Ch: 21-30
Chapter 21 – The Stark Industries Traitor, Tony's Fury!
Karl tapped the keyboard a few times and unlocked the computer.
Earlier he'd had the Ghost Shadow Ninja keep watch over everything inside and outside the cave—including this tent. The ninja had seen the bald chieftain type the password with perfect clarity.
After pulling up a file, Karl hooked a wicked grin and gestured grandly to Tony. "Be my guest, genius—take a look at the 'surprise' I prepared for you."
The moment Tony stepped in he recognized the tent as the one belonging to that self-proclaimed Ten Rings chieftain.
His eyes bored into the monitor; he already knew what was inside.
If he was right, this was the smoking gun behind the ambush two months ago.
During nearly three months in the cave, Tony had wondered how the Military's secret route had been leaked to the Terrorists.
Only a handful of people knew the safe itinerary—someone among them had sold him out.
Yet every name on his mental list seemed to lack a motive.
First, the Military: apart from the convoy led by Rhodes, only top brass had advance knowledge, and they were Stark Industries' biggest customers, scrambling each year for his newest weapons—no reason to bite the hand that fed them.
That left Stark Industries' second-in-command, Obadiah Stane, his personal secretary Pepper Potts, and driver-bodyguard Happy.
The first had toiled for Stark since his father's day, keeping the company afloat while Tony drowned himself in grief after his parents' death—the uncle who'd dragged him back from the abyss.
The other two had stood by him for years, even decades; secretary and bodyguard in name, they were family—Pepper and Happy.
In Tony's mind, none of the three could ever betray him.
Now the answer sat in front of him, and for a moment he couldn't bear to look.
He was terrified of seeing any of their names on that screen.
But Tony wasn't the type to run. He hesitated only a second, then stepped forward and opened the file.
Inside were a video and hundreds of transaction records—two decades' worth of arms deals between Stark Industries and the Ten Rings.
The mere sight of the records turned Tony's face black with rage.
He had never authorized a single one; he hadn't even known Stark sold to the Ten Rings.
Back in Howard Stark's day, the company had been expressly forbidden to supply Terrorists.
Yet the earliest entries on the list began the very year his father died.
It proved one thing: there was a traitor inside Stark Industries.
And Tony already knew who it had to be.
Only one person could bypass both him and his father to ship Stark weapons to the Terrorists.
Tony drew a long breath and clicked the lone video.
The opening scene hit like a lightning strike.
The bald chieftain—whose throat Karl had since slit—stood pointing at an unconscious Tony while shouting Obadiah's name. Obadiah had lied, he ranted; they hadn't been told the target was Tony Stark, so the price had changed.
Pay up!
That bargain-hunting was part of why Tony was still alive.
Besides dumb luck, Obadiah's stinginess meant he hadn't revealed the real target, so when the Ten Rings realized whom they'd caught, they hadn't carried out the order to kill.
When the clip ended, Tony clenched his fist and slammed it into the steel table, denting it deep. Through gritted teeth he snarled, "Stane!!!"
Watching the wounded-Beast roar, Karl and Ethan knew better than to offer hollow comfort.
What Tony needed now wasn't consolation—he needed space.
And Tony's nerves were steel; he didn't let rage consume him. In minutes he was calm again.
He turned to Karl and asked quietly, "Tell me straight—why did you come to save me?"
Seeing the look that was half-accusation, half-plea for reassurance, Karl answered plainly:
"Money, of course. Your secretary Pepper Potts was disgusted by the company's inaction, so she posted a bounty with the underworld—ten million U.S. dollars, probably every cent she could scrape together."
"You know what my old man really does for a living, so the Fisk Family figured we might as well keep the cash in-house."
"But for me, the cash isn't the big prize."
"The second your disappearance tanked Stark stock, I sank everything I had into shares. Only if you come back can I turn that bet into a fortune."
Tony's taut face finally relaxed; a soft smile tugged at his lips. "Pepper…"
Someone in this World still cared. That was enough.
Still… Tony shot Karl an odd, hesitant glance.
Should he admit he planned to shut down Stark's weapons division the moment he got back? Karlmight lose every penny—might even decide to throttle him right now.
In the end, Tony told him anyway.
Karl had been straight with him; friends didn't lie.
To Tony's shock, Karl didn't flinch; his expression stayed flat-line calm.
So calm that Tony wondered if the kid had really bet everything after all.
When he asked why Karl wasn't furious, the answer sent his opinion of the man sky-high:
"I bought Stark shares not for the weapons, but because Stark Industries has you. As long as the great Tony Stark is around, I'll earn back a hundredfold—right?"
Pretty words—and Tony's mustache fairly twitched with delight.
Chapter 22: Having teamed up with Karl on the new-energy initiative, Tony returns to New York!
Tony stopped hiding anything.
He laid out his plan to storm the energy market and push Stark Industries forward—no, leap miles ahead—to Karl.
Someday the World might see the end of war and a shrinking need for weapons.
But it will never outgrow its hunger for energy; as technology advances, that hunger will only grow.
He had miniaturized the arc reactor tech his father Howard left behind right there in the cave, and Tonywas certain that, powered by the arc reactor, his entry into the new-energy field would sweep the globe and define an era.
When that happened, the profit from any weapons division would be pocket change by comparison.
Tony invited Karl to join the venture.
Karl wasn't about to turn down such an obvious gift of money and agreed on the spot.
He thumped his chest and told Tony to build and cash in with reckless abandon; he'd handle every obstacle in their way.
After witnessing Karl's bizarre, overwhelming power, Tony welcomed the offer.
With Karl as a super-partner, he'd never again have to fear a terror attack like the one he'd just endured.
Of course, he'd still develop the MK series to protect himself; having backup didn't mean he'd go back to being reckless.
He'd simply sleep easier with such a formidable ally.
The more they talked, the more Tony liked Karl; they might as well have been brothers from different mothers.
They shared the same wit, the same broad knowledge, the same roguish charm.
By the time they stepped out of the tent they had their arms over each other's shoulders, as close as blood brothers.
The Mark I armor drained too much power for the crude arc reactor in Tony's chest to keep it running long, so with Ethan and Karl's help he'd already removed it.
They didn't leave the suit behind, though; two Pincer Shadows carried it behind them.
At first Tony cried foul, insisting a being that rose from and was made of shadows defied science.
That lasted until Karl summoned a swarm of Ghost Shadow Ninjas from Tony's own shadow; then Tonyhad to admit the World simply wasn't scientific.
At Tony's request the ninjas wired the Ten Rings Gang's cave with explosives, and once the three were clear they blew the mountain—and the piles of Stark Industries munitions outside—to rubble.
A helicopter soon arrived to pick them up.
