At high noon, the blazing sun gilded the Upper East Side of Manhattan with a golden rim.
On 75th Street, inside an inconspicuous white van, low moans drifted out.
The laptop screen was streaming Popclaw's passionate game in real-time. The group stared at the screen while donning their equipment.
On the screen, Popclaw was talking to herself in a frenzy. The horny landlord had become a pitiful toy, being tossed around like a ragdoll at her whim.
Hughie turned his head away, unable to bear it, and pulled out a milky-white potion and a syringe from his pocket: "We have to do something! He's going to die!"
"Tuck away that damn sympathy of yours!" Butcher grabbed his wrist and growled, "We're not here to play house. Think about Robin! Think about how they treat ordinary people!"
MM walked over and patted Hughie on the shoulder: "To deal with Supe criminals, there's a price to pay. You'll feel better once you get over this hurdle."
Frenchie chewed his gum and blew a bubble with a smile: "The old geezer couldn't keep it in his pants, so who's to blame? Maybe he thinks going out like this is actually pretty sweet?"
Amidst the stifling argument, Wade's lazy voice cut in: "Before you go in to clean up the mess, I suggest you put your 'insurance' on... otherwise, if that chick inside goes crazy and treats you like her next toy, don't regret it."
"He's right, we need to be careful." Butcher took out a potion box, grabbed a syringe filled with a blood-red liquid, and injected it into his arm.
"Ugh—hrgh!" Veins bulged on his temples, his eyes filled with bloodshot streaks, and his muscles swelled, stretching his black coat tight.
Following that, MM picked up a blue syringe and injected himself. A metallic matte finish swept over the surface of his exposed skin.
Wade observed the changes in the two with great interest and took out his notebook: "How does it feel?"
"You think I'm using this for the first time?" Butcher's arm writhed as pitch-black fur spread instantly and sharp claws popped out simultaneously. "This werewolf ability is quite handy; it can change locally, otherwise it'd be inconvenient to go out."
MM clenched his metallic fists and tapped them together twice: "Chameleon, are you... actually a Supe, or are you like us, relying on this stuff?"
"If you were as ugly as me before you awakened your powers and had been abandoned since childhood... believe me, you'd hate Vought too!" Wade gestured at his deformed features, cursing as he tightened his fist, "It's a fight to the death between me and them."
Butcher glanced at him and smirked: "Heh, looks like we're all about the same." He then pushed the door open and got out of the van.
On the other side, MM pressed his hand on Wade's shoulder: "Sorry. We should go." The two of them got out of the car together.
The distance between the few of them quietly narrowed during this brief interaction.
One minute later, the three of them burst into the apartment together.
The room was silent. A panicked Popclaw sat on the bed covering her face, near a finished 'dish' of abalone and gluteal meat mixed with brain matter.
Butcher and MM were like hunting wolves, rushing into the bedroom from the left and right, blocking the doorway.
Wade unhurriedly unzipped a suitcase and took out a black body bag and gloves.
Popclaw sat slumped naked on the messy bed, the area beneath her stained with bloody filth. When she noticed the uninvited guests, panic instantly replaced her confusion.
"Who are you?! Get out!"
She screamed like a cornered beast, reflexively popping curved blades from the sides of her palms.
Those sharp hand-blades slashed toward MM, who was at the front, with a piercing whistle of wind.
Bang! Bang!
After two dull sounds, Popclaw felt as if she had struck a piece of tempered alloy. The recoil made her entire arm go numb.
MM's skin glowed with a silver luster as he raised his hand to block: "Ma'am, we're here to help you. Please calm down."
"I don't need your help, get out!" Popclaw cried out, lunging again with her claw blades.
Screech—
Popclaw's blades struck MM's neck, but only a few sparks flew.
MM's eyes turned cold, and he swiped his hand casually.
Creeak—Snap!
An ear-grating snapping sound rang out as Popclaw's two bone-like claw blades were broken in half on the spot.
Popclaw clutched her hands, crying out in pain: "Ah—I'll kill you!" She made a move to pounce.
Butcher cut in from the side, one hand pinning Popclaw's wrist while the other pressed down on her smooth shoulder, slamming her hard onto the bed: "MM, you're being quite the gentleman, aren't you? She's high on the drug right now; you have to beat her sensible!"
"Mmph... You, what do you want?" Popclaw struggled desperately, but the gap in strength left her in total despair.
"Watch me!" MM took a step forward, raising his metallic fist and smashing it down right next to Popclaw's head.
Boom!! An explosive bang echoed.
The thick bedframe shattered into pieces, and wood splinters flew everywhere! A hole was punched right through the mattress.
The aura of death right in front of her face made Popclaw shudder violently, her thoughts of resistance completely crushed.
She wept and said with a trembling voice: "I, I didn't mean to kill him... I just used a little too much force. Why didn't he say anything?"
Wade circled the corpse with the exploded head twice and waved his hand. The body and blood flew into the body bag in the suitcase like he was a professional body collector.
Butcher glanced at the shivering Popclaw, a harmless smile appearing on his face: "Let's make a deal. We help you deal with this 'trouble'... and you tell us everything you know about compound v, exactly as it is."
Popclaw put on her clothes and curled up on the bed, the color completely drained from her face.
With her leverage seized, her force suppressed, and with the body in the suitcase and the video recording... she had no way out now.
"I... I'll talk..." She sobbed while hugging her knees. "I only know that A-Train... every time he goes to 'Uncle's Restaurant' in Chinatown to deliver goods, he brings back some high-purity blue crystal after delivering the compound v."
"I really only know this much. You can go there to look for clues."
Butcher showed his phone screen and threatened fiercely: "Are you sure? If the information is fake... expect to see this video on the internet!"
Just as Popclaw began her intermittent confession, Hughie's urgent warning came through the earpieces into everyone's ears: "Heads up! A-Train, he's back. He's right outside the building."
Inside the room, Wade, Butcher, and MM looked at each other as the atmosphere grew tense.
Butcher and MM immediately hid behind cover and whispered:
"What do we do?" "Hide first... or retreat?"
Both of their gazes turned toward Wade.
Facing a superhero directly, especially A-Train who was known for his speed, was extremely risky.
Whether to fight or flee had to be decided in an instant.
Wade unhurriedly zipped up the suitcase, then opened the refrigerator: "What's the panic? Don't we have a hostage in our hands?"
He turned around, holding a Homelander-brand energy drink, and downed it in one go: "Besides, I have a way to deal with him."
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