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*****
Once, twice…
Gwen and the others watched the footage several times, and finally confirmed that the shadowy figure was indeed Mike.
But… how could it be?
Hadn't Mike disappeared ten years ago?
So why had he suddenly appeared again now?
And why only now?
If he had been there back then…
Just the thought alone ignited a fire in Peter, Harry, and Luke's hearts, leaving their chests heavy, as though weighed down by a boulder.
The next moment, the three of them turned in unison toward Gwen, their eyes filled with concern.
Yet Gwen's expression was not what they had imagined—not anger, nor grief. Instead, she simply gave them a faint smile, as if carried by the passing wind, nodded gently, picked up the coat resting nearby, and turned to leave quickly.
Though Gwen tried hard to suppress her emotions, the three of them fell silent as they watched her footsteps grow faster and faster.
The four had been close friends for over a decade. They could read Gwen's true feelings clearly, yet they also understood that what she needed right now was not their concern, but solitude.
Peter looked at her with worry, an urge rising within him to chase after her.
Luke patted Peter on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Gwen will be fine."
Harry nodded, forcing a smile. "What we need to figure out now is whether the person in that video is really Mike Kent! And, after this incident, what exactly Starry Sky Corporation intends to do."
Peter gave a soft grunt of agreement, and the three moved into action swiftly.
The Exterminators were few in number. Aside from Gwen and the other three, there was only one more member—a female mutant.
Her only ability was X-ray vision, which made her nearly useless in combat, so she usually served as their logistics support.
Although there were still many dissatisfied with Starry Sky Corporation, only the Exterminators dared to oppose them openly. Other groups or individuals fought against them only in secret.
Thus, the pressure on the Exterminators was unimaginable. And yet, the fact that they had not only survived but also continuously stirred up trouble proved just how exceptional they truly were.
And Gwen, as the team's leader, had always kept herself strong, her nerves taut. But the sudden sight of Mike—of that familiar face—pushed her emotions to the brink of collapse.
It had taken everything in her to keep control in front of Peter and the others.
Now she ran frantically out of the base. By the time she reached the gates, a massive snow-white wolf was already at her side—its body three meters long, shoulder height a meter and a half, with a distinctive black spot on its forehead that resembled a third eye.
This was Gwen's mount—Three-Eyes.
Three-Eyes was the product of a genetic lab experiment. Escaping while still a pup, it had been taken in by Gwen and raised ever since.
Woman and wolf charged together across the snowfields, Gwen's anguished cries echoing into the sky. Three-Eyes, sensing her turmoil, raised its head and howled alongside her.
After several minutes of running, Gwen finally stopped and let herself fall backward.
Three-Eyes skidded to a halt, sending snow spraying everywhere, and quickly slid beneath her.
She landed against its back, adjusted herself until she lay more comfortably, then tilted her head back to watch the setting sun. Her eyes reddened instantly, tears welling up and spilling silently.
The man in that video was absolutely Mike. There was no mistake.
Now she felt anger, expectation…
Though resentment still lingered, what surged through her mind were childhood memories: Mike holding her tenderly, watching her with affection, passing food to her at the dinner table; the two of them driving together with the wind in their hair; Mike lifting her into the skies in his arms…
Her thoughts were completely consumed by these fragments of the past.
"Uuuhh…"
She couldn't stop herself from sobbing softly.
Three-Eyes turned its head, licking away her tears, nudging her cheek with its cold nose. Its intelligent eyes were filled with worry.
Gwen hugged its massive head. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
Three-Eyes gave a low whine toward the small town at the foot of the mountain. Then, shoving its head under Gwen, it tossed her high into the air before springing to its feet.
Gwen twisted gracefully midair and landed easily on Three-Eyes' back, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Whenever her heart grew heavy, she always found comfort in a big meal. Three-Eyes knew this habit well, and so it was clearly planning to take her to the town below.
"Awoo!"
With a long howl, the wolf charged down toward the town.
Thanks to its genetic modifications, Three-Eyes possessed incredible speed and strength. At full sprint, its snow-white body blended almost seamlessly into the snowy terrain.
In less than half a minute, it carried Gwen to the edge of the town.
Sliding off its back, Gwen pulled her hat and mask into place and patted its head.
Three-Eyes tapped its right forepaw twice with its left, and its towering body instantly shrank to the size of an ordinary dog.
This wasn't its own ability, but rather the effect of a special battle suit crafted years ago by Hank Pym. Without it, Three-Eyes' massive frame would have drawn far too much attention.
Together, woman and wolf entered the town and made their way toward a restaurant.
This was a skiing resort, bustling with tourists. Wrapped tightly in her winter gear, Gwen blended into the crowd—though with Three-Eyes at her side, she inevitably drew curious stares.
The wolf was simply too striking. With its beauty and untamed aura, it looked indistinguishable from a real wolf.
When asked about it, Gwen could only smile and insist that Three-Eyes was just a husky.
Since animals weren't allowed inside, she left Three-Eyes outside and went in alone, choosing a seat by the window.
The wolf lay down nearby, positioning itself where it could still watch her.
Gwen ordered a large spread of food. When the waiter brought it out, she began eating with single-minded determination, trying to drown her sorrow.
But immersed as she was in her emotions, she failed to notice a man nearby. His expression shifted the moment he recognized her. While keeping an eye on her, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Target located. She's at a restaurant in Chamonix, France."
"Understood. I'll keep eyes on her."
Hanging up, the man licked his lips as he looked at Gwen.
Once she was captured, once they handed over this Avenger Spider-Woman, he would receive a fortune.
A fortune…
He couldn't help imagining the life of luxury that awaited him.
"Heh heh…"
A low laugh escaped him.
But just then, he froze. Gwen, who had been sitting at her table moments ago, was gone.
He looked around frantically before rushing forward.
"Don't run. Weren't you looking for me?"
Gwen stood before him, blocking his path. She pressed her wristband, and in an instant, a sleek battle suit enveloped her body.
(End of Chapter)