It wasn't a HYDRA bird; Karl wasn't ready to reveal that affiliation.
It was a contact his father Kingpin had in Afghanistan.
The rest of the trip was uneventful; after a few transfers they slipped back into New York without anyone noticing.
Instead of heading straight to Stark Tower, Tony stayed at Karl's estate.
The mastermind, Obadiah, was still at large, and Tony feared a careless return might corner Obadiahinto hurting Pepper or Happy.
He planned to lie low until Obadiah was dealt with.
And, as always, the thing you fear most is the thing that finds you.
So the moment Tony bit into the cheeseburger he'd craved for two months, Fisk's butler Alfred walked in with a folder.
Alfred bowed politely to Karl, glanced at Tony, and said evenly,
Young master, the master just sent back an urgent file. He said you—and your new friend—should see it.
Karl looked up; Tony stopped mid-bite.
Only Ethan, unmoved, kept chewing the first decent food he'd seen in months.
The butler's friend was clearly Tony; it had nothing to do with him.
Karl opened the envelope, skimmed the page, and surprise flashed in his eyes.
Tony, watching him, felt a lurch of dread. He abandoned his burger and demanded,
Karl, what's wrong?
Karl simply passed him the file.
Tony tossed the burger aside, scanned the pages, and his face darkened until he burst out,
That son of a bitch Stane actually put out a hit on Pepper and Happy!
Karl added coolly, And he used my father's network to do it.
Apparently riled by the bounty Pepper had posted in the underworld to find Tony, Obadiah had placed his own bounty on Pepper and Happy—through Kingpin's assassin channels.
Kingpin had spotted it at once, killed the contract, and sent word to Carl the moment he returned.
Coincidences, right?
Seeing Tony brood over the file, Carl snatched it back, glanced at the price, and sneered,
Two million—split between two targets. Cheap bastard. No wonder the Ten Rings didn't kill you; even your little secretary scraped together ten million.
He slung an arm around Tony, murder flashing in his eyes.
Forget the drawn-out revenge plot, Tony. Let me just walk in and erase this clown.
Tony had already entrusted him with the new-energy plan; Carl wasn't about to let Obadiah screw that payday.
This wasn't for Tony—it was for the dollars.
Before, Tony had wanted to nail Obadiah through legal channels.
But targeting Pepper and Happy crossed a line; now Tony wanted him dead.
He had never followed a no-kill rule anyway.
He met Carl's gaze, voice icy.
Obadiah's left me no time for the slow road. Time to take the shortcut.
Chapter 23: Thousand-Faced Shura? Gwen's 'Tutoring' for Karl~
Immediately, Tony looked at Karl, who had his hand on his shoulder, and grinned: "But, brother, this time I want to watch him die with my own eyes! No problem?"
"Of course, my brother~" Karl naturally wouldn't refuse such a simple request from his money tree and agreed immediately.
Hearing this, the smile on Tony's face widened, and his mood lightened.
However, Tony still asked worriedly: "Then what about the assassination mission on the Underground Web? No one will actually take the mission and go after Pepper and Happy, right?"
Karl replied with a look of indifference: "Put your heart back in your chest. This mission is listed under my father's influence. No one dares to take this assassination mission without his permission~"
Do you even understand the weight of the four words 'Underground Emperor'!
"That's good then~"
People of Tony's class certainly know Kingpin's power; he just needed Karl to give him this answer personally.
With this answer, he could truly feel at ease.
Karl saw through it, of course, but he didn't care. Instead, he clapped his hands:
"Alright, you two. Broad daylight is no time for murder and arson. Go take a hot shower, wash off that suffocating caveman smell, and get a good night's sleep. We'll move tonight, OK?"
"Of course, Dr. Ethan doesn't need to get up tonight. You can sleep until you wake up naturally tomorrow~"
"Alfred, please help me lead our two guests down to rest, will you?"
Hearing Karl's lighthearted and humorous tone, Tony and Ethan couldn't help but smile. They followed the butler, Alfred, out of the living room and went to rest peacefully.
Although Karl wasn't old, every time he spoke, it inexplicably made them feel very comfortable and gave them a strong sense of security.
This might stem from the powerful strength Karl displayed, or perhaps from his calm and efficient way of doing things.
In short, in just two short days, the two had completely come to trust Karl.
This naturally stemmed from the versatile training Pierce had given Karl over the years.
In front of a thousand people, he could show a thousand different faces.
When performing a mission, he could be a HYDRA assassin who kills without blinking and has no tenderness for the fairer sex.
When facing Gwen, he could be a sunny and righteous boyfriend.
When facing Vanessa, he could be a pleasing and filial son.
When facing business partners like Tony, he could be a reliable friend who brings them a sense of security.
If you ask which Karl is the real Karl?
Then why can't every Karl be the real Karl, or perhaps none of them are the real Karl?
At least, so far, no one has said Karl is hypocritical, have they?
And even if the personalities Karl displays are all fake, as long as he maintains the disguise for a lifetime, then they are all real~
This is the logic Karl's godfather taught him~
Having rushed back from Afghanistan last night and slept on the plane for a night, Tony and Ethan, these two middle-aged men, might still be able to sleep now because they haven't rested well for over two months.
But Karl, a vigorous young man of eighteen, wasn't sleepy at all.
Checking his watch, it was only 2 PM, still early for the night's operation, so Karl took a shower and headed out.
As for what he was going to do?
Well, yes, to 'do'~
3:30 PM.
Midtown School.
The school bell rang on time, and boys and girls brimming with youthful energy constantly emerged from the campus in groups.
Soon, Karl locked onto his target.
His little girlfriend, the little Angel Gwen~
Karl instinctively smiled and started the sports car parked by the roadside.
Although his ford raptor was now repaired and Pierce had already had someone deliver it to Fisk Manor,
It was clearly inappropriate to drive a raptor for a date with a girl; few girls would like a big beast like the raptor.
It would be more suitable for dating a boy~
Girls generally still like flashy but impractical big toys like sports cars.
Even the top student Gwen was the same~
Amidst the eye-catching roar of an engine, a fiery red ferrari stopped beside Gwen and the girls she was walking with.
While the other girls looked on in pleasant surprise and Gwen frowned, the ferrari's window rolled down, revealing a handsome, well-defined face in the driver's seat.
Now it was Gwen's turn to be pleasantly surprised and the other girls' turn to be disappointed.
Because the newcomer was Karl Fisk. Although he was voted the most popular boy at Midtown School, who at Midtown High School didn't know he was Gwen's boyfriend?
Moreover, at Midtown School, Karl had always shown no interest in other girls; even if they took the initiative, Karl remained unmoved.
He was the perfect god hailed by the girls as 'Midtown's Most Devoted'!
At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.
Even Gwen thought so.
