Chapter 24: Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider
Sunlight pierced through the early morning fog, casting a golden glow over the devastated Times Square.
It was not night, but the busy morning peak hour.
The crossroads of the world, which should have been bustling with traffic, was now completely sealed off with police tape.
Inside the surrounding office buildings, countless commuters pressed against the glass windows, taking photos with their phones in panic and curiosity at the scene below.
The roar of Quinjet engines echoed between the skyscrapers, the airflow sweeping up shattered glass and scorched debris from billboards on the ground.
The hatch opened, and Phil Coulson stepped out first.
He looked at the surrounding crowd of onlookers and the barrage of media cameras, his brow furrowing.
The screen of the tablet in his hand was lit up, displaying data that gave him a headache.
Following right behind him was Nick Fury.
Even on a bright morning, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.remained impossibly dark, making it hard to believe he was here instead of picking cotton on a farm.
The black eyepatch seemed to be his last line of defense against compromising with the world.
His black leather trench coat rustled in the morning wind, utterly out of place with the mundane morning atmosphere around them.
"Director, the energy readings have dropped to zero," Coulson said, glancing at the data, a note of disbelief in his voice.
"The energy peak here just now even exceeded the damage caused by Abomination and Hulk in Harlem."
"The bio-electric energy was extremely strong just a moment ago, but in an instant, it vanished. It's as if something erased it out of thin air."
"Erased?" Nick Fury asked back.
"The law of conservation of energy tells us that energy doesn't disappear into thin air, Phil. It just moved somewhere else, or went into someone's stomach."
Fury swept his gaze across the surroundings.
Devastation everywhere.
Overturned police cars spewed black smoke, melted traffic lights were still dripping scalding plastic, and there was an abandoned car with a human-shaped dent smashed into its roof.
That was Max Dillon, who now lay there unconscious.
Even in a coma, his body twitched involuntarily.
Several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents nearby were carefully securing him using insulating equipment.
"Looks like we arrived late—or rather, someone not only did our job for us, but also took the reward."
Fury's tone gave away no emotion, but those who knew him understood this was the calm before the storm.
He had known who it was for a long time.
Days ago, Coulson had shown him the surveillance footage from Fisk Tower that night.
Luke, a guy who appeared out of nowhere and even took over Kingpin's assets with a pair of twins.
Fury had been evaluating Luke's threat level.
He had initially thought the man was just a mutated human with enhanced physical attributes, but this morning's scene had completely overturned his profile.
Capable of absorbing such massive amounts of energy and possessing black bio-armor.
"Director, over there..." Coulson pointed toward a lamppost.
Fury turned around, his single eye locking onto two figures standing under the lamppost.
The classic red-and-blue suit belonged to Spider-Man, who had been active in New York for some time.
There was also a female version in a white, black, and pink color scheme, looking like a rookie who had just popped up in the past few days.
"Since the main player ran off, we'll just have to question the remaining audience."
Fury straightened the collar of his trench coat, ignored the flashing media cameras around them, and strode toward Peter and Gwen.
Peter Parker was very tired right now, and very anxious.
Seriously, very anxious.
He wasn't an energetic high school student anymore; he was already a college student.
He raised his wrist to glance at his digital watch, wailing internally.
It was already ten-thirty!
Dr. Connors' quantum mechanics class was starting in twenty minutes.
If I'm late for this class, my credits are ruined, my scholarship is gone, and next month's rent...
He had originally just gotten up early to deliver pizza for extra cash, only to encounter a monster-level threat like Electro first, and then an indescribable entity like Luke.
And now, another one-eyed guy who looked like a government secret agent boss had arrived.
Although Peter was wearing his mask, the other man's overwhelming presence gave him a headache.
That single eye seemed able to look right through his mask, seeing a miserable college student named Peter struggling to make ends meet and keep up with his studies.
"If you don't mind, officer," Peter said, his voice sounding deep and steady.
"Traffic here is completely paralyzed. If we don't disperse the crowd soon, commuters are going to be late."
Fury ignored Peter's words. He walked up to stand a few meters in front of the two, hands jammed in his trench coat pockets, leaning slightly forward.
"I am Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
His tone was deep and authoritative.
"I don't care about the traffic here, nor do I care who gets late, Spider-Man. What I care about is which direction the guy wearing the armor went."
Fury didn't ask who he was, but directly asked where he went.
He was testing them.
According to the psychological profile, Luke's personality was extremely self-centered, a classic wild card.
Yet he didn't kill Electro, but instead saved the day.
Was this a show of force? Or was he establishing some kind of order?
If it was the latter, then these two Spider-Heroes became key.
He had to confirm whether they had reached some kind of agreement, or if Luke had already begun recruiting these vigilantes.
Peter was momentarily taken aback by Fury's imposing presence, but he quickly composed himself.
The hardships of life had taught him better than most how to deal with such dominant figures.
He didn't talk back, choosing instead to give a cautious answer.
"He left," Peter answered briefly.
"Just as suddenly as he arrived. As for direction, he was leaping across rooftops, and we couldn't match his speed."
"Left?" Fury's single eye narrowed slightly.
"You're saying that a biological weapon whose threat level might exceed Hulk's went on a rampage in downtown New York, and then just strolled away like that?
And as New York's friendly neighborhood hero, you didn't stop him, nor did you even ask his purpose?"
"We tried to communicate," Gwen offered from the side.
"But he didn't seem to harbor any ill will toward us. And, Mr. Director, with all due respect, if he had wanted to fight back then, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s job right now would be collecting our bodies, not asking questions here."
"Watch your attitude, lady," Fury turned his head to look at Gwen.
"We are dealing with a potential world-ending threat. According to satellite surveillance, he gave you something before leaving. Hand it over."
Fury extended his hand, palm up, in a commanding gesture.
Peter instinctively covered his pocket.
The black metal business card was quietly sitting in there.
Damn it, can satellites in the sky even capture something like that?
Peter sighed in his heart.
Just how much information does this guy have? If I give it to him, will it cause trouble for Luke?
