Chapter 176 - CHAPTER 176:A Storm of Public Opinion

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Coulson merely watched General Ross storm out, rage etched across his face.

The objective had been accomplished.

There was no concern that Ross wouldn't relay the information Coulson had revealed. If Ross had even a shred of ambition left, he would find a way to deliver it straight to the ears of the World Security Council.

And if Ross delivered it personally, it could even serve as leverage for him to claim credit or gain favors.

Coulson could already envision Fury's return to center stage, full of vitality and momentum. With that, he stood up—his tasks were far from over.

When Shen He received Coulson's report later, he didn't react much.

The plan had been a gamble, but it worked. Even if the World Security Council suspected collusion between Fury and Chaldea, they would still have no choice but to rely on him. They wouldn't risk a direct confrontation with someone like Fury just yet.

Still, knowing their usual manipulative tendencies, Shen He was sure they wouldn't let the matter drop so easily.

As expected, Ross used the photos—the ones proving Chaldea's overwhelming strength and identifying "old S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives" among them—to extract advanced tech and massive sums from the remnants of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s black budget.

This included Kun-style fighter blueprints, carrier stealth modules, and a wide range of high-level technologies once monopolized by S.H.I.E.L.D.

When the World Council analyzed the photos, their deliberations followed quickly.

> "Reinstate Fury."

> "Agreed—but with restricted authority."

> "Second point—we must secure Loki."

> "Make this a condition for Fury's reinstatement. He's our scapegoat now. He has no leverage to refuse."

> "Leverage public opinion. Chaldea acts as guardian like Asgard once did—negotiation is possible. But we must seize tangible control beyond intelligence. Loki is the key."

The final remarks from one senior member met unanimous approval.

They were the power elite—individuals atop the global hierarchy, wielding unimaginable wealth, surpassing even multinational conglomerates. But ever since alien arrivals and the surfacing of organizations like Chaldea, that dominance had begun to erode.

And the biggest flaw remained: lack of actual power.

Shen He was unaware of the Council's closed-door decisions.

Fury hadn't sent an update either.

But what was impossible to ignore was the growing storm of public outrage.

Fear spread like wildfire.

No one could say for certain that their loved ones weren't already under Loki's control—or worse, that they weren't being manipulated themselves. The government boldly claimed it had developed a solution to identify mind control victims, but the Chaldeans had refused to surrender Loki for "negotiation."

The result was a media frenzy that roasted Chaldea in public discourse.

People didn't question whether the government really had a viable solution; they just blamed Chaldea for withholding Loki.

To remain silent under such scrutiny was to hemorrhage credibility.

But Chaldea had not been passive. Their counteroffensive came swiftly.

Within two days of Loki's capture, Avalon Virtual released detailed public data explaining Loki's mind control methods—backed by psychological tools for self-diagnosis and community support.

Using models built from cutting-edge psychiatric frameworks, they launched a mental health initiative capable of detecting secondary personalities, stress anomalies, and post-hypnotic triggers linked to mind control. These tools were developed by Dr. Gutai—Chaldea's leading neurologist—and far surpassed modern clinical benchmarks.

This strategy alleviated public panic significantly.

Case studies surfaced, amplified by a well-coordinated media campaign, validating the assessment tools. Prominent mental health experts from around the globe voiced their support.

> "These diagnostic tools go beyond anything we have for depression," said Nobel laureate Kenneth Emerson.

> "Their distribution could reduce suicide rates dramatically," added Klay Kirby, a global youth mental health advocate.

> "The author of this test is clearly the leading psychologist of our time," declared Jerry Meyberty, a renowned cognitive scientist.

These endorsements helped shift the public focus.

Compared to vague official promises, Chaldea had produced an actual framework for dealing with Loki's influence.

Their reputation, for the time being, stabilized.

Yet Shen He didn't relax.

He knew better than anyone that public opinion was never in Chaldea's favor when battling a nation-state's propaganda machine.

There were infinite ways to steer the narrative.

And then, just as predicted, the tide turned.

On the fourth day after Loki's arrest, one headline reignited the public's fury.

A 16-year-old girl in a Manhattan school jumped to her death from a building nearly 100 meters tall. No signs of hesitation, no notes—just silence.

Tragically, suicides were not uncommon in America—over 30,000 annually, with teens among the highest at-risk groups.

But this incident, fueled by timing and deliberate narrative framing, was labeled "another casualty of Loki's mind control."

The talking heads took over:

> "These psychological tests may help, but they can't prevent suicide!"

Media outlets ran the girl's evaluation report—revealing flagged suicidal ideation. The school had even assigned a monitoring counselor.

Yet somehow, she had slipped through.

Blame shifted instantly.

The school couldn't be entirely faulted—hundreds of students had shown similar tendencies. But the message was clear:

Even Chaldea's tools couldn't stop the deaths.

On the same day, suicide after suicide was reported across the country—each labeled "murder by influence."

Facts no longer mattered.

The raw emotional impact—blood and grief—shredded reason.

Mass demonstrations erupted across the United States.

From LA to Chicago to Manhattan itself—crowds flooded streets, waving banners, demanding Loki's public trial and condemnation.

Even in Manhattan—under Chaldea's strongest protection—protests escalated.

In just four days, a complete public opinion storm had formed.

From within Chaldea's headquarters, Shen He could hear the chants outside.

"Riiver," Tony Stark said as he entered, dragging his feet. "Stark Industries is surrounded. Over $16 billion gone in market cap today. The other shareholders are going insane. Pepper's ready to throw her phone into the Hudson."

At its peak, Stark Industries had exceeded $200 billion in market value.

In Shen He's old world, that would've been impressive—but not unusual. Apple had crossed the trillion-dollar threshold.

And most of that wasn't even Tony's personal wealth. Though a majority shareholder, his personal fortune was under $100 billion.

"If they don't believe in Stark Industries, then buy them out," Shen He said flatly.

"I'm already on it," Tony replied with a smirk. "Didn't need your reminder."

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