Karl reached out to Gwen and winked:
"Hey beautiful, do you have plans today? Want to go for a drive with me?"
Just as they thought, from beginning to end, Karl's gaze was fixed on Gwen, not giving the others even a single glance.
But was this really because Karl was devoted?
Of course not~
If Karl were devoted, he wouldn't have hooked up with Agent Hill during his trip to Washington.
It was simply because Karl's standards were too high; other than Gwen, he didn't care for any other woman at Midtown School~
As Tony said, why waste your extra attention on people you don't care about?
Gwen was already accustomed to Karl's high-profile style. She didn't act shy and naturally placed her hand in the one Karl extended to her.
However, she didn't answer Karl first, but turned to wave to her friends: "Girls, Karl missed two weeks of classes, so I have to go give him some tutoring. You guys head back first~"
The girls looked at each other and started giggling with their hands over their mouths:
"Tutoring? I bet the place you're tutoring isn't at a desk, right? And with two weeks of classes missed, Gwen, you'll definitely have to give Karl some all-night tutoring~"
"Haha, I hope our little Gwen still has the energy to come to class tomorrow after tutoring Karl all night~"
"Don't say that. With Karl's all-around physical stamina, Gwen might not even be able to get out of bed tomorrow... Oh no, I mean, she might not have the energy to get up, hahahaha~"
Three of the four people who had been walking with Gwen started teasing her.
But it was all good-natured teasing~
Gwen rolled her eyes at them and ignored these dirty-minded girls. She knew the more she responded, the more excited they would get!
Therefore, after waving again, Gwen turned and got into Karl's passenger seat.
Karl didn't hesitate either, immediately stepping on the gas and leaving with Gwen in a high-profile manner.
Chapter 24 – Skye, Kate, Emma, and That Bitch MJ!
Gwen's girlfriends, finding no couple to ship, lost interest and got ready to head home.
They'd only taken a few steps when they realized someone was missing.
Turning around, they spotted the quiet, orange-haired girl still standing there, staring after Gwen and Karl.
A brown-haired girl frowned and called out, "MJ, what's wrong? We're going home—"
Before she could finish, the two near-identical, ninety-plus-point blonde twins flanked her and pulled her back.
Yup—identical twin sisters.
Meeting the brunette's puzzled look, both blondes rolled their eyes at MJ.
Unlike Gwen's earlier exasperated eye-roll, theirs were laced with pure disgust.
Or rather—nothing but disgust.
One blonde explained:
"Skye, ignore that fame-hungry witch. She's a sewer mermaid dreaming of marrying into the royal castle—delusional and disgusting."
The other blonde snickered:
"Heh, Kate, like you're not fame-hungry. Don't you like Karl? Don't you want into the Fisk Family and skyrocket?"
Kate planted her hands on her hips and glared at her teasing sister.
"Of course I like Karl, but I'm not some bitch who'd try to steal her best friend's guy when she knows he's Gwen's boyfriend."
Older sister Emma nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Unless Karl pursues us first, we won't betray Gwen."
Kate flushed. "Agh! What are you saying, Emma? Who says I'd share Karl with you!"
Emma grinned wickedly. "Heh, keep him to yourself if you want. We look the same—when you're not around, I'll just pretend to be you and have my fun with him. I'm sure even if he notices, a guy won't tell."
Kate's mind already pictured her sister sneaking off as her to meet Karl.
"No-no-no! You can't steal Karl from me like that, Emma!"
Instantly Kate slipped into 'wife' mode and started chasing her 'cheating' sister.
Emma laughed and ducked around Skye while Kate tried to catch her in their 'loving' twin chase.
Skye, caught in the middle, realized from their barbed words why they loathed MJ—and she started to dislike her too.
Kate and Emma were only joking; MJ wasn't.
Gwen had been nothing but kind—gentle, generous, taking Skye in when she was helpless, ending the bullying.
Yet MJ still wanted to steal her boyfriend.
Skye glared at MJ, seething on Gwen's behalf.
What a cheap woman!!
Unnoticed, the dust at Skye's feet quivered with her anger.
"Alright, Skye, stop staring. We'll keep an eye on her for Gwen. Let's go—we'll walk you home," Kate said.
By then the twins' horseplay had ceased.
Their words snapped Skye back to herself, and the dust settled.
None of them noticed the tiny tremor.
"Thanks, Kate, Emma."
Skye's eyes shone with gratitude; she knew they were protecting her because of Gwen, yet they were among her only friends since transferring.
That made her resent MJ even more. She shot the girl a final glare and followed the twins.
Meanwhile MJ, still clueless, kept gazing after Gwen and Karl, eyes swimming in envy.
Handsome, rich, devoted—why did such a perfect guy choose Gwen over her?
Was she really inferior to Gwen Stacy?
No, impossible!
Aside from family, looks, and grades each being a teeny (hundred-million-point) bit worse, where exactly was she lacking?
Gwen had simply gotten there first and stolen her spot!
The one who should be riding shotgun as Karl's girlfriend was Mary Jane Watson!
Yep, that was it.
Skye wasn't the only one feeling indignant; MJ felt 'wronged' too.
And so MJ, shameless bitch that she is, indulged another fantasy of ousting Gwen and living happily with Karl, then headed home to her poor, abusive household.
She'd only taken a few steps when she collided with someone.
Already in a foul mood, MJ's face darkened and a four-letter "m" word leapt to her lips—until she saw it was her neighbor Peter Parker.
Since they saw each other daily, she swallowed the American greeting.
Peter, likewise lost watching Gwen and Karl vanish, blinked back to reality and apologized.
"Ah, sorry, Mary Jane, I didn't see you—are you okay?"
Though it was her own inattention, MJ only glowered at him and stalked off in silence.
Damn loser, seeing you is bad luck.
She left behind a bewildered Peter.
It was just a bump.
And technically hadn't she run into him…?
Chapter 25: Peter Becomes 'Spider-Man', Shang-Chi and Katy
Peter didn't dwell on it for long. After one last glance in the direction where Gwen and Karl had disappeared, he pulled back his wistful gaze and sighed softly.
"Sigh… maybe someone as amazing as Gwen really only deserves someone equally outstanding like Karl. I… I should just forget it…"
Yes, Peter had feelings for Gwen too.
He'd secretly adored her for a long time.
But once Gwen started dating Karl, Peter—unlike MJ—never tried to steal her away. He tactfully buried his affection.
Then last week, after Gwen stood up for him at Oscorp, those dormant feelings flared up again.
Where to begin?
It started when Peter went to fix a pipe in the basement and stumbled upon the briefcase his father had left before he died, hidden away by Uncle Ben and Aunt May.
Inside a secret compartment he found equations that made him suspect his father's death hadn't been a simple plane crash.
