Ch: 36-46
Chapter 36: Fuck The Punisher!
"How's that? I'm quite punctual, aren't I?"
Having laid out Dr. Lizard, Peter turned back to look at Gwen, his voice lazy and flippant.
Gwen/Green Goblin:???
Before Gwen could even snap out of it, the Green Goblin subconsciously glanced at the time display built into his helmet, and then couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air.
From the moment this guy called The Punisher engaged Dr. Lizard until Dr. Lizard lay motionless like a dead lizard, the whole damn process really took less than a minute!
The moment he realized this, the Green Goblin couldn't help but shudder, nearly falling off his glider.
The madness and playfulness in his eyes had vanished, replaced instantly by the weakness and tendency for compromise characteristic of a capitalist.
Run! I have to run right now!
This guy is not someone I can deal with at all!
The Green Goblin knew his physical condition very well.
The physique enhancement potion had only increased his physical capabilities by about a dozen times; therefore, he actually couldn't compete with Dr. Lizard in terms of either strength or speed.
In other words... I'm an ADC!
What sane ADC would think of standing their ground against a heavy juggernaut!
Dr. Lizard had super regeneration, which allowed him to tank over a hundred punches from that guy named "The Punisher."
As for him... if those fists landed on his body, forget being pounded into mincemeat, he'd probably be kneaded into hand-beaten beef balls!
With that thought, the Green Goblin didn't hesitate for a second. He immediately manipulated the machine guns at the front of the Green Goblin Glider to fire wildly, then threw out all the remaining pumpkin bombs on the glider.
And then... without a second thought, he turned and fled!
The Green Goblin's plan was quite beautiful in his mind, but he had overlooked one thing.
That was the fact that Gwen had Spider-Sense!
Almost the instant he made his move, Gwen reacted immediately.
"Run!"
Gwen first shouted a warning, then stepped off the school building's railing and jumped out, while using the web-shooter in her hand to stick to the Green Goblin Glider.
And Peter also made a judgment almost instantly. He immediately hoisted Dr. Connors and performed a Leap of Faith from the third floor of the school building.
Almost at the same time Peter landed with Connors, the school building behind them was completely blown into ruins.
At that moment, realizing she had to do something, Gwen used all her strength to physically drag the Green Goblin down from the air.
Peter and Gwen's coordination was incredibly seamless. Almost the moment Gwen pulled the Green Goblin Glider down, Peter, noticing the webbing was about to snap, exerted sudden force.
He soared into the air, while a deep blue Rasengan had already condensed in his hand.
Boom!
The Rasengan smashed heavily onto the Green Goblin Glider, blasting a massive hole in it on the spot.
The Green Goblin Glider exploded instantly, and the Green Goblin tumbled miserably to the ground, his armor severely damaged by the impact of the Rasengan and the explosion.
Gwen instinctively wanted to step forward to subdue the Green Goblin, but was stopped by Peter's hand.
He walked quickly to the Green Goblin's side. Just as he crouched down, the Green Goblin suddenly lunged, a sharp blade popping out from his right arm armor, stabbing fiercely toward Peter's throat!
If this move had been used on Gwen, even with her Spider-Sense, she would have most likely suffered a heavy blow after dodging the vital spot.
But the reason Peter didn't let Gwen come forward was precisely to guard against this trick of his.
Although he didn't have Spider-Sense, he had predicted the Green Goblin's prediction.
Thus, just as the Green Goblin made a move, Peter keenly tilted his head, and after dodging the thrust, he moved like lightning to grab the Green Goblin's arm.
Terrifying strength crushed the arm plating of the Green Goblin's armor along with his bones!
"Ah!"
The Green Goblin screamed in agony and immediately became compliant.
To prevent this guy from having any other hidden tricks on him,
Peter reached out and quickly pressed several spots on the Green Goblin's armor, directly crushing the entire suit into scrap.
Now, even if the Green Goblin wanted to play dirty, it would be to no avail.
The Green Goblin also hadn't expected that "The Punisher," as a "heroic figure," would be so cautious. With all his means exhausted, he could only helplessly try to use words to tempt The Punisher into letting him go.
To this, Peter simply ignored him and tucked him under his arm, then turned to hoist Dr. Connors onto his shoulder as well.
"You can't take them away!"
The battered Gwen tried to stop Peter.
To this, Peter only said coldly:
"Miss Ghost-Spider, you wouldn't want me to take off your mask in public, would you?"
"You... we're all superheroes, you're being far too much!" Gwen's small face under the mask flushed red with anger.
But she was indeed frightened by the threat; she knew very well that in her current battered state, she couldn't be his match.
So, she could only aggrievedly hypnotize herself:
I'm not being a coward, I'm just, just... oh, right! I'm just worried about Peter. I wonder where he's hiding and if he's safe now?
Seeing Gwen leave tactfully, Peter then turned to look at his surroundings.
Countless boys and girls there wanted to crowd around to observe him up close, yet feared his power, so they could only shout to him from a distance.
Looking at the students whose faces were full of gossip, a mischievous smile suddenly curled the corners of Peter's mouth under the mask:
"Kids, you know what? Gossiping comes with a price."
The students who heard this burst into laughter, thinking The Punisher was just joking with them.
But in the next second, they saw The Punisher walk with the two villains to the front of the school that had been blown into ruins.
"What is he going to do?"
A few students felt a faint, ominous premonition in their hearts.
And then... they saw a scene that they would never forget and that would utterly break them.
As The Punisher pressed one hand onto the ruins of the school, a soft light quickly covered the debris.
Then... under the power of this white light, those ruins still burning with fire actually began to float rapidly, restoring themselves according to some strange power.
In the blink of an eye, a brand-new Midtown High School appeared before everyone's eyes.
Looking at it, it seemed... even newer than before it was bombed!
"No—!!!"
At this moment, countless boys and girls let out the heart-wrenching sound of an explosion.
"I wish you a happy time 'learning' in school~!"
After leaving behind such a sentence, Peter hoisted the Green Goblin and Dr. Lizard, jumped over the campus fence, and turned to leave coolly.
Behind him, looking at "The Punisher" who "left after the deed was done, hiding his merit and fame," the students completed the mental journey from fans to haters in the blink of an eye:
"Fuck, Punisher, you failed us!"
"Punisher, you have no heart!"
"Scumbag, I never want to have your babies! Never!"
Chapter 37: Green Goblin: Fam, is this for real?
The moment he saw the school being restored, the Green Goblin, who had been incessantly trying to tempt "The Punisher," fell silent instantly.
Looking at the brand-new school, he felt his mind go blank.
Beneath the Green Goblin helmet, his aged and cloudy eyes widened to their limits at this moment.
An invisible thunderclap exploded in his mind!
In this moment, his feelings were just like Yang Dong's in 'The Three-Body Problem':
Physics... no longer exists!
Everything happening before his eyes could not be explained by modern science at all!
This was entirely a "miracle," or rather... magic?!
After all, the Green Goblin wasn't a pure scientist, so he wasn't about to commit suicide on the spot.
On the contrary, after the brief shock and breakdown, a more fervent, more extreme emotion instantly occupied his entire brain!
It wasn't fear, nor was it despair.
It was... absolute hope!
It was as if a drowning man had grabbed onto the last life-saving straw!
