Azu and Ashley returned to The Seven's headquarters. Stepping into the Vice President's office, they were greeted by Madelyn, a woman past her prime but still exuding a mature charm.
In the TV show, Homelander was heavily reliant on this older woman.
Never having experienced maternal love, Homelander sought from her what he lacked.
In fact, even after killing Madelyn later on, he kept a shapeshifter imprisoned. Whenever he needed comfort, he had the shapeshifter transform into her.
It's twisted, really twisted.
"Leave us, Ashley. I need to have a word with Homelander," Madelyn gestured for her assistant to leave.
Once the door was shut, Madelyn approached Azu. The faint scent of her Chanel perfume instantly filled his nostrils.
She gently cupped Azu's face with her hands.
"Tell me, why did you say those things at the press conference?"
"If something's bothering you, you can always talk to me."
"You know I'm always here for you, ready to listen whenever you need."
Perhaps the original Homelander would have enjoyed this moment.
But not now. Not anymore.
Azu only felt disgust.
He grabbed Madelyn's hands and lowered them, smiling faintly. "First of all, I have no problems."
"And second, don't touch me again."
"Especially with those hands that probably just finished milking. Just the thought makes me nauseous."
He didn't hold back, saying exactly what was on his mind.
It felt incredibly liberating.
No longer having to suck up to a gross boss, pretending to play nice like in his previous life.
Now, whatever came to his mind, he said it.
Pure bliss!
Madelyn's face twisted in shock.
For a moment, she thought someone was impersonating Homelander.
Homelander had always been obsessed with her.
How could he say something like that?
Unwilling to give up, she took two steps back and sat down on the sofa, deliberately hiking up her skirt to reveal her legs in stockings. She patted her thigh invitingly.
Smiling, Madelyn said, "You must be exhausted."
"Come here, let me help you relax."
Azu winced at the sight, raising both hands in protest. "Don't do that, Madelyn."
"Do you know something?"
"Your perfume can barely mask the stench of old age clinging to you."
"Oh God, what was I even thinking before…"
"In any case, I'm not who I used to be."
Madelyn's face froze.
She had just played her trump card, and yet it had no effect on Homelander?
Her expression darkened.
Gone were the playful tricks, and she straightened her skirt, standing up with a stern look.
"Fine. Then let me tell you something."
"Have you even considered what those things you said to the press will do?"
"Your approval ratings will plummet. The company's stock will tank."
Azu shrugged. "I don't care."
"All I want now is to do what I want to do."
"You'd better stay out of my way."
Madelyn's expression shifted. "Homelander, do you even understand what you're saying?"
"Without Vought, you're nothing."
"Vought made you famous, and Vought can make another Homelander, or a second and a third."
Azu laughed. "And that right there is your problem."
"I don't know what makes you think you mortals can control me."
"Control... a god."
Whoosh!
A fierce wind swept through the office.
Azu's feet left the ground, the star-spangled cape behind him flaring up like a blazing inferno.
Madelyn recoiled in shock.
She hadn't expected such a powerful reaction from Homelander.
Especially now, as his eyes began to glow with a menacing light.
It was as if molten lava was bubbling inside them!
"What do you plan to do?" Madelyn said in a low voice. "If you harm me, you'll regret it."
"By tomorrow—no, by this afternoon—every news outlet will be reporting that Homelander slaughtered a Vought executive. Your reputation will be in tatters."
"You'll no longer be the public's hero."
"They'll spit on your name."
"You'll become worthless."
As she spoke, Madelyn kept a close watch on Homelander.
She noticed the glow in his eyes slowly dimming.
His body, which had been floating, gently returned to the ground.
Madelyn smirked inwardly.
She knew all too well that this superhuman had been raised in a lab, with a fractured personality.
Homelander craved validation.
He valued his reputation too much.
As long as she could exploit that weakness, she could control him.
"Yes, that's more like it," Madelyn smiled, kicking off her high heels and raising her foot slightly.
"Now, come here and kiss it."
"And then, you can do whatever you want."
Azu looked at the older woman before him and smiled brightly.
"I told you already, stop doing that."
"My dear Madelyn."
"You disgust me."
In the next moment, Azu's eyes flashed red as twin beams of laser light shot out, blasting through Madelyn's face.
Her head exploded into a spray of gore, blood splattered over the walls, brain matter slipping though the paints off them, turning the office into a chaotic mess.
Thud.
The leg clad in black stockings, once raised high, fell limply to the floor.
Azu stared at the corpse. His first kill left him with a hollow feeling.
There was no joy in the slaughter.
But there was no burden either.
The old woman still treated him like the Homelander of old—the one shackled by his mother complex and bound by his obsession with reputation.
Well, he had no problem turning anyone who thought they could control him into a corpse.
That was the principle.
'Anyone who offends, humiliates, or harms me... must die.'
After taking a moment to collect himself, Azu walked over to the desk and sat down in the Vice President's chair.
Then he called out, "Ashley, send someone in to clean up."
The door opened.
Ashley stepped in, looking puzzled. "Did you spill something?"
Then she saw Madelyn's headless body.
The tablet in her hands slipped and crashed to the floor as she prepared to scream.
But then she saw Homelander standing there, a grin on his face, placing a finger over his lips.
Ashley swallowed her scream.
"Good," Azu clapped his hands, completely insincere. "Very good. I'm starting to appreciate you, Ashley."
"How about this—starting today, you're my assistant."
"You'll take Madelyn's place, but you'll report to me. Don't worry, I'll discuss your promotion with Edgar."
He glanced over at the corpse on the sofa. "I'm sure Edgar will want to meet with me soon. Don't you think?"
Ashley trembled slightly and nodded. "You're the boss."
"No, call me Homelander."
Azu stood up, gesturing towards the office. "Clean this up. After that, I—"
Just then, a stream of information flashed across his retina.
[Your 'Laser Vision' proficiency is full.]
[Laser Vision upgraded to Laser Vision +1.]
[Laser Vision +1: Cutting power +50%, Penetration +20%, Overall power +35%.]
[Disaster event detected.]
[The world you inhabit is one of chaos and distortion. Violence, crime, drug trafficking, smuggling, murder, and robbery are rampant. This is the world you live in.]
[Here, you are God. You are the one and only. You are the deity of all beings.]
[You can make any decision you wish.]
[Now, do you choose to intervene in this event?]
'Oh? It works like this too?'
Azu's lips curled into a smile.
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