Chapter 41
As the news of Phantom's activities spread like wildfire, Amity Park found itself at the center of national attention. The mysterious figure had become a daily sight, his appearances quickly earning him the title Guardian of Amity Park. Though the town's problems were minimal compared to larger cities, the consistent presence of such a powerful entity intrigued both the public and government organizations.
While some praised Phantom's efforts, others were quick to criticize. "Why waste time in a small town?" commentators on talk shows debated. "If he's so powerful, he should head to places like Washington or Gotham—cities where real crime and chaos thrive."
Some accused Phantom of laziness, speculating that he was merely protecting his turf. Others raised concerns about his true intentions, wondering aloud whether this so-called guardian was a hero or a menace waiting to reveal his darker side. Official bodies, including government agencies, had yet to release statements, their silence adding an air of mystery to Phantom's growing legend.
The Plumbers, the secret organization responsible for handling extraterrestrial and supernatural threats, had already added Phantom to their database. His name now sat alongside heroes, villains, and other notable entities. Plans were in motion to make contact with him, but caution was paramount. Phantom's abilities were unlike anything they had encountered, and they couldn't risk an uncalculated move.
Meanwhile, Maddie and Jack Fenton were thriving in their new state-of-the-art base, funded and supported by the Plumbers. The couple had never been happier; with access to cutting-edge technology, endless resources, and a team of skilled personnel, they could finally bring their ghost-hunting dreams to life on an unprecedented scale.
Over the past two days, the Fentons had already made significant progress. They had transferred all their research and technology to the new base and worked with experts to refine their inventions. Classic tools like the Fenton Thermos, Ghost Net, Ghost Blaster, Ghost Glasses, and Ghost Detector had been reengineered to be more efficient and reliable. Additionally, Maddie's team of engineers was hard at work on a portable version of the Ghost Portal, a game-changing project that could revolutionize ghost containment.
The Fentons' research had also contributed to the Plumbers' growing database. They developed a ranking system for supernatural entities:
D Rank: Ghosts requiring peak human strength and teamwork to defeat.C Rank: Entities like Phantom, formidable and requiring advanced tactics.B Rank: Larger threats, such as the Monster House, that could devastate small towns.A Rank: Legendary beings like the Wolf Kingand the Vampire Lord, capable of wiping out cities if left unchecked.S Rank: Theoretical threats, entities of unimaginable power. None had been officially identified yet.
The Plumbers recognized that their current technology was insufficient to handle anything above a C rank. Their only viable options for B- and A-rank threats were extreme measures like missile strikes, railguns, or even nuclear weapons. Fortunately, agreements with the Wolf King and Vampire Lord kept them in check, provided humans didn't violate their territories.
However, not all threats came with warnings. Rogue ghosts, monsters, and demon worshippers frequently caused chaos, summoning C-rank entities that could turn cities into bloodbaths. The Plumbers' response teams worked tirelessly to stop such rituals before completion, but the rising frequency of these events painted a grim picture.
The Fentons had also taken on a new responsibility: recruiting and training a team of ghost hunters. Jack led the selection process, scouring applications for candidates with the right mix of physical ability, mental resilience, and adaptability. Meanwhile, Maddie's focus remained on engineering and refining the team's tools.