At that moment, the “bat” Peter Parker had been talking about had just returned to Queens.
From early morning until now, there had been no decrease in the number of people who had come to mourn the fallen Spider-Man.
There were even people standing in front of Bruce’s house.
“Hey, buddy. If you’re here to pay your respects to Spider-Man too, I’d suggest getting in line,” one man said unhappily, giving Bruce a shove when he tried to walk past.
The shove didn’t move Bruce in the slightest.
Instead, Bruce smoothly caught the man’s arm and threw him into a joint lock, pinning him to the ground.
The movement was so fluid and elegant that, had the man not been on the ground in the blink of an eye, people might have mistaken it for some kind of sophisticated dance.
The people waiting in line instinctively backed away from Bruce and the man.
“First, I’m going home, and you’re standing right in front of my house. Second, don’t touch other people’s clothes so casually.”
After saying that, Bruce pulled the man back to his feet, then grabbed his arm again.
“This might hurt a little. Bear with it.”
The man hadn’t even realized what Bruce meant.
The next instant, Bruce twisted and pushed, snapping the shoulder that had been dislocated during the joint lock back into place.
Only then did the pain finally register, crashing over the man like a tidal wave.
Bruce brushed the dust off the man’s clothes, then gave him an exceptionally friendly smile.
Afterward, he walked straight toward his house.
The scene sent the young women waiting in line into a frenzy.
A man who was both refined and courteous, yet possessed such overwhelming combat skills, was practically the ideal partner in their eyes.
As for whether martial arts were useful in a country like America, where almost everyone could get a gun, they couldn’t care less.
As long as he was handsome and strong, that was enough.
If he happened to be rich too, even better.
Bruce perfectly satisfied the first two conditions.
As for the last one, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that although Bruce’s suit was a mass-produced Gucci piece, it still wasn’t something the average person could afford.
The only thing that raised doubts was that the neighborhood he lived in wasn’t exactly upscale.
But that wasn’t much of a problem.
The little commotion naturally caught the attention of May Parker, who had been greeting Spider-Man’s fans.
However, having seen all kinds of things in life, May remained completely unfazed.
She calmly continued receiving every visitor.
In America, incidents where people pulled out guns and started shooting over minor disputes weren’t exactly unheard of.
Still, it reminded May that it was probably time to call an end to the fans’ spontaneous gathering.
It was almost quitting time.
The neighbors would soon be coming home to rest.
If everyone stayed here any longer, they’d only disturb the neighborhood.
“I truly appreciate everyone’s kindness,” May Parker said, waving toward the people farther back in line.
“But it’s getting late now. Please head home and get some rest.”
As Spider-Man’s fans, they naturally understood the feelings of Spider-Man’s aunt.
After all, she’d been receiving them nonstop from morning until night.
The fan who was just about to present his memorial gift smiled at May before turning toward the crowd behind him.
“Let’s call it a day, everyone. We can come back tomorrow. Just remember to come early. She’s already exhausted, so I hope everyone can understand.”
His booming voice was every bit as imposing as his massive build.
Although those waiting behind him were a little frustrated after standing in line for so long, they obediently dispersed.
Even Bruce, who had just finished taking a shower at home, couldn’t help but admire the sight.
As expected of Spider-Man’s fans.
They were so considerate.
So friendly.
But May Parker wasn’t the only one who witnessed it.
Shadow Spider, who had been secretly keeping watch over May in case anything happened, had seen everything as well.
Bruce’s crisp, efficient counterattack, along with the clean and practiced way he reset the man’s shoulder, wrapped him in an even deeper layer of mystery in Shadow Spider’s eyes.
A man who dared to go jogging late at night, who retaliated with flawless technique, and who lived in such an ordinary neighborhood…
What exactly was he after?
Shadow Spider couldn’t figure it out.
No matter how he looked at it, he had to eliminate any potential threat this man might pose.
Not just for Aunt May.
But also to prevent New York from gaining an even more dangerous supervillain in the future.
“I’m heading out for a bit,” Shadow Spider said to Peni, who was happily eating cookies.
Despite her young age, Peni could tell something about Shadow Spider felt different today.
“I’m just going to check on something.”
With those words, Shadow Spider disappeared from Peni’s sight.
Peni couldn’t help worrying that he might run into something beyond his ability to handle.
But after all, Shadow Spider was still Spider-Man.
She believed he could deal with almost anything.
Meanwhile, Bruce was exercising at home when he keenly sensed someone land in his backyard.
Ever since buying the house, Bruce had set up a comprehensive surveillance network around the backyard using his own equipment.
Now, it seemed it was finally paying off.
Anyone capable of slipping past every layer of security outside so effortlessly…
In this little neighborhood, only the Spider-Men could manage something like that.
Bruce stopped exercising, grabbed a white towel from the side, and wiped the sweat from his body.
Then he casually opened the back door.
Standing there was a Spider-Man dressed in black-and-white monochrome.
“So, you’re not just someone suffering from insomnia,” Shadow Spider said the moment he saw Bruce.
After all, that was exactly what Bruce had claimed when they’d first met.
“And you’re not really just a Spider-Man fan either, are you?” Bruce replied indifferently as he continued wiping away his sweat.
Without another glance, he turned and walked into the house.
He left his back completely exposed.
“Care to come in for a seat?”
Not knowing what Bruce was planning, Shadow Spider nevertheless followed him inside out of a sense of responsibility.
At the very least, he needed to determine whether this man posed any danger to others.
Looking at the exercise equipment scattered all over the room, Shadow Spider reached one conclusion.
This man definitely didn’t possess any superpowers.
As for everything else…
He would have to keep observing.
The only problem was, he had no idea how much longer he would be able to stay in this world.
(End of Chapter)