◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews.
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones. or 500 Collections
◇ You can read 90 chapter ahead on P@treon of which 10 are free Chapters. if you're interested: patreon.com/Heroicverse
------------------------------------------------
"I'm sorry, Lizz and you were implicated…"
Vulture Adrian Toomes's voice was low and hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing on a rough wooden board. He gently stroked his wife's hair and said with a face full of self-reproach, "But please, you must believe me, the matter at Ravencroft Prison really has nothing to do with me."
The Pirate woman named Qirui slowly looked up, her eyes teary as she gazed at her husband, "I don't understand. If you didn't do it, why don't you come forward and explain clearly to the police?"
Her voice carried a hint of a sob and resentment, "Do you know that since the incident, Lizz and I haven't dared to go anywhere except stay at home? There are police officers outside the house 24 hours a day, monitoring our every move…"
Vulture Adrian Toomes felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if an invisible hand had gripped it tightly. He could only say "I'm sorry" with immense guilt.
Outside the window, moonlight streamed through the curtain gaps, cutting cold silver lines on the floor, but it couldn't illuminate the gloom in his heart.
But for the sake of his family's safety, he absolutely couldn't expose the culprit hiding behind the scenes.
What's more, he still didn't know the other party's true identity!
He couldn't possibly tell the police when he surrendered that the person who caused the "Ravencroft Prison Incident" was a Symbiote Warrior named Void Knight, could he?
Even if he said it, how many people would believe him?
In the end, the police would most likely push him out as a scapegoat for trial, to appease the public's anger.
So, even if he was truly prepared to surrender, it would definitely be after he had clarified the true identity of Void Knight.
Thinking of this, Vulture Adrian Toomes's eyes became even more determined. He secretly vowed in his heart to protect his family and simultaneously uncover the truth behind the entire incident.
"I'm sorry, my dear, I can't go to the police station to surrender yet…"
Vulture Adrian Toomes shook his head helplessly at his wife in his arms, his voice filled with an unresolvable bitterness, and said with a face full of guilt:
"I can't tell you the specific situation right now, but I can assure you that those bloody incidents were not caused by me."
"Please give me some more time; I will definitely be able to prove my innocence and let you and Lizz live a good life…"
However, before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a sudden "Daddy" from the bedroom doorway.
A tall Pirate girl, wearing Winnie the Pooh pajamas, looked tearfully at Vulture Adrian Toomes. Then, like a wanderer returning home, she threw herself into his arms.
"Daddy, I knew you wouldn't abandon me and Mommy."
"Child, I'm sorry, you've suffered during this time…"
Vulture Adrian Toomes's voice became slightly choked, his throat feeling as if it were blocked by a wad of cotton. If there was anyone in this World he couldn't let go of, it was definitely the girl in front of him.
"It's okay."
The girl looked up, her face still streaked with tears, and looked at her father with an extremely puzzled expression, "But Daddy, why does the news say that all those prison guards in Ravencroft Prison were killed by you? What exactly happened?"
"Child, believe me, your father is definitely not someone who likes to kill innocent people indiscriminately."
Vulture Adrian Toomes had to explain again, "I can assure you, I am not involved in the deaths of those people. In fact, I am also a victim…"
"Child, I'm sorry, I have to go… I just came back to see you two. Knowing that you are safe and sound puts my mind at ease."
"Mm, Daddy, I believe you."
A glint of cunning flashed quickly in the girl's eyes. She immediately pulled Vulture Adrian Toomes, who was about to leave, and dragged him to sit on the bed, continuing to press him:
"But… Daddy, can you tell me what exactly happened in Ravencroft Prison that day?"
"This…"
Vulture Adrian Toomes forced a stiff smile, reached out to gently stroke his daughter's beautiful hair, and shook his head helplessly:
"I'm sorry, I can't tell you what happened there yet, because it could very likely put you and your mother in a very dangerous situation."
The girl's face clearly showed a hint of disappointment upon hearing this, but she was very well-behaved and didn't press the issue further, just pouting unhappily and saying:
"Alright then, can you tell me where you've been all these days?"
"Mommy and I worry about your safety every day, but we can't contact you at all, and even the police don't know your whereabouts…"
Upon hearing this, Vulture Adrian Toomes couldn't help but show a wry smile and shook his head helplessly again. He couldn't say that either.
However, for some reason, he always felt that his daughter seemed a little different today than usual.
But just as Vulture Adrian Toomes was struggling to cope with a barrage of questions from his daughter, who had turned into a 'curious baby,' high above New York, Nick Fury, having received the notification, immediately assembled several members of the New Avengers Alliance.
This naturally did not include the suspected Eddie Brock, nor Tony Stark and Reed Richards, who were currently helping the PPDC Organization develop the Ultron System.
"So… our target this time is the guy who caused the disappearance of nearly five thousand prisoners from Ravencroft Prison?"
Invisible Woman Susan Stone looked at Nick Fury with a hesitant gaze. He nodded slightly, then said to everyone:
"That's right. According to the message sent back by the Agent I sent to monitor Vulture Adrian Toomes's family, Vulture Adrian Toomes has just returned home. We must seize this opportunity to capture him before the police and then find out the origin of the Symbiote on him!"
"That's what I wanted to ask." At this moment, Captain America, with a complex expression, interrupted, "Fury, don't you think the timing of these Symbiote Warriors appearing this time is a bit too coincidental?"
"What do you want to say, Captain?"
