Early the next morning, Gwen headed to school, and everyone else left the house, leaving only Barry the panda at home.
Meanwhile, the entrance to the Queens Borough Police Department was crowded with people, all drawn by the previous night's events at the Williamsburg Bridge.
George, standing at the podium as sheriff, began addressing the events of the previous night, also to request a warrant.
Facing the restless crowd below, George raised his hand to calm them: "Settle down, settle down, everyone, please..."
"Listen up!" he shouted into the microphone, and the crowd quickly quieted, all eyes on him.
"At around nine o'clock last night in New York, an incident occurred on the Williamsburg Bridge. Much of what happened is still speculation."
"However, many witnessed a crime, and after a preliminary investigation, we confirmed two individuals were present at the scene."
"Therefore, we are seeking a warrant today to pursue the so-called Messenger of Justice, Spider-Man, and his associates, who are hiding in the shadows."
As soon as George finished, the crowd erupted into discussion.
But he had anticipated this reaction and calmly continued.
"...Finally, city council members met with Dragon Diplomats at four meetings, involving the Animal Protection Organization, the World Wildlife Fund, the Dragon Embassy in the United States, and the U.S. House of Representatives," George read from the manuscript, listing the organizations one by one.
"Following their decision, Mayor Adams will introduce Barry the Panda, a Smithsonian animal, to the police force in New York and award him a medal."
Upon hearing this, the crowd fell silent, struggling to comprehend George's words. But as understanding dawned, the crowd burst into uproar.
"What? A panda as a police officer in New York?"
"Is the police department becoming a zoo?"
"It's absurd to have a panda as a cop!"
"What can a panda do as a police officer? Pounce on criminals? It's more likely to get shot by one!"
The reaction was overwhelmingly incredulous.
However, a few people recognized the panda's identity, linking it to the panda that had escaped from the Smithsonian Zoo and captivated New York.
Though the idea of a panda police officer seemed ridiculous, they understood the NYPD's intention to leverage the panda's influence for publicity while keeping Barry in New York.
"A week from now, Mayor Adams will hold a meeting at city hall. Representatives from the organizations mentioned will finalize the details of introducing the panda to the NYPD," George concluded before leaving the podium.
Apart from the U.S. House of Representatives and the Dragon Kingdom Embassy, other organizations were managed by Adams, demonstrating his dedication to this initiative.
The press conference, initially intended to address the Williamsburg Bridge incident, was overshadowed by the news of Barry's introduction to the NYPD.
Within half a day, the Internet buzzed with topics about Barry the Panda.
"New York introduces Barry the Panda, not to a zoo, but to the police force."
"Barry the Panda, skilled in the arts of the Dragon Kingdom, to serve as a New York police officer."
"Mayor Adams to hold a meeting, with many organizations supporting Barry the Panda."
Why did the Dragon Kingdom agree to this? The president of the New York Times speculated it was to use the panda for cultural diplomacy.
"Barry the Panda never left; Smithsonian Zoo staff spotted at the Royal Gate Hotel."
"A Panda Sheriff—what do you think?... an emerging international superstar..."
Shortly after the story broke, reporters revealed that Barry had never left New York and was living in Sheriff George's home.
This led to increased security at the apartment, and Gwen and Peter, who were spending time together at school, were soon surrounded by classmates curious about Barry.
Interest in Spider-Man and the mysterious Williamsburg Bridge monster was completely overshadowed.
Back at home, Barry sat on the sofa, snacking and browsing the Internet on a tablet Gwen had bought him, reading discussions about himself.
To his surprise, many netizens supported his role as a panda police officer. While Dragon Kingdom netizens also supported him, they emphasized ensuring his safety.
With many organizations rallying support, more netizens slowly accepted the idea. Some found it ridiculous, but in the U.S., it wasn't a major issue, and under Mayor Adams's decision, it was a done deal.
As long as Barry didn't encounter problems at the police station, the matter would stabilize, with a three-year review period.
However, officials in Washington were irate, though not at Barry, but at New York's audacity.
The mayor of Washington even called Adams daily to argue, but Barry's own wishes left him powerless.
After scrolling through numerous comments on Twitter, Barry navigated to New York's official website.
"In order to ensure Barry the Panda's safety in human society, we are seeking proposals for protective weapons from major tech companies," read a notice. Submissions would be reviewed within a week.
Clearly, Adams had planned well, but it remained to be seen which tech company would be chosen.
Osborne Industries seemed the most competitive, though their focus was biomedicine. How their weaponry compared to military companies was uncertain.
That day, New York buzzed with excitement over George's announcement, and the fervor continued into the night, with more netizens joining the conversation.
The scene of reporters swarming the apartment reoccurred.
When George and others returned home, they nearly couldn't get through.
Each day involved navigating through throngs of people, and within a few days, Peter suddenly arrived at Gwen's home, injured.
EXTRA CHAPTER IS AVAILABLE IN PATREON
patreon.com/Gho_
patreon.com/Gho_