Earth.
Bright sunlight streamed through the window of Herman's office.
"Hire whoever you need! Money isn't a problem. As long as it helps advance the Super Soldier Serum research, I don't care how much it costs—I just want results, and fast!"
As the unrivaled Homelander, a Sky Father–level powerhouse in the cosmos, a billionaire whose wealth rivaled nations, and a man of countless exalted titles, Herman was busier than most people working nine-to-five jobs.
He had no choice.
Who could blame him for taking his identity-exclusive missions so seriously? Over breakfast that morning, Herman had gone over his progress. Setting aside two Platinum-tier missions that would likely require traveling to other universes, he still had two identity-exclusive missions left unfinished.
[Identity Exclusive Mission: Decode the Super Soldier Serum!]
[Mission Reward: Obtain the formula for the Overdrive Serum!]
This was an older mission tied to his [Top-Tier Tycoon] identity. Umbrella Biotech's research had now hit a bottleneck. Success was within reach, yet that final breakthrough remained just out of grasp—and it wasn't an easy one to overcome...
Upon hearing this, Herman decisively waved his hand. If the lab lacked talent in any field, he'd simply poach experts from other biotech companies.
When it came to skilled biologists, Herman never hesitated to spend money. To him, wealth was nothing more than numbers. With enough money, there wasn't a single top-tier genius in the world who couldn't be recruited.
And since research on the Super Soldier Serum had always been a hot topic in the industry, good news started pouring in from the lab soon after he approved another massive funding round.
As for the lab's equipment, Herman had also purchased several new high-precision instruments.
The lead scientist, brimming with excitement, even swore to Herman that they could reverse-engineer a perfect Super Soldier Serum within a month at most—though the research timeline was far longer than most missions.
Herman knew some things couldn't be rushed. Having a concrete timeline was already a good sign, unlike another mission he still had no idea how long would take to complete.
[Identity Exclusive Mission: Expand the Fate Assassins Organization into the world's top assassin group, and complete an assassination that shocks the world!]
[Mission Reward: Eye of Destiny.]
This mission came from his [Favored of Fate] identity. The reward—a pair of eyes capable of determining others' destinies—was powerful, even for a Silver-tier identity.
The only issue was, Herman still hadn't figured out how to expand the Fate Assassins. He could only blame himself for being too ruthless back then, leaving the Fraternity with just Cross and Fox.
He couldn't exactly have the big boss himself step in as an assassin, could he? Even if Herman took on missions nonstop all year, it still wouldn't be enough to meet the organization's minimum activity threshold.
And he certainly didn't plan on overworking himself.
He already had a different idea for this mission—after all, wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D. going to fall apart in the near future? Herman figured he could play the good guy for once and offer the soon-to-be-jobless S.H.I.E.L.D. agents a new home, a place where they could work again under his banner.
"I've always had a soft spot for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents," Herman said, leaning out his office window and shouting down to the busy street vendors below, "Bob! Grill me a hundred skewers of squid! And tell James next door to make me ten burritos!"
Sure enough, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents downstairs never refused his requests. Even though business was booming, they immediately set up a special grill just for him.
When the grilled squid and burritos were delivered upstairs, they didn't even ask for payment. Clearly, that kind of treatment only came with genuine connections.
"Man, that Homelander guy is terrifying! I was half afraid he'd just eat me alive!"
"Relax, it's not that bad. But seriously, why didn't you ask him for money?"
"You'd dare ask him for money? Not afraid his eyes would shoot lasers?"
...
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents heading downstairs were chatting among themselves.
Inside the office, the sound of "creak, creak~" echoed softly.
Herman sat back, feeling genuinely touched by the bond he shared with the S.H.I.E.L.D. staff. He thought to himself that one day, he'd definitely take these kind-hearted agents under his wing and make them part of his workforce.
By that time, the Super Soldier Serum would surely have been fully decoded, and he'd have the Overdrive Serum formula in hand. Herman would directly equip everyone with the Overdrive Serum. With such enhancements, the assassin organization he built would have no problem becoming the world's number one.
As for the assassination that would shock the world? Herman already had several potential targets in mind. At the top of the list was that brain-dead president of Belarus.
Though Belarus wasn't exactly a major power, taking out its president would definitely count as a globally sensational case.
