Over the years, few people had ever managed to slip away right under Qi Li's nose.
The man on the screen was one of them.
"How many crimes has this guy committed to forge so many fake identities?" he asked with genuine curiosity.
In a good mood after the newcomer had played along perfectly with him just moments before, Homelander was quite patient.
"Manufacturing drugs, drug trafficking, arms dealing, smuggling, murder... Stack up the rap sheets from all his fake identities, and it's enough to put him before a firing squad ninety-nine times over."
As Homelander spoke, he operated the screen, bringing up the relevant files retrieved by Crime Analytics.
Queen Maeve turned her chair from the side to take a look, murmuring in mild astonishment, "Quite the 'talent,' isn't he?"
Clearly, the remarkably colorful resume of the man whose real name was "Frenchie" surprised even a veteran of the Super Seven.
Not that they considered him a real threat.
They were simply amazed that after stirring up so much trouble, the guy was still alive and kicking.
Qi Li now truly appreciated the weight behind Frenchie's earlier words: "Even if you went out and told someone, nobody would believe you."
Anyone who saw this guy's "glorious track record" would have their trust in his credibility drop straight into negative numbers.
Still...
Qi Li would no longer make the mistake of thinking Frenchie was just playing petty games.
Back then, when he had crawled into the ventilation ducts at Metropolitan Football Stadium, he had definitely been planning something big.
Combine that with his sudden appearance at Popclaw's place.
Qi Li glanced at A-Train, who had just barely begun recovering from his state of sheer panic.
Popclaw was his secret girlfriend, and that day at the stadium had been his race.
Was Frenchie's target A-Train?
He couldn't have been trying to kill him—that would be suicide.
In that case, was he trying to get something from A-Train?
Qi Li felt he was drawing closer and closer to the truth, yet he was still missing one crucial piece.
At that moment, Homelander clapped his hands and gave instructions in his role as captain:
"Everyone, such a vicious criminal is still lurking in the corners of our city, plotting an even greater conspiracy. Not just Black Noir and A-Train—all of you need to keep a sharp eye out during your patrols."
"We are superheroes. The world needs us, doesn't it?"
Starlight was the first to answer solemnly.
Fighting crime was her solemn duty.
Queen Maeve merely nodded with indifference.
*Interesting.* Just as Qi Li began to curl his lips into a smirk, he suddenly remembered the cameras still running in the conference room.
His expression instantly straightened. "I'll do everything in my power."
"Good!"
Homelander immediately turned to the camera crew and ordered, "Make sure this part is edited well. The theme is that under my leadership, the Super Seven constantly looks out for the public's safety, no matter what that super-criminal... No, calling him 'super' gives him too much credit. Just label him a 'terrorist.' No matter where he runs, we will find him. That should be the overall tone. Understand?"
The director nodded hurriedly. "Understood!"
Homelander smiled with satisfaction, looked back at his teammates, and gave one final clap of his hands.
"Meeting adjourned, then."
Homelander briskly swept out first, and Black Noir slipped away just as silently.
Qi Li stepped up to A-Train, gave him a brief hug, and asked with concern, "Bro, you don't look so good."
A-Train took a deep breath. "I'll get it together soon. Thanks for checking in, bro."
Despite his words, he still walked off looking heavily weighed down by worry.
Qi Li shrugged and held out his hand to Queen Maeve as she walked over. "Pleasure to meet you, Queen Maeve. I've always been a fan."
"Your face doesn't look like a fan's at all. Besides, just call me Maeve." Maeve looked Qi Li up and down without standing on ceremony.
Of course, she still took his outstretched hand.
The moment their palms clasped...
Driven by curiosity, Maeve applied a touch of pressure. Qi Li returned the favor.
Five seconds passed.
Their hands parted, a flash of surprise flickering in both of their eyes.
Maeve was surprised that Qi Li's strength surpassed the vast majority of superhumans.
Qi Li was equally astonished.
Before this, the strongest superhuman he had ever clashed with was Sam.
Yet in that brief handshake, even though Maeve hadn't used her full strength, he had a distinct feeling that her power was far greater than Sam's.
There had always been a rumor that Queen Maeve was second only to Homelander in pure ability.
Now it seemed that wasn't baseless gossip at all.
As if nothing had just transpired, Qi Li offered a slight smile. "My girlfriend is a big fan of yours. Rounded off, that makes me your fan too."
At his words, Maeve habitually rubbed her right wrist and gave a smile of quiet approval. "I thought Starlight was your girlfriend."
Beside them, Starlight blinked in shock. "Of course not me! But... Bronze, you already have a girlfriend?"
Qi Li looked equally shocked. "Wouldn't it be weirder if I didn't?"
This wasn't his previous life, where it was totally normal for men not to have girlfriends and celebrities would deny dating to their dying breath.
In Western society, if an eligible, high-value man like him went without a girlfriend for too long, people would just assume he was gay.
Just look at Homelander, who had been single for ages.
Plenty of trolls were already privately having a field day, whispering that he had some bizarre secret preferences.
Starlight had no comeback to Qi Li's counter-question.
Maeve had no interest in Qi Li's personal life.
She was interested in something else entirely: "You're a skilled swordsman too. We should spar sometime."
Qi Li's eyes lit up.
Maeve was also proficient with a blade, possessing exceptional skill.
As his own strength grew, even if Luke, Jordan, Andre, and the others from school teamed up, it was hard for them to put any real pressure on him unless they were given far more room to grow.
Having Maeve as a sparring partner was an outstanding alternative.
Qi Li agreed without hesitation. "No problem. Whenever you call."
Maeve nodded in satisfaction. "I knew I wasn't wrong about you! I've got a fantastic bar cabinet back at my place. Whiskey, brandy, vodka, tequila, and even Eastern baijiu—everything you could ask for. I've even collected a few bottles of 1945 Romanée-Conti, Louis XIII Black Pearl, Macallan Lalique 55 Year Old... Some other day, I'll treat you to a few drinks."
The moment alcohol came up, Maeve grew animated, talking on and on.
Unfortunately, her enthusiasm fell on deaf ears.
Qi Li replied, "Just get me some Coca-Cola. Chilled, please."
Maeve froze, staring back at Qi Li as if looking at an alien.
After a brief silence, she said, "I take back what I said about not being wrong about you."
Patting Qi Li on the shoulder, she strode off.
Even from a distance, her muttering drifted back: "Jesus Christ! Another man who doesn't drink, just like Homelander!!"
Hearing that, Starlight offered Qi Li some consolation: "There's nothing wrong with a man who doesn't drink."
Qi Li replied smoothly, "I think so too."
He looked at Starlight, just about to ask if something was going on between her and Homelander.
Click-clack, click-clack—Poppy rushed over in high heels, calling to Qi Li:
"Bronze, Miss Stillwell wants to see you."
Chapter 86