Brooklyn, Third District.
The sky was overcast, with a light drizzle pattering down.
Charlie strolled down the street, holding an umbrella.
Despite the misty rain, he was in a good mood today, sporting a red-and-blue knitted jacket, dressed casually.
Unlike the hurried passersby around him, Charlie's steps were slow and relaxed, elegant and composed.
Raindrops dripped from the eaves, splashing onto the bluestone pavement. Some sprayed onto Baby Kingpin's cheeks, prompting an annoyed "eee-yah" from him.
Only then did the people sheltering under the eaves notice that the strange man wasn't carrying a garbage bag—he was holding a baby!
"Oh, sh*t, this guy's a total devil!"
"My God, what's he doing? That's a baby!"
"No, the baby'll catch a cold! What an awful father."
"I've never seen such a terrible dad."
"Eee-yah~"
Baby Kingpin nodded in agreement.
Wait, father?
Kingpin's chubby little face darkened instantly.
Amid the whispers of onlookers, Charlie stepped into the coffee shop.
"Hey, Captain Carter."
Charlie casually placed Baby Kingpin on a nearby chair.
Seeing Charlie finally enter, Carter rolled her eyes.
"I saw you. You walked so slowly—less than ten meters took you half a minute."
Charlie's face remained expressionless. "Walk too fast, and my shoes get wet."
"That's a bit much."
Carter glanced at Baby Kingpin. "If I'm not mistaken, that's Kingpin."
At her words, Baby Kingpin quickly forced an innocent, harmless smile.
I'm just a baby, not Kingpin.
Sure, the past few days had been rough, but he was getting used to it.
No need to head to prison just yet.
Charlie nodded. "It's him. Aunt May and Uncle Ben brought him home. You know about this."
Kingpin: "…"
Charlie already knows those two are Aunt May and Ben Parker?
So this guy's been pretending?
He's known who I am all along!
That jerk! I'll make him pay!
He cursed inwardly.
Carter, meanwhile, smiled. "I know. We have evidence of Kingpin's crimes, but with him like this, it's hard to convict him. Leaving him with them works out well."
Kingpin smirked coldly at her words.
Good. When I grow up again, you'll all pay!
But Charlie's next words sent a chill down his spine.
"No worries. I already see him as family. Whether he survives by my side depends on his luck."
Kingpin: "…"
He's definitely a devil!
Carter: "…"
"You plan to keep him around?" she asked.
Charlie nodded. "For now, that's the plan. Kingpin and I have been getting along great these past few days."
Kingpin shot a sideways glance at Charlie's profile, shuddering as if haunted by traumatic memories.
Carter looked at Kingpin's rain-soaked face. "This is getting along great?"
"He didn't wash his face this morning."
Charlie pulled out a tissue to wipe Kingpin's face, his movements far from gentle.
"So, why'd you call me here?" he asked.
Carter's tone turned serious. "The Time Tablet was stolen."
Charlie: "…"
His mouth twitched. "Captain Carter, I'm dying to know—how does Nick Fury have the nerve to ask for funding when S.H.I.E.L.D. is this incompetent?"
Carter shrugged. "No idea."
"So you want me to track down the Time Tablet?" Charlie asked.
"No, Nick Fury's handling that himself."
"Then why am I here?"
"To find the Time Tablet before Nick Fury."
Charlie: "…"
"You sure those are two different things?"
"Of course."
Carter said, deadpan, "Helping him and helping me are two separate matters."
Charlie facepalmed. Kingpin's little face mirrored his disgust.
Back when he was a crime lord, Kingpin's intel painted Captain Carter as a no-nonsense, iron-fisted woman who never joked and was strict with her subordinates.
A normal woman, basically.
But now? His intel was clearly wrong.
He hadn't lost unjustly.
Still, shouldn't they be asking Spider-Man to hunt for the Time Tablet?
Charlie's just a regular guy—what's the point of asking him?