Even though Luke seemed very powerful and his style was a bit extreme, he had saved the people here after all.
Handing him over to a Director who didn't even look like a good guy went against his principles.
Chapter 25: Coulson, Fall Back!
"That was a personal gift, Director."
Peter took a step back, his body tense, ready to shoot web-lines and retreat at a moment's notice.
"I don't think this counts as a state secret."
"In this world, any unregistered superpower object falls under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s jurisdiction." Fury stepped forward aggressively.
"Luke is currently a Class 1 target under S.H.I.E.L.D.surveillance. If you protect him, Spider-Man, you are making yourself an enemy of the nation."
Hearing Fury accurately call out Luke's name, Peter and Gwen exchanged a look.
Sure enough, this old fox knew everything.
"Since you know who he is, you should go straight to him instead of making things difficult for us here." Peter shook his head, his tone resolute.
"We are vigilantes, not your subordinates. We have our own judgment."
"Fascinating."
Fury looked at the unyielding Spider-Man before him.
This was somewhat different from the young man in his memory who liked to swing through the streets.
Now, he seemed more mature, more cautious, and more stubborn.
It seemed forcing the issue wouldn't work.
Since Luke gave them business cards, it showed he was trying to win these two over.
If he forcibly confiscated them now, it would only push them to Luke's side.
Fury pulled back his hand, his expression softening slightly.
"Very well. I hope your judgment is correct." Fury gave Peter a deep, meaningful look.
"But I must warn you, that man crawled out of hell. He is a monster, and monsters usually eat people."
"Coulson, fall back!"
Fury turned around directly, his black trench coat fluttering in the breeze.
"Take the blue cripple back to prison. As for these two, I think they will soon realize that in this world, there are some friends you shouldn't make."
Watching the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents quickly clear the scene, Peter finally let out a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders slumping.
"Phew... That guy has a really intimidating presence." Peter gave a bitter smile.
"Compared to him, I even think Editor-in-Chief Jameson is a bit cute."
"He knew who Luke was all along." Gwen leaned against a lamppost, deep in thought.
"He was testing us. He wanted to confirm whether we've already joined Luke's side."
"Luke..." Peter touched the business card in his pocket.
"Are you going to find him?" Gwen asked.
Peter fell silent for a moment, looked up toward Fisk Tower, and then checked the time.
"Maybe. But I have to get to school first. If I don't go, I'm really going to fail my classes." Peter sighed, shooting out a web-line to snag a distant building.
"This world is getting more and more complicated. Maybe Luke is right—just being a good neighbor might really not be enough anymore."
Watching Peter Parker's departing figure, Gwen Stacystared blankly toward Fisk Tower.
After a long moment, she withdrew her gaze, shot a web-line, and left the spot.
She said nothing, but she understood one thing.
Perhaps Spider-Man was right; just being a good neighbor might really not change anything.
...
...
Meanwhile.
Hell's Kitchen, top floor of Fisk Tower.
Morning sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the luxurious living room.
Luke was lounging lazily on the sofa, swirling a glass of warm milk in his hand.
Outside the window, the city had awakened, with heavy traffic bustling through the busy streets, but he didn't care much about it.
To him, the world outside was merely a hunting ground, and this place was his lair.
Wesley stood off to the side holding a tablet, reporting the newly compiled data.
"Boss, S.H.I.E.L.D. is clearing Times Square. Nick Fury is leading the team in person; it seems he places great importance on you."
Wesley adjusted his glasses, his tone calm.
"However, leaving business cards with two vigilantes—aren't you worried S.H.I.E.L.D. will follow the clues right to our door?"
"To our door?"
Luke let out a light chuckle and downed the milk in his glass.
"Wesley, Nick Fury is a smart man. He must have seen the video of us taking over this place long ago, yet he hasn't made a move, which shows he's wary. Until he figures out my trump cards, he won't dare act rashly."
Luke stood up, walked over to the window, and looked at his reflection in the glass.
It was a young and handsome face, yet carrying a hint of malice.
"Besides, even if he comes, what can he do?"
Luke raised his right hand, a thought crossing his mind.
"Bzzzt..."
Black fluid instantly covered his palm, and immediately after, a surge of dark purple thunder violently burst open in his hand!
As if alive, it darted and leaped between Luke's fingers, producing low hissing sounds.
"This taste is really not bad."
Luke clenched his fist, and the thunder instantly dissipated, transforming into energy flowing throughout his body.
The sense of exhilaration cheering through his body's cells made him narrow his eyes involuntarily.
Electro's genes made up for his short board of having a single attack method.
Now, he was no longer just a tank who only knew close-quarters hand-to-hand combat; he was also a mage who could discharge electricity.
"Boss, your actions are indeed astonishing." Looking at the disappearing thunder, Wesley had a deep look of awe in his eyes.
"It seems we can save a bundle on the tower's power grid expenses in the future."
"Don't be so stingy, Wesley. We're the masters of this neighborhood now." Luke patted Wesley's shoulder, in a great mood.
"Let me go check on the two kids. I brought them breakfast."
...
...
Fisk Tower, underground special training room.
This was originally a secret base Kingpin used to train death squads; the walls were cast from reinforced special steel plates, offering excellent soundproofing.
At this moment, it was somewhat quiet inside the training grounds.
Wanda sat on a bench in the corner, holding a cup of warm water, her gaze somewhat blank.
Her head of red hair looked a bit messy from her magic practice earlier, and her red hoodie made her face look slightly pale.
Next to her, Pietro lay bored on a mat, tossing a baseball in his hand.
"Swoosh!"
He threw the baseball into the air, and in the next second, a silver light flashed, and he reappeared at the ball's falling point to catch it.
"So boring, really way too boring," Pietro muttered.
"If only I could fly in the sky like Luke. The footage on the morning news just now was totally awesome! Don't you think so, Wanda?"
Wanda ignored him, only holding her water cup tightly.
"Pietro, didn't you see that one-eyed guy in the news?" Wanda's voice trembled slightly.
