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In the end, the fires in multiple sectors of the city resulted in more than ten casualties.
Although the Guardians had successfully evacuated hundreds of civilians, the deaths that occurred still sparked intense backlash across global society.
There were Guardians in New York—but what about the rest of the world?
A young man, devastated after being abandoned by his girlfriend, obtained a strange ability and inadvertently unleashed devastation that even elite security agencies were powerless to contain.
This raised an unsettling concern: What if someone around you suddenly awakened superpowers?
Under this atmosphere of fear and instability, a certain sentiment began to gain traction.
A proposal surfaced—calling for the mandatory registration of all individuals with superhuman abilities. Those with powers deemed dangerous should be monitored, restricted, or even detained if necessary.
Though still a marginal voice, this notion began attracting attention. Many dismissed it as impractical, but its persistence was enough to catch Shen He's attention.
Shen He knew all too well: if left unchecked, the Superhuman Registration Act would eventually become a reality. In a world still governed by ordinary people, even those blessed with divine powers were, politically speaking, still considered civilians.
While the idea of registration wasn't inherently evil, the risk lay in how it could be exploited. If it became just another tool for the World Government to consolidate power and suppress those with abilities, then it would betray everything Shen He had fought for.
Yes, power should be managed—but it should be self-governed, by those who understood its weight.
So, Shen He immediately had Chaldea's Virtual Reality Division draft a formal statement, issuing it publicly under his name and tone.
> "There is an old Chinese saying: 'If virtue does not match power, disaster will follow.'
It means that when one's character is not strong enough to bear their position or power, it often leads to calamity.
Extraordinary powers often descend without warning. Many find their lives—and their minds—thrown into disarray. The recent incident is proof. Some powers are so unstable they can unintentionally harm even those closest to you.
But Chaldea has more than a millennium of experience assisting individuals with unique capabilities.
Therefore, we are officially launching the Special Population Foundation—an organization devoted to supporting and protecting the empowered.
If you are panicked by sudden changes, no matter how bizarre or dangerous, come to us.
We are the world's largest community of extraordinary individuals.
—Chaldea"
The most vital word in the announcement? "Largest."
In an age that prides itself on democracy and equality, the majority always determines the rules—even if the minority is not at fault.
Shen He's objective was now clear: solidify Chaldea's authority and legitimacy in the superpowered world. Whoever controls the narrative controls the battlefield. And only by becoming the representative voice for the extraordinary could he hope to go head-to-head with the World Government in the future.
The announcement had an immediate effect.
Peter Parker had already made his decision.
The foundation erased his final doubts. Even if he wasn't yet qualified to be a full-fledged Guardian, he now knew he wouldn't be alone. His identity would remain safe, and he could even receive proper guidance.
He needed that now more than ever.
So, he decided to seek out Shen He in person.
To avoid alerting his classmates or drawing suspicion, Parker planned his visit during lunch break. Since the internship mostly happened at night, most students were off-duty during the day and could roam the compound freely. According to Parker's research, Shen He often stayed at the private residence within the Chaldea complex—an area that, while monitored, didn't explicitly forbid students from passing through.
Confident in his new powers, Parker used his heightened senses to avoid all patrols.
Even surveillance cameras seemed too slow for him to worry about.
Until he encountered her.
Parker could swear he had never met a girl so delicate and adorable. With crystalline blue eyes like a tranquil lake, smooth golden hair, and an ethereal presence, she looked like an angel from a storybook.
And yet every nerve in his body screamed in terror.
His spider sense flared with raw dread.
The girl was dangerous—far more so than anyone he had encountered. Her very presence triggered a primal fear in his core.
Fortunately, she only glanced at him briefly before skipping toward the building.
Only after she vanished from his senses did Parker realize he was drenched in sweat.
He was about to retreat when that ominous feeling returned—twice as intense.
The golden-haired girl had returned, this time dragging along a second figure: a black-haired girl clad in a traditional Japanese kimono.