A photo in the same compartment led him to Dr. Connors, once his father's colleague.
He learned both his father and Connors had worked for Oscorp.
To uncover the truth, Peter posed as an Oscorp intern, slipped into Oscorp Tower, and joined the tour group led by Dr. Connors's assistant—Gwen's group.
Gwen spotted him, of course.
She didn't expose him, only told him to stay with the team.
That let Peter meet Dr. Connors and sneak into the bio-lab where his father once worked.
Inside the lab he hadn't found a single clue when he accidentally activated equipment that dumped a swarm of genetically enhanced spiders onto him.
He shook most of them off, but one slipped under his clothes and rode out with him.
Just as Gwen caught him trespassing and scolded him, that spider bit him.
From that moment, Peter's life changed forever.
At the time he didn't know; the bite seemed trivial.
Kind-hearted Gwen never reported his impersonation or intrusion, sparing him serious school discipline.
Her kindness rekindled the feelings he'd tried so hard to suppress.
Karl had been absent for a week, giving Peter a sliver of hope.
But the instant Karl returned today, that fragile hope was extinguished.
Even now, transformed, Peter felt no confidence beside Karl.
Like a star beside the full moon—no matter how brightly the star shines, it can't outshine the moon. "Sigh…"
He sighed again, pushed the thought away, and took the skateboard off his back, heading for Dr. Connors's lab.
This week, apart from the changes the spider had wrought, Peter had something to show for himself.
Using his father's formula, he'd earned Dr. Connors's trust.
They were now researching how to extract lizard genes to cure human disabilities.
Peter was fascinated; maybe the project would explain his own mutation.
Every afternoon after school he hurried to Connors's lab to work.
So engrossed was he that he forgot Uncle Ben's morning reminder to pick up Aunt May after her shift—setting up another twist of fate.
Vroom—
A red 'stallion' pulled up outside a five-star hotel in Queens.
Karl stepped out of the ferrari, opened the passenger door, and helped Gwen out.
He tossed the valet—a Chinese-American kid—his keys along with a few bills, then led Gwen inside without a backward glance.
He had 'lessons' to attend to.
What Karl didn't know was that the valet wasn't ordinary.
Counting the crisp hundreds, the young man wore a satisfied grin until someone slapped his shoulder.
"Hey, Shaun! That tip looked fat—Mr. Moneybags was generous!"
The slap nearly sent cash and keys flying.
With a deft double scoop, Shaun snatched them back before they hit the ground.
He didn't need to look. "Katy, if you keep that up we'll both be unemployed."
Katy shrugged, snatched the keys, eyes sparkling at the ferrari.
"Oh my God, an Enzo—only 399 in the world! Let me drive, pretty please!"
Shaun's eye twitched. "No! You'll land us in Africa paying off the debt tomorrow."
Ignoring him, Katy sprinted to the car, yanked the door, and slid behind the wheel.
Shaun scrambled into the passenger seat to keep her from catastrophic impulse.
These two valets, Shaun and Katy, were none other than Shang-Chi of the Ten Rings and Katy who wields five rings in Marvel Zombies.
Here they looked closer to their comic versions.
Shang-Chi wasn't a small-eyed stereotype but a sharp-featured, strikingly handsome man.
Katy wasn't a short, plain sidekick either—she was a lively, well-proportioned girl, cute if not cover-girl gorgeous.
Chapter 26 – Justice in Collision; the Loathsome Eddie!
That was why Karl hadn't recognized the two of them; in this Universe their looks hadn't been uglified for the sake of political correctness, so they'd naturally failed to grab his attention.
Besides, after half a month of abstinence Karl had no mental bandwidth left to notice anyone else, did he?
He was in a hotel right now, busy with the 'extra lessons' Gwen had prepared for him.
Why a hotel instead of his own manor, you ask?
Because Gwen's dad, while not outright forbidding her from dating Karl, had explicitly banned her from setting foot in Fisk Manor.
Karl didn't want to be halfway through 'tutoring' Gwen when her Police-captain father kicked down the door of Fisk Manor with a shotgun in hand.
He had zero interest in finding out how persuasive that future father-in-law's boom-stick could be.
By the time their 'study session' wrapped up, four hours had slipped by.
And if he hadn't had plans tonight, Karl would've happily made it an all-nighter.
Sadly, the clock—and Gwen's stamina—wouldn't allow it.
After a shared shower with a limp-limbed Gwen, the two of them left the hotel.
The morning valet, Shang-Chi, was still on shift.
Spotting Karl escorting Gwen out, he jogged over without being asked and delivered the car keys.
"Sir, your keys—the car's parked right in front."
"Mm, thanks." Karl nodded, took the keys, and tucked several bills into Shang-Chi's hand as he did.
Shang-Chi beamed and thanked him again.
He'd racked up over a grand in tips today—more than he used to earn in half a month; of course he was thrilled.
Karl gave a slight nod, studied Shang-Chi with thoughtful eyes, then left with an arm around Gwen.
Earlier he'd been too impatient to notice, but now that he looked, this valet was no ordinary guy.
The aura rolling off him was sharper than the top enforcers under his father Kingpin's command; though his posture looked casual, Karl could tell the man was always ready to counter a sudden attack.
It resembled the subconscious defensive stance drilled into HYDRA assassins, yet it wasn't quite the same… Interesting. Karl didn't ask, but he intended to dig up everything on this Chinese-American valet once he got back.
Right now, though, he had to drive Gwen home.
Otherwise the next vehicle to collect her would be her dad's patrol car, and Karl might spend the night in a cell.
But just as Karl rolled up to an intersection, his peripheral vision caught a grey-haired old man grappling with a long-haired, gun-wielding mugger.
A scene like that was hardly rare in a city as crowded as New York.
Yet the odd pairing made Karl instantly recall a classic moment from two generations of Spider-Manstories: Uncle Ben's shooting and the line that changed Peter's life—With great power comes great responsibility.
In this Universe, however, Karl had already beaten Uncle Ben to the punch, feeding Peter that very line some time ago.
So Uncle Ben no longer needed to sacrifice his life to deliver the wisdom.
Saving your life can be my thanks for borrowing your line.
Karl grinned, but instead of braking he yanked the wheel and sent the car straight at the thug who was now aiming at Ben Parker.
Boom———
The crash rang out faster than any gunshot.
The gunman was flung a dozen metres by Karl's fishtail and lay motionless.
Outside, Ben Parker—seconds from death—was stunned; inside, so was Gwen.
Recovering quickly, Gwen jumped out to help the fallen Ben.
"Sir, are you hurt? Anything broken?"
Ben, reeling from his brush with death, shook his head, eyes worriedly on the motionless robber. "I'm fine, but… what about him?"