"That's a S.H.I.E.L.D. person. If they discover we're here..."
"So what if they discover us?"
A low voice suddenly sounded at the doorway.
The brother and sister both looked up at the same time.
They saw Luke wearing casual clothes, holding two bags of takeout in his hand, leaning casually against the doorframe.
If they hadn't seen his terrifying appearance after transforming with their own eyes, no one would ever associate this sunny, handsome big brother next door with a killing machine.
"Boss!" Pietro's eyes lit up, and with a swoosh, he appeared in front of Luke, staring at the bags in his hands.
"What's this? Breakfast? I'm starving to death!"
"Cheeseburgers and fried chicken. A bit greasy, but suitable for you." Luke casually tossed the bags to Pietro.
"Eat up. Your metabolism is too fast; if you don't replenish calories, your brain will burn dry."
Sending Pietro off, Luke walked straight toward Wanda.
He could feel the emotional fluctuations in the girl.
It was fear, anxiety, and confusion about the future.
As a test subject of Hydra, she had a natural stress response to official organizations.
Chapter 26: Take It Easy, No Rush
"Afraid of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Luke sat down beside her.
"Or afraid of something else?"
Wanda shrank back a little.
"They looked very powerful on TV," Wanda said in a low voice.
"That eyepatch-wearing director, and Electro... Luke, can we really stand against them? If you get captured..."
"Captured?"
Luke smiled slightly, and gently tousled Wanda's hair.
"Wanda, look at me."
Luke's tone grew serious.
Wanda raised her head, meeting Luke's deep gaze.
"Do you know why S.H.I.E.L.D. still hasn't dared to storm into this building?"
Luke extended his right hand, and black fluid slowly surged at his fingertips.
Eventually, the fluid transformed into a black rose, with purple electric arcs flickering along the edges of its petals.
"Because they are afraid of me."
"This world is about strength. Whether it's so-called superheroes or justice, in the face of absolute power, all of them have to sit down and talk properly."
Luke gently placed the black rose laced with electric arcs into Wanda's palm.
Strangely enough, the volatile current did not harm Wanda; instead, it docilely coiled around her hand.
"You possess the talent to alter probability and distort reality, Wanda," Luke said, staring into her eyes, pronouncing each word clearly.
"Your potential is even more terrifying than mine. As long as you are willing, you could even make the eyepatch-wearing director unable to find an eyepatch for his entire life, or make Stark's armor short-circuit forever."
"Really?"
Wanda looked at the black rose in her palm, the red light in her eyes flickering slightly, and the fear in her heart seemed to be dispelled quite a bit by Luke's words.
"Of course."
Luke stood up and stretched lazily.
"So, put your heart at ease. In this home, as long as I am here, I will hold up the sky even if it falls."
"As for S.H.I.E.L.D...."
Luke walked behind the ravenous Pietro and gave him a kick in the backside.
"Cough, cough! Boss, what are you doing?!" Pietro almost choked to death on the hamburger.
"Stop eating."
Luke pointed to the large screen on the wall, which was playing a news replay about S.H.I.E.L.D. cleaning up Times Square.
"Since they love sealing off the scene so much, let's give them something to do."
A trace of shrewdness flashed through Luke's eyes.
He hadn't forgotten his plan.
Although it wasn't time for the New Mexico plot to erupt yet, he needed to layout his plans in advance.
Moreover, the virus's evolution required a large amount of high-quality material, and Electro was just the beginning.
"Pietro, take a trip to Queens today," Luke instructed.
"What for? To deliver takeout?" Pietro wiped the oil stains from his mouth.
"Go help me keep an eye on a kid named Peter Parker," Luke rubbed his chin.
"Although Spider-Man is a good guy, Nick Fury definitely won't let him off easily. If S.H.I.E.L.D. makes a move against him, or if that eyepatch-wearing director wants to use him to cause trouble for us..."
A chill flashed in Luke's eyes.
"Then help him out. By the way, make him owe us a favor."
"Is this the business expansion of a so-called problem solver?" Pietro chuckled.
"No problem, leave it to me. When it comes to speed, no one can beat me."
After arranging Pietro, Luke turned to look at Wanda.
"As for you, Wanda."
Luke pulled a business card he imitated using the Symbiote out of his pocket.
"I have a more interesting task for you."
"What?" Wanda took the business card with puzzlement.
"This girl is called Ghost-Spider, and her real name is Gwen Stacy," Luke pointed to the chibi spider on the business card.
"Her abilities somewhat complement yours, and I happen to find her quite agreeable."
"I want you to approach her. Not as an enemy, but as a friend."
"Friends?" Wanda was somewhat at a loss.
"I've never had friends."
"Then learn starting now," Luke smiled.
"Like you, she is an outlier in this world; perhaps you two will have a lot in common. Besides, if we can pull both Spider-Men to our side..."
Luke's smile became somewhat meaningful.
"Then S.H.I.E.L.D.'s expression must be very interesting."
Wanda looked at the business card in her hand; although there was still some apprehension in her heart, there was even more of the warmth of being trusted.
"I'll try," Wanda said softly.
"There's no rush for your matter; get some good training in today, and tomorrow you and Pietro come find me."
Watching the brother and sister who had reignited their fighting spirit, Luke nodded with satisfaction.
This was the team he wanted.
"Alright, special training continues."
Luke turned and walked toward the elevator, waving with his back to them.
"Starting tomorrow, I'm going to step things up for you two. Since S.H.I.E.L.D. is keeping an eye on us, we must prepare a big gift for them."
The elevator doors slowly closed.
Luke looked at his own reflection on the door, the smile on his face gradually fading.
Virus analysis is attempting to fuse electromagnetic control with Symbiote mimicry...
He needed to find a higher-quality energy source to accelerate evolution.
"Higher-quality energy sources, huh?"
Luke looked toward the distant west through the elevator's glass.
Although he wasn't going to New Mexico right now, he definitely had to try getting that hammer.
There was also Hulk, and those Hydra remnants hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Take it easy, no rush."
