Seeing everyone's dejected appearance, Ryan shook his head and didn't say any words of comfort.
They say rumors stop at the wise, but unfortunately, New York's wise people have all gone over to the side of the criminals.
It could be said that after the news of Spider-Man being framed first spread, those who believed most that Spider-Man was wronged weren't the people the Spider-Men had saved, but the criminals the Spider-Men had once fought and sent to prison.
Only your opponent truly understands you; the weight of this saying is still rising...
And don't look at how the citizens of New York are crying out for the Spider Family to return; in truth, it's not because they believe the Spider-Men were wronged, but because they are afraid...
Because they just want the Spider-Men to appear again and solve those troubles for them like usual.
Believe it or not, as soon as the Spider-Men reappear and help them solve New York's current troubles, once the storm subsides—even without the Skrulls jumping out to frame them again—those old matters will be dug up by those with ulterior motives, leading those ignorant citizens to hurl insults at the Spider Family all over again.
So, right now, the lesson for these people isn't enough; they need a fear that penetrates to the very marrow of their bones!
A fear so extreme that they'll immediately recall it whenever they think of badmouthing the Spider Family in the future, a fear that ensures even if the Spider Family actually does something wrong, it won't easily trigger a public outcry!
And the only one present who was as calm as they were a month ago, before the storm against the Spider Family began, besides Ryan, was probably only Tony.
Ryan was calm because he didn't really care about the lives of those fools; in his view, stupidity comes with a price, it's just that this time the price might be a 'little' bit too much for them to handle...
As for Tony, it wasn't that he didn't care, but that he simply hadn't had the time this past month to care about the storm in New York.
This month, he had to build the Quantum Tunnel and work with Dr. Banner and the others to create Ultron; he was so busy he wished he could work 24 hours a day, so how could he have time to care about any scandals concerning himself or the storm in New York...
Besides, for a former playboy and arms dealer, what kind of scandal could the Skrulls possibly manufacture for him?
After all, before he went straight, who knows how many people died by his weapons, or how many cover girls he slept with? If the Skrulls wanted to spread rumors about him, let them; at most, it would just add a few more 'glorious achievements' to his flamboyant past!
In fact, compared to a month ago, Tony was actually even more energetic now!
Because... he succeeded!
Tony wasn't sitting at the sides of the long conference table this time, but stood opposite Ryan with a confident smile: "Hey guys, why the long faces? It's just some slanderous news; is it worth caring that much?"
"Once we clear out the Skrulls this time, the rumors will be debunked, alright?!"
"Now, how about listening to the two pieces of good news this genius has brought you today?"
Hearing this, everyone in the conference room turned their gaze to Tony, but there was none of the joy he had imagined in their eyes; instead, their gazes remained dim.
Perhaps their innocence could indeed be proven again after the Skrulls were rooted out and cleared from Earth...
But their hearts, already riddled with holes and wounded, could never return to how they were before...
In just one short month, it felt as if they had lived through a long lifetime and witnessed the darkest side of humanity...
Even if their innocence was restored now and they became the beloved Spider Family once again...
But asking themselves honestly, could they still help those who had once cursed them with a sincere heart as they did before?
Even Peter didn't dare give himself a definitive answer at this moment...
Let alone members of the Spider Family like Harry and Max, who were villains in the original works; the fact that they hadn't blackened into the supervillains Little Green Goblin and Electro was already thanks to Ryan's good guidance!
Otherwise, those foul-mouthed citizens would be eating Pumpkin Bombs and a hundred thousand volts right now!
Tony waited for a long time but didn't hear a single cheer, making him feel a bit awkward: "Ahem, it seems everyone isn't in high spirits. Well, I won't keep you in suspense then and will announce the first piece of good news."
"The good news is that besides the dimension-crossing bracelets Miguel gave us before, I have successfully mastered our own method of traveling to other Universes—the Quantum Tunnel!"
After saying that, Tony snapped his fingers: "Hey, Jarvis, activate the Quantum Tunnel."
[Received, sir. Quantum Tunnel opening...]
Tony didn't place the Quantum Tunnel elsewhere this time; it was installed right here in the conference room of Parker Tower where they were currently meeting!
The wall behind Ryan, which originally bore the long-legged spider logo of the Spider Family, suddenly split open from both sides, revealing the highly sci-fi circular tunnel within!
As the tunnel was activated, figures emerged from the light and shadows of the tunnel amidst the swirling white light.
Among these figures, a silhouette wearing a spider suit was the first to rush out of the light!
He was the Little Spider of another Universe, a very young Peter Parker!
As soon as he came out, Little Peter looked around the conference room with an excited expression: "Wow, is this another Universe with a Spider Family?"
"And this dark meeting environment is so cool; I feel like I've arrived in a real dc universe. By the way, am I about to see the me from another Universe? Also, where are the other Spider-Men?"
Just then, a red hand ignored Little Peter's Spider-Sense and draped over his shoulder, appearing cheekily by Little Peter's ear:
"Unfortunately, Spidey, that damn author hasn't opened a path to the dc universe yet. This is just a parallel Universe in Marvel, but what's happening here now is even darker than some events in the dc universe~"
Little Peter turned his head at the sound and found it was none other than Deadpool, who had saved his life during the Inheritor Family's attack!
This made Little Peter even more excited: "Wow! Deadpool, you're here too! I didn't get a chance to thank you last time before you left!"
Deadpool winked at Little Peter: "Hehe, if you thank me, that means you're not treating me as a friend. I'm the 'Bestie' of the Spidey in every Universe!"