Inside the Bus
After Hugie and Mother's Milk entered the bus, the group gathered around them to find out what the fifth compound that creates superheroes was.
Mother's Milk opened the can. Inside were several vials of Compound V.
Frenchie looked at the Compound V. "I can't believe this liquid is what gives people superpowers!"
Butcher had a nasty grin. "A bunch of scumbags who think they're holy, but it's really just lab results, huh?!"
Roger spoke through the screen. "Alright, move out before the train arrives. We're going to make a deal with him. If he sees you all here, he'll kill you all, and we won't be able to threaten him."
The boys understood what he meant, so they moved and got away from the Train's girlfriend's house.
Meanwhile, at the Train's Girlfriend's House
The Train arrived at the door and knocked.
After a short while, Popclaw opened the door, and the Train entered her house.
In the Boys' Truck
They were watching the cameras inside the Train's house as soon as he entered.
Things started to take a dangerous turn as the Train began to do his dirty business with his girlfriend. After he finished, he said to his girlfriend, "Tomorrow is my world race. I'm going to need Compound V. Give me a vial."
Popclaw tried to get him to announce that they were in a relationship, but the Train made many excuses until she gave up. She went to her special bag and opened it.
As soon as she opened the bag...
"WHAT!!! Where did all the injections go?!" Panic struck her.
As soon as the Train heard her words, he moved from the bed at super-speed to Popclaw's side, causing things to scatter from the force of the wind.
He looked into the empty bag, shock and anger on his face.
"Popclaw, are you playing with me?! Don't you know that tomorrow's race isn't for fun? If I lose, I'll be kicked out of the Seven!"
Popclaw looked at the Train, trembling. "I swear to you, I don't know where the injections are! I put them in the bag; I couldn't have forgotten!"
The Train was gripped with panic. He was afraid of the race tomorrow and afraid of the compound leaking, because then Homelander would find out.
Suddenly, the computer screen lit up!
"Train… do you want Compound V?"
As soon as the Train and Popclaw heard the voice, they looked at the computer and saw a black screen with nothing but a video of the sound waves moving as the voice spoke.
"Who are you, and how did you get Compound V?"
"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that if you don't get it, you'll lose your place in the Seven!"
The Train knew that the speaker knew his details and secret information.
"What do you want? Money?"
Roger replied, "I don't need your money. I want forty grams of your own blood, taken from near your heart."
"What?!"
"Do you think I'm crazy enough to give you my blood?!"
Roger replied coldly, "Then lose tomorrow in the race. Goodbye." Roger tried to make it seem like he was going to end the call and that the deal was off.
The Train was scared and didn't hesitate. "Okay, okay! Agreed! Agreed!"
He knew that Vought and Homelander would get rid of him the moment they found out he was worthless.
"There's a blood-drawing device on top of the tree in front of the house. It's made for drawing blood from superheroes. Go get it and perform the blood draw in front of me."
Hearing this, the Train moved at super-speed. He reached the tree, grabbed the device, and returned to his spot, carrying it, in less than five seconds!
"Begin," Roger ordered him to draw the blood quickly. Roger didn't want to waste any more time; he knew his days in this world were numbered, and he wanted to exploit every bit of benefit for his own purposes.
The Train began drawing the blood. The process took twenty minutes. As soon as it was finished…
A drone flew by the window of the building. "Put the blood in the drone."
The Train looked at the drone, amazed. It was the first time he had seen such advanced technology. He realized the person he was making the deal with was not simple.
The Train placed the blood in the drone's designated cargo area. As soon as he placed it, mechanical arms activated, securing the blood tightly to protect it.
When the process was complete…
A small door on the drone opened, revealing a storage compartment. Inside was "Compound V."
The Train was overjoyed. He grabbed it quickly and checked it. As soon as he confirmed it was Compound V, he felt excitement and relief, and his arrogance returned.
Roger knew the Train might be thinking of destroying the drone before it left, but… "Train, realize that the whole process was recorded on camera. If you want to be the top story on the news tomorrow, then go ahead and destroy the drone."
Hearing Roger's threat, the Train returned to reality and caution, realizing he had rushed. The other party was an unknown entity with many secrets that could threaten his position in the Seven.
The Train backed off and allowed the drone to take off and fly away.
"Alright, the deal is done. I hope our conversation remains secret and no one finds out about it." Although Roger didn't really care if Homelander or Vought found out, he didn't want problems he could avoid. He didn't want to play with them.
He wanted to leave the playing to the boys.
In the Truck
The boys were seeing everything happening inside Popclaw's house.
Hughie was silent, looking at the Train who had killed his girlfriend. He was filled with rage that the Train was living normally without even feeling remorse for killing his girlfriend.
"Hughie, go and watch the Train's race tomorrow. There will be a surprise that will shock everyone. I hope you see it."
The boys were surprised. They didn't know what it was, but if the mysterious Roger said it, they knew it was something big.
When Roger ended the call with the boys, Jarvis spoke up. "Sir, do you want me to connect you with Victoria Neuman now?"
"Yes, connect me."
As soon as he gave the order, a screen appeared in front of Roger showing Victoria sitting on a chair, clearly in her own home.
"Hello, Ms. Victoria!"
Victoria heard a sudden voice. She got up from her chair and turned around, but only saw the TV screen lit up, displaying sound waves moving according to the tone of the voice.
She knew someone had hacked her TV.
"Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is, can you give me what I want or not?"
Victoria replied, "I don't care what you want, but I warn you, the police and federal investigators won't let your hacking of a high-ranking government official's home slide."
Roger laughed. "Are you threatening me, Victoria Neuman? Or should I say… Victoria Edgar!"
Hearing "Edgar," Victoria felt a wave of internal panic, but she maintained her composure. "Edgar?! How could I possibly have a relationship with the CEO of Vought?!"
"You know very well that I am one of the people who fights Vought the most. I oppose their decisions and hope they are brought under the law," she said, trying to stay calm even in this difficult situation.
"You're a great actress, Victoria. Listen, I don't care about you, but there's something I want from you. If you give it to me, then everyone goes their separate way."
"But if I don't get what I want, then tomorrow on the front page of the news, there will be a picture of you linking your relationship with the CEO of Vought, and news that you are a secret superhero. You will lose your chance at running for president. Do you understand your position, or should I remind you again that you are in a situation where it's either agree or lose everything?!"
When he finished speaking, Victoria was speechless. She was shocked by the amount of information and secrets the other party had. The only people who knew she was a superhero were her and Edgar.
"Damn it!" She couldn't control her reaction during the call. She didn't even know who the caller was. How could she enter negotiations without any leverage? She knew that if she didn't go along with the current situation, her entire life of hard work and climbing the political ladder would be wasted.
"What do you want?" Victoria knew she had no other choice.