Inhuman Public Relations Company

"The Five Great Nations joining the war is a good thing."

After hearing Steve’s report, Wang Bert’s holographic projection smiled. "On one hand, it’ll let them understand the brutality of interstellar war, making them more proactive about forming a federation. On the other, it’ll motivate them to develop technology faster."

"It is a good thing," Steve said. "But, Bert, I can’t help feeling that you’re in a bit of a hurry."

"My Master is about to retire, and Odin’s life is nearing its end as well."

Wang Bert said, "Once I take over from them, unless something truly major happens, Earth will have to rely on you to protect it."

"I see."

Steve understood. "Thor… forget it. He’s completely unreliable. We’d be better off counting on Tony, who gets knocked flying every other day."

"Captain, you’ve gotten good at this. You took shots at two people at once."

Wang Bert smiled. "Speaking of Thor, Trish learned something in Asgard. The Celestial Convergence may be starting soon."

"The Celestial Convergence?"

"It’s when the spaces of the Nine Realms overlap," Wang Bert said. "Like Frost Giants suddenly appearing on the streets of New York."

Steve said with a headache, "That sounds like another enormous problem."

"The Celestial Convergence won’t happen for a while. Let’s deal with the Inhumans first."

As Wang Bert spoke, Skye suddenly rushed in and shouted, "This is bad, Mr. Wang! A huge number of posts attacking Inhumans have appeared online."

"Hmm? Steve, we’ll talk later."

Wang Bert put down the call and asked Skye, "What exactly happened?"

"Everything was fine yesterday. People were only shocked by Black Bolt’s destructive power, and some were even discussing whether Black Bolt or War Abomination was stronger."

Skye said, "Starting this morning, a huge number of posts and tweets attacking Inhumans suddenly appeared. Not only are they vigorously promoting the danger of Inhumans, they’re also slandering them as spies sent by aliens and demanding that the government arrest every Inhuman."

Skye added indignantly, "The worst part is that quite a few people support them. Their reason is that Inhumans like Black Bolt and Jiaying are simply too dangerous."

Wang Bert was not particularly surprised. "That’s normal."

"How is that normal? Everything was fine just days ago. But because Black Bolt and Jiaying went on TV once, everything changed."

Skye said angrily, "Humans are far too fickle."

"You’re human too, and you’re pretty fickle yourself."

Wang Bert looked at Skye. "Not long ago, you worshipped me like crazy. Now you look at me with nothing but contempt."

Skye complained, "I think you should look for the problem within yourself."

"Forget that. People didn’t care much about Inhumans before because their own interests weren’t affected. But now, Black Bolt’s power has made them uneasy."

Wang Bert said, "That unease has allowed some people to be incited by the Behind-the-Scenes Manipulator, causing them to fear and even hate Inhumans.

"For now, it’s nothing serious—just a seed being planted. But if it’s ignored, then when someone dies because of an Inhuman in the future, or an Inhuman causes some disaster, that seed will sprout and grow into disgust, or even hatred."

"Hatred?"

"Yes, hatred."

Wang Bert nodded and continued, "That hatred will cause Inhumans to be isolated and treated as monsters. The problem is, Inhumans aren’t ordinary people. They have superpowers, and when the time comes, some Inhumans will definitely fight back.

"Once Inhumans fight back, ordinary people will hate and resent them even more. It’ll become a vicious cycle. In the end, humanity and Inhumans will split completely, becoming two groups locked in an endless struggle to the death."

"Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?"

Skye was dumbfounded. She had only come to Wang Bert because she wanted him to help delete some posts. She had never imagined this matter could concern the survival of the Inhumans.

"Exaggerated?"

Wang Bert smiled. "Do you think getting humanity to accept a new race is that simple? There’ll be plenty more trouble in the future."

Skye said helplessly, "Then what should we do?"

"Relax, I’ve already prepared for this."

Wang Bert activated a holographic projection. A middle-aged woman who looked every bit the elite professional appeared before him and respectfully called out, "Mr. Wang."

"Kailin, have you noticed the negative material about Inhumans online?"

Wang Bert said, "If you haven’t, I’ll be very disappointed. To hire you and your PR team, I bought the entire company you worked for."

Kailin was a top-tier public relations expert. Even the government hired her to handle PR crises.

"Rest assured, Mr. Wang, I’ll definitely earn the salary you’re paying me. Though honestly, the task you’ve given me is quite challenging."