Nick Fury's face darkened as he looked at Captain America, who dared to interrupt him, but Captain America met his gaze without flinching and said word by word:
"As far as I know, all these recent frequent attacks involving Symbiote Warriors have only occurred after your S.H.I.E.L.D. captured those Symbiotes from outer space…"
"Since you now want us to help you solve this big problem, then Fury, I hope you can tell us truthfully, is this 'Symbiote Crisis' something your S.H.I.E.L.D. caused by an accident during human experiments?!"
"Just like the Life Foundation back then…"
Black Widow, Hawkeye, and others on the side looked at Captain America with surprise, silently giving him a thumbs up in their hearts.
He had asked the question they had always wanted to ask but didn't dare to speak.
Seemingly feeling his authority questioned, Nick Fury's expression grew even darker.
But he also knew very well that if he couldn't give Captain America… no, rather than Captain America, it was all members of the New Avengers Alliance. If he couldn't give them a satisfactory answer now, he feared that the rift between them would deepen even further!
So he suppressed the anger surging in his heart and patiently explained to everyone:
"Captain, no matter how you view me and S.H.I.E.L.D., what I want to tell you is… I am not an unfeeling monster!"
No, you are!!
Almost everyone silently denied it in their hearts.
"Perhaps for you, what I'm about to say might be difficult to understand, but S.H.I.E.L.D.'s purpose in capturing Symbiotes from outer space is to better protect Earth and prevent the tragedy of Washington from happening again!"
Nick Fury paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone's faces one by one. But what disappointed him somewhat was that the anticipated 'empathy' did not appear; instead, he saw expressions of resistance and doubt on their faces.
Alas, the team is scattered, it's hard to lead!
"This time, we captured a total of 12 Symbiotes from outer space… At this stage, all 12 of these Symbiotes are being used in the pilot selection for the Titan Hunter Mecha Project."
"All experimental processes were conducted under my close supervision, and no accidents occurred during that time."
"So, I can tell you with 100% certainty that the Symbiote on Vulture Adrian Toomes, as well as the Symbiote Warriors who have been frequently appearing in New York recently to carry out attacks, are absolutely unrelated to our S.H.I.E.L.D."
"However, to prevent larger-scale attacks from happening, we need to find out their origin as soon as possible before those 'monsters' completely lose control…"
At this point, Nick Fury turned his gaze to Captain America and earnestly persuaded him, "Captain, we need your help now. No one is better suited to lead a team than you."
Captain America slowly stood up and couldn't help but say before leaving, "Fury, although I really want to thank you for your trust, if you place all your hopes of capturing that Symbiote Warrior on me, then the outcome will depend on your luck."
"After all… that guy can fly!!"
Human Torch stood up and followed behind Captain America, saying with a playful smile, "Captain, can I say that your joke just now wasn't very funny?"
Captain America politely shook his fist at him, "No, young man, you cannot!"
…
"Qirui, Lizz, I'll be back to see you in a while."
Vulture Adrian Toomes, who had finally escaped the barrage of questions from his daughter, who had transformed into a 'curious baby,' stood in the backyard, reluctantly waving goodbye to his wife and daughter who were standing at the doorway.
He had only returned this time simply to see his family and confirm their safety, so he couldn't stay here for too long.
Otherwise, it might cause unnecessary trouble for his wife and daughter, making things even worse!
But just as Vulture Adrian Toomes was about to summon the wings on his back and leave, an unfamiliar, resonant voice suddenly rang out from the dark courtyard.
"Sir, if you continue to evade, it will only make your wife and daughter's situation even worse…"
Captain America, holding his round shield, slowly emerged from the darkness. He first glanced at Vulture Adrian Toomes's wife and daughter, who were huddled together and trembling at the back door due to his appearance, and then looked at Vulture Adrian Toomes, earnestly persuading him:
"I've already learned about your past experiences, but if you don't want your wife and daughter to continue worrying about you, then come back to S.H.I.E.L.D. with me?"
"I can assure you that you will receive a fair trial there."
"If you can prove that you are not involved in the incident at Ravencroft Prison, you will have a great chance to regain your freedom."
Although Vulture Adrian Toomes was certainly no stranger to a well-known 'great hero' like Captain America, he didn't believe the righteous words the other party had just spoken, and he shouted somewhat paranoically:
"No, I know your S.H.I.E.L.D. too well! You are no different from that greedy Stark Industries… You just want the Symbiote on me!!"
Sigh, I'm so tired!
Nick Fury, look, how much has S.H.I.E.L.D.'s reputation declined under your leadership?
Seeing this, Captain America said with a grave expression, "Sir, if you continue to be so stubborn, I believe it won't be long before your brain is completely controlled by that evil Symbiote, turning you into a walking corpse that only knows how to kill!"
"No, I will never turn into that kind of monster."
Vulture Adrian Toomes roared angrily, "I can control it, and it can bring me great power!"
"Sir, that's just your wishful thinking. You think you can control it…"
Captain America shook his head slightly and said earnestly, "The former head of the Life Foundation, and other Symbiote hosts, all thought so too."
"But facts have proven that they all failed in the end… As of now, only Mr. Karl Merks has succeeded."
"But you must understand one truth: in this World, there is and only one Karl Merks. You cannot become the second."
"So, I'm sorry, I won't let you take that Symbiote away today!"
Upon hearing this, Vulture Adrian Toomes's face twisted into a ferocious expression. With a roar, the black Symbiote covered his entire body like a surging tide in the blink of an eye, and he said viciously:
"Captain America, stop pretending to be so hypocritical…"
"This is my Symbiote. I don't need anyone's permission to take it away!"