Reasons to Become a Hero

"You don't understand why I asked S.H.I.E.L.D. to help?"

At home, Ryan turned on the lights and smiled at Annie, who looked somewhat conflicted.

"Mm."

Annie nodded lightly. If they merely wanted to know where Viper was, Nazarick's forces on Earth could easily accomplish that. There seemed to be no need to involve S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Then do you know why I suggested that you become a superhero?"

Gesturing for Annie to come sit beside him, Ryan did not explain directly. Instead, he changed the subject.

Annie hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

She had thought carefully about it before, but every conclusion she reached seemed rather forced.

Ryan smiled when he saw that. "There are many considerations behind making you a superhero. We'll leave aside the deeper ones for now and start with the obvious. How much influence do you think Nazarick currently has over Earth?"

"It should be considerable..." Annie thought for a moment before answering.

Nazarick had signed treaties with every nation on Earth, including provisions requiring them to cooperate with Nazarick's operations.

"Considerable? Heh, that's not wrong, but it's all superficial. When something truly significant comes up, they'll agree openly while pulling every kind of trick behind the scenes."

"At present, the Haulers Group is the only force on Earth that can truly be considered Nazarick's. And I can guarantee that half the people inside have already become spies for other factions."

Ryan spoke with a cold laugh, and Annie's brows furrowed slightly.

"So you want me to become a superhero in order to increase Nazarick's influence on Earth?"

"But I don't think that would be of any use."

Annie had caught the meaning behind Ryan's words, but she did not understand.

Fame and public opinion could be powerful at times, but strictly speaking, they were