Alien invasion? Luckily, I'm Superman.

Early in the morning, Susan, deputy director of the FBI's Operations Division, had just opened her office door when she saw Butcher, who seemed to be haunting her.

Her fingers tightened around the doorknob, her knuckles turning slightly white. She took a deep breath to suppress the urge to call security immediately. The office still held the chill of last night's overtime work, a stark contrast to the smell of tobacco and street odor emanating from Butcher.

She didn't even bother asking how Butcher had gotten in; she picked up the phone to call security. Her finger had barely pressed a button when a short busy tone came through the receiver.

Butcher reached out from beside her like a ghost and pressed the hang-up button on the phone. His movement was swift and decisive, carrying an undeniable force.

"Save your breath, Susan. I'm not here to cause you trouble, but to give you credit." His voice was deep, and his eyes, which usually held a hint of cynicism, now held a rare seriousness. "A plan that can prevent superhumans from entering the military system and completely thwart the Vought Group's ambitions."

From the government's perspective, they were naturally unwilling to hand over the power of life and death to a private company, and the Operations Department had been secretly investigating the secrets of the Water Group.

Susan walked around the desk and sat down, placing her hands clasped on the smooth surface. "Words are cheap, Butcher. We have more leads than you think, but they're also weaker than you think."

Butcher pulled a brown paper bag from his pocket and threw it on the table. "The photos taken at the woman's house, that little blue bottle, the stimulant used by the train engine."

Susan's gaze sharpened: "That doesn't necessarily mean it's some kind of unregistered superhuman enhancement drug, or even a new type of drug. It could just be a regular medicine."

"So we need evidence, solid evidence." Butcher leaned forward, his hands on the edge of the table, creating a sense of pressure. "By the time your bureaucratic system's methodical investigations come to fruition, it'll be too late."

Ultimately, Susan agreed to a secret grant from the FBI to fund Butcher's investigation to find "Compound Five".

She opened a drawer, took out a pre-prepared confidentiality agreement and a list of anonymous account details, her movements fluid and efficient. "The money will be disbursed in installments, and the operation report will be directly addressed to me. Remember, Butcher, this is official funding for you without your knowledge. If anything goes wrong, you've never been to this office."

……

"Alright, guys, it's time to get going."

Butcher spoke to Su Mo and Hughie, tossing Su Mo the keys to a black Chevrolet Suburban. The car smelled of coffee and cheap cleaning agents.

That morning, Butcher received some clues from Susan that they might be able to get the answer to Compound V from the Vought Corporation's superhuman charity "Samaritan's Embrace" which was organized in various locations.

He unfolded a printed map, on which several locations were circled in red.

"Walter is using this charity as a front to screen and contact potential superhumans, or to conduct deals he doesn't want to make in the open. Elastiman Izkiel is the host tonight, and the key to breaking through is likely him."

Soon, Butcher and his group arrived at the charity event hosted by Elastiman Izkiel.

The venue was set in the golden lobby of a luxury hotel, where crystal chandeliers reflected dazzling light, and the air was filled with the scents of high-end perfumes and alcohol.

The scene was filled with all sorts of superhumans, some with skin that shimmered with a metallic sheen, others with luminous particles floating around them. You could see members of the Seven, such as Deep Sea, who was holding champagne and chatting with celebrities, while Starlight stood somewhat reservedly in the corner.

The place was bustling with noise and the air was filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the rustling of hair, like a grand party for superpowered individuals.

After Butcher had a "friendly exchange" with one of the senior members in a secluded storage room using a pistol, they successfully obtained a diamond ticket to meet Izchiel alone.

The group decided to let Hughie enter the special venue to make contact with Izkiel.

Butcher shoved a small memory card into Hughie's hand, which contained photos and videos of Izzy having passionate encounters with men in nightclubs.

"This is the last thing he wants his fans and the public to see," Butcher said with a cold smile. "Use it to pry open his mouth and find out what Compound V is and where it's going."

