บท 530: Chapter 527 | Strategic Retreat, the Most Dangerous Place.
In New York, at the Daily Bugle.
"Don't you have anything new to publish?"
The newspaper owner named 'J. Jonah Jameson' slammed a pile of prepared news material on his desk in anger.
The young man with the mean and venomous tongue had just recently inherited the small newspaper, which had been in operation since World War II, from his father.
Unlike James Sr., who was amiable and gracious, James Jr. was quick-tempered, fond of sarcasm and unforgiving with his words.
These days, almost all the staff of the Daily Bugle had been scolded by him.
"Let's see, heh, Tony Stark ... a rich kid not long out of MIT, and you guys don't have anything else to report every day but his philandering or gossip?"
James yelled at the top of his lungs, "New Yorkers like to read gossip, but they're not interested in the wannabe life of a playboy with a reputation as a genius who's been nothing but a womaniser!"
"If you want to dig, you should also focus on Howard Stark, like Stark's father and son, going to a nightclub together and fighting over some stripper ... That's the kicker!"
The employee, shrinking his neck and enduring his boss's scolding, weakly cautioned, "Howard Stark is the chief scientific advisor of S.H.I.E.L.D., a sort of national public official. If anyone is spotted following him, we could be shot as spies."
James's torrent of venomous words came to an abrupt halt as he scratched his head and digressed, "If Howard Stark doesn't work, then you guys dig up the mutant, the guy who's always on TV, the one called ... Charles, or the other one, the Metal King? The Magnet? Anyway, a mutant who can control metal!"
"Magneto."
The employee corrected him.
"Whatever. If you can't, find some material, write a memoir about Superman's sleep, interview the retired Captain America or something."
Because his father lived well, Tony Stark failed to inherit the family business and became a young rich second generation.
Without the status of being at the helm of Stark Industries, the reputation of being a genius alone was far from enough to attract the attention of the public.
Therefore, in the eyes of the Daily Bugle, he was less interesting.
In the original timeline, Tony Stark was a newspaper darling who kept half of New York's paparazzi fed on his own.
"Boss, I got a message!"
The female secretary, holding a mobile phone, came in.
"My best friend's boyfriend, whose ex-girlfriend's uncle ... works in the press office at S.H.I.E.L.D., told me that S.H.I.E.L.D. has big news."
James was overwhelmed by the complicated relations. He only caught the two keywords 'S.H.I.E.L.D' and 'big news'.
Unlike the S.H.I.E.L.D., which was controlled by the hard-boiled egg Director, Luke didn't deliberately hide its presence.
So, the public was aware of this complex institution behind the five major powers responsible for international crises.
"Find a way to get in!"
James clapped his hands excitedly. A small newspaper, such as the Daily Bugle, which had no big company backing them and official certification, naturally, wouldn't get an invitation letter.
"Spend as much as you like, and make sure you don't fall behind the rest of the media!"
...
...
When S.H.I.E.L.D. was going to hold a press conference, the media flocked to the event like sharks sniffing the scent of blood.
Some of the newspapers that weren't invited did everything they could to try to get into the venue.
Even if only some photos were taken, the headlines in the next few days were guaranteed.
Half an hour later, on the 22nd floor of S.H.I.E.L.D's building near the Potomac River.
The auditorium was packed with journalists from various newspapers, piling up their long lens cannons and pointing them at the stage.
"Isn't the speaker today Ms Carter?"
A reporter anxiously asked.
As the current Commander of S.H.I.E.L.D., Peggy normally served as a spokesperson.
Originally, the latter had thought of giving this task to Howard, who loved the limelight.
However, after several attempts, they found that this man, who was married and had a son and was entering middle age, loved to freestyle it every time.
He made any press conference scene informal, like a stand-up comedy scene.
Therefore, Peggy chose to go on her own, and Howard was forbidden to touch the microphone ever again.
"What could the news be? I remember they made such a big fuss a few years ago because the mutants caused a big scene in the Middle East."
Another reporter guessed.
