"Hm?"
A questioning voice came from the other end of the call—then, before anyone could react, a lively voice sounded behind the group.
"Wow, what's this—team building?"
Everyone turned instinctively and saw a tall, striking young woman appear in the open space behind them.
She had short, milk-brown hair, wore a white T-shirt beneath a red jacket, jeans, and sneakers—a stylish, energetic look.
In her hand was a smartphone; she was just finishing a call. It was Yelena, the same person who had just been speaking with Natasha Romanoff.
After hanging up, she slipped her phone into her pocket and stepped forward. Natasha met her halfway.
"You've been hard to reach lately," Natasha said. "I couldn't get in touch with you or Melina."
Yelena shrugged. "Our Saint Seiya Corps was on Mission Nine-Five-Zero. It's been hectic. I've only just gotten a couple days off before I'm back on assignment again."
She gave this explanation casually, without mentioning any specifics—Natasha didn't press. Matters tied to the Sanctuary's confidential operations were not something she dared to pry into, even with her friendship.
"So," Yelena continued, glancing around, "what's going on here—some sort of Avengers team-building event? Wow… handsome guy, your armor looks great! But this team building—hmm—seems to have a higher aesthetic standard than usual."
Her curious eyes flicked toward Tony Stark, teasingly tracing a circle in the air with her finger as she grinned.
Tony could only sigh helplessly.
He was familiar with Yelena—after all, she had visited the Avengers base plenty of times to see Natasha—and he also knew her real identity.
Even someone as proud as Tony Stark wouldn't dare act smug around a Saint, especially a Gold Saint.
He knew Yelena was just naturally lively and playful, so he didn't take offense. Sure enough, Natasha gave a weary sigh.
"Yelena."
"Okay, okay, I'm joking," Yelena said quickly, raising both hands in mock surrender. "Don't be so serious."
Dropping her hands, she looked toward Crystal Lake and took a few steps closer.
"Aha, I didn't think you'd actually find this place. Huh, that little guy's a lot stronger now… looks like you've already fought him a few rounds."
Yelena glanced at the devastated campsite near the lake and instantly pieced together what had happened.
Tony and the others exchanged curious looks.
"Yelena, you knew about this place?" Tony asked.
"Of course," she replied easily. "We know about anything even slightly unusual happening on Earth. But normally, unless it's serious, we don't intervene.
If it's tricky but not catastrophic, the Kamar-Taj magicians handle it. They're actually quite efficient with this sort of thing."
Tony pointed at the lake. "Then what about this?"
"Mm." Yelena raised her hands, and to everyone's astonishment, a row of chilled drinks materialized out of thin air.
She handed Natasha a bottle of beer, then gestured for the rest to help themselves. Picking up a milk tea, she took a slow, satisfied sip.
No one refused the offer—some grabbed beer, others soda. Hulk received a massive barrel-sized bottle, clearly prepared especially for him.
Hulk was delighted. Yelena, who had once made him nervous, had somehow become one of his closest friends.
Well… best friend, actually. But Hulk didn't mind—friends were friends.
As she lazily drank her milk tea, Yelena began explaining:
"This Crystal Lake Camp was once home to a rather peculiar existence. We detected it long ago through our surveillance systems—but it was too low-level to worry about."
She casually raised two fingers and made a small gesture—one that would've driven the gods of the Galactic Kingdom crazy—implying just how weak the creature was.
"The magicians of Kamar-Taj also noticed it recently," she continued. "They originally planned to send someone to take care of it, but they've been tied up with more dangerous matters in the East. Some special individuals are causing quite a stir over there. So this one got delayed."
She sighed, then smiled faintly. "Didn't expect you guys to show up and accidentally make the little thing evolve several times over."
The group finally understood the situation.
Natasha rubbed her temples. "We really didn't expect it to be that special… What kind of creature is Jason, anyway?"
"The little guy drowned because of a group of bullies," Yelena said matter-of-factly. "His mother went mad and massacred everyone at the camp, but was killed herself.
Before she died, she cursed the place—resurrecting her son in a special way. He's been to Hell, so he's gained abilities ordinary demons and undead don't possess.
Normally, he can't die. Each time he's killed, he resurrects stronger—until eventually, he breaks free of this area's boundary."
Her voice turned slightly serious. "At that point, he'd be able to slaughter anywhere in the world."
Everyone shuddered. They were glad they'd stopped when they did—if they'd continued killing him, he might've evolved into a far greater disaster.
But seeing Yelena there, calm and confident, reassured them.
If things ever went that far, the Sanctuary would surely dispatch a Saint to handle it.
And when the Saints intervened, the world always felt safe again.
Just as Yelena finished speaking, the surface of Crystal Lake began to churn violently—bubbling, swirling, forming a whirlpool that drew everyone's eyes.
Yelena's gaze sharpened; her irises glimmered faintly red.
"It seems," she murmured softly, "our little friend just couldn't hold back any longer."
Her lips curved slightly.
"Too naughty."
(End of Chapter)
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