The Hammer Industries press conference incident was like a super-bomb dropped into the information age; its chain reaction swept across the globe with staggering speed and intensity over the following week.
The first piece of explosive news belonged to the business and legal sections:
"Hammer Industries Empire Collapses Overnight! Founder Justin Hammer Taken Away by FBI!"
"Suspected Business Fraud, Technical Plagiarism, Endangering Public Safety—Hammer Industries Faces Multiple Felony Charges"
"Department of Defense Urgently Halts All Collaborative Projects with Hammer Industries; Stock Price Plummets 99%, Bankruptcy Proceedings Initiated"
"'Iron Soldiers' Become 'Scrap Metal Jokes'; Hammer Industries' Test Data Exposed as Large-Scale Fabrication"
Justin Hammer was taken into custody directly from the press conference site. Subsequently, multiple departments including the FBI, the SEC, and the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense launched a joint, carpet-style investigation into Hammer Industries. The control protocols and energy cores of the lethally flawed 'Iron Soldiers' designed by Ivan Vanko became ironclad evidence. Furthermore, the detailed technical analysis reports submitted by Tony Stark and Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes dealt a fatal blow to Hammer Industries. The Military industrial giant that once stood as an equal to Stark Industries collapsed in just a few days as everyone turned against it, rapidly heading toward its end. The market vacuum and Military contracts it left behind naturally became a new arena for various powers, while Stark Industries' stock price soared in response.
However, what truly ignited global public opinion, especially in the public sphere, was another set of news and the ensuing phenomenal nationwide craze:
"Mysterious 'White Goddess' Reappears! Saves Hundreds of Civilians with a Wave of Her Hand!"
"It's Her! The Mysterious Being from Nevada! She Has Spoken!"
"Jedi Rescue! Analyzing the 'Miraculous' Spatial Teleportation at the Press Conference"
"Golden-Haired, Blue-Eyed Girl Appears on the Battlefield; Suspected to be the 'Goddess's' True Form?"
"Number One Trending Search: #SearchingForTheBlondeGoddess #ThankYouForSavingUs"
"'Most Beautiful Face of the Year' Ranking Shaken Up! Mysterious Girl Debuts at the Top with a Massive Lead!"
"A National Goddess is Born? Who Exactly is She? Where is She From?"
The media used every flowery adjective and shocking headline they could think of. The surviving high-definition surveillance footage from the press conference, along with the shots taken by the news helicopter that had risked flying in, were played repeatedly, slowed down, and analyzed. In particular, the segment where Artoria descended in her 'Herrscher of Finality' form, effortlessly neutralizing missiles and gently comforting and teleporting away civilians—followed by her de-transforming back into a blonde, blue-eyed girl in casual clothes—became the most-viewed and most-discussed footage globally over the past week.
Her image was quickly turned into a symbol. Some people revered her as a deity, calling her a 'Guardian Angel' or a 'Miracle Descended to Earth,' starting the #ThankYouGuardian hashtag on social media; some even set up unofficial fan sites and prayer pages for her. Another group, especially the younger demographic, was quickly drawn to the contrast between the transcendent power she displayed and the 'human' side shown in her tone when comforting civilians, as well as her slightly helpless and shy gestures when caught on camera. Combined with her peerless beauty and unique aura, tags like #Blonde Goddess and #Most Beautiful Savior went viral. In a 'World's Most Beautiful Woman' poll launched by a well-known website, she took the top spot with a captured profile shot showing her pale and serene face, garnering over ten times the votes of the runner-up, even though most voters didn't even know her name.
Of course, there were also voices of doubt, fear, and conspiracy theories. But whether it was deification, idolization, or cautious skepticism, one consensus emerged: she was no longer just a mysterious entity in vague rumors and satellite images. She had a clear face, showed a definite behavioral pattern of helping the innocent, and... seemed to be associated with Tony Stark and Iron Man.
The pressure immediately fell on S.H.I.E.L.D. and the United States government. Countless inquiries from foreign governments, international organizations, and the media flooded the White House and the Pentagon. People were desperate to know: Who is she? Where is she from? Is she friend or foe? Why does she possess such power? The officials had to provide an explanation.
New York, the top floor of Stark Tower, Security Briefing Room.
The air was thick with the smell of strong coffee and a hint of tension. Tony Stark, Phil Coulson, Pepper Potts, along with the urgently invited Artoria and the ever-present Minerva, sat around a circular table. Holographic projections displayed headlines from major media outlets and internet heat maps.
"That's the situation." Coulson put down his tablet and rubbed his temples. Though his expression remained professional, the exhaustion in his eyes was evident. "The public needs an explanation, allies need reassurance, and potential enemies... might be reassessing. Director Fury's point is that we must come up with a unified, controlled 'story' as soon as possible."
