"J.A.R.V.I.S., we can make a bet. I am absolutely not going to join those Avengers," Tony said with supreme confidence.
"What are the stakes?" J.A.R.V.I.S. replied.
Hearing that J.A.R.V.I.S. actually accepted, Tony said, "If I lose, I'll pay for ten cover models to attend to you. If I win, I'll have ten cover models attend to me. How about that?"
J.A.R.V.I.S. refused to answer that proposition.
"I think that's a fantastic bet. Also, make sure the security measures are top-notch. I don't want strangers getting in here next time." Tony still couldn't figure out where Nick Fury had popped up from.
"Theoretically, I should decline this meaningless wager, but I accept. The only condition is that if you lose, Sir, you must perform an impromptu dance at the next news conference."
J.A.R.V.I.S. agreed to the gamble, provided Tony accepted his condition.
"Hmm... okay. Of course, if you lose, you have to say, 'I am an artificial intelligence idiot'," Tony replied, awaiting J.A.R.V.I.S.'s answer with interest.
J.A.R.V.I.S. said, "I can agree to that, but Sir, do you truly wish to set these stakes? I was created by you." The implication being: If I am an artificial intelligence idiot, then you must be a human idiot.
"Well, I could also be considered your father. Would you stand by and watch your father embarrass himself in front of the public?" Tony retorted.
"Sir, are you suggesting your dancing is poor?" J.A.R.V.I.S. challenged.
Tony quickly shook his head. "No, no, no~ I'm a master dancer! But come on~ that's a news conference."
"Never mind, Sir. I'll just assume you are unwilling to accept the challenge," J.A.R.V.I.S. said.
Upon hearing this, Tony's entire demeanor changed. He straightened up and said, "Okay, I accept."
"I still want to know, where did you learn that sharp tongue?" Tony wondered why his AI had become so mischievous.
J.A.R.V.I.S. didn't answer but demonstrated with action, pointing a mechanical finger at Tony.
"..." Tony was speechless.
The rest of the time in the lab was filled with the sound of J.A.R.V.I.S. and Tony bickering.
Silas's Room
"So you didn't come here just to ask me to join you in the rescue, did you?" Silas asked, having endured Peter's rambling for long enough.
Peter said awkwardly, "They really need help over there, so I came to borrow your Shadowkhan, Silas."
"I see." Silas summoned ten Shadowkhan and asked, "Is this enough?"
"More than enough! More than enough! Silas, you're the best!" Peter hugged Silas.
After separating from Peter, Silas asked, "Why didn't you ask me to go with you?"
"Your injury just healed up. I can manage, Silas. You just rest and recover," Peter said, putting his mask back on, patting Silas's shoulder, and giving a thumbs-up to show he was perfectly capable before leaving with the Shadowkhan.
Silas lazily lay back on his bed. "Seriously, always rushing in~ and rushing out~"
But now that he was mostly recovered, it was time to visit Misty.
While he was injured, they had only communicated by phone, asking about each other's injuries. However, whenever Silas asked Misty which hospital she was in, she refused to say, which puzzled Silas greatly. Silas eventually realized that when he rescued Misty, she had a scar on her face. Reasoning from this, he could guess why she was unwilling to tell him the hospital's location. She had always appeared before Silas looking radiant, showing only her best side. Now, with a scar on her face, she naturally didn't want Silas to see her and ruin the most beautiful image she held in his heart.
However, Misty didn't realize that with the Shadowkhan at his disposal, it was easy for Silas to find her.
"She's at home?" Silas was surprised Misty was home.
In that case, he couldn't just show up unannounced. He first had to call Misty and gain the owner's perMistyion to visit. Otherwise, if they didn't open the door, Silas couldn't force his way in, as he couldn't expose his powers until he had complete freedom from worry.
"Maybe another time." Silas put aside the idea of visiting Misty. After all, once he got the Horse Talisman later, he could easily heal her then.
Oscorp Group
"The Man in Black..." Norman stood in front of his ruined tower, his face dark.
"Yes, Sir. Based on the surveillance footage installed in the building, we captured this clip." A subordinate handed a tablet to Norman.
The video was clear, showing a person dressed in black throwing something wrapped in paper into a trash can, which exploded a short time later.
"What were the security guards doing?!" Norman shouted furiously. The Oscorp Group belonged to him! How dare the Man in Black bomb his building!
"So, you know my identity!" Norman was already guessing that this Man in Black must have figured out the Green Goblin's identity, otherwise, why would he coincidentally bomb his building?
"Boss, what should we do now..." The subordinate was hesitant.
Norman turned away. "Hand this over to the other shareholders. I have urgent matters." With that, he left.
The staff at the Oscorp Group were bewildered. Was their boss abandoning the company? Just handing it over to the other shareholders?
Norman got into his car and told the driver, "Drive home."
"Yes, Sir."
The car quickly started, heading toward Norman's residence.
All the way home, Norman was thinking about how to deal with the Man in Black. First, the Man in Black knew his identity, but he didn't know the Man in Black's. Next, how could he lure the Man in Black out?
Since this Man in Black bombed his building with no regard for the lives of the employees inside, he didn't seem like the merciful type. Such people were the hardest to handle; they had no scruples, only a desire to act as they pleased.
"But every person has a weakness!" Norman finally arrived back in his room, opened the mirror in his closet, and walked into the hidden space.
Inside, there was a table covered with various files about the Man in Black, even including Silas's first appearance in the black market.
"It seems the school is very important to you. If I'm not mistaken, you must be someone from that school," Norman laughed. Both The Lizard and the previous incident with Pace had involved them causing trouble at that school, which drew out the Man in Black and Spider-Man.
He simply refused to believe that this Man in Black had no connection to the school!
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