Luke murmured softly.
"This buffet has only just started serving dishes."
Meanwhile.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Highest Operations Conference Room.
On the huge screen, two videos were played repeatedly.
One was the massacre on that night at Fisk Tower, and the other was footage just recovered from the Times Squaresecurity cameras.
That is, the moment Luke absorbed Electro.
Nick Fury sat at the end of the long table, hands crossed against his chin, his single eye flickering indistinctly in the shadows.
Sitting opposite him was the newly returned Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, along with Agent Coulson, who had been frowning all along.
Even Hawkeye Clint Barton, who had just been recalled from vacation, was wiping his bow and arrows on the side.
"We still haven't made any progress regarding his abilities."
Fury pointed to the frozen black armor on the screen.
"Is this some kind of biological weapon? A Symbiote? Or mutant powers? Not only does he possess extreme physical destructive power, but he can also devour energy and even plunder the abilities of others. Look at this, after absorbing Electro, lightning appeared in his hand."
"He's practically a living ability copier," Barton chimed in.
"If we send the army, will they all get eaten by him?"
"That is precisely the problem."
Fury stood up, walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, and overlooked the Potomac River.
"Luke has already replaced Kingpin, becoming the new master of Hells Kitchen," Coulson added.
"But he doesn't seem to have any plans to continue expanding his criminal empire; instead, he is contacting vigilantes."
"Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider."
Fury turned around, a look of determination in his single eye.
"Luke is more dangerous than I imagined. But he is also an opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Natasha raised an eyebrow.
"If we can control him, or at least guide him, he will be a trump card for the Avengers initiative. But if he gets out of control..."
Fury didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.
Chapter 27: You Want Me to Be a Babysitter for a Monster?
"We can't just raid Fisk Tower directly."
Fury looked at Natasha.
"It's in the downtown area, and we don't know his hidden cards. We need a closer look."
"Natasha."
Fury's eyes locked onto Black Widow.
"I heard Wesley has recently been recruiting a new personal assistant and PR personnel for his new boss."
Natasha smiled.
"You want me to be a babysitter for a monster?"
"I want you to figure out whether he wants to be a superhero or the next demon lord who destroys the world."
Fury pushed a forged résumé in front of Natasha.
"Pack up, Agent Romanoff. Starting tomorrow, your new name is Natalie Rushman. Good luck."
Natasha and Fury exchanged glances, their eyes playful.
"I hope he's an interesting opponent."
Natasha picked up the résumé, her finger lightly brushing over the printed photo on it.
On it was a gentle, intellectual face with a scholarly air—an identity cover that had been prepared long ago.
Natalie Rushman.
"If I were you, I wouldn't be so optimistic."
Barton said without looking up, wiping down his weapon.
As her old partner, he knew Natasha all too well.
This woman had danced on the edge of a blade for longer than most people had been walking.
The more dangerous the mission, the more excited she became.
"Luke..." Barton paused his movements, his gaze turning solemn.
"Although I've seen my fair share of things, that guy gives me a really bad feeling. The way he looks at the surveillance cameras is like he's looking at a buffet. That kind of predator's gaze... I've only ever seen it in wild beasts."
"Wild beasts are usually easier to deal with than humans, Clint."
Natasha rolled the résumé into a tube, tapping it gently against her palm.
"Beasts only have instincts. As long as you have meat in your hand, or a whip, you can tame them. It's humans that are the most complex."
She turned around and looked at Nick Fury, who was still standing by the window.
"But I have a question, Director. If he's confirmed to be an uncontrollable threat, what are my authorization levels? Is it evacuation, or..."
She spread her hands.
Fury turned around, staring at her with his single eye, staying silent for two seconds.
"Your primary mission is evaluation. We need to know his weaknesses, his objective, and whether there are any residual forces behind him. As for taking action..."
Fury shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"If it were before, I would authorize you to use any means necessary. But now, in that building, there isn't just him, but two unstable potential threats as well. If a fight breaks out, half of Manhattan will be turned to ruins."
"So, Natasha."
Fury walked over to her and lowered his voice.
"This time, I want you to use what you do best: infiltration."
"Make him trust you, or make him feel like he's controlling you."
Natasha smiled again.
The cold, murderous aura around her vanished without a trace, transforming into the efficiency and softness of a corporate elite woman.
"Don't worry, Director. I'm very experienced at dealing with self-righteous kings."
...
...
Manhattan, Hells Kitchen.
The noon sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the top floor of Fisk Tower, spilling across the luxurious carpet.
Compared to the chill and grimness of the night, Fisk Tower during the day appeared even more grand, looking much more like the normal headquarters of a commercial empire.
Of course, that was provided one ignored the gang scouts around the building being cleared out by bodyguards in black suits.
Luke sat on the sofa, playing with a coin in his hand.
The coin flipped and jumped nimbly between his fingers, occasionally making a crisp clinking sound.
Upon closer inspection, one would notice that the coin was not moving by inertia alone, but was being pushed by an almost invisible layer of black fluid.
This was Luke practicing micro-control using the Symbiote.
He felt the new power surging within his body.
Right now, he was like a humanoid nuclear reactor.
As long as he wished, he could release purple lightning with viral erosive properties at any time, just like yesterday.
Moreover, most importantly, the virus's domineering mechanism of eliminating flaws had taken effect once again.
The reason Max Dillon became the blue Electro was that his body couldn't contain the energy inside him.
This led to his physical body becoming energy-based, and even his emotions would spiral out of control along with voltage fluctuations.
But Luke didn't have this problem; a body formed by the virus was the most perfect vessel.
He still maintained a human appearance, his skin temperature no different from that of an ordinary person.
Only when unleashing it would his powerful strength reveal its true, formidable form.
"Boss, you've been sitting here for two hours."
Wesley's voice interrupted Luke's thoughts.
He stood not far away holding a tablet, his expression somewhat subtle.
"While I know you're full of energy right now and don't even need sleep, still..." Wesley pushed up his glasses.
