"In the presidential impeachment election, both Captain America and the Bat have become legitimate candidates."
As Shirley spoke, she displayed the current approval ratings of the presidential candidates.
Originally, the candidate list seemed relatively normal. However, two names had now appeared on it—figures who, under ordinary circumstances, should never have been included.
At least Captain America had his own portrait.
But when people saw the Bat, they all fell into silence.
There was no photograph—only a black bat symbol.
Yet, this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the voters.
In fact, they became even more eager to vote for the Bat.
Perhaps it was the mystery surrounding him that intrigued people. They wanted to see what would happen if a masked vigilante actually stepped into the public spotlight.
"Let's hear from Professor Frank, our political analyst, on this matter."
In the studio, an elderly man with white hair was already seated beside Shirley.
"As you can see, this is an unprecedented election."
Frank nodded and said, "That's right, Shirley. According to special election rules, any citizen is eligible to become a candidate—even a comedian could run."
"Since the Captain is one of the most well-known citizens in the country's history, invalidating these votes would be extremely difficult."
"Then what about the Bat?" Shirley was now more concerned about the guardian of New York. Could that Bat actually become the President?
"Shirley, we don't even know the Bat's real name or what he looks like. We don't even know if he actually stepped out of a comic book."
"However, just like with Captain America, to invalidate Batman's votes, you'd first have to prove that he is not an American citizen."
"And, honestly, who would believe that Batman isn't an American citizen?"
As Shirley listened to Professor Frank, she had initially wanted to interject. However, what he said next aligned with her own thoughts.
At the same time, she noticed a subtle detail on Professor Frank's suit.
A small bat emblem.
Black, inconspicuous—but enough to reveal where his allegiance lay.
He was a devoted fan of the Bat.
While the news anchors were busy discussing the presidential candidates, Bruce had already tracked down the location controlling the Wasps.
It had to be said—they were truly audacious.
Their control center was in Sacramento, California, in a well-known neighborhood—Citrus Heights.
Most people living there probably had no idea that inside an unremarkable shipping container nearby, a group of individuals was controlling those deadly machines.
These operatives didn't hear the Batwing approaching, but someone had already landed directly on their control center.
Thor was staring at the symbol beneath his feet with a somber expression.
"Thor, did you find it?" Clearly, the Ultimate Alliance, like Bruce, had also traced the location.
"Cap, you won't believe where I found it. But I did. It was hidden in plain sight."
As Thor spoke to Captain America, one of the people inside the control center stepped out and spotted him.
"It's Thor!" The man gasped in shock.
Soon, someone else noticed the Batwing circling above them.
"Looks like Batman is here too," Stanford said with a bitter smile.
Even without these two showing up, he already knew there was no chance of mercy for him.
Monte completely ignored Stanford and shouted at Thor, "We had no idea they activated themselves! You have to believe us before you shut them down!"
Thor looked at the engraved symbol on the control center and nodded. "Yes, I believe you."
It was a simple emblem—one that, under normal circumstances, only Thor himself should have recognized.
Because that symbol originated from the fallen Asgard.
For someone who believed himself to be the last Asgardian, Thor wasn't sure whether he should feel relieved or saddened.
After all, knowing another Asgardian was still alive filled his heart with excitement.
But this Asgardian's actions had already far exceeded the oaths once sworn by Asgard. He was destroying this world—pushing it toward ruin.
Thor had a suspect in mind, but he wasn't certain yet.
Besides, this was no time for speculation—his job was to deal with the control center.
"Stand back!" Thor commanded, ensuring the people inside moved away.
He didn't want anyone getting hurt by his power.
Raising his hammer, he summoned lightning and obliterated the device beneath his feet.
As the lightning struck, the Wasps engaged in mass slaughter across the city fell from the sky like raindrops.
Hawkeye, Clint, looked around in disbelief and turned to his teammates.
"That's it? It worked?"
"This will be a day no American will ever forget. We have confirmed the outcome."
At S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Triskelion headquarters, Carol was watching the news broadcast. Seeing the results, she muttered in disbelief, "That's impossible."
"Looks like we did it, Cap," Clint said, glancing at Captain America—who had just removed his helmet and placed it on a young boy's head. His words were filled with genuine admiration.
"It's not over yet," Captain America responded. "But it does feel good to have made a difference, even if just a small one."
He comforted the child before standing up, looking at the sonic boom clouds dissipating on the horizon.
"Besides, we were just here to help."
"Steve, I know you fell out with the President over this. You gave up a lot to do this," Black Widow said, pointing at him with a look of unwavering trust. "I just want you to know—I stand with you. I support you."
Ring, ring, ring!
At that moment, the public telephone suddenly rang. Clearly, someone was looking for them.
