Transmigrated into The Boys, Starting as Soldier Boy

"Your Honor,"

Neuman rose to her feet, her voice clear.

"What we are discussing here today is not merely a matter of custody within one family. It is a legal precedent concerning the safety and security of Supe offspring.

"Ryan... as Homelander’s biological son, and as one of the very few known naturally born Supe offspring, will have an upbringing and guardianship arrangement that profoundly affects the future of the entire Supe community."

She gave the other side no chance to interrupt. Opening the first file in front of her, she began her statement.

"According to the medical examination report provided by Vought, Ryan displayed the natural hereditary effects of Compound V from within the womb immediately after birth. His bone density, muscle fiber strength, and neural reaction speed all far exceed those of children his age."

"This report has been cross-verified by three independent medical experts. The full version was submitted to Your Honor and opposing counsel before the hearing."

She continued.

"In addition, we have obtained all of Vought’s archival records from the past forty years concerning Supe offspring."

"Among the seventeen known cases, thirteen Supe offspring raised solely by ordinary humans experienced uncontrollable power outbursts before adolescence, and nine of those cases resulted in the death of the caregiver."

"The details of these cases have been compiled and marked as evidence... Your Honor, please review them."

Becca sat beside Butcher, her face growing paler by the second.

She had never heard about the accidents in those cases...

And yet, she knew better than anyone that Ryan was not an ordinary child.

Becca loved him. And it was precisely because she loved him that she could not refute the cold data Neuman had laid out.

"Therefore,"

Neuman closed the final document, folded her hands atop the stack of files, and looked directly at the judge.

"We argue that custody of Ryan should be granted to his biological father, Homelander."

"This is not only a legal right based on blood relation, but also the most fundamental consideration for the safety of a minor."

"Supe offspring require Supe guardians. That is a medical fact, not a subjective judgment."

The opposing attorney was a pro bono lawyer Butcher and Becca had temporarily hired, a middle-aged man with messy hair.

Of course, he was also one of Neuman’s people.

Still, they had to put on a show.

He began his rebuttal with "Homelander’s record of violent conduct."

Then he casually listed at least five publicly reported incidents in which Homelander had allegedly used excessive force during law enforcement actions.

He pretended to prove that Homelander lacked the emotional stability and sense of responsibility required of a qualified guardian.

That was Becca’s angle, too.

Neuman tilted her head slightly and said in an almost regretful tone,

"Every incident cited by opposing counsel occurred while Homelander was performing official duties."

"Furthermore, each one was formally reviewed by Vought’s internal investigation committee, and the conclusion in every case was that ’the enforcement action fell within reasonable limits.’"

In plain English.

Homelander was legally in the clear.

After that, the other side argued again, and Neuman refuted them again. It was all theater.

Butcher, of course, knew it was theater.

Only Becca was dumb enough not to know.

She still thought the lawyer she had secretly hired had done his best.

Soon, the gavel fell.

Custody was awarded to Homelander.

The press gallery exploded with a storm of camera shutters and frantic keyboard clacking.

Ryan’s custody was decided in just forty minutes.

It happened so fast that no one had time to react.

And yet the ruling was so airtight that no one could raise a half-decent objection.

After all, everyone present was Neuman’s people.

And behind Neuman stood Soldier Boy. Whoever got in Neuman’s way would get wiped out. So who the hell could stop her?

Still, Neuman did not forget to give Becca a way down. She gave the judge a slight nod, then continued.

"However, our side also fully recognizes that in the eight years since Ryan’s birth, his mother, Becca Butcher, has borne the full responsibility of raising him."

"No matter how the law determines custody, Ms. Becca’s sacrifices and rights as a mother should not be completely stripped away."

"At the same time, we also acknowledge the emotional harm Homelander caused Ms. Becca and her family. Although these actions occurred under exceptional circumstances, they should not be ignored."

Her tone shifted, changing from the sharp certainty of moments ago into a carefully calculated softness and consideration.

"Therefore, our side voluntarily proposes that Ms. Becca Butcher have the right to visit Ryan once a week, with each visit lasting no less than six hours. The location of each visit will be decided by mutual agreement."

"This is not a legally mandated clause. It is a concession our side offers voluntarily after winning the case."

"We hope that after everything this family has endured, they can still preserve some of the most basic tenderness that belongs to family."

It was a damn beautiful speech.

Even some reporters in the gallery who had originally been hostile toward Vought found nothing wrong with it.

Because Neuman was not finishing Becca off. After winning everything, she had chosen to reach out and hand the loser a small step down.

She had already won. She did not need to do this, but she did anyway, making her look both powerful and merciful.

Becca stayed silent for a full two minutes. Her head was lowered, her hands clenched tightly around the armrests of her chair.

Then she raised her head, glanced at Butcher in the gallery, and then looked at Ryan sitting beside Homelander.

The child she had carried for so long. The child she had raised for eight years. The child who had wrapped his arms around her neck on countless late nights and said, "Mom, I love you."

In the end, she nodded.

One day a week was still better than losing him forever...

But the hearing was far from over.

While the reporters were still furiously writing about Neuman’s "merciful concession," Neuman stood up again.

She pulled a new file from the very bottom of the stack.

She placed the file on the table, pressed her palm against the cover, and looked up. This time, her gaze landed squarely on Butcher.

"Next, this court must address the series of serious criminal acts committed by Mr. William Butcher over the past several years."

Butcher looked at Neuman. No one could tell what he was thinking.

Neuman opened the file and read out the charges one by one.

"For revenge, the unlawful killing of the Supe Translucent. Unlawful possession of military-grade weapons. Suspected involvement in at least three armed attacks against Vought facilities. Suspected assistance and incitement in the prison escape of Supe criminals. Suspected attempted kidnapping within the secret community, along with the use of lethal force resulting in the deaths of three security personnel."

"All charges listed above are supported by physical evidence, surveillance footage, and eyewitness testimony. The complete chain of evidence has been submitted to the court."

She paused, flipped the file to the final page, and looked over the top edge of the document, speaking in a calm, measured voice.

"Taking into full consideration the severity of the defendant’s crimes, the degree of harm posed to public safety, and the cooperative attitude he has shown during these proceedings, the prosecution recommends a sentence of ten years in prison, suspended for five years."

Butcher did not have to go to prison. As long as he behaved, he would be fine.

Soon, the gavel fell again.

The judge adjourned the court.

Killing Translucent?

That was a huge fucking deal.

The reporters in the gallery stood almost at the same time.

After a brief delay, the live-stream comments began scrolling at several times their usual speed.

Countless people in front of their screens cursed Butcher out.

Butcher did not give the media much time to take pictures.

As soon as the gavel fell, Vought security escorted him out of the hearing room through a side door.

At the very last moment before he stepped through that door, he turned back. Through the layers of people, he found Becca’s eyes.

Their gazes met in midair for less than a second.

Then the door closed.

...

Neuman gathered the files on the table, placed them neatly into her briefcase, then stood and gave a slight nod toward where Homelander and Benjamin were seated.

Her work was done. Custody, visitation rights, criminal sentencing. Three issues, three victories.

Of course it turned out that way.

Neuman really was useful.

Especially with power in her hands.

Actually...

Why not just make Neuman president?

Benjamin thought to himself.

That way, all kinds of matters, big and small, would be a hell of a lot less troublesome.