This "Punisher" possessed the miraculous power to repair inorganic matter.
Then... could this power be used to repair organic matter, or rather... the human body?
Could it repair a genetic chain that was already on the verge of collapse?
Once this thought arose, it was like a prairie fire, instantly incinerating all the logic and madness in his mind!
Norman Osborn knew very well that his physique enhancement potion was only a half-finished product.
The potion had birthed the "Green Goblin" personality and given him great power, but it hadn't eradicated the Osborn family's damned hereditary disease.
The potion only gave him a stronger body, thereby temporarily delaying the countdown to genetic collapse.
But the Shinigami's scythe still hung over his and Harry's necks.
Before, in order to survive, he could only pin his hopes on Peter Parker and Ghost-Spider.
But now, he saw a fork in the road! A brand-new possibility.
"What... was that... you just used?"
The Green Goblin's voice was no longer arrogant and mocking as before, but carried a humility and respect that even he hadn't noticed.
"Hmm?" Peter paused, glanced down at him with interest, and then spoke with a half-smile:
"It was just a type of repair magic."
magic?!
These two words were like a heavy hammer, smashing hard against the Green Goblin's heart!
Does magic really exist in this World?
"Then... can this magic... repair the human body?"
He squeezed these words out of his throat carefully, his voice dry like a traveler in the desert.
Looking down at the Green Goblin, whose face was obscured by the mask, Peter couldn't help but smile inwardly.
Although the development of events had exceeded his control.
Fortunately, the result was good!
It could even be said that it was completely beyond his expectations.
In his original plan, he would have needed to waste a lot of breath and then owe the other party a favor to get the investment to start a company.
But now, the situation had completely reversed!
The one who owed a favor had become the Green Goblin, or rather, Norman Osborn.
And this favor wasn't something that could be repaid with a simple tens of millions of U.S. dollars!
Thus, Peter spoke with feigned nonchalance:
"The human body, huh..."
Peter deliberately drew out his tone until the Green Goblin's heart was in his throat, and only then did he speak:
"Of course it can."
The moment he heard these words, the Green Goblin felt as if he had heard a hymn from the gods.
At this moment, the emotions belonging to "Norman Osborn" completely overwhelmed the madness of the "Green Goblin." He suddenly grabbed Peter's hand and pleaded:
"Punisher! I want to make a deal with you!"
To make himself appear more credible, he revealed his true identity without any hesitation:
"You should have heard of me. I am Norman Osborn, the owner of Oscorp."
"As long as you can cure me... cure my son!"
"I can give you everything you want! Wealth, power, women—I can even give you the entire Oscorp!"
Although he had awakened an evil personality like the Green Goblin due to the physique enhancement potion, his love for Harry had never changed from beginning to end.
Whether he was Norman Osborn or the Green Goblin, he was willing to give up everything for Harry!
Feeling Norman's constantly trembling hands, Peter finally spoke:
"This is not the place to talk."
Norman was stunned upon hearing this, but then he immediately understood something.
With trembling hands, he pressed a few buttons on the armor controller on his arm.
Buzz~!
Before long, a black stream of light sliced through the sky at extreme speed, hovering in front of Peterwithin a few breaths.
It was a brand-new Green Goblin Glider!
This was his last trump card, and also the escape tool he had prepared for himself.
The Green Goblin had originally planned that if "The Punisher" was unyielding, he would use this final trump card to fight to the death at the critical moment.
But now, this final bit of madness had become his way of showing sincerity.
"You just need to stand on it; it will take you to my family's manor on its own."
Hearing this, Peter nodded noncommittally and immediately jumped onto the glider with Norman and Connors.
The glider took to the air, flying toward the outskirts of New York like a bolt of lightning.
Standing on the glider and looking at the busy traffic of New York City below, Peter couldn't help but feel a bit exhilarated.
This Green Goblin Glider was much more convenient than swinging on webs!
Perhaps he really should ask Norman for one of these in the future?
With this flying skateboard paired with Herman's battery technology, wouldn't Peter be able to go wherever he wanted in the future?
While thinking this, the glider landed steadily on the lawn of the Osborn Manor.
Norman had already arranged everything; the servants in the manor had all been dismissed to ensure that everything that happened would not be known by a fourth person besides the three of them.
"Sir, please follow me..."
After being set down, Norman respectfully guided Peter to the study, then took out his medical report and carefully explained the genetic disease he and Harry suffered from.
After listening to Norman's explanation while pretending to be ignorant, Peter suddenly "sighed" somewhat abruptly:
"I really didn't expect you and Harry to suffer from such a strange disease, Uncle Norman..."
Hearing this, Norman Osborn, who had just taken off his Green Goblin helmet, was instantly stunned:
"Sir Punisher, what did you just call me?"
He even wondered if he was hallucinating.
Besides, how did this "Punisher" know Harry's name?
While he was still pondering these questions, Peter had already raised his hand and removed his hood and the mask covering his face.
As the oppressive Hollow mask was removed, a young and familiar face that Norman could never have imagined in his wildest dreams was revealed.
"I heard you went to Midtown High School just to find me?" Peter asked with a half-smile.
As for Norman, he was completely petrified at this moment, and he couldn't help but cry out in shock:
"Pe... Peter?!"
Chapter 38 – Magical Boy Peter Parker
BOOM!!!
Norman Osborn's brain crashed for the second time.
If seeing the school restored had only shattered his worldview,
then, at this moment, when he recognized Peter's face, he began to wonder whether he was still asleep—how could he be having such an absurd dream?!
The Punisher… is Peter Parker?!
The straight-A, somewhat introverted kid who's best friends with his own son?!
The teenage prodigy who helped Dr. Curt Connors complete the Decay Rate Algorithm?!
In an instant, countless clues snapped together in his mind.
Norman Osborn couldn't stop himself from blurting out:
"If The Punisher is Peter, then Ghost-Spider must be…'
Norman suddenly recalled his son once mentioning that Peter had a childhood friend named Gwen, and that girl seemed to be Dr. Connors' assistant!
"Gwen Stacy?!"
Could the World really be this small?
His gut told him the conclusion was outrageously absurd.
Just as Norman was about to laugh it off as a "joke," he noticed the smile on Peter's face vanish.
The boy he'd treated like a nephew stared at him coldly, a faint but unmistakable murderous aura flooding the study:
"Green Goblin, you know too much."
Peter stepped toward Norman, voice icy:
"For Harry… and for Gwen… it looks like I'll have to silence you permanently."
The instant those words hit him, Norman felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet to the top of his skull.
Why couldn't he keep his big mouth shut?!
At that moment Norman wanted nothing more than to slap himself silly.
Even if he'd guessed it, he didn't have to say it out loud!
Regret washed over him and he instinctively opened his mouth to beg.
Before a sound could escape, a hand flashed out and pressed against his chest.
It was over.
He was going to die.
Norman shut his eyes in despair.
But… one second passed, then two, then ten… yet he felt no blinding pain; instead, a warm, peaceful, life-filled energy surged through every limb!
Hum—
Norman felt as though his body were submerged in a spring.
The cracks threatening to tear him apart were slowly being glued shut.
The mad, savage persona that called itself "Green Goblin" howled in defiance.
