DC HERO AT MARVEL

"As for the enemy you saw disguised as Victor Von Doom, his identity remains unclear, and we are still investigating," Maria Hill explained at the S.H.I.E.L.D. press conference.

"Victor Von Doom? We must acknowledge that he indeed played a disgraceful role in this incident and is now listed as a fugitive by S.H.I.E.L.D. and law enforcement across the United States.

If anyone has information about him, please notify S.H.I.E.L.D. or your local authorities immediately... Upon receiving such information, we will promptly dispatch the Avengers to pursue him."

"We will spare no effort to apprehend this traitor."

On the television screen, Maria Hill, acting as the Secretary of S.H.I.E.L.D., conducted the press conference and released the information the public wanted to know.

After answering a few questions from the journalists below, Maria Hill announced the end of the press conference.

She had no interest in further entanglements with the reporters.

Given the current situation faced by S.H.I.E.L.D., even if they managed to capture the so-called evil god Loki, and Victor Von Doom accomplice, it seemed unlikely to improve their predicament.

However, the public pursuit of the truth wasn't as fervent as one might expect most were merely joining in the buzz.

Seeing the current head of S.H.I.E.L.D. as a strikingly beautiful ice queen, netizens quickly digressed, and the public opinion immediately flipped.

[The current head is way better than the previous black egg]

[Better than the bald one too]

[Hope those two stay in the hospital forever]

The netizens were abuzz, discussing heatedly.

What they didn't know was that during the Battle of Washington, the order to fire at the Batwing jet regardless of the consequences was issued by the very ice queen they were now fawning over.

Had they known, even as visual creatures, their perceptions might have dramatically shifted.

After the Battle of Washington, S.H.I.E.L.D., during its apology, shifted all blame onto Hydra members within the organization.

Alexander Pierce and Brock Rumlow, also known as Crossbones, were made to take the fall.

Hydra instantly became a national pariah.

Under S.H.I.E.L.D. intense scrutiny and crackdown over the past two months, Hydra operatives within the U.S. and many within S.H.I.E.L.D. who harbored grievances were purged.

In terms of domestic conditions, Hydra lost a head and suffered severe losses.

However, other Hydra members still lay hidden around the world, with significant armed forces in Europe and other regions, not severely weakened but forced to lie low temporarily.

Of course, none of this concerned Anton.

New York, Daily Bugle.

Anton was in his office, the first to witness the grand battle at Times Square.

Because The Daily Bugle office building was right next to the square.

Standing in his office, he saw Thor emerge from the storm clouds and ultimately, Loki being captured and the group departing on the transport plane, lost in thought.

According to the original storyline, this was Loki creating a diversion, buying time for S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers while his accomplice had enough time to open a space portal, facilitating the arrival of the Chitauri from another galaxy to Earth.

"Finding Victor Von Doom in this vast sea of humanity is akin to climbing the heavens."

Even Anton, with all his resources, had no leads on the current whereabouts of the notorious Doctor Doom, Victor Von Doom.

Therefore, the only possibilities to locate Von Doom were either through Loki speaking up, or waiting until the construction of the space portal was completed, at which point Von Doom would likely reveal himself with the portal.

At present, the latter seemed the only feasible option.

Loki was not going to talk.

Ring, ring, ring! "Hello, Mr. Kler, what can I do for you?"

Anton, somewhat surprised, pulled out his phone and answered the call. It was unusual for John Kler, the Secretary of Defense, to contact him at this time.

"The evil god Loki! He has been captured!"

Kler spoke with a grave tone: "Anton, could there be a mistake in your judgment? If this continues, S.H.I.E.L.D. will soon resolve the issue, and we'll need to re-strategize our entire plan…"

"Rest assured, Loki may be captured, but Victor Von Doom still roams free with the Tesseract," Anton reassured him.

"Besides, Loki walked into their trap willingly. Do you really think they can extract any information from him?"

"So, you're saying the situation is still under your control?" Kler asked. "Indeed."

Anton nodded: "You can fully trust us on this. Mr. Kler, our collaboration isn't new don't you trust us?"

"That not it,"

Kler shook his head, pausing momentarily: "It just that we currently have no information, which is naturally unsettling."

"If that the case, then send a special forces unit to New York to await my commands," Anton suggested after a moment thought.

"When the crucial moment arrives, I'll direct them to act."

"Good."

Kler decisively nodded, this was precisely what the military wanted to hear.

"Special Forces!"

He explained: "Let me introduce them briefly. This unit is led by General Hawk, composed of the elite of the elite from the military, each a king of soldiers.

More importantly, behind the special forces, aside from our personnel, there are members from various nations, similar to a United Nations organization, currently with twenty-three countries participating."

"It looks like you were well-prepared."

Anton was of course familiar with the special forces, having previously dealt with their enemies, the Cobra Organization.

"This isn't just being prepared it a necessary precaution," Kler said mildly.

"With the special forces involved, the World Security Council will have nothing to criticize, and we will have grounds to replace S.H.I.E.L.D. in playing a role on the global stage. S.H.I.E.L.D. power is too extensive left unchecked, it will eventually be unmanageable, so we're just applying necessary constraints."

"You're right, let proceed with that plan. Once the special forces arrive in New York, keep in constant contact with me," Anton concluded.

The call was constructive, setting the stage for what could be a significant power shift, depending on how events unfolded.

Anton said, "I estimate that in the next few days, their ultimate intentions will be revealed."

"Good," Kler nodded.

Beep, beep!

The phone call ended.

Anton turned back to his computer to refresh the online comments and noticed that the public perception of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers had significantly improved.

The efforts of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers lately had not been in vain.

Especially since S.H.I.E.L.D. had cultivated an image of taking responsibility courageously.

This, coupled with the inherently popular figures within the Avengers like Captain America, Steve Rogers, and Iron Man, Tony Stark, and not to forget the alluring representative of the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff...

These individuals made humanity, visual creatures that they are, feel that the Avengers were not beyond forgiveness.

Especially after today battle at Times Square, where the Avengers displayed their unique supernatural abilities, impressing those who revere strength and showcasing the power of the Avengers.

It was no wonder people opinions had changed.

"Let them be pleased with themselves for now,"

Anton sneered coldly.

He still had no intention of letting The Daily Bugle publish the full backstory.

At the press conference held by Maria Hill for S.H.I.E.L.D., she had concealed key information—the loss of the Tesseract.

Currently, the general public had no idea what the Tesseract was. Even if The Daily Bugle pointed this out, it wouldn't make much difference.

Only when the space portal opens and the Chitauri descend upon New York, causing unprecedented harm, and then revealing the existence of the Tesseract, will people realize its significance and see the true face of S.H.I.E.L.D.