Stark Tower.
Top-floor office.
Pepper had just seen off a business 'partner' who wanted to cooperate with her, a company called A.I.M, Advanced Idea Mechanics.
She let out a long sigh of relief, turned around, and saw Happy Hogan sitting on the sofa, staring intently at his phone screen. His expression was a bit strange, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was pondering something.
"Happy, what are you looking at?" Pepper couldn't help but ask, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity.
Happy looked up, gave her a complex look, and whispered, "Pepper, you know about the Mandarin's declaration of war video against Tony, right? The internet has exploded, the entire video is ridiculously popular on every platform. But what's strange is that the top trending topic isn't the Mandarin's declaration of war, but '#Hypocritical Homelander'."
Pepper was stunned; she had completely not expected things to develop in this direction. Having just finished hosting important partners, she was still unaware of this information. She immediately took out her phone and opened the news. The screen was filled with videos and analyses related to the Mandarin, and a large number of netizens' comments were flooding in. She quickly scanned the content. The Mandarin's declaration of war video that popped up on the screen made her heart clench. This person calling himself the Mandarin not only directly threatened Tony but also dramatically broadcast it across the entire network, vowing to unleash an unprecedented catastrophe on American soil. The Mandarin's cold threat was like a thorn, sending shivers down Pepper's spine.
Meanwhile, another part of the discussion revolved around the "Hypocritical Homelander," with netizens' comments and sarcasm surging like a tide:
"Homelander standing on the UN stage talking about World peace is truly ironic!"
"How 'righteous' is that guy? Compared to the Mandarin, he's probably not a good person either, right?"
"If Homelander really wanted to protect Earth, why would he keep silent about this kind of thing?"
Pepper felt increasingly uneasy. She immediately called Tony. After a few rings, the call finally connected, and Tony's low voice came from the other end: "Pepper, something wrong?"
Pepper opened her mouth to comfort him but couldn't help but cut straight to the point: "Tony, did you see the Mandarin's video? He's publicly threatening you. Tony, this person means trouble, and it sounds like he's coming for you."
Tony paused, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness: "Oh, I saw it. Don't worry, Pepper. I'll handle this. The Mandarin, huh, just a clown." He tried his best to make his voice sound relaxed.
Pepper frowned and asked tentatively, "Tony, what's really going on with you lately? You're always waking up in the middle of the night, saying you're researching the suit and company energy matters... But I always feel like something's off with you."
Tony was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Pepper, don't worry. I just want to improve the suit as much as possible to ensure we... to ensure you and everyone else won't be threatened." His voice carried a hint of imperceptible fatigue, as if unable to hide the burden in his heart.
Pepper felt a pang of heartache and lowered her voice, saying, "Tony, dangerous things happen every day. You can't carry everything on your own." She paused, her voice slightly choked, "The Mandarin has issued such a clear threat, I really... I don't want to lose you again."
"Don't worry, Pepper, I won't let the Mandarin succeed." Tony tried to make his tone lighter, as if joking, "Maybe this is just free advertising, letting everyone know once again that 'Iron Man' is not to be trifled with."
Pepper sighed softly; she could hear Tony was putting on a brave face. "Tony, whatever you have to deal with, I'll be by your side. But... you also have to protect yourself. Don't put yourself in danger again because of pride."
Tony smiled slightly, his tone carrying a hint of warmth: "Don't worry, Pepper. Pride is my trademark, but I won't risk my life for it." He paused slightly, then added in a low voice, "Also, if we can take a vacation after this is over, I want to take you somewhere without cell signal to really relax."
Pepper couldn't help but laugh, her worries in her heart slightly eased, but the unease still lingered. The threat brought by the Mandarin, and Tony's inner struggle, were like a dark cloud hanging over their lives.
After hanging up the phone, Pepper's fingers trembled slightly, and worry showed in her eyes. She softly murmured, "Tony, you must be safe..."
On social media.
The topic #Hypocritical Homelander was everywhere, with thousands of posts, comments, and video analyses constantly emerging. The media seemed to become exceptionally active overnight, even "frenzied." Whether discussing Homelander's actions, subtly mocking his expressions, or looking for traces of hypocrisy in his tiny movements, the entire internet was filled with commentary about Dominic.
Hero Truth Revealer: "Looking at Homelander's fake smile, I can't help but wonder if his speech about 'World peace' was sincere at all? Compared to other heroes, he doesn't take actual action even when facing threats like the Mandarin, just talks big about 'protection' on the UN stage. Heh, hilarious!"
