novelno Chapter 10 awaits your witness!
Chapter 10 awaits your witness!
What does disillusionment feel like?
"Starlight," Anne January can tell you—after experiencing a series of things, after she started using hairspray at the age of ten to cover Britney Spears' songs and perform everywhere, and after she sacrificed all her personal hobbies just to join the Super Seven.
As it turns out, that damned Vought Corporation at least made me, who had already arrived in New York, wait for news! I had passed the ultimate test of "Good Heroes" and was almost one step away from the Water Tower in the heart of New York City!
But that's reality. No matter how hard you try, it's no match for someone else's little thought. The vacancy in the Super Seven group is gone because a newcomer you've never seen before, a newcomer who has never participated in a talent show, never appeared in the media, and never had any public news has filled that position!
What has been the purpose of all this hard work?
A long audition process, feigned smiles, all the sacrifices, just to be someone else's runner-up?
~~~~~~
"No, absolutely not!"
Madeline, as the de facto head of the executive branch of Water Corporation, absolutely could not allow this to happen.
"Starlight is someone we carefully selected. She stood out in a year-long talent show, and people love her! Thousands of people are willing to spend a lot of money to support her, buy all kinds of merchandise and records!"
Besides, I've already informed the shareholders that I'll officially announce her at the annual shareholders' meeting. She'll be the new generation's American sweetheart. What am I supposed to say now? The American sweetheart has been replaced by some unknown young American guy?
She glanced at a stack of files on her desk, on which was a large headshot and name of "Joy Joseph Kent." Madeline had to admit that this guy, whose initials were JOJO, also had a handsome face that appealed to men, women, young and old. But she couldn't just leave the winner of the "Good Heroes" talent show on the shelf and promote someone she didn't know at all.
This will have a huge impact on the credibility of Water Company and completely violates Water Company's long-standing principles.
Stan Edgar almost couldn't help but laugh when he heard about the so-called principles:
"Please, Madeline. The Water Corporation's principle has always been that it has no principles. If we had to talk about principles, the company would have gone bankrupt in the last century."
In Stan Edgar's view, Madeline doesn't seem to understand her true responsibilities:
"You are never responsible for Vought Corporation; you are responsible for Vought Corporation's shareholders. The stock price is one thing, but the shareholders' wishes are another."
This time, it was the major shareholder who spoke up. If the stock price falls, shareholders can recoup their losses by selling in advance and shorting the stock, and then buy back shares. If the stock price rises—which I personally think is more likely—everyone will be happy.
"What kind of magic does this person possess that makes you believe in him so firmly?"
Madeline carefully examined the information and felt that the abilities of this new member of the Super Seven named Joey were all too familiar—super eyesight, super hearing, super strength, super defense, and he could even fly.
"Won't it conflict with Homelander's brand? Everything we've done with The Seven is to differentiate ourselves and maximize the fan economy across all niche areas. 'Starlight' can perfectly fill the gap in our female superhero genre..."
"Don't fool yourself, Madeline. Since the founding of Vought International, in the annual 'Most Popular Superheroes' ranking compiled by the market research department, only Queen Maeve has managed to barely crack the top ten."
The truth is, in the world of superheroes, the vast majority of viewers don't like women who are neither sexy nor sensitive, and only care about themselves. They prefer an Alpha male with a compassionate heart and an iron body, who sacrifices his own interests, shoulders everything, and saves the world.
Stan Edgar straightened his tie, exuding elegance and authority, then turned and left Madeleine's office, leaving behind only an unambiguous work assignment:
"Of course, the main reason is—this is the board's decision, and all you need to do is execute it. Don't worry about competing products; Homelander is just one of Vought's more successful products."
You must understand, heroes come and go, but Walter stands forever.
~~~~
"How about this uniform? And this one? And this one! I think we absolutely need a cape, like Homelander's..."
