Chapter 53 The Ancient One
New York, Fisk Tower.
When they returned home, it was already late at night.
Wesley had already arranged everything and thoughtfully prepared new snacks for Luke.
"Welcome home, Boss."
Wesley stood at the doorway, his tone respectful.
"Thanks, Wesley."
Luke tossed his coat to Natasha and stretched his neck.
"Everyone is tired today, get some rest early. Tomorrow will be another wonderful day."
"By the way, Boss," Wesley suddenly said.
"A guest came to visit just now and left a letter for you."
"A guest?" Luke raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"She said her name is Ancient One."
Luke's hand holding the letter paused for a moment.
Ancient One? Sorcerer Supreme?
Why is she here to see me? Could it be because I moved Mjolnir and caught her attention?
Or could it be... she noticed the outsider aura on me?
"Where is the letter?"
Wesley handed over a yellow envelope with no postmark, only a faint magic fluctuation.
Luke opened the envelope; inside was only a slip of paper with a line of elegant handwriting written on it.
[Tea is ready, waiting for you at any time. —— Kamar-Taj]
"Heh..."
Luke looked at the note and smiled.
"Looks like this tea is unavoidable."
With a rub of his fingers, black tentacles instantly devoured the note completely.
"Boss, do you need me to arrange the itinerary?" Wesleyasked.
"No need."
Luke waved his hand.
"That kind of place is not somewhere a Mortal can go. I'll go by myself."
"Alright, go to sleep everyone. You all get a day off tomorrow."
Dismissing everyone, Luke returned to the top-floor bedroom alone.
He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the bustling New York night view outside the window.
Ancient One's invitation...
This meant he had officially entered the sight of the top big shots in this world.
This was both danger and opportunity.
Kamar-Taj had countless magic Secret Manuals, as well as the Time Stone.
If he could eat those things...
Luke smiled, feeling a bit impatient.
"But now is not the time yet."
Luke suppressed the restlessness in his heart.
Ancient One was not a soft persimmon like S.H.I.E.L.D., being able to borrow the power of the Dark Dimension and tamper with the timeline.
Before having absolute certainty, it was best to maintain friendly communication.
"Let's digest today's gains first."
Luke sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes.
The virus inside his body began to operate at full power.
As time passed, a faint golden-red light began to emerge on the surface of Luke's body.
...
Early the next morning.
Luke woke up very early.
Or rather, he didn't sleep at all.
After a night of enhancement, he felt his current state was simply off the charts.
Strength, defense, and energy reserves had all reached a new peak.
"It's time to go to the appointment."
Luke changed into a light casual outfit, didn't bring anyone, and directly opened the window.
"Whoosh!!"
Black wings unfolded, and he streaked across the air as a black stream of light, flying towards Greenwich Village in New York.
There was a Sanctum Sanctorum there, 177A Bleecker Street.
Luke landed in front of the old house full of Victorian style, and the door opened automatically.
"Please come in, Mr. Luke."
A calm voice came from inside.
Luke didn't stand on ceremony either and strode inside.
Passing through the corridor, he came to a Zen-filled tearoom.
A bald woman wearing yellow monastic robes was sitting in front of a tea table, holding a cup of hot tea and looking at him with a smile.
The Ancient One.
"Sit."
The Ancient One pointed to the futon opposite her.
Luke sat down and looked at the steaming teacup in front of him.
"I heard that the Sorcerer Supreme's tea can let people see the future, or see their own inner self?" Luke picked up the teacup and sniffed it.
"But I only smelled the scent of jasmine."
"Tea is just tea, it depends on how you drink it."
The Ancient One said faintly.
"Just like power is just power, it depends on how you use it."
"Makes sense."
Luke drank the tea in one gulp.
"A bit bland. I still prefer drinking milk."
The Ancient One smiled and didn't mind Luke's impoliteness.
"I know why you came, Luke. And I know what you are."
The Ancient One put down the teacup, her gaze becoming profound, as if she could see through Luke's soul.
"You are not a person of this Universe. Your soul is full of hunger."
"Hunger?"
Luke didn't deny it, but instead generously admitted it.
"That's right, I'm very hungry. This world is full of delicious things everywhere, and I happen to have a huge appetite."
"Including the Infinity Stones? Including Divine Power? Even including Dimensional Lords?" The Ancient Oneasked calmly.
"If possible, I wouldn't mind tasting Dormammu." Lukesmiled meaningfully.
The Ancient One looked at Luke, her eyes showing some anticipation.
"You have ambition, and you have ability."
The Ancient One slowly said.
"But in the future I saw, there is no figure of you. You are a variable. An uncontrollable variable."
"The future can be changed, Sorcerer."
Luke leaned forward, staring straight into The Ancient One's eyes.
"Just like I know you will die, but I can also make you not die. As long as..."
"As long as I let you eat me?" The Ancient One finished the second half of the sentence for him.
"Ahem... Don't put it so harshly." Luke felt a bit awkward.
"That is called... Fusion. A more advanced life form."
The Ancient One laughed, laughing very happily.
"You are very interesting, Luke. More interesting than I imagined."
"I won't stop you, nor will I help you."
The Ancient One stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the world outside.
"This world is about to usher in a huge crisis. The Chitauri, the Dark Dimension. Even Thanos... You need to become stronger to survive this storm."
"I will."
Luke also stood up and walked behind The Ancient One.
"Then, as a welcoming gift, doesn't the Sorcerer plan to give me something? Like a magic book?"
The Ancient One turned around, casually pulled a book from the bookshelf, and threw it to Luke.
"The Elementary volume of The Book of the Vishanti. It records some techniques regarding Mental Strength and energy manipulation. This will help you control the chaos energy inside your body."
Luke took the book, black tentacles instantly wrapped around the book, and began crazily analyzing the text and magic circuits on it.
[Acquired magic knowledge: Mental Barrier, Energy Shaping, Soul Emergence (Elementary)...]
"Thanks."
Luke put away the book with satisfaction.
"This tea is not bad. Next time I will bring some milk as a return gift."
"You are always welcome."
The Ancient One nodded.
"However, Luke, remember one thing."
The Ancient One's voice became serious.
"Although devouring all things can make you stronger, don't let hunger devour yourself. Otherwise, you will no longer be you, but just a monster named Hunger."
Luke was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
"Rest assured, Sorcerer."
"Although my appetite is big, my digestive ability is even better."
After speaking, Luke turned around and walked out of the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Looking at Luke's departing figure, The Ancient One gently sighed.
"I hope my choice is right..."
Chapter 54 Green Goblin Osborn
Coming out of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Luke was in a good mood.
Although he failed to get the Time Stone, being able to get magic knowledge for free from Ancient One was already an unexpected pleasant surprise.
And most importantly, Ancient One's attitude showed that as long as he didn't actively destroy the Earth, Kamar-Taj wouldn't look for trouble with him.
Therefore, this gave him immense freedom of action.
"Boss! Boss!"