"A story?" Tony raised an eyebrow. "The fact is, she saved me, saved Rhodes, saved at least a hundred civilians, and cleaned up the trash Hammer and Vanko left behind. What other story do you need?"
"Mr. Stark, facts are often more complex and harder for the public to accept than stories," Coulson explained patiently. "An entity possessing multiple abilities that transcend current scientific understanding—such as spatial manipulation, energy definition, and matter erasure—suddenly appears in New York, is closely associated with you, and has twice intervened in major events publicly. This will cause unnecessary panic, suspicion, and might even be interpreted by certain powers as a... threat, or a 'resource' to be fought over. We must provide a reasonable background for her, and for the stability of this World."
He looked at Artoria, his tone sincere: "Miss Artoria, S.H.I.E.L.D. is grateful for everything you've done. We aren't trying to restrict you or pry into your secrets. But to reduce future trouble, a polished, public identity would be more beneficial for you and those you care about."
Artoria listened quietly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the warm teacup. Minerva stood half a step behind her, her optical sensors calmly scanning Coulson and Tony without saying a word.
"A Traveler... a Traveler from... a distant galaxy. Due to a ship malfunction or something, I'm temporarily stranded on Earth. The 'abilities' I possess are my civilization's technology or... well, individual talents. I have no ill intent toward Earth; I'm just staying here temporarily to observe and lend a hand when necessary. As for my relationship with Tony and you all..." She shrugged. "Geniuses are always drawn to each other, right? He's helping me adapt to Earth's living environment, and I'm helping him solve some small problems."
Coulson considered Artoria's proposal and nodded: "An 'extraterrestrial visitor' background can explain the source of your powers and avoid political and ethical disputes caused by being classified as a local 'Mutant' or 'superpowered individual.' The positioning of 'Traveler' and 'temporarily stranded' can also mitigate the fear of an 'alien invasion.' 'Friendliness' and 'friendship with Mr. Stark' are key. We can add some details, like how your civilization values peace and exploration, your personal interest in Earth's culture, and so on. S.H.I.E.L.D. will provide the necessary identification documents and support to prove you are a 'friendly alien visitor' under our knowledge and supervision."
He looked at Artoria: "Of course, this requires your consent and cooperation. You will need to 'confirm' this identity to the public at an appropriate time and in an appropriate manner. For example... a brief, controlled public appearance or statement."
A public appearance? Artoria frowned slightly. She remembered the discomfort of being locked onto by helicopter cameras and the fanatical titles and discussions online.
"I know this might make you uncomfortable," Pepper spoke softly with understanding, "but sometimes, taking the initiative to stand in the spotlight and control the narrative is better than being surrounded by endless speculation and rumors. We can control the media outlets and the questions to ensure the atmosphere is friendly and positive."
Artoria was silent for a moment. She understood that Coulson and Tony's considerations were correct. Staying hidden forever was unrealistic, especially since her face had already been captured. An officially endorsed, relatively mild 'persona' would indeed save a lot of trouble. As for being an 'alien Traveler'... while not a complete lie (the system and she were indeed from outside this World), it sounded much easier to accept than 'transmigrator + roleplay system.'
"I need to think about it." She didn't agree immediately.
"Of course," Coulson expressed his understanding, "but please do so as soon as possible. Public opinion ferments quickly; we must seize the initiative."
After the meeting, Artoria and Minerva returned to the seaside cottage in Long Island. Over the next two days, she closely monitored online public opinion through Little Love, watching her name and image being constantly discussed, processed, and spread. The feeling of being scrutinized by countless eyes wasn't pleasant, but she also saw the sincere gratitude from many she had saved, as well as the simple yearning of ordinary people for a 'Guardian.'
During this time, Tony also contacted her privately with another suggestion: "If you really hate being surrounded by the media asking stupid questions, maybe there's another way. For example... start a livestream? Don't show your face, or use a virtual avatar. Just chat casually, answer some harmless questions, and show your 'approachability' and 'harmlessness.' The initiative will be in your hands; say what you want, and ignore what you don't want to answer. I'll handle Fury; he'll definitely be happy to see you stabilizing public opinion in a more 'people-friendly' way."
Livestreaming? Artoria's heart stirred. This seemed... a bit more controllable than accepting a formal interview.
After consulting Minerva—whose response was: "I support any method that reduces your exposure to uncontrollable risks. I will ensure the livestream environment is absolutely safe"—and planning several contingency scenarios with Little Love, Artoria made her decision.
Three days later, a livestream room that appeared suddenly without any prior announcement on the homepage recommendations of the World's largest streaming platform attracted tens of millions of users. The title of the room was simple: "A Traveler's Casual Chat."
