The battle in Washington had quickly spread across the globe, creating a massive uproar.
More people than ever came to know of the Justice League, led by Batman.
Particularly the spotlight shone brightest on Batman and Cyborg.
The former, as the leader of the Justice League, needed no further introduction.
The latter had won the hearts of Washington citizens by catching missiles barehanded during the fight, saving the city billions of dollars in damage and protecting its people.
This heroic act catapulted Cyborg into the limelight, making him the most beloved superhero in Washington—his popularity even eclipsing Batman.
From Anton system interface, the rise was evident: the fan value of Batman, Green Arrow, Cyborg, and Wonder Woman—all heroes from the DC universe—had surged by at least 50%.
Of course, for Anton, the fan value of heroes he'd already unlocked wasn't as critical as before. Still, this kind of passive gain was a welcome bonus—the more, the better.
As for the Avengers, who had recently been established, their reputation did grow after the battle.
However, the majority of online discussions consisted of sarcasm and ridicule, with very few encouraging words.
Even Captain America loyal fanbase hesitated to mention him in the news.
After all, the fight between Wonder Woman and Captain America had been witnessed by hundreds, if not thousands, of pairs of eyes.
Videos and pictures of their clash flooded the internet.
The media had a field day, and headlines were brutal.
Captain America disheveled and battered appearance left his fans speechless.
What could they say? That he had tried his best to take a beating?
While true, adding the phrase "tried his best" made it sound even more pitiful and sarcastic.
Next in the crosshairs was Tony Stark. The fight between him and Cyborg had been broadcast live via radio by a witty host, who narrated the encounter for countless listeners.
After reviewing the aftermath and seeing the online comments, Tony was furious.
Teeth clenched, he locked himself away in his workshop, ignoring all news, hell-bent on creating a better suit of armor to prove everyone wrong.
He swore that next time, Cyborg wouldn't stand a chance.
At that moment, Anton was lounging at home alone. The television played the President address, while his phone buzzed with updates about the battle.
Seeing the online discourse overwhelmingly mock the Avengers and praise the Justice League, he couldn't help but smile ear to ear.
Of course, amidst the commentary, there were also calls for the truth to come to light.
The battle had left Washington Square in ruins, reduced to rubble. Nearby buildings were also damaged to varying degrees.
Thankfully, due to both sides exercising caution, there were almost no civilian casualties.
As for private property losses, those affected would likely receive satisfactory compensation from certain government departments.
Given the severity and far-reaching impact of the event, the public naturally demanded to know the full story.
Their first target? The Daily Bugle.
As Batman only official communication outlet, it was deemed far more trustworthy than any other potentially sensationalist news source.
And as the victors of the battle, the Justice League seemingly had nothing to hide.
Notably, Eddie, who had been the first to be attacked during the chaos, was seething with indignation.
He went home that very day and penned a scathing article, lambasting the Avengers and SHIELD, accusing them of utter incompetence.
But the article didn't make it to publication right away.
The Secretary of Defense, John Keller, personally called Eddie, asking him to delay the article release and to tone it down a bit—out of respect for the military interests.
Anton didn't even have to remind Eddie the latter knew exactly what was being implied.
So now, Anton sat watching a live news broadcast of the President press conference, held at the White House in front of countless reporters.
During the conference, the President began by announcing that the Justice League had officially become a strategic partner of the military.
As for the battle in Washington, he explained that it was caused by internal divisions within SHIELD. A faction of terrorists had forged executive orders, using the Avengers to launch an attack on Washington.
Fortunately, the military quickly noticed the irregularities, uncovered the conspiracy, and notified the Justice League in time.
The League arrived, defeated the Avengers, and captured the mastermind behind the plot.
At the end of the press conference, the President awarded honorary medals to Defense Secretary John Keller and several top military officials.
A special honorary medal was also crafted for Batman and placed on display in the White House.
Initially, John Keller had reached out to Anton, inviting Batman to attend the ceremony in person at the White House.
However, Anton declined, opting for a simpler approach instead.
After the press conference, Eddie made minor edits to the Daily Bugle article before hitting publish.
The Daily Bugle website nearly crashed from the surge in traffic.
Eddie revised piece largely echoed the President statements, with a few additional flourishes.
It emphasized the divisive factions within SHIELD while praising the military and the President swift response.
As for the Justice League contributions? There was no need to elaborate—everyone had seen their heroics firsthand.
Though the article downplayed certain details and exaggerated the military role, the internet is full of sharp minds. Readers quickly read between the lines.
Meanwhile, SHIELD released its compensation plan.
All damages incurred in Washington would be fully covered by SHIELD, with a commitment to allocate resources and manpower to aid the city recovery.
Representatives of the UN Security Council also issued public apologies.
On the surface, the incident seemed resolved.
Behind the scenes, however, the tug-of-war for interests and resources continued unabated.
From what Anton understood, the Helicarrier involved in the battle had been seized by the military and was not being returned to SHIELD.
It was clear SHIELD wanted to bury the matter quickly. They were willing to pay a hefty price, ceding ground and funds, to ensure the situation didn't escalate further.
This pragmatic approach—admitting fault and accepting punishment—was effective.
SHIELD headquarters remained in Washington and wasn't forcibly relocated by the military.
Still, the fallout was immense, and the losses staggering.
In the aftermath, Nick Fury took responsibility, stepping down as SHIELD director and moving to a deputy position.
The role of director didn't go to Maria Hill but to Nick former deputy, Phil Coulson.
Maria Hill, however, landed a significant promotion, taking over Alexander Pierce vacant position as SHIELD Secretary-General.
In essence, the director chair simply shifted from Nick Fury left hand to his right. He remained the true power behind the scenes—a sly old fox, indeed.
Meanwhile, the executives Anton had sent to the military territory didn't return to New York immediately after the incident.
Instead, they stayed in Washington military district to discuss the details of a military partnership with Wayne Enterprises.
That right—the military decided to invest in Wayne Enterprises, solidifying a shared interest with the Justice League.
This development wasn't surprising.
After all, the Stark Group had numerous shareholders, and the military surely held a stake there as well.
Naturally, the Wayne board was more than happy to oblige.
A powerful backer like the military? They'd be foolish not to welcome it.
With Cybertronian technology at their disposal, combined with the military funding and resources, Wayne Enterprises was poised to grow into an unstoppable financial juggernaut.
This brought Batman one step closer to achieving true "money power."
Everything was moving in the right direction.
Following this event, Anton influence expanded further, and Wayne Enterprises entered a new phase of growth.