As soon as he returned to Fisk Tower, Pietro rushed over like a gust of wind, holding a specially made communicator in his hand.
"Little Spider sent a distress signal!"
"Hmm?"
Luke raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong with him? Did the school bully pull down his pants? Or is he going to throw some dust in someone's eyes? Surely he isn't dancing awkwardly on the street, right?"
"No!" Pietro was slightly stunned, but still looked anxious.
"He said he ran into big trouble! In an abandoned factory in Queens! It seems like some green monster is chasing and hunting him down!"
"A green monster?"
Luke was slightly stunned.
"Hulk? That's not right, wasn't Hulk brought back by us?"
"He said that monster can fly! And it can also throw bombs!" Pietro added.
"Oh…"
Luke suddenly understood.
"So it's an elf stepping on a skateboard."
Green Goblin.
Norman Osborn.
It seemed that not only was the Avengers' plot line progressing, but Spider-Man's plot line was also starting to accelerate.
"Let's go."
Luke took off his jacket, revealing the black shirt inside.
"Since it's our reserve employee asking for help, as the boss, naturally I cannot sit back and ignore it."
"Take Wanda, we're going to Queens."
"Alrighty!"
Pietro agreed excitedly, and bolted off in a flash to call people.
...
Queens, abandoned chemical plant.
"Cough cough…"
Peter Parker covered his chest, leaning behind a pillar, his suit covered in dust and scorched marks.
His mask was half torn open, revealing a bloodshot eye.
"Damn it… What on earth is this guy?"
Peter panted heavily, looking at the figure not far away who was stepping on a flight glider, wearing green armor, and letting out a strange laugh.
Green Goblin.
Just half an hour ago, Peter was investigating a chemical theft case here, and ended up running right into Green Goblin who was stealing things.
The two of them started fighting without a word.
But Peter clearly underestimated the opponent's strength.
The opponent's flight glider was not only fast, but could also fire shells and bullets, coupled with Green Goblin's own strength and speed which were also very strong.
After a few rounds, Peter was bombed black and blue, and could only use terrain advantages to evade.
"Come out! Little Spider!"
Green Goblin hovered in the air on the glider, holding a pumpkin bomb in his hand, and shouted with a strange laugh.
"Don't you like being a Hero? Come out! Let me see what you've got!"
"Boom!"
A bomb was thrown next to the pillar where Peter was hiding, and the shock wave of the explosion blasted him away.
"Urgh ah!"
Peter slammed heavily onto the ground, feeling that things were really terrible right now.
"Found you!"
Green Goblin swooped down with a grimace, the spikes at the front of the glider pointing straight at Peter's chest!
"It's over…"
Peter closed his eyes in despair.
Just at this moment.
"Swish!"
A streak of silver lightning suddenly flashed past!
Peter only felt his body lighten, and then he was instantly whisked away from his original spot.
"Rumble!"
Green Goblin's glider stabbed into the open space, piercing a big hole in the ground.
"F*ck! Who is that?!"
Green Goblin abruptly pulled up his altitude, looking around vigilantly.
"Hey! Green-skinned freak! Your glider is pretty nice, where did you buy it?"
Pietro put Peter in a safe place, then stood on a pile of wooden crates, tossing a pumpkin bomb he had casually caught just now in his hand, looking at Green Goblin with a teasing expression.
"Who are you?" Green Goblin narrowed his eyes.
"I'm your daddy!"
Pietro backhanded the bomb right back.
"Boom!"
The bomb exploded in front of Green Goblin. Although it didn't hurt him, it startled him, and his glider shook a few times.
"You're looking for death!"
Green Goblin was enraged, and his machine gun strafed, bullets instantly pouring toward Pietro.
But Pietro had long since turned into a streak of silver light and disappeared.
"Can't hit me! Can't hit me! Piss you off to death!"
Pietro's voice resounded in every corner of the factory, making Green Goblin dizzy and disoriented.
"Enough!"
Green Goblin let out a loud roar, pulled a handful of bombs out of his bag, preparing to blow the factory flat.
Just at this moment.
A crimson energy suddenly surged from below, instantly wrapping around Green Goblin's glider!
"What?!"
Green Goblin discovered in horror that his glider was actually out of control!
"Get down here!"
Wanda stood at the entrance of the factory, her hands empty-gripping into the air, and suddenly pulled down hard!
"Bang!"
Green Goblin, along with the glider, was smashed heavily onto the ground.
Before he could crawl up, a tall black figure descended from the sky, stepping heavily onto his chest with one foot.
"Crack!"
Green Goblin's armor was cracked by this stomp!
Luke looked down at Green Goblin beneath his feet, his faceplate retracting, revealing a smiling face that made Peter feel both immensely familiar and immensely terrified.
"Yo, Mr. Norman."
Luke looked at those eyes beneath the mask.
"Not sleeping in the middle of the night, coming out to cosplay wearing weird clothes like this, isn't this a bit too disturbing to the residents?"
"Luke!! Who on earth are you?!" Norman Osborn looked at Luke in horror.
He could feel that the foot stepping on him possessed overwhelming strength.
"I'm here to collect scrap metal."
Luke pointed at the flight glider.
"This thing belongs to me now."
"And you…"
Luke bent down, his fingers gently tapping on Green Goblin's mask.
"Human enhancement serum? Schizophrenia caused by side effects? Tsk tsk, a typical villain template."
"However, I'm a bit interested in your formula."
"Sizzle!"
Black tentacles protruded from Luke's fingertips, piercing into the gaps of Green Goblin's armor.
[Detected human enhancement serum ingredients...]
[Parsing...]
[Eliminating side effects...]
"No!!!"
Norman let out a miserable scream, but was quickly knocked unconscious by Luke with a single punch.
"Done."
Luke clapped his hands and stood up.
He glanced at Peter next to him.
"How is it? Little Spider. Didn't I say you need help?"
Peter climbed up with a wry smile, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Thank you… Boss."
Peter finally called out this title.
"You're welcome."
Luke smiled.
"Remember, next time you encounter a lunatic like this, don't bear it hard. Press the bracelet, and we will come."
"After all…"
Luke looked at Pietro, who was packing up the glider, and Wanda, who was using magic to clean up the battlefield.
"We are very protective of our own."
"Alright, wrap up! Let's go home and have a midnight snack!"
With a grand wave of his hand, Luke, along with the spoils and his team, disappeared into the night.
Leaving Peter standing alone in the ruins, looking at the black bracelet in his hand, his eyes becoming complicated.
Perhaps, joining them really was a good choice?
Chapter 55 Re-encountering the Black Cat
The night wind howled, but it could not blow away New York's sins.
The Luke trio, having just concluded a scrap metal recycling operation, shuttled across the rooftops of Queens.
Pietro carried a heavy skateboard on his back, yet he was still as light as a swallow, occasionally doing a twist in the air, clearly in a very good mood.
Wanda was wrapped in red magic, floating by Luke's side.
In her hand, she was still pinching a piece of metal debris picked up during the battle just now, seemingly studying the patterns on it.
