Chapter 87 Ashley and Hughie, Two Legendary Resilient Women
"They’ll only think you’re stingy, brother."
Lucas spread his hands, "Sometimes it’s not about lacking a template. Once there’s a precedent, it’s easy for things to go wrong when people start making comparisons."
"By my calculations, you need to donate at least two hundred million."
"It’s best if you match me, three hundred million..."
Homelander’s face wrinkled visibly, like an old cucumber.
"Do you know how hard it was for me to earn these three hundred million?"
Fine, fine, fine, so Homelander is starting to complain now, huh!
"Not easy? You go to Hollywood, shoot a movie, take the top salary plus a cut, shoot a couple more, and won’t the money just come back?"
"Besides, can you even spend all that money in your lifetime? To you, it’s just a pile of paper bills that will just mold away in the bank."
"If you let someone else invest it and they run off with the money, wouldn’t that be an ominous end to your later years?"
Homelander shook his head, looking extremely pained.
"No way!"
Lucas took out his phone, making a show of dialing.
"Fine, I’ll call Ryan and tell him that your dad has money but refuses to do charity. So much for ’justice,’ it’s all just a facade..."
"I’ll donate!"
Homelander nearly flipped the table.
"I’ll donate, okay! Three hundred million! Just like you!"
...
[Homelander — Emotional change: Pained, unwilling, feeling powerless (being manipulated), good father to his son]
[Evolution Points gained: +11,340]
...
In the corner, Hughie was frantically taking meeting minutes, his hand shaking as if he had Parkinson’s.
First day on the job.
Three hundred million in funding turned into six hundred million in the blink of an eye.
Is this... Guardian’s power?
Butcher says there isn’t a single good Supe.
But this one right here, with just a few words, made the most dangerous, terrifying lunatic in America docilely dump three hundred million into a charity fund.
Homelander doesn’t seem that bad after all!
Hughie thought to himself.
A truly bad person wouldn’t possibly pay up, not even for approval ratings.
And back to Guardian, he’s no mad dog.
He is clearly... the leash holding an entire group of Supes.
The Seven could bolt at any moment, and Guardian is the hand gripping the leash.
...
[Hughie Campbell — Emotional change: Cognitive collapse, shock, fundamental shift in perception of Guardian, wavering]
[Evolution Points gained: +24,880]
...
Lucas’s mouth curled into a Dragon King smirk.
gOOd!
Hughie is wavering!!
Just as Hughie’s worldview was being reshaped, two people suddenly popped up from the side.
Maeve and Starlight exchanged a glance.
Both spoke almost simultaneously.
"I’ll donate one hundred million."
Starlight spoke first, her chin slightly raised.
"Then I’ll donate one hundred and ten million."
Maeve held her coffee, indifferent.
The Queen isn’t drinking anymore; she’s starting to retire.
Starlight raised an eyebrow. "One hundred and twenty million."
"Yo, Little Goldilocks has money, huh." Maeve put down her cup.
"The money I’m donating is clean, all earned from selling... selling my image." Starlight offered a forced smile.
The temperature in the conference room plummeted.
Homelander was uncharacteristically staring at the table, saying nothing.
Hughie and Ashley, as two ordinary people, each stared at the floor, counting the patterns on the tiles.
Lucas rubbed his temples.
"Alright, alright."
He made the final decision, "One hundred million each, no more adding."
"It’s not easy for Maeve to earn money; she’s getting on in years, so everything she does is bitter!"
"Guardian!" Maeve slammed her coffee cup down hard.
What! What!
She was in her golden years, how was she old?
I think you, Guardian, want to get shocked!
"...As for Starlight, she’s just starting out, and she’s only just saved up one hundred million. This sense of justice is worthy of praise."
Lucas finished speaking without changing his expression.
Maeve’s chest heaved, but looking at that punchable face, she ultimately didn’t lash out.
...
[Queen Maeve — Emotional change: Embarrassed/angry, happy (being noticed), jealous (only coaxing the little blonde)]
[Evolution Points gained: +9,450]
...
Hughie was numb.
First day on the job, three hundred million in funds becomes six hundred million.
Then six hundred million becomes eight hundred million.
His dojo didn’t make that much in a whole night!
Hughie felt like he didn’t hate Supes anymore.
He hated rich people!
Damn high society.
Once the dust settled on this donation competition that was comparable to an auction, Lucas clapped his hands.
"Alright, the charity matter is settled! Ashley, draft a press release later!"
He looked at Hughie.
"You two head out first; the rest is an internal matter."
Hughie felt like he had been granted an amnesty; clutching the meeting minutes, he followed Ashley and practically fled the conference room.
Both wiped the sweat from their brows at the same time.
"Whew! From now on, it’s just the two of us!"
Ashley extended a hand.
Hughie gripped it tightly.
The two comrades-in-arms felt they had met too late.
As soon as the door closed.
The relaxed look on Lucas’s face faded for the most part.
"Let’s talk business. Where has that kid The Deep been making his fortune lately?"
The expressions of the few people in the conference room changed.
Homelander paced by the window with his hands behind his back, "The Deep is now a rat crossing the street, everyone wants to beat him up. He publicly stands with the Church of the Collective and has even attended several events with Alastair Adana."
"Once Little St. James Island was exposed, everyone online is spreading rumors about whether The Deep has also been to the island."
"If that animal has been to the island, don’t blame me for being ruthless!" Maeve sneered.
"That’s the problem."
Lucas shook his head, "We can’t dig any deeper into his dirt."
"Why?" Starlight asked, puzzled.
Lucas’s gaze swept across everyone present, "Because The Deep is a member of The Seven. Whatever The Seven was like before, that’s all in the past; today is a new era!"
"If he drags out the island affair, at most we deal with it all together. But if it gets linked to Vought’s past dark secrets, and they start investigating you one by one, what will you do?"
"Right, John, the ’never-kills-anyone, good neighbor’?"
"The ruthless killer, Black Noir?"
"The lesbian... now bisexual, alcoholic, Maeve?"
Homelander stood up abruptly, his eyes starting to glow red.
"That’s simple. I’ll go rip him apart right now."
"Sit down." Lucas didn’t even turn his head.
"I..."
"I said sit down." Lucas’s tone was flat.
But Homelander, as if possessed, actually moved his butt back onto the chair.
He didn’t even realize it himself.
What the f***!
Why am I listening to him!
Homelander felt a surge of frustration inside, but his body was very honest.
"Killing someone like The Deep can’t be done by you. You’re the leader, and you’re the most high-profile face in America; it’s too conspicuous!"
He looked at Black Noir, who had remained motionless the whole time.
This guy never misses a meeting, and Lucas ignores him every time; no wonder he’s suited to be an assassin.
Even more invisible than Translucent!
"Black Noir, you go."
This was the first time Lucas had singled him out since joining Vought.
Black Noir slowly raised his head.
Black Noir was Edgar’s man, and Lucas had been worried about whether he needed to call that guy.
However.
Black Noir nodded.
He didn’t even ask.
Although he couldn’t speak anyway.
Lucas was slightly stunned.
So straightforward?