No one would believe that someone had used that public telephone before. Now, someone else was calling.
The only possible explanation was S.H.I.E.L.D.
Those guys could easily track down anything around them that could connect to them.
"Well, this isn't something you see every day." Stark made a biting remark without holding back.
After all, whenever S.H.I.E.L.D.—or rather, the U.S. government—reached out to them, it was usually because they had encountered a problem they couldn't solve.
Taking off his hood, Steve stepped into the public phone booth and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Captain, it's Carol. So, uh... have you ever heard me tell a joke?" Carol hesitated, unsure of how to begin. She could only start the conversation this way before getting to the real issue.
"No." Captain America thought for a moment. In his memory, this blonde beauty had indeed never told a joke before.
"Good. Just remember that." Carol took a deep breath, preparing to deliver the shocking news.
"Steve, listen to me. The presidential election just ended—President Howard lost."
Steve wasn't particularly surprised by this outcome.
The moment he chose to distance himself from these political battles, it was already clear that Howard wasn't suited to lead America forward.
America didn't need a president like him.
"I assume you didn't call just to tell me that President Howard lost the election?" Captain America knew very well that if it were just this, Carol wouldn't have bothered to call him.
"Our new president... is a bat."
Only now did Carol finally reveal the most important piece of news to Captain America.
That's right. In the just-concluded election, Batman had won and become the new President of the United States.
Although the race between him and Captain America had been incredibly close, under the special voting regulations, even a difference of one or two votes had sealed Captain America's fate, keeping him away from the presidency.
"So, do you have any way to get in touch with that bat?" Carol pressed a hand to her forehead as she watched the news broadcast. She really couldn't understand what the American people were thinking.
Among all the candidates, Carol would have preferred Captain America to take the presidency rather than seeing a bat sit in that chair.
She wasn't unfamiliar with the bat. S.H.I.E.L.D. was well aware of what he had done.
And that was exactly why Carol had a headache—because everything that bat did was about using fear to bring peace to the city.
Even though he protected all civilians, not everyone liked him.
The high-ranking officials of New York City's government had long been imprisoned due to a letter marked with the bat symbol, along with a set of incriminating documents.
The bat had left them no dignity whatsoever, exposing them completely to the public and revealing all their crimes.
It was said that attempts were made to pressure the newspapers.
But no one paid any attention to those officials, because on the same day they tried to exert pressure, a batarang was found embedded in one of their headboards.
No one knew how the bat had gotten inside.
"I think your call might be a little too late. That guy has already disappeared." Captain America looked toward the place where the bat had vanished—there wasn't a single trace left behind, not even a sonic boom cloud.
"Damn it. We need him to return to the White House, to face the media and take the oath." Carol was genuinely frustrated. No one had ever imagined that a masked vigilante would one day become the President of the United States, the leader of the country.
And Carol wasn't the only one struggling to believe it.
At that moment, in his home, General Ross sat silently, waiting for orders.
With a crash, Ross shattered an exquisite wine glass in anger, his eyes burning as he glared at the television screen displaying the unmistakable emblem of a certain superhero.
It was during his elite super-soldier squad's first mission that their operation had been sabotaged—by none other than that bat.
And now, that bat had become the President of the United States—his direct superior.
"What's wrong?" Betty Ross, hearing the sound of breaking glass, rushed over to check on her father.
But by then, General Ross had already turned off the TV. He waved dismissively and said to Betty, "It's nothing. Just old age—my hand slipped."
His tone was calm, showing no trace of the fury he had just displayed, as if it had all been an illusion.
Betty didn't suspect anything. After all, she had no say in her father's affairs.
She simply nodded and turned to leave.
She had an important project meeting to attend—she couldn't stay here too long.
Watching his daughter walk away, General Ross's previously calm face twisted into a grim expression. He sat in deep thought, as if what he was about to do next could change not only his own fate but also the future of the entire world.
The shattered glass reflected his figure.
His eyes were filled with both rage and confusion.
But soon, they became resolute.
He walked toward his study, opened a sealed safe, and took out a phone.
Looking at the screen, which displayed only one saved contact, Ross hesitated.
Was he really going to do this?
After much deliberation, he finally made the call.
"I'm glad to hear from you. The offer I made earlier still stands. Have you given it any thought?" A familiar voice came from the other end of the line.
"Your original terms won't cut it. What I need now is much more than that."
"Of course. No problem. As long as it's within my power, I will agree to any conditions you have." The person on the other end didn't even pause to think before accepting Ross's request.
Ross didn't respond right away. Instead, he cast his gaze toward his desk, where a photo was placed.
It was a picture of the newly elected President of the United States shaking his hand.
"I want to be President of the United States."
(End of Chapter)
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