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The phones at the New York City Police Department were ringing off the hook.
Some were inquiring about the whereabouts of the more than five thousand prisoners.
Some were complaining and condemning the New York Police for their incompetence.
Some were angrily criticizing Ravencroft Prison and the New York Police for their inefficiency…
In short, the sudden surge of public opinion immediately drew the high attention of various high-ranking officials, who immediately organized a large number of Police forces to conduct repeated carpet searches of all possible hiding places for prisoners throughout New York City.
In fact, after the incident last night, the Police had already launched a corresponding search.
However, at that time, in order not to cause unnecessary panic, the higher-ups specifically ordered the Police not to carry out the operation in a high-profile manner, but to act secretly.
However, an entire night passed, and the Police still found nothing, as if the thousands of prisoners and Vulture Adrian Toomes had never existed, leaving no trace.
But who would have thought that even if the Police high command used various methods to seal off the news, it was still exposed by the well-informed The Daily Bugle during the morning news segment.
The high-ranking officials were almost angered to death on the spot, but they were helpless against The Daily Bugle, which had a deep background.
After all, the now-popular Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross had publicly stated before that he liked The Daily Bugle's "daring to be first" style.
Cannot afford to offend, this is truly cannot afford to offend!
However, for the Police officers carrying out search missions at the lower levels, The Daily Bugle's revelation was a good thing.
Because they could finally act without restraint and conduct searches in a high-profile manner.
Thus, before long, a large number of Police cars roared out from Police stations in various parts of New York.
Police sirens blared one after another, echoing through the streets and alleys.
Large numbers of Police officers conducted house-to-house searches, meticulously checking every corner, determined not to let go of any place where criminals might be hiding.
And the instigator of this matter—Eddie Brock—was currently acting as if nothing had happened, sitting at home, watching The Daily Bugle's news reports while leisurely eating breakfast with a contented expression.
A smug smile was on his face, as if he was admiring his masterpiece.
"Hehe, it seems that using Adrian Toomes as bait was indeed a wise move!"
"But this is only the beginning; it won't be long before I have an unmatched Symbiote army, and then… I can officially exact my revenge on Karl Merks!!"
After finishing breakfast, Eddie Brock tidied up briefly, then put on his jacket and hat, preparing to leave his home and head to S.H.I.E.L.D. to clock in for work.
But just at this moment.
"Boom~~Boom~~Boom!!!"
Accompanied by a rapid knocking sound, Black Widow's cold voice rang out from outside the door, "Eddie Brock, open the door!!"
Hearing the knocking, Eddie Brock showed no hint of panic on his face, slowly opened the door, looked at Black Widow outside, and deliberately feigned ignorance, asking knowingly:
"Agent Romanoff, is there something urgent you need to see me about so early?"
A faint smile even hung on the corner of his mouth, attempting to create a relaxed atmosphere.
Outside the door, Black Widow stood tall, her eyes as sharp as an eagle's. She did not immediately answer Eddie Brock's question, but instead pulled out a strange instrument from her ample bosom, shaped like a temperature gun with a phone-sized smart LCD screen at the tail.
Her movements were swift and practiced as she first scanned Eddie Brock's entire body, her eyes fixed on the LCD screen of the instrument, not missing any subtle changes.
Upon seeing no abnormal reactions feedback on the display, Black Widow's brows couldn't help but furrow, as if that wasn't the result she wanted.
Then, she quickly pulled out two thumb-sized circular patches from her pocket, moving as fast as lightning. Before Eddie Brock could react, she directly stuck the patches behind his ears.
"Buzzing—"
Strong and sharp noise was released from the two special circular patches behind Eddie Brock's ears.
This sudden noise, like a sharp knife, stabbed directly into Eddie Brock's head.
"Ah, you… what exactly are you doing?!"
Eddie Brock clutched his head in pain, his features distorted by the agony, but he still looked at Black Widow with a mixture of confusion and anger.
However, what responded to him was a dark gun barrel.
Black Widow gripped the gun with one hand, the muzzle steadily aimed at Eddie Brock's forehead, her tone firm and unquestionable, "Don't move, otherwise I have the right to blow your brains out on the spot."
Her voice was devoid of any warmth.
Black Widow carefully observed the changes in Eddie Brock, her eyes unblinking.
Her gaze revealed professionalism and focus, not missing any subtle expression or movement from Eddie Brock.
It wasn't until a minute later, when the other party's robust body had collapsed to the ground, unable to bear the torment, that she stopped the noise playback with a complex expression.
She swiftly removed the two circular devices from behind Eddie Brock's ears, but she had no intention of explaining anything to him. She merely said plainly, under Eddie Brock's furious gaze, "Get ready, and come with me. Director Fury wants to see you!"
Seeing this, Eddie Brock said nothing more. He gritted his teeth, slowly got up, and followed Black Widow out of the apartment.
However, from an angle no one could see, a subtly smug and evil curve played at the corner of his mouth.
It was clear that Eddie Brock had long guessed that Nick Fury would immediately suspect him after learning of the appearance of other Symbiote Warriors.
And being well-prepared for this, he had once again successfully bluffed his way through!
What Black Widow and Nick Fury did not know was that, as Nall's personally bestowed Void Knight, the Loyalist Symbiotes temporarily residing within Eddie Brock could, to a certain extent, ignore medium and low-intensity sound wave attacks.
They would not, like ordinary Symbiotes, immediately separate from their host's body after being affected by sound waves.
This way, no one knew that he was the creator of that terrifying incident at Ravencroft Prison.
