He Is Superman! (Seeking Collections, Seeking Follow-ups)

The endless sea churned with waves like rampaging beasts.

Suddenly, a figure streaked across the sky at tremendous speed.

As it flew, a dense mist burst from its mouth.

Crackle, crackle...

As this white mist merged with the sea surface, it instantly froze an entire expanse of ocean into ice.

The waves that had been surging like beasts were frozen solid in that moment, the spray and sea congealed together into a massive ice sculpture.

"Before, I was only a fake Superman."

"Now, I can finally be called a true Superman."

Casually testing his newly awakened Freeze Breath, Peter felt that at this moment, he could finally be considered a real Superman.

The next instant, Peter's flight speed sharply increased as he headed toward his home in New York.

Without alerting anyone, Peter quickly slipped back into his bedroom through the second-floor window.

He bundled up the clothes he'd taken from some empty room and the cape crudely made from a red curtain, tossing the wad carelessly into the trash.

Pretending he'd just woken up, Peter slowly walked downstairs.

"Uncle Ben, Aunt May, good morning."

Greeting them both, Peter sat at the dining table and picked up his breakfast.

"Good morning, Peter..." The two were sitting on the sofa, staring at the TV without turning their heads as they replied.

Only then did Peter notice a familiar figure on the screen: "Huh, is this a report about what happened last night?"

"Tch, nothing to do with me. I'll fill my stomach first."

Peter paid no attention to what was on TV, leisurely eating his breakfast as if last night's events had nothing to do with him.

However, unlike Peter's relaxed enjoyment of his meal...

Early that morning, Police Captain George Stacy, who had barely rested six hours, was already fully dressed. His sharp, authoritative police uniform radiated dignity.

He stood solemnly at the podium.

"I'm sorry. On behalf of all NYPD officers, I offer our sincere apologies for the violent incident last night."

With that, Captain George bowed deeply before all the cameras without hesitation.

"The detailed sequence of last night's events..."

After a long moment, he straightened up and slowly began recounting the night's events to the reporters below, who had already caught wind of what happened.

"Here, I offer a profound self-criticism for our department's previous methods of handling problems. At the same time, I announce that the NYPD's arrest warrant for Spider-Woman is hereby completely revoked."

"Furthermore, I call on Spider-Woman to cooperate with our police force, to jointly maintain public order, fight crime, capture the mastermind behind last night's chaos, and build a city full of harmony and freedom."

In the lavishly decorated boss's office at the Daily Bugle building.

"Fuck! Have these people lost their minds? Cooperating with a criminal who won't even show her real face? This is a disgrace to the NYPD!"

A middle-aged man in a suit, a small mustache, and an expensive Montecristo Cuban cigar clamped between his teeth, shot up from his comfortable boss chair upon hearing Captain George's words on TV.

He hurled the precious cigar to the floor in fury.

Knock, knock, knock...

Just as he was fuming over the matter, a knock came at the door.

"Come in."

After composing himself and sitting back down, he spoke slowly.

"Mr. Jameson, this is the newspaper we just laid out. Would you like to see if any changes are needed?"

A slender female secretary in a professional suit walked in, handing a freshly printed newspaper to J. Jonah Jameson.

"Change it. Rewrite every article about Spider-Woman."

Glancing at the paper, J. Jonah Jameson said without hesitation.

"But if we revise everything, we might miss today's release time."

As his secretary, Betty Brant couldn't question the boss's decision, only offering a symbolic suggestion.

"Then change it anyway. Tell every editor at the paper to write as fast as possible, centering the content on the dirty deal between the police and Spider-Woman. The public must see that Spider-Woman is a criminal, not a hero protecting the city!"

"The NYPD cooperating with her is collusion, birds of a feather!"

"Oh, and have the editors come up with an eye-catching headline. Something that makes people want to buy the paper the moment they see it."

After a brief thought, J. Jonah Jameson had the general direction of the rewrite figured out.

In short, for him, continuing to smear Spider-Woman was the right move.

"Got it, boss. I'll see to it right away."

The secretary turned to leave.

"Wait, don't leave just yet!"

At that moment, J. Jonah Jameson, who had turned his gaze back to the television, suddenly changed expression and abruptly stopped his secretary, who was about to leave.

At the police department press conference.

As Captain George personally revoked the arrest warrant for Spider-Woman, every reporter present sensed this would be a huge story.

However, when one reporter raised a hand and was granted permission to ask a question, the scene instantly fell into dead silence.

"Captain George, regarding last night's incident, I seem to have received information that differs somewhat from what you've told us—or rather, you're hiding something from the citizens of this entire city!"

As the reporter spoke, the composed expression on George's face shifted instantly.

"Sorry, I won't be answering that question..."

Before he could stop the reporter, the journalist quickly continued: "Someone claims that there weren't just two superpowered individuals at the scene last night, but also a third one with flight capabilities and immense strength."

"And the police suspect that this newly appeared superpowered individual."

"Is suspected to be the famous comic book hero—Superman..."

Before the reporter could finish, Captain George, his face ashen, announced into the microphone: "I'm sorry, this NYPD press conference is now over. Please leave in an orderly fashion."

"Damn it, which bastard leaked the information?"

Although George had long known this news wouldn't stay secret for long, he hadn't expected it to reach the reporters by the very next day, and for it to be brought up at the live press conference.

"Superman? How is that possible? How could someone like that exist in real life!"

A reporter at the scene expressed doubt about the previous journalist's words.

"Superman? Is that some Hollywood star?"

This was clearly someone who had barely read comics as a child.

Amid the countless reporters' doubts and confusion, the scene instantly became incredibly chaotic.

Even some of the uninformed officers maintaining order began whispering among themselves.

"Oh my god, everyone look—what is that?"

As a reporter at the scene pointed toward the distant sky and shouted, everyone's gaze involuntarily followed the direction of his finger.

"Is it a bird? Or a plane?"

Someone couldn't help guessing.

"Damn it, why did he have to show up now!"

George stared at the familiar figure in the sky, his expression as sour as it could get.

Whoosh!

The next moment, a burly figure shot rapidly from the distant horizon.

When he reached the area above the crowd, he stopped instantly, as if completely unaffected by gravity or inertia.

Hovering in midair above everyone!

"Oh my god, it's Superman!"