Doesn't She Bear Any Blame?

"In solemn memory of the Suffering and Redemption superhero team! Reportedly, during last night's operation against a cult, Cast Iron, Listening Ear, Card Burst, and Wind Butterfly made the ultimate sacrifice while rescuing hostages... They are true superheroes!" "Amateur savior, or true executioner? In yesterday's multi-vehicle pileup on the westbound expressway, the family of a deceased victim publicly accused Starlight of indirectly killing her husband through an unprofessional rescue attempt. She has filed a lawsuit demanding compensation and a formal apology from Starlight." "Blood spilled at the border once more! Wrangler has gunned down four undocumented immigrants again." "Shockwave: 'I heard A-Train hasn't been in top shape lately. Personally, I don't buy it. He's always been my greatest rival. I look forward to racing him again very soon!'" "Breaking news: This morning, Super Seven member Bronze made a triumphant return to Godkin University..." *** Vought Tower. "Issue a temporary visitor's pass for Ms. Kate Dunlap... Yes, she's here to discuss an upcoming film. You can check with the movie division." At the ground-floor entrance, Qi Li explained the situation to the security personnel. After a quick verification, the guard operated a nearby console, and a pass bearing Kate's photo promptly printed out. Once Kate clipped it on, she followed Qi Li through facial recognition, officially stepping inside Vought Tower. Security at Vought was exceptionally tight, especially on critical levels like the ninety-ninth, eighty-second, sixty-seventh, and forty-second floors. Even members of the Super Seven needed to apply in advance and wait for clearance to bring guests inside. Since Kate legitimately had film business to discuss, Qi Li simply brought her straight through the front entrance. Rumor had it that there was also a secret entrance into Vought Tower. In the old days of the Super Seven, veterans like Lamplighter, Translucent, and Deep Sea had snuck in plenty of infatuated female fans to mess around in the building. Now, however, some were retired and others had vanished. Even if Qi Li had wanted to carry on their grand tradition, he didn't know the way in. Inside Vought Tower. Kate walked beside Qi Li, peering curiously in every direction, and murmured wistfully, "Back when I was stuck in that cramped, dreary 'cell' as a kid, I saw a video of Vought Tower and dreamed of working in a place so spacious and bright. Of course, it would be even better to join the Super Seven and live here." Stepping up to the elevator, Qi Li chuckled softly. "Trust me, ninety-nine percent of superhumans had that exact dream growing up. But fifty percent of them never even set foot inside Vought Tower, let alone the ninety-ninth floor." *Ding.* The elevator doors slid open. He stepped inside and pressed the button for the ninety-ninth floor, continuing, "At least you're halfway there. Though one thing is worth mentioning..." At this, Qi Li shrugged. "Living here isn't all that glamorous. People are constantly coming and going. A few of them have sharp hearing, and one guy has X-ray vision, so you always have to watch yourself." Kate glanced at Qi Li and said playfully, "Hearing that makes me like it even more. Esteemed Bronze, please show me to your Super Seven quarters." As her voice fell, the elevator doors parted again. Kate stepped out first, turning with a smile and gesturing for Qi Li to lead the way. "All right!" Qi Li took the lead, asking casually, "By the way, Kate, what style of villa do you like? Where's the best location? Help me pick one out..." *** Inside the Super Seven conference room, a heated argument was underway. Moments later, the electronic doors hissed open. Qi Li's voice drifted in from outside. "This is the grand hall of superheroes. Nothing's going on today, so in a minute you can go sit in Home—uh, looks like something *is* going on." Inside the room, two pairs of eyes locked straight onto them. Qi Li paused and quickly corrected himself. "Hey, Starlight. Poppy. What are you two doing here?" he asked, surprised. He had originally planned to take Kate to check out his own room and then snap a photo in Homelander's seat. He hadn't expected both women to be here at this hour. Exhaustion was written across Starlight's face, but she still managed a faint smile. "Hey, Bronze. And you are...?" Kate stepped forward to shake hands. "Kate Dunlap." After class, she had taken an hour to redo her makeup. Her exquisitely polished face formed a striking contrast with Starlight's haggard appearance right in front of her. Kate smiled warmly. "I've seen you and Qi Li on TV so many times lately. It's great to finally meet you in person." "Qi Li?" Starlight's eyes widened. Her gaze darted to Qi Li, then back to Kate, before she pressed her lips together. "...Wow." Not wanting to interrupt their small talk, Qi Li walked over to the bank of display screens. Just moments ago, Starlight and Poppy had been arguing over the news broadcast displayed on them. A quick scan told him everything. His prediction had come true. On screen, a weeping woman holding two young children was being interviewed: "Charlie was only thirty! He had a long life ahead of him, a bright