Her beauty was quiet but imposing—like a blade hidden within silk. Porcelain-white skin, unkempt shoulder-length hair, and a commanding posture gave her the aura of a predator barely restrained.
Parker nearly collapsed from the force of his own spider sense.
Are all Chaldeans this terrifying? he thought, panic gripping his heart.
"Who are you looking for?" asked the black-haired girl—Ryougi Shiki, also known as the Two Rituals. Her brow creased slightly.
Violet, the golden-haired girl, had burst into the room earlier and whispered about a "suspicious person." It seemed that person was Parker.
"I—I… I'm looking for Mr. Shen," Parker stammered.
"Wait here."
Rituals gave him a glance before turning away, taking Violet by the hand and heading inside.
From within, Shen He's voice could be faintly heard.
He had been eating a simple lunch when Violet entered.
In truth, he had already been notified of Parker's arrival by Jarvis. But upon seeing the boy's nervous expression, he decided to let the situation play out. He was curious to observe Parker's instincts.
In many alternate worlds, the spider sense was one of the most versatile precognition abilities. In the hands of certain Spider-Men, it could even border on omniscience—predicting threats, sensing illusions, and reacting faster than light.
"Violet, I saved a strawberry cake for you," Shen He said with a smile.
He tried to ruffle Violet's hair, only to have his hand slapped away by the Two Rituals.
"Who keeps messing up her hair?" Rituals glared at Shen He.
She was the one who took the time to style Violet's hair, and Shen He had a habit of ruining her work.
Joan could only do simple braids, after all.
"Couldn't resist," Shen He said, scratching his head with a smirk.
No matter how much he accomplished outside, inside this house, he was still the same man who had once been dropped into this world with nothing.
He coughed, straightened his posture, and stepped outside to meet his young visitor.
Parker was still trying to calm down when Shen He approached. The man was dressed simply, but carried a presence that made Parker tense.
"Mr. Shen, I—"
"Parker," Shen He said, cutting him off. "Peter Parker, right?"
"Huh? Yeah…" Parker blinked, surprised.
He hadn't introduced himself.
"I've been following you," Shen He explained casually. "Since last Friday."
Parker's eyes widened. That was exactly when he had gained his powers.
"Don't be nervous. Come in."
Shen He stepped aside and gestured for him to enter with a kind smile.
"Thank you… Mr. Shen."
With no turning back, Parker followed.
"Have you eaten? I have some cakes, sandwiches, and a few Chinese dishes if you're hungry," Shen He offered.
"Thanks, but… Mr. Shen, how did you know about me?"
It baffled Parker. He had been cautious since day one. How did someone as important as Shen He notice him so quickly?
"Sit first," Shen He said, guiding him to the living room. Plates of desserts were arranged neatly on the table.
"We have ways of detecting potential anomalies—people whose abilities stand out. You were flagged, but I wasn't planning to approach you yet. Seems you beat me to it. Are you in trouble?"
"No, not really," Parker replied instinctively. Then he corrected himself. "I mean—I want to join the Guardians."
"Oh?" Shen He raised a brow, neither surprised nor convinced. "Why?"
Parker had already thought this through.
"I saw what the Guardians did last night," he said without hesitation. "And it made sense. I have these powers, and I want to do something with them. Seeing them in action—it just clicked. That's what I want to be."
There was no denying the fire in his heart. He might not have all the answers, but he wanted to help people. Like they did.
Shen He nodded slightly. "Then let me ask—what do you think the Guardians do?"
"Help people who need help?" Parker answered after a pause.
"Correct," Shen He smiled. "But you don't need to join us to do that. You could wear a mask, find some tights, and patrol the streets by yourself. Nothing's stopping you."
Parker fumbled. "But… Mr. Shen, the Guardians have teamwork. Support. Structure."
He was still a teenager. He hadn't even built his web shooters yet. Compared to the highly-organized Guardians, the idea of running around in pajamas alone felt… ridiculous.
He wanted to be part of something greater.
And Shen He could see it.
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