173. Submission.

Alex's gaze lingered on Pietro, his expression somewhat unnatural.

Among everyone, Pietro was likely the closest to Alex. Not only had he been a companion of Alex since the moment he crossed into this world, but he was also the 'family' who had endured the most with Alex through thick and thin.

Pietro and Alex shared a bond forged through life-and-death experiences. If Alex were to lose Pietro, he likely wouldn't have been able to escape that universe. They were like brothers, close and understanding each other deeply.

Alex had placed almost all his trust in Pietro.

But now, the words from Venom made Alex reexamine Pietro, someone he had always thought he knew thoroughly, with a layer of strange mystery.

"Miss Minutes, can you check if there's anything else on Pietro?" Alex called out to Miss Minutes in his mind.

[Checking, please wait...]

[Check complete. No anomalies found. Would you like to review Pietro's soul light panel?]

"No need." Alex frowned, then couldn't help but ask again. "Are you sure there's no anomaly, maybe something attached to his mental world or some other area?"

[Sorry, I couldn't find any record of anything different on Pietro's body, soul, or mind, nor any signs of erasure, modification, replacement, or contamination.]

Frowning, Alex pondered for a moment and tentatively asked Pietro, "Pietro, since we met, have you experienced anything particularly bizarre?"

Pietro was stunned by the question. He didn't understand why Alex would believe the words of what was clearly not an organic being. However, since Alex had asked, he thoughtfully tried to recall. The windmill turned, the fragrance of grass and soil filled Pietro's nostrils. After a moment, Pietro slowly shook his head, his eyes clear as he replied, "No, I don't know anything."

Alex didn't respond, only sinking into silence as he thought. At this moment, the others wisely chose not to disturb him, especially Ashley and the Blood Baron. They knew the topic had moved beyond anything they could involve themselves in. The atmosphere grew heavy. After a while...

"I really don't know anything," Pietro said, feeling uneasy under Alex's gaze.

"No need to be nervous, I would never doubt my brother." Alex withdrew his gaze. He could be sure Pietro was still the same person in his memories, and that there was no foreign soul in his body. However, this didn't mean there wasn't something else on him. It could be the gaze of a higher narrator, higher-dimensional pollution, or something else entirely.

At this moment, Alex couldn't determine what it was, but he knew Pietro certainly carried a huge secret. This secret was likely related to the Ruined Universe or even the Timepad.

"It's time to discuss your issue, Ashley," Alex said, knowing now wasn't the time to dwell on Pietro. He turned around and faced Ashley. "Honestly, I'm quite surprised you managed to find me."

"I had no idea where you'd gone, but I guessed that since you're supposed to be a 'hero,' you'd probably be interested in Osborn. So, I decided to try my luck," Ashley said, meeting Alex's gaze without fear.

"Now I see..." Alex understood why she had come here; her ability to find him was purely luck. "But what if I hadn't come here? What would you have done?"

Ashley clenched her fists and replied, "If I didn't find you, it wouldn't matter. I would have taken down Osborn and his League of Villains!"

"Sounds like a superhero," the Blood Baron chuckled grimly.

"I'm not some damn superhero!" Ashley immediately bristled, glaring fiercely at the Blood Baron, enunciating every word.

"Superheroes have already failed. They died in that battle long ago. That only proves one thing: so-called 'heroes' are bullshit. If you want to take down other villains, you have to become a villain even stronger than them!"

"So that's how you think. No wonder I always felt something off about you..." Alex smiled and shook his head before continuing. "I don't care what you think, but you should understand that I won't let anyone who knows our origins live in this world."

"Fine! Go ahead and kill me then...mmph!"

"A child's tantrums, please excuse her," Venom quickly filled Ashley's mouth, then smiled obsequiously at Alex, shaking its head.

"Ugh, why did you stop me!" Ashley's eyes were full of anger, not fear.

"Just shut up, would you?" Venom was already regretting attaching itself to this young girl. Her stubbornness was worse than the mindless Skrulls. "Don't worry, Master, we will fully comply with your orders, with no objections."

"Really?" Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Scout's honor," Venom said, controlling both Ashley and itself to speak in unison.

"It better be." Alex nodded indifferently. "As it happens, I need some help. While the villains in Osborn City aren't much, dealing with them swiftly and quietly isn't easy. With your assistance, things might go smoother."

Alex didn't care about Ashley's current thoughts, nor did he care about Venom's little schemes. Educating disobedient characters like these didn't require harsh punishment. Just keep them firmly in hand, and over time, they would naturally change.

This might be what people mean when they say you become like those around you. Maturity or change doesn't always come from some big event; you don't have to lose someone or experience a car accident to figure things out. More often, it's just waking up one day, or seeing something in someone's behavior, and suddenly understanding some things and letting go of what was holding you back.

"Rest assured, Wizard Master, your loyal servant will be the vanguard of your conquests. It's time to make that damned skull pay the price it deserves," the Blood Baron grinned sinisterly upon hearing Alex's words.

On the other side, Venom was also nodding vigorously. "We're with you too. You know me well, Master. I can fully understand my host's thoughts. This little girl is already in awe of you."

"I'm not...!"

Ashley opened her mouth, then, under Alex's gaze, turned her head with a cold snort.

"...Alright, but only for now."

...…..

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174. Have You Heard of Eric?

175. The Alliance of Villains.

176. Battle of Ultimate Evil.

177. The Enchantress.

178. The Sorcery Showdown.