Annie admitted that she had overestimated herself. The back door was not that easy to use.
In this society of connections, sometimes one had to pay the due price for using the back door. After all, there was always a storm before the rainbow.
"Please don't…"
"Ah—no! Firecracker, what are you doing? Don't do this!"
"You little bitch, you're the Guardian of Des Moines, and this is all you've got? How can you protect the city, how can you become one of The Seven?"
"Forget it, I'll help you. Don't move, I'll push you. Did you forget what your mom said? You must make Aaron satisfied."
"What? No? That won't do, I'm not as vicious as you. We don't need to take turns using the back door, now you sit down properly."
Once the main topic began, Firecracker tore off her disguise, revealing her true face. She was smug and wild, venting all the hatred from being slandered and failing when she was a teenager, all of it released today.
Looking at Annie's highly swollen abdomen, like someone several months pregnant, she laughed excitedly. "Hahaha, I didn't expect you to have this day. Ten years ago, when you spread rumors to the media, did you ever think that ten years later, you would actually be taken through the back door?"
Firecracker hadn't finished speaking when she suddenly exclaimed, "Eh… wait, it's not me, it's her!"
Aaron said, "She's too useless, now it's your turn."
How could Aaron be satisfied with just Annie?
After today, both Firecracker and Starlight would become his women. As a qualified master of a harem, the harem must be harmonious.
Enemies? No problem.
Fight side by side, face the enemy together, all hatred will vanish into thin air.
After all, with Aaron, the great devil, none of them were a match for him alone.
Unity, therefore, became inevitable.
Day after day, Aaron was ready to get down to business.
After all, Annie had already paid the price.
As a good young man in the new society, he had to deliver after receiving payment. His reputation had always been excellent. Putting everything else aside, just seeing how hard Annie was trying, Aaron should help her.
He wanted people to know that if they used their back door for him, their wishes would surely come true.
The last one was Firecracker.
The review was excellent.
Now it was Annie's turn.
Annie moved slowly, like a snail, inching her way to Aaron's side. It was only a few meters, but it took her dozens of seconds.
Keep in mind, the people normally injected with compound V had self-healing abilities as a standard.
For excellent individuals like Annie, her self-healing ability was quite good. Yet, she still found it difficult to recover to normal.
Aaron had a myriad of ways to help her, but he had to let Firecracker vent, didn't he?
Annie, in a hoarse voice, whispered expectantly, "Aaron, about The Seven… how should we handle it?"
Annie already knew from Firecracker the reason why she was so severely taken through the back door, and also knew that Aaron was not from Vought International, but she still didn't forget the position in The Seven, holding great expectations.
Leaving everything else aside, she had paid such a huge price. She couldn't possibly return empty-handed, could she? Wouldn't that be for nothing?
"Don't worry, I've already promised you a spot in The Seven, and I always keep my word."
Aaron motioned for her to relax, but Annie hesitated. "But… The Seven's positions aren't confirmed right now, do we have to add another one?"
"That's not a problem. The Lamplighter has been a member of The Seven for long enough. For certain reasons, whether he wants to or not, he has to retire."
"On one hand, he's too weak. On the other hand, he has other intentions."
Annie's face showed joy. She doubted the truthfulness of these words but it was indeed hope.
Recently, Vought International had been holding auditions worldwide with such high frequency that it made people suspect there were other motives.
Perhaps Vought International was looking for new replacements?
Aaron saw the doubt in Annie's heart, but he did not offer an explanation for it.
The Lamplighter was Vought International's cleaner, handling many unsavory individuals for them.
Because of this, he was targeted by the former CIA Director, Mallory, who blackmailed The Lamplighter into gathering intel on Vought International.
However, The Lamplighter resented being controlled and, in turn, tried to kill Mallory, but accidentally killed several of Mallory's grandchildren, which caused him deep remorse.
Therefore, The Lamplighter sought to retire from The Seven. Counting the time, it would be very soon.
However, Vought International would not allow The Lamplighter, who knew too many secrets, to retire perfectly.
In the original story, after The Lamplighter suddenly retired, he was sent by Vought International to guard a mental hospital, funded by them and affiliated with a global health organization.
Ostensibly, this mental hospital was a public welfare institution, providing help to mental patients. In reality, this hospital, named Sage Grove Center, was used by Vought International to detain experiment subjects injected with Compound V.
Among them were extremely dangerous entities, including the explosion-powered individual, Cindy.
"Of course."
Aaron's words changed, and his gaze turned towards the door, his voice echoing, "If you really can't wait, then we can speed this up."
"How to speed it up?" Annie's heart pounded.
