"Ashley, I want to hold a press conference. Help me arrange it."
Alex stood up and smiled, "Also, have the costume team come up. I have time now."
"And plenty of it."
Ashley looked confused, "Homelander, I don't think this is the right time to hold a press conference. The legal team—"
"Do as I say, dear," Alex's smile was brilliant, but there was not a hint of warmth in his eyes.
.
.
.
After Ashley left for a while, the costume team arrived.
After introducing themselves, the team leader cleared his throat, "Respected Homelander, we've designed several suit proposals. We hope you'll like them."
Alex nodded, "Show me."
The team leader made a gesture.
On the command hall screen appeared a suit with silver-white as the main color, feather patterns, and a golden cape.
"The first proposal, Guardian Angel."
"White represents purity and symbolizes peace—"
Before he could finish, Alex waved his hand, "Next."
The team leader looked a little awkward, because this suit was his own design.
He had put it first, hoping to win Alex's favor. He did not expect Alex to reject it before he even finished speaking.
He had no choice but to sit down and look toward a female designer.
The woman stood up, tapped on the tablet in her hand, and displayed the image on the screen.
This suit was roughly similar to what Alex was currently wearing.
It was also mainly blue, but it boldly discarded several of the original secondary colors, keeping only red as decoration.
On the chest of the suit was an abstract pattern that looked somewhat like the letter "P."
The arm sections used red flame patterns, with part of the flames extended and made three-dimensional, shaped into sharp blade-like forms.
"This is?", Seeing this suit, Alex was quite interested.
"Blazing Guard."
The female designer explained, "Flames symbolize your passion, power, justice, and sense of mission."
"The flame concept on both arms is extended, using hardened design and blade-like appearances to show your sharpness, while also implying your refusal to compromise with evil."
"The chest pattern is an abstraction of the letter P, and it's also the first letter of the word 'Protection.'"
"That's my design concept, sir."
Alex gave a slight nod, "Not bad. Next."
At this point, a white male designer stood up.
He presented a black suit, boldly decorated with golden lines.
Those golden lines were like lightning, full of power, and cleverly emphasized the wearer's well-built physique.
Alex looked at the designer.
The designer immediately said with visible excitement, "Respected Homelander, please allow me to introduce it to you."
"Dark Night Lightning!"
"I believe you are the most piercing, brightest bolt of lightning in this chaotic, evil, sin-filled world!"
"This world is pitch black, and you are the light that splits the chaos and illuminates everything!"
"You are the lightning of the dark night, the final salvation!"
Alex crossed his arms over his chest and gave no comment, only saying, "Continue."
After that, the costume team displayed several more suits. One of them was even green, making Alex's face turn green as well.
Finally, Alex said, "I like both Blazing Guard and Dark Night Lightning."
"Make them."
"However, for the Blazing Guard suit, the letter on the chest needs to be changed."
The designer immediately asked, "Homelander, how would you like it changed?"
"Not 'P.' I want 'K'!", Alex smiled, "The K in King!"
———
Two hours later—
Alex arrived outside the press conference venue. Just as he was about to go in, he suddenly stopped and then smiled faintly.
At this moment, someone behind him said, "Please wait a moment, Homelander."
Alex turned around and saw Vought's Black CEO, Edgar.
Scanning the surroundings, he also spotted the Invisible Man.
Edgar said with a serious expression, "Can I talk to you?"
Alex glanced at a nearby clock, "You have three minutes."
Edgar looked toward the venue, "What do you plan to announce?"
Alex asked back, "Do I need your approval?"
Edgar gave a bitter smile, "You don't need my approval, but I can offer some advice."
"Maybe you don't know this, but right now you, and our Vought Corporation, are at the center of public opinion."
"One wrong move, and we'll be blown into the air, maybe even into outer space."
Alex spread his hands, "Then I can definitely fly back."
Edgar rubbed his face, "I'll be blunt, Homelander. I hope you cancel this press conference."
"Right now, doing nothing would be better."
"Otherwise, no matter what we do or say, it will become a handle for our enemies. They'll use everything to attack us."
Alex patted the CEO on the shoulder, "And I will crush all enemies."
"Relax, my friend."
"Leave everything to me."
"Maybe you can go up to the 88th floor and make yourself a cup of coffee. Have Angelina brew one for you. She's very good at that."
After patting him twice more, Alex walked into the venue.
Edgar said nothing and made no attempt to stop him. He simply watched for a moment, then turned and left.
As Alex entered the venue, countless camera flashes lit up before his eyes.
He calmly walked toward the stage, wearing a perfect smile, and under the flashes arrived at his spot.
Alex raised both hands in a downward gesture, and the flashes finally stopped.
He picked up the microphone and tested the sound, then said, ["I bet you people are about to run your legs off."]
["Because what I'm about to say will give you a full three days' worth of headlines."]
Laughter filled the venue.
Then a reporter asked, "Homelander, what do you want to tell us? What do you want to tell the world?"
Alex looked around, then said, ["Is this live right now?"]
"Yes, Homelander, we're broadcasting live."
Alex nodded, faced the camera, and smiled, ["I assume everyone has already seen this morning's news."]
["It seems our nation's security agencies are very worried that I and my team might cause unnecessary damage to New York's buildings."]
["I understand their feelings, and in consideration of those feelings, I hereby announce."]
["For the next period of time, the Seven will suspend all activities."]
["Yes."]
["Starting from this very second."]
["The Seven will conduct no rescues and no operations."]
["If you encounter difficulties, everyone, please seek help from the police officers."]
["That's all I have to say."]
He winked at the camera, smiled, and left the venue.
———
Outside the venue—
Ashley stood there as if turned to stone, completely dumbfounded.
After a moment, she yanked hard at her own hair, "I knew it."
"I knew the moment he took the initiative to hold a press conference, nothing good would come of it!"
"What is he doing?"
"Throwing a childish tantrum?"
"Or declaring war on the security agencies?"
At that moment, Ashley's phone started ringing, but she had no mood to answer it.
The surging wave of reporters' questions forced her to brace herself and walk into the venue.
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