Luke did not fully spread his wings to fly, but instead used the explosive power of his legs and the thrusters behind his back to perform ultra-long-distance jumps.
Every takeoff and landing could span several blocks.
"Boss, can you lend me this skateboard to play with for two days?" Pietro's voice came through the wind.
"I think with this thing plus my speed, I can fly to the moon!"
"If you want to turn into an ice lolly in outer space, go ahead."
Luke casually replied, but his mind was not on the skateboard.
Just now, as they swept across the skies of Manhattan and approached the edge of Hells Kitchen, Luke's perception suddenly fluttered.
The signal was very faint, but in Luke's senses, which had already evolved countless times, it was like a sparkler lit in the dark night, both eye-catching and...
A lost little stray cat.
Luke stopped in his footsteps, standing on a skyscraper.
"What's wrong? An ambush?" Wanda immediately became alert, the red light in her hands flaring brightly.
Pietro also braked instantly, appearing by Luke's side, putting down the skateboard, and striking a combat posture.
"No, there is no ambush."
Luke looked at the nervous appearance of the two and couldn't help smiling.
"It's just that I suddenly remembered, it seems we are out of milk at home."
"Huh?" Pietro widened his eyes.
"Milk? At a time like this? We just finished fighting the Green Goblin, and you're thinking about drinking milk?"
"That is my fuel, Pietro." Luke spoke nonsense with a straight face.
"Just now it consumed a huge amount of my calcium. I urgently need to replenish it now."
"And..."
Luke pointed in another direction, which was the direction leading to the Brooklyn Bridge, slightly deviating from Fisk Tower.
"I want to go to an old shop over there to buy some specialty midnight snacks. I heard the cheese on the pizza there is given particularly generously."
"Pizza!" Pietro's eyes instantly lit up.
"Then I'll go with you!"
"No."
Luke stretched out a finger and shook it.
"You first take the green-skinned monster's skateboard back to give to Wesley, and let him find an expert to analyze the power system on it. This is very important."
"And Wanda, your consumption today is not small either, go back and rest first. Staying up late is not good for a girl's skin."
Luke was full of confidence.
Wanda looked at Luke suspiciously.
Intuition told her that Luke was definitely not just going to buy pizza.
That direction... is the Upper East Side.
That is a wealthy area, with many museums and mansions.
"Really just buying pizza?" Wanda was a bit curious.
"Of course, by the way, I might also buy some... cat food?" Luke smiled mysteriously.
"Cat food?"
Without waiting for Wanda to think deeply, Luke had already waved his hand.
"Alright, go back quickly. Remember to leave some midnight snack for me too, if I go back late."
Having said that, Luke no longer explained.
"Zhi la!"
The black fluid instantly covered his entire body, and the wings behind his back snapped open.
"Boom!"
He turned into a black meteor, turning towards the vicinity of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Looking at Luke's receding back, Pietro scratched his head.
"Cat food? When did the boss raise a cat? Isn't it just us in Fisk Tower?"
Wanda looked in that direction, pursing her lips thoughtfully.
"Maybe... it's a disobedient stray cat."
...
...
Manhattan, Fifth Avenue, near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The night was deep, but this area was still brightly lit.
However, Luke's target was not the museum, but a private mansion not far from the museum.
This is a private collection hall belonging to an oil tycoon. It is said that tonight a batch of peerless treasures was just shipped here, preparing to be sold at tomorrow's private auction.
Luke landed on the roof opposite the mansion.
At this time, he had put away his armored form, retaining only a thin layer of a black trench coat-like Symbiotegarment.
In this form, his aura was completely restrained, just like a ghost melting into the night color.
"Let me see where the kitty is."
Luke closed his eyes, his perception sweeping across the entire building like a radar.
In the ventilation ducts of the building, an unimaginably agile heat source was moving slowly.
Her heartbeat was steady and powerful, her movements light, and her perfect control allowed her to walk on flat ground inside the narrow duct.
And in the security room of the building, a dozen fully armed bodyguards were staring at the monitoring screens, yet they knew nothing about everything happening above their heads.
"Really disobedient."
Luke opened his eyes and smiled playfully.
"After the new rules of Hells Kitchen were established, someone actually still dares to do business privately right under my nose, and still doesn't pay taxes."
Although this does not belong to the scope of Hells Kitchen, in Luke's eyes, the entire New York is his hunting ground.
What's more, this cat is private property he marked long ago.
...
Inside the mansion, top floor collection room.
Felicia Hardy, which is the well-known Black Cat, is currently hanging upside down on a thin steel wire.
She wore a tight-fitting black battle suit, perfectly outlining her body curves.
Her long white hair was tied into a ponytail behind her head, and under her black eye mask, a pair of lively eyes stared closely at a necklace in the display case below.
This is a sapphire necklace named Star of Persia, said to have once belonged to an ancient Persian princess, worth a fortune.
"Really pretty."
Felicia licked her red lips, a trace of obsession flashing in her eyes.
She was not just for money, but even more for the thrill of holding peerless treasures in her hands, as well as the excitement of safely withdrawing under tight security.
"Be a good girl and come into big sister's arms."
She pulled out a cutter from her waist and gently adsorbed it onto the top of the display case.
Just as she was about to act, her ears suddenly twitched.
In an instant, an inexplicable chill rose from her spine.
This was the intuition tempered by years of wandering on the edge of danger, and also the intuition of being targeted by a top predator!
"Who?!"
Felicia abruptly pulled in her stomach, her body made a twist in the air, and the sharp claws in her hands instantly popped out, looking around vigilantly.
The collection room was quiet, with only the faint glow of infrared sensors flickering.
"An illusion?"
Felicia frowned.
"No, not an illusion."
A deep voice suddenly sounded by her ear.
"Good evening, Miss Hardy. Or should I call you... a lost little stray cat?"
Felicia's pores instantly exploded!
The voice was too close! It was as if it was spoken right against her ear!
She didn't hesitate, the grapple gun in her hand fired instantly, and her entire body catapulted towards the direction of the skylight!
Escape!
Must escape!
Although she didn't know who the other party was, being able to sneak up to her side silently meant they were definitely not ordinary security guards!
However, the moment she was about to touch the skylight.
"Swish!"
A black substance suddenly shot out from the shadows, quickly entangling her ankle.
"Since you've come, why be in such a hurry to leave?"
The next second, an irresistible huge force came over.
"Ah!"
Felicia exclaimed, and was directly dragged down!
She tried to adjust her posture in the air, her sharp claws fiercely swinging towards the tentacle, wanting to cut it off.
But this tentacle was frighteningly tough! Her sharp claws scraped across it without leaving even a mark, and instead, her tiger's mouth went numb from the shock.
"Bang!"
Felicia was heavily thrown onto a soft sofa.
"Damn it!"
Felicia popped up with a carp jump, striking a defensive posture.
At this time, she finally saw the attacker clearly.
In the shadows of the collection room, a tall figure slowly walked out.
He wore a black casual suit, and a face she was very familiar with.