Before this strange power it melted like snow under the sun, silenced and erased.
A few seconds later the light faded.
Peter withdrew his hand; Norman shivered and slowly opened his eyes.
He stared at his hands in disbelief, feeling reborn.
His body was more comfortable than ever, and inside, his mind was utterly calm—
as if he'd received a sacred baptism from the inside out.
Only then did he realize what Peter had meant by "silencing"… An indescribable gratitude and guilt flooded his heart.
The boy had not only saved his life but had also chosen this way to set him on the right path.
"Peter… I…"
Norman Osborn's voice cracked.
The man who commanded a hundred-billion-dollar empire and could make Wall Street tremble with a stomp was on the verge of tears.
Gratitude filled his heart toward the teenager before him.
"Don't get too emotional, Uncle Norman. It's what I should do—Harry's my best buddy, after all."
Peter's tone stayed flat, as though he'd done nothing worth mentioning.
He turned and applied the same technique to the unconscious Dr. Connors.
White light flashed; Dr. Lizard's hideous scales and mutations receded, his injuries healed, and even his severed right arm regrew before their eyes.
Norman Osborn watched, stunned.
"Peter, what kind of power is this?"
"Hmm, you could call it my… magic."
Norman clicked his tongue, instinctively savoring the wondrous sensation.
That feeling was so marvelous it was hard not to crave it for himself… Only when he caught himself entertaining such an ungrateful thought did he notice a gaze on him.
Following it, he found Peter regarding him with a half-smile:
"What are you thinking, Uncle Norman?"
That look sent another chill through Norman; every reckless idea evaporated instantly.
Forget it—this power wasn't something he could ever wield; it belonged to Peter alone.
"I—I was just curious how you… acquired this ability?" he couldn't help asking.
He'd practically watched the boy grow up, yet had never sensed such talent.
"Honestly, I don't know; it chose me."
"You know, some things defy explanation. One day I woke up and—bam—I had it…"
Peter offered an abstract excuse, yet it worked perfectly, snuffing out any desire Norman had to learn.
"Also, just so you know, this magic only dispels abnormal influences; it can't fix inborn defects.
In other words, I can't cure the genetic flaws you and Harry have; your DNA remains unchanged.
But as long as I'm around, you can keep working on the serum, and I'll make sure neither of you ever suffers its side effects.
Even if you never finish the serum, I can keep you both healthy and let you live long, long lives."
Though a flicker of disappointment crossed Norman's mind, he tossed it aside and looked at Peter with heartfelt gratitude.
"That's more than enough—truly! I don't even know how to repay you."
Then, as though suddenly remembering something, he turned solemn.
"Right, Peter, there's something important: what you did at school… has probably drawn the attention of certain… special departments."
Chapter 39: I Was Careless on Purpose
"As far as I know, this department is called S.H.I.E.L.D.! Its full name is the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, a mysterious department that was authorized to be established after World War II."
"The authority of this department is extremely high and nearly ubiquitous, monitoring abnormal events occurring in every corner of the globe at all times."
"Peter, your previous act of repairing the school has probably already been discovered by them!"
"Even though you were masked at the time, with their power and background, they can likely easily deduce your true identity!"
Speaking to this point, even Norman Osborn's brow furrowed deeply, unconsciously feeling worried for Peter.
No one knew better than he how insane Peter's healing ability was. Once such power became known to those high-level politicians, they would definitely want to get Peter at any cost.
When that time came, whether S.H.I.E.L.D. chose to forcibly conscript Peter or Peter chose to resist for his freedom, it would be a dead end of a dilemma for him.
After all, he couldn't just watch his savior, Peter, fall into trouble, but at the same time, he also knew he couldn't contend with the entire state machine... At this thought, Norman Osborn's brow furrowed even deeper, and he couldn't help but adopt the posture of an elder to lecture Peter:
"Your previous behavior was still too careless; you can't act so impulsively in the future."
Even if you love to study, you can't expose your special abilities just for the sake of studying!
But to Norman's complete surprise, facing this kindness, Peter showed an "everything is under control" smile:
"Uncle Norman, is there a possibility... that I was careless on purpose?"
As soon as he said this, Norman's brain crashed yet again... What do you mean you were careless on purpose?
Peter, of course, wasn't just being stubborn.
The reason he chose to restore the school at that time wasn't purely out of a prankster's mindset, but because there were two deeper meanings.
The first meaning, naturally, was to attract the Green Goblin's attention, hooking him like a fish.
Currently, from the results, this objective has already been fully achieved.
And his second objective was precisely to proactively attract the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
As for why he wanted to do this... the answer was naturally for sacrifice points!
In Norman's view, S.H.I.E.L.D. was a den of monsters that devoured people without leaving a trace, using the pretext of national security to force anyone to become their slaves or lackeys.
But in Peter's eyes, S.H.I.E.L.D., or rather S.H.I.E.L.D., was a golden fat sheep!
Motherfucker Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye... and Pierce, Crossbones, and Baron Strucker hiding in the shadows... the items on these people were all good things that could provide Peter with sacrifice points!
It could be said that Peter entering S.H.I.E.L.D. was equivalent to locking a fat sheep in a pen, focusing on shearing it however he wanted!
Of course, Peter would definitely not sell out his integrity just for sacrifice points.
He intended to become a hero admired by thousands, but that didn't mean he would work himself to death for Nick Fury.
He was already a beast of burden before transmigrating; if he still had to be a damn beast of burden after transmigrating, and for the 'Cabinet' no less, then wouldn't his translocation be for nothing!
Living a new life, he, Peter Parker, was destined to be the freest man in this World!
As for S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Avengers, in the future, they would only be fit to kneel down and beg him to do things!
"Don't worry, Uncle Norman, I know what I'm doing!"
"A mere S.H.I.E.L.D. can't do anything to me."
Seeing Peter act so confidently, although Norman was still a bit apprehensive, he already believed Peter's words.
After all, he had seen with his own eyes how powerful Peter was.
With just physical strength, he crushed Dr. Lizard.
At the same time, he also possessed the healing ability to bring the dead back to life and grow flesh on white bones.
Additionally, there was the "blue magic bullet" he had glimpsed earlier.
Possessing so many means, if S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted to turn against Peter, they would probably really have to weigh their options carefully.
"Since you know what you're doing, then I won't ask more!" After a brief hesitation, Norman steeled his heart and chose to trust Peter:
"In short, if you need anything, just speak up. You are the savior of Harry and me. As long as it's something I can do, I will definitely do my best to help you!"
While Norman was speaking, Dr. Connors on the sofa also let out a groan and slowly opened his eyes.
"Peter... Norman...?"
Dr. Connors somewhat suspected he had a memory lapse. He remembered that after he turned into the Lizard Monster, hadn't he been defeated by "The Punisher"?
He was prepared for death, but in the end, nothing happened.
Even... looking at his intact right arm, Connors just felt like he was in a daze.
What the hell? Is this my hand?
Seeing his bewildered look, Norman kindly helped explain the sequence of events to him.
After hearing that Peter was The Punisher and had even cured his arm with magic, Connors couldn't help but bow deeply to Peter in excitement:
"Peter, I... I'm sorry to you, sorry to Gwen, sorry to everyone."
He felt extremely remorseful for losing control.
