Time is the most efficient sculptor, and also the most ruthless eroder.
The 1970s began.
The shadow of the Cold War gave rise to a bizarre array of subcultures.
The quagmire of the Vietnam War tarnished the glory of the Stars and Stripes.
The world moves forward amidst the clamor.
Vought International, this behemoth that rose amidst the flames of war, has imprinted its mark on every corner of the era.
Its films defined the hero.
Its music shaped trends.
Its products have penetrated into thousands of households.
People grew up watching Vought's movies.
Kissing while wearing Vought's clothes.
He was smoking a cigarette endorsed by Vought.
They screamed in the streets, each for their own ideals and confusion.
Lynn is still the same Lynn.
Time has left no trace on his face, not even a single fine line.
The only thing that had changed was his eyes; they had become even more profound than they had been twenty years ago.
As he looked down at New York from the top of the Vought Tower.
The bustling crowds beneath our feet are no different in essence from the bacterial colonies in a petri dish in a laboratory.
May 29, 1970.
A phone call interrupted Lynn's feigned sleep.
The person on the other end of the phone was Howard Stark.
His voice was filled with ecstasy and exhaustion.
It was as if they had just won a battle even more crucial than the Normandy landings.
"He's born! Lynn! It's a boy!"
"He has my nose, thank goodness, and his eyes are like Maria's!"
"I'm a father! Can you believe it? I, Howard Stark, have a son!"
Congratulations, Howard.
"Listen, buddy, this is the important part!"
Howard's tone became more serious than ever before on the other end of the line.
"I hope you can be his godfather."
"I hope my son will have your wisdom and vision, instead of spending his whole life cleaning up the messes he made, like me."
godfather?
A decent identity.
"My pleasure."
A week later, Lynn personally went to the Stark Manor.
He saw the Rebirth lying in the crib.
Anthony Edward Stark.
Howard's stubble was unkempt, and he had dark circles under his eyes.
But he was still as excited as a child who had received a new toy, constantly boasting to Lynn about every detail of his son.
Lynn ignored him.
He simply gazed silently at that small, fragile life.
He reached out and gently touched the baby's soft cheek with his index finger.
Howard believed it was a blessing from his godfather.
"I hope he can become a good person, a better person than me."
Howard's voice sounded somewhat melancholic.
"A creator, not Destroyer."
Lynn withdrew his hand, a gentle smile appearing on his face.
"He will."
Just then, Howard came over.
He stared at Lynn's unchanging face, a hint of drunkenness and confusion in his voice, and asked in a low voice, "Seriously, Lynn, did you secretly inject yourself with the serum behind my back?"
"I'm old enough to be his grandfather, how come you still look as young as when we first met?"
Lynn turned his head and looked Howard straight in the eye.
" Howard, Eternity youth is a curse, not a blessing. Are you sure... you want to know the price?"
Howard's smile vanished.
He sensed a chill running down his spine from that calm gaze.
Leaving the warm Stark Manor, Lynn arrived at the underground of the Vought headquarters.
Dr. Horton approached, his face flushed with a sickly pallor.
"Boss! A perfect work of art!"
He pointed to the five reinforced glass isolation chambers in the center of the laboratory.
Inside are five people who have just experienced hell.
A muscular, burly Black man.
A thin, pale, blond young man.
A Latina woman with fierce eyes.
There were also two seemingly ordinary people, a man and a woman.
They were all once street thugs, homeless vagrants, and forgotten dust in society.
Now, they are Metahuman.
"The stability of Compound V has exceeded all our expectations!"
A mad light shone behind Dr. Horton's glasses.
"We eliminated the risk of genetic breakdown and enhanced their most outstanding physical traits! Strength, speed..."
Lynn glanced at the five " Rebirth " with vacant eyes.
What about memories?
"It's been cleaned spotlessly! Like a blank sheet of paper!"
Dr. Horton adjusted his glasses.
