Chapter 39 - The Aftermath

Faced with Xu Mo's sneer, Gali curled her lips. "I just met her today," she said, gesturing towards Mindy. "Xu Mo, didn't you notice the tools on her? She claimed she picked them up."

Xu Mo, having previously discarded the three-dimensional maneuvering device, had recognized its utility but deemed it unnecessary for himself. Lorna and Gali had no use for such a device, as they could maneuver with ease. Xu Mo had thrown it away, not expecting it to be picked up again.

Narrowing his eyes, Xu Mo considered the possibility that Mindy might have also discovered other valuable items. He chose to stay silent about the device's origin to avoid awkward questions from Gwen, who was present.

Clearing his throat, Xu Mo suggested, "Maybe someone made it themselves and discarded it when they found it wasn't useful."

Most ordinary people couldn't operate such advanced technology, as it required both talent and practice, according to the comics. Xu Mo turned to Mindy and asked, "What's your name?"

"Mindy McCready," she responded nervously. She recognized Xu Mo as the powerful figure who had decimated everyone at Frank Mansion with ruthless efficiency. The current situation was overwhelming, and she felt helpless.

Gwen, noticing Spider-Man's true identity as Peter Parker and his severe injuries, exclaimed, "Xu Mo, Spider-Man is Peter, and he's badly hurt. Should we call an ambulance?"

Peter's wounds, while severe, were healing under Superman's recovery abilities, though they still looked horrifying.

Xu Mo glanced at the two girls, noting their similar heights. He decided to facilitate their budding friendship. "Since you're friends, why not spend more time together?"

He then approached Peter, assessing his injuries. "I'll remove Peter's suit. You two should head to a clinic for some trauma medicine and leave this place."

The group exited the dangerous building. As Gali and Mindy walked behind Xu Mo and Gwen, Gali broke the silence, asking, "Is this fun?"

Mindy, still on edge, replied cautiously, "It's okay."

Gali, eager to make a friend, suggested, "Let's be friends."

Mindy, despite the chaos, felt a pang of loneliness and agreed. "My name is Mindy," she said, extending her hand.

Gali offered her small, outstretched hand with a smile. "I'm Gali. Nice to meet you."

The two girls shook hands, their new friendship forming amidst the aftermath of battle.

Soon after Xu Mo and the others left, a group of black-clad operatives arrived at the scene, led by Coulson.

"Sir, site cleaning reveals that at least five people were here, but neither Spider-Man nor Green Goblin are present," an agent reported, placing helmets and face masks into evidence bags for DNA testing.

Coulson inquired, "Are there any surveillance probes?"

"Most of this area consists of dilapidated buildings without probes. The nearest one is on the street, but it doesn't cover this area."

"Report to the director," Coulson said, his disappointment evident. With the small sample sizes and lack of comprehensive data, even S.H.I.E.L.D. faced limitations.

. . . . . . . . . .

The next morning

"Good morning, Lorna," Xu Mo greeted as he saw Lorna coming downstairs with a lunch box.

Lorna set down the lunch box and smiled charmingly. "Good morning, Xu Mo."

Noticing that Gali had not yet appeared, Lorna asked, "Hasn't Gali woken up yet?"

Lorna had settled into a comfortable routine at Xu Mo's place, finding safety and kindness amidst her new surroundings. Xu Mo, unaware of the "good person" card he had inadvertently earned, replied sleepily, "That girl came back in the middle of the night and went out to play with friends."

Xu Mo had treated Peter's wounds and left him on Aunt May's roof to recover. Gwen, after witnessing the Green Goblin and Spider-Man's story, decided to forgo shopping and take a taxi home. Meanwhile, Gali and Mindy had gone off on their own adventure, returning only in the middle of the night.

Lorna, curious, waited for the new day to fully unfold.