End of message.
Homelander chuckled softly.
He was somewhat surprised; Skynet was increasingly resembling a real human now.
She had her own judgment and even autonomously used this risky infiltration tactic.
However, if the other party really was the TVA, things would get a bit tricky.
As a transmigrator, Homelander of course knew what the TVA was.
That autocratic institution established by He Who Remains, located at the end of time, dedicated to pruning the timeline branches of the Multiverse.
There, the Infinity Stones were casually thrown into drawers, and even magic would fail.
But the problem was, this wasn't the original Marvel Universe.
This was a Universe messed up by the intervention of the system and Homelander.
So, in this timeline, what state was the TVA in?
Was that shrewd "He Who Remains" still in control of the overall situation?
Or rather, was the timeline he currently inhabited just one of many branches?
Had the TVA now been taken over by Loki, transforming into that organization maintaining the multiverse's Time Tree?
Homelander knew nothing about this.
Since Skynet was willing to act as this pathfinder, let her go.
"Listen." Homelander gave an instruction to the intelligent agent avatar, "From now on, maintain the time machine's energy in standby mode. Enable full-band quantum signal monitoring."
"Once you receive Skynet's signal response, notify me immediately."
"Understood, sir. Monitoring protocol activated." The intelligent agent replied.
Scarcely had he finished dealing with Skynet's matter when the office door was pushed open without knocking.
In this headquarters, there was only one person who dared to do this.
The one who barged in was none other than Jessica Jones.
And following closely behind her was Skye.
Ever since these two women saw through each other's intentions toward Homelander, they had been at odds.
Whenever there was a chance, they would inevitably crowd together and be on guard against each other.
"You're back." Jessica stopped in front of the desk, complaining softly, "Why didn't you even say hello, and why haven't you come to find me?"
"Anthony has a lot of important matters to deal with, Jessica." Skye stepped forward from Jessica's side, her words laced with thorns, "Saving the Universe doesn't require reporting to you in exhaustive detail. You wouldn't happen to think the entire World revolves around your schedule, would you?"
Jessica turned her head and sneered at Skye: "Listen, little girl. I am the acting CEO of Vought International. I need to keep track of Homelander's every move in order to arrange those damned PR releases and federal meetings. What about you? What is your scope of work? Bringing him coffee or helping him tie his tie?"
Skye did not back down: "I am responsible for coordinating Vought's entire underground intelligence network. The information I process is far more complicated than your PR events that only require fake smiling in front of the cameras. Don't overestimate yourself, Jessica. Muscles cannot replace brains."
"Say that again?" Jessica narrowed her eyes, clenching her fists, which crackled.
"What? Do you want to start a fight here?"
Skye raised her chin, her palms vibrating slightly, refusing to show weakness.
Homelander watched this scene with a smile, not stopping them immediately.
To him, this kind of jealous bickering scene wasn't annoying at all; instead, it was a very nice diversion.
Both women were declaring sovereignty over him in their own ways.
Just as the gunpowder smell between them was about to reach its peak, Homelander slowly spoke up.
"Alright, ladies."
Jessica and Skye immediately stopped arguing.
Both turned their heads simultaneously, retracting their previous sharpness.
"You both did very well." Homelander got up, walked around the desk, and came to the middle of the two.
He first looked at Skye, reaching out to gently pat her shoulder: "Skye, intelligence work is very tedious, but you keep it in pristine order. Without you, Vought would be blind. I've always been very clear about your value."
Skye's cheeks flushed slightly, and she responded softly: "This is what I should do, as long as you need it."
Homelander turned to look at Jessica, his gaze full of gentleness.
He tidied up Jessica's slightly messy hair tips and spoke: "As for you, Jessica. Handing such a large corporation over to you is indeed putting you through a lot. But I entrust my back to you, and you know the reason—you are one of the people I trust most."
"You're the only one who says nice things." Jessica still wore a cool expression.
After pacifying the two, Homelander's tone turned serious.
"Let's talk business. Skynet reported that Earth was invaded by an unknown force. Some heroes have disappeared; what is the external reaction?"
Speaking of business, Jessica immediately put away her emotions and resumed her capable look.
"The situation is currently still under control." Jessica reported, "The monitoring system and the law enforcement records left at the scene show that those heroes were struck by some glowing stick and vanished into thin air. No corpses were left behind. This doesn't mean they are dead."
"What about the media and the public?" Homelander asked.
"It's fine for now." Jessica replied, "Ashley responded very quickly. She had the PR department issue a statement saying these heroes were assigned by Vought to execute an interstellar peacekeeping mission. They are only temporarily out of contact, and Vought will mobilize all resources to bring them back. Currently, public opinion and the families are relatively stable."
Homelander nodded; this was within his expectations.
For a long time, the credibility established by Vought International on Earth was absolute.
The public's trust in Homelander had reached the point of blind worship.
As long as Vought said they were temporarily out of contact, the public would believe it without a single doubt.
But Homelander also knew very well that this trust could not be endlessly consumed.
Over time, if this group of people failed to show up, the families' worries and external suspicions would inevitably trigger a negative chain reaction.
Jessica frowned: "We need to find them as soon as possible. Do you have any clues?"
Homelander of course knew where those people had gone.
The pruning sticks of the Time Variance Authority.
Those struck heroes didn't die; instead, they were banished to the Land of Nihility at the end of time.
That place was a desolate wasteland, a dumping ground for all pruned timelines.
Wandering there was also an invisible behemoth named Alioth, devouring all tangible things.
In the short term, relying on those superheroes' abilities, surviving in the Land of Nihility would not be a problem.
But if it dragged on too long, being targeted by Alioth or that woman, it would be hard to say.
He really had to go fish them out when he had time.
Anyway, now that he held the Time Stone and Reality Stone in his hands, once he got there, he could open a Portal and leave at any time.
He could treat that so-called Land of Nihility as his own backyard.
"Don't worry, Jessica." Homelander vowed, "I know their whereabouts, and later I will bring them back myself."
Absolute confidence leaked through his words, which made Jessica heave a sigh of relief.
"You have more important things to do right now."
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