[Manhattan Island, the Empire State Building]
["Sorry to keep you waiting."]
From inside Colonel Yuri's "Titan" armor, Jeff's voice rang out.
["Let me share some good news. Just now, I finished setting something up."]
A slight smile curved at the corner of Homelander's lips as he asked with the attitude of someone watching a show, "What did you set up?"
["That's a good question."]
The "Titan" armor turned around to face Arnold, ["But before I answer that, why don't we have Mr. Arnold tell us about the 'geological disaster weapon'?"]
Hearing that, Arnold's eyes went blank. As if he could not believe his ears, he cried out, "Geological disaster weapon?"
"You mean the 'Earthshaker Project'?"
"Wasn't that project already scrapped?"
The "Titan" armor nodded, ["It was scrapped, that's true. But before you officially shut it down, the 'Earthshaker' prototype had already been built. It just was never put to real use."]
["However, tonight, I've taken it out of the R&D building, out of my 'private collection room.'"]
The "Titan" armor turned toward the guests in the hall again, ["'Earthshaker' is a 'geological disaster weapon.' It can simulate earthquakes, using shockwaves to cause intense crustal movement in a designated area."]
["To put it simply, I've already deployed 'Earthshaker' on Manhattan Island."]
["I say, reporters here tonight, aren't you going to report on this?"]
["Now, point your cameras at me."]
["I have something to say!"]
In downtown New York, the giant screens on top of the skyscrapers suddenly switched to a new feed. Colonel Yuri's "Titan" armor appeared in front of the camera.
Then, from inside the armor, a synthesized electronic voice sounded.
["Citizens of New York, ladies and gentlemen of the Federation, good evening."]
["You may call me 'Mr. Z.'"]
["Now, turn the camera a bit. Put everyone in the hall on TV."]
The image shifted. The guests in the hall appeared on screen. It was clear that they were all being controlled by the armor.
Mr. Z's voice echoed from the screen at the same time, ["I believe you can already see that the Empire State Building is now under my control."]
["These gentlemen and ladies will have to put up with it for now and serve as my hostages."]
["Also."]
["I believe many of you already know that something has happened in Times Square, Manhattan."]
["Yes, I installed a little gadget there."]
["It's called 'Earthshaker.' It can create earthquake disasters. Perhaps I can give you a small demonstration."]
["Please wait a moment."]
At this time, another window appeared at the bottom of the big screen. Through it, Times Square in Manhattan could be seen.
["This is a feed I've connected from a camera mounted on one of the armors under my control near Times Square."]
["Now then, let's see what 'Earthshaker' can do."]
The window enlarged and filled the entire screen, allowing people to clearly see that Times Square was in chaos.
There were obvious signs of battle. Several police cars were burning. The ground was littered with debris and bloodstains.
At that moment, the camera began to shake. At first, it was slight, the tremor small.
But before long, the shaking grew violent. Windows on a building in Times Square burst one after another, fragments flashing in the light as they fell like rain.
Terrifying cracks split across the building's walls. Screams rang out below as pedestrians clutched their heads and ran.
Soon, the shaking stopped, and the feed switched back to the top-floor hall of the Empire State Building.
["All right. That was just a small demonstration."]
["If I wanted to, I could sink Manhattan into the water."]
["Now, I am formally making the following demands."]
["First, whether it is the federal government or civilian groups, from this moment on, no one is allowed to enter Manhattan."]
["Of course, you can try if you like. But I can tell you now, that would be an impossible mission."]
["Second, I can withdraw 'Earthshaker,' and I can release all hostages on Manhattan Island. But you must hand over 'Zero' to me."]
["As for what 'Zero' is, Mr. Arnold knows very well."]
["He is right here on site. Originally, I intended to resolve tonight's dispute in a more gentle way."]
["Unfortunately, I could not reach an agreement with Mr. Arnold. So I believe perhaps someone else can persuade him."]
["But be quick. I do not have much patience."]
["That is all I have to say."]
The screen flickered and went dark.
Then it switched to another set of images. In this feed, Manhattan Island was shown from different angles and different areas.
This small island, now cut off from land transportation, was ablaze in many places, with several thick plumes of smoke rising.
Cracks had appeared in the streets inside the island. Debris was scattered everywhere from above. The unlucky injured held their heads, standing in the middle of the road, lost and at a loss for what to do.
Immediately, the current state of Manhattan appeared on major TV news channels, as well as in various livestreams and on Twitter.
At this moment, the question on more people's minds was: where was Homelander?
Inside the Empire State Building, Homelander looked at the "Titan" armor on the stage and smiled, "I don't understand. If you want that so-called 'Zero,' why not just take Mr. Arnold away directly?"
"I bet if you had a private 'friendly talk,' you could reach your goal faster, right?"
From inside the "Titan" armor, Jeff said, ["That's true."]
["But tonight, besides getting 'Zero,' I also want to make this gentleman and Olga Company lose all reputation."]
["And that is more important than getting 'Zero.'"]
["And I'm very curious. Between his reputation and 'Zero,' which one will Mr. Arnold choose?"]
After saying that, both the "Titan" armor and Homelander turned to look at Arnold, whose face had gone pale.
At this moment.
A line of information appeared on Homelander's retina.
[Disaster event detected.]
[Are you willing to handle this event?]
As expected, the disaster event that had been hinted at since daytime was indeed related to Olga Company's product exhibition tonight.
Homelander gladly accepted.
[You have accepted this event.]
[Event Name: Steel Riot · Manhattan Falls]
[Description: Jeff, a former employee of Olga Company, has secretly taken control of all the armors and hijacked the entire Manhattan. Now, every resident on Manhattan faces an unprecedented crisis. Only you can turn the tide.]
[Event Requirements: 1. Ensure at least two-thirds of the island's residents survive; 2. Destroy all controlled armors; 3. Destroy the 'geological disaster weapon': Earthshaker; 4. Kill the mastermind, Jeff.]
[Note: Completing any two of the first three requirements allows you to actively end the event; completing the fourth requirement counts as a perfect resolution and the event will end immediately.]
[Event begins!]
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