Chapter 43 Night Kiss
After Gwen hung up the phone, she stood there in a daze, a single thought revolving in her mind: Arthur had also disappeared from everyone's sight tonight?
He had mysteriously vanished for a period, just like her... The reason for Gwen's disappearance was simple; she wasn't an ordinary student, but Spider-Woman... An ordinary student would flee to safety when danger struck, while Spider-Woman would resolve the danger.
So, what was the reason for Arthur's disappearance? Many conjectures instantly surged in Gwen's heart, but she couldn't determine the correct answer from them, as they were always assumptions and guesses, lacking strong evidence.
Even in court, when prosecuting a suspect with numerous crimes, evidence is required. Gwen had no reason to suspect or maliciously speculate about Arthur based solely on her own 'conspiracy theory' guesses.
But Gwen could be certain of one thing: Arthur was also not an ordinary high school student... All the things she had previously been unwilling to dwell on now surfaced in her mind one by one.
More than a month ago, Arthur mysteriously appeared in Osborn Tower; no ordinary high school student could bypass Osborn Tower's security system... And that day, Arthur seemed to be searching for something inside Osborn.
She herself had followed Arthur out of curiosity, only to accidentally stumble into a laboratory, get bitten by a radioactive spider, and, after mutating, gain powers to become Spider-Woman.
Tonight, Gwen learned of the existence of another superhuman born at Osborn... The Green Goblin.
So, it was clear that Osborn Tower held many secrets, and as someone who investigated these secrets, Arthur was equally mysterious.
Arthur also seemed to possess strong personal combat abilities, which couldn't be explained by merely having excellent physical fitness.
At school, he had once effortlessly lifted the burly Fletcherwith one hand, but Arthur was not a muscular man; as far as Gwen knew, he didn't even have a habit of working out or exercising.
And then there was that night when Gwen investigated Queens, fled the scene after an encounter with Peter, who had transformed into a Spider-Beastman, and accidentally entered Arthur's home.
The two had a brief skirmish when Arthur entered the living room; before recognizing Arthur, Gwen went all out, but she didn't even touch the hem of Arthur's clothes; his speed was too fast, a reaction and speed that didn't belong to a human... Gwen had met many Superheroes and criminals, but only one could completely outmatch her in speed—the demon!
At the time, Gwen didn't suspect anything; her thought was that she had been injured by the Spider-Beastman, and the anesthetic in her body had probably taken effect, affecting her speed.
But thinking about it now, there were many suspicious points; after mutating, Gwen's strength and speed had already far exceeded human limits; even if her speed was affected for various reasons, it was not comparable to a normal human's... Gwen had an excellent memory, and recalling these things, the encounter in Queens that night flashed before her eyes like a movie scene.
And that powerful energy fluctuation!
That night, Gwen had sensed the nearby energy fluctuation, which made her so alert that she attacked as soon as Arthur opened the door, before even identifying the person.
Recalling these things, Gwen couldn't help but frown deeply. Past events were like a ball of yarn with many loose ends; carefully sorting and re-examining them yielded many insights.
Of course, based solely on these suspicious points and clues, Gwen still couldn't confirm Arthur's identity, or rather, couldn't confirm any connection between Arthurand the demon.
She couldn't just conclude that the two were the same person because both the demon and Arthur had black hair, could she?
It was very possible that someday in the future, she would find evidence to prove her suspicions... But the conclusion would have to wait until then.
However, once the idea and premise of "Arthur is the demon" took root, Gwen couldn't help but connect the dots.
Gwen thought, if the person beneath that demon maskreally was Arthur, then all her doubts would be answered.
Even the new doubts she had acquired tonight were explained—why would the demon create the Iron Spider Suit for her? Why would the reckless demon spare Peter, whom she protected?
Because the demon had once removed her spider mask, he knew that Spider-Woman was Gwen Stacy... So the demon would give her the Iron Spider Suit and refrain from attacking... Moreover, the demon and Arthur shared similarities in personality and style; both were so dedicated to violence and had no reverence for justice.
But upon closer inspection, Gwen also found a clear difference: the demon was chaotic, with a hidden madness within the disorder, and a heart of slaughter.
Arthur, however, wasn't as talkative as the demon; his heart was indifferent, even describable as aloof. Yet, he also had a warm side when facing Gwen.
He wasn't as crazy as the demon; he had more seriousness.
Although Arthur didn't believe in justice, he didn't lean towards evil either... Suddenly, Gwen cut off her train of thought.
Once suspicion and conjecture arise, it's like planting a seed in one's mind; it quickly takes root, sprouts, and grows into a towering tree through continuous association.
Gwen didn't want to think about these things anymore, because now it seemed like they were all fruitless endeavors. She took out her phone and dialed Arthur's number.
Suddenly, an idea popped into Gwen's mind—perhaps no amount of guessing was better than asking directly. Spider-Woman and the demon weren't enemies, and she and Arthur certainly weren't.
After a few 'beep-boop' sounds, the call connected.
"Where are you? I miss you, Arthur," Gwen said softly.
"Parking lot," Arthur's gentle voice came over the phone. "I remember we just parted less than half an hour ago."
"It's close to danger..."
"It's fine now," Arthur tilted his head, seeing the flashing Police lights through the car window. "The Police have cordoned off the scene. I just saw your father."
"Then why didn't you say hello to him?" Gwen complained.
"Because you weren't with me," Arthur replied with a smile. "If Mr. George questioned, 'How did you lose Gwen?' how would I answer?"
"Alright... that's true. Luckily, you didn't go see him just now," Gwen bit her lip. "Now, don't move. I'll come find you, and don't hang up. I want to hear your voice..."
The two met in the parking lot, in front of the old Ford car, embracing tightly in the white headlights.
"I was so worried about you, I missed you so much," Gwensaid, burying her head in Arthur's embrace, her voice a little muffled.
"I should be the one worrying about you; you suddenly disappeared," Arthur said calmly.
Gwen suddenly looked up, her eyes wide as she carefully examined Arthur's face—those black eyes, that high nose bridge... "You don't seem to have any doubts, no questions... Arthur, aren't you going to ask me anything about my sudden departure just now?"