No, wait. Spider-Man was killed by the Gene Ravager.
The thought of Spider-Man's death brought a smug satisfaction to Kingpin.
Carter glanced at Baby Kingpin.
"Is it okay to talk about this in front of him?"
Charlie smiled. "No problem. He's family. The more he knows, the faster he dies."
Kingpin: "?????"
He quickly covered his face with his chubby hands.
Charlie grabbed Kingpin's hands and placed them over his ears. "That's better."
Kingpin: "…"
Carter thought for a moment. "Fair enough. He can't do anything now, so knowing these secrets doesn't matter.
But if his lackeys stole the Time Tablet and he reverts to his old self, we're in trouble."
"He won't get the chance."
Charlie patted Kingpin's little head, smiling. "You don't want to grow up, do you?"
He mimed flicking a rubber band. Kingpin's face soured, but he nodded reluctantly.
Carter looked shocked. "He actually gave in? How'd you do it?"
"I just found his weak spot."
Charlie continued, "About the stolen Time Tablet—any clues at the scene?"
Carter nodded, pulling a green feather from her pocket.
"Just this. No DNA, but it's got traces of synthetic manufacturing. I'm guessing another mad scientist is behind it."
"A feather?"
Charlie took it, pondering possible villains.
Vulture?
Probably not far off.
The multiverse's plotlines are unpredictable, but the roster of villains is limited to a few dozen… or maybe a hundred.
Okay, he couldn't be sure, but he'd figure it out by trying.
"Look into a guy named Adrian Toomes. He used to be an electronics engineer, maybe still is. Keep an eye on him," Charlie said.
"Toomes?"
Carter frowned.
"What's up?" Charlie asked, sensing something from her expression.
Carter explained, "You know Dr. Banner's condition is unstable right now. So Nick Fury brought in another guy to replace him. He's not as versatile as Banner, but he's one of Fury's top scientists.
If it's him, it's entirely possible. But Fury won't believe me."
Charlie rubbed his chin. "Sounds like an inside job. Toomes stealing the Time Tablet would be Fury's screw-up."
Carter shook her head. "Not necessarily. Even if we prove Toomes took it, Fury could just say it was part of his secret plan."
"What? Secret plans don't need approval?"
"He's the commander. He's got that kind of authority."
"Fine. Then we'll need Felicia's help."
Charlie added, "The Time Tablet is her only shot at curing her father. She'll help."
Carter raised an eyebrow. "You mean…?"
"Let Felicia steal the Time Tablet back, pin it on a scapegoat, and you get all the credit."
Charlie's gaze drifted to Baby Kingpin, thoughtful.
Kingpin: "!!!!"
Why're you looking at me?
I'm just a baby!
He screamed internally.
You're framing me when I'm already like this?!
You're not human—you're devils!
Carter eyed Kingpin too, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Perfect. I've already sent Felicia out. With a target now, she'll have news soon."
She pulled out her communicator to contact Felicia.
"Breaking news: New developments in the violent incident downtown three days ago. Sources confirm the green monster first appeared at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters. We have reason to suspect it was caused by a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. experiment…"
Suddenly, the coffee shop's TV broadcasted footage from three days ago. Kingpin stared as a dazzling meteor obliterated a building, his eyes widening.
He'd been stuck with Charlie these past few days, cut off from any news.
Only now did it hit him.
Back at the Pyramid, Carter and Felicia were both there.
The Pyramid collapsed, the entire mountain reduced to rubble.
How were they still alive?
Did Spider-Man save them?
Those Hydra goons were idiots.
The Gene Ravager couldn't kill Spider-Man!
Or maybe it did, but it couldn't stop him from coming back.
Anyone following Spider-Man's exploits knew that each time he revived, his power spiked dramatically.
By now, Spider-Man had evolved into an incredibly dangerous figure.
A single fight could level a building.
Kingpin's heart sank in despair.
But worse was yet to come.
