
"Starlight has never seen me, not even once, so how was I exposed?"
Mother's Milk, in front of the computer, raised the question. If Starlight had informed on them, his bank account couldn't have been frozen.
"Besides her, who else?" Billy gradually regained his composure.
"Could it be Mr. Mystery? It's like he knows our movements anytime, anywhere, and can even find us. He's highly suspicious," Frenchie said, standing beside Kimiko.
"It's possible it's him. After all, besides him, no one else knows or has seen us. Could he be a superhero under Vought International?" Hughie felt Xia Shang was very suspicious. Every time he appeared, he seemed to be concealing his true identity.
He hadn't even mentioned his name to them.
"No reason... He has no reason to do this." Billy furrowed his brow deeply. He couldn't find a reason for Xia Shang to do this. After all, he was the one who personally killed Translucent and then helped them get the Compound V. He didn't look like a Vought spy at all.
"For money, or for something else, does that require a reason?" Hughie said.
"Shut up, you creature that only thinks with its lower body. With his ability, he doesn't need to inform on us at all. Wouldn't it be a better choice to just capture us and hand us over to Vought International for a reward?" Billy already had someone in mind. He found Mesmer's phone number on his mobile phone.
The first call didn't connect, nor did the second. The third and fourth calls were unanswered.
"It's Mesmer. Mother's Milk, quickly contact your community friend and ask where Mesmer's daughter is," Billy's intuition told him that this matter must be related to Mesmer.
He originally worked for Vought International. The possibility of him leaking the secret was higher than the previous two.
As expected, when Mother's Milk asked his friend about Mesmer's daughter, he was told that Mesmer's daughter had been picked up this morning.
"Sorry, it's my fault. I didn't expect him to inform on us. This is all my fault..." Upon learning that he was the one who caused the investigation team to be exposed, Mother's Milk blamed himself a little. He really shouldn't have trusted others so easily.
"The most urgent matter right now is to ensure the safety of Hughie's family."
"Take this."
Billy handed a syringe to Hughie. "Later, when you see A-Train, use this thing to attract his attention. I'll arrange for Kimiko to sneak attack from behind. Remember, your objective is to rescue your father."
Billy's tactical arrangement proved very successful.
Due to Homelander's warning some time ago, A-Train hadn't touched Compound V in a long time. So when he saw the Compound V in Hughie's hand again, his eyes fixated, like an addict seeing white sugar, his gaze deeply attracted by the Compound V.
And it was at this moment that Kimiko took advantage, using the baseball bat inside the house to fiercely smash and break his right leg from behind A-Train.
A-Train painfully clutched his right leg and let out a wail, "You bitch!"
His superpower could only be used by relying on his legs. Now that his leg was broken, he could only watch helplessly as Hughie left with his father.
The scene shifts to Xia Shang's side.
He was having a video call with Mesmer. From Mesmer's background, it wasn't difficult to see that he was likely in a gym.
"I have sent someone to pick up your daughter, and Valentino, a famous lawyer in New York, is filing a lawsuit with the court, preparing to help you get back custody and guardianship of your daughter," Xia Shang said, holding a coffee, to Mesmer on the other side of the screen. "Thank you." Mesmer's tight-fitting gym clothes highlighted his obese figure completely.
"I'll do as I promised. Next, I will arrange for your daughter to enjoy a normal education." Mesmer's daughter was equivalent to a means to control Mesmer. As long as Mesmer worked for him with peace of mind, Xia Shang could naturally guarantee the safety and life of Mesmer's daughter.
Obviously, Mesmer was also clear about this point, but he didn't regret it. At least he still had use value now. In a short time, Xia Shang wouldn't abandon him like Vought did before.
After hanging up the video call, Xia Shang stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding the coffee. He looked down at the scenery below, then took a sip of coffee.
He knew that Vought's crisis had just begun. The exposure of Compound V was a matter of time. However, this was exactly what he wanted to see. Only by bringing Compound V to the forefront step by step would people slowly accept it. By then, the best spokesperson for Compound V would be Homelander.
Evening came.
The Deep had already uploaded his apology video and said that he was pursuing Starlight at the time, which is why he made some very rash actions.
At first, the netizens didn't believe it.
It wasn't until Starlight left a comment under The Deep's video that they were half-believing, half-doubting. However, under Vought's massive traffic guidance, the "facts" fabricated by Xia Shang himself quickly spread throughout the entire internet. Since both parties involved said so, they no longer dwelled on The Deep's sexual harassment matter.
Instead, as Xia Shang expected, they were clearly more curious about the relationship between The Deep and Starlight.
There were even The Deep's female fans who now stood up to criticize Starlight, saying she was trying to gain everyone's attention and deliberately slandered The Deep.
With Vought fanning the flames, The Deep's reputation actually underwent a miraculous reversal.
Even The Deep himself felt it was unbelievable.
"Oh, Mr. Jervis, you are simply a genius! Your future achievements will definitely not stop here," The Deep said with immense admiration, pushing open the main door of Xia Shang's office and bringing a gift to find Xia Shang. He placed the gift on Xia Shang's desk.
Xia Shang understood the purpose of The Deep's visit this time. He undoubtedly wanted to pledge allegiance to him. In his opinion, The Seven were divided into the following factions. First, Homelander formed his own faction. He had A-Train and the original The Deep and Translucent under him. Then there was Black Noir. Black Noir was actually President Stan Edgar's man; he would obey all orders given by Stan Edgar.
As for Starlight and Queen Maeve, they had a bit of a mutual appreciation thing going on.
"I hope so," Xia Shang smiled slightly and accepted the gift he sent.
After The Deep left, he then opened the gift box. Inside was a box of high-end handmade cigars. From the outer packaging, it should be worth a lot.
[Congratulations, Player, you have slightly changed the original plot, obtaining 220 Fantasy Value]
On the other side.
Although Billy and the others rescued Hughie's father, Billy knew very well that they were now in a dangerous situation. Once Homelander made a move, they had almost no chance of surviving. So Billy could only place his hope again on Susan.
The last time he left Susan, the two of them had a very unpleasant falling out.
But there was no other way. Now only the FBI could guarantee their personal safety.
"No Homelander?" Looking at Susan walking from a distance, Billy still asked unwillingly.
"No Homelander. We had an agreement, everyone else is fine. Are you willing to cooperate or not?"
Susan said impatiently.
Billy had no other choice and could only compromise. He took out a tube of Compound V and handed it to Susan.
"This is Compound V?"
"Genuine."
(End of Chapter)