Starting from scratch, Batman crushed my dream of getting rich

Chapter 521 Dancing with Beasts
Interestingly, Madeleine's feelings for Homelander are far less intense than Homelander's infatuation and dependence on her.

It even has a hint of compromise and self-sacrifice.

While this argument may seem unconvincing in this context, given that she herself has already risen to the position of vice president of the superhero management department—in fact, if the superhero military bill she has been pushing for has any chance of being passed, this position would likely be hers after Stan Edgar retires.

For Madeline, who has climbed her way up to this position in a company like Walter Reed and is now in her late forties, talking about "self-sacrifice" is rather laughable. Compared to the methods she used, the bargaining chips she traded, and the conscience she lost along the way, her current act of forcing Homelander to drink milk is nothing more than child's play.

Can this be considered a sacrifice? This kind of manipulation that can play Homelander with a few words, this kind of brainwashing that can easily weld Vought's most famous superhero to his own vehicle, this kind of behavior that pays a small price and reaps tenfold rewards should be called a harvest.

But for her, this whole thing was truly agonizing.

Gently stroking Homelander's hair, Madeline stared intently at Homelander, ignoring the crying baby beside her, her attention seemingly focused entirely on him.

But in reality, she was just too afraid to turn her head.

A dreamlike look of infatuation and satisfaction appeared on Homelander's face as he held him. This distorted and perverse infatuation had lasted for many years—ever since he officially joined Vought International from the laboratory and became a superhero with the title "Homelander," Madeline had always been the most important person in his eyes.

From that day on, Edgar personally instructed her: "Homelander will be our most profitable deal, so you should be in charge of him."

As an experimental subject raised in a laboratory, Homelander never had a normal childhood, and naturally could not have a sound personality. Dr. Vogbaum, who created him, never invested much emotion in him—at least not back then.

Walter was naturally happy to see this happen. They needed superheroes who were mentally unstable but extremely powerful. With enough brainwashing and seduction, they would be willing to be Walter's slaves and commit crimes.

As for going through fire and water, that's obviously unlikely, but for superheroes, "encountering danger" has long been an impossible possibility since World War II.

Madeline did a fantastic job, and in some ways, she was truly the best successor to Stan Edgar.

So what's the cost?
"Don't rush, don't rush."

Madeline gently stroked Homelander's head, gazing at his profile. Homelander, unaware of Madeline's thoughts, was focused solely on greedily sucking.

This giant baby, raised in a laboratory, has an irrepressible craving for breast milk.

When Madeline looked at Homelander, she felt no warmth or love.

Looking at the outline of Homelander's arm muscles beneath his uniform, she knew that monstrous power was hidden within. Even without intention, a little excitement and a bit of force could tear her in two like a rag doll—so she never dared to let Homelander get really excited.

Those slightly narrowed eyes could flash two points of red light at any moment. If she glanced at herself even slightly, her heat gaze could slice her in two like bread cutting butter—so every time she made eye contact with Homelander, it felt like she was walking a tightrope.

Her ears could clearly hear her own heartbeat and her every move, so she dared not show any fear when her homelanders were close to her. She had to hypnotize herself again and again to relax, and even slow down her heartbeat and sweating.

His vision could see through walls, so she always conducted herself strictly in the company, never daring to speak to herself, never daring to reveal any secrets, and never daring to show any special attention or concern to anyone else, not even her own son, that little baby. Just a little care from him was enough to incite the jealousy of her countrymen. She could remove the Lamplighter from the Seven, could force Starlight to design a bikini-like hero costume. In that position, she could manipulate countless people, but there was one person she dared not truly anger.

She only dared to anger her countrymen, but never dared to provoke them; she could veto their plans, but never dared to punish their self-determination; she could appease their emotions, but never dared to let them truly get close to her life.

Every time she was in the same room with Homelander, she felt like she was dancing under the claws of a beast, and if she made the slightest mistake, the monster would tear her to pieces.

Yes, beasts, monsters—that's her true assessment of her homelanders.

Because he could slaughter the entire city of New York at any time if he wanted to, and his morality really could support him to do so. If you angered him, it would be no different than provoking a monster.

This possibility played out in her mind time and time again, giving her nightmare after nightmare—Madeline lived in such fear for more than a decade.

This is why, the moment Superman appeared, Madeline sent people to make contact with him and decided to recruit him into the Seven as quickly as possible—she desperately needed some breathing room, and she desperately needed someone to help her keep Homeland in check.

She desperately needs someone with a modicum of rationality who can stop Homelander from going on a killing spree when he loses control and goes berserk.

Hey, Superman.

Clark was quite surprised as he walked out of the gym, because the person who greeted him had been at loggerheads with him just days before, threatening to teach him a lesson.

That was Deep Sea, the most fierce-looking but cowardly member of the group of eight.

"Um... I'm sorry about the little argument we had before, buddy," he said. "You know, what I said was just said in anger, not what I really meant. You see, we're teammates, there's no need for that—"

"I don't hold grudges."

Clark replied directly, "I heard you've already been scolded by Starlight. Maybe in the future, you'll learn what it means to respect others."

Shen Hai's face immediately fell.

"Okay, that's good, that's good. Have you been busy lately?"

“No, Madeline hasn’t assigned me any tasks lately,” Clark said. “If you have anything to say, feel free to say it.”

"I have a plan, or more precisely, something I want to do myself, something about Oceania. I want to do something truly useful."

(End of this chapter)