Most eye-catching of all, behind his back, several black tentacles were dancing in the air, looking both eerie and full of oppressive pressure.
"It's you?!"
Felicia widened her eyes and recognized this face.
How could she not recognize it?! After all, they had just met a few days ago.
Luke.
The new king of Hells Kitchen.
Chapter 56 Felicia
"How could you possibly be here?!"
Felicia was somewhat surprised.
Although she was confident, she wasn't arrogant enough to think she could fight a monster that could engage in hand-to-hand combat with Hulk.
"Me?"
Luke walked over to the wine cabinet, poured himself a glass of red wine, then turned around to lean against the cabinet, raising the glass to swirl it slightly.
"I'm here to collect taxes."
"Collect taxes?" Felicia was momentarily stunned.
"That's right."
Luke took a sip of the wine; it tasted quite good, as these rich people certainly knew how to enjoy life.
"You're stealing my things in my city, shouldn't you pay some taxes?"
"Your things?" Felicia laughed out of anger, pointing at the display case.
"This clearly belongs to the oil tycoon!"
"As long as it's in New York, whatever I take a fancy to belongs to me."
Luke put down the wine glass and walked step by step toward Felicia.
As he drew closer, the oppressive aura made Felicia find it difficult to breathe.
"Furthermore, you belong to my jurisdiction as well."
"In your dreams!"
Felicia gritted her teeth, gave her wrist a flick, and a few smoke bombs instantly smashed onto the ground.
"Bang!"
Thick smoke instantly filled the air.
Under the cover of the smoke, Felicia activated her thermal imaging goggles and sprinted toward the only exit.
Her speed was extremely fast, like a black lightning bolt.
"As long as I rush out of this door, I can use the glider..."
However, just at the moment her hand was about to touch the doorknob,
a large hand pierced through the smoke and firmly pressed against the door panel.
"Thud!"
This was Luke's hand.
"What? Leaving before we've even chatted for a couple of sentences?"
Luke looked down at the black cat. Through the smoke, Felicia could still feel the other party's banter.
"Get lost!"
Felicia grew anxious and violently kicked out with her right leg, aiming straight for Luke's lower body.
This kick was powerful and heavy, with sharp blades popping out from the tips of her shoes.
But Luke couldn't even be bothered to dodge.
"Clang!"
A crisp sound rang out.
The blade kicked against Luke's leg, feeling just like kicking into a steel pillar.
"Hiss!!"
Felicia gasped in pain, feeling as though her toes were about to break.
"Good strength, but your accuracy is a bit lacking."
Luke evaluated.
The next second, he extended his right hand, grabbed the kicked ankle, and then smoothly pulled her into his embrace.
"Ah!"
Felicia lost her balance and crashed into Luke's arms.
Luke's other hand naturally wrapped around her waist, firmly imprisoning her in front of him.
Their posture was extremely intimate.
"Let me go! You bastard!"
Felicia struggled desperately, her sharp claws scratching frantically at Luke's chest.
"Sizzz..."
The sharp claws brushed across Luke's black shirt, revealing the surging black fluid inside.
Those fluids instantly hardened, blocking the attack of the sharp claws and even spreading up along her claws to bind her hands as well.
"Don't move."
Luke lowered his head, his nose tip almost touching Felicia's face.
"Move again, and I'll strip off this pretty leather suit of yours."
Felicia froze instantly.
She looked into Luke's eyes; he wasn't joking!
He was serious.
"What do you want?"
Felicia's tone finally softened, carrying a hint of a tremble.
She was a smart person, knowing that in front of absolute power, resistance would only bring worse consequences.
"That's more like it."
Luke nodded with satisfaction, but didn't let go of his hand.
"I said just now, I'm here to collect taxes."
Luke looked at her.
"However, it looks like you didn't bring any cash on you."
His gaze swept in a circle over Felicia's tight figure.
"How about paying with your body?"
"Don't even think about it!" Felicia rolled her eyes.
"Hahaha!"
Luke suddenly burst out laughing, releasing the hand around her waist, but still controlling her hands.
"Just kidding. I have no interest in forcing women."
He stepped back, leaned against the wall, and looked at the somewhat disheveled Felicia.
"However, since you've been caught by me, you have to pay some price."
"You want me to work for you?" Felicia rubbed her wrists and asked vigilantly.
"Smart."
Luke snapped his fingers.
"I lack someone as agile as you who also knows how to walk in the shadows."
"I don't join gangs." Felicia refused coldly.
"I only work for myself."
"Don't rush to refuse."
Luke wasn't angry.
"Take a look at this first."
He extended his hand, the black fluid in his palm surging and condensing into a crystal-clear diamond.
No, this wasn't an ordinary diamond.
This was a high-density crystal compressed by Lukeutilizing the Symbiote's mimicry ability, combined with the Uru Metal structure he had just analyzed.
Although it had no magical attributes, its hardness rivaled vibranium, and its brilliance far surpassed any gemstone.
"This is..."
Felicia's eyes widened fixedly.
As a master thief, she had a natural appreciation for jewelry.
She could see that the purity and refractive index of this crystal were simply a perfect work of art.
"It's for you."
Luke gave a casual toss, throwing the crystal to Felicia.
Felicia flurriedly caught it; it felt ice-cold and heavy in her hand.
"Why?" She looked at Luke in disbelief.
"A greeting gift."
Luke shrugged.
"By the way, this also counts as a mark."
"A mark?"
"That's right."
Luke pointed to the crystal in her hand.
"As long as you hold onto it, I can find you at any time."
"Moreover, this also means that starting today, you, Felicia Hardy, are someone under my, Luke's, protection."
Luke walked up to her, extended his finger, and gently lifted her chin.
"In this city, you can steal anyone's things. If you get caught, drop my name."
"However..."
Luke's gaze suddenly turned dangerous.
"In exchange, when I have a need, you must come at a moment's call."
"What if I refuse?" Felicia bit her lip, her eyes flickering.
"You can try."
Luke didn't threaten, just said indifferently.
"But I guarantee, you will regret it."
Having said that, Luke no longer paid attention to her.
He turned around and walked to the display case, extending his finger to lightly tap on the glass.
"Click."
The sturdy glass shattered instantly.
Luke picked up the Star of Persia necklace.
"This necklace is not bad, I'll take it. Consider it tonight's taxes."
He stuffed the necklace into his pocket, then walked over to the window and opened it.
The night wind poured in, blowing the corners of his clothes.
"Next time we meet, I hope you can bring me something more interesting, little wildcat."
"Whoosh!"
Luke's figure vanished into the night.
Felicia stood in place, tightly gripping the black crystal in her hand, her mood unable to calm down for a long time.
She looked toward the empty night sky, suddenly feeling as though she had provoked massive trouble.
But strangely...
She didn't feel much fear; instead, there was an inexplicable flutter in her heart?
"Luke..."
Felicia couldn't help laughing.
"An overbearing man. However, this big sister likes it."