"No," Arthur also met her gaze, saying earnestly, "I think if you want me to know something, you'll tell me when the time is right."
Arthur's words instantly dismantled all of Gwen's doubts and conjectures.
Gwen stood on her tiptoes and kissed Arthur.
The two kissed in the night, Arthur embracing Gwen's waist, and Gwen passionately responding...
Chapter 44 Transcript
New York Presbyterian Hospital Columbia and Cornell.
In a high-class ward, Harry, who had woken up from surgery, lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. His head was wrapped in bandages, with traces of blood seeping through the white cloth, leaving only his eyes and nostrils exposed.
The two bedside cabinets were empty, and the adjacent ECG and blood pressure monitor was working normally, continuously monitoring the patient's physical condition.
The ward was quiet, with only the IV drip above making a ticking sound.
After an unknown period, the ward door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, and a middle-aged man in a suit stood at the entrance.
"Harry?" Chief George said softly as he entered the ward.
Hearing the voice, Harry slowly turned to look at him, making no other reaction.
Chief George sighed, then gave a formal introduction: "I am George Stacy, Director of the New York City PoliceDepartment. Are you available now? The Police need to ask you about what happened last night and take a simple statement… I know you're not in good condition right now, but I apologize for the interruption. After all, you are the only survivor in the venue."
Behind Chief George appeared an elderly man with white hair, who coldly said to Chief George: "Chief George, you only have five minutes. Our young master is still in post-operative recovery; he needs rest."
This was the old butler of the Osborn family.
The old butler closed the door after speaking, and the several Police officers who had accompanied Chief Georgewere also blocked outside.
Under normal circumstances, they would have gone in with Chief George to take notes and observe the witness's reactions throughout the process… But Harry's identity was too special, and the old butler insisted repeatedly, so the Police could not force their way in to work.
"Harry?" Chief George pulled up a chair and sat by the bed.
Harry remained silent, just staring at him coldly… The vigilant Chief George naturally felt that chill, but he wasn't surprised; in fact, he could understand the hostility Harrywas showing.
He could completely understand Harry becoming somewhat cynical after suffering such misfortune as a victim. The Doctor said that although Harry's life was not in danger, the burns on his face were severe, and even plastic surgery wouldn't restore him to his original appearance… Anyone hearing such news would surely break down, regardless of gender or age. No one could remain calm after being disfigured.
Seeing Harry's condition, George also felt remorse. The Police had been ineffective last night, failing to protect citizens or apprehend criminals… They truly had only become cleaners, tidying up the mess created by those heroes and villains.
Chief George discreetly turned on the recording device in his sleeve.
"Harry, I hope you can cooperate with me. The scene was severely damaged; the Police need to understand from you what happened that night," Chief George said in a deep voice.
Harry still didn't react, so George helplessly said, "Alright, then let's get straight to the point."
"What happened at the venue last night?" Chief Georgeasked. "Where did the Green Goblin, who launched the terrorist attack, go? And Iron Man, was he involved? What role did Spider-Woman play in the whole incident?"
The vigilant Chief George noticed that Harry's eyes suddenly brightened when he heard "Green Goblin."
Did Harry have a deep impression of the Green Goblin? Or were his facial injuries caused by the Green Goblin? Chief George couldn't help but make many conjectures.
"No, it wasn't the Green Goblin…" Harry suddenly spoke.
"What did you say?" Chief George was stunned after hearing Harry's voice.
Harry's voice was hoarse and sharp, like a person who had swallowed charcoal screaming, or the grating sound of two pieces of metal rubbing together.
"The Green Goblin was not involved in last night's attack. Someone was impersonating him to cause destruction and Carnage…" Harry spoke each word clearly, "That person was… the Demon!"
"The Demon?" Chief George repeated the name incredulously, "Did you see it with your own eyes?"
"I saw it with my own eyes. During the battle, he removed his disguise, revealing that demon mask," Harry said emphatically, "I saw it very clearly."
Chief George thought with a serious expression. Last night, when the terrorist attack occurred, there were many eyewitnesses. The statements from those students all indicated that it was the Green Goblin on his glider throwing bombs at them.
But now Harry claimed it was the Demon impersonating him… This left Chief George in doubt.
In fact, before coming here, the Police had just ruled out the Demon's involvement in the case because they hadn't found the Demon's symbol at the venue.
Chief George had also handled several cases involving the Demon. Whether it was the kidnapping at the Park Hyatt Hotel or the murder at Osborn Tower, the arrogant Demon would always deliberately leave behind that smiling face with an "M" above and a "V" below—once on a wall, once on an office desk. If last night's tragedy was caused by him, he should have left a Demon mark in the most conspicuous place.
In forensic science, a criminal's marking behavior refers to a special act carried out by a criminal to satisfy certain psychological or emotional needs; it is a unique and distinct habitual technique used by criminals to commit crimes.
This indicates that the Demon never fears the Police, and even enjoys provoking them. His intention in leaving the Demon mark is also very clear: to declare to the world that he caused this terror, but no one can punish him, thereby establishing his powerful image while spreading terror.
Moreover, subjectively, Chief George didn't quite believe Harry's claim that the Demon would impersonate the Green Goblin to launch an attack. Such behavior is only done by petty, low-level criminals, and he had some understanding of the Demon; the Demon enjoys adding wickedness to himself.
However, Chief George did not refute him. After all, as a survivor of the venue, Harry might have witnessed something and knew some inside information.
The ward fell into a brief silence. Chief George checked his watch before continuing to ask:
"What was the Demon's purpose in orchestrating this attack? Was he trying to murder a student attending the ball? Or was it simply a crime committed for the sake of seeking pleasure?"
"No, I don't know…" Harry said, shaking his head with difficulty, "I don't understand the Demon at all. Last night was the first time I saw him."
"What about Iron Man? We had Police officers see him fly out the window. What role did he play in last night's attack? And Spider-Woman," Chief George asked, looking into Harry's eyes.
"Accomplices! They are all the Demon's accomplices! They killed their own father—the Demon, Iron Man, and Spider-Woman… She is actually your daughter, Gwen Stacy!" Harry roared in his heart.
