Chapter 177: Natasha
Order had finally returned to the area around the clinic.
The bodies had been removed, the police barricades dismantled, and although a few vehicles and scattered personnel still lingered on the street, the tense atmosphere from earlier had completely dissipated. The city had resumed its illusion of normalcy.
The chest the cult had brought as "payment" had also been carried into the clinic.
Ethan stood before it, his emotions complicated.
Inside were an astonishing number of gold coins—likely the accumulated wealth of the cult over several decades.
But no amount of money could improve his mood.
He was alive.
He wasn't injured.
The clinic was unharmed.
The cult had been wiped out.
And he had even gained an entire chest of gold.
Judging purely by the outcome, the incident had practically been a net profit.
The only thing he'd truly lost...
...was his dignity.
He had been kidnapped.
Forced to cooperate.
Ethan closed the lid of the chest without another glance.
Originally, he'd planned to unleash every trick he had, fight back with everything at his disposal, and take his revenge himself.
Instead, before he could even reveal half of his abilities, someone else had already erased the enemy.
Seriously... what the hell was wrong with that cult?
When they were bullying him…they acted invincible.
Then real heavyweights showed up...
Game over.
Instant annihilation.
What was that supposed to mean?
Didn't it just make him look incredibly weak by comparison?
The thought left Ethan feeling deeply frustrated.
He shoved the chest into a corner before turning toward Natasha.
John had already left to deal with the aftermath.
Eve had departed as well.
Helen was tied up at the reception desk, fielding countless questions and explanations. She clearly wouldn't be free anytime soon.
That left only Ethan and their unexpected guest with a rare moment of peace.
Natasha shifted slightly to the side, making room toward the examination room.
"If you don't mind," she said calmly,
"I'd like to speak with you privately for a few minutes."
Her tone was exceptionally polite.
Ethan remained where he was, not moving immediately, as though trying to suppress the lingering emotions inside him.
Natasha didn't rush him.
She stood by the window, quietly watching the street outside as order gradually returned.
Her posture was relaxed, yet there wasn't the slightest hint of carelessness about her.
After a long moment, Ethan finally nodded.
"All right."
The two of them walked into the examination room together.
As Ethan settled back into his familiar chair, his emotions slowly calmed.
Being surrounded by the clinic's familiar atmosphere helped him slip back into the mindset of a doctor.
He looked up at Natasha.
He had to admit—
She was almost unfairly beautiful.
After all, she was the legendary Black Widow. Whether it was her appearance or her commanding presence, she more than lived up to her reputation.
The only issue...
...was her age.
By now...
She should be around eighty years old.
Good grief.
Even counting both his lifetimes, he should technically be calling her "Aunt."
Ethan pursed his lips as his eyes lingered briefly on her elegant face and athletic figure.
Then another thought crossed his mind.
Eighty or not...
Honestly... I don't think I'd mind.
Besides, no one would dare ask Natasha Romanoff how old she really was.
Ask that question, and you'd probably be attending your own funeral shortly afterward.
Natasha didn't avoid his gaze.
If anything, she seemed to notice exactly what he was thinking, the corners of her lips lifting ever so slightly.
"You seem to be in a much better mood now."
"You're not as angry anymore."
Ethan came back to his senses and shrugged.
"Life goes on."
"You can't stay trapped in the past or drown yourself in hatred forever."
He paused before adding,
"Besides... they're already dead."
"It's not like I can resurrect them just to kill them all over again."
The moment the words left his mouth...
He froze.
...Wait.
Thinking about it carefully...
That actually wasn't impossible.
It would be a little troublesome.
The bodies would have to be transported back to the places where they originally died.
And he'd have to make sure nobody saw it happen.
But technically...
It was completely feasible.
Where were the bodies taken?
They haven't already been cremated... have they?
Natasha watched him with growing confusion.
The man had somehow managed to drift off into his own thoughts halfway through a conversation.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Nothing."
Ethan waved his hand dismissively.
Then, as casually as he could manage, he asked,
"If I'm not mistaken... you work for the government, don't you?"
Natasha didn't deny it.
"Yes."
"An agent?"
"That's right."
"I thought so."
Ethan nodded, apparently satisfied by her straightforwardness.
"Oh, by the way..."
"Where were those bodies taken?"
"The morgue," Natasha answered matter-of-factly.
"They'll remain there for several days while photographs are taken and evidence is processed."
"After that, they'll most likely be cremated together."
Ethan fell silent for a second.
"...Could you have them brought back?"
Natasha frowned.
"Brought back? Why?"
Ethan thought for a moment before answering with complete sincerity.
"I need them."
"...?"
That answer clearly wasn't something any normal person would expect.
Natasha's expression changed instantly.
She stared at him in shock.
"You mean you want to—"
"No."
Ethan cut her off immediately before she could let her imagination run wild.
"Not what you're thinking."
"I just want to ask them a few questions."
"And after that?" Natasha asked bluntly.
After that?
Well...
After that, everyone would go their separate ways.
Natasha looked at him with an increasingly complicated expression, as though she were reevaluating him from scratch.
Several seconds later, she let out a quiet sigh.
"...Let's put that topic aside for now."
"We can discuss it later."
She paused before changing the subject.
"What concerns me more is what you plan to do from here."
"Me?"
Ethan pointed at himself.
"I'll keep running my clinic."
"Treat patients."
"Save lives."
"And keep paying off my mortgage."
Natasha's expression grew noticeably more serious.
"You've been a target for a long time."
"And not just for the people who came after you today."
The smile slowly disappeared from Ethan's face.
"What happened today was unfortunate," Natasha continued.
"But it also forced you to recognize something."
"Your abilities."
"Your value."
"They are risks in and of themselves."
"If you continue pursuing the kind of unrestricted freedom you've enjoyed until now..."
"...the danger will only continue to grow."
Ethan leaned back in his chair and remained silent.
Of course he understood what she meant.
He'd simply never believed it was much of a problem.
After all...
Who would go after a doctor?
Today's kidnapping had given him a painfully clear answer.
"So?" he asked quietly.
Natasha shifted slightly, her gaze drifting toward the examination room door.
"So..."
"I'd like to assist with your daily life and handle your external affairs."
Ethan blinked.
"My daily life..."
"...and external affairs?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"That includes communications with outside parties, scheduling, security assessments, and logistical coordination."
She met his eyes.
"This isn't about monitoring you."
"It's about protecting you."
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
He lowered his gaze to the desk.
He'd originally planned to spend his life quietly using the Holy Light, treating patients, and living peacefully.
How had things somehow turned into this?
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