She safely tucked the crystal close to her body, glanced at the empty display case, gave a light chuckle, and turned to vanish into the ventilation duct.
Chapter 57 Let's Go Team Building
Fisk Tower.
When Luke returned to the penthouse, it was already early in the morning.
Pietro's snoring came from the guest room; obviously, the kid was well-fed and sleeping soundly.
Wanda's room door was tightly shut, but Luke could sense her steady breathing.
"It looks like they're all asleep."
Luke walked over to the bar counter and poured himself a glass of water.
"Black Cat, the feel was pretty good."
He reminisced about the tactile sensation just now, not just physically, but energetically as well.
Although Felicia had no superpowers, her physical fitness far exceeded ordinary people, and there seemed to be a special luck factor lurking within her body, or rather, a bad luck ability.
"If this ability could be developed..."
Luke rubbed his chin.
"Forget it, this kind of thing can't be rushed. Feelings must be cultivated slowly, and abilities must be nurtured slowly as well."
He took out the Star of Persia necklace and looked at it under the light.
"Except for being a bit bright, this thing has no energy reaction. However, giving it to Wanda as a toy should be pretty good."
Just then, Wesley walked over, holding a tablet in his hand.
"Boss, you're back."
"Mhm." Luke nodded.
"Is there something the matter?"
"It's about Hammer Industries." Wesley lowered his voice.
"People from the Department of Defense contacted us just now. They agreed to your acquisition plan, but there is one condition."
"What condition?"
"They hope you can hand over Ivan Vanko's corpse, or... wreckage."
"Wreckage?"
Luke laughed, smiling very coldly.
"Tell them, it's gone."
"Gone?" Wesley was slightly stunned.
"Eaten by me. Physically speaking."
Luke stood up and patted Wesley's shoulder.
"If they want it, let them look for it in the sewers; maybe they can still find some leftover digested slag."
"In addition, tell them not to bargain with me."
"Right now, I'm in a very good mood and don't want to kill anyone."
"But if they run their mouths again..."
A flash of red light appeared in Luke's eyes.
"I'll go to the Pentagon and chat with General Ross about life."
"Yes, Boss." Wesley lowered his head.
He knew that the Boss was not joking.
...
Luke returned to the bedroom and lay down on the bed.
Although The Hunt tonight didn't encounter any powerful superpowered beings, the appearance of the Black Cat made him happy.
Moreover, through this brief contact, he had already left his mark on the Black Cat.
That crystal was not just a token, but also a miniature monitor and locator.
No matter where she ran, she couldn't escape the palm of his hand.
"This world is getting more and more interesting."
Luke closed his eyes.
The Blacklight Virus inside his body was still working tirelessly, analyzing the Uru Metal and fusing with the power of Thor.
He could feel that he was not far from the critical point of his next evolution.
"I wonder who the next big meal will be?"
Carrying expectations for the future, Luke drifted off to dreamland.
...
Waking up from his dream, Luke found it was already the evening of the next day.
New York's sunset was all right, not particularly pretty.
Luke stretched. After a whole night of settling, the virus in his body had perfectly adapted to the new energy structure.
Right now, he felt like a compressed spring, ready to eject beyond the atmosphere at any moment.
"Boss! You're finally awake!"
The bedroom door was pushed open, Pietro poked his head in, still biting on a lollipop.
"Wesley said a new Mexican restaurant opened south of Hells Kitchen tonight, and the reviews are very high. Shall we go for team building?"
Looking at Pietro's expectant eyes, Luke helplessly shook his head.
"Can you think of something other than eating? For example... how to disassemble the Green Goblin's glider into parts and put it back together within One Second?"
"That's too boring." Pietro pouted.
"And that's skilled labor; I'm a physical laborer. Wanda is quite interested, though; she's using magic to study the levitation principle of that glider."
"Fine then."
Luke jumped down from the bed, his pajamas instantly liquefying into a tailored black casual suit.
"Since it's team building, let's go. Exactly, I also want to go out for some fresh air and take a look at the city's tranquility before the storm arrives."
...
Half an hour later.
The three of them didn't drive, choosing a more superhero-like method of travel instead.
Rooftop parkour.
Luke carried Wanda, while Pietro turned into a streak of silver light shuttling between buildings.
Although they said they were going to eat, in reality, this felt more like a routine patrol of their territory.
"Boss, there are a few punks robbing over there."
Pietro's voice rang out in the communication channel.
"Deal with them." Luke responded indifferently.
"Light on the actions, don't smash the restaurant we're going to."
"Received!"
A few seconds later, a few screams came from afar, and then Pietro's figure reappeared beside Luke, holding several wallets in his hand.
"Done. By the way, I confiscated the stolen money as our extra meal fee for tonight."
Luke smiled and didn't object.
Just as they were about to reach their destination and leaping over an old residential area, Luke's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
[Mark signal detected...]
[Distance: 800 meters... Direction: Southeast...]
[Signal source status: violently fluctuating, adrenaline soaring...]
This was that black crystal he gave to Felicia!
"Hhm?"
Luke stopped his footsteps, hovering on top of a water tower.
It's only been one night, and she's already using it?
"What is it, Luke?" Wanda noticed Luke's abnormality and floated to his side.
"An enemy?"
Luke narrowed his eyes, looking toward the southeast.
In his sensory field of view, the red heat source representing Felicia was moving rapidly, and it seemed to be followed by several tails.
"Not an enemy."
Luke smiled slightly.
"It's a disobedient little wildcat that seems to have gotten into a bit of trouble."
He turned his head, looking at Wanda and Pietro.
"You guys go ahead to the restaurant and grab seats. I want to eat extra spicy beef burritos, help me order five portions."
"Ah? You're not going?" Pietro looked disappointed, "This is team building, Boss!"
"I have more important things to deal with."
Luke tidied his collar, his eyes becoming profound.
"Adult business."
"Adult business?" Wanda looked at Luke suspiciously, then followed his line of sight to look in that direction.
That side was the famous jewelry district.
"You're not secretly going on a date behind our backs, are you?" Wanda asked sharply.
"Ahem... How could that be."
Luke dry-coughed twice, talking nonsense with a straight face.
"I'm going to inspect the work. That side is also our potential business scope. Alright, hurry up and go, don't let the burritos get cold."
After saying that, he didn't give the two of them a chance to continue questioning.
"Whoosh!"
The trench coat behind his back turned into dual wings, and Luke, like a black night owl, instantly vanished into the night.
Watching Luke's departing back, Pietro scratched his head: "Why does the Boss always run over there lately? Is there something delicious over there?"
Wanda pressed her lips together, not knowing what she was thinking.
"Perhaps, there is a cat over there that attracts him more than burritos."
Chapter 58: This Is Tonight's Tax
In the alley near Fifth Avenue, Manhattan.
Felicia Hardy was running wildly.
Her black tight-fitting battle suit now had a few tears, her long white hair was also somewhat messy, and her breathing was rapid and disordered.
"Damn... Where did these guys pop out from?"
