CH-40. A gift for Tony
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Time passed until noon.
Everyone basically believed that Black Spider-Man and others were the culprits.
Finally, *Hero Daily* released a statement. An article along with several video recordings was published.
Due to Tony Stark and the general public's focus on superheroes, although *Hero Daily* was only recently launched, it had quickly garnered a sizable following.
Previously, many people had commented on *Hero Daily*, arguing that it was unreasonable for the publication to label Black Spider-Man and others as criminals.
At this moment, they finally received a response.
The video was crystal clear, revealing every detail.
When the authorities arrived, Spider-Man and the others were preparing to leave.
Then, a gunshot caught the attention of all three heroes.
The footage, captured from three angles, showed it was not Spider-Man and his allies who fired. It was an inside man.
"Walter? So it wasn't them who did it."
"I just want to know, what happened here?"
"I'm a little confused. Is this guy really an insider? Why did he open fire?"
"Oh my God, it turns out we wrongfully accused Spider-Man and the others."
"This is outrageous."
"So the insider was corrupted by money?"
"I don't trust these so-called protectors anymore."
After seeing the solid evidence, many netizens fell silent.
The former outspoken critics began to turn their attention elsewhere.
Meanwhile, George, who had been following the story from home, was waiting to see how his boss, Tom, would handle the situation.
Faced with a flood of reporters and media, Tom decided to address the public.
"Regarding this incident, I just want to clarify that it was not our people responsible for the gunfire."
"Superpowered individuals in this city can do whatever they want."
"Are you sure what you saw is the whole truth?"
"Perhaps someone with superpowers disguised themselves."
"Maybe, someone with superpowers controlled the shooter."
"These superpowered people are the source of all this chaos."
"We must resist superpowered beings to ensure our city's safety."
Tom's statements were clearly aimed at Black Spider-Man and the other heroes.
The reporters bombarded him with questions, but no clear answers came.
Among the crowd was Bella, who felt a surge of anger.
This response was clearly an attempt to protect Tom's own people. There was no genuine investigation, no real answers.
If the shooter wasn't one of their own, then who was that person?
If it was one of their own, were they being controlled?
These key questions went unanswered because no one asked.
However, some people online were misled by Tom's response. They began to believe that Black Spider-Man and his allies were, indeed, the root of the problem.
Moreover, Jaxon and the others couldn't easily prove their innocence unless they fully revealed their identities, which could be very dangerous.
Back at the newspaper office, Bella resumed her work.
In response to Tom's speech, Bella published another article, challenging his claims.
Some rational readers started to think critically and make their own judgments. However, others, lacking their own opinions, began to lean toward boycotting superheroes.
Jaxon noticed the shift and felt uneasy.
The Avengers haven't even formed yet, and the Superhero Registration Act already seems imminent.
"Forget it, I don't want to think about this right now." Jaxon muttered to himself.
"At least *Hero Daily* is gaining recognition. I'm sure even Kingpin will notice this newspaper. I'll need to keep an eye on that."
Once suspicions arise, they rarely disappear.
All Jaxon could do was try his best to stabilize the situation and deal with Kingpin as soon as possible.
Fortunately, Peter and Gwen weren't too affected. They were still able to stay positive and focused.
Evidence was steadily building.
Matt's friend, lawyer Foggy Nelson, and Peggy were both working hard on the investigation.
Their progress was swift, and they uncovered several key clues.
Now, they just needed to capture the remaining witnesses to complete the final step.
To accomplish this, Jaxon sought out some help.
"Hey, Tony, it's me again."
Tony had been living quite leisurely recently, occasionally donning the Iron Man suit to patrol the city. In his free time, he was busy developing new armor at home.
Of course, there was also his friend, Ethan, and Pepper was handling most of the business work, allowing Tony to relax.
A/N- Ethan is Yinsen.
"What are you doing here?" Tony asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jaxon smiled, "I need a favor."
Tony's demeanor instantly shifted, becoming more indifferent, "Oh, come on! Jaxon, I'm not your employee."
Jaxon sighed. Tony really was a useful asset.
"Of course, I'm asking for a favor, not demanding it."
"And in return, I'll give you a gift."
Tony's interest piqued, "A gift? What kind of gift?"
"Are you sure you want to know now? Or would you prefer to see it once the favor is done?"
Tony took a sip of his drink, "Jaxon, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that you're too cunning."
"Cunning? Me?"
Tony nodded, and Jaxon laughed, shaking his head in mock defeat.
"Alright then, let me show you what I'm offering."
The gift Jaxon had for Tony was none other than the Batmobile.
Tony had always had a passion for cars, even before building the Iron Man suit. He loved collecting and modifying luxury vehicles.
When Jaxon cleared a space and revealed the Batmobile, Tony was left speechless.
"Jaxon…is this part of your powers?"
"I suppose so."
"How many powers do you have, exactly?"
"I'm not sure myself, but I keep gaining more, and I'll only get stronger."
Tony, however, was fully focused on the car in front of him.
"This car…"
"I got it from another world. It was built and modified by a man called Batman."
Tony, an expert in vehicle modification, inspected the car with awe. It was massive, with four wide wheels that seemed ready to crush anything in their path.
He could already picture the Batmobile barreling down the street, completely unstoppable, running over other luxury cars like they were mere toys.
"This car is road-legal?"
"Not under normal circumstances. But its owner, much like you, is a playboy and a billionaire. By day, he's a wealthy socialite, and by night, he's a hero. This is one of his tools."
Tony nodded, "I can tell this isn't something the average person could afford. Makes sense for a rich guy to own it."
"But still…his modifications don't quite match my skills."
"And black? Not flashy enough."
Jaxon chuckled, "His alias is Batman, and he operates in the dark. Black helps him blend in."
Tony looked even more intrigued by the car, "Can I take it for a spin?"
"Of course. But be careful, there's a weapon system inside. You wouldn't want to accidentally blow up your house."
Tony grinned, "I'm a genius. I can handle this."
With Jeeves' help, Tony quickly familiarized himself with the Batmobile's structure and capabilities.
"It's got some impressive features, even a hidden motorcycle. But this rugged look? Not really my style."
Jaxon nodded, "Yeah, you'd probably prefer something cooler."
"You know me well. Still, this car is great. I love it."
Tony got out of the Batmobile, grinning, "So, what's the favor you need?"
Jaxon handed him some information, "We've been investigating a criminal organization. The leader's name is Wilson Fisk, but he goes by Kingpin."
"He's strong, but nowhere near your level."
"The real problem is his wealth."
"And in this city, you know what having money means."
Tony, a man who lived and thrived on wealth, understood immediately.
In a city like this, money could buy just about anything.