“It’s been taken care of,” Crossbones said as he stepped outside, already speaking with his superior over the comm.
“But I won’t be able to reach the research facility in ti Editme.”
His original mission had been to head to the private technology park in the Hudson Valley—
Alchemax’s research facility.
Even Hydra had taken an interest in what Kingpin was developing there.
After all, some of the scientists working in that laboratory were Hydra operatives themselves.
Yet somehow…
The place had been infiltrated by two people who looked like Spider-Man.
Worse still, they had escaped with the computer belonging to their chief scientist.
Things had spiraled far beyond anyone’s expectations.
Hydra had already known that Kingpin’s collider project had the potential to wipe out Brooklyn.
But…
What did that have to do with them?
The only thing Hydra wanted was Kingpin’s Super-Collider.
A machine capable of bringing people from other universes into their own world was simply too tempting.
With a few modifications, they could use it to retrieve whatever they wanted from alternate realities.
Once they possessed such technology…
Many of their problems would solve themselves.
However, in order to preserve their cooperative relationship with Kingpin, the moment their informants reported trouble at Fisk Manor, Hydra immediately dispatched a squad to investigate.
The result?
Heavy casualties.
Because of that delay, they had been unable to reinforce Alchemax in time to capture the two Spider-Men.
All because…
A masked freak had shown up at exactly the wrong moment.
Crossbones’ eyes burned with hatred toward that bat-like vigilante.
“I think he might just be someone imitating Batman.”
A nearby conversation caught his attention.
“What do you mean?”
The two soldiers immediately straightened when they realized their captain had walked over.
They exchanged uneasy glances.
Neither of them knew exactly what he was asking.
“I’m asking…” Crossbones said impatiently, “what’s this Batman you’re talking about?”
One of the soldiers answered carefully.
“We found this bat emblem on nearly every injured teammate.”
“The logo’s a little different, but I recognized it.”
“It’s the symbol used by Batman… the flagship character from DC Comics.”
“So I think this might just be the work of an obsessed Batman fan.”
After speaking, the soldier cautiously watched his captain’s expression, worried he had said something wrong.
“What are his weaknesses?”
Crossbones asked without hesitation.
“He’s just a normal human.”
“No superpowers.”
“The only exceptional things about him are his intelligence and his extraordinary reflexes.”
“If you shoot him…”
“He still dies.”
The soldier had never been much of a Batman fan anyway.
Too dark.
Those answers were enough for Crossbones.
A mortal man—
Was far easier to deal with than those masked freaks with actual superpowers.
Judging from the scene, that man certainly wasn’t ordinary.
But at least…
He wasn’t some metahuman monster.
Across the street, Bruce had once again taken his seat inside the same little café.
This time, however…
Instead of reading a newspaper…
He was quietly drinking a glass of milk.
Although Thomas, inside his mind, kept complaining that the milk wasn’t particularly good—barely drinkable, in his opinion—
Bruce simply ignored him.
As he leisurely sipped his milk, his eyes remained fixed on the line of Chevrolet Suburbans pulling away from Fisk Manor.
No matter which universe it was…
Government agents always seemed to favor full-size SUVs.
They had practically become the standard issue for intelligence organizations.
Most American civilians, unable to tell whether such a vehicle carried an ordinary family or federal agents…
Simply chose to stay out of their way.
Only after the last Suburban disappeared from sight did Bruce stand up.
He slid a hundred-dollar bill beneath his empty milk glass.
Then he calmly walked outside.
At that moment…
He looked exactly like a carefree young heir with nothing better to do.
Whenever Bruce happened to pass an attractive woman, he’d casually flash her a charming wink.
More often than not, the gesture left the woman completely flustered.
Unfortunately…
Before anyone could gather the courage to approach him…
The notorious playboy had already disappeared down the street.
While Bruce enjoyed his leisurely stroll…
The three Spider-People who had escaped from Alchemax sat exhausted aboard a bus heading back toward the city.
Both Peter Parker and Miles Morales couldn’t stop staring at the Spider-person who had rescued them.
After all…
Neither of them had ever met a female Spider-Man before.
Especially not one named…
Gwen Stacy.
Holding the obviously damaged data drive in her hand, Gwen calmly asked Miles,
“Was he the one who broke it?”
Miles nodded.
“Yeah.”
“He feels really bad about it too.”
Perhaps it was the pride of a teenage boy trying to impress the girl he liked.
Unable to admit the truth…
Miles quietly shifted the blame onto the Peter Parker sprawled across the back seats.
Fortunately…
After hearing Miles’ explanation…
He merely smiled.
Miles himself soon realized that lying like this wasn’t exactly right.
Lowering his voice, he whispered to Gwen,
“So…”
“Let’s just pretend that never happened, okay?”
Gwen had spent years acting as Spider-Woman.
There was no way she couldn’t see through Miles’ little trick.
She simply chose not to expose him.
They had far more important matters to deal with.
She chuckled softly.
Although her smile looked genuine…
There was an unmistakable loneliness hidden beneath it.
“I know where we can make another one.”
“And this time…”
“I won’t let him break it.”
Her expression remained calm.
Almost detached.
Miles, however, wasn’t nearly as composed.
“I’m… sorry about your friend.”
He didn’t want to continue discussing the damaged drive.
Instead, he shifted the conversation to what Gwen had mentioned earlier.
“Thank you, Miles.”
Gwen answered with a gentle smile.
In her own universe…
Peter Parker’s death remained a wound that would never truly heal.
“I know how to answer the Bat!”
Suddenly—
The Peter Parker who had been lying flat on the back seat sprang upright.
His eyes lit up with excitement.
“I finally know how to answer that Bat!”
“The Bat?”
Gwen blinked in confusion.
She had absolutely no idea what the middle-aged Spider-Man was talking about.
She turned toward Miles.
To her surprise…
Miles looked just as confused.
He knew who “the Bat” referred to.
What he didn’t understand…
Was what Peter suddenly had the answer to.
Peter flashed them both an incredibly confident grin.
“A guy…”
“Who can help every single one of us get home.”
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(End of Chapter)