But obviously, this statement has loopholes… Thank you all for your monthly votes. I click on every monthly vote from every reader. Thank you very much. If it weren't for being in the new book period, I would definitely update a lot to repay everyone…
Chapter 45 The Birth of Two Villains
"They tried to stop the demon... Iron Man and Spider-Woman, they fought fiercely inside the venue, and countless injured students suffered secondary harm and died completely." Harry's eyes were full of gloom, with sadness flowing in his eyes.
"Midway, Iron Man even gave Spider-Woman a suit of armor made of steel, and Spider-Woman became even more powerful after wearing it..." Harry pretended to recall, "But they were still no match for the demon. The demon wantonly destroyed everything, and eventually Iron Man fled in a hurry, and Spider-Woman also disappeared."
"Spider-Woman got the suit and became more powerful? That's a considerable gain," Chief George said.
Chief George was silent for a few seconds, then he spoke again: "Last question, last night a student was hung up by Spider-Woman. What did he do?"
In the Police's eyes, Peter was a criminal suspect, so he was never in the category of "survivors."
"He didn't do anything. That's our classmate, Peter Parker," Harry said. "He's a victim just like me, a normal student attending the dance. He even gets bullied by the school bullies at school, and he has no ability to do anything."
"Then why was he hung up by Spider-Woman with webs? That's how criminals are treated," Chief George asked.
"I don't know..." Harry looked at him and said, "But I know Spider-Woman isn't a Police officer, and even the Policesometimes arrest the wrong person."
Chief George was speechless, he could only say: "The Police mostly only arrest criminals, of course there are also work errors. People in any job can make work errors."
"Thank you for all the information you've provided, it has greatly helped the Police's work." Chief George stood up, preparing to leave, but after two steps, he suddenly turned back.
"Harry, I don't know if you're aware of this unfortunate news, but I think I should tell you, whether as a Policeofficer or Uncle George..." "Your father, Mr. Norman, is missing," Chief George said in a deep voice. "Just last night, after you were admitted to the hospital, the Police have been unable to contact Mr. Norman, and it's still the same today. And your butler is also very anxious."
"Searching for missing citizens should be the Police's job, right?" Harry appeared very calm. "I'm not worried at all. Since I was little, he often went out of contact for short periods. Maybe he's in some secret laboratory writing a work report right now..."
"Of course, that would be best!" Chief George gave Harry a deep look, then turned and walked out of the ward.
After leaving the ward, Chief George ignored the old butler's stern gaze. He said goodbye, and a group of Policeofficers gathered in the corridor.
"Any findings, Director?" someone asked impatiently.
Chief George took out the recording device from his sleeve and handed it to him, "Remember to transcribe it and make an audio backup."
Chief George no longer cared about these recordings; he recalled the last scene.
Before leaving, Chief George mentioned the disappearance of Harry's father, Norman Osborn.
Harry responded calmly, but the sharp Chief Georgenoticed that on the cardiac blood pressure monitor beside him, the heart rate curve showed obvious violent fluctuations... Not long after the Police left, people from a special government department came to the door, asking to have a brief chat with Harry, a survivor of the Midtown School of Science and Technology dance tragedy, to understand the situation from last night.
The old butler opened the door with a frosty face.
"The Police Director just finished taking notes and left," Harry said coldly to the people outside the door.
The newcomer, however, had a calm expression, completely unaffected by Harry's coldness.
"Phil Coulson, Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division."
Coulson pulled out his ID and showed it to Harry and the old butler.
"I'm a victim, not a criminal," Harry said unhappily. "Did I lose my memory after surgery? I don't remember when I did anything that affected Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division or anything... Sorry, your name is terrible."
Coulson was unmoved: "Mr. Harry, we are just doing a simple inquiry regarding the horrific incident that occurred last night at Midtown School of Science and Technology."
Harry was silent for a few seconds, then he still said faintly: "Come in..."
...Night, the moon was hidden by dark clouds.
All the lights in the VIP ward were on, the bedside table was filled with flowers, and the signatures on the flower cards were all from newspapers or media professionals: The New York Daily, Midtown Weekly, CNN... Now, the newly added carnations were signed by The Daily Bugle.
"Mr. Harry, are you saying that the demon caused all this? And Spider-Woman teamed up with Iron Man to try and stop him?" The short-haired reporter first took down her recording pen and turned it off. "But in previous cases, Spider-Woman was always on the same side as the demon; they collaborated in evil.
"Like on the Brooklyn Bridge, Spider-Woman teamed up with the demon and incited Lizard Man to attack the Police... So are you sure Spider-Woman didn't commit a crime last night? She must have helped the demon fight Iron Man, right? How many innocent students did she kill?"
After speaking, she turned on her recording pen again, holding it up and looking at Harry with eager eyes.
Harry had a bit of a headache. This reporter from The Daily Bugle always tried to maliciously smear Spider-Woman... Heaven knows what grudge The Daily Bugle's editor-in-chief had with Spider-Woman!
Although Harry really wanted to say that Spider-Womanwas an accomplice of the demon, to expose Spider-Woman's hypocritical hero image, and even reveal her true identity to the public... But at this moment, Harry was incredibly rational; he had to maintain consistency in his statements to every media outlet.
"No, I've made myself very clear on this question. The interview is over, I need to rest."
Harry impatiently called the butler to drive away the reporter. The ward door closed, and it became quiet again.
At midnight, just as Harry was about to fall asleep, a sudden commotion outside the window startled him awake.
The curtains were tightly closed, so he couldn't see what was happening outside.
A series of knocking sounds came from the French window, as if someone was walking on it... But at such a high floor, who would be outside?
A few seconds later, the curtains were pushed open, and the silhouette didn't look like a human shape... "Peter?" Harry said uncertainly.
No one answered, and the curtains were slowly pulled open by several spider legs, revealing an ugly, terrifying spider head.
Even with mental preparation, Harry was startled. He confirmed again: "Peter? I'm sorry, you've changed a lot..."
"No need to apologize, Harry." Peter slowly approached the bed. "I'm used to strange looks."
Both of their voices were abnormal, like devils from hell conversing.
Harry suddenly saw Peter holding a glass container in his hand, with a green reagent inside the quartz tube.