After the remorse, he suddenly looked up at Peter and spoke with a determined expression:
"Since my life was saved by you, Peter!"
"Then from now on, my life is in your hands!"
"I, Curt Connors, am willing to swear in the name of God that I am willing to do anything for you from now on and will never betray you!"
Facing the "debts of gratitude" offered by the two, Peter did not show any embarrassment and accepted this near master-servant status very calmly.
His status was bound to get higher and higher in the future; there was really no need to maintain a so-called modest gentleman persona.
In the future, helping them reach higher levels while achieving his own goals would be far more useful than caring about these superficial things!
"Speaking of which, I really do have two things I need your help with."
"First, regarding the matter of Gwen's and my identities... I hope you two can help keep the secret. Before we want to make our identities public, you cannot leak it to anyone, including those closest to you."
Dr. Connors and Norman both nodded solemnly.
"In addition, I hope you won't reveal everything that happened today to Gwen, and especially don't let her know that I am The Punisher."
To this, the two were first a bit stunned, then they looked at each other and showed strange yet understanding expressions.
Young people nowadays really know how to play more and more creatively.
However, since the young couple liked to have their little games, they, as elders, naturally had no reason to intervene.
Just waiting to watch the drama unfold would be enough~
Chapter 40 – Nick Fury Is Green with Envy
After Peter finished setting the ground rules with Norman and Dr. Connors about keeping their identities secret,
he told them he'd put Herman to work on a new battery and was preparing to enter the mobile-phone market.
Norman looked very interested.
A bold idea even began to form in his mind.
He knew better than anyone how rotten things had become inside Oscorp, but with death so near he hadn't had the luxury of thinking long-term.
Now that his health was restored, Norman figured he could jettison the company's dead weight and let it rise from the ashes—better than before.
For instance, he could back Peter's company in Harry's name.
Once the new firm was strong enough, Oscorp would be driven straight into bankruptcy.
Peter could then buy back the choicest pieces of the old company.
A simple left-hand-to-right-hand shuffle would let Oscorp dump its idiot shareholders and mountains of toxic assets.
After the diet, a new-and-improved lizard serum plus the physique enhancement potion could be unveiled, and a reborn Oscorp—controlled entirely by father and son—would soar again.
Without hesitation Norman laid the whole scheme on the table; Peter loved it, and the two quickly drafted the "Operation Oscorp" plan.
With that, Peter's business empire officially set sail.
Once every detail was locked in, Peter still made sure to fleece the pair:
[Green-grade sacrificial item detected: Dr. Lizard's white coat]
[Dr. Lizard's favorite white coat, witness to many breakthroughs—and to the monster he became.]
[Sacrifice for 400 points?]
[Blue-grade sacrificial item detected: Proto-Green Goblin armor]
[First-generation battle-suit personally designed by the Green Goblin, Norman Osborn. Rugged, weapon-packed, the very hardware that turned him into a spider-verse super-villain—and a priceless keepsake.]
[Sacrifice for 1,000 points?]
The two items handed Peter a tidy 1,400 sacrifice points, pushing his balance to 5,200.
Now he only had to wait for next month's new stock.
With that happy thought, Peter hopped on his flying skateboard and zipped away from the Osborn estate.
Yes—Norman had simply given him the glider.
With his evil persona gone, he wouldn't be playing villain anymore.
As for superheroics—at his age, the fire was spent.
The craft was useless to him now; better to let Peter have it as a goodwill gesture.
While Peter streaked across New York on the Green Goblin Glider, in Washington, inside the Triskelion,
Level-8 Agent Phil Coulson burst into Director Nick Fury's office with a laptop.
"Sir, satellites caught a super-natural incident in New York—here's the footage."
Fury, sipping coffee, clicked play. When he saw Ghost-Spider, The Punisher, the Green Goblin and Dr. Lizard mixing it up, he sneered.
"That all?"
He'd expected something major; instead it looked like masked kids playing tag.
He was still scoffing—until The Punisher unloaded a whirlwind assault and flattened Dr. Lizard.
That strength, that speed… impressive.
Maybe even Captain-class; worth recruiting, Fury thought.
As the clip wound down, it showed The Punisher restoring the school.
Pfft!
Watching the rubble levitate and snap back into place, Fury spat coffee all over Coulson.
The one-eyed spymaster didn't even think to apologize; he just rewatched the restoration again and again.
The more he watched, the brighter his remaining eye gleamed.
That was a bona-fide super-power!
"What's the name of the black-and-red suit?" Fury demanded, greed shining in his eye.
Even if it only fixed inanimate objects, S.H.I.E.L.D. could save a fortune on repairs.
If it could heal people too—game-changer.
A cleric who could raise the dead… a strategic weapon the Military must never learn about; S.H.I.E.L.D.had to own it.
He might even help wake the Captain.
They'd only recently fished Captain Berry out of Arctic ice after seventy-plus years.
They'd brought him to S.H.I.E.L.D., but thawing him risked complications.
Bring this healer in and revival could be done safely.
Once the Captain was on his feet, the "Avengers" initiative would jump ahead.
Plus, with that power in his pocket, Fury's own life and health would have extra insurance.
Whoever this guy was, Fury had to have him.
Reading the naked greed in the Director's eye, Coulson reported:
"Sir, he calls himself The Punisher—two confirmed sightings so far, this one included.
The other was two days ago, when he and the black-and-white Ghost-Spider stopped a Manhattanbank heist.
Judging by his strength and methods, I strongly suspect he was also the recent "dock butcher" case that shocked the country.
Satellite tracking shows his last known location: the Osborn estate."
After hearing Coulson out, Fury wanted The Punisher even more.
Everything the man had done marked him as no homicidal maniac.
Sure, the name "Punisher" reeked of ego,
but Fury loved breaking cocky self-styled tough guys.
Reminded him of a certain billionaire playboy he already had in his sights.
Decision made, Fury barked:
"Coulson—move! Full-court press on intel about this Punisher."
"Contact Norman Osborn; make him hand over everything he has on the guy."
"He's shown up twice near Midtown High; odds are he lives nearby.
Send our best Agents to infiltrate the school—assess whether his power's a security risk and, by any means necessary, bring him to me."
Fury rubbed his chin, then added:
"Put Natasha Romanoff on it."
Chapter 41 – Auntie, Times Have Changed
The next day, at Midtown High.
Across campus, students were still buzzing about yesterday's heart-stopping four-way showdown; every other minute the corridors echoed with shouts of "F*** The Punisher."
Because the school had inexplicably rebuilt itself overnight, the previously obscure Punisher was suddenly flooded with media attention.
Reporters poured into Midtown High, cornering anyone for interviews and doing whatever they could to dig up more dirt on The Punisher.
JJJ (J. Jonah Jameson) praised The Punisher to the skies.
Though both hid their faces, JJJ insisted Ghost-Spider left destruction wherever she went, whereas "The Punisher" had restored an entire school in front of the city—giving kids a place to learn and saving tens of millions in property damage.
The comparison made one look clearly superior.
Such blatant double standards had Gwen so furious she suited up at dawn and plastered Times Square's giant screen with webbing over JJJ's smug face.
"Class, because Mr. Tommy—our politics teacher—broke his leg, we have a substitute: Ms. Tasha."