"Tsk, Uncle, the guy almost blew your head off and you're still worried about him? Saint Ben, alive and well."
Karl, leaning lazily against the door, couldn't decide whether he was mocking or praising.
Gwen shot him a glare and pinched his waist. "Shut it, Karl, behave!"
She turned back to Ben. "Sorry, sir. He doesn't mean it—he's actually a good guy, just mouthy…"
Ben waved both hands. "No, no, I'm grateful. Without you kids I'd never see my wife or nephew again!"
"I'll tell the Police exactly what happened—you're heroes."
Gwen exhaled in relief; the last thing she wanted was trouble for Karl.
With the victim willing to testify, everything should be smooth.
Karl merely pursed his lips, saying nothing.
Uncle Ben might be absurdly kind, but he wasn't sanctimonious—Karl couldn't bring himself to dislike the man.
Because Karl's sports car had body-slammed the gunman, the onlookers who'd been dodging bullets now crowded round, phones out, snapping away.
One jerk even narrated while filming: "Rich punk mows down pedestrian, arrogant and remorseless!"
Like hell Karl would swallow that.
He shoved through the crowd, grabbed the guy by the collar, lifted him off his feet, and crushed the phone in one squeeze, reducing it to plastic shards.
A glance at the press pass on the man's chest—Daily Bugle, Eddie Brock—made Karl sneer. "Eddie Brock of the Bugle?"
What were the odds? Not only Uncle Ben, but also the Eddie Brock Spider-Man fans loved to hate.
This wasn't the decent Eddie from the Venom films; this was the jealous, embittered Eddie of the old Spider-Man trilogy.
Karl didn't care which version he faced.
"Like sneaking photos and slander, mongrel? You didn't even check who you're smearing."
"Say goodbye to your paper and to the rest of your career."
With that sentence on Eddie's future, Karl hurled him aside.
For a man who could flip a car, tossing a human was child's play.
Even a casual throw from Karl meant Eddie would be counting broken bones for weeks.
Chapter 27: Chief Stacy, Full of'Stereotypes' about Karl!
But before the terrified Eddie could hit the ground, an agile figure darted out from the crowd and caught him steadily.
The person who caught Eddie was none other than Peter, who had just arrived after seeing the commotion over here.
As soon as he arrived, he saw someone flying through the air. Without time to think, he instinctively acted to save the person first.
After letting go of the shaken Eddie, Peter saw that the 'culprit' was Karl, which left him even more bewildered.
He had only come over to check things out because he saw so many people gathered and knew Uncle Ben had headed in this direction, sensing something was wrong.
He hadn't expected Uncle Ben to actually be here, but Uncle Ben was fine; instead, he saw Karl'committing an assault'?
"Karl, what's... the situation here?"
At that moment, Ben Parker and Gwen also spotted Peter.
Ben Parker jogged to Peter's side, first checking him over to make sure he was okay before sighing in relief. He then quickly apologized to Eddie on Karl's behalf and stated he was willing to pay full compensation for the phone Karl had crushed.
Eddie, having lost his material for tomorrow's headline, naturally didn't want to accept.
But then he looked up and saw Karl's cold smile and remembered the threat Karl had made to him earlier.
No matter how stupid Eddie was, he knew he had run into a tough character today. He didn't dare make a scene anymore. After giving Karl a final glare, he turned and ran away without looking back, not even planning to ask for compensation for the phone.
Once Eddie had fled, Ben Parker explained the whole story to Peter, clearing up Peter's misunderstanding of Karl.
The onlookers, seeing how fierce Karl was—crushing a phone and hitting someone over a disagreement—didn't dare take any more pictures.
However, someone had quietly called the police.
Karl naturally heard it, but he simply didn't care.
He never intended to run. He had just knocked a guy flying and hit a paparazzi dog; was that even a crime?
He was acting bravely for a just cause and stopping an unscrupulous reporter from maliciously spreading fake news, okay!
This was an act of justice. Not only should the New York Police Department not arrest him, they should give him a Good Citizen Award!
And speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Wooo-aaa-wooo-aaa-wooo-aaa——————
Along with the sound of sirens, several police cars and an ambulance soon drove up from the distance.
Among the officers stepping out of the police cars, the one leading the team happened to be Gwen's father, George Stacy!
Chief Stacy was originally nearing the end of his shift.
But just as he reached the station door, the precinct received a report saying a rich kid had hit someone with a car.
When the other captains heard it involved a rich kid in a place as chaotic as New York, none of them wanted to touch that hot potato, fearing they would get into trouble that might affect their careers.
But Chief Stacy, who was never afraid of such things and had been upright his whole life, saw that no colleagues were willing to take it on. He chose to work overtime on the spot and led the team out immediately.
But to his surprise, as soon as he arrived at the scene, he saw two familiar figures.
One was his most beloved daughter, Gwen.
The other was the despicable 'blonde' who had snatched his precious daughter away, Kingpin's brat, Karl Fisk!
Stacy's eagle-sharp eyes locked onto the suspect instantly!
Needless to say, like father, like son!
It's definitely you, you damn blonde Karl!
Without a word, Chief Stacy pulled out handcuffs from behind him, walked straight to Karl, and cuffed him!
Karl smiled and offered no resistance, but Gwen and Ben were the first to get anxious.
Gwen, who had been checking the injuries of the robber Karl had knocked flying, immediately rushed forward and pushed her father away, shouting angrily:
"Dad, what are you doing? How can you treat Karl like this?!"
Chief Stacy was pushed back two steps. He clutched his chest where he'd been pushed in disbelief, as if he heard something inside shatter... His little girl was turning against him!
Chief Stacy then became even more furious: "You're asking me what I'm doing? Your thug boyfriend hit someone. Is it wrong for me to arrest him now?!"
"Also, it's so late and you're not home. Why are you still with him? Where did you two go?"
"Did he take you drag racing on the streets in the middle of the night, and that's why he hit someone?!"
"I've said it before, these rich kids are all the same, especially the Fisk family—not a single one of them is any good!"
"Now, you, get back in the police car!"
Hearing her father give her no chance to explain and hearing his heart-stabbing words, Gwen couldn't help but take two steps back.
Tears instantly welled up in Gwen's eyes. For the first time, she disobeyed her father's order, her face full of disappointment as she said:
"You... how can you say such things? You always taught me to look at a person's heart, not their surface. You said it's wrong to judge good or evil based on appearance..."
"But what about you now? Because of your prejudice against Karl's family, you've labeled Karl a bad person from the very start!"
"But you actually don't know him at all. You didn't even try to understand the truth of the matter before putting those handcuffs that represent a criminal on Karl's hands!"
"You are the one being truly unreasonable!!"
