Chapter 199: Ch.198 Era of Heroes

Chapter 199: Ch.198 Era of Heroes

While Captain America graced the front page of newspapers, the explosion in New York the night before was barely mentioned, hidden like a small classified ad alongside detective agency listings and house rentals. To avoid causing public panic by making people think it was a German air raid, a gag order had been issued, with the official story being that a gas explosion occurred in the sewer.

But Dr. Holloway didn't buy it. When he drove to the scene, he saw with his own eyes a human-shaped fireball flying away into the sky.

Some people in the city didn't believe it either, and some even knew more than the doctor.

But all of them, just like everyone else, saw Captain America on the front page, his face hidden by a blue helmet emblazoned with an 'A,' standing boldly for all to see.

The government's intention was clear: Captain America's masked image was meant to represent the millions of American soldiers, to inspire their fighting spirit, to sell more war bonds, and to encourage them to fight bravely on the battlefield.

A masked figure with no distinct identity was perfect for becoming a symbol, a beacon, an icon.

But to certain individuals, it had a different impact.

Captain America's appearance reminded them how one could achieve great things while keeping their identity hidden.

So, almost immediately after the newspaper was published, New York saw a sudden surge of masked figures.

They donned homemade uniforms, wore crude masks, and set out to do their own thing.

Some sought to fight evil, while others engaged in more dubious activities. But with a mask on, who could tell who they really were?

Most of these people had no superhuman abilities. Dr. Holloway, with his fighting skills and detective talents, was already one of the most capable among them.

He now went by the codename "Avenging Angel," fighting crime throughout the city day and night. Though it required constant back-and-forth between the nursing home and his secret base, he enjoyed this lifestyle.

At this time, society's attitude toward masked individuals was quite complex.

The home front during wartime was stifling. People had access to only limited news or the grim announcements of soldiers killed in action.

The arrival of these masked figures provided New Yorkers with something to talk about, allowing them to escape the harsh reality.

It was as though they had left the war behind and temporarily entered a world full of romanticism.

The masked figures each had their own codenames. Some were heroes, some were villains. The lines were clear, and everything seemed so simple.

It must be said that these early villains and heroes were quite inexperienced. Not only did they lack superpowers, but they were also rather naive when dealing with the media.

Su Ming had been gathering intelligence lately, enjoying the spectacle. The recent stories in the papers were a real show.

If the Bugle stories were true, then even ten Thanos' with all the Infinity Stones wouldn't be a match for someone like "Rat Man."

In one black-and-white photo, a person wearing shabby fur, dirty from head to toe, with a large rat head for a helmet, was supposedly Rat Man. Was this guy really a hero and not some villain?

He did look a bit shifty.

All the good codenames had already been taken by the early pioneers. New heroes were now forced to go by names like Cockroach or Flea.

Stinkbug Man, B.O. Man, Snot Man—these names had Su Ming laughing uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, Steve Rogers had embarked on a tour across America, promoting Wilson Enterprises' many products.

Every performance, he would go onstage with a group of dancing girls, recite the lines pasted on the back of his shield, and pretend to beat up an actor dressed as Hitler, earning thunderous applause.

Under the colorful lights and the roaring crowd, Steve felt like he was in a dream.

Then the girls would subtly promote Wilson Enterprises' products, and all Steve had to do was stand in the background in his Captain America costume, smiling and giving two thumbs up.

Instant noodles? Great!

Canned stew? Great!

Super-strength drink? Great!

Nylon stockings? Great—wait, what? I've never worn stockings!

In the audience, Vodka and Senator Brandt exchanged a satisfied smile. They liked this win-win situation.

Steve was relatively content with the arrangement too. After all, it was for the war effort—selling war bonds meant raising money to buy weapons, which would end the war. Nothing wrong with that.

Besides, he had never had so many fans asking for his autograph.

But who knew what the future would hold? He had only performed ten shows in New York and Washington so far, and there were at least 400 more scheduled across the country.

So far, everything seemed fine. But deep in the ocean, a young man with a receding hairline had other thoughts.