future, a wife who loved him, and two children he adored! Now everything is ruined! Without Charlie, I don't know what I'm going to do, or what will happen to my babies! Do I have to work two jobs? Three? What about my kids? They're too young!" "I know Starlight meant well, but doesn't she bear any blame at all? My Charlie could have been saved! My children shouldn't have lost their father! It was Starlight! The light blasting from her hands caused secondary trauma! Charlie was still alive at the scene, and he died under her treatment!" "Yes! For Charlie, and for our two children, I have no choice but to sue Starlight! I hope she has the courage to stand up and admit her mistake..." Qi Li curled his lip. He turned toward Starlight, who had walked over at some point and was staring fixatedly at the screen. He said bluntly, "I told you not to try saving him." Charlie was the man with the dislocated upper spine who had been doomed to die. Back then, Starlight had ignored his warning, insisting on the rescue in hopes of a miracle from God. And now came the "reward." Overhearing Qi Li, Poppy turned on Starlight, her temper flaring. "So many people warned you, Starlight, but would you listen?! Now look! A good deed turned into a disaster! Are you satisfied now?!" In that moment, Poppy deeply sympathized with the sheer helplessness her predecessor, Ashley, must have felt. Everything had been planned out perfectly, yet Starlight just had to do things the hard way and pull some reckless stunt. By comparison, Bronze was an absolute model superhero. Watching the tearful accusations from Charlie's widow on the screen, Starlight asked in bewilderment, "Did I do something wrong?" Poppy snapped decisively, "Yes! You were completely, utterly wrong!" Qi Li knew what Starlight was really asking. Crossing his arms, he said flatly, "She knows you did nothing wrong. But she has to do this." Starlight's eyes brightened slightly, followed immediately by confusion. "Why?" Qi Li said offhandedly, "Her husband is dead, their income is gone, and she has two kids to raise. From the looks of it, she was a stay-at-home mom. Even if she goes to work, their standard of living will plummet. And conveniently, an idiot named Starlight stuck her neck right out—naive, wealthy, and famous. A golden opportunity like that? Who else would she fleece if not you?" Someone like him, on the other hand, walked away untouched. Never underestimate a person's character, but never overestimate human virtue either. He had warned Starlight. Since she didn't listen, she had to bear the consequences. A lawsuit like this was, frankly, a messy shakedown. To protect Starlight's reputation, it would almost certainly end in an out-of-court settlement—framed not as damages, but as a humanitarian payout—which would naturally grant the plaintiff exactly what she wanted. Yet what about the hit to Starlight's public image? For superheroes, saving lives was not just physical labor; it was a technical craft. Local capes couldn't just wage a massive battle and walk away like comic-book heroes. They had to answer for their approval ratings and commercial value. Even so, during specialized hostage rescue operations, hero-led casualties ran as high as sixty percent—three times the police force's twenty percent. The pot calling the kettle black. Every single one of them was amateurish. Starlight was already considered among the best of the bunch. Hearing Qi Li's explanation, Starlight let out a breath of relief. "If she just needs money to get by, I actually feel a little better..." She felt better, but Poppy was about to lose her mind. Seeing that Starlight showed virtually no remorse, Poppy nearly burst a blood vessel. "Fuck, Starlight—" Qi Li didn't stick around to listen. He promptly led Kate away, leaving the battlefield to the two of them. The electronic doors closed behind them, muffling the fierce argument that erupted once again. Kate looked back, thoroughly amazed. "Starlight is completely different from what I imagined." Qi Li kept walking. "Naive, kind, and rare, right?" Kate nodded quickly. "Yes! Exactly that!" Qi Li grinned. "So, are you still going to call her a bitch in the future?" A smirk touched the corner of Kate's lips. "Of course... I will! Just not the same kind of 'bitch.'" *There are different kinds of bitches?* Qi Li found that equally eye-opening. By noon, he treated Kate to a lavish French lunch. After resting in his quarters for an hour or so, they headed down to the film division to discuss their project, which was still in the pitch-deck stage. Afterward, Qi Li briskly took her on a tour of premier luxury properties across New York. During the outing, he made an immediate decision and bought a modern waterfront estate in the Hamptons on Long Island. Spanning 1.5 acres, it boasted an infinity pool, a sunken tennis court, and expansive lawns and gardens. The price tag: exactly forty-two million dollars. From that moment on, he was a man with a mortgage. He would have to work even harder going forward. When night fell, the two left their mark across every corner of the newly acquired estate. Qi Li had intended to sleep in the next morning, only to be awakened by a message from Homelander. "A Super Seven meeting? So sudden?"