"I brought you a gift, Harry, you'll like it..."
Chapter 46 Testing Each Other
The warm afternoon sun bathed the green field, and from the Midtown School of Science and Technology's sports ground, the skyscrapers of Manhattan were visible in the distance.
The terrorist attack that night cast a shadow over this elite school, but students who hadn't experienced the disaster only grieved for a moment at the memorial service held by the school, after which everything returned to normal. Every student was seizing the time to unleash their burning youth on campus, too busy to dwell on sorrow.
In the center of the field, the school's rugby team was conducting their daily training. The blue and white teams fiercely contested, with cheers erupting periodically.
Behind the iron fence, Arthur and Gwen sat in the stands, the sunlight casting their shadows behind them.
Gwen wore a navy blue jacket, with black stockings and over-the-knee boots beneath her short skirt. She sat facing Arthur, her soft golden hair cascading down like a waterfall.
"Did you see the news today?" Arthur handed his phone to Gwen. "Your idol, Spider-Woman, was caught doing evil by The Daily Bugle again."
Gwen looked at the headline: "Spider-Woman and the Green Goblin Orchestrate Terrorist Attack at Midtown School of Science and Technology!" She frowned throughout her browsing.
"This is ridiculous. Spider-Woman is kind enough to help citizens find lost pet dogs. Would she launch a terrorist attack on us?" Gwen returned the phone to Arthur. "No one will believe their nonsense. This is completely slander and fabrication."
Arthur smiled and shook his head: "That's not necessarily true. The public is ignorant and easily misled by unscrupulous media. Look at their likes and comments—they're very high. Many people have believed their news and left comments @-ing the police to arrest Spider-Woman soon."
Gwen felt instantly weary upon hearing this. She sighed deeply and leaned her head on Arthur's shoulder.
It's too difficult to be a Superhero... Suddenly, she somewhat understood the Green Goblin. The Green Goblinacts as he pleases, never bound by others. Causing some destruction is commonplace and never sparks heated discussion. Citizens' demands for him are simple: make the destruction a little smaller, kill a few fewer people at a time... Many citizens don't even dare to curse him online, because the Green Goblin is also known as "Satan's Messenger." Who knows, he might appear before those who cursed him one day... "Actually, this is nothing. Everyone knows The Daily Bugle specializes in slandering Spider-Woman; their news is unreliable. Major media outlets like The New York Times and CNN haven't slandered Spider-Woman... they've slandered the Green Goblin."
Gwen spoke, raising her head to observe Arthur's expression.
"They actually blame all of Green Goblin's faults on the Green Goblin, even though there were so many eyewitnesses who saw everything clearly..." Gwengrumbled.
"All of this is thanks to your good friend, Harry Osborn!" Arthur looked down, directly into Gwen's eyes. "As a rich young master, many people naturally believe what he says."
"Because Harry was the only survivor found by the police, everyone believes what he says is highly credible..." Gwenrubbed her head against Arthur's shoulder. "Actually, the media doesn't care about the truth of the matter; they only care about newspaper sales and click-through rates. For these, no one cares even if they publish false information."
"There must be some misunderstanding... Harry isn't the type to distort facts. He has his own pride, and proud people disdain lying." Gwen murmured, "It's a shame I don't know what exactly happened in the venue that night..."
In fact, Gwen knew everything. Harry had witnessed the Green Goblin kill his father, and the hatred was irreconcilable.
And Gwen was certain that for the past few nights, Harryhad been falling asleep while plotting his revenge... Shifting his father's faults onto the Green Goblin in front of the media was also part of Harry's plan, to use public opinion to portray the Green Goblin as a heinous criminal, making him a public enemy. This way, citizens would hate the Green Goblin even more, and the police would dedicate more resources to fighting him... Although the actual effect might be minimal, Harry had already taken the first step toward revenge!
But Harry wouldn't know that he was actually inadvertently helping the Green Goblin. Under his efforts, the Green Goblin had been molded into a symbol of terror. The more people who hated and feared the Green Goblin, the more villain points he would gain, and villain pointscould make him stronger... "As you said, you don't know what happened that night, but Harry Osborn witnessed everything. How do you know he's distorting facts?" Arthur said with a smile.
Gwen retorted: "Because my dad said there are many questionable points in Harry's statement, and the police are still investigating..."
"No one cares if he's lying or not." Arthur interrupted Gwen. "Citizens have always thought that terrorist attacks and the Green Goblin are a perfect match! I don't think the Green Goblin cares about his reputation... Even if rumors spread that the Green Goblin is plotting to destroy all of New York, causing panic and curses among citizens, the Green Goblin wouldn't care. He would just laugh, let alone being framed for a terrorist attack."
Gwen had straightened up. She looked deeply at Arthur, and after a long moment, she said softly, "You really understand the Green Goblin... Sometimes I feel like you two are the same person."
"That's my honor..." Arthur mumbled.
"What?" Gwen didn't hear clearly.
"I mean, I really like kissing you." Arthur looked at Gwen. "That feeling is great!"
"Heh heh heh..." Gwen chuckled softly. "Me too, your kissing skills are amazing... But you said that was your first kiss, I feel like you're deceiving me."
"No, honesty is a virtue, and I've always possessed that virtue." Arthur leaned in a little and asked, "Maybe I'm just naturally gifted?"
"Haha..." Gwen lightly patted Arthur.
Looking at Arthur, Gwen slowly closed her eyes, maintaining the lovely curve of her lips.
Arthur also smiled, tilting his head and slowly leaning in... "!!!"
Gwen suddenly raised her hand, catching a rapidly flying rugby ball with one hand.
"Wow, cool!" Arthur praised, a mysterious smile on his face as he looked at Gwen.
"Uh... just by chance, it was a complete coincidence." Gwenhanded the rugby ball to Arthur, making a wrist-flicking motion.
"A bit sore..." She grimaced, but subtly observed Arthur's expression.
The rugby players stood at the edge of the field, shouting loudly, asking Arthur to throw the ball to him.
Arthur turned his head and gave him a faint glance, then threw the rugby ball with one hand.