As the homeroom teacher spoke, a black-stockinged leg stepped into view, snapping every dozing boy upright.
When the red-haired, pin-up gorgeous, pencil-skirted Ms. Tasha strode in, the room exploded.
The boys near-morphed into Indians, dying to whoop and holler.
Even the girls stared, equal parts envy and awe.
She was too stunning, too sexy.
She eclipsed every awkward teen in the room.
Listening to the wolf-whistles, Gwen rolled her eyes.
So shallow. Peter would never act like that.
Thinking so, Gwen glanced sideways—then huffed in disgust.
Not far away, Peter was staring unblinking at the new teacher, a weird grin on his face… turning Gwen's already sour mood even darker.
I can't believe you're that kind of Peter!
She glared at Ms. Tasha's curves, looked down at her own modest bumps, and felt worse.
If Peter could hear her thoughts, he'd swear his innocence.
Sure, he'd looked—okay, several looks.
But he wasn't mesmerized!
He was only shocked that the black-balled Director had rolled out Marvel's must-eat-list Black Widowon day one.
"Good morning, class."
Just as Peter was enjoying the surprise.
Ms. Tasha—Black Widow Natasha Romanoff—introduced herself while sweeping the room.
A moment later her gaze locked on Peter and Gwen.
A top-tier Agent, she could read status from bearing and mood from eyes.
To her, these two teens stood out.
They were also the exact names Nick Fury had told her to watch.
Last night S.H.I.E.L.D. had phoned Norman Osborn and squeezed a few vague facts from him.
Like: Gwen had assisted Curt Connors; Peter had cracked the Decay Rate Algorithm.
Norman had said little, but for Natasha it was enough.
A pro spy, she was sure she could spot their weak points.
With that, Natasha started the lesson.
Forty-five minutes flew; when the bell rang she paused.
"Peter Parker, see me in my office."
Peter stayed calm, winked at Gwen, and followed.
As expected, the office was empty—just Natasha and him.
"Have a seat."
She flashed a sultry smile and crossed her black-sheathed legs.
The stockings whispered as thigh pressed against thigh, curves shifting distractingly.
Natasha meant only small talk to fish for intel.
But Peter's first line jolted her rigid.
"Skip the pointless fishing, Agent Natasha Romanoff."
Instantly every muscle coiled; her hand brushed the lipstick-gun in her pocket.
"I don't know what you mean, Peter."
"Don't you?" He smiled, tapped the desk with one finger.
Thud.
Solid wood parted like wet paper.
"My patience is thin. If I don't hear what I want, you and your people lose the chance to talk to me—forever."
He'd considered playing along, then tossed the idea.
No need.
Sparring with S.H.I.E.L.D. gained him nothing.
They already suspected; any future move would let them piece together his identity.
Better to hit first, make the one-eyed man fear his power and bargain for better terms.
Staring at the hole, Natasha broke a cold sweat. Decades in the field and she'd never seen a target like this.
It left her off-balance, unsure what to do.
How did a high-schooler know her name?
Even if he was super-powered and had heard of S.H.I.E.L.D. from Norman Osborn, he shouldn't have spoken her real one.
Questions swirled, but she inhaled, steadied herself, and played along.
"Fine. I admit it, Peter—or should I say Punisher. I'm here on behalf of Director Nick Fury.
"Your abilities are strategically vital. Serve your country."
She opened with the patriot card; Peter sneered.
"Auntie, times have changed. You think I'll jump at 'serve your country' like Captain America and snap on a dog collar?
Chapter 42 Natasha: It's hard to believe you're human.
Natasha's eyes flickered with resignation at Peter's mocking remark.
Kids these days really aren't cute anymore.
And what's with calling me auntie and talking about dog leashes?
That's just plain nasty.
I'm still on the clock for S.H.I.E.L.D.—show a girl some respect.
But she was a battle-hardened ace and had pictured every scenario, including the target's outright refusal.
Besides, she wasn't a true American and felt no real loyalty to the flag, so she wasn't personally offended.
Seeing no need for further stealth, Natasha relaxed.
She shifted, leaning forward, chin propped lazily on one hand, green eyes studying Peter with interest.
"All right, I was clearly overthinking it."
"Why don't you list every condition for joining S.H.I.E.L.D.? I'll pass it up verbatim."
"If we hit a snag, I can take you straight to my boss after school for a face-to-face."
Natasha figured she'd been nothing but sweet.
Peter didn't soften; his answer was blunt.
"Dream on. I don't join anything."
He leaned back, arms folded, face cold.
"I won't be leashed by people or rules."
"Best I'll do is cooperate."
"I'll solve problems you can't, then you pay me what I deem fair."
The air in the office seemed to freeze.
Natasha's fingers against her cheek stiffened; the kid was unreal.
No organization, no restraints?
Who does this high-schooler think he is—God?
He believes fixing objects lets him take on the whole World?
Naive.
Peter read her mind and cut straight in.
"I know what you're thinking—arrogant little punk, right?"
"Agent Natasha, understand this…"
His stare bored into her, pressing even her seasoned nerves.
"My confidence comes from being strong enough."
He opened his right hand.
Woomph—!
A blue sphere spun violently in mid-air, screeching and warping the air around it.
The raw power snapped every hair on her body upright.
What the hell—?!
Before she could blink, he pressed the Rasengan into a desk.
Shrrrk.
No explosion—
the solid oak simply vanished into sawdust as if swallowed by a black hole.
He reached toward the pile.
Soft white light bathed the wood; seconds later an untouched desk stood exactly where it had been.
Silence.
Cold sweat dotted Natasha's forehead.
Her ironclad heart, forged through countless ops, was suddenly racing.
She got it now—this brat had every right to be cocky.
Destroy… then restore—near godlike.
At his age with that power, she'd have been worse.
Finally she found her voice, a tremor slipping through.
"You… are you even human?"
Peter grinned.
"Of course."
He chuckled, then snatched her right hand from her knee.
Instinct screamed resist, but his grip was lightning and steel; she couldn't move.
He laid her palm over his heart.
"Check for yourself if you don't believe me."
Through thin cloth, warmth and a steady, powerful beat thudded against her hand.
Feeling the hard muscle, Natasha blinked—then a flicker of embarrassment and irritation crossed her face.
Was the Little Brat flirting with her?
Screw that—she wasn't backing down.
If he wanted a feel…
Fine.
Her hand slid over his chest, biceps, abs—cough—any lower would be rude.
Seeing no reaction from him, she stopped short.
Swallowing her annoyance—and something else—she said.
"Okay, you're human. I'll relay your terms. Name them."
"Simple." He raised three fingers once she let go.
"One: don't mess with my normal life or spy on me. Cross that line and they'll pay."
Natasha nodded. "Understood. We'll pull everyone back."
"Two: I deal only with you and Director Fury. My identity stays hidden from the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D., the government, the Military—everyone, unless I say otherwise."
"That… won't be easy. Even Director Fury has to report upstairs."
"Not my problem. Fail it and we're done."
Natasha sighed inwardly—brat—and nodded.
"Got it. I'll pass it up."
"Good." Peter smiled.
"Last and most important."
"Deploy your best Agents. When I'm not home, give top-tier protection to my guardians—Uncle Ben Parker and Aunt Mei Parker.
