Chapter 8: Ah, youth...
2022-10-19 Author: Great Demon Spirit
The Daily Bugle went into overdrive, mobilizing every department in a coordinated effort. The heads of all major departments gathered, keeping in constant contact and maneuvering strategically.
On this day, the Daily Bugle's efficiency was at an all-time high. They printed an extra edition of the newspaper, promoting it far and wide regardless of the cost. It attracted droves of pedestrians, and even more people went online, specifically logging onto the Daily Bugle's official website to read the news after hearing about it.
When everyone is chasing novelty, the novelty itself is lost. In the end, everyone was just following the same trend.
But Spider-Man had certainly become a hot topic.
Let's take a look at the article penned by that old hack Jameson. He wrote with great passion: "Spider-Man has always been insufferably arrogant, brazenly exercising powers beyond the law. He uses his fists to commit villainy, and his webs to ambush violence. He is utterly foolish, arrogant, and conceited, making a complete mess of the police's job.
Until he met the Master Mechanic—and please allow me to call this mysterious Mutant who appeared during the crisis by that name—Spider-Man was thoroughly shaken...
...
The meeting with Spider-Man was just a chance encounter, a pure coincidence. Even Tony himself was surprised.
Ever since he had laid his parents' coffins to rest with his own hands, offering a bouquet of flowers amidst sorrow and tears, Tony had declined S.H.I.E.L.D.'s subsequent invitations. All alone, he rode his motorcycle to the Empire State Building.
The Empire State Building, as one of New York's famous landmarks, sees tens of thousands of tourists ascend to its observation deck every year.
Tony and his parents had been up here, just the day before the incident.
Back then, the three of them had stood at the top, quietly admiring the scenery just as he was now. It had been tranquil, peaceful, simple, and complete.
In that moment, a gentle breeze swept past, softly lifting a lock of Tony's hair and letting it flutter in the air.
This was his second time ascending the Empire State Building, and it would also be his last. He would never, ever set foot there again.
This was a farewell to the past, a burial of his former self with his own hands.
From this moment on, the old Tony was completely dead. All that remained were seemingly insignificant memories, sealed deep within his mind like the most precious of jewels.
Tony slowly walked into the underground parking garage where he had left his motorcycle.
In the corners of the garage and inside some of the cars, figures could be faintly seen. They were deliberately waiting for him.
Countless factions, both large and small, and other interested parties watched him silently through various means. No one spoke, and no one offered a word of warning.
"Before we get started, just to be safe, I'll ask one thing: does anyone want to leave this place?" Tony stopped in his tracks and said slowly.
This was a very real world, filled with countless dangerous Ability Users and evil organizations. Some choices, once made, offered no chance for regret.
Even a top, on-the-books Agent like Agent Coulson had walked the line between life and death countless times, hadn't he?
Countless people were watching in silence, their minds racing as they formulated their own plans.
People watched Tony through every available channel, eager to see his next move.
Tony raised his head, looking at the people in the garage who were now silently rising to their feet and stealthily approaching him. A savage grin finally spread across his face...
(end of chapter)