As Axel finished speaking, he beckoned with his right hand.
A moment later, an elderly Black man, who had been lost in thought, suddenly looked up from the firelight in shock. His eyes widened even further when he saw Homelander being held in Axel's grip.
Seeing Stan Edgar's gaze, Axel casually patted his shoulder with his free hand.
"Tsk. Buddy, do you know Heisenberg?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Axel spat. The glob of phlegm struck Edgar's head, and in an instant, it burst apart like a smashed watermelon.
Flesh and brain matter splattered across Axel's battle suit and into Homelander's mouth.
Staring at Edgar's headless corpse, Homelander froze for a second before gagging in disbelief.
Axel responded with a punch, knocking out Homelander's front teeth and silencing him.
Then Axel turned his attention to Ashley Barrett.
"Ashley."
"I'm here!!!"
Ashley scrambled forward on her knees.
Axel ignored her panic. "Tell Madelyn Stillwell to get over here."
"O-okay!"
Ashley turned and hurried toward the door on her knees.
Axel frowned. "Can't you just stand up and walk?"
"Yes, I can, I... I am sorry, I am sorry, my legs are weak..."
She broke down, sobbing uncontrollably as she crawled the rest of the way. Only after grabbing the doorknob did she manage to pull herself up and run out, wailing the entire time.
Axel watched her leave, then looked back at the others.
"Seriously, is it that bad? Am I really that scary? I think I look pretty good. Maeve, what do you think?"
Queen Maeve remained kneeling, hands resting on her knees.
"You are very handsome, truly very handsome, Ancestor."
Axel grinned and released Homelander.
Even free, Homelander did not move. His heart pounded as he stayed kneeling, frozen.
Axel patted his shoulder. "Try running again."
"No, I would not dare, I really would not dare..."
"I told you to run again."
Axel slapped him hard across the face.
The sound echoed through the ruined room.
Axel grabbed Homelander's chin and sneered. "Maybe you just did not run far enough earlier. I expected you to fly into space, but instead you hid in that underground lab where you grew up, right under my feet."
He leaned in slightly.
"So I will give you another chance. Run as far as you can. Let me think about the time limit..."
Axel paused, then gestured toward Maeve. "Maeve, get me a cigarette."
"Yes, Ancestor."
Maeve stood up carefully and left.
On the way, she rushed into the restroom to compose herself before heading to her room. She kept cigarettes there since she never carried them in public.
When she returned, tense but composed, she handed Axel a cigarette and lit it for him.
Axel took a drag, then pointed at Homelander.
"Go. Run as far as you can. The other side of the Earth, the moon, wherever you like. Until this cigarette burns out, I will not chase you. That is your time."
He exhaled smoke into Homelander's face.
The moment it cleared, Homelander shot forward, creating a series of sonic booms. The conference room shattered under the force as debris scattered everywhere.
Axel calmly took another drag and a sip of his drink, waiting.
Five minutes passed.
When the cigarette finally burned out, Axel flicked it away and reached forward with his empty hand.
Everyone held their breath.
In the next instant, Homelander reappeared, still mid-flight, caught firmly in Axel's grip.
Axel planted his foot and slammed Homelander into the ground.
Boom.
With another stomp to the back of his head, Axel casually broke his arm again.
"Ahh! Ancestor, please! I was not resisting, I do not want to resist, please let me go!"
Axel paused. "Oh."
He released the broken arm and shrugged.
"Force of habit. Sorry."
Then he pulled Homelander up and wrapped him in a hug.
"There, calm down. Just a little workplace joke."
Axel patted his back lightly. "Come on, give me a smile."
He grabbed Homelander's face and forced it into a strained grin, turning him toward the others.
The Deep and Translucent immediately lowered their heads.
Maeve, however, let out a short laugh.
Homelander's eyes narrowed, but before he could react, Axel turned his face back.
"What is that look?"
Homelander panicked. "No, no, no, no..."
The words spilled out rapidly in a single breath.
Axel reached forward and pried his mouth open.
"Please, do not do this..."
"You say no like it matters."
Axel grabbed one of his teeth.
Crack.
He tore it out and tossed it to the ground.
Homelander cried out, clutching his mouth as he staggered back to his knees.
Axel pointed at the tooth. "Pick it up."
"Yes, yes!"
Homelander scrambled forward and held it out.
Axel smiled. "Eat it."
"W-what?"
"Eat it."
Homelander hesitated for half a second, then shoved the tooth into his mouth and swallowed.
His throat tightened. Tears filled his eyes.
Axel watched him quietly.
At that moment, the door burst open and Madelyn rushed in.
She stopped in front of Edgar's corpse, horror written all over her face.
"Ancestor, Edgar was the CEO of Vought. He meant no offense. He was a rational man, he could have served you well."
Axel interrupted her.
"If he does not die, how do you become CEO?"
Madelyn froze.
Axel leaned back in his seat and gestured for everyone to sit.
"I like to give benefits first, then loyalty follows. Edgar dies, you become CEO. You become CEO, Ashley becomes Vice President."
He smiled faintly.
"If people do not gain anything, why would they work for you? And if they are not satisfied, why would my superhuman colleagues cooperate?"
Axel spread his hands slightly.
"See? Everyone wins. That is how I keep things running smoothly."
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