I shut my laptop and exhaled slowly. Someone was looking for me, and it wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D. That was bad.
I needed more information.
"System, can you identify the unknown individual?"
[Insufficient Permissions. Upgrade Required.]
Of course. The system loved paywalls. But that didn't mean I was helpless. I had Presence Concealment now. Whoever was searching for me would have a harder time finding anything.
Still, I needed to be careful.
I decided to test my ability, stepping outside into the city streets. New York was as loud and chaotic as ever. I walked casually, blending into the crowd. People brushed past me, but no one paid me any attention.
A man in a black suit stood at the corner, scanning the street with sharp eyes. Something about him felt off. I watched as he stopped a random pedestrian, showing them a phone screen. The person shook their head and walked off.
I slipped behind a street vendor, casually glancing at the screen.
My face.
Yeah. That confirmed it. Someone wanted me found.
I didn't panic. Instead, I tested my new ability, stepping forward, walking right past him. The agent barely reacted, his gaze sliding over me like I wasn't there.
It worked. Presence Concealment was legit.
I kept walking, resisting the urge to smirk. If they couldn't see me, I had the advantage.
Now, the real question—who sent them?
S.H.I.E.L.D. would be more direct. If this was a private organization or some villain, I needed to know before they escalated.
I hurried back to my apartment, locking the door behind me. No more waiting. I needed to release the next Marvel series.
If Spider-Man had already inspired someone, then I had to control the next big influence. I grabbed my sketchbook and started drawing—Iron Man.
Tony Stark, a genius billionaire who built his own suit, using technology to fight threats no one else could handle. If I introduced Iron Man early, then maybe I could shift the balance of power before things got out of control.
As I finished the first ten chapters, the system pinged.
[New Series Published: Iron Man. Reader Engagement: 5,311 (Initial).]
Another notification popped up.
[Impact Level Increasing. Unknown Individual Has Noticed the Change.]
I clenched my fists.
They were watching my every move now.
And things were about to get way more dangerous.