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Chapter 26: The Young Black Widow
In the darkness, the girl slowly crawled towards Thor, gazing at him with a complex expression before speaking in a faint voice, "I'm sorry. I know this may put you in danger. But, I have no other choice…"
This girl was certainly not as simple as she seemed.
Thor, quick to react, had already discerned something was amiss after a moment's thought. In a place where human life is often undervalued, how could an ordinary child survive this long?
The reason he didn't dismiss her immediately was that he didn't sense any malice from her. Instead, he used his detection abilities on her.
"Name: Natalia Erianovna Romanova."
"Age: 14."
"Strength Evaluation: After undergoing professional agent training and genetic modifications, she has few rivals among mortals."
"Special Note 1: Due to her age, her strength has not yet reached its peak, but her future potential is exceptionally strong."
"Special Note 2: As a key subject of the Red Room's training program, her lifespan has been significantly extended due to special genetic modifications, with aging slowed to the greatest extent possible."
"Status: Weak, with reduced physical fitness."
The name Natalia Romanova sounded ordinary enough, but Thor knew that in the future, she would be known as Natasha Romanoff, the famous Black Widow.
He chose not to probe further into her intentions for now.
…
Early the next morning, when Thor opened his eyes, Natalia was already waiting for him.
In her hand, she held a small piece of black bread hardened by freezing. She broke it in half, keeping a small piece for herself and offering the other to Thor.
"Uncle, here, this is the last piece!"
Thor accepted the bread with a nod.
Given his physical condition, he didn't actually need to eat for sustenance; food was more about maintaining his appetite.
However, he didn't refuse the offering and used the opportunity to observe Natalia's character.
As one of the few capable of wielding Mjölnir, Black Widow's original qualities were indisputable. Ultimately, she sacrificed herself on a distant planet to save humanity.
Thor decided to keep a close watch on her.
If her performance proved satisfactory, he wouldn't mind altering her fate—it would be a minor effort for him.
…
In the war-torn city, civilians who had hidden in cellars emerged occasionally, searching for something to eat after consuming their last food.
If lucky, they might find a piece of moldy bread to survive a few more days.
If unlucky, they might be captured by enemy forces or fall victim to indiscriminate attacks.
Seeking aid from Soviet forces seemed futile, as most of the city was under enemy control, and the Soviets were months away from turning the tide.
Moreover, their supplies were critically low. Despite the Soviet leadership's early mobilization, harsh weather conditions hindered the supply lines.
The ongoing conflict was a grueling struggle for both sides.
…
Amidst the snow, two figures—one large and one small—moved forward slowly.
Although described as "slowly," this was relative to Thor's usual pace. In reality, their progress was swift given the potential dangers around them.
Along the way, they encountered several enemy patrols. Using various strategies, they managed to avoid danger each time.
Thor, typically accustomed to making a grand entrance, found it rare and interesting to disguise himself and operate discreetly.
"Uncle, you're amazing!" Natalia's big, expressive eyes sparkled with admiration.
If Thor didn't know that Natalia was putting on an act, such praise might have inflated his ego!
"Several soldiers? If you weren't here, I could have taken them out in no time!" Thor thought silently.
Miss System, observing the two, couldn't help but laugh at their playful interactions, finding it both amusing and somewhat flawed.
As time passed, it became clear that their pretense could no longer continue.