Kailin smiled. "I’ve already noticed the negative material about Inhumans online. I’m contacting Twitter and Facebook to delete the posts. In addition, I’ll contact all the major TV Stations and newspapers to keep them from reporting the news."

"That isn’t enough."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Bert said, "Have paid posters make gossip posts on Twitter. Things like, ‘A disaster caused by a cup of soda,’ or ‘Just how poor is the Inhuman Kingdom? The King can’t afford soda, and the Queen can’t afford shampoo, so she can only shave her head.’

"In short, turn the whole thing into a gossip story. I’ll provide you with material."

Kailin smiled. "That’s a good idea, Mr. Wang. It seems you’d be well suited to the PR business too."

"Perhaps."

Wang Bert smiled. Skye was stunned. It could be handled like that? "Also, I’ll have S.W.O.R.D. dig out the Behind-the-Scenes Manipulator. Whatever their goal is, we’ll publicize it as an attempt to destroy the world."

Wang Bert continued, "That way, when similar incidents happen in the future, everyone will be more vigilant, and the paid posters will have an easier excuse to use."

"Mr. Wang, I’m impressed."

Kailin was full of admiration. "Mr. Wang, I need to expand our staff. The Inhuman Public Relations Company will have a great deal of work to do next, and our current manpower is nowhere near enough."

"I’ll inject two hundred million into the company. In addition, I’ll send some real experts over to help you."

Wang Bert said, "Ms. Kailin, remember this: what you’re facing is a war."

"Mr. Wang, I’m delighted to fight for you."

Kailin said excitedly. She liked challenges, and more importantly, the salary Wang Bert offered was far beyond anything she had imagined.

"Good. Get started."

Wang Bert nodded and shut off the holographic projection. Skye, whose mouth was practically hanging open, asked, "The Inhuman Public Relations Company?"

"That’s right. The moment I learned Inhumans existed, I established this PR company."

Wang Bert said, "It’s still small for now, but I’ll keep pouring money into it. Before long, it’ll become the best and most powerful PR company in the world."

The Blood Clan would be able to make use of this PR company in the future as well.

"Should I call you farsighted, or deeply scheming?"

Skye clicked her tongue. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "Mr. Wang, isn’t this manipulating public opinion?"

"Of course it is."

Wang Bert said, "I want to extinguish humanity’s flames of hatred toward Inhumans."

Wang Bert had no desire to see Inhumans become mutants like in the X-Men—reviled by everyone, even abandoned by their own biological parents.

Skye frowned. "Is that really okay? The public has a right to know."

"Skye, you’re too naive. America has been a country controlled by capital since its founding."

Wang Bert sneered. "Why do you think I’ve been putting so much effort into developing Twitter? Do you really think it’s just to ban someone from using it? I want control of the discourse."

Skye looked at Wang Bert with a complicated expression. "You don’t seem like a Super Hero. You seem more like a big capitalist."

"Obviously. I’m the richest man on Earth!"

Wang Bert gave Skye a meaningful look. "Skye, when you have time, learn more from the way I do things. You’ll bear a heavy responsibility in the future."

Skye blinked, completely confused. "Responsibility? What responsibility do I have? Aren’t I just a junior agent who hasn’t even become permanent yet?"

Wang Bert smiled without saying more and went outside to bask in the sun. Skye was driven crazy. Why did all these lofty figures love speaking in riddles?

Skye gritted her teeth. "One day, when I become a lofty figure, I’ll speak in riddles every day too and drive all my juniors crazy."

In a city in the Middle East, a fierce battle was underway.

While dodging Harry’s venom sprays, Spider-Man earnestly persuaded him, "Harry, turn back. If you keep killing, you’ll really become a monster."

Half-man, half-spider Harry swung his spider legs like blades at Electro as he shouted, "So what if I become a monster? As long as I can have my revenge, I’m willing to go to Hell."

"Spider-Man, stop wasting your breath on him. He’s killed at least a hundred people during this time. He’s no different from a monster already."

Electro shouted unhappily and raised a hand, firing a bolt of lightning at Harry. Harry screamed as the electricity struck him, but he quickly recovered and opened his mouth to shoot a mass of venom at Electro.

Electro hurriedly dodged. Spider-Man used webbing to stick Harry’s legs together and pull him back with all his strength, shouting at the same time, "No, Harry isn’t a monster. He still has humanity."

Harry cut through the webbing and laughed loudly. "I still have humanity? How ridiculous. Spider-Man, do you want me to kill a hundred innocent people right now to show you?"

