The Boys: Viltrumite Evolution Panel

Hughie swallowed hard.

He felt that Cate Dunlap was a bit too fanatical in her faith.

Just like how many people obsessed over Homelander.

He used to be obsessed with A-Train, claiming that Homelander couldn’t catch A-Train, and that A-Train was the fastest.

"I know you don’t believe me, but I’m telling the truth. Homelander can’t hurt Guardian, but... what about Soldier Boy?"

Cate Dunlap’s eyebrows arched slightly.

"Soldier Boy?"

"That old relic?"

She dismissed it, "Soldier Boy died a hero last century. He’s a figure from World War II. It’s not like he’s going to crawl out of a memorial and take two slaps from Guardian!"

"Though I’d actually love to see that."

Hughie’s expression remained resolute, "If there was once a weapon that defeated Soldier Boy, leaving him completely helpless, do you think Guardian could withstand it? Besides, we suspect that Soldier Boy might not actually be dead!"

Cate Dunlap’s smile slowly faded.

"You’re not joking, are you?"

"I don’t think I look like the type to joke around," Hughie said. "The weapon is in Russia. I just want Guardian to survive, and I hope this information will convince Guardian to spare my friends!"

Cate Dunlap’s pupils constricted slightly.

She had just been bluffing.

But Hughie was adamant that Soldier Boy was likely still alive, and that there was an even more sinister weapon out there.

Good grief, this was not something to be trifled with!

Cate Dunlap and Jordan exchanged a glance.

Both were sharp; they could communicate with just a look.

"Jordan, keep an eye on him. I’m going to find the boss."

Cate Dunlap picked up her coffee and walked out.

Hughie glanced at the cold-faced girl. "I’ll still be able to walk out of here alive, right?"

Jordan: "Mmhmm?"

Hughie: "..."

[Cate Dunlap — Emotional Shift: Absolute Faith, Protective Instinct, Vigilance]

[Evolution Points Gained: +4,400]

Inside Lucas’s office.

After hearing Cate Dunlap’s report, he crossed his legs, his expression entirely unsurprised.

"Soldier Boy, huh!"

Lucas watched his pen slowly spin in mid-air on its own.

As expected.

Butcher had managed to find a lead on Soldier Boy; Mallory must have told him.

Mallory had once carried out missions with Soldier Boy’s team, but that mission hadn’t been against a foreign enemy; it was a conspiracy to ambush and take down Soldier Boy.

Payback had joined forces to subdue Soldier Boy and hand him over to the Russians.

Soldier Boy had been used as a test subject for decades, tempered into possessing T0-level abilities.

Super strength, super durability, all-around physical enhancement, and... a chest cannon capable of neutralizing Supe abilities.

As for Mallory, the leader who single-handedly founded The Boys, she was a legendary ordinary human. She had dealt with many veteran superheroes back in the day, possibly including Gunpowder, Crimson Countess, Torpedo...

Lucas rubbed his chin. He knew Butcher was searching for a weapon.

This group had no idea that the weapon they were looking for was Soldier Boy himself!

Interesting!

If this old timer Soldier Boy really got fished out of the freezer by Butcher... things were about to get lively.

Soldier Boy, Clara, Homelander!

If these three ended up together... just imagining the scene, Lucas thought it would be way more entertaining than *Invincible*.

His eyes darted around.

According to the plot, Homelander and Clara would end up in bed together sooner or later; that old Nazi was obsessed with the perfect Aryan specimen.

And Homelander was severely lacking in maternal love.

After Madelyn was gone, his obsession with artificial milk had escalated even further.

The two were bound to strike sparks of love sooner or later.

And then Soldier Boy... seeing the woman he longed for with a caped brat...

Hehe!!

Lucas chuckled deviously.

A father and son falling in love with the same woman.

Tsk, tsk!

This plotline was almost too good to be true!

Just then, the system panel popped up a notification.

[System Notification]

[Countdown to Next Crusade: Two Months (There is no penalty mechanism for this Crusade, but the host is advised to prepare in advance)]

Seriously, System?

Do you have to rain on my parade right when I’m having the most fun?

What’s the meaning of this?

Lucas frowned slightly, but he quickly calmed down.

He admitted that he had been rash last time against Matt; he hadn’t just gotten the living daylights beaten out of him, he’d also been infected with the scourge virus. Fortunately, his genes were stable, and he possessed royal blood.

Now, he was even less worried.

With planetary-level strength, he wasn’t afraid of Omni-Man Nolan, alright!

Even if he ran into Thragg, once the Regent saw his infant age combined with the strength of an elite veteran, wouldn’t he just gift him Anissa for a Viltrumite ride?

Lucas felt pretty good about that.

But for now, let’s see how much entertainment Butcher and his crew could provide.

Meanwhile.

On a dilapidated cargo plane.

Butcher, Frenchie, Kimiko, and Mothers Milk were huddled together in the freezing cargo hold.

Outside, there was nothing but the vast Siberian tundra.

"I still think this is a long shot." Frenchie pulled his coat tighter. "Ms. Mallory... and those other witnesses from back then, their intel might be accurate, but we might not actually find Soldier Boy. What if the Russians already killed him?"

"The Russians aren’t that stupid. Otherwise, why would they pay such a huge price to buy Soldier Boy from Vought? We just need to figure out how to break in and get out alive." Butcher’s logic was simple and brutal.

"Besides, it doesn’t matter if Soldier Boy is dead or alive. What we need is the weapon that can take him down!" Butcher bit down on a cigar, his face full of strategic confidence.

Mothers Milk, on the other hand, seemed rather sullen.

After a long pause, he finally spoke up, "If Soldier Boy isn’t dead, I’m taking him out myself!"

Butcher was noncommittal. "Suit yourself. If Frenchie is right, that guy is probably already sliced up."

Kimiko: !@#!#￥!@#

"What did she say?" Butcher and Mothers Milk asked in unison, looking at Frenchie.

"She said to kill Stormfront first." Frenchie was fluent in beast-speak.

That evening.

Lucas arrived at Vought’s laboratory.

His clearance allowed him to come and go as he pleased throughout the building, and he had the authority to oversee all departments.

"Mr. Guardian, to what do we owe the pleasure?" The lab supervisor had to work late into the night to meet with Guardian, but the old white man looked full of reverence, showing no signs of frustration at having to work overtime.

"Get me some compound v. I need it urgently."

"Oh?" The lab supervisor asked, looking puzzled. "Although your clearance is very high, would you mind telling me what you plan to use the compound v for?"

"Can’t I use it as a firecracker?" Lucas shot him a glance. Just get it, stop asking so many questions!

"Uh, we have temporary compound v and permanent compound v here. Would you like some of each?"

"Sure!" Lucas nodded.

"Then... how much would you like?"

"Start by getting me a pack of each."

A pack meant forty small vials. Seriously, even people buying eggs didn’t buy them like this! Beads of sweat broke out on the lab supervisor’s forehead.