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What surprised Roger most was that, over such a long time, Thor's best skill in gaming wasn't in fighting or shooting games. Instead, it was in the complex and often frustrating genre of RTS games—Real-Time Strategy.
Games like Red Alert and StarCraft fell into this category, a genre Roger personally disliked playing.
Watching Thor, who was deeply engrossed in the game, Roger rubbed his head in frustration.
An impulsive brute excelling in RTS games? It made Roger wonder if he was still dreaming.
Regardless, Roger had already agreed to settle their disagreement with a gaming match. There was no way he'd go back on his word now.
"Let's just get it over with," he thought.
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....
Half an Hour Later.
"This… this is impossible!"
Staring at the glaring "DEFEAT" on the screen, Roger was in disbelief, his worldview seemingly shattered.
He had actually lost!
And it wasn't just a loss—it was a crushing defeat. Though Roger wasn't a fan of RTS games, his superhuman reflexes and vision should have given him a significant edge. There was no way he should have lost this badly.
But reality slapped him hard in the face. Not only had he lost, but he hadn't even put up a fight.
"Well, that's two out of three. I win."
Thor took a big gulp of soda and leaned back in his chair with a smug, satisfied expression, as if he hadn't even exerted much effort.
"…Did you cheat?!"
Roger glared at Thor in disbelief.
How could this Couch Potato, who had been indulging in a sedentary lifestyle, be so dominant in RTS games? Was this really the Thor he knew?
Thor tossed Roger a cold soda and said, "I'm the mighty Thor, the God of Thunder. Why would I stoop so low as to cheat?"
"Then how…"
"Simple. I'm the King of Asgard, remember? You think I didn't have any leadership experience before becoming king?"
"…You mean charging recklessly into battle and leaving Odin to clean up your mess?"
"…"
Thor nearly choked on his drink at Roger's jab. After coughing several times, he defensively replied, "That's different. Either way, you lost."
"Fine…"
Roger opened the soda Thor had thrown at him, took a sip, and stared at the ceiling of Thor's gaming room, pondering how he could convince Thor to leave.
Losing the game didn't mean he'd given up on persuading Thor. It only meant he wouldn't forcibly take him away.
As he gazed at the patterned ceiling, an idea suddenly came to Roger.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to be so good at gaming. In that case, I guess games from other worlds wouldn't interest you."
"Hm?"
Thor looked at Roger suspiciously.
"I mean, all games are fundamentally the same. Across parallel worlds, you're bound to find games with different names but similar mechanics. It's understandable if they don't excite you."
Roger sighed and stood up, pretending to leave.
"Alright, a deal's a deal. I won't bother you anymore. I'm leaving."
"Wait."
Clap.
Thor placed a firm hand on Roger's shoulder.
"Don't go."
"?"
"Ahem. Did you just say… games from other worlds?"
"Hmm? Did I?"
Roger played coy.
Thor, however, wasn't having it. "You did. I'm sure you did. My memory isn't so bad that I'd forget what you said three seconds ago."
"Alright, fine. Let's say I did. So what? Are you coming with me?"
Roger smirked knowingly.
Thor seemed conflicted, caught between his love for his gaming room and the allure of experiencing games from other worlds.
Roger was confident in the magnetic pull of the phrase "otherworldly games" for a true gamer.
If someone had approached pre-travel Roger with an offer to explore other worlds and watch never-before-seen anime or movies, he would have agreed without hesitation.
So he understood Thor's dilemma. Now, it was just a matter of how long Thor could hold out.
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....
After what felt like ages—so long that Roger managed to play through an entire level of a side-scrolling game on Thor's PS5—Thor finally gave in.
"Fine… but only because I want to try games from other worlds. Let me be clear: I'm not interested in fighting any weird enemies. The most I'll do is help someone if they're in danger. But that's it!"
"Deal!"
Roger immediately shook Thor's hand with a grin.
Thor's declarations were just words to Roger. Once they reached another world, it wouldn't matter what Thor had promised himself.
