Under the watchful eyes of everyone, each with different expressions.
General Ross, who was no longer a general, knelt before Peter with a face full of humiliation:
"I'm... sor... ry."
Those three words seemed to use up all the strength of his life.
But Peter just picked his ear in an infuriatingly nonchalant manner:
"Louder, didn't you eat?"
Ross:...The old geezer's fists clenched and loosened repeatedly, and finally, he could only close his eyes and shout in a desperate, all-or-nothing manner:
"Lord Punisher, I am sorry, please forgive my previous impulsiveness!"
"Hmm~ that's more like it."
After Peter gave the old guy a fleeting glance, his gaze turned back to the President on the screen and he spoke:
"Very good. Next, we can talk about the second condition."
As he spoke, Peter adjusted the computer screen so that the President could see George, who was not far away, responsible for mobilizing police to seal off the scene and comforting the injured citizens:
"To ensure that my family and I will never again be persecuted by some blind fools, I demand that you use all your resources to push the current New York Police Commissioner, Mr. George Stacy, to be elected as the next New York Governor!"
As the words fell, the entire place fell silent.
George Stacy, who had been silently commanding his subordinates to maintain order from a distance and pretending he didn't exist, almost stumbled and fell to the ground when he heard this.
He suddenly turned his head to look at Peter, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
Didn't we agree to take things slowly? How did this surprise come so suddenly?
If George had previously felt a tiny bit of dissatisfaction with Peter's lateness, that dissatisfaction vanished instantly now.
What do you call a divine son-in-law!
When there are benefits, you really do remember me, your father-in-law!
In sharp contrast to George's look of being so pleasantly surprised that he didn't know what to do, the President on the other side of the screen showed an incredibly complex expression.
Firing a Vice Admiral who had already caused a disaster was one thing, but supporting someone who wasn't part of his own circle to become the New York Governor was a completely different matter!
One must know that every state in America is independent, and New York State is one of the most powerful among them.
It could be said that with New York State possessing a certain level of military strength, it wouldn't be impossible to create a state within a state.
Under these circumstances, letting this young man's father-in-law be the Governor—how was this any different from ceding territory?
This isn't even treating me like a puppet state anymore!
This is treating me like the damn Empress Dowager!
The President almost instinctively wanted to refuse.
But before he could speak, he saw Peter raise his right hand on the screen.
In the palm of his right hand, a blinding blue light ball began to rapidly condense and expand.
In the blink of an eye, an oversized Lightning Ball with a diameter of over five meters, its surface crackling with terrifying electrical currents, appeared before everyone present.
The sizzling Lightning Ball caused the hair of everyone present to stand on end uncontrollably, and the air became filled with the smell of ozone.
Looking at the Lightning Ball in Peter's hand, the President had not yet realized the gravity of the situation, but the expressions of Nick Fury, Rhodes, and the others had already changed.
They had just seen the "mini version" of this thing!
Something only the size of a tennis ball could blast a blood hole in a monster like Radiation, and the aftershock of the explosion could easily destroy a shop.
And this one, just looking at its size, was more than hundreds of times larger than the previous one!
If this were dropped from a high altitude... wouldn't it completely wipe all of Brooklyn along with a quarter of Manhattan off the map on the spot?!
"Mr. President."
Peter tossed the energy ball in his hand, smiling harmlessly.
"I hope you can think clearly before answering my question."
"Otherwise, I don't mind leaving a little commemorative gift for this country... before I leave America."
A threat, a blatant threat!
The President, having learned how terrifying this thing was from his assistant, was so angry that his temples were throbbing, and cold sweat instantly soaked his shirt.
He and the aides around him urgently communicated in low voices over an encrypted line for a moment, and only after a while did he speak with a strained voice:
"Mr. Punisher, we can guarantee that when the current Governor's term ends in two years, we will fully support Mr. Stacy's campaign."
"As a gesture of sincerity, at this stage, we can immediately arrange for the Mayor of New York City to appoint Mr. Stacy as the Deputy Mayor of New York City, entering the core of power."
Upon hearing this, Nick Fury's heart couldn't help but stir.
He thought to himself, I knew it would end up like this.
A standard stalling tactic!
Give a little sweetness first to stabilize you, as for what happens in two years, who can say for sure?
Maybe within two years, they would find a way to deal with this monster kid!
In fact, Peter also heard the subtext.
However, he didn't care about it, and was even happy to see it happen.
Because... he had actually come with the intention of high-balling and then bargaining down anyway.
Although the office of Governor is high enough, haven't you heard that 'a distant authority is not as powerful as the local one in charge'?
If his father-in-law were to become Governor immediately, it would actually be less convenient for him to control the situation within New York City!
As for two years later?
Heh.
Two years from now, he would only be stronger than he was today.
By then, let alone a New York Governor, even if he wanted his father-in-law to be the Chief of Earth, everyone else would just have to suck it up and accept it!
"Fine."
Even though he was overjoyed inside, Peter deliberately put on a somewhat dissatisfied look and "reluctantly" dissipated the energy ball in his palm.
"Who told me to be a person who follows the rules~"
As soon as these words came out, let alone the President, even Gwen and the others beside him couldn't hold it in.
Holding a 'nuclear bomb' while talking about rules? You've certainly mastered the art of loving peace.
"Regarding my father-in-law becoming Governor, I can let you follow the process."
"But my third condition doesn't need any of that bullshit process."
"So I hope you can give a definite answer immediately."
Hearing that Peter finally relented, the President couldn't help but heave a long sigh of relief in his heart.
He thought to himself that no matter how strong the power was, he was still just a Little Brat; if he could manipulate this kid, it might not be a bad card to have in his hand.
At that time, he might even be able to use this card to smoothly achieve re-election or even... At this thought, the President's gaze toward Peter became much more amiable:
"Please go ahead, we will do our best to satisfy you."
Hearing this, Peter first nodded with satisfaction, then spoke:
"My third condition is actually very simple."
"In order to better protect America, save the lives and property of the citizens, and to avoid some fools who don't know any better forcing me to take my friends and leave America..."
"So, I've decided! From today on, I'll take on the burden and personally serve as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"From now on, I will take orders directly from you, Mr. President, so there will be no middleman to take a cut... ah, no, I mean no middleman to misinterpret our intentions and drive a wedge between us."
"I wonder what you think of that, Mr. President?"
As soon as Peter said this, Nick Fury, who had been intently spectating the drama from the side, was instantly stunned.
Not good, this wave is targeting me!