*Crash————*
Listening to his daughter's 'rebellious' words, Chief Stacy felt his already cracked heart shatter completely into dust!
"You... you're coming back with me!"
In a fit of rage, Chief Stacy tried to forcibly pull Gwen away, but before his hand could touch her, a tall figure blocked his path.
Karl smiled and said, "Chief Stacy, Gwen is an adult. You should listen to her own thoughts and respect them~"
Seeing Karl lecturing him was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire; Chief Stacy got even angrier!
He grabbed Karl's wrist, intending to use an over-the-shoulder throw to pin the boy blocking him to the ground!
But with this sudden throw, not only did Chief Stacy fail to move Karl even an inch, but he also nearly threw out his own old back!
Chief Stacy felt like he wasn't throwing a person, but a heavy, human-shaped block of iron!
But with his daughter and so many subordinates watching, Chief Stacy had to endure the back pain for the sake of his pride. He put all his strength into it, planning to try again!
One, two, three, up you go!
*Crack————*
With a crisp sound that the entire crowd could hear, Chief Stacy's face suddenly turned pale, and his legs weakened, nearly causing him to collapse!
It was over; he really had thrown out his back this time!
And even more embarrassing was that the only reason he hadn't fallen straight to the ground was that Karl was supporting him with his hand!
Chapter 28: Misunderstanding Cleared, Kingpin Makes an Entrance!
With a look of 'concern' on his face, Karl smiled and asked, "Are you alright, father-in-law?"
However, no matter how Karl's smile looked, in Chief Stacy's eyes, it seemed like a provocation!
But the key issue was that because he had thrown out his back, he couldn't move!
Chief Stacy was in a position where he couldn't let go of Karl, but couldn't keep holding on either; it was extremely awkward!
Fortunately, his deputy walked over at that moment and whispered a few words in his ear.
Chief Stacy's expression shifted repeatedly as he listened. Finally, he couldn't help but look at Karl, his face showing a look that was hard to describe as either good or bad.
It turned out that while Chief Stacy was being heartbroken by his 'leaky little cotton jacket' Gwen, and the farce of throwing out his back while trying to suplex Karl, Ben Parker had cleverly run off to explain the whole situation to the other Officers.
After learning that Karl wasn't some rich second-generation kid who had hit someone—as the emergency call had suggested—but was actually a hero who had acted courageously to save an old man from being shot...
The deputy hurried up to report the news to his Chief, taking the opportunity to bail him out of his awkward predicament.
Chief Stacy's expression was complex. He looked at Gwen, who was sulking and refusing to look at him, then at Karl, who was still smiling politely. He slapped his hand heavily on Karl's shoulder and gritted his teeth:
"Fine, kid. I was indeed wrong this time. You can file a complaint or report me later if you want; I'll accept any punishment resulting from this impulse. Jack, unlock his handcuffs!"
For someone of Karl's status, if he were to file a complaint, there was a high probability Chief Stacywould be fired directly by the police department.
But Chief Stacy didn't try to evade it; instead, he took the initiative to accept responsibility.
Karl shook his head and smiled faintly. "A complaint? If I were to complain about one of the few honest police chiefs in New York over a small misunderstanding like this, then this city really would be completely rotten to the core~"
"As for the handcuffs, there's no need to trouble Officer Jack..."
Snap! ————
Before Deputy Jack could get the keys to unlock the handcuffs on Karl's wrists, Karl easily snapped them apart as if he were breaking a piece of dry ramen!
This sight startled Chief Stacy slightly.
As for Deputy Jack, his jaw had already dropped in shock.
Also stunned was Peter, who was standing next to Ben Parker acting as an NPC.
One must know that the tensile strength modern handcuffs can withstand is at least 1000kg—that is, more than a ton!
This was a level of strength that an ordinary person could absolutely never achieve!
And looking at the effortless way Karl snapped the handcuffs, it was clear he hadn't used his full strength at all—he barely even seemed to try!
It seemed that in this World, he wasn't the only one who had become special because of that super spider; there were others who were equally extraordinary!
A glint flashed in Peter's eyes as he planned to find a time to chat with Karl.
Chief Stacy, meanwhile, gave Karl a deep look but didn't ask anything.
He knew more or less about Kingpin's own superhuman strength, so the fact that Karl, as Kingpin's son, possessed strength beyond normal humans didn't surprise him too much.
"Alright, kid. Although you were acting courageously in this matter, you still have to come back to the station with me to give a statement according to the law. Understand?"
Karl shrugged. "Of course, no problem, my dear father-in-law~"
Hearing this, Chief Stacy's face darkened again, but this time he didn't retort. Instead, supported by his deputy, he returned to the police car.
Immediately, Chief Stacy instructed his deputy, "Jack, help me take Gwen home. I'll take the others back first."
But then, Gwen walked over and stood beside Karl, her face firm as she said, "No, I'm going to the station with Karl. I don't trust you!"
Since he was in the wrong this time, Chief Stacy rarely didn't argue with Gwen and nodded in silent agreement.
After the Officers dispersed the onlookers, the group—except for those staying behind to investigate and protect the scene—returned to the New York Police Department in a 'grand' procession.
Since Karl wasn't a suspect, he didn't ride in a police car and continued to drive his ferrari.
Naturally, Gwen went with him.
Meanwhile, Ben Parker, Peter Parker, and the robber who had been sent flying were taken by police car and ambulance respectively.
They were brought to the station and the hospital in their capacities as victim, victim's family, and criminal.
After arriving at the station and each giving their statements, they went to the waiting room to wait.
After they had been drinking tea for a while and Peter and Ben Parker had once again expressed their heartfelt thanks to Karl and Gwen, Chief Stacy finally walked in holding a file while clutching his back.
Gwen's anger had mostly dissipated by now. Seeing her father like this, she couldn't help but stand up to support him, asking with concern:
"Dad, are you okay?"
Seeing his little cotton jacket become warm again, even if something was wrong, Chief Stacy felt fine now!
Chief Stacy forced his back straight and smiled. "Of course I'm fine. My body is at its peak and I'm very strong. It's just that your boyfriend is too heavy; he should probably lose some weight!"
Hearing this, Gwen covered her mouth and chuckled. "Lose weight? Karl might be heavy, but that's because he's all muscle. With a physique this large, it's because his body fat percentage is a staggering 3%!"
Chief Stacy didn't care whether Karl was made of muscle or fat; he was currently very jealous of the proud look and tone his daughter used when talking about Karl!
Thus, he irritably slapped a file into Karl's arms. "Karl Fisk, after our investigation of the nearby surveillance, there was no criminal behavior on your part in this matter, and you won't be prosecuted. Just sign this and you can go home!"
"But remember, even if you're acting courageously, don't drive recklessly again, especially when there are others in the car. Understand?"