The rugby ball's trajectory in the air was almost a straight line... It should be said that no one could clearly see its trajectory. The rugby ball flew over the stands, a collision sound rang out, and the player fell to the ground in response... "Wow, you're cool too!" Gwen's eyes sparkled as she looked at Arthur.
"Also a coincidence."
Arthur wrapped an arm around Gwen's waist, used his other hand to brush the golden hair from her face, and kissed her red lips.
Chapter 47 Palladium Poisoning and Natasha
Stark Industries Building.
The R&D lab was a mess; its layout and the placement of items seemed chaotic, yet to Tony's eyes, there was a certain order.
Tony stood in the main control area, his fingers constantly sliding across the screen. One 3D model after another was holographically projected before him. Tony dragged and rotated them with his fingers to refine details, perfecting even the slightest flaws on the models.
After a final check, Tony transmitted the 3D model data. The 3D printing equipment in the R&D lab received the data and began working, manufacturing precise parts that were then assembled by the robotic arms nearby.
Weapon development... this was also one of Tony's jobs. With the help of the smart instruments and robotic arms in the R&D lab, his work efficiency was greatly improved.
Suddenly, the sound of breaking glass came from behind him. Tony paused for a moment but continued working, not turning his head.
A robotic arm, in the midst of its work, had knocked over a glass. The cup shattered on the floor, and green liquid spilled everywhere.
"I swear I'm going to dismantle you! Ruin your motherboard with that stuff, and turn you into a bookshelf," Tonygrumbled.
The fingers of the misbehaving robotic arm came together, and it slowly lowered, looking like a wronged child... A few minutes later, the last part design was completed, and Tony rubbed his wrist.
The robotic arm carefully brought over a cup of green liquid and gently placed it on the table in front of Tony.
Tony looked at the green liquid with a bitter expression. He picked up the cup and drank half of it in one gulp.
"How much more of this foul stuff do I have to drink?"
Tony complained with a deep frown, pinching his nose and downing the rest of the liquid in one breath.
"Sir, 80 ounces are required to alleviate the symptoms of palladium poisoning," Jarvis's voice chimed.
80 ounces is approximately 2.4 liters... "This is practically torture for me!" Tony said with a pained expression, "And it's torture I have to endure every day!"
Tony pulled a small silver metal box from his casual pants pocket and placed it on the table. He pressed a button, and a sharp needle emerged from the metal box. He pressed his thumb against the needle.
"Jarvis, check the palladium content."
A spinning progress bar appeared on the screen, and a few seconds later, Jarvis's voice sounded.
"Blood toxicity 9%, diffusion speed: slow." Jarvis reminded him, "Sir, it appears that if you continue to use the Iron Armor, allowing the miniature Arc Reactor to continuously output more energy, the speed of palladium poisoning will increase. I recommend you stop using the Iron Armor."
"You should go to the Middle East and warn those Terrorists to stop using AK rifles, or the recoil will eventually damage their shoulders!"
Tony ignored Jarvis's warning. He lifted his T-shirt and removed the Arc Reactor from his chest.
"This palladium energy plate is depleted again..."
Tony inverted the Arc Reactor, and the mechanical components at the bottom of the Arc Reactor opened like petals, revealing a CPU-sized palladium energy plate. Tonyreached out and removed this palladium energy plate.
"They deplete very quickly," Tony murmured again.
He took out and opened a box containing a row of palladium energy plates. Tony pulled one out and reinserted it into the bottom of the Arc Reactor.
"I have simulated every known element, but no element can replace palladium," Jarvis's voice chimed again, "Sir, your time and options are running out..."
"Yes, I know, stop with the useless talk!"
Tony lifted his T-shirt and placed the Arc Reactor back on his chest. The sound of mechanical linkage echoed as the Arc Reactor was re-embedded in Tony's chest. Around the Arc Reactor, many black marks appeared on Tony's chest, like swollen blood vessels, and these black marks showed a tendency to continuously spread... "Sir, Miss Natasha is here..."
Tony looked up and saw a graceful figure standing behind the glass door.
"Mute!" Tony commanded. The problem with his body was still a secret, not even Pepper Potts knew about it.
The woman named Natasha was standing sideways in front of the door lock, entering the numerical password. From her side, her good figure was fully visible, and through the glass door, Tony's eyes lit up.
Natasha was wearing a light blue shirt, her ample bosom seemed about to burst through it. Her wine-red long hair hung down, and she wore black trousers, her rear end so shapely it looked like it could stably hold a stemmed glass...
"Who is she? Natasha? I haven't heard that Russian-style name before," Tony asked, puzzled.
Jarvis had already received the mute command. A line of text appeared on the screen: Natasha Romanoff, from the legal department, current assistant to Miss Potts. Miss Potts had specifically noted that she might sue you for 'sexual harassment by a superior.'
The glass door slid open, and Natasha walked in.
"Mr. Stark, I am Miss Potts's assistant, and I have a document here that requires your signature." Natasha had been observing Tony.
"Place it on the table," Tony gestured to the table in front of him.
Natasha complied, subtly surveying her surroundings.
"New employee? I haven't seen you before," Tony glanced at her, asking as he signed the document.
"Just accepted a job transfer," Natasha replied.
"Sorry, your position will be changing again very soon," Tony placed the document on the table.
"I also need your fingerprint," Natasha pointed to the area on the document after the signature.
Tony pressed his fingerprint. "There, it's done. Goodbye, Miss Natasha."
Natasha smiled and nodded. She turned and walked out of the R&D lab.
Throughout the entire process, Tony remained still, watching Natasha's retreating figure without moving... "Jarvis, tell Pepper that I need a new assistant."
Tony lowered his head and typed "Natasha Romanoff" into Google. He browsed Natasha's personal information.
"Fluent in French, Italian... and the soon-to-be-extinct Latin?" Tony muttered to himself, "Who still speaks Latin nowadays?"
"Sir, I not only speak Latin, but I am also fluent in 5651 languages worldwide..."
"You're not human, okay?"
Suddenly, the sound of the glass door opening echoed.
"I didn't expect you to have been a model in Tokyo too, Natasha!" Tony said, zooming in on Natasha's bikini photoshoot on the screen.
"Natasha?" A voice familiar and dreaded by Tony sounded, "Is that the name of that sexy lady just now?"
