Chapter 182: Provocation

In a busy military camp somewhere in the United States, soldiers clad in camouflage were deeply engrossed in their training exercises. Among the numerous personnel, two figures were particularly striking, not in standard military gear but in sleek, form-fitting suits.

These were none other than Homelander and Queen Maeve.

Currently, they positioned themselves confidently before a camera, flanking a Black soldier also dressed in camouflage.

"Hi! You all know who we are, but today, please meet another hero!" Queen Maeve announced.

She and Homelander stepped forward, still facing the camera. Maeve gently placed her hand on the soldier's shoulder, introducing him, "This is Corporal Dan Miller..."

Taking over, Homelander continued, "Dan and the courageous Marines of the 2nd Battalion are diligently fighting to protect us from the threat of supervillains like the Gravity Psychopath!"

It was clear that the revelation of Stormfront's Nazi ties had rocked Vought and the Seven, prompting them to resurrect the narrative of the infamous supervillain, the Gravity Psychopath, as a diversion.

Meanwhile, Jon's recent inactivity had marked a quiet period without any superheroes falling victim to villains. Still, with limited options to steer away from criticism, Vought and the Seven had little choice but to proceed as they were.

"Fighting alongside these heroes fills me with immense pride!" Queen Maeve expressed, her smile beaming. "We need all the support we can muster!"

Homelander affirmed her sentiments, "Exactly, Maeve. Support our cause—help save America!"

Just as they wrapped up their spirited endorsements, a noticeably jarring voice chimed in.

"OK, I'm going to start my first vlog now, everyone wish me luck~!"

At that moment, another superhero, clad in a vivid red tight suit, approached leisurely, holding a phone aimed at Homelander and Queen Maeve.

It was Phoenix.

"Let me tell you, this isn't really a military base. It feels more like a movie set with all these cameras, lights, and expensive recording gear. Wow, this stuff must've cost a fortune~!" Jon remarked, panning his phone to capture the surrounding equipment while grinning broadly.

Then, he swung his phone around to film Homelander, Queen Maeve, and their assistant, Ashley.

"Just so you know, Homelander and Maeve never actually eat field rations or participate in the daily activities with the soldiers," Jon disclosed, revealing more than intended.

At this moment, the assistant approached, visibly annoyed, "Hey, we're filming here!"

Jon, Phoenix, however, disregarded her complaint and continued, "Oh, and in case you missed it, the Black soldier behind them isn't just any soldier. He played the second hotel employee from 'Beyond Borders' in the episode 'Devil's Breath'!"

The assistant appeared exasperated by Phoenix's revelations. Meanwhile, Homelander's expression darkened upon seeing Phoenix. Although the cameras were not focused on him, his eyes momentarily flashed a sinister red.

Jon, quick to notice, aimed his phone directly at Homelander. Realizing he was being filmed, Homelander quickly suppressed his anger and forced a smile at Jon.

Phoenix, in front of him, had once left Homelander's ally, Stormfront, severely injured and used that situation to climb the ranks within their organization. Yet, in this public setting, Homelander was powerless to retaliate.

"Hey, isn't this my favorite superhero, Homelander~!" Phoenix exclaimed cheerfully, his smile wide. "Well, we already have me, right~?"

"Great!" Homelander replied, his smile wide and seemingly pleasant, but inwardly he seethed, wishing he could strangle the irritating man in front of him.

"Yes, you're one of us now, right?" Maeve chimed in, trying to keep the conversation light.

Phoenix then turned to the soldier standing between Homelander and Maeve and expressed his surprise, "Oh, it's my first time seeing a real soldier. I mean, most people here are actors, but you're the genuine article! Can we shake hands?"

The soldier, caught off guard for a moment, then smiled and extended his hand, saying, "O… oh, of course!"

After shaking hands, Jon turned his attention back to Homelander, asking provocatively, "By the way, does your girlfriend allow you to stand next to a colored man?"

Homelander's smile vanished, his face tightening as anger washed over him. The mention of Stormfront, his former lover whose Nazi affiliations had been publicly exposed, was a deliberate provocation by Phoenix.

Unaware or perhaps indifferent to the tension he had stirred, Phoenix continued, "Oh, I forgot! You guys broke up, right? I mean, it would really mess up the famous Homelander's image if he stayed with a Nazi~!"

"But really, you should thank me. It was me who exposed that Nazi, letting everyone see her true colors," Phoenix boasted, extending his hand towards Homelander again. "How about a handshake, and you can say, 'Thanks for outing that Nazi,' huh?"

At this point, sensing the escalating tension, the assistant quickly intervened, calling for a halt to the filming.

"Hey, you shouldn't be here. Please leave now, okay?" she demanded, addressing Phoenix directly, hoping to defuse the potentially volatile situation.

"Is it your place to talk? You're just here to serve me tea and water, get out of my way." Phoenix shouted suddenly, his outburst startling the assistant into stepping aside.

He then turned back to Homelander with a challenging grin, "Come on, Homelander, shake my hand and say, 'Thank you for teaching that Nazi bitch a lesson~!'"

Homelander's expression had darkened considerably, his eyes flickering ominously red as anger surged through him. His hands clenched into fists, and it seemed he was on the verge of unleashing his fearsome laser vision right then and there.

Just as Homelander looked ready to explode, Phoenix abruptly pulled back his hand and laughed off his previous taunt. "I'm kidding, don't take it so seriously, buddy~!"

His laughter echoed around them as he clapped Homelander on the shoulder, trying to diffuse the tension he had created. Queen Maeve, who had been watching the exchange with growing anxiety, visibly relaxed beside them.

"How could the great Homelander get mixed up with Nazi trash? You must have been unaware, right! Come on, let's seal our future cooperation with a big hug of friendship~!" Phoenix exclaimed, spreading his arms and enveloping Homelander in a robust embrace, seemingly oblivious to the discomfort he had just caused.