Storm was currently surrounded by almost all of Vought Corporation's top makeup artists, stylists, and brand operations managers, all of whom were shirtless. She was bustling around like a mother trying to pick out clothes for her son, bringing out design sketches one after another for Joey to look at.
"Have you decided on your codename yet? I can get the marketing department to help you come up with the perfect one..."
"No need, I've already made up my mind." For Joey, a Kryptonian, there was absolutely no choice when it came to titles.
"Let's call him 'Superman'."
"Superman?" Storm was taken aback by the title, then a blush spread across her face, and her gaze towards Joey became even more infatuated. She placed her hand on Joey's chest muscles and gently caressed them, her words interspersed with words Joey couldn't understand:
"Yes! Superman, Ubermensch! You truly are my Ubermensch, little Joey!"
"Ahem, what about the uniform, lady?" The brand operations manager interrupted Storm's nearly erratic behavior at this inopportune moment.
"I discussed it with Ashley and the others in the public relations department. We've decided whether the uniforms can be made in gold and green, with the chest designed in the shape of a sunflower head, and the mask featuring a sun emblem."
Of course, we could include a cape, perhaps with black and white stripes and a bald eagle in the center, symbolizing Kansas's three main cash crops—wheat, corn, and sunflowers—as well as dairy cows, a primary livestock, and also expressing patriotism..."
"No, that won't do!"
Joey didn't even need to think to know that the outfit would look ridiculous; it was a collection of Kansas and American stereotypes, and wearing it out in public would result in instant social death.
"Putting everything else aside, firstly, I personally dislike bald eagles very much. They are morally corrupt birds, large in size but skilled at getting something for nothing and stealing food from other birds such as ospreys! Secondly..."
There's no need for so many people to brainstorm for their own uniform designs; the DC editorial department had already made thorough preparations for this in another universe.
"Designing your own uniform is absolutely unacceptable! Also, the bald eagle is our national bird! Remember, never say things like that in front of the camera..."
The brand operations manager certainly couldn't let Joey do whatever he wanted. After all, how could a sixteen-year-old boy possibly understand how to capture the hearts of the target audience as well as the professional team of graduates from top business schools and design schools?
Fortunately, Storm Girl stopped the pointless argument in time: "Enough!"
The brand operations manager suddenly felt more confident and winked at Joey:
"That's how it should be; professional tasks should be left to professionals like us..."
"I meant shut up!"
Storm, who was always soft-spoken and gentle in front of Joey, slapped him hard across the face, striking the dignity of this innocent yet incessantly chattering working man:
"Joey is a member of the Seven, one of the world's most powerful superheroes; he can do whatever he wants!"
~~~
Madeline Stillwell, assistant to the CEO of Water Corporation and the actual executor of the company's decisions, is standing in the center of the auditorium stage at Water Corporation's annual shareholders' meeting, reporting on the year's results to all investors in an effort to boost their confidence.
This includes the box office success of "G-Men," how the "Vought+" streaming platform has changed people's entertainment lives, how Vought's annual net profit has increased, and most importantly, Vought's superheroes.
With the unexpected retirement of the Lamplighter, the Seven need a new hero, and at the same time, "Good Heroes" has decided on its final draft champion, "Starlight," America's sweetheart from Iowa. Walter has invested a lot of manpower and resources in this series of drafts and has also laid a solid fan base for Starlight.
However, the board of directors, like a secret agent, parachuted in a previously unknown "superhero" who easily replaced Starlight, rendering all the marketing department's previous efforts futile.
But it was too late to say anything now. Madeline had no choice but to shout loudly at the prompts that had been temporarily displayed on the teleprompter:
"Now I'd like to introduce a special surprise to everyone, a brand new member of the Super Seven."
Instead of shining the spotlights on the center of the stage to welcome the protagonist as everyone expected, the spotlights in the entire auditorium were focused on the dome above everyone.
"Faster than a bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap over any skyscraper! Look up at the sky! Ladies and gentlemen, witness—'Superman!'"