"In erasing their humble past, we captured several interesting fragments, such as hatred of poverty and longing for family..."
"But now, all of that is gone. We have implanted your message, your supreme image, into the deepest recesses of their souls."
"You are their creator, their only master, and the meaning of their breath."
Lynn nodded.
He walked up to the isolation cell of the burly black man, and looked into his bewildered eyes through the glass.
"From today onwards, your name is Dark Iron."
He then walked towards the blond youth.
"Your Soundwave."
Then there was the Latina woman.
" Bloody Mary."
Finally, he looked at the two white men.
"You are the Guardian and the Starlight."
The five names define the purpose of the five tools.
Lynn turned around and gave an order to Motoko Kusanagi beside him.
" Motoko."
"Send Dark Iron, Soundwave, and Bloody Mary to the streets of New York and cause some minor trouble."
"Then... let the Guardian and Starlight appear under the Flash at the most opportune moment."
"Understood, boss."
" Vought's security department will work with the media department to ensure maximum exposure for the debut of the two new heroes."
The war is over, but people need an enemy.
Without enemies, heroes are worthless.
Since we can't find the enemy.
Then let's create a few ourselves.
One week later.
First National Bank of Manhattan, New York, New York.
"Get down! All of you, get the hell down!"
A furious roar, accompanied by the deafening sound of metal being torn apart, shattered the false tranquility of the bank lobby.
A person who is over two meters tall.
The Giant, with skin that was a metallic gray-black, tore open the heavy vault door of the bank with his bare hands.
He was none other than Dark Iron.
The bullets that hit him only created a series of feeble Spark, which only added to his ferocity.
People screamed and panicked.
Faced with such power, the order of modern civilization is extremely fragile.
Just as Dark Iron hoisted the bags of US dollars onto his shoulder and prepared to leave,
A golden figure descended.
It's Starlight.
She was suspended in mid-air.
She radiated a soft and warm light.
Her golden hair danced in the air currents, making her look otherworldly.
"Put down what doesn't belong to you, monster!"
Dark Iron roared and slammed a safe down at Starlight!
Starlight gracefully raised her hand.
A dazzling beam of light shot from her palm and struck the safe.
There was no violent explosion; the safe was gently lifted in the light and then slowly landed on the open ground beside it.
Everyone stared in disbelief at what they saw.
This is a scene from mythology.
This is a scene from a comic book.
This is a meticulously choreographed drama performed for the whole world.
In Starlight's mind, only one clear command echoed, "Protect the weak, perform miracles, smile."
She gave Dark Iron no chance.
Several beams of light completely suppressed him.
The final energy blast stunned him to the ground.
As she landed gently, she gave a reassuring smile to the still-shaken crowd around her.
I don't know who started clapping first.
Thunderous applause and cheers immediately filled the entire hall.
Reporters frantically pressed their shutters, the Flash capturing Starlight's perfect figure forever.
This scene, broadcast across the United States within minutes through ABC Radio and Television Network owned by Vought, and dozens of partner media outlets.
This "heroic entrance show" was being played live in Lynn's office.
I picked up the black tea and took a small sip.
Business is that simple.
The Starlight performance is over; the next act is the Guardian.
First, use Dark Iron, Soundwave, and Bloody Mary to create fear.
It made people realize that such terrifying monsters still lurk in the Shadow of peacetime.
Then they launched Starlight and Guardian, selling hope and a sense of security.
When people are gripped by fear, they will willingly relinquish their rights and embrace any powerful authority that can provide them with protection.
Vought provides not only protection, but also related products.
Two weeks later.
An unprecedentedly grand launch event was held at Vought Plaza.
Starlight and Guardian, these two impeccable Rebirth heroes, have officially met the public amidst Center of Attention.
They are young, sunny, and energetic.
It signifies that they will use their own power to protect the people and uphold justice.
They are perfect idols.
They are the spiritual totem most needed in this confusing era.