Tony froze. He slowly raised his head and saw the familiar demon mask. A moment later, he still couldn't help but be utterly shocked... The reason for his shock wasn't seeing the demon... Tony knew the demon had the ability to be invisible, but Tony also knew that even when invisible, the demon could not avoid radar scans. Therefore, after encountering the demon, he had Jarvis keep the radar scans near Stark Industries active at all times.
But this time, until the demon infiltrated his R&D lab, Jarvisdid not sound an alarm...
Chapter 48: Intern Devil
"You're surprised to see me, Mr. Stark?"
The Demon strolled in, looking around leisurely, as if taking a casual walk.
"No, it's just because you didn't knock, and I was concentrating on my work."
Tony bluffed, then took a sip of the green liquid on the table. The bitter taste stung his taste buds, but his face remained expressionless.
Arthur naturally knew what Tony was thinking. Bypassing the radar scans near the Stark Industries Building today was also intentional on his part.
The method was simple: as he approached the Stark Industries Building, Arthur used the power of the Monkey Talisman to transform himself into a bird. A bird's smaller size and smaller electromagnetic wave cross-section would naturally be ignored by Jarvis as error data.
"You still haven't answered my question." Arthur waved a hand, and a chair flew over, landing steadily behind him.
"Uh... let me recall what you asked... Natasha?" Tonypatted his head. "She's my new assistant."
A line of text appeared on the screen in front of Tony: "Sir, Miss Potts has not officially responded yet."
"Do you have to be so talkative?" Tony muttered, and he casually turned off the screen.
"She seems very good, beautiful and capable." Arthursmiled. "Mr. Stark, given your startled reaction upon seeing me today, I think you need an employee to be directly responsible for contacting me. This Miss Natasha is quite suitable, perfectly capable of handling this job of sending and receiving emails and answering calls. What do you think?"
Arthur was naturally not unfamiliar with Natasha. This beautiful and deadly Agent, known as the Black Widow, being the only female member of the Avengers, was enough to prove her capabilities.
Natasha was originally a former Soviet Union Agent, joining S.H.I.E.L.D. after betraying the "Red Room."
Her body was modified, greatly slowing down her aging process, enhancing her immune system, and increasing her resistance to injury. Coupled with years of various physical and mental training, she had become like the deadly venomous spider, the "Black Widow." Her agility surpassed that of Olympic gold medalists, and she could also coordinate her body balance and flexibility.
Of course, Natasha's abilities were not limited to this. She could process multiple information streams quickly, like Captain America, such as threat assessment, and could quickly adapt to constantly changing tactical situations. She was also a very effective strategist, tactician, and Commander; she had even led S.H.I.E.L.D. once.
Currently, Tony had not yet announced his identity as Iron Man to the media, but S.H.I.E.L.D. had already dispatched Natasha to approach him. It seemed S.H.I.E.L.D. had obtained information about Iron Man from elsewhere... And Arthur's purpose in having Natasha handle communications with him was also simple: to contact S.H.I.E.L.D. through her, regardless of whether it led to good or bad outcomes.
As the main heroic organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. had more or less ties to every Superhero and would combat various villains.
And Arthur needed to earn villain points from those Superheroes and villains... If Arthur extended his influence into S.H.I.E.L.D., he would definitely gain unexpected rewards.
But how to intervene in S.H.I.E.L.D. was a problem. Although S.H.I.E.L.D.'s high-ranking officials were infiltrated by HYDRA, that was the result of HYDRA's decades of planning and development.
At this time, Black Widow Natasha was a very good point of entry. Natasha defected from the "Red Room" to join S.H.I.E.L.D. Her time in S.H.I.E.L.D. was not long, and she had not yet gained S.H.I.E.L.D.'s full trust.
Compared to other Superheroes, Natasha did not have as strong a sense of conviction or personal combat prowess. If anyone in the Avengers was most easily turned, it would be her... "Did I hear that wrong? Demons are also interested in sexy human women?" Tony was a little surprised. "But is it okay to have a woman talk to a Demon? Won't she be scared unconscious when she sees you?"
Arthur just looked at him indifferently. After confirming that the Demon was not joking, Tony also put on a serious face. Facing the Demon, he seemed to have no ability to refuse...
"Jarvis, help me issue a personnel transfer order: Natasha Romanoff from the legal department is transferred to the Chairman's assistant, responsible for direct contact between me and Mr. Demon."
Tony walked out of the central control console, and a mechanical arm next to him brought two wine glasses.
"Whiskey, care for a drink?" Tony raised his glass to Arthur. "I also have baijiu and soju prepared in the research lab. Which type of alcohol suits your taste?"
Because the Demon always appeared with black hair, Tonyassumed he was likely Asian.
After all, black-haired people in the United States account for 5.4% of the total population, with Asians accounting for 4.4% and Native Americans and Alaska Natives accounting for 1.0%.
"No, I can't drink, Mr. Stark," Arthur refused.
"Why? You don't like human alcoholic beverages?" Tonywas curious about everything about the Demon. "You can't tell me Demons are also allergic to alcohol, can you?"
"No, because I haven't reached the legal drinking age..." Arthur shrugged. "You know, I always abide by the law."
Tony's jaw instantly dropped, and the wine glass in his hand nearly slipped... This certainly wasn't because of the Demon's corny joke about abiding by the law!
"Mr. Demon, you're not yet 21?" Tony was shocked. "It must be that the way Demons and humans count age is different, right? Or perhaps, like your Demon lifespan is ten thousand years, and you've only lived for over a thousand years, so proportionally you're just a human teenager?"
"No, no, no, I'm eighteen this year, just became an adult," Arthur said with a smile.
In his eyes, this was very normal, after all, Spider-WomanGwen was only 17.
"Mr. Demon, are you saying..." Tony paused before asking, "Are you saying you're also a human? A U.S. citizen? At your age, you should still be in high school, right...?"
"Of course, being a Demon is just a job for me. High school students need to participate in social practice," Arthurnodded.
Tony was speechless. What the hell is social practice! An intern Demon is already this terrifying, constantly wreaking havoc over New York, massacring without hesitation. What would happen when he officially started working? The whole World would tremble under his Shadow, wouldn't it?