To Herman, that clown of a president was every bit as detestable as the boss of Hammer Group. Recently, it seemed the man had gone off the deep end—constantly appearing in the media to denounce Homelander as a symbol of hegemony and demanding that the United States unconditionally hand over the method of creating him to Belarus.
Every word the Belarus president spoke hinted that Herman was nothing more than a bio-weapon made by the U.S. Given the opportunity, Herman would gladly send the man to reunite with Justin Hammer.
"That someone like him could become president... life really is a play, and reality's far more absurd than fiction."
While mulling over his Identity Exclusive Mission, Herman absentmindedly turned on the TV. The channel hadn't been changed since yesterday—it was still running a news program.
[Osborn Group announces the launch of its "Benefit Humanity" Longevity Drug Project. If successful, humans may live up to five hundred years!]
The reporter was interviewing a pale-faced scientist—William, who had defected from Umbrella Biotech. Since joining Osborn Industries, the man seemed to be held in high regard.
He'd already completed one project and was now leading a new one. Who knew what kind of charm or story he'd sold to the Osborn Group?
"This project isn't about empty promises. We've discovered a remarkable substance capable of significantly slowing the aging process."
"I believe that this project—and I—will go down as one of the greatest legends in human history. I once served at Umbrella Bioscience, but their philosophy differed from mine. They're fixated on the fading glories of the past, while my gaze is set firmly on the future."
"Our new project represents the future of humanity."
Pale-faced William spoke confidently to the camera, even taking a jab at Herman's Umbrella Biotech.
Herman watched the broadcast with an amused smile and said nothing. In American corporate culture, this sort of "bite the hand that feeds you" behavior was all too common.
As for the claim about extending human life to five hundred years? That was pure nonsense, obviously just a way to scam funding out of the Osborn Group.
He couldn't imagine how Norman Osborn had been foolish enough to invest in someone like that... though Herman suspected there was more to it than met the eye.
Still, he wasn't particularly interested in Osborn Industries' business. A mere Green Goblin? He'd probably get caught by a couple of Spider-Men sooner or later.
[Insight has transmitted data back from Mars, revealing ruins of architectural structures. Could Mars have once been home to intelligent life?]
The screen showed images that were clearly photoshopped. Americans loved stories like this, and the media was always eager to feed that obsession.
[As autumn and winter arrive, the flu is spreading rapidly. Let's hear from one of the top doctors in the field about how to prevent infection.]
This time, the interviewee was a familiar face.
"Honestly, I'm a neurosurgeon, but answering a simple question like this shouldn't be too hard for me."
"First, everyone should understand what the flu actually is..."
On the television screen, Stephen Strange—the future Doctor Strange—spoke confidently and at ease.
He had yet to suffer the car accident that would change his life. At this stage, he carried a bold, unrestrained air, that same sense of superiority Tony Stark once radiated in his prime.
"Two Sherlocks, same smug attitude—definitely cut from the same mold," Herman muttered under his breath, the words only he could understand.
He remembered that Stephen Strange's fateful accident occurred after the Battle of New York, leaving him unable to use his hands properly ever again.
For a world-class surgeon, that kind of injury wasn't just career-ending—it destroyed all his pride. Among Marvel fans, there was even a theory that the car accident had been arranged by the Ancient One herself.
Whether that theory was true or not, Herman thought the Ancient One certainly had her reasons for steering Stephen away from medicine and toward the mystic arts.
Otherwise, why would someone as successful as Stephen Strange ever give up being a top surgeon? A life of endless study and meditation was hardly as thrilling as one filled with luxury and fame. And being a staunch materialist, Strange would never have believed in anything supernatural unless driven to absolute despair.
"Come to think of it... I don't really need to fear the Ancient One anymore. Maybe I should pay Kamar-Taj a visit someday."
Herman had always been curious about the magic of the Marvel Universe. More importantly, among those mystical arts, there might exist a method to travel between universes.
Although Skye had recently awakened her Vibration, it wouldn't hurt to have a backup plan. After all, no one knew when she'd be able to use her power to open a parallel universe. If it took years, Herman would still need another way to complete his missions.
[Stark Industries announced today another breakthrough in scientific research—a new revolution in renewable energy. A single reactor can now sustain the entire power grid of New York City.]
As Herman pondered, the news anchor's words drew his attention.
It hadn't even been that long, yet Tony Stark had already produced countless inventions and breakthroughs. Even while obsessing over his armor projects, he'd somehow managed to launch several highly profitable ventures for Stark Industries.