As S.H.I.E.L.D. was positioned as an international organisation, it didn't specifically follow the orders of any one country.
Some years ago, the Ten Rings was making a lot of noise in that part of the Middle East.
They contacted Emma, White Queen, and got the approval.
S.H.I.E.L.D. sent Magneto, and his brotherhood, into that chaotic area.
Then along came a guy claiming to be the Mandarin, who was the mastermind behind the Ten Rings.
The young Magneto and his opponent fought to a standstill, exchanging blows.
In the end, S.P.E.A.R stepped in and brought the Mandarin back to China.
But the impact of that incident was so great that it led to pressure from the public.
S.H.I.E.L.D. made a point of stepping in to explain and promote Magneto as the leading figure of the younger generation of mutants.
"Two minutes to go!"
Natasha, who had wavy burgundy hair, tried out the microphone and checked the rest of the equipment before speaking to the media on stage.
The latter had their cameras turned on and pens and pocketbooks at the ready.
2 minutes later, a tall figure emerged from backstage.
Before he spoke, the audience was in an uproar.
The flashing lights, the sound of the shutters being pressed, the dumbfounded expressions of those reporters ... all testify to the significance of what this man represented.
Because of his appearance, the whole world would dramatically change again.
...
...
On the other side the Skrulls' secret base.
They gathered in the darkroom in their human appearances.
There were politicians, businessmen and even senior agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. had a press conference earlier. Any news back from the scene?"
The Skrull leader, who had just met 'Nick Fury', walked into the room.
"Just a few minutes ago, I received word that two of my people had disappeared into thin air. Most likely because Peggy Carter had noticed something was wrong and wanted to go public with the information about us."
A Skrull, who was wearing the appearance of a Senator, sneered and said, "That would only make people think she was crazy. When everyone denies the truth, the truth will turn into a lie."
The Empire's advance troops, adept in infiltration, reconnaissance and creating confusion, knew this routine all too well.
They had waged massive wars on no less than twenty planets, bringing one race and civilisation after another to their doom.
Earth was the next target.
"There's news coming back."
A Skrull, who was pretending to be a White House aide, said so.
He clicked on the projection apparatus in his hand and relayed the live press conference.
"I am Superman."
The tall man standing on stage spoke in a gentle tone.
He wore the battle suit, the dark red cloak, with the young face that had appeared countless times in documentaries and campaign videos...
The reporters below the stage were stunned.
'Now that's real news!'
'Superman returns!'
Superman had opened his eyes from a deep sleep, got out of the cryo-chamber, and came back to the human world!
The Skrulls in the room were gaping at the mouth, too. They hadn't been told anything about it at all.
'When did Peggy Carter, who was clearly under 24-hour surveillance, wake Superman up?'
'How could they not know about such a big thing when they even had Nick Fury under their control?'
"What should we do now?"
The members of the Empire's advance troops all looked towards 'Howard Stark', their leader.
"How about ... considering a strategic retreat? Waiting to figure out Superman's true capabilities and then fight back?"
Someone suggested.
If Superman were really as powerful as those documentaries and videos suggested, then it wouldn't be possible for the advanced forces to deal with him on their own.
"We are all elites of the Empire. Why do we need to be afraid of a single earthling?"
Some people disagreed.
The Skrull leader was silent as he raised his right hand and typed the word 'Superman' into his wristwatch to get more information.
Then, for an instant, all kinds of news from the galaxy popped out.
A few minutes later, after browsing, the leader of the Skrulls wiped his cold sweat and made a decision.
"Retreat quickly, and let those inside S.H.I.E.L.D. find a way to escape and don't engage in any risky moves."
The rest of the Skrull members were dumbfounded. 'Was it necessary to be so quick and decisive?'
Even the faction that advocated surrender was considering withdrawing its forces to wait and see for a few days.
Running straight away was too shameful!
"This planet is terrifying! We have to retreat, there is no time to lose!"
The Skrull leader shivered as he remembered the description of Superman's combat capabilities.
If all that was true, then Earth might very well be considered one of the most dangerous places in the galaxy right now!
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