Felicia gritted her teeth, shooting her grappling gun toward the roof of the building, and her whole body swung up, narrowly avoiding an energy projectile that flew past her scalp.
"Boom!"
The wall was blasted into a large crater, and gravel splashed everywhere.
Behind her, five mercenaries wearing silver-gray exoskeleton armor and holding high-tech energy weapons were pursuing relentlessly.
They were not ordinary security guards, nor even ordinary assassins.
Their coordination was tacit, and they were well-equipped, obviously elites who had undergone special training.
"Hand over the stuff! Black Cat!"
The lead mercenary turned on the mask loudspeaker, his voice cold and mechanical.
"This is a part of Kingpin's inheritance! It doesn't belong to you!"
"Kingpin's inheritance?"
Felicia rolled in the air and landed, half-crouching on the outdoor air conditioning unit, panting, but the corner of her mouth hooked into a sneer.
She was tightly clutching a black velvet bag in her hand.
This was her trophy for tonight.
A data chip said to have been hidden by Kingpin in a secret vault during his lifetime.
She originally just wanted to try her luck, not expecting to poke a hornet's nest.
"Kingpin has been dead for so long! Now whoever snatches this thing gets it!"
Felicia retorted, casually throwing out two smoke bombs.
"Poof!"
Smoke filled the air.
But this time, this trick didn't seem to work.
"Initiate thermal imaging scan."
The mercenary leader ordered coldly.
Several red laser beams instantly penetrated the smoke, locking onto Felicia's position.
"Da da da da da!"
Dense energy projectiles instantly poured down.
"Dammit!"
Felicia rolled and dodged in a disheveled manner. Although her skills were agile, under the all-coverage firepower net, she still appeared precarious.
Her left arm was grazed by a stray bullet, and blood seeped out.
"Damn! Am I going to go down here tonight?"
Despair began to well up in Felicia's heart.
Just when she was driven into a dead end, with high walls ahead and pursuers behind.
She instinctively touched the black crystal placed close to her chest.
Luke had said... as long as she carried it, the other party would be able to find her.
"Luke..."
Felicia chanted the name silently in her heart.
"If you are really as awesome as you brag, then show up quickly! Otherwise, your private property is going to be beaten into a sieve!"
It seemed like a response to her prayers, or some inevitable destiny.
Just when the mercenaries raised their guns, preparing to carry out the final round of volleys.
The sky suddenly darkened.
Not because of dark clouds, but because a huge black shadow blocked the moonlight.
Then, a cold voice came from above.
"Who allowed you to touch my cat?"
The mercenaries instinctively looked up.
I saw that on the high wall, a pitch-black figure was suspended there.
The hem of the trench coat behind him moved without wind, dancing like a living creature.
A pair of blood-red eyes without pupils emitted a captivating glow in the darkness.
"Who goes there?!"
The mercenary leader shouted sharply, his muzzle instantly turning.
"A passing... zookeeper."
Luke grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth.
The next second.
He jumped down.
"Boom!!"
Luke slammed heavily in front of Felicia, the ground instantly cracked, and the shockwave directly blew away the few mercenaries rushing at the front!
The smoke and dust dispersed.
A tall figure blocked in front of Felicia.
Felicia looked at the other person, her heart beating violently.
Saved.
And... this kind of entrance method was really damn handsome.
"Are you okay?"
Luke didn't look back, asking faintly.
"I won't die." Felicia bit her lips, enduring the pain in her arm.
"But if you had come a minute later, you might only be able to collect my corpse."
"Collect your corpse? That's too wasteful."
Luke chuckled lightly.
"I said, you are mine. Even if you die, you have to die in my... cough, I mean, die in my territory."
Felicia rolled her eyes, too weak to make a sarcastic remark.
"Small talk ends here."
Luke turned his head, looking at the several panicked mercenaries.
"Now, let's deal with the impolite trash."
"Open fire! Kill him!"
Sensing the danger of the man in front of him, the mercenary leader frantically pulled the trigger.
Several blue energy beams shot straight at Luke's chest.
"Hum!"
Luke raised his left hand, and his palm instantly turned into a black shield covered with spiral patterns.
The beams hit the shield, not only failing to explode, but instead being directly swallowed by the spiral patterns!
"Energy weapons?"
Luke felt the weak heat coming from his arm, and shook his head somewhat disappointedly.
"What kind of obsolete goods are these? This purity is not even enough to rinse my mouth."
"Return it to you!"
Luke waved his hand abruptly.
The surface of the shield suddenly split open, and several lightning bolts even more violent than before sprayed out in reverse!
"Zizizi!!!"
"Ahhhhh!"
The mercenaries had no time to dodge at all, and were directly hit by the lightning. The exoskeleton armor on their bodies instantly short-circuited, emitting puffs of black smoke, and they fell to the ground twitching.
"Vulnerable."
Luke retracted the shield, turning it back into a normal palm.
He walked in front of the twitching leader and stepped on his chest with one foot.
"Crack."
This was the sound of armor shattering.
"Speak, who sent you?" Luke looked down at him, red light flashing in his eyes.
"King... Kingpin's... inheritance..." The leader struggled to spit out a few words.
"Tombstone... will not let go..."
"Tombstone?"
Luke raised an eyebrow.
This was another famous mafia boss in New York, known for skin as hard as stone.
"It seems Hells Kitchen hasn't been cleaned up thoroughly enough, and any stray cats and dogs dare to jump out."
Luke exerted force with his foot, directly knocking that guy out.
"I'll have Wesley handle it later."
Having solved the trouble, Luke turned around to look at Felicia.
His gaze fell on her bleeding arm.
"Injured?"
Luke walked up to her and asked softly.
"A minor injury, it doesn't matter." Felicia instinctively hid her hand behind her back.
"Take it out."
Luke stretched out his hand, unquestionable.
Felicia hesitated for a moment, and still obediently extended her hand.
Luke gripped her arm and looked at the wound.
"Sizla..."
Black fluid seeped from his fingertips, gently covering the wound.
Felicia only felt a coolness, and the burning pain disappeared instantly.
A few seconds later, the black fluid receded, and the wound had completely healed, without even leaving a scar.
"This is..." Felicia looked at her arm in surprise.
"Your ability?"
Luke let go of her hand and looked at her.
"A small cellular repair technique."
"Don't try to act so tough next time. If you can't handle it, press that crystal. I will come."
Felicia looked at Luke, and a warm current surged in her heart.
"Are you caring about me?" she couldn't help asking.
"Consider it so."
Luke did not deny it.
He reached out and gently stroked Felicia's nose.
"After all, you are a treasure-hunting cat now."
"Treasure-hunting cat?" Felicia was full of question marks.
She took out the black velvet bag from behind her and handed it to Luke.
"Here, this is tonight's tax."
Chapter 59 Extra Spicy Beef Burrito
Oh?"
Luke took the bag, opened it to take a look, and inside was a silver chip.
"What is this?"
"Kingpin's secret account key, or the coordinates of some armory. I didn't have time to look either." Felicia shrugged.
