The walls of Hans Landa's office are covered with screens all displaying the same news.
The female host of Vought News Network was speaking to the camera with great indignation, denouncing " Phantom " as worthless.
In the background, the victim's parents are wailing and lamenting.
Hans Landa held a steaming cup of Earl.
My gaze was fixed on the two data curves at the bottom of the main screen.
One metric is the level of panic in New York, and the other is the level of Abomination towards " Phantom ".
Both lines were a bright red, soaring all the way to the top.
Hans Landa was very satisfied with this.
"See that, Miranda? Nobody cares what the truth is. The truth is complicated, the truth requires thought, but the masses are too lazy to think."
Hans Landa blew on the steam rising from the rim of his teacup.
"They just need an outlet for their emotions, a demon from which they can unleash all their anger, fear, and resentment."
"We just gave them what they wanted."
Initially, quite a few of " Phantom's" fans spoke up for him online.
"This is definitely a setup! Phantom wouldn't do something like this!"
"He's the only hero who dares to stand up to Wall Street! This is slander!"
"Wait for the official investigation! Don't let the media lead you by the nose!"
But these sounds disappeared within minutes.
Vought's online army quickly took over all the platforms.
Numerous false "evidence" have been presented.
A photo taken by a "passerby" near the villa where the crime occurred shows the " Phantom " figure appearing and disappearing in the Shadow.
A file from Phantom's high school days records his disciplinary actions for participating in fights.
An anonymous long article by an "insider" details how Phantom resold the stolen supplies for personal gain, claiming that his so-called "robbing the rich to help the poor" was merely to satisfy his own selfish desires.
Each piece of "evidence" comes with irrefutable details.
Every story is woven together seamlessly.
The wind direction changed abruptly.
New York Phantom #
#Hero or Beast#
#We've been scammed#
These topics completely dominated the top ten spots on a certain trending search list in less than half an hour.
Those who once elevated Leo Cohen to godlike status now hurl the most vile insults at him.
The collapse of an idol has evolved into a nationwide online frenzy.
In Brooklyn District slum, a homeless man rescued by Leo Cohen shakes his head repeatedly at the VNN reporter's camera.
"No... I don't believe it. Mr. Phantom is a good person, he even gave me food..."
Before he could finish speaking, an office worker in a suit rushed over and started yelling at him.
Shut up! You accomplice of the devil!
"It's because of social scum like you that he dared to do this!"
More and more "righteous" citizens gathered around, their expressions a mixture of disgust and anger.
The homeless man trembled with fear, dropping the half-eaten bread from his hand, which was then trampled on.
Nobody cares about the truth anymore.
People just want to see the sinners punished and everything associated with them destroyed.
On the other side of the city.
The real Leo Cohen is experiencing the longest day of his life.
He tried to escape using his ability, but ended up being teleported to several familiar hideouts, each of which was a trap.
He teleported to his first landing point, the top of an abandoned clock tower.
As soon as he appeared, a blue high-voltage electric grid covering the entire platform descended upon him.
He expended a great deal of energy and teleported again before the power grid closed.
My second stop was the self-service luggage lockers at Grand Central Terminal.
He emerged from the cabinet, where he was greeted by six dark gun barrels and a tactical squad.
Vought's men were already waiting there.
He teleported again, and the bullet pierced the metal of the suitcase.
Vought International.
In his past understanding, this was just a greedy business tycoon.
Now, the monster has revealed its true form to him.
The Vought International knew all his habits and every hiding place.
After narrowly escaping capture once again, Leo Cohen mustered his last bit of strength, lifted a manhole cover, and plunged inside.
He was soaking wet, covered in filth, and looked utterly disheveled.
He leaned against the damp wall, and could still clearly hear the sound of police cars sirens blaring past on the ground.
The city he once risked his life to protect is now a place where every street is searching for him.
At that moment, Hans Landa of Vought International issued the final order.
A video was promoted by VNN under the guise of an "exclusive interview".
In the video, a gray-haired, refined psychology expert is speaking eloquently to the camera.
The expert is an actor signed with Vought's PR department, but his resume and titles are all real.
"A classic messianic complex mixed with highly antisocial personality traits."
The expert adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and analyzed the criminal psychology of " Phantom " in an authoritative tone.
"His so-called Robin Hood-like actions are not out of a sense of justice at all! They are merely to satisfy his morbid voyeuristic and controlling desires."
He enjoys the process of intruding into other people's private spaces, whether it's Wall Street conglomerate's vault or an ordinary girl's bedroom. This gives him a powerful illusion of control. To him, there's no difference between the two, only a difference in the level of stimulation.
This "scientific" analysis completely shattered the last vestiges of hope in the public's mind.
A folk hero was publicly labeled as a psychopath lurking in the city.
Riding this wave, Vought International launched their "new product".
The captain of the " New Guardians," a blond, blue-eyed man with the perfect heroic face, stood before hundreds of media Flash and delivered his inaugural address.
"We will never allow anyone to tarnish the word 'hero'!"
He spoke with great passion, and the team members behind him all stood ramrod straight.
" Vought International has officially authorized New Guardians to take full control of this case! We assure all citizens of New York that we will bring this demon hiding in the gutter to justice and deliver justice to the victims!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.
People forgot the Old Gods and began to frantically worship the New Gods.
In the darkness of the sewers, Leo Cohen, exhausted and on the verge of collapse, huddled in a corner.
He took out the last thing he had from his pocket.
It was a military-grade high-energy nutrient solution that he "took" from Vought's warehouse, intending to give to homeless people who couldn't afford to eat.
On the nutrient solution tube, the Vought International's "V" logo looked particularly conspicuous in the sewer, as if mocking him.
He always believed he was doing the right thing.
But now, all that he's done has pushed him into a quagmire from which he can't climb out.
He stared at what he was holding, stared at the symbol.
He couldn't understand it, and he couldn't swallow his anger.
Something was starting to feel off in Phantom's mind.