Since ancient times, energy had always been more profitable than weapons.
Now, Stark Industries had entered the electric vehicle market and achieved near-total monopoly over clean and renewable energy.
It was easy to predict what would come next—a steady stream of wealth flowing into Stark Industries. As its largest shareholder, Herman would, of course, be the biggest beneficiary. He couldn't help but wonder if Tony felt a twinge of regret knowing that.
"Tony really is my greatest employee," Herman thought with satisfaction, realizing he might have underestimated Tony Stark's genius.
He truly lived up to his reputation as the man whose mortal intellect could rival the gods. After developing the Arc Reactor, he had immediately begun applying its technology across multiple industries.
"Maybe he really does have the seventh Infinity Stone..."
The thought crossed Herman's mind as he recalled some of the comic issues he'd read. In a few parallel universes, Tony Stark had achieved what was called Mechanical Ascension—transcending flesh to become pure machine, transforming nearly all life in the universe into mechanical beings. Rumor had it that the seventh Infinity Stone was hidden inside Tony's brain.
The Ego Stone.
This gem granted Tony Stark the greatest intellect in the universe. Many people only knew of the six Infinity Stones Thanos once sought, but in truth, there were seven.
Besides the red Reality Stone, blue Space Stone, yellow Mind Stone, green Time Stone, purple Power Stone, and orange Soul Stone, there was one more—the Ego Stone, existing apart from the rest.
To the ancient beings who understood the universe's oldest secrets, the Ego Stone was considered the most important of all. In their hidden lore, all Infinity Stones originated from a goddess known as Nemesis—the Goddess of Vengeance.
Across the multiverse, countless Infinity Stones existed, but Nemesis possessed the combined might of every one of them. Her power exceeded even multiversal beings; though perhaps not on the same level as the One Above All, few entities in the endless Marvel cosmos could rival her.
It was said that, weary of her own invincibility, Nemesis chose to enter eternal slumber, dispersing her power throughout the multiverse, giving birth to the countless Infinity Stones found in every universe.
And the Ego Stone—
That was where Nemesis's consciousness resided. It contained all her knowledge. Whoever possessed it would bear what was known as the "Curse of Knowledge."
To such a being, invention and creation would come effortlessly.
Of course, whether the Ego Stone truly existed, Herman couldn't say for sure. Some Marvel comics existed completely outside the main continuity, and he could only treat them as "fan works."
Still, the Goddess of Vengeance—Nemesis—was very real.
...
"So then, if all six Infinity Stones are gathered... does that mean Nemesis could be awakened too?"
A bold thought crossed Herman's mind.
Of course, it was only a theory—he had no intention of testing it. No one in their right mind would willingly awaken an ancient and immensely powerful being.
Most ancient entities of such strength tended to have... questionable sanity. If he ended up awakening one that couldn't be controlled, that would truly be a nightmare.
"Unless I reach that same level myself," Herman murmured.
He had absolute confidence in his future. Now that he'd ascended to the Sky Father–level, his power was still growing rapidly. With two Platinum-tier identities under his belt, he was certain his existence would soon reach the level of a single-universe entity.
And that was only for now.
If he managed to draw an identity even higher than Platinum-tier, then—according to his own theories—he would instantly gain the potential to become a Multiversal-level being, or perhaps something even greater. For someone like him, a transmigrator blessed with a cheat system, there were no barriers to evolution.
In truth, most high-level beings were like Odin—their upper limit had been fixed since birth.
Without some miraculous twist of fate, it was impossible for them to climb any higher. But Herman wasn't bound by such restrictions.
"It's time to draw a new identity again. Let's hope my luck holds this round," he thought, silently praying to himself.
Inside his mind, the [All-Seeing Eye] began its countdown.
That was why Herman had been so relaxed today, even wasting time watching the news—because a new cycle had begun. It was once again time to draw a new identity from the [All-Seeing Eye]!
10!
9!
8!
…
1!
As Herman waited, the countdown in the [All-Seeing Eye] ticked down to zero.
The entire world suddenly froze once more, leaving only Herman able to move and think.
[World Permissions Accessed!]
[Weekly Identity Acquired!]
In his mind, the pupil representing the Eye of God flickered with a swirl of shifting colors before slowly settling into a steady glow.
...
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