Chapter 1: I, Iron Man, Will Surely Make the List
“Finally, the editing is finished! Let’s start with a video featuring all three generations of Spider-Man in the same frame! This is bound to be a hit!”
In a dim rental room, the rapid-fire clacking of a keyboard filled the air.
Lin Lan sat before his computer monitor, his face as strikingly handsome as the readers of a certain famous novel site. He was a transmigrator, having arrived in a world nearly identical to the Earth of his previous life. However, unlike the protagonists in the novels he used to read, he wasn’t gifted a “Golden Finger” upon arrival. He started with nothingnot even a legal identity.
Fortunately, he had brought his video editing skills with him. It was just enough to keep him fed, but he wasn’t satisfied with merely scraping by.
That was when he received an invitation from a website called the “Dimensional Platform.” They invited him to edit and upload videos, promising lavish rewards if the quality was high and the response was positive.
With a “why not” attitude, Lin Lan decided to create a series ranking the top ten superheroes from American comics. The first hero he chose for his inaugural video was none other than Spider-Man.
Once the script, music, and voiceover were perfectly aligned, he added the final title.
[Inventory of the Top Ten Superheroes]!
[Hero is never just a title; it is a weight of duty and responsibility.]
[Perhaps he is a god wielding power that transcends all things.]
[Or perhaps he is a mortal who rivals the gods with a human body.]
[Note: This video only showcases ten superheroes. Factors such as personality or moral character are not considered. The ranking is in no particular order!]
“Done! Upload!”
Lin Lan finally clicked the button and waited quietly for the world to react.
Parallel Universe. New York.
It had been exactly one week since the terrorist attack orchestrated by Ivan Vanko, also known as Whiplash.
“I didn’t want you to see that report; I wasn’t sure if it even concerned you. As for this one, it’s Agent Romanoff’s evaluation of you. Have a look for yourself.”
Inside a ruined building, Tony Stark sat in a chair. A paper document rested before himthe Avengers Preliminary Assessment Report. Just as he reached for it, a dark-skinned hand blocked his path.
Nick Fury handed him a different report instead. Tony flipped through it, finding a litany of negative evaluations. Fury then informed him of the final decision: Tony would only serve as a consultant.
Tony was far from pleased. “I have a brand-new heart now, and I just stopped a major disaster! All things considered, I think I qualify as a hero!”
“In the current situation, we believe you’re only suited for a consulting role. If you don’t believe me, look at this platform. See if the comments about you are mostly praise or mostly insults.”
Fury pulled out his phone and opened the Dimensional Platform.
Tony was well aware of the site. It had appeared out of nowhere recently, allowing anyone to upload videos, and it had quickly become a globaland even universalsensation. However, as a genius scientist and a billionaire playboy, Tony had never had much interest in short-form video content.
[Shocking! Playboy Tony Stark rumored to be in a scandal with a certain star!]
[Asgard to hold coronation! All hail the new King!]
[Green and red giants appear in New York! Extreme destruction and massive casualties!]
Fury’s finger swiped across the screen, a blur of videos passing by. Many were recordings from alien civilizations. Because of this platform, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s efforts to cover up the existence of extraterrestrials had become utterly futile. It seemed the entire timeline of the universe was beginning to shift.
After swiping for about thirty seconds and seeing four or five videos criticizing him, Tony Stark shook his head helplessly. “These people are just jealous of my genius. You can’t take them seriously! Wait! Look! What is that video?”
Tony was about to make another excuse when his eyes suddenly lit up. A specific title had caught his attention.
[Inventory of the Top Ten Superheroes]!
“Look! An inventory of the top ten superheroes! It even specifically notes that personality doesn’t matter and the ranking is in no particular order! Isn’t this practically tailor-made for me?” Tony felt a surge of secret delight.
The previous reports had repeatedly hammered him for his personality flaws. But if personality and character were set aside, Tony Starkbeyond being a playboy and a billionairehad another identity.
He was Iron Man!
A confident smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he looked at Nick Fury. “Believe it or not, I’m definitely going to be on that list!”
Fury didn’t speak, but a glimmer of curiosity appeared in his eyes. Most of the videos on the platform were just snippets of daily life. A fresh topic like this was intriguing even to the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
He looked at Tony and teased, “That remains to be seen. If you’re not on that list, you’d better be content just being a consultant.”
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