"The reception down in the lobby is flooded with calls from job applicants. Ever since we took over Kingpin's assets and announced the restructuring of Fisk Industries, elites from all over New York have wanted to come try their luck here."
"Especially when the salary you're offering is three times the market rate."
"Isn't that great?"
Luke gave a casual flick, tossing the coin into the air, where it was caught by a black tentacle that suddenly shot out from his shoulder before retracting back into his body.
"We need talent, Wesley."
"Starting a company is easy, but developing it is hard."
"Although I can use my fists to make those gangs shut up, keeping the building running and earning money to buy me more ingredients and equipment still requires brains."
Luke stood up and stretched.
"Besides, has anyone applied for the position I asked you to keep a special eye on?"
"You mean personal assistant?"
Wesley clicked on a page on his tablet, bringing up a résumé and projecting it onto the holographic screen in midair.
"There happens to be one. And her credentials are immaculate."
Luke looked up.
In the photo was a young woman with reddish-brown curly hair, a proper smile, and bright eyes.
[Name: Natalie Rushman]
[Education: Harvard Law School, fluent in four languages]
[Work Experience: Former intern in the Legal Department of Stark Industries (dubious), Senior Executive Assistant at several multinational corporations...]
Seeing this familiar face, the smile on Luke's lips gradually deepened.
"Natalie Rushman..." Luke smiled slightly.
"Her credentials really are impressive—so impressive it looks like it was written specifically for me to see."
Familiar with the plot, he naturally knew this woman's true background.
Black Widow.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top agent.
It seemed Nick Fury finally couldn't sit still, but didn't dare send an army to bomb him directly, so he chose a milder approach.
Sending a beautiful spy to monitor me?! Very much Fury's style.
"Boss, I think there's something off about this woman." Wesley perceptively noticed something.
"Her background is too clean, and appearing at this exact moment... she's very likely a corporate spy, or..."
"Or an informant sent by certain government agencies," Luke cut in.
Chapter 28: Natalie
"Should I decline her request right now then?"
Wesley's finger hovered over the reject key.
"No."
Luke waved his hand, the smile in his eyes deepening.
"Let her come for an interview."
"Since S.H.I.E.L.D. sent me such a grand gift, wouldn't it be rude not to accept it? Besides..."
Luke walked over to the window and looked at his reflection in the glass.
"I really do lack a pleasing secretary. Wesley, capable as you are, I have to say that looking at your poker face for too long does get a bit visually tiring."
Wesley:...
"Very well, Boss. I'll arrange her interview for two in the afternoon." Helpless, Wesley put away his tablet, maintaining his professionalism.
"Also, Miss Wanda and Mr. Pietro have been waiting for you downstairs for a long time."
"Have them come up."
...
A few minutes later.
The elevator doors opened.
Wanda and Pietro walked in.
After last night's special training and a night of rest, the state of the two was noticeably different.
Pietro was wearing a brand-new tracksuit.
Wesley had ordered it custom-made overnight using high-strength, wear-resistant material so it wouldn't tear even if he ran at supersonic speeds.
Right now, he held a half-eaten hamburger in his hand, his mouth still chewing on something.
Wanda had changed into a dark red trench coat over a black base shirt, looking both capable and mysterious.
Her gaze was much firmer than before, and she was still holding something tightly in her hand.
"Boss, I heard we have a new mission?" Pietro swallowed the last bite of his hamburger and asked eagerly.
"Who are we gonna beat up? Or are we robbing a bank?"
"Robbing banks is so tasteless; stop bringing that up."
Luke glared at him, then pointed to the sofa.
"Sit."
Once the two sat down, Luke wiped away his playful demeanor, his expression becoming serious.
"Today's mission is very important. It concerns our layout in New York and whether we can recruit new allies."
Luke looked at Wanda, his gaze softening slightly.
"Wanda, remember the business card I gave you yesterday?"
Wanda nodded, taking out the white card with a chibi spider printed on it from her pocket.
"Ghost-Spider, Gwen Stacy."
"That's right."
Luke snapped his fingers.
"Nick Fury is a control freak; he will absolutely not allow an uncontrolled vigilante to wander around under his nose."
"Especially Gwen; she's a novice, and her psychological defenses aren't that strong yet."
"It's still that same mission: I want you to go find her."
"Uh... I thought about it all night and still couldn't figure out what to do," Wanda said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Luke smiled, leaning forward with his fingers intertwined beneath his chin.
"How about this: approach her as a girl who also possesses superpowers and feels lost."
"You both need someone of your own kind."
Wanda nervously fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.
"But... what should I say? What if we accidentally get into a fight..."
"You won't fight," Luke said with certainty.
"Spider-Sense can perceive malice. As long as you have no ill intent, she will accept you."
"Go make a friend, Wanda."
Luke's voice carried a hint of encouragement, even a kind of brotherly care.
"You can't always revolve around me and Pietro. You need your own life, best friends, shopping trips, venting..."
"Though this world is terrible, it's not so terrible that you can't even get a cup of bubble tea."
Hearing the words 'bubble tea', Wanda froze for a moment, and then looked forward to it a bit.
Having been kept in a laboratory as a lab rat, a normal teenage girl's life felt as distant to her as a fairy tale.
"Alright, I'll really give it a try," Wanda took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.
"Very good."
Luke turned to look at Pietro.
"As for you, Pietro."
"I have a more exciting mission for you."
Pietro sat upright in an instant, his ears practically perking up: "What? What?"
"I want you to be a bodyguard."
"A bodyguard?" Pietro looked disappointed.
"For whom? It's not some balding politician, is it?"
"Fool, it's yesterday's mission target, Peter Parker."
Luke rolled his eyes at him.
"Listen, let me introduce him properly: Peter Parker is currently a penniless college student. Not only does he have to deliver food to pay tuition, but he also acts as a vigilante saving people, all while dealing with harassment from S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Although nobody went looking for him yesterday, S.H.I.E.L.D. will definitely have their eyes on him today. What those agents are best at is moral emotional blackmail, threats, and bribery."