And don't even think of using them against me. Anyone tries, I'll kill him in perfect rhythm."
Chapter 43 – A Warm Little Gift
The instant Peter voiced that final demand, the air in the office froze solid.
Natasha felt an inexplicable pressure bear down on her, so cold it cut to the bone.
In that split second she realized exactly how much the boy's guardians, "Ben and May," meant to him.
They were, quite simply, the teenager's reverse scale—touch them and you died.
The discovery left her torn between hope and dread.
The hopeful part: a young man who honored his elders this deeply couldn't be a true villain.
When real enemies came, he would stand with them, not against them.
An extra ally was always better than an extra enemy.
The dread: their control-freak of a Director, Nick Fury, was the sort who'd do absolutely anything to get what he wanted.
If the "black egg" decided to threaten Peter through his guardians… she didn't even want to picture it.
It would end in a catastrophe S.H.I.E.L.D. itself might not survive.
After a brief lapse she collected herself and looked at Peter, a faint complexity in her voice: "I understand. I'll relay your terms to my superiors." "Good."
Seeing the legendary Black Widow so compliant put Peter in an excellent mood.
"I like obedient people. Because you've played along so nicely, I'll give you a little present."
As he spoke he reached out and rested a hand lightly on her shoulder.
The horse talisman activated at once.
A soft, warm white light enveloped Natasha.
The glow wasn't harsh; it seeped into every cell with indescribable comfort, as though cleansing and remaking her from within.
Then she felt an unprecedented warmth in her lower abdomen and knees, as though some long-empty space deep inside her was being refilled.
"Mm—what did you do to me?"
Alarm flickered in her eyes, yet her voice trembled with the strange sensation, an involuntary, almost flirtatious hitch escaping her nose.
Peter simply withdrew his hand, casual and faintly teasing: "Just patched up some old injuries… and returned something you once lost."
There was more he didn't mention.
Under the talisman's power even the micro-chip implanted in her had been neutralized.
Natasha herself didn't know about that, and spelling it out would've been too shocking.
Even so, his off-hand words struck her like thunder.
Her body shook; her hands flew instinctively to her belly, already sensing, dimly, what he meant by "something lost."
It was her most secret scar, a wound that had never healed.
A top graduate of the Red Room, she and her sisters had been forcibly stripped of womb and ovaries to become Black Widows.
All her life she had sought belonging, yearning for a real home.
Yet, cruelly, that mutilation meant she could never have a true family.
She had believed she would have to settle for the warmth of pets to fill the void of kinship.
Now Peter had handed her a brand-new hope.
The realization flooded even her battle-hardened heart; her eyes stung with the sudden urge to weep.
She bit her lip hard, fighting back the sob that clawed at her throat, refusing to show weakness before this boy.
Peter watched her with mild amusement and said, "If you need to cry, you can borrow my shoulder… or even a hug, if you like." "In your dreams."
She rolled her eyes magnificently and turned away.
Inside, though, her fondness for him grew.
She wasn't some inexperienced girl like Gwen; she knew he had simply read her need for privacy and offered her an easy exit.
She steadied the storm of emotion.
When she faced him again she wore her familiar sultry, languid poise.
From her bag she produced a secure phone, tapped in a number, and said: "Whatever our Directordecides, we'll contact you with this. If you ever need our help, use it."
She handed him the phone, hoisted her bag, and headed for the door.
"I'm going to make my report. You may be asked to visit S.H.I.E.L.D. tonight; let your family know so they won't worry."
Only after her curvaceous silhouette vanished did Peter look away, a confident smile playing at his lips.
With today's little gift, turning the Avengers' future linchpin would be effortless.
About an hour later Natasha stepped into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s clandestine New York facility.
The elevator dropped her seventeen floors underground; there, in the large office, Nick Fury waited impatiently for good news.
Yet when she walked in he blinked in surprise.
"Agent Romanoff, back so soon? Don't tell me you've already met the guy calling himself The Punisher?"
She gave a slight nod.
"I did. The Punisher is Peter Parker. To my embarrassment, he spotted me first and laid out his terms."
She recounted everything—save for the "little gift."
As expected, the man who'd sailed smoothly with Skrull backing exploded when he heard Peter's conditions.
He barely respected even Tony Stark and schemed to control him.
With Captain Marvel—near godlike—behind him, he wasn't about to kowtow to some high-school kid, and he slammed the table in classic style: "Motherf—does he think he's the President of the United States?!"
Chapter 44 – What's that jabbering about?
The usually-arrogant Nick Fury was huffing and puffing with rage.
He was already plotting how to 'deal' with this clueless high-school kid.
For instance, pretend to agree to his terms first, then quietly take control of his guardians.
Let the Little Brat despair, then step in like a hero to 'rescue' those guardians.
Make him realize how high the sky is and how thick the earth is, while he weeps with gratitude and bows at my feet.
To rise to Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury had done more shady deeds than he could count.
A little scheme like this caused him zero guilt.
'Coulson, compile every scrap of data on Peter Parker's guardians, relatives and friends for me!'
Beside him, Natasha heard that and knew Fury was up to no good.
Before meeting Peter, she'd have seen nothing wrong with such tactics.
After all, her training had always taught her: any collateral damage was acceptable if it served the mission.
But right now—whether her ovaries and uterus had returned and the psychotropic drugs worn off, awakening some buried maternal instinct,
or Peter's fierce will to protect his family had shaken her—she stared at Fury's profile and found the man more repulsive by the second.
With that thought, Natasha hesitated, then made a decision that went against everything she was:
'Director, I have to warn you: Peter Parker's abilities far exceed what you imagine; what you saw in that video is only the tip of the iceberg.'
Fury turned impatiently, his single eye sweeping over Natasha.
'Beyond being strong and fixing broken toasters, what else can he do?'
'He…' Natasha drew a deep breath.
'He can heal people—regrow lost limbs!'
The instant he heard it, Fury's expression shifted.
So his guess had been right: the kid really could repair human bodies.
If so, not only could the Captain be saved, but he himself could enjoy lifelong health.
Agents crippled on missions wouldn't need forced retirement.
In short, with Peter Parker in hand he could turn every S.H.I.E.L.D. subordinate into a nuclear-powered workhorse.
He could even stockpile vast political capital through the boy's power.
Which old politico didn't carry some serious illness?
Cure them through Peter—what enormous favors those would be!
With those favors, S.H.I.E.L.D. could do whatever it wanted.
At that thought, Fury's anger was replaced by pure greed; his gaze turned crystal-clear.
If the boy truly was that miraculous, granting these petty demands wasn't impossible.
But… certainly not so easily.
He still had to test the kid, haggle the price to the floor; otherwise, with Peter as precedent, how could he recruit other 'Avengers'?
'Natasha…' Fury's voice dropped, once more the wise, commanding Director:
'When school ends, bring him here. I want a good talk with the boy.'
Natasha rolled her eyes mentally, but answered obediently,
'Yes, Director.'
…Night had fallen; the city's lights were coming on.
Peter, having just reassured Uncle Ben and Aunt Mei, stepped outside to find Natasha leaning against a black SUV.
After brief greetings he climbed in, and she drove him straight to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York branch.
