"George, congratulations on your promotion to Director of the New York Police Department."
In George's home in Queens, New York, Earth-404, Lucas raised a glass of coconut water, congratulating him.
This was George's third promotion in the past seven months.
Since the Super Hero Registration Act was implemented on a trial basis, Earth-404's George had achieved three consecutive promotions in just seven months, leaping from captain to Deputy Director.
On one hand, this was due to his good luck, as he always received calls from 'enthusiastic citizens' and solved various cases, big and small.
On the other hand, there were people in higher positions who supported George's promotion to Director of the New York Police Department.
George shot Lucas a look, but still raised his glass in a toast to him. "Lucas, you're already of age, you can drink."
"Gwen doesn't like the taste of alcohol, and neither do I." Lucas just smiled.
He wouldn't admit that his taste had become too refined lately, and he no longer cared for the alcohol George had.
Helen happened to carry a plate of steak from the kitchen and placed it on the dining table. Hearing George's words, she immediately retorted, "It's good not to drink, don't listen to George's nonsense."
"Helen is right."
Little Gwen, holding her younger brother who was not yet one year old, said seriously.
"I have a classmate, her dad liked to drink, and when he got drunk, he would beat her and her mother. The last time, her mother, to protect her, had no choice but to shoot and kill her dad. So, dad, you'd better drink less."
Upon hearing this, George silently poured out the alcohol in his glass and replaced it with milk.
"Little Gwen, don't worry, George isn't that kind of person. He usually doesn't get drunk, and even if he does, he wouldn't hit us." Helen rubbed little Gwen's head, comforting her.
Saying that, she called Gwen to come over and raise a toast together.
"Happy Halloween!" X5
At the dinner table, as they chatted, they started talking about the Super Hero Registration Act and the super-criminals who had emerged in New York during this period.
With the implementation of the Act, conflicts between civilian super-powered individuals and the government in the U.S. intensified, and super-powered criminal incidents sharply increased.
The U.S. federal government and various states also continuously increased their crackdown on super-powered individuals.
At this time, observant people noticed that New York, as an international metropolis, held an inclusive and open attitude towards super-powered individuals.
For a time, super-powered individuals from various U.S. states flocked to New York, adding a lot of trouble to George's work.
"I wonder if anyone will take advantage of Halloween night to cause trouble." George sighed.
Holidays are good for ordinary people, but not necessarily for police officers like him.
Lucas thoughtfully helped George clarify. "George, someone will definitely take advantage of tonight to cause trouble."
Gwen swallowed her steak and comforted him, "George, don't worry, there will be enthusiastic citizens to help you."
Watching the two of them interact, George shook his head helplessly.
What enthusiastic citizens? They were all members of the Phantom Band that Gwen had formed.
George was quite satisfied that these super-powered individuals didn't cause chaos, but merely relayed information.
However...
George glanced at Lucas.
The New York branch of S.W.O.R.D., responsible for supernatural affairs in the U.S., tolerated this borderline behavior mostly out of respect for Lucas.
He understood less and less about this half-son-in-law, who was a few years younger than him.
George was momentarily distracted and realized that Lucas and Gwen had almost finished the steak on his plate, so he quickly snatched the last piece.
"After dinner, I have to go back to the police station to hold the fort. I probably won't be able to leave tonight."
"Lucas, Gwen, I'm entrusting Helen, little Gwen, and Philip to you tonight. Please help look after them at the Halloween party later."
"Okay, George, don't worry." Lucas nodded, indicating that he would take care of it.
"George, you also be careful." Helen, on the other hand, cautioned George.
A moment later, they all went downstairs together.
George drove alone to the police station, while Lucas and Gwen took Helen and the others to the party.
Gwen, for the first time in a while, put on her Ghost-Spider suit.
Since the Super Hero Registration Act was implemented, her frequency of activities in her spider suit had decreased significantly, and her daily routine had become much more regulated.
However, even so, Ghost-Spider remained New York's most popular super hero. Therefore, there were many girls at the Halloween party wearing Ghost-Spider suits identical to Gwen's, so Gwen didn't have to worry about being recognized.
"Hey, Gwen, Lucas."
From a distance, Erin waved and greeted Lucas and Gwen, then jogged over.
Tonight, she also, for the first time in a while, put on her self-made Sorcerer Spider-Man suit.
"Erin, Happy Halloween."
After Erin joined, Lucas and his group of six continued to wander around the party.
But even with Erin, a member of the Phantom Band and Sorcerer Spider-Man, Gwen still wasn't recognized.
It was like Henry Cavill, the actor who played Superman, wandering around Times Square, New York, yet no one recognized him.
"Gwen, it seems you're past your prime, no one recognizes you." Lucas teased, seeing this.
"Ghost-Spider is not past her prime, my classmates like her the most." Little Gwen retorted.
"My classmates' favorite super hero is also Ghost-Spider." Erin echoed little Gwen.
Gwen raised an eyebrow, gesturing for Lucas to look around the party carefully.
At the party, most people were cosplaying Ghost-Spider, wearing various spider suits.
"See, Lucas. Ghost-Spider is New York's friendly neighbor, and even if Ghost-Spider has appeared less frequently recently, New York citizens' favorite is still Ghost-Spider."
"Gwen, don't forget, there's not just Ghost-Spider here, there's also a Sorcerer Spider-Man." Lucas said with a smile.
"Yes, and a Sorcerer Spider-Man from the Phantom Band." Gwen grumbled, emphasizing 'Phantom Band'.
Lucas's face darkened.
After the performance seven months ago, on Earth-404, the title of Sorcerer Spider-Man had been usurped by Erin.
As soon as he thought of this, Lucas felt a pang of anger and looked at Erin with ill intent.
He saw that Erin and little Gwen had already run ahead and were chatting with two bald humanoid creatures dressed as priests, standing ramrod straight.
"Sirs, what are you cosplaying? Are you ancient priests?" Little Gwen asked curiously.
These two were dressed in strange clothes, and their behavior was also very realistic.
If she could give a score, little Gwen would give them full marks.
"No, little Gwen. They are cosplaying Bigheads."
Lucas walked behind little Gwen, shifting his ill-intentioned gaze from Erin to these two Watchers.
These two were precisely the two Watchers who had luckily escaped from the Flickering Realm.