The After-Interview

"Mr. Li Stein, are you really only eighteen this year?"

"Who do you think is more impressive, you or Tony Stark?"

"Mr. Li Stein, did you develop this robot entirely on your own?"

The reporters all fired questions at once. Li Si considered his options and chose Mary, the CBS reporter who had asked a question more to his liking earlier.

"I designed and built the robot, but the circuitry was done by a friend of mine, Max. The electrical attack just now was his invention, too!"

To make a good impression on the public, Li Si had to force himself to maintain a faint smile, even though the dozen-odd people chattering at him were driving him crazy.

Next came a string of questions about Bumblebee. Some asked about his fighting skills, too, and Li Si answered each one with a smile.

But the reporters, all eager for sensational news, were clearly unsatisfied. Their questions grew increasingly pointed.

"Mr. Li Stein, did you obtain the relevant permits to develop a large robot like this? Could this robot be considered a powerful weapon? Did you report your possession of such a weapon to the authorities?"

The reporter, who clearly wanted to stir up trouble, launched into a barrage of accusations.

"I don't consider what I developed a weapon. Plenty of scientists are researching automated robots. I was simply lucky enough to make a few technological breakthroughs!"

Facing the barrage, Li Si remained perfectly calm, just as he'd been prepared to.

"But the automated robots made by other scientists aren't nearly as destructive as yours, and they can't simply be brought into a school!"

The reporter who asked this clearly had no intention of letting Li Si brush the matter aside. His tone turned stern.

Hearing the reporter's tone, Li Si frowned, his expression turning cold. "If you insist that I broke the law, then tell me which law I violated. Otherwise, I can sue you for defamation. Besides, even if I did break the law, that's a matter for the justice system!"

"Ma'am, the United States of America has no laws prohibiting the manufacture of robots or restricting their capabilities. And I'd like to make one thing clear: Mr. Li Stein was invited by the Queens Police Department as a special consultant to help resolve this monster attack!"

Just as the atmosphere was growing tense, George Stacy pushed his way in. He gave Li Si a look, then took the reporter's microphone.

As someone who had spent years speaking on behalf of the Queens Police Department, Chief George Stacy was clearly well versed in handling reporters. A few calm sentences were all it took to defuse the reporter's attack, and there wasn't a thing the man could find fault with.

"My future father-in-law seems pretty reliable!"

Li Si raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.

He'd thought George Stacy was the kind of old-fashioned stickler who rigidly followed the rules. He hadn't expected him to step in now, even lie to cover for him.

With an experienced official spokesperson like George Stacy smoothing things over, the reporters stopped trying so hard to stir up trouble. Even the few who tried to pick a fight were calmly put in their place by George Stacy, and the overall mood became much more amicable.

"Mr. Li Stein, I saw how smoothly and skillfully you controlled the robot in combat just now. After this incident, do you think you might become a superhero like Spider-Man?"

It was Mary from CBS again. At least her tone and the respectful form of address she'd used without even thinking about it were pleasing to Li Si.

Mary had hit on a truly compelling topic. It wasn't a particularly pointed question, but it was certainly newsworthy. The other reporters watched Li Si expectantly, and even George Stacy frowned, looking at him with concern.

"A superhero? No, no. I don't think I'll become a superhero, and I hope everyone won't give me all sorts of codenames. I'd much rather you see me as an ordinary research scientist."

Li Si shook his head decisively and said earnestly, "I'm not a police officer, and I don't have the authority to enforce the law..."

Li Si went on at length, bringing up the same theory about government credibility that he'd discussed with George Stacy last time. His words left the reporters around him stunned. Even Peter Parker, who had been getting ready to leave, had climbed into a tree by the flower bed and pricked up his ears.

"I have to say, it's never occurred to us to look at things that way!"

Mary was the first to recover, admiration filling her eyes as she held out her microphone.

"Your words are truly thought-provoking. I'll report on them in detail, and I hope they'll help some hotheaded teenagers calm down and think. Maybe they'll realize that individual acts of violence can't solve everything!"

"Actually, sometimes violence can solve a few problems!"

Li Si smiled kindly and pointed at the Lizard, whose body had begun to shrink. Then he declared emphatically:

"Criminals need to be judged by the law. But when people face an unavoidable disaster and need me, I'll stand up alongside the superheroes without hesitation!"

As he finished speaking, scattered applause and cheers rang out around him, quickly growing louder.

"You truly are a great scientist, worthy of everyone's admiration!" Mary said sincerely.

"Mr. Li Stein? I have one more question. I wonder if you could answer it?"

Just as the interview was drawing to a close, a white reporter in a black suit, his hair impeccably combed, squeezed through the crowd.

"What is it?"

Li Si frowned as soon as he saw the reporter.

The man wore a press badge from some obscure tabloid, and his face was stern and rigid. He didn't have the air of a reporter at all.

Li Si already had an idea of what was coming. He knew he couldn't avoid the question, so he nodded to let the man ask.

"Is this robot intended for military use? Will you develop weapons and move into the defense industry like Tony Stark?"

The white man in the black suit asked expressionlessly.

"No. Technology should make people's lives better and more convenient. I can't rule out developing weapons altogether, but most of my efforts will go toward making products for everyday use, to make people's lives more convenient or their entertainment more enjoyable!"

Li Si smiled and shook his head, then snapped his fingers. "And I'd like to reiterate one thing: this robot isn't a weapon. It's actually just a rather unusual private sports car!"

As soon as Li Si finished speaking, Bumblebee began transforming with a series of clanks. Before long, he had returned to the form of a bright yellow sports car.

"..."

The white reporter in the black suit first looked as if to say, "Are you kidding me?" Then the gasps from the crowd drew his attention, and he was left completely dumbfounded.