Chapter 99: The Oprah Show (Part 1)

**

There was no need for the Avengers to physically meet at headquarters; even a video conference would suffice. Hawkeye and Thor joined the meeting via video, with Thor's participation thanks to Jane Foster's guidance.

"Everyone, this is the situation," Steve Rogers began, introducing the topic. "Natasha suggested I gather your opinions on it."

Thor asked, "What good would this interview do?"

Natasha responded, "An interview would help the public understand us better. Right now, public opinion is quite mixed, and their attitude toward us is varied."

"I believe having Captain America on media platforms is an opportunity for us," she added confidently, her experience as a spy and agent making her perspective clear.

Tony Stark said casually, "Doesn't matter to me. I don't really care about what others think."

Despite Stark's nonchalant attitude, Link knew that wasn't entirely true. Stark's genius was both a strength and a flaw, and while he often acted indifferent, his traumatic experience of being kidnapped and Ethan's death had deeply affected him.

Link offered his perspective, "We can go on media, choose the most influential talk show, and present ourselves to the public in an interview format."

"Captain America's story is well-known worldwide, and many people are curious about him. They want to understand more about him."

"And of course, they're curious about us Avengers too. Natasha could accompany him."

Stark interjected, "Link, you should really go."

"Your expertise in psychology would be valuable in this type of show, and besides, out of all of us, you're the only Avenger who hasn't appeared in public yet."

Link frowned. He wasn't keen on public appearances, but Stark was right—he was the only one maintaining a sense of mystery, which wasn't entirely fair to the others.

After thinking it over, Link agreed, "Fine, but Natasha still needs to come. Three people seem like a balanced choice, and having a female presence would be advantageous."

"Any other thoughts?"

"What about Thor?" Hawkeye asked. "He's an actual alien. Shouldn't he go too?"

"Not the best idea," Link replied. "Thor doesn't understand Earth's media landscape, and his thinking is different from ours. He could easily fall into the host's verbal traps."

"Captain America, on the other hand, is used to facing the media. Let's not forget, he once toured the entire country."

"Natasha, being a trained agent, can spot these verbal traps. And I have the psychological expertise. For our first media appearance, it's better to be cautious."

"There are plenty of people who might oppose us just to stir controversy and gain attention. It's smart to be careful during our debut."

"That settles it then," Steve Rogers nodded. "The three of us will go first. The others can follow later."

With the decision made, Natasha took charge of contacting the media, as she handled all external affairs for the Avengers.

Captain America would liaise with S.H.I.E.L.D., given the mutual trust they had, though it was always possible for S.H.I.E.L.D. to deceive the Avengers.

As for Black Widow, her status as a woman gave her an advantage. She had no family ties to weigh her down, and her professional skills were exceptional.

Natasha reached out to the Oprah Winfrey Show. The show had been running for over two decades but was rumored to be ending soon. However, Natasha believed that Oprah herself was the best host for such an interview and her positive stance aligned well with the Avengers' goals.

Instead of picking another show, why not choose this one? With the right promotion, they might even help keep it from being canceled.

Although Natasha wouldn't openly admit that she liked the show, Link didn't mind either way. As long as they weren't subject to unnecessary difficulties, it didn't matter which show they chose.

Sure enough, when Oprah received Natasha's call, she was initially in disbelief. She then asked for detailed information about the three guests who would be on the show.

Oprah was familiar with Captain America, but she didn't know Natasha. She did know Link and was surprised to learn that the rising star of New York's elite circles was also an Avenger—the only one who wore a helmet during their last big battle.

Now, the challenge fell on Oprah's team. What should they ask during the interview?

Oprah consulted with her production team, who immediately reported the situation to the network. This episode would be a huge hit, and they needed to amplify the promotion.

Someone suggested they gather questions from the audience and then filter them. Of course, the silly questions would be discarded, but with a large enough pool, there were bound to be some valuable ones. This also served as a great promotional tactic.

The network assigned a team to optimize the questions, ensuring the discussion could dominate the news cycle for some time.

Oprah herself began promoting the episode. However, the names of the Avengers appearing on the show were kept secret, saved as a surprise for the live broadcast. It had to be live—the impact of a pre-recorded show wouldn't be nearly as strong.

...

While the promotion was spreading like wildfire, Link wasn't paying much attention to it. He hadn't prepared anything in particular and continued with his studies.

Research wasn't difficult for him, but what he needed was more foundational knowledge, more scientific literature, and a wider variety of academic papers.

His personal library had grown to an impressive size, filled with books on science. Every so often, he'd have the library staff prepare a new batch of books for him, which would then be delivered, while the ones he'd finished reading were returned.

Though the setup seemed unconventional, the library staff never questioned it. After all, Link was their boss and had provided them with jobs.

It was worth noting that the library was located in Hell's Kitchen, a valuable resource for children seeking a way out of the rough environment they were born into.

The security there was top-notch, and no one dared cause trouble. It was a quiet, safe space—perfect for studying.

Finally, the day of the live broadcast arrived. The trio—Link, Natasha, and Captain America—set out in their new combat suits. Natasha's suit still bore the S.H.I.E.L.D. design, perfectly accentuating her figure, with a holstered gun on her right thigh.

Captain America's suit had taken on a darker tone, similar to the one in *Captain America: The Winter Soldier*, and was made from titanium alloy with nanotechnology integration.

The suits were lined with a comfortable material, and the nanotech ensured a snug fit. Link wore his usual suit, armed with weapons.

The three arrived at the television station in Link's Rolls-Royce. As soon as they stepped out of the car, they were greeted by a crowd of media reporters and fans on both sides—some supportive, some critical. But none of them were fazed and walked directly into the station.

Oprah herself greeted them and escorted them to an elevator that took them to the studio floor, where they were asked to wait in the guest room.

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