"I want you to keep an eye on him from the shadows."
Luke smiled slightly.
"If S.H.I.E.L.D. tries to use force on him, or if the One-Eyewants to freeze him in a fridge..."
"You let them know what 'In the realm of martial arts, speed reigns supreme' means."
"No need to kill anyone. Just strip off their pants and dump them in Times Square."
"Pfft!"
Pietro couldn't hold it in and bursted out laughing.
"Strip off their pants? Boss, are you serious? That's so dirty!"
"To deal with rogues, you have to use rogue tactics," Lukeshrugged.
"Remember, your mission is to make him owe us a favor. Let him know that in this world, besides S.H.I.E.L.D., there is a place that is more protective and offers more freedom."
"Understood!" Pietro gave an improper salute, a mischievous grin all over his face.
"I can't wait to see what the One-Eye looks like in floral boxers. Wait, does he wear floral boxers?"
"You can go verify that yourself."
Luke waved his hand.
"Go, don't disappoint me."
*Whoosh!*
A gust of strong wind blew past, and Pietro's figure vanished instantly, leaving behind only a few fluttering tissues.
Wanda also stood up and nodded to Luke. Red magic wrapped around her body as her figure gradually faded away.
She was practicing the stealth techniques Luke had taught her.
Looking at the empty room, Luke leaned back on the sofa.
The arrangement had begun.
Winning over Gwen and Peter was not just to boost their combat power, but also to disgust S.H.I.E.L.D.
When Nick Fury discovers that the superhero prospects he had his eyes on all ran to Fisk Tower to drink tea and play cards, his expression will surely be wonderful.
"Next..."
Luke glanced at the wall clock.
1:55 PM.
"Time to meet Miss Black Widow."
...
...
Fisk Tower, Executive Interview room 3.
Natasha Romanoff, or as she should be called now, Natalie Rushman.
At this moment, she sat upright in her chair.
She was dressed in a tailored beige business suit.
Her curly red hair draped loosely over her shoulders, and a pair of black-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of her nose.
The glasses perfectly softened the overly sharp look in her eyes, adding a sense of intellectuality and gentleness.
She looked like any fresh Ivy League graduate eager to make a splash on Wall Street.
But her brain was working at high speed, analyzing everything around her.
Security level was extremely high.
There were at least four hidden sentries in the hallway, the surveillance cameras had no blind spots, and it was an independent internal network system.
Even the air circulation system contained some kind of biological monitoring device.
Natasha was secretly alarmed in her heart.
This was not at all the setup a gang hideout should have; it was virtually tighter than some of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s branch offices.
Especially the subtle sense of oppression that had been lingering in her heart ever since she stepped into this building.
What was this?
Some kind of residual superpower, or an unknown bio-magnetic field?
Chapter 29 He really knows!
"Rushman Miss?"
The interviewer was Wesley.
He sat behind the desk, holding Natasha's resume in his hand, wearing a professional smile on his face, but his gaze was very sharp.
"Your resume is very perfect. Proficient in law, public relations, and even has a financial background. The internship evaluation at Stark Industries is also A+."
Wesley put down the resume and crossed his fingers.
"But I am very curious, why does a talent like you want to come to Fisk Industries? You know, the predecessor of this place didn't have a very good reputation."
This was a trap question.
Natasha pushed her glasses, and her face showed just the right amount of ambition and shyness.
"Frankly speaking, sir. Although Stark Industries is good, it is already Tony Stark's personal stage. And Pepper Potts Miss manages it in an orderly manner, making it hard for newcomers to stand out."
"But I heard that this place has a new boss."
Natasha leaned forward slightly, and her tone became confident.
"Chaos often means a ladder. I believe the new boss needs someone who can help him deal with trouble, not only legally, but also in public relations. And I am good at dealing with trouble."
A perfect answer.
It showed ambition, demonstrated ability, and buttered up along the way.
The vigilance in Wesley's eyes faded a little, revealing a hint of appreciation.
"A very interesting answer. Your definition of trouble is very…"
Just as Wesley was about to continue asking questions, the office door suddenly opened.
"No need to ask, Wesley."
A tall figure walked in.
Luke was not wearing a formal suit, still in black casual clothes, but the moment he walked in, the aura of the roomchanged.
The air became thick, and the instinctive sense of oppression made Natasha's heartbeat accelerate involuntarily.
This was the target.
Natasha quickly adjusted her breathing, controlled her heartbeat, showed surprise and nervousness on her face, and quickly stood up.
"This is…"
"Let me introduce, Rushman Miss." Wesley stood up immediately and respectfully retreated to the side.
"This is the chairman of Fisk Industries, and my boss, Mr. Luke."
Luke walked straight to Natasha.
He didn't speak, looking Natasha up and down.
What kind of look was this??
Natasha had seen countless kinds of men's gazes.
Greedy, lustful, fearful, calculating.
But Luke's gaze was different.
More like an X-ray, able to see right through her skin.
Under his gaze, Natasha felt as if her disguise had become transparent.
He knew?
Alarm bells rang loudly in Natasha's heart.
An agent's intuition told her that this man was dangerous, even more dangerous than shown in the profile!
But she had to keep acting.
"Hello, Mr. Luke."
Natasha reached out her hand, her fingers trembling slightly, acting like a nervous clerk meeting a big figure.
"I am Natalie, very glad to meet you."
Luke looked at the other person's hand.
He chuckled and reached out his palm to shake it.
At the moment of contact.
[Target detected: Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow)]
[Gene rating: Peak Human]
[Copyable skills: Master-level combat, master-level disguise, firearms mastery, interrogation skills...]
Luke didn't plan to extract memories.
Reading memories directly was too boring, and it would damage the brain.
Dealing with a prey of Black Widow's level was only interesting when played with slowly.
"Hands are very steady, Rushman Miss."
Luke held her hand and didn't let go immediately, instead gently rubbing a very thin layer of calluses on the web of her hand with his thumb.
This was the trace left by years of using firearms. Although it had been treated, it could not escape Luke's keen tactile sense.
