I'm Ultraman

Richard really hadn't expected S.H.I.E.L.D.'s equipment to be able to detect even the high-energy reaction produced when Ultraman appeared. He had no idea how wide its detection range was. If it relied on satellites for global coverage, then wouldn't every transformation from now on be like broadcasting to the entire world, "I'm Ultraman, I'm here"...

He remembered that in Senior Dyna's TV series, Dyna's human host, Asuka Shin, had been detected by TPC when he transformed back on Mars. They detected the point where light particles converged, exposing his identity. If they could pull that off here too, then hiding his identity would be way too difficult.

In that case, he might as well...

"All right, all right, if you're so determined to know," Richard said, sitting up straight and looking seriously at Agent Coulson. "Then I'll tell you. Yes, I do know some things about that giant that haven't made the news."

Both agents immediately perked up. They actually hadn't held out much hope before coming to this newspaper office. As for why the center of the energy burst had been located here whenever Ultraman appeared? They had mostly assumed it was a coincidence. After all, just as this newspaper owner had complained—such a huge giant, what, was he supposed to stuff him into a storage room?

Yet they hadn't expected him to actually know something. It felt like they had struck gold. Coulson hurriedly asked, "What do you know, sir?"

Richard leaned forward. The two men instinctively lowered their heads and leaned in, as though they were about to hear a secret...

"To be honest with you..." Richard smiled. "...I'm that Ultraman."

This wasn't him suddenly getting the urge to show off. It was the answer he had reached after giving it careful thought.

If S.H.I.E.L.D. could locate the point where Ultraman's energy erupted every single time, then sooner or later, when they noticed that this Chinese-American newspaper owner just happened to be present every time Ultraman appeared, even an idiot would connect him with Ultraman.

It wasn't as though Richard had no countermeasures, but the key issue was... it was a hassle!

Unless he never used Ultraman's power again and simply lived his life peacefully as an ordinary person. Richard himself wouldn't have found that unacceptable. He was living quite comfortably as a newspaper owner, after all. But this was the Marvel Universe! In this godforsaken place where a city got wiped out every three days and the world ended every five, how could he possibly survive without a cheat ability?

Back when he watched Ultraman series, he had always thought some parts were a little ridiculous. Those Ultraman human hosts hid their identities from their respective Earth defense teams for dozens of episodes, and even by the finale, not one of the teammates who spent every day with them discovered who they really were. Honestly, Richard felt it was simply unrealistic to hide something like that when everyone was together every day. Even setting that aside, those human hosts disappeared whenever it was time for a group battle each episode, yet their teammates somehow never noticed that one person had been slacking off the entire time...

Looking at it from another angle, perhaps he could keep his identity hidden forever if he was careful enough. But the question was... why should he?

Even if Richard only possessed the power of Ultraman Nexus Juvenile Form right now, it was still the genuine power of an Ultraman. Some godlike big shots in the Marvel Universe might be worth making him consider his own limits, but honestly, what was there to fear from a bunch of humans?

So what if his identity was exposed? It wasn't like S.H.I.E.L.D. had the ability to capture him and cut him into slices.

Incidentally, after obtaining the power of light, all of Richard's senses had been greatly enhanced. Even while asleep, he remained highly alert. In other words, it was nearly impossible for anyone to sneak up on him from behind.

So after a little thought, he made his decision. Rather than waiting for S.H.I.E.L.D. to discover his identity later, he might as well reveal it himself and show a sincere attitude. He had no intention of constantly looking over his shoulder in the future, afraid of this and that, hiding his power away and not daring to use it.

However...

Agent Coulson seemed somewhat disappointed by his answer. "All right, I know we've already taken up too much of your time. Sorry about that. We won't disturb your work any longer. Here's my card. Please contact me if you remember anything. Thank you."

After saying that, the two agents actually stopped questioning him. They turned around decisively and left the editor-in-chief's office.

Richard: "..."

Fine, fine. It seemed that saying was absolutely right: these days, everyone loved lies, while no one wanted to hear the truth. What a sad state of affairs...

Whatever. Richard had already been open and honest about his stance. Whether S.H.I.E.L.D. believed him was their own business. When they eventually discovered that he really was Ultraman himself, he could just righteously say, I told you so...

After sending off S.H.I.E.L.D., the newspaper's daily work still had to continue.

"Parker! Didn't you say last week that you'd dug up a bombshell about the mayor's secret girlfriend? Where's your story?" Richard loudly demanded of a junior reporter.

The young reporter looked utterly innocent. "Um... Boss, because of that giant incident, so..."

"Don't try to fool me. What the hell does that have to do with a gossip-section paparazzo like you?"

"Yes, yes..."

"If you know that, then why are you still standing here? Go get the story!" Richard said sternly. "If you come back empty-handed again this time, I'll transfer you to writing bad jokes!"

The junior reporter Parker sucked in a sharp breath. Write bad jokes? How many years would he have to grind before he could ever make a name for himself? He still wanted to win a Pulitzer Prize. Did the Pulitzer even have an award for joke writers?

Parker hurried off in a whirlwind. Richard sat in his office, sipping tea and humming to himself.

Actually, Parker had always done a fairly good job. The young reporter was energetic and lively, always full of drive, and Richard was quite satisfied with him. Of course, transferring him to write bad jokes had only been meant to scare him. But young people needed pressure—without pressure, where would motivation come from? Richard felt he was thinking about the young reporter's future. He really was a good boss...

Not long after sending Parker away, a young, beautiful blonde reporter came to his office.

He remembered that this girl was named Cathy? She seemed to be an intern who had just graduated from college.

"Boss, I have a huge story!" Cathy said excitedly. "A really huge story!"

"Oh? Let's hear it." Richard slowly set down his teacup. "What is it? Did you uncover the full story behind last night's incident? Or do you know where that monster came from?"

"Um... it's not about that, Mr. Li." After his questions, Cathy's excitement seemed to fade a little. "It's about a gang called the Green Snake Gang."

"Oh." Richard leaned back in his chair again, apparently losing interest at once.

What? It was just a gang? What big story could that possibly be?