Carter said to Charlie, "Based on your suggestion, we're calling Dr. Banner's transformed state 'Hulk.'
Banner's back to normal now, but he's unstable. Any emotional spike could bring the green monster back.
And based on the battle data, if he loses control again, Hulk's power will be even more terrifying."
Charlie mused, "So Hulk's adapting to Banner's body. I got lucky last time, facing a newborn Hulk, so I barely beat him. Is that right?"
"Exactly," Carter nodded.
Baby Kingpin stared at Charlie, stunned.
What did this guy say?
He beat that monster?
He's Spider-Man!!
No!
How could it be him?!
"Eee-yah eee-yah~"
Kingpin frantically crawled toward Charlie, only to be pushed back by a single hand.
"Oh no, he's figured out my identity," Charlie said, feigning helplessness. "Guess I'll have to silence him."
Kingpin: "…"
Calming down, he forced another innocent smile.
I don't understand a word you're saying.
So, please, let me go.
Charlie ignored him, turning to Carter.
"Toomes stealing the Time Tablet will make waves soon. Keep an eye on any weird incidents and let me know."
"Got it."
Carter stood, then remembered something.
"Oh, Dr. Octavius's artificial sun experiment is getting a lot of attention. It's entering its final phase in a couple of days.
But I recall you saying it's likely to fail, so you should talk to him."
With that, she left.
"Don't forget to pay," Charlie called after her.
Carter: "…"
Once Carter settled the bill and left, Charlie exhaled.
"Eee-yah~"
Kingpin made a noise, and Charlie pulled a bottle from his jacket, handing it over.
"Drink it yourself."
"Eee-yah!"
Kingpin hugged the bottle, exasperated.
It's cold! How am I supposed to drink this?
Charlie didn't care. He gazed at the misty rain outside, frowning.
Dr. Octavius had reached that point.
Time to prepare.
He stood and said to the barista, "Keep the baby here for now. I'll pick him up later."
Barista: "?????"
Kingpin: "?????"
Clutching the bottle, he locked eyes with the barista.
The first guy to drop off a baby?
...
Stark Tower, rooftop garden.
Pool party. Tony, in his Mark Armor, danced by the pool to thumping music.
"Yo, yo, yo, let's get it!"
Tony downed a cocktail and tossed the glass.
"Bzzz~"
"Boom!"
A repulsor blast vaporized the glass mid-air.
"Yes! Awesome!"
"Iron Man, I love you!"
The women at the party screamed wildly, and Tony spread his arms, soaking in the cheers.
Then the crowd's shouts grew even louder.
"Oh, it's Spider-Man!"
"So cool!"
"Spider-Man, I love you!"
"I love you all too!"
A red-and-blue figure swung in, landing by the pool.
Charlie turned, blowing a flurry of kisses. Tony opened his eyes, his gaze turning resentful.
"I don't recall inviting you to my party."
He waved for a waiter. "Want a drink?" he asked Charlie.
Charlie shook his head. "Nah, make it two. Juice, freshly squeezed."
Tony snapped his fingers, and a waiter promptly brought the juice.
"Wow, you like snapping your fingers?" Charlie asked, holding his juice.
"It's alright."
Tony set his helmet on the table. "You're here for a reason."
"Yep."
Charlie lounged on a poolside chair, hands behind his head.
"I saw you the other day."
"When?" Tony asked, shedding his armor and reclining on the next chair.
Charlie grinned. "Three days ago."
Tony nodded. "So, you gonna cover my losses?"
"What losses?"
"That building was one I just bought."
"Oh, Mr. Stark, that Spider-Man wasn't me. I was on vacation."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. promised to compensate me."
"Alright, fine, that Spider-Man was me. No one else could be that cool."
Tony: "…"
"You're here about that fusion experiment you mentioned last time?"
"Sort of."
Charlie looked at Tony, tapping his nano-device.
"I sent you some files on your computer—data on Green Goblin's experiments."
Before coming to Stark Tower, he'd visited Harry.