"Yes, Officer~" Karl gave Chief Stacy a salute, but his eyes winked at Gwen.
I hear you, I agree, but I'm not changing—I'll do it again next time~
Seeing Karl flirting with his daughter right in front of him, Chief Stacy couldn't help but glare at him again.
He then handed a file to Peter and Ben Parker as well.
After everyone had finished signing, Chief Stacy looked at Karl, just about to say something else, when a sudden commotion from outside interrupted him.
"Sir! Sir! You can't go in there!"
Chief Stacy frowned at the sound. As the only Chief present at the station at this time, he immediately turned, pulled open the waiting room door, and walked out.
The several people in the waiting room who were now free naturally followed him out, prepared to see what the fuss was about.
Who would be so bold as to dare break into the New York Police Department at night!
Could it be some supervillain?
As it turned out, the moment he stepped out, Karl found the excitement centered on himself.
Because the person who had arrived was none other than the man leading the way, dressed in a white suit, leaning on a cane, with a height exceeding two meters—Big Stomach Liang... cough, cough, it was the demon-muscled Kingpin!
Chapter 29: Kingpin with a 'Clear Conscience', and Stark, the King of Show-offs!
Behind Kingpin, in the positions of his right and left hand men, two others followed.
One was Bullseye, who had a target carved on his forehead and still looked arrogant even inside the Police station.
The other was even more of a show-off, a You-Know-Who wearing a western cowboy hat late at night with the brim pulled low, making it impossible to see his face.
Upon seeing Kingpin, Chief Stacy's expression became incredibly grim.
He strode up to Kingpin and questioned in a low voice:
"Wilson Fisk, what is this? Are you planning to attack the New York Police Department?"
Kingpin looked down, meeting the gaze of Chief Stacy, who was nearly a head shorter than him.
Even with countless officers on high alert around him, hands on their guns, Kingpin wasn't flustered at all. He smiled calmly:
"Chief Stacy, we're old friends, and we might even be family in the future. You shouldn't slander me so casually~"
"As everyone knows, I have always been a law-abiding friendly citizen and a philanthropist. How could I commit such an unforgivable evil as attacking a Police station?"
Hearing this, Chief Stacy, who knew exactly how many deaths Kingpin's underworld forces had caused, couldn't help but grab Kingpin's collar in a rage, gritting his teeth:
"Who's family with you? A friendly citizen? Fuck you, Kingpin! Hearing that term from your mouth is an absolute insult to friendly citizens!"
"Just you wait, Kingpin! You'd better not leave any loose ends, or one day I will lock you in prison forever! Forever!!"
Kingpin raised his hand to stop Bullseye, who was about to move against Chief Stacy. His face remained unbothered, wearing a polite smile:
"Then I believe that day will never come, because I have a clear conscience regarding everything I do~"
Seeing Kingpin's indifferent attitude, Chief Stacy became even angrier. It reminded him of the cold corpses the New York Police Department found in the Hells Kitchen area every few days!
Especially in these last two weeks, a large number of russian guys gang members had died in Hells Kitchen!
Those were all once living souls, husbands and children of families!
As the underworld emperor of Hells Kitchen, how many of those lost lives were truly unrelated to Kingpin?!
Or rather, it wouldn't be surprising if most of them had died by Kingpin's own hand!
"You bastard, I'll..."
Stacy raised his fist to demand justice for those 'victims', but before his punch could fall, Gwen stepped between them!
"Enough! Dad! This is the Police station, don't break the law while knowing better!"
Facing his daughter's stubborn gaze, Chief Stacy finally lowered his fist.
Gwen let out a sigh of relief and immediately turned to Kingpin, bowing slightly:
"I'm sorry, Uncle Fisk. My father is in a bad mood today and offended you. I apologize to you on his behalf!"
Kingpin reached out to support Gwen's arm, a kind smile on his face:
"Don't be like that, Gwen. We're all family. It's normal for family to have misunderstandings; you don't need to apologize for this."
"Besides, such an excellent girl was snatched away by my brat. If I were Chief Stacy, I might not be as rational as he is right now~"
Hearing Kingpin's gentle words, which even included a compliment for her and her father, Gwencouldn't help but blush.
She felt that Karl's father wasn't as terrifying as her father claimed; instead, he seemed like a pretty good person.
This was actually the first time Gwen had met Karl's father in real life.
She had only seen him on TV before.
Not on the legal channel, but on the charity news.
Kingpin's first impression on Gwen, aside from his somewhat intimidating physique, was entirely that of a kind middle-aged man.
Chief Stacy, knowing exactly what Kingpin was like beneath that kind exterior, pulled Gwen behind him. Though his expression remained hostile, he didn't try to fight again. Instead, he issued an order to leave:
"Kingpin, the Police station isn't a place you can just enter whenever you want. Leave, before I put you in handcuffs!"
Kingpin gestured, taking a cigar offered by Bullseye between two fingers. After putting it in his mouth, he grinned: "Just like how you handcuffed my heroic son as a criminal earlier?"
Hearing this, Chief Stacy's eyes narrowed, and his voice turned cold: "You certainly get information quickly. It seems your reach is very deep, even extending into the New York Police Department!"
"Haha, I never said that. Now, can my hero son leave? He still has a friend waiting for him to return~"
Kingpin didn't answer Chief Stacy's question directly, neither denying nor admitting it, but simply changed the subject.
Hearing this, Chief Stacy's brow furrowed again. He glanced at Karl, who seemed indifferent, and questioned: "It's this late and a friend is waiting for him? Kingpin, you aren't making your son do your dirty work, are you?"
"Tsk, dirty work? I don't appreciate those words, Chief Stacy. If Karl saving me—someone even those useless trash in the U.S. Army couldn't save—counts as dirty work, then I'm afraid there's no justice left in this World!"
Before Kingpin could speak, the show-off in the cowboy hat beside him spoke up first.
And with his first words, he offended the entire U.S. Army!
Chief Stacy looked at the speaker in surprise.
He wondered who would dare speak with such arrogance; even Kingpin wouldn't go that far, right?
Under the surprised gazes of everyone except Karl and Kingpin, the show-off reached up and raised the brim of his hat!
It was... "Tony Stark!!!" Chief Stacy cried out in shock.
"Weren't you rumored to be missing in Afghanistan? How... wait, you said Karl saved you, what's going on?"
Unlike Kingpin and Karl's 'friendly' attitude toward Chief Stacy, Tony, having been held captive for two whole months, had no affection for government departments. His tone was full of disdain:
"Even though you're a Police officer, I don't believe I'm obligated to answer that question~"
"Now, I'm taking my hero Karl back. Whether you need bail or lawyers, I can fill this entire station with bail money right now, or I can fill it with the best lawyers in the World!"
