Chapter 42.
In the end, Vought Corporation's press conference turned out to be a complete failure. Not only did it fall short of achieving its intended goals, but it also failed to contain the massive losses caused by the unfolding crisis.
Making matters worse, the resurfacing of the "Compound V" and "Baby Plan" scandals on the internet once again thrust Vought into the spotlight—this time under far more damning circumstances. The impact of this revelation far exceeded that of the earlier controversies involving the protection of Homelander and Thunder.
The public was in uproar. For the first time, ordinary people realized that these so-called superhumans were not born with their powers, nor were they divine gifts bestowed by some godly force.
The shocking truth emerged: all superpowers came from a technological product known as Compound V. Vought Corporation had secretly possessed this technology for decades but chose to conceal it from the world. Instead of sharing the discovery, they conducted covert human experiments, creating superhumans in secrecy and marketing them as superheroes to deceive the public. These figures, portrayed as noble saviors, were merely tools used by the corporation to reap massive profits through celebrity influence.
Initially, some might argue that this was a company's private invention, and they had every right to use it however they pleased. But what enraged the masses was the sense of betrayal. The superheroes they once worshipped, once believed to be divine protectors, were exposed as lab-grown products of scientific manipulation.
To say they were superheroes was generous. In harsher terms, they were mutants—creations that barely resembled humanity anymore.
Human beings are known for their contradictions. They call for the protection of weaker, unintelligent species. But if a new species emerges, more powerful and intelligent, humanity's instinct is to fear and eliminate them.
This reaction was not unique. Even with artificial intelligence, though there has been little progress, many people already fear its potential to surpass and destroy mankind. The same mindset applied to superheroes.
Originally, the public romanticized the idea that superpowers were rare, divine gifts beyond human comprehension—unpredictable and mysterious. That belief, however, was shattered by the revelation of Compound V. People were devastated to learn that a mere vial of formula was all it took to become superhuman, and worse, they had been kept in the dark, denied the opportunity to access it themselves.
Adding fuel to the fire, survivors from a recent flight accident publicly shared the truth of the incident. Just moments ago, they had cursed Thunder for his reckless actions, but now they realized he had actually acted in the name of justice and saved their lives. Still, their anger did not subside.
They couldn't see past the truth that Homelander, once an ordinary man, had gained his power through Compound V—and yet had become so detached from humanity that he disregarded others' lives.
Whether out of jealousy, fear, or rage, the public lost faith—not just in their heroes, but in Vought Corporation as well. They could no longer accept what they had once believed.
After this revelation, public outrage exploded. Across the nation, Vought Corporation faced condemnation from every direction. In this so-called free country, protests and demonstrations were a common reaction to injustice—and this time was no different.
Every city saw citizens flooding the streets, holding signs that denounced Vought and the superheroes they created. Chants echoed loudly. Crowds even surrounded the Vought Corporation headquarters, demanding justice.
Fortunately for Vought, as a corporate giant worth over $100 billion, their security was robust. Armed guards—many of them retired veterans—were stationed in place to protect company assets.
Despite the backlash, there remained a significant number of supporters. Many urged Vought Corporation to commercialize Compound V, arguing that the dream of becoming a superhero was one that nearly everyone shared.
However, inside the corporation, chaos reigned. Madeleine was overwhelmed. The scandal had snowballed, and pressure mounted from all directions.
Government officials began calling, subtly requesting access to Compound V—or even trying to purchase it. The military also reached out, offering vast sums of money to acquire the formula.
On the surface, this could have been a golden opportunity. If Compound V became a mainstream product, Vought Corporation stood to make unimaginable profits.
But Madeleine knew the truth: Compound V had originated from World War II technology—yes, the same "black science" often traced back to that era.
When Vought obtained the technology, it was still in its infancy. It took decades of research, huge investments in resources, and numerous failed attempts before they successfully created the first superhuman: Guardian.
Guardian was the strongest superhuman of them all—but also the most flawed. As the lead scientist who created him once confessed, Guardian was his greatest failure. Raised entirely in a lab, Guardian lacked even the slightest sense of humanity.
To this day, research on Compound V has not significantly progressed. Injecting it into an adult often leads to failure—or death.
Only a select few infants, carefully monitored and administered slow doses, could develop stable superpowers. This made commercial distribution impossible and unprofitable in the traditional sense.
So Vought devised a different strategy: instead of selling the formula, they would turn their superheroes into celebrities—"Superheroes"—and monetize their fame.
To sustain this system, Vought secretly collected blood samples from every newborn in hospitals, screening for candidates who could survive the Compound V transformation.
The dream of heroes was never about saviors—it was always about control, branding, and profit.
Then Vought Company would contact the selected parents, have them sign a confidentiality agreement, and tell them that Vought had discovered a way to make their child a superhuman—possibly even a superhero admired by millions.
What parent wouldn't want their child to stand out, to become someone extraordinary? The conditions offered by Vought Company were too tempting to resist. And so, the "Baby Program" was launched, eventually producing over a hundred thousand superheroes around the world.
It was Li Yue who instigated the chaos. He instructed David to release all detailed information regarding "Compound V" and the "Baby Program" to the public—under Thunder's name.
For a moment, Li Yue felt a surge of satisfaction seeing the explosive public response. But his smile quickly faded at the sound of David's voice.
"Mr. Li, Miss Starlight is calling. Should I connect you?"
Li Yue's expression froze. He had forgotten—Starlight was also a product of the Baby Program.
His face twisted into a complicated expression of guilt and dread. He suddenly didn't know how to face her.
"The inevitable will always come," he sighed, massaging his forehead. "Answer it."
He braced himself for the anger, the sadness, or whatever emotional storm Starlight—no, Annie—would unleash.
