The abrupt shift from carnival festivities to disaster left a dark cloud over Central Park. Many onlookers captured the chaos on their phones, and the explosion quickly became a sensation online. The Green Goblin's attack was a stark reminder that the world had not only superheroes but now supervillains as well.
The video of Green Goblin's confrontation with Spider-Man had racked up over 100 million views on YouTube, making waves across the globe. If Iron Man had heralded the age of superheroes, the Green Goblin incident announced the dawn of supercriminals. The discovery of such powerful beings, alongside mutants, threatened lives and disrupted the status quo, inciting greater fear than the mutants ever had.
The attack resulted in a hundred casualties, and the ensuing panic fueled a storm of anger and criticism directed at the U.S. security agencies and the White House for their negligence. The public outrage was palpable, and the White House faced severe backlash.
The internet buzzed with updates on Spider-Man. Known to many before as merely a local hero, the carnage had now propelled him into the limelight. Spider-Man's heroism was acknowledged widely, with many newspapers and media outlets dubbing him the "friendly neighborhood Spider-Man." Peter Parker was now a celebrated figure, his selfies and heroic acts capturing public admiration.
However, the Green Goblin was far from celebrated. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of two shareholders, had cast a shadow over Osborn Industries. Revelations that some of Green Goblin's technology and equipment came from Osborn Industries only fueled the public's anger. This led to protests and attacks on Osborn's facilities, causing Stark Industries' stock to plummet, adding to the turmoil.
Norman Osborn remained out of sight, leaving his son Harry to manage the fallout and address the employees. Despite Harry's efforts to calm the situation, the company's stock continued to decline.
On the news, a report about Stark Industries' status followed: "Obadiah Stane is currently in charge of the company, as Tony Stark remains unaccounted for."
"Typical American news," Xu Mo remarked as he and Jia Li sat on the sofa, watching the coverage.
Xu Mo noted that American news had failed to report on incidents like school shootings, making today's coverage of superpowers seem more significant by comparison.
The New York police were overwhelmed, and Xu Mo had exchanged brief words with the New York Police Chief earlier. Gwen was dealing with her own concerns and had left after exchanging contact information.
Jia Li, who had previously been interested in the mysterious solution from the test tube, now shook Xu Mo's hand, asking, "Hey, is there anything left to drink?"
"Gone," Xu Mo replied, flicking her forehead.
Jia Li pouted, but Xu Mo ignored her and walked into his study. He planned to work on the third issue of the weekly "Shoun Jump," incorporating the aftermath of the Green Goblin attack. He felt a sense of urgency with super criminals emerging and wondered if he should consider launching a new magazine for comprehensive coverage.
As Xu Mo left the room, the TV host continued, "Today, I interviewed Reed Richards, known as a child prodigy from a young age. He has received doctoral degrees in engineering, mathematics, and physics from world-class institutions. He and three astronauts will undertake…"
Feeling a bit bored, Jia Li switched to the animation channel. Just then, the doorbell rang, and a deep voice announced, "Ding Dong! Your takeaway is here."
Xu Mo set aside his paintbrush and went to answer the door. Jia Li, usually eager for food, seemed indifferent and didn't move.
Xu Mo opened the door, half-joking, "Takeaway, you're really slow."
"Sorry, sir… there is no takeaway."
The deliveryman's plain apology quickly turned frosty. As their eyes met, a cold light flashed between them, signaling that something was amiss.