"Lamplighter, where are you?"
"Lamplighter! Lamplighter!"
As soon as Stormfront walked into the lobby, she called out loudly.
If Frenchie were here now, he would be shocked.
After Lamplighter burned Mallory's grandchildren all those years ago, he disappeared without a trace.
No one would have guessed that the former member of the Seven had been hiding in Sage Grove.
After Stormfront called twice, the door to a surveillance room ahead opened, and Lamplighter walked out holding a lighter.
Lamplighter could unleash powerful flames, but his ability had one limitation, he couldn't create fire himself.
So when he was a superhero, he often carried a metal torch. Now, he always kept a lighter with him.
Every superhuman in the The Boys Universe had one flaw or another. For example, if there was no electrical equipment nearby, Starlight couldn't use her powers.
Lamplighter was the same.
"Good evening, ma'am,v" Lamplighter said respectfully.
"Where have you been lately? I haven't seen you in a long time. I was worried. It's good to see you're all right."
Stormfront was one of the strongest superhumans in the The Boys Universe.
Her body was as tough as Homelander's, and she had no obvious weaknesses. She could release high-voltage electricity whenever she wanted.
Unlike Lamplighter, who always had to carry a lighter.
So deep down, Lamplighter feared this woman.
"Good evening."
"I've been busy with a few things lately, but they're taken care of for now."
Stormfront continued, "Any new progress?"
Lamplighter flipped through a record book.
"Cindy's powers have gotten stronger again. Hmm... Vic's ability has stabilized too."
"Vic? The guy who gains temporary enhancements based on whatever he eats?", Stormfront asked casually.
"That's right," Lamplighter replied.
Stormfront whistled, "Take me to see him."
They entered a containment room.
Stormfront saw a bearded man. The fat man glared with anger. As soon as he saw Lamplighter, he shouted, "Damn it! Let me out!"
"I'm going to sue all of you!"
Keeping a straight face, Lamplighter said, "Mr. Vic, please calm down."
"This is Ms. Stormfront. If you earn her approval, you can leave this place."
Vic roared, "I don't need anyone's approval."
"I'm a federal citizen. You have no right to lock me up!"
Stormfront smiled.
"Sir, your mental condition isn't very good. You're easily angered and violent, so you need treatment."
"Go to hell, bitch!", Vic spat at Stormfront.
Of course, the spit didn't hit her. She stepped aside and smiled, "It seems Mr. Vic needs more effective treatment."
She patted Lamplighter on the shoulder before leaving the room.
Lamplighter sighed and looked at the bearded man.
"You really shouldn't have done that."
He flicked open his lighter and pushed his hand forward. The small flame instantly swelled into a mass of fire and shot toward the man, setting him ablaze.
A scream rang out, then quickly stopped.
Lamplighter walked out.
Thick smoke poured from the room.
Everything was watched by a pair of eyes from the room across the hall.
Stormfront noticed those eyes and walked over with a smile.
"Good evening, Cindy."
The eyes pulled back.
Looking through the observation window, she saw a tall woman with a shaved head.
She snorted and lay down on the bed.
Stormfront smiled, then said to Lamplighter, "We need to speed things up."
Lamplighter looked at her.
Stormfront said in a low voice, "It may not be long before the freaks here have to go to war."
"And the enemy we'll face will be the strongest monster we've ever seen."
Lamplighter opened and closed the lid of his lighter, "A monster?"
Stormfront nodded, "Yes."
"Homelander."
"He's completely out of control."
"We have to prepare for a full-scale war with him."
"And obviously, I can't deal with that monster by myself."
After a moment of silence, Lamplighter said, "Maybe even if all of us attack together, we still won't be his match."
Stormfront smiled.
"Who knows? But no matter what, it's never wrong to be prepared."
"I'll bring in more homeless people so you'll have more test subjects. Hopefully we'll get more samples like Cindy."
Lamplighter nodded.
Only then did Stormfront leave.
———
A month passed.
During that month, Homelander stayed in Hawaii, spending every day with beaches and bikinis.
Just like now. He got out of bed while two young women were still sleeping soundly.
Homelander brushed his teeth, washed his face, and walked to the beach alone.
Lazily, he opened his inventory and took out the She-Hulk Gene Enhancement capsule.
It looked like an ordinary capsule, with nothing special about it.
But when Homelander looked at it, the following information appeared.
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[She-Hulk Gene Enhancement Capsule: After taking it, an additional She-Hulk gene sequence will be inserted into the user's existing genetic code. When needed, this gene can be activated to gain She-Hulk's strength.]
[Note 1: She-Hulk's strength is calculated separately and can be stacked with the user's own power template.]
[Note 2: The She-Hulk Gene Enhancement Capsule only works on females. Please use with caution.]
[Description: Gene enhancement items are different from other gene serums. They do not replace the user's original genes. In theory, multiple enhancement gene sequences can be inserted. However, if the user's physical foundation exceeds the carrying limit, genetic collapse will occur. Genetic collapse cannot be repaired, so use with caution.]
[Check 1: Your current limit is four enhancement gene sequences.]
[Check 2: Due to your gender, the She-Hulk Gene Enhancement Capsule is not compatible with you.]
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"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!"
"I finally got something good, and I can't even use it."
Homelander rubbed his chin, "But this kind of gene enhancement capsule is a pretty good item."
"It doesn't replace your original genes. It's like adding another card slot, letting you insert extra gene sequences into your existing genetic code."
"When you need them, you just activate them. Very practical."
"Even if the increase is additive instead of multiplicative, the boost is still considerable."
Homelander looked at the capsule in his hand, "The only problem is that I can't use it."
"So what should I do?"
"Give it to Angelina?"
"Another round of She-Hulk Gene Enhancement would definitely make her more useful, but I can't take her into the Multiverse. Using it in this universe, where weaklings are everywhere, is kind of a waste."
"Or give it to Helena or Hera?"
"The Spear of Fearlessness can summon them in other universes, but the summon rate is only 70%, not 100%."
"If someone else gets summoned when I need them, it won't help much."
"Wait, back in the Thor 2 Multiverse Event, didn't I get two Warrior-class Cursed Warriors and one General-class Cursed Warrior?"
"If there's a female Dark Elf, she can use this capsule."
"And all three Cursed Warriors are summons, so I can summon them with a 100% success rate."