But when the call connected, there was silence. Not because she wasn't there. Li Yue could clearly hear her soft, steady breathing on the other end. She had picked up—she just didn't know what to say.
"Starlight… Are you okay? Are you alright?"
Li Yue waited for a response, for a minute or so. But she remained quiet. The stillness made his head throb. Finally, he spoke softly, breaking the silence.
"Li Yue," her voice came at last, quiet and filled with emotion, "Don't call me Starlight. Call me Annie."
Li Yue paused. He could hear everything in her voice—confusion, sorrow, betrayal, anger. It was clear that the revelation had hit her hard.
And how could it not? After more than a decade, learning that the powers she proudly bore, the ones that had made her a hero in the eyes of the world, weren't hers by birth—but by scientific manipulation, a decision made by her parents before she could even speak.
Her whole life had been decided for her, without her knowledge or consent. A future carved out behind her back, all in the name of heroism. She had never chosen to be a superhero—she had been made into one.
Some might say she was ungrateful. That most people would kill to have what she had. But it wasn't about the powers—it was about her freedom.
"Annie," Li Yue said softly, "I'm sorry… I should've told you beforehand. I didn't mean for you to get hurt like this."
Li Yue wasn't good at comforting others—especially women. His attempt at consolation probably sounded clumsy, but it came from a place of sincerity.
Annie's voice returned, quieter this time.
"At first… I still had a tiny hope. I wanted you to pick up and tell me it was all a lie. But now… I know it's real."
"I don't blame you, Li Yue. Actually, I want to thank you… for showing me the truth."
"My whole life has been a lie, full of deception. Being a superhero was never my dream—it was my parents'. Even my so-called 'heroic' acts were choreographed like scenes in a film."
"My life… it's like I'm a clown. No, even clowns have it better. At least they know they're performing, and when the show's over, they take off their makeup and return to who they really are."
"But I… I've never taken off the mask. I didn't even realize I was wearing one. I've been living the life someone else wrote for me."
She poured her heart out, and Li Yue simply listened. Quietly, patiently. He didn't interrupt. He couldn't.
And then, gently, he said, "Annie, let me tell you a story."
"There was once a man named Truman. He had a lovely family, a beautiful wife, a loyal friend, and a job that paid enough for a decent life."
"He was kind, cheerful, and greeted everyone in his neighborhood with a smile each morning."
"But Truman didn't know that for nearly thirty years, everything around him was staged. Every person he spoke to, every event he witnessed—it was all scripted. He was the only one who didn't know."
"Until one day, he saw his father—who had been dead for many years—suddenly appear before his eyes..."
"In the end, Truman gave his iconic farewell to those who had controlled his life for decades: 'In case I don't see you again, good morning, good afternoon, and good night!' And then, he stepped out the door… into the real world."
After Li Yue finished the story, there was a long silence on Annie's end. He wasn't sure what she was thinking.
"So, compared to Truman's life," Li Yue finally broke the silence, "don't you think yours has been a little better? Maybe even… blessed?"
Pfft…
A light laugh escaped from Annie.
"Haha, Li Yue, you really have no idea how to comfort people, do you? That was terrible!" she teased, though her voice held warmth now. "Still… thank you. That story helped. I do feel better. Honestly, aside from a few lies and some betrayal… I've got friends, purpose… there's not much I'd change."
"But," her tone turned serious again, "I still want to hear it from my mother. I want to ask her myself—and I want her to tell me the truth."
"So, Li Yue… talk later. Bye!"
With that, Annie hung up the call. Still holding the phone, she stood quietly in a dim corner of the Vought Company headquarters. Then, resolutely, she turned and headed to her room. She was done wearing the flashy superhero uniform for now—she changed into casual clothes and prepared to go home to confront her mother.
What she didn't know was that, the moment she walked away, a figure in a tactical suit stepped out from the shadows nearby.
"Li Yue? Thunder?" the figure murmured to himself. "Wherever you're hiding… I'll find you."
Back elsewhere...
"David," Li Yue said, his voice calm but focused, "Find out where Hughie and Billy are right now."
"And also… keep an eye on Annie. If anything unusual happens—tell me immediately."
Though he was preparing for his next move, Li Yue wasn't about to leave Annie unprotected. She was still inside the Vought Company after all—and there was always the chance something could go wrong.
It had been more than a month since Li Yue arrived in this world, and during that time, his power had grown tremendously—so much so, that he no longer had any regrets. He was now ready to carry out one last mission before leaving this world and returning to the Marvel Universe.
He did wonder, though, how much time had passed in Marvel since he left. The flow of time between dimensions wasn't always equal—but it didn't matter. As long as Thanos hadn't snapped his fingers yet, there was still time.
Li Yue was confident now—very confident. In fact, he believed that with his current strength, he could go back and face Thanos without the Infinity Stones. Defeating him wouldn't be easy—but it was no longer impossible.
After all, Thanos couldn't fly.
As long as Thanos didn't have all six stones, he couldn't snap his fingers and erase half the universe. That "Great Family Planning Project" of his would never succeed.
"Sir, I've found Hughie and Billy's location. Would you like to project it?" David's voice cut into Li Yue's thoughts, pulling him back to the present.
"Yes," Li Yue replied simply.
A soft blue beam shone from the watch on Li Yue's left wrist. A virtual 3D projection materialized before him, showing a detailed map of city buildings and streets—like a miniaturized digital cityscape. Two red dots pulsed prominently on the display, marking the locations of Hughie and Billy.
David had even plotted a careful underground route to their positions. But Li Yue didn't need it.
He could fly.
SWOOSH!!!
With the sound of air splitting, a shockwave burst through the room. The curtains flared outward violently as Li Yue's figure vanished, soaring skyward at high speed—leaving behind only the gently waving drapes to show he had ever been there.
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