Watching Roger's triumphant smile, Thor's lips twitched as he forced out a laugh.
He felt tricked... no, he knew he'd been tricked.
Roger had exploited Thor's love of gaming to rope him into his plans.
But it was too late to back out now. Thor might have fallen far from his former glory, but he still understood the importance of keeping his word.
Moreover, Thor was now reliant on Roger for food, resources, and even the funds to build his gaming room—all of which came from Roger's "pocket money" in the world of The Boys.
Feeling resigned, Thor gave Roger a heavy pat on the shoulder.
"You're good at this."
"It's more that you're too obsessed with games. Even I didn't expect games to hold such sway over you."
Roger returned the pat with a playful punch.
Thor said nothing in response.
Whether it was truly the games that drew him in, or merely an escape from his past, only Thor himself knew.
Not wanting to dwell on the subject, Thor changed the topic.
"When are you planning to leave?"
"Wow, you really can't wait to play those games, huh?"
"…Maybe I should just stay here."
"Wait, I was joking. I plan to leave once I've dealt with Ryan's situation."
"Ryan?"
Thor furrowed his brows in thought before realizing, "Oh, the kid in this world, right? Wait, isn't he Homelander's son?"
"He's partly related to me. His abilities are growing, and if no one guides him, I'm afraid he might go astray."
"You're worried he'll turn into another Homelander?"
Thor asked.
Roger nodded. "Pretty much. I've met a few friends in other worlds who could mentor Ryan. With their help, he won't go down the wrong path."
"And what about Ryan's opinion?"
"He's still deciding."
Roger recalled his last conversation with Ryan, answering Thor's question softly.
Out of the blue, Roger had proposed taking Ryan to another world to learn how to control his abilities. For a child like Ryan, the idea was both bewildering and frightening.
Roger wouldn't force him. The choice was entirely Ryan's. If Ryan chose to come, great. If not, Roger would leave him with a promise to become a true hero.
Thor, after hearing Roger's plans, offered his thoughts.
"You know, I've never been a father, but I have been a son. I know what it feels like to lose both parents."
"What's your point?"
"I mean… from your perspective, taking Ryan to another world might be for his own good. But have you considered how it'll feel for him to leave behind his mother, who's been with him for years? Can you guarantee he'll be okay and return safely?"
"…"
Thor's question left Roger speechless.
Thor didn't push further, saying, "Anyway, it's your call. I'm just offering advice. Like I said, I've never been a father."
"…Neither have I."
As if Thor's words needed clarification—Roger was still a single man, after all.
After discussing the timeline for their departure, Roger reached out to others in the world of The Boys.
Since he was back, Roger decided to host a private party near the company headquarters that evening—a chance to reconnect with old friends and members of the Boys.
Though there had been some conflicts with the Boys in the past, those were long behind them. Now, they were allies, and there was no need to keep any animosity alive.
After all, the more, the merrier at a party.
Roger's plans seemed solid, and Tek Knight even notified the active superheroes about the evening gathering.
Normally, all they'd need to do was wait for nightfall and let the festivities begin.
But Roger hadn't anticipated the sudden news that would derail everything.
Queen Maeve contacted him with alarming news: Starlight had gone missing during a mission and hadn't been heard from since.
Maeve suspected the remnants of Vought International were behind it. She suggested canceling the party and asked for Roger's help.
The news of Starlight's disappearance made Roger frown.
The timeline of events in The Boys had already deviated so much that Starlight's disappearance was entirely unexpected.
Based on the current situation, Maeve's suspicion seemed plausible—it could very well be Vought's doing.
But Roger was puzzled.
If it truly was Vought, what would they gain by kidnapping Starlight? Were they trying to lure him out?
Roger hadn't made many public appearances since returning, so how could Vought have known he was back?
"No matter what, I need to check it out."
Standing idly and speculating wouldn't solve anything. Roger decided to investigate the location where Starlight went missing—there might be clues waiting for him.
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