Mysterious Hero Ultraman Destroys Human Trafficking Ring!
Kathy got her front page.
Not just any front page.
The front page.
She woke up slumped over her desk after another night in the newsroom, stared at the morning edition, and pinched herself hard enough to leave a bruise.
It still didn’t disappear.
Her byline was real.
The photographs were real.
The story was real.
By lunchtime, half of New York seemed to be talking about Ultraman.
Children reenacted the rescue in playgrounds.
Office workers argued over lunch about where the mysterious hero had come from.
Politicians demanded briefings.
Business leaders quietly reassessed security plans.
Organizations that preferred to remain invisible paid even closer attention.
One question dominated every conversation.
Ultraman hadn’t appeared by coincidence.
He’d come back.
Which meant he intended to stay.
That realization sent shockwaves through the city.
Some people welcomed it.
Others didn’t.
Before long, a strange rumor began spreading.
Humanity’s sins had become so great that even Heaven could no longer ignore them.
Ultraman wasn’t merely a hero.
He was divine judgment.
The wicked, people whispered, should prepare themselves.
Justice was coming.
The story snowballed so quickly that the beginnings of a new religious movement quietly emerged around the idea.
Richard could only sigh.
If anyone knew how ridiculous the rumor was…
It was the supposed deity himself.
He had absolutely no intention of spending every waking hour flying around Earth punishing criminals.
He had a newspaper to run.
Besides, maintaining Ultraman’s power wasn’t free.
He wasn’t an inexhaustible machine.
Still…
The rumor had unexpected consequences.
Some criminals actually believed it.
Churches reported a sudden flood of confessions.
Priests spent entire days listening to thieves, smugglers, murderers, and fraudsters unload years of guilt.
A handful of wanted fugitives even walked into police stations and surrendered voluntarily.
Fear, it turned out, could accomplish things prison sometimes couldn’t.
Richard wasn’t about to correct the misunderstanding.
Especially because…
The Daily Planet had sold out again.
Stuart Watt practically kicked Richard’s office door open.
His face was glowing.
“We’re sold out!” “Every copy!” Richard calmly sipped his tea.
“I had a feeling.” Stuart ignored the understated response.
“We need another print run.” “And that’s not even the best news.” He grinned.
“I’ve officially ended Kathy’s probation.” “She’s full-time now.” “I also promoted her twice.” Richard raised an eyebrow.
“Twice?” “She earned it.” Stuart nodded emphatically.
“From now on, she’s our Ultraman reporter.” “I’ve got a feeling this won’t be the last time he shows up.” “When Ultraman makes the news…” “…Kathy covers it.” The young reporter had nearly burst into tears when she’d heard.
Landing the Ultraman beat was the sort of assignment veteran journalists dreamed about.
She’d almost hugged Stuart.
Almost.
Richard suspected Stuart’s expanding waistline and retreating hairline had spared the editor from an awkward moment.
Afterward, Stuart excitedly began discussing a long-term strategy.
“If Ultraman keeps appearing,” he said, “the Daily Planet becomes the paper for Ultraman stories.” Richard listened quietly.
It wasn’t a bad plan.
In fact…
He’d already made the same decision himself.
If Ultraman was going to make headlines, he might as well make them in his own newspaper.
There was no reason to hand exclusive stories to competing publications.
Later that morning, raised voices drifted through the office.
Richard looked up from his paperwork.
“Stephanie.” His secretary appeared in the doorway.
“What’s going on out there?” She stepped outside for a moment before returning.
“The new reporter who started today.” “She’s arguing with Rudy.” “The janitor.” Richard sighed.
“I’ll handle it.” A crowd had already formed around the confrontation.
At the center stood a young woman Richard hadn’t met yet.
She wore a black leather jacket over a simple shirt, blue jeans, and sturdy boots.
Long black hair framed a striking face.
She was undeniably attractive.
Unfortunately for anyone looking for an easy target, she also carried herself like someone who had won more than her fair share of fights.
At the moment, she had one hand clamped around Rudy’s wrist.
The overweight janitor grimaced in pain.
No matter how hard he twisted, he couldn’t break free.
Richard stepped into the circle.
“What’s happening?” The woman didn’t release Rudy.
“He stole my lunch.” “My hot dog.” “My sandwich.” “And he keeps denying it.” Rudy’s face had turned bright red.
“I didn’t steal anything!” “She’s crazy!” “Ow!” “Could you loosen your grip a little?” The reporter gave him a cold smile.
“Or…” “I could punch you in the stomach and see if my lunch comes back.” Rudy went pale.
She wasn’t bluffing.
He’d already discovered that beneath the attractive exterior was frightening strength.
Truthfully, he’d picked her lunch because she’d looked like an easy mark.
He’d made a spectacularly bad decision.
If given another chance, he’d happily avoid her for the rest of his life.
As it happened…
He wasn’t getting another chance.
Richard had heard enough.
He looked directly at Rudy.
His voice remained calm.
“You’re fired.” “Clear out your locker.” “Don’t come back tomorrow.” The office fell silent.