"If you had no humanity, why would you get angry?"

Spider-Man pleaded, "Harry, turn back. I’m begging you, okay?"

Harry fell silent. "I can’t turn back anymore. Besides, I have to take revenge."

Besides the three of them, large numbers of mercenaries and Blood Clan members were exchanging fire nearby. The fighting was extremely intense, no different from a battlefield.

The Blood Clan members, once impeccably dressed, had become as bedraggled as refugees after all this time on the run. To be honest, quite a few of them regretted it, but unfortunately, there was no turning back.

"Revenge?"

Electro snorted. "Mr. Wang taking over Osborn Corporation was a business move. What exactly are you taking revenge for?"

Harry roared, "Blood God not only took Osborn Corporation, he also killed my father. Of course I’m going to take revenge."

"Mr. Wang killed Uncle Norman?"

Spider-Man was shocked. Electro scoffed, "What nonsense. Norman Osborn was clearly killed by people Nick Fury sent."

Harry was greatly stunned. "My father was killed by Nick Fury? Electro, are you lying to me?"

"What are you that I need to lie to you?"

Electro was disdainful. "Xue Ren told me when we were drinking. He was at the scene at the time and knew everything clearly."

Harry demanded, "Why did Nick Fury kill my father?"

"Of course it was to get rid of Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin."

Electro said, "Your father committed every evil imaginable. What’s so strange about S.H.I.E.L.D. taking action?"

"Uncle Norman was the Green Goblin?"

Spider-Man cried out. Before this, the naive him had not known about it.

Harry flew into a rage. "How dare you talk about my father like that?"

"Why shouldn’t I? Norman Osborn threw me into the Electric Eel Pool and let electric eels bite me to death. If he were still alive, I’d tear him into eight pieces."

Electro shouted angrily, "Harry Osborn, let me tell you this—Norman Osborn deserved to die, and so do you."

"I don’t care about any of that. I will take revenge. Whether it’s Blood God or Nick Fury, they both have to die."

Harry was so furious he was nearly insane. With an enraged roar, the demonic energy around him transformed into tiny spiders that flew toward Electro and Spider-Man.

"Why do you all have so many abilities? Why am I the only one who has nothing?"

Spider-Man sighed and quickly dodged aside. Electro merely snorted as a massive amount of electricity erupted from all over his body. He then thrust both hands forward, firing dozens of lightning bolts at once. The surroundings lit up brilliantly, and when the light faded, every tiny spider had been destroyed.

"That move again."

Harry gritted his teeth and asked the Blood Clan behind him through a magical communication talisman, "How much longer?"

The Blood Clan shouted, "Hold on a little longer. We’ll be able to activate it soon."

"Good."

Harry rallied himself and sprayed a venomous web at Electro and Spider-Man. They immediately dodged. Harry was about to attack again when a taxi suddenly came speeding wildly toward them from afar.

"Again?"

Electro, Spider-Man, and Harry all wore speechless expressions.

Soon, the taxi stopped nearby. A mercenary in a red-and-black uniform stepped out and cheerfully called to everyone, "I’m back! Miss me?"

Harry expressionlessly sprayed a mass of venom at the mercenary. Neither Electro nor Spider-Man tried to stop him.

"You’re all so heartless. Spider-Man, we’re even wearing matching outfits."

The mercenary put on a heartbroken expression. The next moment, the lower half of his body was corroded away by the venom, and his upper half fell to the ground with a bang.

The mercenary painfully raised a hand and wrote on the ground with blood as he said, "Mercenary Wade, died because Spider-Man refused to save him. Spider-Man, if you want me to erase this line, you have to give me one million dollars."

After saying that, the mercenary stuck out his tongue and collapsed on the ground, looking dead.

Spider-Man covered his face. Why had Mr. Wang hired such a weirdo?

The other mercenaries on the battlefield also looked like they wanted to die. That guy was disgracing all mercenaries.

At that moment, the A San driver got out of the taxi. As he dragged Wade toward the trunk, he shouted, "Mr. Wade, so much of you is left this time. Will they pay the bill?"

"Don’t worry. Vampires are loaded; they won’t skip out on the bill. We’ll be collecting our fourth death compensation soon."

"Dead" Wade said with a grin, "Hahaha, this money is so easy to earn. All I have to do is die a little. Dopinder, remember to go to mission sites we haven’t visited before."