[🎉 Shoutout to TheDawnBeforeEve for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗]
Turning down Maeve's invitation wasn't because Homelander was playing hard to get. He genuinely had other plans.
Tonight, he intended to let Angelina begin her revenge—a chance to claim that billion-dollar fortune as soon as possible.
As he walked through the corridor, he saw a door swing open ahead. Starlight stormed out, looking frustrated. The head of the costume department chased after her. Both paused when they saw Homelander.
He looked at Starlight, who wore an angry expression. Even in a fit of rage, she was stunning.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Starlight averted her gaze, muttering, "It's nothing. I'm just... not happy with the new costume design. We argued about it."
A new costume?
Homelander recalled Starlight's redesigned outfit, which was eye-catching, to say the least. If it matched the one from the show, he certainly wouldn't mind her wearing it around him every day.
The costume head coughed, explaining, "Miss Starlight, please understand that this new costume is custom-made for you and is essential for our brand."
Starlight turned to him, anger in her eyes. "This is my body. I get to decide how much of it to show!"
Homelander nodded. "She's right."
With his support, Starlight's expression softened with gratitude, her resolve strengthening.
Seeing this, the costume head backed down. "We'll... discuss it further."
The head left, and Starlight's long lashes fluttered as she looked at Homelander. "Thank you, Homelander."
Homelander just gave her a quick smile before moving on. He didn't want to spend too much time on a girl who wasn't truly part of the Seven. Soon, he arrived at Angelina's room.
With her hair in a high ponytail and dressed in a fitted black suit that accentuated her curves, Angelina was ready for the night's events.
Homelander looked her over approvingly. With the training he'd given her, this girl still had a lot of potential.
"Master, I'm ready," Angelina said, excitement in her voice.
In her black attire and pulled-back hair, she looked like a character straight out of Batman, resembling Catwoman, particularly the Anne Hathaway version.
Homelander chuckled, "Let me show you something special."
He opened the store interface and exchanged 30 Essence Fragments for the "Shadow Cloak."
When it appeared, he saw that the cloak was almost ethereal, like a dark mist given form. The sleeves and hem transitioned seamlessly into wisps of smoke that seemed to drift away.
Angelina gasped in awe, looking at the magical black cloak Homelander had produced. To her, he was like a god who could do anything.
"Put it on."
Homelander tossed her the cloak, and Angelina slipped it on.
Instantly, the cloak melded with her outfit, making her form semi-transparent as she moved, a shadow flickering in and out of view.
Then she threw on a red coat over it, and the Shadow Cloak became entirely hidden from sight.
Homelander explained the cloak's abilities and watched as Angelina practiced using it until she felt comfortable. Then, he nodded, giving her the signal to begin.
The first act of her revenge play would involve luring out the liquid assassin who had tried to kill her. And Angelina herself would be the bait.
The fact that Angelina had survived her previous assassination attempt was likely driving her uncle crazy. She had been hiding in the Seven Tower since then, and her continued survival would only add to his anxiety.
Homelander trusted that her appearance in public tonight would be enough to bring her enemies out of hiding.
He'd orchestrated the entire plan but would not actively participate beyond providing support.
For instance, there was the Shadow Cloak.
This revenge would be Angelina's show to lead. If she wanted her vengeance, she would have to earn it herself.
Watching her leave, Homelander stood by the window, gazing out at the city glittering with lights.
---
At the same time, in another part of town, a conference room door burst open, and Deputy Director Hansen from the Department of Homeland Security stormed inside with a dark expression.
These past few days had been tough on him.
First, he'd been called for a private chat with the Chief Justice, then received a series of calls from the President's office, and, finally, was forced to make a public apology to Homelander on national television.
In his forty-six years, Hansen had never endured such a low point.
He had barely settled into his seat when Deputy Director Raina from the CIA walked in. This mature woman with a still-elegant charm looked at Hansen with a knowing smile. "Rough few days, Hansen?"
Hansen sighed heavily. "What do you think, Raina?"
"I'm basically a joke at Homeland Security now."
"That damn superhuman... that damn Homelander, turned me into the biggest laughingstock in the history of the federal government!"
Raina glanced around and then leaned in, lowering her voice. "Maybe their days of unchecked power are numbered."
Hansen looked up, surprised, but Raina said nothing more.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen."
"Oh, though it's just the three of us tonight."
An elderly man with sharp eyes and graying hair entered the room. Hansen and Raina immediately stood out of respect.
It was Jonathan Ward, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and tonight's meeting organizer.
Jonathan shook hands with each of them before they all sat down. Wasting no time, he dove into the topic at hand.
"Tonight's meeting is about the superhumans."
"Recently, Homelander has been making headlines for ignoring the Supreme Court's subpoena and failing to appear at his hearing. Even the President took notice."
He glanced at Hansen, adding, "Though certain... 'developments' caused that matter to lose momentum."
Then he looked at them both. "But two days ago, something far worse happened, which I believe you're both aware of."
As one of the CIA's top officials, Raina nodded. "You mean the crash of Senator Hope's plane?"
Jonathan's voice turned serious. "Exactly. While we lack direct evidence, analysis of the wreckage we recovered from the ocean suggests that the plane disintegrated due to laser-induced structural damage."
Hansen's eyes widened. "Homelander!"
"It had to be him!"
"The very day after the hearing, that video exposing Hope as the mastermind behind the charges was released, and then that night, he dies."
"If anyone had both the motive and the means to pull this off, it has to be Homelander!"
Jonathan lowered his gaze, a glint in his eye as he looked at Hansen. "The President seems to think so too."
"Additionally, he believes superhumans pose a growing threat to the federal government."
"He wants us to prepare countermeasures, just in case."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥰 Support the translation and help me grow.🤓
Read upto 20 Extra chapter in Patreon