"Wouldn't killing a few people do it?"
Aaron smiled, saying something that frightened Annie.
"Wouldn't that be bad? They are Superheroes. I mean, they are very strong, and they are also the embodiment of justice."
Annie was scared by this crazy suggestion. She wanted to be a part of The Seven, but she never thought of acting recklessly.
"Embodiment of justice? Are you sure?"
Aaron said meaningfully, "You consider them the embodiment of justice, but it doesn't mean they will consider you one of their own."
"Ah?" Annie was stunned.
Aaron nodded. "They're here."
As he spoke, Aaron waved his hand, completely healing Annie's body, bringing her back to full health.
Gwenpool and Firecracker also received the news and walked out.
Then, the entire hotel fell into absolute silence.
"Do you feel it?"
Aaron turned his head, and the television hanging on the wall next to him automatically turned on with a crackle.
At this moment, the screen was broadcasting a promotional video for "Invisible Agents 2", and as a flash of light passed, the screen transformed into a third-person view.
It was a three-dimensional map of the hotel where Aaron and the others were located.
At this moment, at the main entrance of the hotel, people were continuously running out quickly and quietly.
The Seven, who should have been heading to variety shows, commercial performances, and advertisements, were all appearing together at this time. They were smiling and greeting everyone who came out.
"This hotel..."
"Isn't this our place?"
Annie was very puzzled.
"Strange, even if there's a problem, shouldn't they notify me first?"
Des Moines was Annie's base camp. Theoretically, even if there was a crisis, she should be notified first. Only if it couldn't be resolved or there wasn't enough time would The Seven be dispatched.
Firecracker's face alternated between green and white. "Damn it, why didn't the hotel notify us about the evacuation? We're in the presidential suite."
"I'm going to complain about them and let them know the consequences of offending important guests."
Gwenpool, however, had a serious expression. "Haven't you realized yet? They are targeting us."
Firecracker was stunned. She wasn't stupid, she just hadn't expected that she, also a Superhero, would be targeted by The Seven.
And with such a luxurious lineup.
Logically, when The Seven went on missions, didn't they usually go out in pairs? What the hell is it to have all seven come at once?
Annie asked ignorantly, "Targeting us? But we haven't done anything, could just existing be a crime?"
Speaking of which, Annie gave Aaron a strange look. Had the cat gotten out of the bag?
Or should she go out and explain to them that all of this was her own free will?
Firecracker was also suspicious, but she thought of an impossible possibility, and her face changed drastically.
"No way, are they planning to forcibly take you away? Madelyn, that old bitch, she's so old and still preying on the young, she's truly shameless."
Annie quickly pressed, and Firecracker told her what had happened earlier.
When she learned that Madelyn wanted to take Aaron, but was rejected by Firecracker, Annie's worldview was shattered.
Madelyn was the CEO of The Seven. Just because Firecracker rejected her proposition, she immediately sent out The Seven, preparing to use force?
Hiss... That's too terrifying.
Wait, then didn't she make a huge profit?
Something that the high and mighty Madelyn couldn't even obtain, she had used thoroughly.
Gwenpool shook her head. "Something's not right, they don't seem like they want to take us away, it's more like..."
"Killing us."
Aaron took over, "It's quite clear they're not here to talk, but to kill."
The scene changed, showing Homelander being interviewed by the media.
"Yes, I am certain that in the presidential suite of this very hotel, there is a pair of extremely dangerous superpowered fugitives, they are a male and female butcher, quite evil, and have killed countless people."
"Once all innocent people are safely evacuated, we will execute justice, and I will personally execute him to maintain the safety of Des Moines."
"Oh, you said the Des Moines Guardian is also in the presidential suite? Perhaps she was coerced? Her life is in danger."
"What? Florida's Superhero Firecracker is also here? Oh, this is not good news, they are both beautiful women, but this is also the most terrifying thing."
"That man possesses a terrible ability to charm women. Any woman in front of him will lose her sanity and become an inflatable doll for him to manipulate."
"I think... Firecracker and Starlight have already been captured and have become the playthings of the criminals."
"Don't worry, if they haven't succumbed to evil, I will do my best to ensure their safety, of course, only to the best of my ability."
"I am indeed very powerful, the most powerful Superhero, but you know, some enemies also possess superpowers, they are very evil and vicious, and anything can happen before we subdue and kill him."
"No one understands those villains possessed by Satan better than me. If you encounter similar situations, you can contact Vought International. I am always ready to protect you."
Homelander showed his pearly white teeth, his smile full of sunshine and kindness, robotically repeating jargon he had probably said countless times.