Seeing the familiar-yet-foreign corridors, he hooked a faint, unnoticed smile:
'Sheep pen, here I come!'
In his office, Fury watched Peter via surveillance.
Noticing the kid's hayseed gawking, he sneered.
Little Brat, no threat at all.
Thinking so, he straightened his jacket and, the moment Peter entered, loosed his long-nurtured aura of authority.
Too bad Peter looked utterly unmoved.
Seeing Fury, Peter frowned slightly and turned to Natasha:
'No way—legendary Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. is actually an in—'
Hearing the almost-spoken slur, Natasha and Coulson nearly cracked up.
They each recalled the saddest events of their lives before managing to say in mock-annoyance:
'Show some respect to the Director.'
Fury's single eye bulged, veins on his forehead throbbing.
In all his years commanding the World's most secretive, powerful agency, no one had insulted him to his face.
He nearly exploded on the spot, but, thinking of Peter's power, swallowed the rage and forced a smile uglier than a grimace:
'In fact, Black people today excel in every field; a Black Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. is nothing—'
Before he could finish, Peter cut in:
'Stop. I'm not here for a sociology lecture. Just tell me—will you meet my terms or not?'
A tic bulged on Fury's forehead; he'd had enough of this brat.
He snorted coldly and decided to flex a little muscle first:
'Peter, I understand your mindset—teen suddenly gets power and thinks everyone else is trash.
But this World is far more complex than you imagine; plenty of things you can't solve alone.
For instance, without my say-so, do you really think you'll walk out of S.H.I.E.L.D. ali—'
'What's that jabbering about?'
Once again Peter brutally cut him off.
Bzzzz—
He opened his right hand; violent energy rapidly gathered in his palm.
This time it was no ordinary Rasengan.
Peter didn't bother shaping it, simply let his Chakra pour in unchecked.
The spinning blue sphere ballooned, and in a blink became a massive orb over a meter across.
Energy detectors shrieked their alarms.
Worse, it kept growing.
Under Natasha, Fury and Coulson's horrified monster-stares, Peter flashed a sunny, harmless grin:
'I'm walking out now—just try and stop me.'
Chapter 45
And he's the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Looking at the blue energy ball expanding wildly in Peter's palm, and then at the desk lamp and pen holder that were beginning to tremble slightly due to the terrifying energy fluctuations...
Nick Fury felt his mouth go dry.
He had seen many things.
He had seen alien spaceships, superpowered individuals, and even a Flerken that looked like an orange cat but could easily swallow everything.
But this thing in front of him... he had never fucking seen it before!
It was as if this energy ball had no upper limit at all!
What was even more terrifying was that the kid still looked completely unfazed, not even out of breath.
Damn! Consuming so much energy, don't you feel like your 'body has been hollowed out'?
If one sentence could describe Nick Fury's mental state, it would be:
Regret, deep regret!
He had originally thought that with the World's most powerful Agent organization in his hands and Captain Marvel, who could punch through an alien fleet, as his backing, he could handle any threat on Earth.
But now he realized he was wrong.
Distant water cannot quench a nearby fire!
Even if he pressed that pager right this second, by the time Carol flew back from deep space, his ashes would have been scattered eight hundred times over!
At this moment, he even began to suspect if Peter was an Inhuman or something similar!
But that didn't make sense either!
Richard Parker and Mary Parker... that couple were clearly excellent Agents on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s records, with no record of any superpowers!
Countless thoughts flashed wildly through Nick Fury's mind, but they eventually converged into one crystal-clear realization.
He had kicked a steel plate, and it was a fucking Vibranium one!
"Kid... calm down, let's talk this out... I didn't say I wouldn't agree to your request, did I?"
Survival instinct overwhelmed the Director's dignity; Nick Fury ultimately chose to follow his heart and play it safe.
But to this, Peter just raised an eyebrow:
"Kid?"
Nick Fury wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and asked tentatively:
"Little brother?"
"Sir?"
Finally, Nick Fury closed his eyes and shouted helplessly:
"Lord Punisher!"
Hum~
Finally, the Big Ball Rasengan in Peter's hand dissipated, so quickly that it made Nick Fury and Coulsonwonder if everything just now had been a hallucination.
Natasha couldn't help but look at Peter with an extremely complex gaze, feeling that he didn't seem at all like a high schooler who had just come of age.
The moment their eyes met, Peter gestured toward himself with his chin; Natasha rolled her eyes at him beautifully but still obediently brought him a cup of coffee.
Peter sipped the coffee with sugar and milk, looking at Nick Fury's pale face with a half-smile:
"I learned an old saying from the Great East today: 'Arrogant at first and humble later; it makes one laugh to think of it.' I wonder what it means..."
Nick Fury's pale face turned the color of pig liver, and a fire of anger burned in his single eye.
Damned brat!
In all his years leading S.H.I.E.L.D., when had he ever suffered such a grievance!
Yet, he couldn't lash out.
The shadow of death cast by that blue energy ball still loomed over his heart.
He could only force down his anger and think quickly, trying to regain some initiative.
"Cough, cough..."
Nick Fury cleared his throat intentionally, forcing a change of subject:
"Pete... Lord Punisher, I think I need to give you a briefing on our S.H.I.E.L.D.... blah blah blah... In short, the enemies we face are much more troublesome than you imagine."
"And..."
He stared intently at Peter, finally playing the trump card he had prepared for a long time:
"The enemies we face are not entirely unrelated to you. In fact, your parents' deaths are closely linked to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s arch-nemesis, HYDRA!"
Nick Fury thought he would see Peter lose his composure, but Peter only gave an ambiguous cold laugh.
Isn't it just HYDRA and the Winter Soldier they control?
He knew these things better than Nick Fury did.
He not only knew of their existence but also knew that the so-called S.H.I.E.L.D. had long since become S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Aside from high-level Agents like Coulson and Hill who could be trusted, almost everyone else was dirty!
Looking at Nick Fury staring at him expectantly, Lord Punisher finally'showed mercy' and gave him a chance to show off his eloquence:
"Go on."
Nick Fury was somewhat disappointed not to see Peter lose his cool, but he adjusted his mood and spoke:
"The HYDRA organization is the arch-enemy of Captain Steve Rogers. As far as I know, your parents' deaths were related to this organization's conspiracy!"
"But because those events happened so many years ago, much of the data is unverifiable, however..."
At this point, Nick Fury's tone suddenly became high-spirited:
"Just recently, our people found the Captain, who has been frozen for many years, in the North Pole."
"We were previously worried that forced thawing would cause irreversible damage to his body, but now your ability... can perfectly awaken this legendary hero!"
"Once you wake the Captain, we might get more key intelligence about HYDRA from him. This is not only for your parents' revenge but also concerns the safety of the entire World!"
Nick Fury's tone was passionate, as if inviting Peter to join an incredibly noble and great cause.
But in the next second, the dark-skinned fellow showed his true colors:
"However, to prove your ability won't harm the Captain, I need you to show me your healing power first!"
At this point, Nick Fury couldn't help but smile triumphantly in his heart.
He felt like a fucking genius!
He could verify Peter's ability without any effort and naturally get him to treat Captain America for free.
Who else in this World besides him could think of such a brilliant plan?
