Homelander raised his head and looked at the largest holographic electronic billboard above the plaza.
Normally, it would be looping advertisements for Coca-Cola or luxury goods featuring some popular actress.
But now, the entire screen was occupied by Homelander's handsome, smiling face.
Below the photo, a line of text was written in bold English:
[The Beacon of Humanity, Homelander. We will forever await your return.]
It wasn't just this largest screen.
Everywhere his gaze fell, the vast majority of electronic displays and projections on building facades were filled with prayers for him.
He arrived below Vought Tower, where a continuous stream of people had gathered spontaneously.
The people were not making loud noises; they were just quietly placing white candles on the ground, with bouquets of flowers neatly piled before the statue of Homelander.
Homelander stepped forward, strolling leisurely through the crowd.
He greedily enjoyed the love and longing people felt for him, his vanity immensely satisfied.
Suddenly, an inexplicably familiar figure caught his eye.
In the long line of people praying, a young boy with curly brown hair was tightly holding a woman's hand.
Is this... Peter Parker? Homelander recognized him.
Then the woman next to him must be Aunt May. Hmm, she certainly still has her charm.
Homelander floated over silently and stopped beside them.
Peter was wearing a Homelander merchandise hoodie today, with the iconic eagle pattern printed on the chest.
"He'll come back, right? Aunt May." Peter's voice carried the characteristic stubbornness of a youth.
May Parker gently pulled Peter into her arms, lightly patting his back.
This woman, who had raised Peter alone and was once nearly crushed by the weight of life, was dressed quite respectably now.
In particular, a shiny Vought senior employee badge pinned to her chest further highlighted her confidence.
"Of course, Peter. He is Homelander; he is omnipotent." May's voice was gentle yet firm.
She looked at the statue, her eyes full of gratitude. "If it weren't for him... we might not have been able to afford our apartment in Queens. Miss Jessica gave me that job, a salary enough to change our lives."
May lowered her head and looked into Peter's eyes. "Peter, Mr. Homelander didn't just save the World; he saved our family. Remember this kindness."
"I swear, Aunt May." Peter pumped his fist. "I will definitely become a hero like him. No matter where he is now, I will be in this city, continuing his justice."
Standing before the two of them, Homelander's face broke into a satisfied smile.
"Well done, Little Spider. Keep up this fanaticism, and harvest plenty of popularity for me in the future."
Without lingering further, Homelander followed the glass curtain wall of Vought Tower straight up to the President's office on the top floor.
Inside the President's office, a faint aroma of Macallan whiskey lingered.
Jessica was rapidly flipping through several thick documents, her high heels kicked off carelessly under the desk.
Her brow furrowed slightly as she pressed the intercom on the desk.
"The third phase of funding for the Deep Space Exploration Project is being disbursed too slowly." Her voice was decisive. "Tell the finance department that if I don't see the funds in the account by tomorrow morning, the head of that department can pack their things and get out."
A moment later.
*Knock knock.*
The office door was knocked, and Ashley walked in quickly, clutching a tablet.
"President Jones." Ashley stood before the desk, speaking rapidly. "The third phase of funding for the Deep Space Project has just been fully settled. However, several consortiums in Europe are trying to open their mouths for a slice of the pie."
"Additionally, regarding public opinion, the PR department is working twenty-four-hour shifts. Global polls show that public trust in Vought International has reached an all-time high."
Jessica downed the whiskey on her desk in one gulp.
"Good job, Ashley. Tell those European consortiums that if they dare to make any small moves at this time, I don't mind sending V.G.D's special operations team to have a heart-to-heart in their bedrooms."
"Understood." Ashley recorded the instructions quickly on her tablet, then flipped to the next page. "Also, regarding Nick Fury's job placement..."
Hearing that name, Homelander, who was floating in mid-air, raised an eyebrow. He landed on the desk, crossed his legs, and began listening with great interest.
"The uninhabited area in Alaska has been allocated," Ashley reported. "Skynet led the construction of the entire isolation zone. Talos and those Skrulls willing to follow him have all been transferred there. Nick Fury is currently serving as the Director of that isolation zone."
Jessica nodded. "This old guy got used to being the Director at S.H.I.E.L.D. Now, sending him to be a warden at an alien refugee camp in the freezing cold can be considered a professional match."
"Does he have any complaints?" Jessica asked.
"He is trying to obtain more permissions," Ashley reported truthfully. "He submitted twelve combat plans to Skynet regarding proactive strikes to wipe out Gravik's radical faction, but they were all rejected by Skynet."
"Rejecting them was correct." Jessica snorted coldly, leaning back in her chair.
"That old Agent is used to giving orders and manipulating everything. But this is Vought, not S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Tell Skynet that he is only responsible for managing that group of captive green-skinned aliens. Without my signature, he is not allowed to mobilize a single soldier of Vought."
"Understood." Ashley closed the folder and turned to leave.
Homelander watched her vigorous and resolute style, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening.
This woman had indeed grown. In the week since he left, Jessica had not been crushed by grief; instead, she had burst forth with an amazing sense of control.
Vought International and V.G.D were running in an orderly fashion under her management, and in some areas, the efficiency was even higher than when he was there.
She truly possessed the demeanor of the master of the harem.
"It seems I don't need to worry here."
Since everything was normal at Vought, Homelander had no intention of staying longer. He stood up from the desk and cast his gaze toward the east.
It was time to go see his little Witch.
...
At the same time.
Alaska, Skrull Isolation Zone.
"This is what you call resettlement?!" Nick Fury's voice was high-pitched, as he tried to use the aura of a long-time superior to suppress the woman sitting opposite him.
"This isn't resettlement, Skynet. This is imprisonment." Fury emphasized his tone, pointing out the window. "Talos and his people came here because they trusted me; they are seeking asylum, not to be prisoners of war!"
Skynet sat upright in her chair, her legs crossed elegantly. Her long golden hair was draped loosely over her shoulders, her skin was fair, and her eyes were clear.
If Fury hadn't known her identity, he would never have associated the elegantly charming woman before him with a super artificial intelligence that controlled the global network.
"Mr. Fury, I must correct your wording. This is called risk isolation.