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Homelander raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Natasha's body.
The Red Room's number one Black Widow. A top-tier infiltration master, combat master, and also a top-tier interrogation expert.
Homelander smiled, pointing at Banner who was leaning beside Natasha.
"Natasha, do you know about mall promotions?"
"Promotions?" Natasha was taken aback.
"Yeah, buy one get one free." Homelander pointed at Banner. "If you want to join V.G.D, that's fine. But the catch is, you have to be... a free gift with Dr. Banner."
The entire area went silent for a second.
"Haha...!" Tony couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Banner coughed awkwardly, a hint of red appearing on his pale face.
Natasha also smiled, generously linking her arm with Banner's.
"Sounds like a good deal. However, since the free gift is extremely dangerous, I suggest you buy a massive personal accident insurance policy."
"Deal." Homelander snapped his fingers.
Banner looked at Homelander, shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Mr. Starr, this isn't a joke."
"You know what I am. I'm a ticking nuclear bomb. If it wasn't for you just now... this place would have turned into hell."
Banner lowered his head in pain.
"I will bring disaster to you all."
"Disaster?"
Homelander walked up to Banner, his smile fading as his expression became serious and earnest.
"Bruce, look at me."
"You think the Hulk is a disease? A curse?"
"No."
Homelander wagged his finger.
"Hulk is power, pure power. The problem isn't the power itself, but the person wielding it."
"You're running from him, you're suppressing him. You treat him like a caged Beast. So when he comes out, he's only capable of rage and destruction."
"Come to Vought."
Homelander reached out his hand to Banner.
"I promise you, Bruce."
"I will help you solve the Hulk problem completely. Not by destroying him, but by accepting him."
"One day, you'll find that the Hulk isn't your enemy; he's your strongest asset."
Banner looked at the hand extended toward him.
How many years had it been?
Everyone wanted to use the Hulk or kill the Hulk. No one had ever said they would help him accept the Hulk.
Moreover, the image of Homelander beating the Hulk was still fresh in his mind.
This was probably the only person in the World who could truly "persuade" the Hulk physically.
Banner thought for a moment and finally grasped Homelander's hand.
"...Thank you."
"Welcome to the family."
At that moment, the dense sound of propellers suddenly came from the sky.
Over a dozen helicopters painted with the logos of major news media—CNN, BBC, AFP, and others.
They had been circling the perimeter just now, not daring to approach the Hulk's battlefield.
Now that the battle was over, they couldn't wait to find a place to land, wanting to get first-hand information.
"Well, see you two later. Remember to send your resumes to Ashley; she'll arrange the entry physicals."
Homelander waved at Banner and the others, then turned toward the direction where the reporters were landing.
Before the helicopters had even stabilized, reporters were already jumping off, rushing toward Homelander despite the danger of crumbling ruins that could collapse at any moment, microphones nearly poking into Homelander's face.
"Mr. Anthony! Does all of this have anything to do with S.H.I.E.L.D.?!"
"What are your thoughts on the Hulk's atrocities in downtown Sokovia?"
"Is that Tony Stark? Are the Avengers also responsible for this destruction?!"
"Will you be suing the Avengers?"
Homelander let go of Banner's hand and switched into "business mode."
"Friends from the media, please stay calm."
He raised his hand and pressed down, signaling for everyone to be quiet.
"Regarding this battle, Vought will have a detailed press conference later. Right now, our priority is to treat the injured..."
Suddenly.
Homelander's voice trailed off.
As if sensing something, he abruptly turned his head and looked toward the old castle on the nearby hillside.
His brow furrowed, and his ears twitched slightly, as if he had heard something.
"What's wrong? Homelander?"
A bold reporter asked, holding up a microphone.
"Shh..."
Homelander raised a finger, signaling for everyone to be silent.
A few seconds later.
"My friends from the press..." Homelander's tone became deep, his expression filled with shock, which then turned into rage.
"The battle may be over, but justice... has not yet been served."
