The reason he did not want the entire Vought company, but only 30% of the shares, was because, just as Edgar had said, Alex did not know how to run a company.
Asking for an extra 10%, besides the fact that the more money the better, was also because this 30% would ultimately have to be borne by Edgar.
Edgar could not possibly make the other shareholders bear that 30%, and the shareholders would never agree.
So in the end, only Edgar himself could silently take it all.
Once he took 30% of the shares from the CEO, then from that point on, Edgar would have to work for him.
In that way, invisibly, Vought would basically be in Alex's hands.
On top of that, if 30% of the shares were cashed out into dollars, Alex estimated it would be at least tens of billions.
'Mm! A small goal achieved.'
On the communicator, the Secretary of Defense paused before saying, ["Fine. I will speak with Mr. Edgar and persuade him to hand over 30% of the shares."]
["So, when will you take action?"]
Alex glanced over Manhattan Island, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, "Very soon."
The communication ended.
Although he said he would act "very soon," exactly when to begin was naturally up to Alex.
"No rush."
"Wait a little longer."
"Just a little longer."
"Money, power, fame."
"I want it all!"
———
At the helicopter platform, after finishing the call with the Secretary of Defense, Edgar's dark face had almost turned green.
"30% of the shares."
"That devil."
"He calculated it perfectly. At this rate, I'll be working for him. Heh!"
Edgar rubbed his face with one hand, "On top of that, a newly established department under the Department of Defense, plus the rank of Army Colonel."
"That bastard, from now on he'll have power if he wants power, money if he wants money."
Letting out a long breath, Edgar boarded the helicopter.
At that moment, even the landing platform began to shake.
If the helicopter did not take off now, it would not be able to leave.
Soon, the helicopter lifted into the air.
Edgar took out another phone, typed a message, and sent it.
The message read: ["Project Eclipse" moved ahead of schedule.]
Then he heard Ice Princess beside him let out a soft gasp, "Look, it's Homelander!"
As the helicopter climbed higher, Edgar saw that in the distant sky, just beneath the moon, Homelander stood in midair.
Electro Man asked strangely, "Is he just going to watch like that? Not do anything?"
Edgar's eyes were dark, "No. He'll make a move."
Ice Princess looked over, "Then why is he still up there?"
Edgar looked down at Manhattan below, "I'm afraid he's waiting."
Electro immediately asked, "Waiting for what?"
'Waiting for what? Of course, waiting for the moment when the benefits could be maximized.'
'That guy not only wants power and money. It looks like he also wants fame!'
'When Manhattan reaches the most critical moment of danger, when people fall into endless despair, if he steps in at that time, then to the people of Manhattan, he will be a savior!'
'By then, he will be worshiped like a god.'
'And people will forget what he did in the Empire State Building.'
Edgar looked at the figure beneath the silver moon, and a voice in his heart screamed.
'Is this still the Homelander I know?'
Right at that moment.
The distant figure turned and looked toward the helicopter. Backlit, he looked dim, but the two golden lights glowing from his shadowed face shone even brighter.
Edgar's whole body went numb. Fear wrapped around his heart like a venomous snake.
Thankfully, that figure turned away again.
Edgar was instantly drenched in sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of water.
———
On Manhattan Island, the tremors grew stronger and stronger.
Huge cracks split open in Times Square. Flocks of birds burst from Central Park. The Metropolitan Museum of Art shook violently. People screamed and ran along Broadway. The Charging Bull on Wall Street tipped over and fell.
BOOM!
In Times Square, another skyscraper suddenly snapped and tilted.
A little boy lost his balance and screamed as he slid across the suddenly slanted ground.
Seeing this, his father shouted, "No!"
And threw himself forward.
Sliding toward his son, stretching out his hand, trying desperately to grab that small, tender palm.
But until the child fell out through the shattered floor to ceiling window, he could not catch him.
"NOOOO! JACK!"
The father's eyes turned red instantly. He gave up trying to save himself, ready to follow his child to heaven.
But at that moment, the building's tilt stopped.
The ground even lifted slightly, so when the father slid near the window, he came to a stop on his own.
The man froze for a second, then was about to jump.
But he saw his son rising up from outside the window.
A hand was supporting the boy's body from below.
Then a voice came from outside.
"Do me a favor. Can you take the kid somewhere safe?"
The man quickly pulled his son into his arms and looked out the window.
He saw a blond man in a black battle suit, floating in midair, holding up the tilted building with one hand.
Even though he was not wearing his usual blue suit today, the man recognized him at a glance.
"Homelander!"
Alex smiled slightly, then lifted the building, wrapped in his bio field, flew it down, and set it safely on the ground.
Then he shot off into the air.
Moments later, people saw an explosion of fire on the rooftop of a building.
Then the earthquake gradually stopped.
After that, a huge voice echoed across the sky above Manhattan.
"IT'S OVER."
"YOU'RE SAFE NOW!"
At once, people looked up at the sky.
Under the brilliant stars stood a figure, hands on his hips, the silver moon shining bright behind him.
Just standing there, he gave people an endless sense of security.
And so, across Manhattan Island, countless voices gradually rose, all shouting the same name.
"Homelander!"
"Homelander!"
"Homelander!"
Near the Empire State Building, floating in midair, Jeff lifted his head and realized the earthquake had stopped.
And from all around, he could hear people shouting "Homelander."
Inside the "Black Overlord" armor, rage burned in Jeff's eyes.
He had already activated the "Earthshaker," and Manhattan had been on the verge of being shattered, teaching the Federation a lesson.
But just now, through the armor stationed in Times Square to guard the "Earthshaker," he saw Homelander appear out of nowhere and then destroy the "Earthshaker" with a single golden beam, ruining his plan at the final moment.
But that was not what made Jeff the angriest.
What angered him most was Homelander's change of attitude.
'He was acting like he was just standing by before. So why did he suddenly go back on his word?'
Inside the armor, the man's face twisted as he said in a low voice, "So what if he went back on it!"
"I won't lose!"
"The Black Overlord was built specifically to counter Homelander. The strongest battle armor!"
"It was created based on real combat data collected from previous armors that fought Homelander. A top tier weapon!"
"It will never lose!"
Just then, Jeff suddenly heard a man's voice behind him say, "What are you muttering about?"
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