Begin from the original form of torture and become immortal

Chapter 1540: Doubts and Public Pressure

Of course, even if Madeline had doubts about her countrymen in her heart, she would never put these thoughts into words easily.

On the contrary, she will use a near-perfect public relations skill to skillfully weave a web of trust for the motherland in front of the board of directors and the president to eliminate those potential shadows.

This was not only because she was fully aware of the complex psychological problems lurking deep within the hearts of her countrymen, which logically ruled him out as a possibility;
Because people in my country don’t have that brain.

Moreover, Madeline's prominent position in Water Company - as a woman, she was able to break through numerous barriers and become the executive vice president. The foundation of all this was built on the powerful and subtle support of her fellow countrymen.

Madeline cleverly exploits Homelander's almost maternal dependence on her and his twisted and complex psychology to transform this near-invincible super-powered being into Vought's most secretive and effective weapon.

She assigned Homelander to handle those tasks that were difficult to see in the open, such as secretly destroying the products of failed experiments on Compound No. 5, or eliminating those who knew the inside story and might leak company secrets.

Although these actions were dark and risky, they became key pieces in Madeleine's careful planning to consolidate her position and expand her influence.

Once she loses the protection of her motherland, her position in the pyramid of power will be shaky.

After all, Madeline's ambition goes far beyond this, she dreams of one day wearing the crown of president of Water Company and becoming the undisputed queen of this huge empire.

Therefore, at this critical moment, any disturbance that might shake her foundation must be quelled quickly and effectively.

"Don't worry, John. Leave this matter to me. You have just escaped from the predicament of the Black Chapter Department. You must be very tired. You should go back and have a good rest."

Madeline said to the Homelander in a gentle but firm tone.

However, the people of the motherland did not seem to appreciate it.

His eyes sparkled with a desire for the public's attention, an almost pathological pursuit, an endless demand for recognition and admiration.

"No, Madeline, I'm not tired. I can't wait to get back into people's sight and have them see me again."

There was unmistakable urgency in his voice.

Madeline sighed softly and smoothed her hair on her forehead. She knew that any rational persuasion would be pale and powerless for this hero who was twisted by excessive admiration.

So, after careful consideration, she decided to take a more direct approach to make her countrymen realize what was happening.

She showed Homelander a carefully planned and edited video that focused on the moment Homelander regained his freedom from the mysterious captivity of the Black Army, until he soared into the air in a posture that almost surpassed the limits of human beings, and finally returned to the headquarters of Vought Corporation safely.

However, the spread of this video material was like a huge rock thrown into a lake, which caused a huge wave in the online world, and doubts and speculations surged like a tide.

People began to question whether the man who displayed extraordinary abilities in front of the camera was still the unquestionable hero in their hearts. On social media, the discussion continued to heat up, and every comment and every forwarding seemed to question the boundaries of the truth.

"Before, due to your unfortunate arrest by the Black Chapter, we had to take emergency measures and let a shapeshifter temporarily take your place in order to keep your public image intact."

She continued to explain: "But now, the Black Chapter Department's elaborate layout has been fully revealed, and we are faced with an unprecedented challenge: How to reasonably explain to the public, is the Homelander who appeared in the public eye during that period the real you, or a substitute played by a shapeshifter?"

This problem, like a heavy shackle, tightly binds Water Company's response strategy.

Madeline frowned even more tightly as she recalled Homelander's complex psychological state, which was both strong and fragile, dependent and contradictory. This was the result of Vought Corporation's careful shaping through a series of complex and sophisticated psychological intervention methods, in order to control this super-powered person with unparalleled power.

These interventions, including deep psychological suggestion, conditioned reflex training, and emotional dependency building, are designed to ensure the absolute loyalty and obedience of the motherland's people to the company.

However, while this strategy brings short-term stability, it also lays deep hidden dangers in the long run.

"We have to proceed with caution, John."

Madeline's voice became unusually serious. "The Black Chapter's action was obviously not a spur-of-the-moment move, but rather a far-reaching plan. They not only intend to weaken your influence, but are also likely paving the way for a larger conspiracy. Therefore, we cannot act blindly, but must formulate a detailed, watertight plan to deal with this sudden crisis."

The Homelander looked confused at the moment. He asked in confusion: "But I'm back, isn't that enough?"

"Yes, you are back, this is an indisputable fact."

Madeline explained patiently, her eyes revealing a bit of fatigue, "However, before you returned, the public had already gotten used to the existence of another 'Homelander'. This is the dilemma we are facing now - Vought Corporation now has two so-called 'Homelanders', one is you, and the other is a shapeshifter. The problem is that the public, and even the entire online world, are eagerly looking for the answer: who is the real one and who is the fake one?"

This question, like an unsolvable mystery, hangs on everyone's mind.

The Black Chapter Department has obviously keenly grasped this point. They are taking advantage of the public's doubts and curiosity, constantly inciting public opinion, and attempting to push the Water Company into a deeper quagmire.

"Then we push the shapeshifter out and publicly admit that he is the imposter."

Homelander proposed a seemingly simple and direct solution, with an unquestionable determination in his tone.

However, Madeline shook her head.

"Things are far from that simple, John. If we do this, although it may calm some public opinion in the short term, it will cause immeasurable damage to the company's reputation in the long run. Shapeshifters are also our colleagues and an indispensable member of our team. More importantly, this approach is tantamount to showing weakness to the Black Chapter Department and telling them that we have lost our footing, which will be a consequence we cannot afford."

(End of this chapter)