"Or... I can fill it with both at the same time~"
Facing Tony's foul-mouthed insults, Chief Stacy's face darkened. He pointed at the station door: "The New York Police Department doesn't need anything from you. You can all get out with Karl right now!"
"Dad!"
Gwen cried out in dissatisfaction.
"Hmph!" Hearing this, Chief Stacy gave a cold snort, turned around, and left, returning to his office to be rid of the sight.
Chapter 30: Karl and Tony in Ambush, Obadiah Attacked!
"Sorry, Uncle Fisk, Mr. Stark..."
"Karl, go back with Uncle Fisk first. I'll head back with my dad later."
After apologizing once more, Gwen bid Karl a quick farewell and hurried off to comfort her fuming father.
She didn't want her father, whose impression of Karl had only just begun to improve, to have it soured again because of others.
Now that the Stacy father and daughter were gone, the other police officers were too busy avoiding trouble to pick a fight.
They let Kingpin enter as he pleased and leave the station with his people just as casually.
In an ignored corner of the police station, Peter only recovered from that inexplicable state of heart-pounding panic after Kingpin had left.
Peter looked down at his arms, where his hair was standing on end. He swallowed hard and whispered to himself:
"What's going on? Why do I get such an extremely dangerous feeling just by looking at Karl's father? Is it just my imagination..."
"Peter, Peter, what's wrong? You look pale. Are you okay?"
Looking up at Uncle Ben, who was full of concern, the cold sensation on Peter's body gradually dissipated, replaced by a warmth rising from within.
Peter smiled and shook his head. "I'm fine, Uncle Ben. I was just thinking that if it weren't for Karl today, and we lost you, how sad Aunt May would be and how much I would regret it..."
"I'm sorry, Uncle Ben. I shouldn't have been so willful and lost my temper with you today. I just want to say, it's so good to have you here!"
Hearing Peter's sincere apology, Ben Parker also felt a warmth in his heart and smiled kindly:
"Yes, it's all thanks to your classmate Karl. You must thank him properly for me later; he's a friend worth knowing deeply!"
"But for now, let's head home, or your Aunt May will be so worried she won't be able to sleep all night~"
"Mm!" Peter nodded heavily.
The uncle and nephew walked out of the police station. Under the warm yellow streetlights, their shadows grew longer... it was as if they were walking toward the light, while the darkness was moving further and further away... "Tsk, how much further, Karl?"
In a deserted street several blocks away from Stark Tower, a black SUV with completely opaque windows was parked by the roadside.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Tony kept glancing at the road in the rearview mirror.
Karl glanced at the moving green dot on his phone and tossed the phone directly to Tony.
"Asking again and again. This is the fifth time you've asked me since Obadiah's motorcade left the Stark Tower garage. Is your fire of lust really that big? Can't you hold it in for a bit?"
Tony froze, then his mouth twitched violently as he glared at Karl. "Hey, bro, that's f*cking anger, what do you mean 'fire of lust'? I told you, I haven't become gayer!"
Karl leaned back in his seat, resting with his eyes closed, and said perfunctorily, "Ok, ok, I know your fire of lust is intense, alright?"
"Hey, I've realized your mouth is sometimes more hurtful than mine, I..."
[Target distance 1000m. Signals and cameras within a 5-kilometer radius have been jammed. New York patrol is expected to discover the anomaly in 10 minutes and arrive within 20 minutes. Suggest both of you take immediate action...]
Just as Tony was about to have a proper debate with Karl, a green electronic face appeared on the phone screen Karl had thrown him, speaking in a mechanical voice.
Hearing this, Tony didn't care about being called gay or not. He snapped his gaze to the rearview mirror and indeed saw a black motorcade driving toward them!
"Karl, Obadiah Stane is here! Quick, summon your Buff Dudes to stop his motorcade!"
This time it was Karl's mouth that twitched. "What the hell is 'Buff Dudes'? I told you, they're called Pincer Shadows!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, just summon your Big Pincers quickly before he gets away!"
After a couple of perfunctory words, Tony anxiously patted Karl's arm, urging him.
"Keep your heart in your ass. When I make a move, I never fail. He won't escape~"
Karl casually swatted away Tony's hand. With a thought, a pitch-black, explosively muscular, tall shadow suddenly emerged from the streetlight's shadow in the middle of the road ahead of the motorcade!
Well, looking at it this way, the Pincer Shadow really was quite muscular and imposing, so Tony's nickname wasn't entirely wrong... With such a thing suddenly appearing in the middle of the road, the driver of the lead car in Obadiah's escort motorcade had no time to react and crashed head-on into the Pincer Shadow!
Even the Rhino couldn't budge the Pincer Shadow, let alone a mere car.
The lead SUV was like hitting a steel wall; the front end crumpled instantly, and the rear end flew up!
The cars following behind, unable to brake in time, slammed into the back of the lead car one after another!
But even in the face of these consecutive impacts, the Pincer Shadow's body remained motionless. Instead, it raised its massive pincer and slammed it down hard on the lead car, flattening the entire roof!
The driver and bodyguards inside the lead car, already dazed from the crash, were turned into human pancakes by this blow. Ketchup-like blood began to flow out from the flattened car!
In a specially modified SUV in the middle of the motorcade, Obadiah, who had been smoking a cigar and dreaming of the day Stark Industries would be renamed Stane Industries, was jolted by the sudden crash. Not only did it shatter his daydream, but he also almost swallowed his entire cigar!
After pulling the deep-throated cigar out of his mouth, Obadiah became furious. He kicked the back of the driver's seat hard and cursed:
"Motherf*cker! You damn bastard, do you want to be exiled to Africa? How the hell are you driving?!"
Facing Obadiah's angry interrogation, the driver didn't respond immediately. Instead, he pointed forward in terror, his voice trembling as he shouted:
"Mon... monster! There's a monster!!"
Obadiah, who had been fantasizing about the future, might not have noticed, but the driver had watched with his own eyes as the lead car was flattened by the Pincer Shadow's pincer!
This bizarre appearance, along with a physique and strength far beyond humans, made the driver wish he could be exiled to Africa immediately!
At least the brothers in Africa weren't as terrifying as this black-clad figure, right?
Hearing the driver's terrified voice, Obadiah realized something was wrong. He leaned forward to look and immediately saw the three-meter-tall Pincer Shadow ahead!
As an arms dealer who dealt with Terrorists year-round, Obadiah's mental fortitude was much stronger than the driver's. Instead of panicking, he immediately pressed the emergency intercom in the car:
"Franklin, what am I paying you for? Didn't you see that monster ahead? Kill it for me, now!"
Zzzzzzt——————
However, there was no response from the intercom, only a burst of static.