Gwen headed back first to notify Peter's family and friends of the news.
Peter, however, did not take action immediately.
Instead, he waited quietly for about half an hour before slightly adjusting the coordinates of the Spider Portal.
He precisely targeted the landing point at the most densely populated area in all of New York—Times Square.
New York, Times Square.
The midday sun poured over the center of this city that never sleeps. Giant electronic billboards played bizarre images, and tourists from all over the World mingled with hurried New York residents, forming a bustling and noisy urban tapestry.
People were either taking photos for memories or stopping to enjoy street performers; everything seemed so ordinary yet full of vitality.
However, at that moment, a sudden change occurred!
"Look! What is that!"
A cry of surprise drew everyone's attention.
Right above Times Square, a ghostly blue circular portal abruptly opened, like a weird wound torn into the azure sky.
The appearance of the spatial gate instantly plunged the noisy square below into an eerie silence.
Everyone looked up, holding their phones, staring at this supernatural scene in utter bewilderment.
Before they could react from the shock, a figure covered in blood with a tattered Battle Suit fell miserably from the portal like a bird with broken wings!
Looking at the figure falling from the rift, the crowd was startled at first, but then gradually approached after realizing there was no danger.
"This person... why does he look so familiar?"
"Is it... Arbitrator?"
Arbitrator!
The city Guardian who saved all of Brooklyn and had been mysteriously missing for a long time had actually returned to the public eye in such a tragic manner!
This discovery, while shocking, completely piqued everyone's curiosity.
"Arbitrator? Hasn't he been gone for a long time?"
"Yeah, he hasn't appeared since the Battle of Brooklyn. I thought he'd already retired from being a superhero."
"Shit, haven't you guys realized the main point? Just what kind of person could inflict such heavy injuries on Arbitrator!"
"Ambulance, call an ambulance!"
While the surrounding onlookers were discussing animatedly,
Peter "weakly" lifted his head. From beneath the dark-gold skull mask, his weak and hurried voice emerged:
"Run... run fast!"
"The real danger... is coming soon!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it made the chattering crowd freeze on the spot.
And then... panic spread instantly like a virus.
Times Square turned into complete chaos!
Everyone was terrified by Arbitrator's wretched appearance and the doomsday prophecy from his mouth.
Screams, cries, and sirens mixed together, and the once-bustling intersection was instantly paralyzed.
People fled in all directions like headless flies. If the streets hadn't been built wide enough, a stampede would have occurred in minutes.
In just a few short minutes, the once-crowded Times Square became dead silent, as if the end of the World had arrived.
However...
After the panic, the expected scenes of earth-shattering destruction, alien invasions, or monster descents... none of them happened!
One hour passed.
Two hours passed.
Until night fell, except for the mess the public had made themselves, Times Square remained calm; not even a single alien hair appeared.
Now, everyone was dumbfounded.
What the hell was going on?
What happened to the danger? What about the end of the World?
Could it be that this was just a prank?
But today wasn't April Fool's Day!
People's hearts were filled with curiosity, and the internet was in an uproar over today's Times Square Incident.
Although people were full of doubts, given Arbitrator's illustrious record of saving Brooklyn in the past, most of the public chose to believe Peter's words.
However, while the majority of the public chose to believe, certain existences hidden in the shadows smelled a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
...
White House, President's Office.
The Mr. President, who had previously behaved so humbly before Peter, was now sitting with several Military bigwigs and a few grim-faced politicians.
On the television in front of them, reports about the "Times Square Incident" were currently playing.
"Gentlemen, our opportunity has come."
A four-star general named Mike, who was closely associated with General Ross, was the first to break the silence, his lips curling into an uncontrollable cold sneer.
His words triggered strong agreement from those around him:
"This is a great opportunity for us to weaken the reputation of this damn Arbitrator!"
"It's time to make this damn Little Brat lose his reputation!"
"Exactly. The reason we couldn't move against him and his family before was because of public opinion, wasn't it?"
"Now, since he chose to court death himself, don't blame us for being ruthless!"
Seeing the crowd's excitement,
Mr. President, after wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, couldn't help but speak up:
"Everyone, calm down. Don't forget that even without a reputation, that guy is enough to easily take our lives!"
"Also, do you think I need to contact him and ask what exactly the great crisis he mentioned is?"
Hearing this, the scene fell silent for a while. A moment later, Mike, the four-star general who had spoken first, said:
"I don't think that's necessary. If a danger truly arrives that even that kid can't handle, then it wouldn't matter even if we wanted to resist, would it?"
This immediately drew agreement from the surroundings:
"Mike is right. Small dangers don't need to be managed, and big dangers can't be managed!"
"Compared to that far-off danger, I just want to deal with this damn kid right now!"
"Exactly. Since this power is already completely beyond our control, I'd rather destroy him than let him continue to maintain his autonomy or fall into the hands of others!"
Seeing that everyone's opinions had reached a consensus, the President could only helplessly ask:
"Then tell me, what exactly do you plan to do!"
As soon as he said this, a fellow in the corner who had remained silent all along spoke up:
"Gentlemen, regarding Peter Parker, I have thought of a good way to give him a taste of his own medicine."
"Didn't he try to manipulate us with public opinion before? Then why don't we do the opposite? We'll use public opinion to destroy him first, and then push through a law to eliminate the problem once and for all!"
Hearing this, the spirits of the others present were instantly lifted, and they hurriedly looked at the minister and asked:
"Tell us quickly, what good way do you have to solve the problem once and for all?"
The minister pushed his glasses, revealing a calculating smile before speaking:
"We'll first put on a show of wanting to cooperate with that kid to resist the crisis. Then, we'll cry poverty to him, saying our funds aren't enough to face such a crisis. Through this method, we'll get him to take the initiative to go on a program and call for the public to pay taxes!"
Hiss~
Just as he said this, the people around him couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath. What a brilliant move to kill with a borrowed knife!
"And then!" Mike hurriedly pressed.
"Next is the real killing move." The bespectacled minister took a deep breath and dropped a bombshell:
"While his reputation is at rock bottom, I plan to take the opportunity to introduce an act I've been planning for a long time. I call it... the superhuman registration act!"