Clap, clap, clap~
Meeting Nick Fury's excited gaze, Peter slowly and gently clapped his hands:
"Mr. Nick Fury, I must say, you certainly have a fine set of calculations."
Nick Fury's heart sank, and an ominous feeling welled up.
"With just a few words, you want me to be your free labor and help you wake up Captain Berry? I must say, you really know how to get something for nothing."
"But..."
Bang!
Peter's tone shifted, and he suddenly slapped the office desk in front of him, shattering the solid wood desk on the spot:
"The Captain who fell into the sea in 1945 can provide key intelligence for my parents' death in a 1994 plane crash? Don't you use your brain before making up lies?"
Saying this, he couldn't help but look at Natasha beside him, mimicking a famous pointing meme:
"And he's the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., making up lies that don't even add up..."
Chapter 46: I've Grown Hair!
"Pfft... cough, cough, cough!"
Standing to the side, Natasha finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
Although she quickly covered it up with a series of coughs, her slightly twitching shoulders still betrayed her current mood.
Nick Fury's single eye snapped toward Natasha, his gaze as cold as a Siberian cold front.
In response, Natasha simply blinked her emerald green eyes innocently, suppressing a smile as she spoke:
"I just thought of something happy."
Before Nick Fury could even ask "what happy thing," he heard a faint "kukuku" sound from behind him.
He turned around to see Agent Coulson's large face turning beet-red, his body shaking like a sieve; anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was having an asthma attack!
Motherfucker!
At this moment, Nick Fury felt like killing them to keep them quiet.
But considering that his 'living ancestor' Peter was still right there, he could only suppress the Fury in his heart and explain:
"Peter, I'm not..."
"Hmm?!"
Peter merely let out a hum, and Nick Fury was forced to humbly change how he addressed him:
"Lord Punisher, listen to my explanation. HYDRA has not been destroyed.
On the contrary, they disguised themselves as scientists and infiltrated the U.S. through Operation Paperclip. To this day, they still pose a massive threat to national security!"
"Oh~" Peter acted as if he had just realized something.
"No wonder someone like you could become the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. It makes sense now."
Nick Fury:...He was so angry he wanted to slam the table, only to realize the table had long since been smashed to pieces by Peter, so he could only grip his pants tightly.
After a long while, he acted as if he hadn't heard anything and spoke:
"That's not the point. The point is that as long as the Captain is revived, he can act as a deterrent against them!"
"The Captain himself can even identify many high-ranking HYDRA members, helping us root them out one by one!"
Nick Fury put on an anxious look of concern for the country and its people, trying to move Peter this way.
But Peter just leisurely sipped his coffee, and his words made Nick Fury want to explode on the spot:
"Look at you, getting all anxious again!"
"I didn't say I wouldn't help. I was just commenting on how clumsy your lie-weaving skills are!"
"I said it from the very beginning when I first met Natasha: as long as you can afford the price, I don't mind helping you solve some minor troubles."
"So... demonstrating my ability counts as one move, and waking the Captain counts as a second move."
"For two moves, your S.H.I.E.L.D. will owe me two favors. That's reasonable, right?"
Nick Fury's hands were nearly tearing through his pants. Even when facing the Military or high-ranking government officials, he had never been this passive!
But unfortunately, he had no choice!
As long as the youth opposite him wanted to flip the table, they would all be buried with him!
For the 'Avengers Initiative,' to save S.H.I.E.L.D. astronomical financial expenses, and to gain a strategic-level 'Priest' who could bring back the dead and heal the living... Nick Fury kept chanting to himself in his mind. A moment later, he squeezed out the words through gritted teeth:
"Fine, I agree."
The moment the words left his mouth, Nick Fury felt as if he had aged ten years.
"Then, let's start with the demonstration of my ability." After finishing the coffee in his cup, Peterstretched and stood up.
Hearing this, Nick Fury instantly perked up, and even began to wonder if he should have Peter heal his blind eye.
He had hidden many secrets using the iris of that eye, after all.
While Nick Fury was hesitating, he watched as Peter teleported right in front of Coulson.
"What's your name?"
Coulson was a bit overwhelmed by the attention and said:
"I am S.H.I.E.L.D. Level 8 Agent, Phil Coulson, sir!"
"Very good, relax."
Peter smiled and patted his shoulder, then placed a hand on top of his head.
Hmm?
Coulson was stunned.
Nick Fury was also stunned.
What is this kid doing?
The next second, a soft and warm white light surged from Peter's palm, instantly enveloping Coulson's entire body.
Coulson felt a warm current emerge within his body. Wherever it passed, chronic ailments like lumbar muscle strain, rheumatism, kidney deficiency, and urinary frequency melted away like snow.
What made it even more unbelievable to him was... he felt his head was very itchy... as if he were growing a brain.
Coulson subconsciously reached up to touch it.
What his fingertips felt was no longer a smooth scalp, but a layer of fine... stubble!
Coulson instinctively looked at a nearby mirror. Seeing the stubble emerging on his head and growing rapidly, he was almost moved to tears.
I've grown hair~!
"Lord Punisher, thank you!" Coulson couldn't help but shout excitedly.
He had been planning to save up for a hair transplant, but now he had saved a huge expense.
Human joys and sorrows are not shared; at this moment, Nick Fury only found it noisy.
Motherfucker!
Can you kid not understand human speech?!
I told you to demonstrate your ability so you could use it on me!
What the hell do you mean by curing my subordinate's hair loss?!
Looking at Coulson's undignified appearance after "gaining luscious locks," Nick Fury got even angrier.
Motherfucker, I want to grow hair too!
"Coulson!"
A low growl, suppressing endless rage, finally burst from Nick Fury's gritted teeth.
"Ah? Officer?"
Coulson jolted, finally snapping out of his ecstasy. He looked at Fury's face, which was as black as ink, and belatedly realized that he seemed to have... lost his composure too much just now.
Moreover, Lord Punisher had given such a precious opportunity to demonstrate his ability to him... this seemed... not quite right?
But he couldn't be blamed, right? This was Lord Punisher's choice!
Coulson silently smoothed his flowing hair, not knowing what to say for a moment.
On the other side, seeing this scene, the smile on Peter's face deepened.
This was the effect he wanted.
Make Nick Fury lose his cool, lower his prestige, and take the opportunity to use his abilities to win over his most capable subordinates.
In the long run... who the real person in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. is won't be up to you, Nick Fury!
Thinking of this, Peter turned back to Nick Fury with mock innocence and said:
"Mr. Nick Fury, are you satisfied with my ability?"
"Sa... satisfied!" Noticing Peter's 'kind' smile, Nick Fury lost his temper again.
He was being completely played!
"Good that you're satisfied. Next, take me to see the Captain. After waking him up, I should head home."
And so, Nick Fury, with an expression like he'd just lost his mother, had to lead Peter all the way to a laboratory, where Peter saw Steve Rogers frozen like a popsicle.
Placing his hand on the block of ice, as Peter activated his ability, the hard ice covering the Captainbegan to melt rapidly.
Under the gazes of Nick Fury, Coulson, and Natasha—who looked as if they were seeing a god—the ice completely melted away, and Captain America opened his eyes.
The moment he opened his eyes, an incredibly flippant voice reached his ears:
"Oi~ old-timer, want to have a fight to warm up?"