"Is this the trace left by dealing with trouble?"
Luke asked pointedly, his voice low.
Natasha's heartbeat skipped a beat.
Damn it, did he find out?
But her face still maintained calmness, revealing a charming smile.
"Yes, sir. On Wall Street, sometimes the typing force needs to be a bit bigger to make competitors obedient."
"Typing? Hahaha!"
Luke suddenly burst into laughter and let go of his hand.
"What a good typing."
He turned and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, with his back to both of them.
"Wesley, hire her."
"Boss?" Wesley was somewhat surprised.
"No need for a background check?"
"No need."
Luke turned to look at Natasha.
"I believe in Rushman Miss's ability. And…"
Luke walked to Natasha's side, lowered his head, leaned close to her ear, and said softly.
"I happen to have a bunch of trouble here, and only a professional elite like you can handle it."
The warm breath blew on Natasha's auricle, causing all the muscles in her body to tighten instantly.
She instinctively wanted to block, but she managed to endure it forcefully.
"For example, help me block those annoying flies."
"Even if those flies have only one eye."
As soon as Luke's voice fell, Natasha's pupils shrank abruptly!
One eye!
He was implying Nick Fury!
He really knew!
Just as Natasha was about to react, even considering whether to make a move directly, Luke had already stepped back.
He restored his lazy and casual appearance, as if the threatening hint just now was just an unintentional joke.
"Come to work at nine tomorrow morning, Rushman Miss."
Luke waved his hand and walked towards the door.
"The salary will be three times what Wesley said. But my requirements are very high, and I hope you can endure loneliness."
When reaching the door, Luke suddenly stopped, as if remembering something.
"Oh right, I don't like red."
Luke pointed at Natasha's hair.
"Too conspicuous. Easy to attract bulls."
After speaking, he left the room laughing loudly.
Leaving only Wesley and Natasha standing in place.
Wesley pushed his glasses and looked at the somewhat dazed Natasha. Although he wondered why the boss was so hasty, he still executed the order.
"Congratulations, Natalie Miss. You are hired."
"Thank you."
Natasha squeezed out a smile, but her back was already soaked with cold sweat.
When Wesley turned around to get the contract, the smile on Natasha's face disappeared instantly, and her eyes became solemn.
She turned her head slightly, facing the miniature communicator hidden in her collar, and said in a voice only she could hear.
"Director, the mission has begun."
"But I think we might be the prey."
A sound of static current came from the earphones, followed by Fury's silent reply.
"Continue to observe. Proceed with caution."
Natasha took a deep breath, looking at the direction Lukeleft.
His back was very tall, like an abyss swallowing everything.
Can you endure loneliness?
Natasha smiled.
Then let's see, who will show a flaw first.
...
...
The top floor of Fisk Tower, Luke's private living room.
Luke, who returned to the room, did not lose the smile on his face.
"Interesting."
He walked to the wine cabinet and poured a glass of ice water.
At the moment of contacting Natasha just now, although he didn't read memories.
But through induction, he copied one of her core abilities.
[Master-level disguise and micro-expression control].
This was a skill that could instantly control heartbeat, blood flow rate, and even pupil contraction. For him, it was like adding wings to a tiger.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ace agent acting as my secretary, this kind of treatment... tsk tsk."
Luke took a sip of water, in a pleasant mood.
But he knew this was just the calm before the storm.
Natasha's coming meant that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s gaze had locked onto him.
And over on Tony's side, he was probably frantically studying new elements.
The wheels of the plot were rolling forward.
"Next, is to wait."
Luke walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling Manhattan.
His gaze seemed to penetrate layers of buildings, seeing Peter Parker rushing around for a living.
Seeing Wanda trying to contact new friends, and also seeing the one-eyed dragon hiding in the dark, peeping at all this.
"You want to watch a show, then I will put on a big show for you."
Luke reached out and pressed against the bulletproof glass.
Sizzle!
The black fluid spread instantly, dyeing the whole piece of glass pitch black.
"But before that…"
"I have to go replenish energy first."
His gaze was cast toward the dark corners of the city, where countless sins lurked, and countless biomass lurked as well.
For him, this city was still a huge cafeteria.
And now, it was time to eat.
Chapter 30: A Buffet is Meant to Be Eaten in Large Bites
The night in Manhattan is always chopped into pieces by neon lights.
But in Hells Kitchen, the night has only one color, and that is red.
A black sedan without any license plates slowly parked outside an abandoned slaughterhouse.
This was the temporary stronghold of the Irish mob and the Russian mob.
Ever since Kingpin disappeared and Fisk Tower got a new master, these gang bosses, who used to be suppressed to the point of breathlessness by Kingpin, quickly gathered together.
They were unwilling to submit to a nobody who had suddenly popped up, nor did they want to give up the fat piece of meat that was Hells Kitchen.
Inside the slaughterhouse, smoke billowed.
"Wesley said the new boss doesn't want to see blood."
A fierce-looking Russian smashed the wine bottle in his hand heavily onto the table, glass shards splashing all over the floor.
"Doesn't want to see blood? Ha! In Hells Kitchen, how can you set the rules without seeing blood?"
"That's right!"
An Irishman wearing a duck-tongue cap chimed in from the side, toying with a butterfly knife in his hand.
"I heard the new boss is a pretty boy, and he even brought along two newly adult kids. I guess it's some rich second-generation heir wanting to come here to play mafia games."
"We need to let him know this isn't an amusement park!"
"We'll make our move tonight! Burn down his warehouse, and if he dares to come out, break his legs!"
A group of desperadoes let out arrogant laughter.
However, they didn't notice that a skylight above the slaughterhouse was melting silently.
Just like a candle scorched by high temperature, black fluid dripped down, gathering into a human shape on the crossbeam.
Luke crouched on the crossbeam, his black casual clothes almost invisible in the shadows.
He looked down at the noisy fellows below, his pupils devoid of any emotion.
"Since you're all in such a hurry to die, I'll grant your wish."