"This World is too crazy..." Tony blurted out. "If I may ask, your childhood must have been very unfortunate, right? I once read in a book that to create a villain, you just need to give him a tragic childhood..."
"That would truly disappoint you, I've been very lucky since I was little!" Arthur spread his hands. "Of course, if you want to be blasted to ashes like the Green Goblin that night, we can continue this topic."
"No, I don't!" Tony took a sip of whiskey to suppress the shock in his heart. "We can begin the formal discussion now."
Chapter 49 Demonic Creation
Before coming here, I saw a fat man right outside the chairman's office on the same floor. Many employees were gathered around him, and he seemed aggressive and ill-intentioned…" Arthur feigned concern. "He looks like a rebellious minister and a traitor, as if he wants to usurp your power and position."
"No, that's Obadiah Stane, one of the elders of Stark Industries and a major shareholder," Tony explained. "He used to work with my father and helped me lead Stark Industries. I trust him very much… Tonight, he's probably here for the work related to the Arc Project's launch. Pepper is going to be busy again…"
"Do you know about the Arc Project?" Tony boasted. "It's another one of my groundbreaking creations. Several Arc Reactors connected in series can output energy comparable to a nuclear power plant. Stark Industries can even transform from an arms dealer into an energy supplier with this…"
"No, I'm not interested in that," Arthur waved his hand, interrupting him. "Being a demon is a high-paying job. I can still afford my utility and heating bills."
Arthur, of course, wouldn't remind Tony that Staneharbored rebellious intentions.
Once Stane beats him up wearing the Iron Monger, giving Tony a setback, he can then appear and reap a wave of villain points… Calculating the time, it shouldn't be long now.
The mechanical arm behind him started working again.
"So, Mr. Demon, what brings you here tonight?" Tonywanted to send the demon away soon. "You wouldn't just be passing by Stark Industries and decide to drop in for a chat, would you? I wouldn't believe it. I'm not Spider-Woman!"
"You're quite self-aware, Mr. Stark," Arthur tossed another USB drive to Tony. "I'm here to order a batch of… figurines? Or perhaps model toys, the blueprints are inside."
Iron Man frowned and inserted the USB drive into his computer. He opened the USB drive, and just as the demon said, there were 3D models of two toys.
One was Godzilla, and the other was Pikachu… Tony was stunned. Could the demon's true identity be a toy supplier? Or an enthusiast of monsters and Pokémon?
"What kind of advanced weapons are these? Why don't I see any weapon configuration details?" Tony asked in confusion.
"No weapons, I told you, these are all model toys," Arthursaid with a smile, but Tony felt like the demon was brewing some kind of conspiracy.
Tony's mind couldn't process it. The demon who rampaged through New York, representing terror and destruction in the eyes of citizens, was actually a serious model toy enthusiast? What kind of Godzilla and Pikachu needed him to personally build? He was the top scientist and weapon inventor!
But the truth was, Arthur was preparing for the Rat Talisman. The Rat Talisman possessed the life force to turn inanimate objects into living beings. He could, for example, use a Godzilla model to create a real Godzilla… But this was all Arthur's preliminary preparation. Currently, the unsealed Rat Talisman could only make dolls perform basic movements and couldn't imbue them with more energy, let alone grant them the various abilities from their original settings.
"Alright, I won't try to understand the demon's thoughts…" Tony shrugged. "Electric-powered or fuel-powered? Your blueprints are very brief. If equipped with Stark Industries' Arc Reactor, it would definitely be cool, but the cost would be very high…"
"No, no, no, just build them exactly according to the blueprints. All the data is marked, and the quantity is ten of each," Arthur interrupted him. "Remember to make them look cool, and remember to spray my demon mark in a conspicuous place, and then print 'Demon Creation' in English below the mark."
"OK! I think you mean this effect!" Tony opened the screen. "A demon logo unique to you!"
Soon, a logo matching Arthur's description appeared on the screen. Arthur was very satisfied. Regardless of the reason, Tony cooperated obediently with him.
"The only requirement is the material: choose metal with stronger defense and higher hardness, such as gold-titanium alloy or something…"
"Of course, Stark products, quality guaranteed!" Tony gave a salute.
The clumsy mechanical arm brought another glass of green liquid. Tony picked it up and took a sip. Palladium elements would continuously spread in his blood, and he had to drink this liquid at all times to suppress it.
"My task is completed, are you leaving now?" Tony raised his glass, gesturing. "A new type of drink researched by Stark. Would you like a glass?"
"No, I don't want to drink chlorophyll," Arthur exposed him mercilessly. "Mr. Stark, the miniature Arc Reactor in your chest is rapidly causing palladium poisoning in your blood… Fortunately, I don't have to wear a glowing light bulb on my chest."
Tony's smile froze slightly.
"I thought your reminder was just a coincidence, but I didn't expect you to actually see the problem with my body. You didn't use any medical instruments, nor did you even get close to me," Tony's eyes were somewhat complex. "Besides violence and destruction, is the demon also proficient in medicine?"
Tony stared at the demon, but saw the demon smile and say, "Instead of thinking about these things, you should think about how to spend the short remainder of your life. You are a playboy, and a life of nightly revelry suits you perfectly!"
That smile was like a gloating laugh. Tony wanted to smash his head with an iron fist… but he knew that even if his Iron Armor was upgraded to Mark 50, he couldn't beat the demon.
"Do you have any way to help me? We are friends!" Tonytentatively asked. "Aren't you a demon? Demons are omnipotent."
No one can face death calmly, let alone a playboy and a billionaire. Tony's life was wonderful every single day.
"Of course!" the demon answered decisively, which made Tony's eyes light up.
As Jarvis had said before, he had simulated every element, but none could replace palladium. Even a genius like Tonycouldn't solve this problem that was claiming his life.
But Tony tried his best to maintain a calm facade. All literary and cinematic works indicated one thing… making a deal with a demon was the beginning of falling into hell.
"So what will you exchange for it?" Arthur said with a serious face. "As you know, I'm not at all interested in your wealth. The weapons or Iron Man Suits you developed are useless to me. So what else do you have? Are you willing to exchange your soul for your life?"