Real Superhero: "Some people say Homelander is indeed a powerful superhero, but look at how Superman protects Earth; he never shows off under the spotlight. Our 'Homelander,' on the other hand, performs on stage at the drop of a hat, and is always so perfect every time, acting skills 100%! #Hypocritical Homelander."
Dark Knight Fan: "Dominic is clearly a 'fake' hero! I've checked many superhero comics and found that his entire style of action is completely unlike Superman; instead, it's like Batman's opponent! A villain who pursues 'justice,' hypocritical, cold, and manipulates people at any time. Those UN speech clips are like some evil group's propaganda video, utterly ridiculous!"
Even some analysis accounts began to engage in "academic" discussions about Dominic's "hypocrisy."
Behavioral Scientist Group
"Our team conducted detailed video analysis and found that when Homelander, Dominic, is on camera, his eyes flicker slightly, and the smile on his lips shows clear signs of being forced. This behavior often appears in people who have a strong desire to conceal their true emotions. Ultimately, this is a carefully constructed 'hero' persona, which makes one question his true motives."
Superfan Forum
"We have thoroughly dug into all of Dominic's public activities. From a behavioral perspective, he is indeed not a pure superhero. Unlike heroes who truly fight for justice, his actions are more like a carefully packaged performance. #Hypocritical Homelander"
Some sarcastic comments also started joining the topic:
True Homelander Fan: "Don't misunderstand Homelander, everyone! Although he hasn't taken substantial action to deal with the Mandarin, at least he stood on the UN podium, looking like he was going to save all of humanity. Don't you think the moment he smiles is particularly moving? Other heroes are fighting, he's talking about peace, he's so special!"
Under the same topic, the Mandarin's image and declaration of war video also continued to spread, with netizens accusing Dominic of only being able to "give speeches" and avoiding actual crises.
Hitting the Lies Directly: "The Mandarin has already challenged him, and Homelander is still playing 'invisible'? If he truly had such great righteousness, how could he not step in to resolve the Mandarin's threat? #Hypocritical Homelander."
Meanwhile, media platforms fanned the flames. Major news headlines uniformly placed #Hypocritical Homelander at the top of the trending list, as if an invisible force was pushing the entire topic to escalate. This trend made people wonder, seemingly a powerful force behind the scenes was deliberately slandering Dominic, pushing him step by step to the forefront of public opinion.
Mainstream Media Report:
"Is Homelander truly trustworthy? When the Mandarin declared war on Earth, he chose to remain silent, which many netizens say is a sign of hypocrisy. Facing the threat after the alien invasion, Homelander's silence is thought-provoking..."
Online Hot Debate: Dominic vs. Mandarin vs. Iron Man
The discussion among netizens gradually evolved from a simple topic of "hypocrisy" into a comprehensive comparison of Dominic, the Mandarin, and Iron Man:
Iron Will: "Look at Iron Man; that man can't sleep at night, still thinking about a new suit, ready to face the Mandarin at any time. Then look at Homelander, just talking eloquently on stage. Can you call that a true hero?"
Anti-Hero Observer: "I think there's no need to wait for the Mandarin to act; Homelander will reveal his true nature sooner or later. As long as he has power, he becomes arrogant. What can this kind of person do in the face of a crisis besides giving speeches? Protect whom? Just a pretentious poser."
At the same time, the topic of Blonsky (Abomination) was also constantly being hyped up, with controversies about him flooding the internet:
Abomination Fan: "At least Blonsky dares to show his 'true face,' unlike some people who only pretend. I think this is what a real superhero is, daring to show their vulnerability and strength, that's a role model for humanity! By the way, the movie 'Beauty and the Beast: The Counterattack' is coming out soon, everyone pay attention."
Superhero Terminator: "See the truth clearly, Homelander and Abomination are just revamped copies of Iron Man and Superman, just packaged more hypocritically."
In the arena of public opinion, Dominic's name consistently remained at the top of the trending list. Various "analyses" and doubts, both true and false, pushed him to the moral forefront. Netizens' indignant discussions filled the entire network, gradually forming a wave of "hypocrisy" targeting Dominic, constantly questioning his motives and authenticity as a hero.
Ultimately, whether in support or opposition, Dominic's image of hypocrisy was gradually magnified in everyone's eyes, infinitely extended in a chaotic public opinion.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)