"But since you saved me, this belongs to you."
Luke played with the chip and suddenly smiled.
"This thing is useless to me. I have Wesley, and money is just a number to me."
He tossed the chip back to Felicia.
"Keep it. Or take it to the black market and sell it for some good equipment. Although your leather outfit is sexy, its defense is too poor."
"For me?" Felicia caught the chip, somewhat in disbelief.
This was a priceless item!
"I'm not short on money."
Luke looked at her, his gaze becoming somewhat profound.
"What I lack is people."
"Felicia, are you interested in joining my team?"
"A team?" Felicia was slightly stunned.
"That's right."
Luke pointed in the direction of Fisk Tower.
"Two very interesting guys live there, along with a stern female agent all day long. I think you'll like it there."
"And..."
Luke leaned closer to her, a wicked smile hooking the corner of his mouth.
"There's endless milk to drink, and..."
Felicia's breathing became a bit rapid.
She had to admit that she was tempted.
Not just because of his power, but even more because of his sense of freedom that defied all rules.
This was precisely what she had always pursued.
"What if I don't join?" she asked stubbornly.
"Then you can only walk back tonight."
Luke pointed at the ground.
"If you join, I can fly you back."
"Fly?"
Felicia's eyes lit up.
"That's right, fly."
Before his voice faded, Luke suddenly reached out and put his arm around her waist.
"Ah!"
Felicia let out a startled cry.
"Hold on tight, we're taking off."
"Boom!"
The huge black wings suddenly unfolded, whipping up a violent gale.
Holding Felicia, Luke soared straight up into the sky like a giant roc spreading its wings!
"Waoh!!!"
Felicia hugged Luke's neck tightly, feeling the whistling of The Message beside her ears, and watching the city beneath her feet rapidly shrink.
At this moment, she felt as if she possessed the entire world.
...
The night sky of New York was cold and brilliant.
Holding Felicia, Luke didn't fly too fast, instead shuttling between the clouds and skyscrapers in a gliding posture.
This feeling was very wondrous.
The body in his arms was soft and warm, carrying a hint of faint fragrance.
Felicia's hair danced with the wind, brushing against Luke's cheek, tickling him.
"Scared?"
Luke lowered his head to look at the woman in his arms.
"Not at all."
Felicia raised her head, her eyes sparkling and full of excitement.
"This is amazing! Much more thrilling than swinging with ropes!"
She boldly let go of one hand to touch the huge black wings behind Luke.
"Are these... real wings?"
What her fingers touched were toughness and smoothness, along with the biological texture of warm body temperature, completely unlike high-tech equipment.
"100% genuine."
Luke controlled the wings to vibrate slightly, frightening Felicia into quickly retracting her hand and hugging him tightly again.
"Hahaha!"
Luke burst into laughter, feeling exceptionally comfortable.
He just loved watching this kind of scene.
Before they knew it, the two had flown to the top floor of Fisk Tower.
Luke slowly landed on the huge terrace.
"We're here."
He let go of his hand and put Felicia down.
Felicia stood firmly on the ground, still looking at the sky with a sense of unfulfilled desire.
"We're here already? I haven't flown enough yet."
"Next time."
Luke put away his wings, turning back into his normal trench coat.
"Now it's midnight snack time."
He walked over to the table by the edge of the terrace, where a bottle of pre-prepared red wine and two goblet glasses were placed.
This was Wesley's masterpiece; this butler could always anticipate his boss's needs.
Luke poured two glasses of wine and handed one to Felicia.
"To... tonight's encounter?"
Felicia took the wine glass, gently swirled it, and looked at Luke with hazy eyes.
"To... the overbearing tax collector."
The two clinked glasses and drank it in one gulp.
The atmosphere became somewhat ambiguous.
Moonlight shone on the two of them, Felicia's tight black battle suit gleaming with an alluring light under the moonlight.
"What you said just now... about joining the team."
Felicia put down the wine glass, walked up to Luke, and her fingers gently grazed across his chest.
"Were you serious?"
"I never joke."
Luke grabbed her hand, feeling the smoothness of her fingertips.
"Although my team already has a mage and an assassin, it still lacks a mascot who can help me manage finances and keep me company to pass the time when I'm bored."
"A mascot?"
Felicia wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction.
"I am Black Cat! The best master thief in all of New York!"
"I know."
Luke smiled, smiling very gently.
"So, are you willing to come be my master thief?"
Felicia froze.
Although cheesy pick-up lines were cheesy, they worked.
Her face turned red instantly, her heartbeat accelerating.
"I can consider it."
She glanced at Luke, but didn't pull her hand back.
Just as the two were getting closer and closer and the atmosphere was about to ignite,
"Click."
The door leading to the terrace suddenly opened.
"Boss! We're back! Beef burritos bought, extra spicy!"
Pietro's loud voice broke the romantic atmosphere.
Following closely, he and Wanda walked out.
Their eyes met.
The air suddenly fell silent for a few seconds.
Holding the takeout bag in his hand, Pietro looked at Lukeand Felicia hugging together, his mouth open into an O-shape, and the bag in his hand almost dropped to the ground.
"Uh... um... am I coming at a bad time?"
Wanda narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping back and forth over Felicia's hot figure and Luke's hand resting on her waist, the temperature of the air around her seemingly dropping by a few degrees.
"As expected..."
Wanda muttered in a low voice.
"I knew he went to feed the cat."
Luke naturally let go of Felicia, with no embarrassment of being caught on his face.
"Ahem, let me introduce."
Luke pointed at Felicia.
"This is Felicia Hardy, who will be our new member from now on, in charge of... uh, intelligence and asset management."
"And also your cat?" Wanda landed another hit.
"That's a code name! Do you understand code names?" Luke explained with a straight face.
Felicia was quite generous; she tidied her hair, extended her hand toward the two, and showed a charming smile.
"Hi, little brother, little sister. I'm Black Cat, nice to meet you."
"Who is a little brother!" Pietro puffed out his chest unconvinced.
"I am Quicksilver!"
"Alright, since everyone knows each other now, let's have the midnight snack together."
Luke hurriedly smoothed things over, snatching the takeout bag from Pietro's hand.
"Come on, extra spicy beef burritos, one for each, nobody grab others'."
"Right, Felicia, do you want one too? This is a specialty of Hells Kitchen."
Felicia smiled slightly.
"Alright, since it's the boss treating."
...
That night, the top floor of Fisk Tower was exceptionally lively.
Four people with completely different personalities sat around the table, eating street-stall burritos, drinking top-tier red wine, and chatting about their respective glorious achievements.
Looking at this scene, a sense of satisfaction surged in Luke's heart.
This was his bond in this world.
His team, his family.
"However..."
Luke glanced at the deep night sky outside the window.
Although it seemed calm and tranquil right now, he knew a real storm was brewing.
"Grow up quickly, everyone."
Luke silently chanted in his heart.
"When that day arrives, I want to let Thanos know whose territory Earth... is."
