Chapter 23: It's All Clear Now
"This suit isn't bad."
"Seriously, the original owner's closet barely had any decent clothes. Just uniforms—one after another."
"Maybe I should get myself a few proper outfits."
In the clothing section on the fifth floor, Homelander casually picked up various suits and tracksuits, holding them up in front of a full-length mirror, comparing their looks on him.
Maeve's voice came through his earpiece, "I'm in position. I can take out the sniper anytime."
"Have you found the bomb?"
Homelander placed a white suit back on the rack. "I'm scanning. Damn, this place is huge. It's going to take some effort."
Maeve replied, "You'd better hurry. From the looks of it, the negotiations aren't going well. They've already killed one hostage."
"I know."
Homelander picked up a yellow-and-black tracksuit and, with a smirk, struck a Bruce Lee-style nose-wipe pose in the mirror.
After tossing the outfit aside, he clasped his hands behind his back and strolled out of the clothing section, casually using his laser vision's x-ray feature to scan the area around him.
As he passed through a corridor, he noticed a girl hiding in a utility closet. Remembering the mission's objective to rescue hostages, he headed over and gently pushed open the door.
In a low voice, Homelander called, "Is someone here? I'm—"
"Shh."
A girl emerged from the tool area. "Keep your voice down, mister. There are bad guys everywhere."
Homelander took a closer look. She was an Asian girl, with a delicate, classical beauty, and dressed modestly.
She wore sunglasses and held a white cane, tapping the ground to navigate her surroundings.
Homelander waved a hand in front of her face. No response. As expected, she was blind.
"Miss, I'm—"
Before he could finish, the girl grabbed his hand. "Sir, don't say anything."
"Come with me, let's hide. It's safe here. The bad guys won't find us."
"You don't need to be afraid. I'm sure Homelander will come and save us."
Homelander was torn between amusement and disbelief. Being "protected" by a blind girl was definitely a novel experience for him—a new one since transmigrating into this world.
He thought for a moment and decided not to reveal his identity. Instead, he asked, "Miss, may I know your name?"
"Lin Aida," the girl smiled. "But my friends call me Xiaolin."
"Xiaolin," Homelander repeated, "I'm John."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. John." Xiaolin tugged him further into the tool area.
Homelander asked, curious, "Aren't you worried I might be one of the bad guys?"
"Of course not. The moment you walked in, I caught your scent."
"You smell fresh, like hay in the sunlight."
"Based on my experience, people who smell like that are usually gentlemen who help others. So I'm sure you're not a bad guy."
Xiaolin covered her mouth. "We'd better stop talking, or we'll be discovered."
Homelander chuckled. Then, he said, "Actually, I know a secret way out."
"Really?" Xiaolin sounded skeptical.
Homelander continued, "I'm a pipe cleaner. I'm really good at navigating the ventilation systems."
"I'm responsible for cleaning all the pipes in this mall. If you trust me, I can take you out."
After thinking for a moment, Xiaolin nodded. "I trust you, Mr. John."
"Great. If you don't mind, I can carry you. It'll be faster that way."
Xiaolin nodded again and climbed onto Homelander's back.
Homelander lifted her effortlessly. His eyes glowed red as he used his laser vision to cut a hole in the wall of the utility closet.
He then gently floated through the opening, carrying Xiaolin until they landed outside, in the parking lot.
"We're at the parking lot now."
Xiaolin gasped softly. "So fast?"
"Of course. I told you, it's a secret passage—my shortcut," Homelander said as he guided her to the sidewalk, meant for the visually impaired. "This is where we part ways. You'll be okay from here, right?"
"Of course."
Xiaolin squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Mr. John."
"Oh, and..."
"Could I get your phone number? If we get the chance, I'd love to treat you to a meal."
The girl took out her phone.
Homelander smiled and entered his number, saving it under the name "John."
Xiaolin took the phone back and, using its voice assistant, dialed Homelander's number.
When she heard his phone ring, she smiled, ended the call, and then left.
Homelander turned, soared into the air, and flew back to the department store.
This time, as he hovered above the building, his attention was drawn to the large ventilation ducts lining the outer walls.
"Maeve, where do you think the bomb would be placed to spread gas to every corner of the mall the fastest?"
Homelander grinned as he eyed one of the ventilation shafts.
Moments later, he was inside one of the ducts, standing before a briefcase on the ground. He didn't need to open it to know—inside was a precise mechanism, along with a gas bomb.
"Found it."
---
"This is the second hostage!"
On the fifth floor of the store, a man wearing a black cloak and a rabbit mask grabbed a woman by the hair and dragged her toward the window.
The man hid cautiously behind the hostage, shielding himself from any potential police sniper fire.
"See? This is your fault!"
"If you don't release our comrades, there'll be a third, a fourth!"
With that, he shoved the hostage out the window.
The woman, barely thirty and still somewhat attractive, screamed as she fell toward the ground below.
The pavement rushed up to meet her, but just as she was about to hit the concrete, she realized she had stopped mid-air.
She felt a firm arm around her waist, and a calm, reassuring voice spoke: "You're alright, miss."
She looked up and saw a handsome face, sporting a sunny smile.
His blonde hair was slicked back perfectly, and his blue suit symbolized hope. Even without the iconic star-spangled cape, she instantly recognized who had saved her.
"Homelander!"
Homelander held her close as he descended, landing outside the front entrance, where police officers had gathered. He gently set the woman down and then turned to the officers. "The bomb's been defused. Everything's under control now."
"Leave the rest to me and my team."
The crowd fell silent.
Then, thunderous applause broke out.
"Homelander!"
"Homelander!"
"Homelander!"
Amidst the cheers, Homelander slowly rose into the air, facing the department store and focusing on the fifth floor.
"To those inside, listen up. If you release the hostages voluntarily, I'll ask the judge for leniency in your sentencing."
The mall's PA system crackled, and a voice full of hatred replied, "Go to hell, Homelander. All the hostages' lives are on your hands now."
"Detonate the bomb!"
Hearing this, the police instinctively ducked for cover behind their cars.
But after a few moments, there was no explosion. No sound at all.
Frustrated, the extremist's voice rang out over the speakers again: "Where's the bomb? Why isn't it going off?!"
Once again, the crowd erupted into cheers, and the officers gave Homelander a round of thumbs-up.
Homelander smiled, then, with a sudden blur of blue light, shot straight into the fifth floor of the store.
Boom!
The windows from the third to the fifth floor shattered simultaneously, sending shards of glass scattering like glittering fireworks in the sunlight.
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