Hughie felt his palms burning, as if he were holding a hot coal.

Before Hughie entered the special venue, Su Mo closed his eyes, concentrated, and activated his X-ray vision ability.

A moment later he opened his eyes and whispered, "There's a pool inside. The Homelanders are giving everyone a 'water baptism.' The phone has to be waterproof."

Hughie nodded quickly and hurriedly wrapped the phone in layers of a waterproof bag he had prepared beforehand.

The atmosphere in the special venue was solemn yet eerie. A huge marble baptismal pool occupied the center, and Homelander was suspended above the water, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

He mechanically pushed believers into the water one by one, chanting the same old blessings.

Homelander was in a bad mood. Ever since the Invisible Man's mutilated body, gnawed by deep-sea creatures, was discovered on the seabed, Homelander had searched the entire city with his super vision, but he still hadn't found the murderer who dared to provoke him and kill his teammates, even though he didn't care about the Invisible Man.

But this filled him with a furious sense of being mocked. What infuriated him even more was the earlier negotiation between Madeline and a high-ranking official from the Department of Defense, who was nitpicking the Vought Corporation's quote for superhero security services. His self-righteous "solution" involved cutting off the private jet carrying the official with his heat vision.

It was originally a flawless cover-up, but some media outlets and politicians with a keen sense of smell suspected that the Vought Group was behind it, which forced him to keep a low profile for the time being and even attend this charity performance that he despised.

Soon, they arrived at Hughie.

The icy water submerged his head, and Homelander's cold hand pressed against his shoulder. Hughie's heart pounded wildly, as if it would burst from his chest. He held his breath and forced himself to relax.

As expected, Hughie passed Homelander's baptism smoothly, climbed out of the pool soaking wet, and was led to a more private suite at the back.

Soon, Hughie met Izkiel alone. The sturdy hero, dressed in a gorgeous velvet suit, was fixing her hair in front of a mirror.

Hughie didn't waste any words and immediately played the video on his phone. Izkiel's smile froze instantly, as if all his bones had been removed. He slumped into the velvet sofa, his face ashen.

"What do you want?" His voice was hoarse. Faced with the video evidence on Hughie's phone, Izkiel had no choice but to compromise.

Like a deflated balloon, Izkiel finally gave up the fight. He scratched his meticulously styled curly hair and had no choice but to admit defeat.

"Yes, yes, we have sent 'Compound No. 5' to hospitals and clinics around the world under the names of 'special vaccines' or 'nutritional enhancers' through several charitable foundations under my name."

He swallowed hard, avoiding Hughie's eyes. "The most recent batch, about two weeks ago, was sent to the 'Mercy Hospital' in Midtown, to their neonatal intensive care unit."

"This means that all superhumans are created through injections of Compound V, not through some so-called divine gift!"

Hughie was shocked. Although he knew Compound V was problematic, he hadn't imagined the problem would be this serious. His voice trembled with anger and disbelief. "The Vought Corporation dared to use infants for experiments! It's utterly inhuman!"

Hughie knew the Vought Corporation was finished. If this were exposed, the Vought Corporation would face countless charges, including murder, illegal human experimentation, and fraud. Being shut down and bankrupt would be the least of their worries; those responsible would likely face life imprisonment.

Of course, why did Izzy confess everything so easily? Perhaps it was a sudden pang of conscience, however insignificant it may seem, or perhaps he simply didn't care. He had long been lining his own pockets through charity, so what did the fate of the Water Corporation have to do with his personal life of luxury?

Thus, Su Mo, Butcher, and Hughie obtained crucial intelligence and immediately took action. The three quickly left the charity event and got into their car.

With a low roar, the tires screeched as the vehicle shot off like an arrow, tearing through the night and speeding toward Renci Hospital in the central district.

Outside the car window, the city's neon lights stretched into a blurry ribbon, while inside the car, the atmosphere was heavy and urgent; a new operation was about to begin.