Chapter 60: A Hint of Gunpowder in the Early Morning
The morning sunlight once again visited the luxury apartment on the top floor of Fisk Tower, but today's atmosphere was a bit different from usual.
The room was filled with a subtle hint of gunpowder everywhere, of course, along with the aroma of fried bacon and freshly ground coffee.
Luke walked out of the bedroom yawning, wearing a loose bathrobe, holding a cup of warm milk as usual.
Although last night's team-building was pleasant, as the boss, he not only had to foot the bill, but also had to regulate the internal ecological balance of the team.
Beside the kitchen island, a silent war was underway.
Wanda wore red silk pajamas, her long hair casually tied up, holding a spatula and staring sternly at the fried egg in the frying pan.
Chaos Magic flickered at her fingertips, as if the moment that egg dared to burn, she would modify reality to make it start over.
Opposite her, Felicia was wearing one of Luke's white shirts, the hem barely covering her thighs, revealing a pair of slender and fair long legs, lazily leaning against the counter drinking coffee.
"Good morning, little witch." Felicia looked at Wanda, a provocative smile hanging on the corners of her mouth.
"Need any help? I think that egg is about to turn into charcoal."
"Mind your own business, burglar cat." Wanda didn't even look back, flipping the egg fiercely with the spatula in her hand.
"Also, that's Luke's shirt, why aren't you wearing your own clothes?"
"Because it's comfortable." Felicia stretched lazily, her perfect curves fully revealed.
"Besides, the boss said last night that this shirt suits me very well. Right, boss?"
She turned her head and cast a wink at Luke who had just walked out.
"Ahem."
Luke almost choked on his milk.
This cat really loved to stir up trouble everywhere.
"Good morning, everyone." Luke walked over to the dining table nonchalantly and sat down.
"It seems today's breakfast is very lavish. I also think the shirt is nice, but Felicia, Wesley should have prepared a full set of Chanel for you, you can try those."
"Those are too formal, not suitable for wearing at home."
Felicia walked over to Luke holding her coffee, sat directly on the armrest of Luke's chair, and naturally rested one hand on Luke's shoulder.
"Boss, what's the plan for today? Going to rob a bank? Or steal a museum? Just say the word, and I'll accompany you anytime."
The spatula in Wanda's hand made a crack sound, and the handle was crushed and cracked.
"Don't talk about work while eating." Wanda walked over with a plate and slammed it heavily in front of Luke.
"Also, there is no place for you here, Miss Hardy."
"It's fine, I'm not hungry, I can just watch the boss eat." Felicia said with a smile, her fingers still drawing circles on Luke's shoulder.
Just at this moment, a silver flash shot past.
Pietro appeared beside the dining table, holding two bottles of happy water, looking dazedly at the tense and hostile scene before him.
"Uh... should I go back to the room and sleep for a bit longer?" Pietro instinctively sensed danger.
"Sit down, eat." Luke pointed to the seat opposite.
"Go check on Peter at school after eating, don't act like an unemployed vagrant all day."
"I think so too."
Pietro felt as if he had been granted amnesty, and hurriedly buried his head in eating, not even daring to raise his head to glance at the two women engaged in a gaze-off.
In the corner, Natasha quietly cut her steak, the reflection of her glasses concealing her gaze.
She silently updated her observation log in her heart.
[Target Luke seems to very much enjoy the chaotic family relations. The addition of the Black Cat has aggravated the internal instability of the team, especially the psychological impact on Wanda Maximoff. This is a potential breakthrough, or... the fuse of disaster.]
"Natalie."
Luke spoke suddenly, startling Natasha.
"Here, boss." She quickly recovered her professional smile.
"Help Felicia process her onboarding procedures today. As for the position... just hang it in the Security Department as a special consultant." Luke cut a piece of fried egg and put it into his mouth.
"By the way, help her get a black card. Girls always need to buy some cosmetics or things like that."
"Based on what!" Wanda protested.
"I want one too!"
"You're still a student, what do you need a black card for." Luke gave her an eye roll.
"When you can control your magic to the point where you don't blow up the kitchen, I'll consider giving you a raise in your allowance."
Wanda sat down angrily, fiercely stabbing the sausage in her plate, as if it were Felicia's face.
Felicia proudly shook her legs, leaned close to Luke's ear and said softly.
"Thank you boss, I will repay you well... in my own way."
Feeling the heat by his ear, Luke felt secretly thrilled inside.
This was life.
How boring killing and fighting was, raising a cat, teasing a witch, and by the way training S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents, this was the correct way to open up.
...
Manhattan, Empire State University.
The afternoon sunlight shone through the library's glass windows onto the wooden desk.
Peter Parker sat in the corner, with several thick books on reptile genetics piled in front of him.
He wore a faded plaid shirt, his hair slightly messy, with unmistakable dark circles under his eyes.
This wasn't because he stayed up late playing games, but because as Spider-Man
he swung through the streets of New York for another whole night last night, stopped an armored car robbery, and conveniently helped an old lady find her lost cat.
Life was always like this: on one side was the heavy burden of upholding justice, and on the other was the embarrassment of being a poor student.
Rent, tuition, Aunt May's medical expenses...
The pressure of reality was like a net, sometimes even more suffocating than tentacles.
Peter was accustomed to silence, accustomed to hiding all the pain and responsibility deep in his heart.
"Dr. Connors..."
Peter looked at the notes in the book, his brow tightly furrowed.
He was Dr. Connors's proudest student, and also the person who understood the doctor's research project best.
Ever since losing an arm, Dr. Connors had become increasingly paranoid, dedicated to researching cross-species genetic regeneration technology.
"Lizard limb regeneration... is theoretically feasible, but the side effects..."
Peter sighed, the tip of his pen leaving a heavy mark across the paper.
"Hey, Peter."
A crisp voice interrupted his thoughts.
Peter raised his head and saw Gwen Stacy standing by the desk holding a few books.
She wore a white hooded sweatshirt, black leggings underneath, and canvas shoes on her feet.
"Gwen." Peter closed the book, barely squeezing out a smile.
"You came to review too?"
"Not entirely."
Gwen pulled out a chair and sat opposite him, her gaze turning serious.
"I'm here to see you. Regarding Dr. Connors."
Peter's fingers stiffened slightly.
"You noticed it too?"
"It's hard not to notice." Gwen lowered her voice.
"I saw in the laboratory's surveillance logs that no one left the laboratory last night. And... this morning when I went to deliver the report, I found that the refrigerator used to store the decay rate algorithm serum was empty."
Peter's heart sank.
"The decay rate algorithm... that formula is not yet perfect! If injected directly, the gene chain will collapse, or undergo irreversible mutation!"
"I know." Gwen looked at Peter, her eyes filled with worry.
"And the doctor's mental state has been very wrong recently. He keeps muttering words like evolution, perfect world, and so on."
"We have to find him."
Peter stood up and grabbed his schoolbag.
"Before he hurts himself, or hurts others."
"That's what I think too."
Gwen also stood up.