The next morning, Xu Mo and his team slept in until dawn, but many others had been up all night. General Ross, for instance, had spent the entire night leading a large contingent to clean up the battlefield, collecting the remnants of Abomination.
Since the days of Captain Steve Rogers, the Department of Defense had been obsessed with creating perfect super soldiers. Their aim was not only to replicate Captain America but to mass-produce soldiers capable of sweeping the world. Despite the birth of a byproduct like the Hulk, they were convinced that success was within reach.
But then Saitama appeared, delivering a crushing blow to their ambitions. His effortless takedown of Abomination made even their greatest success, Captain America, seem insignificant by comparison. The Department of Defense, once confident in their 70-year-old plan, now felt only confusion, pain, and frustration.
At S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury and the World Security Council spent the night in a tense video conference. What started as a calm discussion among politicians quickly turned into a panic-stricken debate as the reality of Saitama's power set in. Even without considering the implications of comics or media, the sheer strength Saitama displayed felt like a sword hanging over their heads, ready to strike at any moment.
The Avengers Initiative was approved without hesitation—no expense was spared, no resources withheld. Their only demand was that Saitama be brought under control. In the eyes of Fury and the Council, Saitama's threat level had surpassed even that of Xu Mo and the Blue-Eyed White Dragon, reaching unprecedented heights.
It was clear that this group had essentially become an Anti-Saitama Alliance.
By the time Nick Fury left the meeting room, the sky had already brightened. Security at the Triskelion was on high alert, but no amount of patrolling could ease Fury's anxiety. He knew that provoking Saitama would be like pulling a tiger's tail, with consequences too great to contemplate. So instead, he resorted to more subtle means—placing Marvel Comics under obvious surveillance.
At the same time, Fury located Xu Mo's residence but, in his characteristic caution, decided against sending agents to monitor him directly.
Just then, Commander Hill rushed over, her voice urgent. "Director, something's happened..."
She handed Fury a Marvel magazine, her expression grim.
"This is a special edition published by the target company this morning," Hill explained. "It's a collector's edition with the first issue of Juvenile Jump. There's only one comic in the entire magazine."
Fury's face darkened as he took the magazine. The cover depicted five shadowy figures standing beneath a crimson full moon, suspended on a massive web of silk threads. The scene radiated an ominous aura.
The title, "Crimson Eye," was written in blood-red letters, immediately unsettling Fury. He had a bad feeling about this. When he flipped open the magazine, his suspicions were confirmed.
One line of dialogue was all it took to send Fury into a rage. His face went pale, and his hands trembled with anger.
"That bastard...!" Fury spat, barely able to contain himself. "How dare he!!"
Despite the government's best efforts to suppress the incident, the events of the previous night had already spread far and wide. Sixty percent of Americans had witnessed the live broadcast, and Marvel Comics had become the most talked-about company in the United States overnight. Even news of Stark Industries' announcement of new energy had been overshadowed.
The official Marvel forums and Xu Mo's Twitter account were flooded with discussions about Saitama and the comics. Countless netizens were fervently debating the events, with many expressing relief that Marvel Comics hadn't been shut down despite the government investigation.
Early that morning, Twitter was still buzzing with activity, so much so that the company had to expand its servers. But then, suddenly, the site became eerily smooth—traffic had dropped significantly. The Twitter staff, initially baffled, soon found the cause.
"It seems to be this tweet," an employee pointed out, showing a message to his colleagues.
The tweet read:
"Breaking news: In response to the government investigation, Marvel Comics has just released the first issue of Zhiyin Manke Collector's Edition. There's only one comic in the entire book. If you haven't gotten a copy yet, you're missing out—this is the start of a counterattack!"
As the tweet circulated, the online chatter quickly dwindled. The staff exchanged worried glances and hurried to send someone out to buy a copy.
In the meantime, people were flocking to bookstores, eager to get their hands on this new comic. The fact that Marvel had published something new despite being under investigation suggested resistance, maybe even defiance.
Edward, a comic enthusiast, squeezed through the crowd, sweating under the gray morning sky. As he finally managed to get his copy, he couldn't shake the feeling that Marvel had planned this all along. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was a calculated move.
What exactly was Marvel up to? What did Xu Mo, the chairman and comic artist, intend to achieve? And what was the true nature of his relationship with Saitama?
These were the questions on everyone's mind as they pored over the newly released comic.
Back home, Edward sought the quiet comfort of his room to fully immerse himself in the comic. After making a cup of coffee, he opened the magazine and skipped to the opening pages, which were rendered in full color—a rarity in comics, explaining the magazine's unusually thick volume.
As he delved into the story, Edward was immediately captivated by the vivid artwork and compelling narrative.
Bloodied hands, elite figures in suits, and sinister faces filled the pages. The imagery depicted upper-class figures indulging in excess while ordinary people lay defeated at their feet. And then there were the last few characters, their presence commanding the reader's attention.
"As nations fall to ruin, even the grand imperial capital is nothing more than a hell on earth, corrupted by demons disguised as humans," the narration began. "If the heavens are unwilling to punish evil, we shall bring death to the darkness. We are professional killers."
Edward's eyes widened as he read, his body trembling. The story's boldness left him speechless. Releasing such a comic at any time would be shocking, but to do so while under government scrutiny was nothing short of audacious.
"What is Xu Mo trying to do?" Edward muttered to himself, feeling the weight of the comic in his hands. It was clear that the intent behind this release was far from simple.
Xu Mo, Marvel Comics, and even the White House—all were now caught in a web of uncertainty and fear. The top brass was clearly scared, and Edward could only guess at what would come next.