At that moment, Axel clapped his hands lightly and chuckled.
Standing beside the corpse of Stan Edgar, Madelyn Stillwell looked at him in disbelief.
"Ancestor, you... you mean?"
Axel smiled and stepped closer. "You really do not understand what I mean, Madelyn?"
He pulled her up and rested a hand on her shoulder, his tone calm and controlled.
"Edgar is dead, but Vought International cannot collapse just because one person is gone. If Vought falls apart, where am I supposed to find people capable of serving us?"
He leaned slightly closer, voice steady.
"So I need someone new to take his place. And someone I personally elevate will always be more reliable than Edgar ever was."
Madelyn's breathing quickened. "Yes, exactly, you are absolutely right!"
Axel could feel her pulse racing under his hand.
Not far away, Homelander's breathing also grew heavier, his reaction impossible to miss.
Axel glanced at him briefly, then let out a short laugh.
"Good. Since you understand, you are now the CEO of Vought."
Madelyn's expression shifted instantly, shock giving way to excitement.
Axel continued, casual and dismissive. "As for the chairman behind Vought, I have no interest. To me, everyone is just part of the show. Still, who is the chairman?"
He raised his hand.
In an instant, an elderly white man appeared beside Madelyn.
The man gasped in shock. Madelyn stared at him, stunned.
Axel grabbed the man's shoulder and squeezed.
A scream tore through the ruined conference room.
Only after the man's voice broke from the pain did Axel release him and pat his other shoulder.
"Relax. I did not call you here to kill you. Not yet. I have two pieces of news, one good and one bad. Which do you want first?"
The man trembled. "The... bad news."
Axel nodded. "Smart. The bad news is that Edgar is dead, and it was not a clean death."
The man swallowed hard. "Then... the good news?"
"The good news is I have already chosen a new CEO and Vice President. Madelyn and Ashley. Do you think they are suitable?"
Axel's smile sharpened slightly.
"A small reminder. It would be best if you agree."
Without warning, Axel grabbed the man's arm and tore it off.
Blood splattered across the floor.
The man collapsed, screaming uncontrollably.
Axel looked at the blood on his hands with mild irritation and wiped it on Madelyn's skirt before stepping back.
Then he glanced at Madelyn.
"He agrees. So tell me, is your position secure now?"
Madelyn nodded rapidly, her voice shaking.
"Yes, it is secure."
Axel tilted his head slightly. "Good. But just to be certain, who holds more authority than Vought's chairman?"
He raised his hand again.
Another figure appeared, thinner, confused, and completely out of place.
The moment Madelyn saw him, she froze, then grabbed Axel's arm.
"Ancestor, please stop. That is the President."
Axel looked at the man with curiosity.
"The President? So that is already the highest level?"
Madelyn's voice trembled. "If you go any further, the entire country, even the world, will fall into chaos. That will only cause problems for you."
The man, now aware of the situation, was visibly shaken, overwhelmed by the screams and the blood.
Axel sniffed the air, then looked at him with clear disgust.
"You are actually wearing a diaper."
His expression turned colder.
Before anyone could react, Axel struck him across the face, knocking out several teeth.
Then, with a casual wave, both the chairman and the President vanished, returned to where they had been taken from.
Far away, panic would already be spreading.
Back in the room, Axel patted Madelyn's shoulder.
"So, have I made my point?"
Madelyn nodded frantically.
"You have proven it. You are far beyond Homelander. There is no need to continue. If this goes any further, everything will collapse."
Axel seemed satisfied.
"Good. Then you understand. Continue serving us properly."
His tone sharpened slightly.
"But remember, it is not enough for you alone to understand. People like the ones I just brought here need to understand too."
He smiled faintly.
"I do not negotiate. And threats like nuclear weapons mean nothing to me. If they still think that is their leverage, tell them this. If they do not have the courage to press the button themselves, I can do it for them."
He laughed, then suddenly appeared in front of Homelander.
Homelander had been staring forward, distracted, but the moment Axel appeared, all traces of that vanished.
Fear replaced everything.
"I did not... I was not..."
Axel's expression turned cold.
"You still dare to look at me like that after everything?"
He struck Homelander hard across the neck, forcing him to his knees.
Homelander's body shook violently.
Axel grabbed his hair and spoke in a low, controlled voice.
"One tooth was not enough. Then we will make it two."
Homelander's lips trembled. "Please..."
"Do it yourself."
Axel's grip tightened slightly.
"Put your hand in your mouth, pull one out, and swallow it."
His voice hardened.
"I do not care how you do it. But I will get a result."
"Hurry up."