Nor could anyone foresee what terrifying crisis New York City would face next…
Beneath this seemingly calm surface, an undercurrent was surging.
And all those missing prisoners, under Eddie Brock's control, were hidden in the city's shadows, awaiting his next command.
These prisoners, hosting Loyalist Symbiotes, were like vicious wolves lurking in the darkness, ready to launch a fatal attack on the city at any moment.
… …
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Warm sunlight gently streamed into Gwen's room, as if coating everything in a golden hue.
Gwen got out of her warm bed as usual, rubbed her sleepy eyes, stretched, then washed up and sat in the living room.
Milk oatmeal and toast were on the dining table. She ate while idly flipping through TV channels, her eyes showing the unique ease and languor of a teenage girl.
However, when she tuned into The Daily Bugle's paid column channel, the screen prominently displayed reports about the "Ravencroft Prison Incident."
Gwen hadn't initially cared much, as for such a large-scale collective disappearance of prisoners, the Police would surely investigate thoroughly, so she didn't need to worry too much.
She casually glanced at the screen, then continued to enjoy her breakfast.
However, as the news gradually drew to a close and broadcast a suspect's portrait that was officially wanted by the Police, the girl, who inadvertently scanned that face, instantly widened her eyes, and the spoon in her hand fell into the bowl with a "clatter," splattering milk and oatmeal all over the table.
However, at this moment, Gwen was no longer in the mood to care about such things. She stared intently at the photo of the wanted criminal on the screen.
Because the person wanted on it was Adrian Toomes, whom she had personally let go before!!
Gwen's slightly baby-fat face trembled slightly with anger, and her beautiful eyes were filled with endless remorse.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!"
Gwen cursed loudly, her fists unconsciously clenching, her knuckles turning white from the effort.
A strong feeling of regret surged in her heart, regretting that she had actually believed his nonsense about "wanting to be a good father" and, soft-hearted for a moment, let Adrian Toomes go.
She never expected her good intentions to backfire, causing this terrible tragedy.
Gwen abruptly stood up and began pacing back and forth in the living room, muttering to herself, "I can't let this go on. I have to do something."
Her eyes gradually became resolute.
However, just as Gwen was about to set off immediately to the Police station to ask Sheriff Frank Castle for more specific inside information, her phone suddenly rang.
Gwen glanced at the caller ID; it was Peter Parker calling.
"Hello, Peter, is something wrong?"
"Uh… that, Gwen, did you see The Daily Bugle news this morning?"
Peter Parker's cautious inquiry came from the phone, his voice filled with deep concern.
"Yes, I already know."
Gwen couldn't help but frown, already guessing what Peter Parker was about to say, but she was in no mood to listen to his comfort right now.
Because compared to comfort, she just wanted to find Adrian Toomes as soon as possible to make up for the mistake she had made earlier.
So, before the stammering Peter Parker on the other end could offer comfort, she hurriedly said, "Peter, I have something I need to go out for right away. We'll talk later."
With that, she directly hung up the phone.
However, before she could put her phone back in her pocket, a text message had already arrived.
The sender was still Peter Parker.
Gwen hesitated for a moment, but ultimately picked up her phone and opened the message.
Just as she had guessed, Peter Parker tried his best to comfort her in the message, writing:
"Gwen, please don't blame yourself too much. This is entirely because the enemy was too cunning; no one could have imagined that Adrian Toomes would be so unrepentant… The current outcome has nothing to do with you. Please don't feel burdened by it. I believe you let him go purely out of kindness and good intentions… Please don't let this affect your mood. No matter what happens, I will always be by your side."
The signature was: Your forever good friend—Peter Parker!!
Peter Parker's single for twenty years hand speed was truly not to be underestimated; he managed to compose such a long message in just a few seconds.
And as Gwen read these somewhat clumsy words of comfort, the expression on her face softened slightly, and the remorse in her eyes also faded a bit.
But she still wasn't in the mood to reply to Peter Parker's kind gesture. Instead, she simply shoved her phone into her pocket, then put on her Spider-Woman suit and jumped directly out the window.
Using her webs to swing, she swiftly moved between the tall buildings of the city with agile movements.
The sunlight fell on her, outlining her lithe figure.
Although acting during the day made it easy to expose her whereabouts, Gwen was not considering such things anymore.
At this moment, she had only one thought: to quickly learn more information about Adrian Toomes and then personally deal with this dangerous individual.
Ten minutes later.
In front of an alley outside the Queens Police Station.
Sheriff Frank Castle first looked around the alley entrance, his gaze vigilant, glancing left and right. After confirming that no one was paying attention to the area, he then hurried into the alley.
"G… Spider-Woman?"
Sheriff Frank Castle softly called out into the empty alley, and a graceful figure instantly dropped from above him, which was, of course, Gwen.
Her movements were light, like a nimble little bird.
"Spider-Woman, what urgent matter do you have to see me about in such a hurry?"
"Sheriff, I want to learn more details about the Ravencroft Prison incident, especially regarding Vulture Adrian Toomes…"
Gwen thought for a moment and added firmly, "I know the Police are looking for him. I think I might be able to help."
But who would have thought that Sheriff Frank Castle would frown and say very seriously, "Spider-Woman, that man is extremely dangerous. I advise you not to get involved. We, the Police, will handle it."
His gaze towards Gwen was filled with concern and worry.
However, facing the refusal, Gwen stubbornly refused to give up and said somewhat eagerly, "Sheriff, I can't just stand by and watch that guy continue to do evil…"