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Seven Tower Command Room.
Homelander was bored, using his "Insight" ability on everyone in the room.
One by one, he glanced at them.
[Name: Annie (Starlight)]
[Life Level: 4 (Superhuman)]
[Status: Normal]
[Name: Maeve (Queen Maeve)]
[Life Level: 4 (Superhuman)]
[Status: Normal]
[Name: Black Noir]
[Life Level: 4 (Superhuman)]
[Status: Tense]
[Name: Ashley]
[Life Level: 2 (Mortal)]
[Status: Agitated]
[Insight: Proficiency 8/10]
Hmm, this ability's about to level up, Homelander thought.
At that moment, Ashley, her face strained with a smile, asked, "Homelander, have you made your choice yet?"
"Oh," Homelander replied absentmindedly, looking at the tablet in his hand.
"Her."
He handed the tablet to Ashley. "The replacement for The Deep—Elemental. Arrange a time for her to meet me along with Snow Princess and the others."
Ashley let out a small breath of relief. "Understood, I'll contact her immediately."
Right then, a flash of information lit up in front of Homelander's eyes.
[Disaster event detected.]
[Do you wish to handle this event?]
Homelander chose to accept the task, and new information appeared.
[You've accepted the event.]
[Event Name: The Rise of the Night Nation – Starfire]
[Description: The extremist group 'Night Council' has launched another operation. They have currently taken control of floors 3 to 5 of the Walmart department store, holding 756 hostages. Their forces are no match for you, but even a small flame can start a wildfire. Be cautious and do not underestimate them.]
[Event Requirements: 1) Rescue more than half of the hostages; 2) Eliminate the mastermind, Gandhi Alda.]
[Event begins!]
As soon as the information disappeared, alarms blared in the command room. A screen lit up, showing the head of public relations, Madelyn Stillwell.
"Homelander, the city police are requesting our assistance."
Looking at the woman he had shared a bed with several times, Homelander smiled and asked, "What's the situation?"
"This morning, the Walmart department store was invaded by extremists. They claim to have planted a gas bomb inside the store, which they say could kill everyone inside within five minutes if detonated."
"The extremist group, calling themselves the 'Night Council,' is demanding the government release two high-profile prisoners from Lux Isle Penitentiary. The group has taken control of floors 3 to 5 of the store, with 756 hostages, including senior management, staff, and security personnel."
"The city police have dispatched 100 officers to surround the store and are negotiating with the extremists, but with little success."
"The officer in charge, Chief Ben Benjamin from the Queens Police Department, has already arrived on the scene."
Homelander nodded, standing up and looking at Maeve and the others. "Let's move."
Starlight, full of eagerness, asked, "Homelander, can I come along?"
Homelander thought for a moment, then smiled. "Sure, but stay with the police."
"You'll help comfort them and make sure they have confidence in us."
Starlight clenched her fists with determination. "Leave it to me!"
---
Queens, Walmart Department Store.
Homelander hovered in mid-air, holding Maeve in his arms. The wind caught her long hair, and he took a deep breath. "What shampoo are you using? Smells amazing."
Maeve sighed in frustration. "Do we really have to talk about hair products right now?"
Homelander chuckled, his eyes glowing as he scanned the inside of the store. "There are two men at the rooftop stairwell, both armed with AK-47s and grenades."
"On the fifth floor, in the furniture section, there are hostages—a lot of them. Twelve armed extremists are guarding them, fully equipped."
"Oh, and there's a sniper nearby. If we go through the windows recklessly, we'll be turned into Swiss cheese."
"And are you really sure you don't have time tonight?"
Maeve rolled her eyes. "How about we take care of this, then we can talk about dates. Sound good?"
"Fine," Homelander grinned and pressed a finger to his earpiece. "Noir, I need you at the front entrance of the store. Put some pressure on those guys upstairs, buy the police some time to negotiate."
"Starlight, tell the officers to stall as long as possible. Maeve and I will handle the hostages."
After giving the orders, Homelander glanced at Maeve. "Any bright ideas?"
Maeve squinted slightly. "Taking down the gunmen isn't the hard part. The real issue is the gas bomb."
"If we can find and disable the bomb first, everything else will be much easier."
Homelander nodded. "I can scan the entire building, but it'll take some time."
Maeve cautioned, "There might be more than one bomb."
Homelander agreed, then flew with Maeve to the fifth floor, slipping in through a window in the children's play area.
The section was under renovation and not yet open, so it was deserted.
The 'Night Council' didn't have enough manpower to control every corner of the store. They had consolidated the hostages on floors 4 and 5, guarding them in specific areas.
The rest of the floors were monitored through the store's surveillance system.
Homelander had already scanned the area and confirmed that there were no cameras here, so he felt comfortable entering with Maeve.
"We should split up," Maeve suggested.
Homelander smirked and gave her a playful slap on the rear. "Go ahead."
Maeve glared at him but said nothing, crouching as she moved quickly toward the door.
Homelander pressed his earpiece again. "Noir, you can start now."
---
Outside the store, the police parted as Black Noir, dressed in all black, stepped forward.
He raised his hands, signaling that he wasn't there to fight.
Beside him, a negotiator took hold of a megaphone. "To the people inside, Black Noir is here. You've caught the attention of the Seven."
"If I were you, I'd accept the police's offer."
The response was a gunshot hitting the ground near the negotiator. A moment later, the store's PA system crackled to life.
"Stop wasting time. Do as we say."
"Release our comrades, Lorne and Kade, from Lux Isle. Otherwise, every ten minutes, a hostage dies."
"Here's the first one!"
A terrified scream followed, and a body was hurled from the fifth floor, plummeting to the ground.
"Oh my God," muttered Ben Benjamin, the 40-something chief of the Queens Police Department. Sweat poured down his face as he turned to Starlight, standing nearby. "Can Homelander really save the hostages?"
Starlight nodded firmly. "Believe in the Seven, Chief. Homelander and Queen Maeve have already started the mission!"
"Right now, they're inside the store, preparing to rescue the hostages."
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