"I'll be leaving for a moment!"
"What?!"
The reporters looked at each other in confusion.
Before they could react, Homelander had already taken off, slowly flying toward the castle.
"Quick! Quick!!"
"Follow him!!"
The reporters went crazy, running toward the castle with their cameras. This was an exclusive Homelander scene!
When they ran panting to the base of the castle, they happened to see a soul-stirring sight.
Homelander was hovering in mid-air, his eyes shooting two precise beams of heat vision.
Sizzle—!!
A thick stone wall covered in moss was sliced open with a huge gap by the crimson heat vision.
As the stones came crashing down.
Sunlight shone into that damp, dark room.
"Oh my God..."
A female reporter covered her mouth, tears instantly welling up.
The camera lenses were trembling.
The scene inside was exposed raw before the World's cameras.
It was a massive confinement area.
In dozens of small, transparent isolation pods, a group of children in rags were imprisoned.
The older ones looked to be seventeen or eighteen, while the younger ones were only eleven or twelve.
They huddled in corners with terrified eyes; some had various tubes inserted into them, and some had traces of electric shocks and chemical experiments remaining on their skin.
This was hell.
This was a living hell hidden in the darkness of the 21st-century civilized World.
Homelander slowly landed and walked in on foot like an ordinary big brother.
"No... don't come over..."
A little girl in a hospital gown screamed in terror as she saw Homelander entering through the broken wall, clutching her knees tightly.
"Don't be afraid... child, don't be afraid."
Homelander walked toward the little girl step by step, his voice as soft as water.
He knelt down, ignoring the disgusting slime and wounds on the girl, and opened his arms, holding the shivering little body tightly in his embrace.
"It's okay now... it's okay..."
"You can all go home... I promise..."
"Waaah—!!!"
The moment the little girl felt that warm embrace, her long-suppressed fear finally exploded, and she burst into loud sobs.
This cry seemed to open a floodgate.
All the children gathered around, their cries joining together.
Homelander just knelt there on the filthy floor, letting the children cling to him.
He opened his arms, trying to embrace everyone.
He let the children's tears and snot dirty his uniform.
He looked up, facing the cameras of major media outlets outside the hole.
And Homelander's deep blue eyes were filled with tears.
It was anger, it was compassion, it was an indictment of this cruel World.
Click click click—!!!
This moment was frozen in time.
"Light Shines Into Hell"
This photo would undoubtedly win the next Pulitzer Prize, becoming a footnote of this era... At this moment, a huge roar once again came from the sky above Sokovia.
A supersonic VTOL transport plane painted with the "Vought Medical" logo hovered and stopped nearby.
The landing gear deployed, and dozens of Vought Medical staff in white uniforms rushed out, pushing rescue equipment.
"Children! Don't be afraid! There's an unlimited supply of hot dogs, pizza, and Vought energy drinks here!"
"Those who can't move, get on the stretchers first! Minor injuries, follow me!"
Under Vought's professional rescue, the injured children were immediately put on stretchers and wrapped in warm blankets.
The wounded were treated one by one.
Homelander stood up, handed the little girl in his arms to a Nurse, and then walked in front of the camera.
"I don't want to make any speculations." Homelander spoke into the microphone, his voice low, "But I promise the World. No matter who did this, no matter where they are hiding."
"I will find them."
"I will make them pay the pri—"
Before Homelander could finish, a sudden commotion broke out nearby.
"My God! You guys come look at this!!"
A reporter from the New York Times was currently standing in front of a console in the laboratory.
He had originally wanted to take some close-ups of the experimental equipment, but accidentally discovered a computer that hadn't been destroyed in time.
On the computer screen, an encrypted file was in the process of being decrypted.
The reporter's hand trembled as he clicked to open it.
The title of the file burst into view, featuring S.H.I.E.L.D.'s unique black eagle shield logo.
File Code: "Secret Warriors Project"
In the file's approver column, a flamboyant name was signed—
Nicholas Joseph Fury.