Tony's face was solemn. He didn't speak.
"Hahaha!" Arthur laughed loudly as he left. The glass door opened automatically, and he turned around and said, "You can think about it, and remember my little toys."
The demon's figure instantly disappeared. Tony sat motionless in his chair, only the mechanical arm still waving in confusion…
Chapter 50 Steve Rogers
"Another pitch, a high foul ball."
"The score is tied at four-four with the Dodgers."
In a single patient room with an old-fashioned decor, a radio was broadcasting an intense baseball game.
The patient on the bed showed no injuries or weakness; his clothes were bulging with muscle, making him look strong and healthy. He lay there as if asleep.
He wasn't wearing a standard hospital gown, but a white T-shirt, khaki trousers, and brown boots.
A breeze blew in through the window, rustling the white curtains and gently caressing his face... Suddenly, he opened his eyes.
Time seemed to stand still for a few seconds. He slowly moved his body, struggling to sit on the edge of the bed.
He looked around, utterly bewildered... The lower part of the walls was painted light green, the upper part and the ceiling were white, and a three-blade fan on the ceiling rotated leisurely.
On the table was a portable radio, next to which were carnations. Beneath the fluttering curtains was a heater.
The room's decor felt incredibly familiar to him. He used to tour various states to help senators promote war bonds, and after performances, he would often be arranged to visit wounded soldiers at local army hospitals... The wards in those hospitals were just like this.
The radio continued to broadcast the baseball game:
"He crouched, pitched, swung, a curveball."
"He got past Grimson... The Dodgers scored!"
Suddenly, the patient turned back to look at the old radio in disbelief.
"Rizzo scored, Reiser ran to third Base..."
Just then, the door to the ward opened, and a woman walked in.
The woman was wearing a greyish-white shirt, with a Military green tie and a pencil skirt.
This style of attire felt very familiar to the patient. He once had a female friend who loved to dress this way... Her name was Peggy Carter.
"Good morning, Captain Rogers!" The woman smiled, then looked at her watch. "To be precise, it should be good afternoon."
"Where am I?"
Steve Rogers looked at the woman with a bewildered expression.
"You're in a post-op recovery room in New York," the woman explained. "Although you're awake, the Doctorsays you still need rest, so you can lie down now."
Steve looked at the woman without speaking, while the radio continued its broadcast.
"The Dodgers are leading eight to four! It's incredible, no one expected them to win since the start of the game. Let's give a round of applause to all the players for bringing us such a spectacular game..."
Steve glanced back at the radio, then after a moment, he asked again, "Where exactly am I?"
"I'm not sure what you mean, Captain Rogers." The woman forced a smile. "You went missing in the North Pole, and the Military went to great lengths to find you..."
"This game was in Los Angeles in May 1941," Steveinterrupted the woman. "I know, because I was there."
The expression on the woman's face subtly changed. She suddenly remembered that baseball league broadcasts from that era were live, serving countless fans who couldn't attend in person.
But the staff member who chose the broadcast made a mistake; he picked a baseball game that happened before Captain Rogers fell into a coma, and worst of all, Captain Rogers coincidentally went to watch that game in person! This rendered all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s other preparations useless... "I'm asking you again, where exactly am I?" Stevestood up and slowly approached the woman.
The woman calmly pressed the pager in her hand. "Captain Rogers, please remain calm... I can answer all your questions."
The ward door was pushed open again, and several fully armed riot personnel carrying firearms entered the room... The woman suddenly felt things were going wrong. She saw the anger rising on Steve's face; these riot personnel made the situation even worse!
"Captain Rogers..." The woman was about to explain when Steve already made his move.
His combat experience was extremely rich, and when facing several armed enemies, he had already made the most correct judgment... Steve had led multiple raids on HYDRA's secret Bases during World War II, and this level of armed force couldn't stop him at all.
One riot officer was kicked against the wall, and the temporary wall instantly broke open, creating a large hole.
Steve didn't hesitate, rushing out through the hole and running down the corridor.
The woman came to the opening and called out, "Captain Rogers, wait!"
But a slightly agitated Steve didn't respond. She watched Steve's retreating figure and took out her walkie-talkie.
"All Agents, attention! Emergency alert!"
Steve, who had made his way to the lobby, also heard the broadcast, "All Agents, attention! Emergency alert!"
The lobby was full of staff in black suits, and the outlines of gun holsters could be seen at their waists. Steve didn't hesitate and rushed towards the main door!
Several Agents in black blocked his path, but Steve easily knocked them aside. He burst through the door.
It wasn't until he reached the street that Steve felt something was wrong. The vehicles on the street looked strange, and people's clothing was more fashionable and trendy.
Moreover, the LED screens and billboards covering the tall buildings seemed novel to him... This bustling street was too prosperous. Before going to war, he had visited the most prosperous street in New York, and it paled in comparison to this.
Everything felt strange; if the woman he had just spoken with hadn't used English, he would have thought he had arrived on an alien Planet!
A bewildered Steve had no time for further thought. He ran through the street, but amidst the bustling crowds, his speed gradually slowed.
Steve spun in circles, on the busy street, looking at the unfamiliar city. He suddenly lost his direction. Amidst the honking of cars, confused, he didn't know where to go... Several black cars approached from all directions, surrounding him. Staff in police uniforms got out of the cars. They encircled Steve, dispersing the onlookers.
"Don't be nervous, soldier!"
Just as Steve was contemplating which direction to break through, he heard this voice.
He turned and saw a one-eyed black man, wearing a black trench coat. He seemed to be the leader of the group.
"Let me introduce myself, my name is Nick Fury. I deeply apologize for that performance just now, but..." Nick said, pressing his hands down, "We thought it best to let you adjust to all of this gradually."
"Adjust to what?" Steve turned to face him.
"You've been asleep, Captain." Nick tried to convince Steve, "As hard as it is to believe, you've been asleep for about seventy years."
Steve looked around in shock, Nick even saw bewilderment in the eyes of this powerful warrior... "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Steve shook his head, "I'm fine, it's just... I have a date."
How should Captain America be referred to later? I always feel Steve is strange, it reminds me of my World, Rogers? Or just Captain America.