Luke muttered softly to himself.
The virus inside his body was restless; right now, he was very hungry.
"Hoo!"
Luke took a deep breath, and then leaped forward!
"Boom!!!"
With a loud crash, it was like a meteorite falling to the ground!
Luke slammed heavily into the center of the conference table, the table instantly shattering with wood chips flying everywhere!
The huge shockwave directly blew away several gang bosses sitting around the table, slamming them heavily into the wall where they passed out on the spot.
"Who is it?!"
"Enemy attack!!"
After all, they were thugs who licked blood off the edge of a blade. The outer lackeys reacted very quickly, instantly pulling out various weapons and aiming the muzzles of their submachine guns at the center of the dust and smoke.
"Is this how you treat your guests?"
The dust and smoke cleared.
Luke slowly straightened his body.
At this moment, he was no longer in human form.
Black biomass armor covered his entire body, the bone spurs on his shoulders were ferocious and terrifying, and the blood-red eyes beneath his mask drew two red light trails in the dim light.
"Monster!!"
"Fire! Kill him!"
"Ta ta ta ta ta!"
Dense gunshots instantly resounded through the slaughterhouse.
Countless bullets poured onto Luke.
However, this scene appeared incomparably ridiculous in Luke's eyes.
"Too weak."
Luke couldn't be bothered to put up a shield.
The bullets hit the black stratum corneum, only splashing tiny, insignificant sparks before the tough muscle fibers squeezed and deformed, falling to the ground.
"Since you guys are done shooting, it's my turn."
Luke raised his right hand.
"Whip fist!"
"Swish!"
His entire right arm instantly liquefied, and then he whipped it out fiercely!
A black long whip more than ten meters long swept across the entire scene with a roaring wind!
The whip blade was extremely sharp. Wherever it passed, whether firearms, iron drums, or human bodies, everything was split in two!
"Ahhhhh!"
Screams rose one after another.
With just a single strike, the originally noisy slaughterhouse became half-quiet.
The remaining thugs were scared silly.
They had seen ruthless people, seen perverts, and even seen Kingpin crush someone's head with his bare hands.
But they had never seen this kind of killing machine that walked out of a sci-fi horror movie!
"Run! Run quickly!"
Not knowing who shouted, the remaining people dropped their weapons and rushed toward the door like madmen.
"Running?"
Luke tilted his head, a low sneer emanating from beneath his face mask.
"The buffet has begun; who allowed the ingredients to leave the plate by themselves?"
"Thousands of tentacles..."
Luke slightly bent his legs and slammed his hands fiercely against the ground!
"End everything!!"
"Rumble!!"
The ground instantly cracked open!
Countless sharp black ground spikes shot out from underground, like a blooming jungle of thorns!
The fleeing people were instantly impaled and hung high up, blood flowing down along the black spikes and staining the ground red.
But this wasn't over yet.
For Luke, killing was just a process.
"Devour."
Luke's mind stirred.
Those black tentacles piercing human bodies suddenly came alive.
They began to writhe and started to secrete a certain digestive enzyme.
The corpses hanging above shriveled up at a speed visible to the naked eye, all the biomass essence pouring continuously into Luke's body along the tentacles.
[Ingesting high-quality protein... Energy reserve +1%...+2%...]
[Ingesting adrenaline... Cellular activity enhanced...]
[Acquired memory fragments: smuggling route map, armory location, bank passwords...]
Waves of warmth surged within his body.
Luke felt as if he had received sweet dew after a long drought; his body, somewhat depleted due to frequent use of his abilities, was rapidly filling back up.
The thrill of becoming stronger was more addictive than anything else.
A few minutes later.
Luke retracted his tentacles.
The slaughterhouse became empty; apart from clothes and weapons all over the floor, not even a single drop of blood was left.
A completely clean sweep.
"Hoo..."
Luke removed his face mask, revealing his handsome face.
At this time, his complexion was rosy and his eyes were bright.
"Seventy percent full."
Luke shrugged.
"However, the quality of the dishes here is too poor; it's all junk food."
He glanced disdainfully at the firearms on the ground.
"People with superpowers taste better; high-energy entities like Electro are the real meal."
"But it doesn't matter."
Luke walked to the door of the slaughterhouse, pushed open the heavy doors, and took a deep breath.
"This is just an appetizer."
"Next, it's time to go see if my newly arrived beautiful secretary has brought me any surprises."
...
Meanwhile.
In Manhattan, inside a one-bedroom apartment of a safe house.
Natasha Romanoff was sitting in front of the computer.
She had taken off her daytime professional attire and changed into a form-fitting black combat suit.
On the screen was an encrypted communication channel.
"Director, I have successfully started my job."
Natasha said into the headset, her fingers tapping quickly on the keyboard as she attempted to hack into the internal network of Fisk Tower.
"How is the situation?" Nick Fury's voice came through.
"Very strange."
Natasha frowned.
"Luke gives me a very contradictory feeling."
"He clearly possesses the ability to kill me easily. During the interview, his gaze made me feel like I was a transparent person. Yet he pretended to know nothing and was even flirting with me."
"He's playing a game." Fury's voice was very deep.
"He is confident, confident to the point of believing you can be controlled by him."
"That's what I think, too."
Natasha looked at the "Access Denied" text displayed on the screen and sighed somewhat helplessly.
"Moreover, this building's network defense is simply airtight. This is not an ordinary firewall at all; I suspect there are traces of artificial intelligence inside, possibly even a variant of Jarvis."
"Stark..." Fury frowned.
"Is it him?"
Just then, Natasha's screen suddenly flickered.
A red warning box popped up.
But it wasn't a firewall alert, but a high-frequency bulletin from the police channel.
[Breaking: A large-scale unexplained missing persons case occurred at the slaughterhouse in the West District of Hells Kitchen!]
[No corpses were found at the scene, but there are massive traces of gunfire! Preliminarily determined to be a gang shootout!]
"What is it?" Fury heard the alarm sound.
"Something happened in Hells Kitchen."