The livestream didn't show a face. The background was a virtually generated, serene starry sky with occasional shooting stars. A soft female voice, slightly electronically synthesized but still clearly youthful, rang out:
"Hello everyone, I am Artoria. Um... the one you've all been discussing lately. Regarding where I come from... as some have guessed, I am indeed not an Earthling. I come from a very distant place and am temporarily staying here due to an unexpected interstellar travel malfunction. I like Earth very much—the oceans, the sunlight, and... many interesting people and things."
Her tone was relaxed, even carrying a hint of a casual chat.
The bullet chat exploded instantly, layers of comments almost obscuring the starry sky background.
[Wife!!! You finally appeared!!!]
[It's really her! Her voice is so nice!]
[An alien?! My god! Truly an alien!]
[Welcome to Earth! Miss Traveler!]
[Thank you for saving those people! You are an Angel!]
[What is your Planet like? Is it different from Earth?]
[What is your relationship with Iron Man?]
[Are those powers you have technology?]
[Will you leave Earth?]
[Do you have a boyfriend? (Strikethrough)]
Artoria seemed to be choked up by some overly enthusiastic bullet comments, remaining silent for two seconds before continuing to answer, selectively ignoring some questions: "My home... is very different from Earth. The sky is sometimes purple, and the plants glow. But there are similarities too, like everyone liking beautiful things and hating war and harm. As for the powers... they're a bit of a talent of our race, mainly used for exploration and... well, protecting things when necessary. Mr. Stark and I are friends; he's helped me a lot. Currently, I have no plans to leave; there's still a lot of scenery here I haven't seen."
Her answers avoided the core issues, but her attitude was friendly and her tone gentle, quickly winning more favor. The atmosphere of the bullet chat gradually shifted from initial extreme fanaticism to curiosity and friendliness.
However, there were always discordant voices. Some questioning and provocative comments began to appear in the bullet chat:
[What right does an alien have to interfere in Earth's affairs?]
[With such powerful strength, who can guarantee you won't be a threat?]
[Did the government reach some secret agreement with you?]
[Demonstrate your power? This isn't a hoax, is it?]
Facing these, Artoria's voice remained calm, even carrying a faint smile: "Whether I constitute a threat... I think the previous few times should explain some things. For example, the monster that tried to terrorize the city with a gamma bomb, or the biological weapon that went out of control in a certain Military Base, and... the missiles aimed at civilians a few days ago."
She didn't specify the events, but the keywords she mentioned were enough for all viewers to associate them with the Hulk, Abomination, and the press conference. Her tone was very flat, as if she were stating the weather, but the meaning contained within made every viewer's heart turn cold.
Indeed, this beautiful and gentle alien Traveler was no fragile little flower. The things she had 'resolved' with such ease were terrifying entities that could give the Military a massive headache or even cause large-scale disasters! Especially the 'hitting the moon' incident (referring to the phenomenon of the Finality power shooting into the sky when purifying Abomination in Nevada, which was observed by some and jokingly called that by the public) and the two times she had dismantled robots with her bare hands—the level of power she displayed had already exceeded the scope of conventional understanding.
She was friendly because she chose to be. But if anyone thought they could push their luck because of it, or view her as a controllable pawn... they had better weigh whether they could withstand the consequences of her being 'unfriendly.'
The bullet chat cleared for a moment. Those provocative comments were quickly drowned out by more comments expressing support and welcome.
[Support the Traveler sister!]
[Earth welcomes friendly guests!]
[Strength is the foundation of confidence! Love it, love it!]
[Who dares to disrespect the Goddess? Ask Iron Man and... the Goddess's own fists if they agree!]
The livestream lasted for about half an hour. Artoria answered some light questions about Earth's culture and food—she mentioned she really likes ice cream—and then ended the stream amidst a flurry of "Goodbye," "Take care," and "Come back to stream often" comments.
After the livestream ended, related topics hit the trending searches again. But this time, the direction of public opinion was much clearer. The mainstream voice began to accept the setting of "a powerful but friendly alien Traveler temporarily visiting Earth." S.H.I.E.L.D. and Tony released some "corroborating" news at the right time, reinforcing this impression.
In this way, by maintaining a sense of mystery while showing both approachability and the deterrent of absolute strength, Artoria officially stepped onto the front stage of the World. She had a relatively safe "shell," but she had also placed herself at the intersection of more complex interstellar diplomacy and internal Earth power struggles.
The road ahead was destined not to be peaceful. But at least for now, she had an identity that allowed her to walk temporarily in the sunlight, along with... the unchanging protection by her side and the tacit support of several distant allies.
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