Hearing Natasha's conditions, Ren chuckled inwardly.
It's done.
Natasha had her own calculations. Though she was a top operative of S.H.I.E.L.D., highly trained and well-informed, she was still human.
A very long-lived human.
And precisely because she was ordinary, she didn't want to remain ordinary.
"Of course. Those are minor issues," Ren agreed without hesitation.
To him, those three conditions cost nothing.
"Then, happy cooperation," Natasha said with a faint smile.
"Do you want to witness your true power?" Ren suddenly asked.
"Can I become even stronger?" Natasha raised an eyebrow. She already felt beyond human limits. Could there really be more?
"Naturally. Once you see it, you'll understand why being chosen by me is your honor," Ren said proudly.
Natasha rolled her eyes.
You're really full of yourself.
Still, curiosity flickered in her gaze.
New York was chaotic as always, especially Hell's Kitchen—a paradise for criminals.
"Hey! Stop! Put my bag down!"
A large man sprinted past Natasha, clutching a woman's shoulder bag.
Behind him, a young Asian-looking girl chased helplessly.
Ren focused on her face.
"That's… Skye?"
Memories surfaced.
Interesting.
If Natasha hadn't seen it, she might have ignored it. But she had.
She turned instantly and gave chase.
Her movement was fluid and powerful. With Ren's enhancement layered atop her already exceptional physique, she closed the distance effortlessly.
"Get lost, bitch! None of your business!" the man snarled.
Natasha's expression turned cold.
Did he just curse her?
She accelerated, lifted her leg, and kicked him squarely from behind. He stumbled and fell face-first onto the pavement.
"Motherfucker, you—"
Before he could finish, Natasha grabbed his wrist, pivoted smoothly, and executed a clean over-the-shoulder throw.
Boom.
The impact cracked the pavement beneath him.
Natasha paused briefly.
That… was lighter than expected.
She hadn't even used full strength.
Watching the man curl up groaning, she smirked.
Serves you right.
She retrieved the bag and walked toward Skye, who stared at her in stunned amazement.
She hadn't expected such a beautiful woman to be so brutally efficient.
"That move wasn't normal…" Skye muttered under her breath.
"Here's your bag," Natasha said with a calm smile.
"Thanks! There wasn't much inside anyway." Skye scratched her head awkwardly. "But… can you teach me that move? Next time I won't need help."
Natasha studied her for a moment.
"Of course." She wrote down one of her safe addresses. "But I'm rarely home."
As a top S.H.I.E.L.D. operative, vacations were a luxury.
"Thank you!" Skye beamed and hurried away.
Natasha watched her leave, a flicker of envy crossing her eyes.
At that age, Natasha had already been deep inside the Red Room—training, surviving, completing missions soaked in danger.
And decades later, she was still walking the same path.
"What about that 'true power' you mentioned?" Natasha asked softly.
She had thrown a 170-pound man like he weighed nothing—and cracked the ground doing it.
And that wasn't even everything?
"You'll find out," Ren replied calmly.
"This guy…" Natasha muttered.
He was absolutely toying with her.
Still, she understood something clearly.
Everything she had now—this strength, this potential—came from him.
If he left, she would return to being merely human.
Perhaps coexistence wasn't so bad.
"By the way," Ren said suddenly, "that leather jacket is too eye-catching. We need to keep a low profile."
The fitted leather emphasized every curve of her figure. The half-revealed neckline, the long legs outlined beneath tight fabric—she drew attention wherever she walked.
"I did bring a dress earlier," Natasha said dryly. "It got torn."
She still regretted that.
"Go into an empty alley," Ren instructed.
"Why?"
"Just trust me."
Natasha stepped into a deserted alleyway.
Black fluid surged over her leather jacket, dissolving it smoothly.
Then, recalling the torn dress from yesterday, the liquid reshaped—thread by thread—into the exact same style.
Fabric. Texture. Fit.
Perfect.
Natasha looked down, eyes widening.
"You can do this?"
"I can transform into weapons," Ren said proudly. "Clothes are trivial."
Natasha's eyes sparkled.
"So I never have to buy clothes again? If I see something nice, you can just copy it?"
Ren: "…"
Was this really what she focused on?