[Yesterday's News]
[Acting Director Harry Osborn Missing — Board Moves to Seize Control of Oscorp, Company in Crisis]
According to confidential sources, the second Green Goblin is none other than Harry Osborn, recently arrested and imprisoned.
[…]
[Today's News]
Ghost-Spider, the Knight, and a mysterious Spider-Woman engaged in a high-speed battle with the super-criminal Scorpion on Parkloe Street. The fight ended in minutes, drawing high praise from onlookers and netizens.
External comments:
"I knew it! Ghost-Spider's got a new suit — looks way cooler now!"
"Knightress… Knightress… hehe, shaha~ shaha~"
"Who's the new heroine? She needs an official title — love from Britain!"
"Scorpion's so lucky! I wanna be kicked by all those goddesses too!!" — A Little Lychee Upstairs
"Where's Black Spider been? I want him to kick me too!"
[Position Change Post]
[…]
[Tomorrow's News]
Tony Stark will confirm his identity as Iron Man at a press conference…
Jack Kadere skimmed through it, piecing together the logic.
[Yesterday's News], [Today's News], and [Tomorrow's News] referred to events from the past, present, and future, respectively.
Useful? Not exactly.
After all, the coverage was completely random.
On a bad day, the headlines could be things like:
"Deadpool Sues Spider-Man for Copyright Infringement on 'Quippy Violence.."
"Which cover girl Tony Stark spent the night with yesterday."
"Which planet Galactus plans to devour in the future."
Beep—
"Another call?" Jack muttered.
It was Jessica and Gwen on a joint line. Jack answered, more out of habit than enthusiasm — he was busy.
Jessica:[Jack, should we reach out to S.H.I.E.L.D.?]
Jack:[No, ignore them.]
Gwen:[That Black Cat, Walter, got handed over to them. Should we step in?]
Jack:[Don't worry about it. Go enjoy yourselves.]
Beep—
The call ended.
"Leave it alone…" Felicia, who had overheard, frowned. "So there's really no way to save my dad?"
"Actually," Jack said, a sly idea forming in his mind, "there is a way…"
Felicia's eyes lit up. "Jack! Are you going to ask Jessica and the others to help me bust him out?"
"No. This time, it'll just be me helping you."
She blinked. "Just you?"
Jack smirked. "Well… to be precise, you'll be the one doing it."
"Me?" She looked confused and a little let down. "Jack, I barely know any self-defense moves. How could I possibly rescue my dad?"
"You know I've got... complicated ancestry, right? My bloodline passed down some things. Not all of it makes sense."
Jack reached toward his hip—then paused, realizing his current outfit had no pockets. With a small, embarrassed cough, he motioned for Felicia to follow him back to the bedroom, where his clothes were still crumpled on the floor.
He rummaged through the pile with just enough flair for suspense, then produced the enhanced Monkey Talisman, holding it between his fingers like a sacred artifact.
"This," Jack said, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "is a family heirloom. Supposedly grants humans incredible power."
He wasn't lying — the upgraded Monkey Talisman could imbue someone with potent animal totem abilities. But there was a catch: each recorded totem could only be granted to one person.
"Incredible power…?" Felicia's green eyes lit up. She reached out, her slender fingers brushing the talisman with reverence. "You mean… something like Jessica Jones or the others?"
"Exactly," Jack said, his lips curling into a sly smile. "But… there's a price."
Her curiosity sharpened. "What's the price?"
Jack let the corner of his mouth lift into something more mischievous. "If you accept it… I'll become your master, Felicia~."
Felicia blinked, then relaxed with a small, knowing smirk. "That's all? Fine." Without hesitation, she added playfully, "I accept, my master~."
She trusted Jack. Even if she did become bound to him in some mystical way, she knew he wouldn't mistreat her.
"Then let's begin."
Felicia gave a small, eager nod, eyes glimmering with expectation. "Alright… I'm ready~."
"Good," Jack said, his voice dropping into something almost ceremonial. "Felicia… I grant you—"
He pressed the talisman to her palm, letting its magic flare to life. "The power of the Cat Totem."
Brilliant light burst from the talisman, wrapping around her in a radiant cocoon. As it faded, Felicia stood transformed.
"Meow~."
The sight made Jack's breath hitch. Standing before him was a vision so striking it almost hurt to look at her.
Her hair had turned snow-white, cascading around her shoulders in silky waves, her skin smooth and luminous like polished ivory. Most arresting of all were the tall, pointed white cat ears twitching atop her head, and the sinuous white tail swaying lazily behind her — each flick a quiet promise of lethal grace.
The image was almost too much to take in.
If there had been a global ranking of beauty, Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat, would have just claimed the undisputed number one spot. Every tiny twitch of her ears was a shot straight to the nervous system.
Jack swallowed hard, momentarily forgetting whatever anti-hero training plan he'd had in mind. He'd expected the Cat Totem to enhance her physique and reflexes — he hadn't anticipated that it would create something this dangerously captivating.
In that moment, even the most cold-hearted man alive would've risked a heart attack just looking at her.