Restart, Spider-Man! [116]
Soon, George arrived with a squad of officers.
Seeing Carter, he immediately understood the situation.
"Mr. George, we'll need your cooperation for this operation," Carter said, intending to make full use of George's manpower.
George glanced at Xia Luo's busy figure and nodded.
"No problem. I'll have my men cooperate with your operation."
"But what exactly did they do wrong? If I'm not mistaken, this is the Spider-Man Impersonation Competition, right?" he asked.
Carter didn't plan to hide anything—she'd have to explain tonight's incident to the public by tomorrow, anyway.
"To prevent the mutant cells in their bodies from undergoing a second mutation, we have to do this."
"I see," George nodded.
Meanwhile, Little Spider was leaping among a group of mutants, absorbing their mutant cells one by one, causing them to lose their superpowers completely.
The magical energy on Little Spider's body grew more concentrated, faintly revealing patterns resembling a spider totem.
No, it was the spider totem.
A fragmented spider totem!
Xia Luo followed closely behind Little Spider, his thoughts racing.
The mutated spiders that had bitten these mutants had all escaped from Hydra's lab, just like the one that bit him.
But the spider that bit him was the strongest of all the mutated spiders, which explained why Xia Luo's initial strength was one ton.
As for the other mutants, besides their downgraded superpowers, their physical enhancements were extremely limited.
Now, as Little Spider absorbed the strength of these mutants, it could condense a fragmented spider totem.
This suggested that, whether it was the mutants or Xia Luo, there remained traces of the spider totem's power within their bodies.
However, to reach a qualitative change from a quantitative one, it seemed these mutants were still far from allowing Little Spider to form a complete spider totem.
After the underground fortress incident and now this impersonation stage fiasco, Xia Luo had already dealt with over 80% of the spider mutants.
But judging by Little Spider's progress, even after absorbing the powers of these mutants, it could only condense half of a fragmented spider totem.
From this, it could be inferred that the spider totem of this world was also incomplete.
Had Xia Luo initially received a fragmented spider totem, his fate might have been no better than that of Lizard Parker.
Even if he had entered the resurrection round, he might not have been able to maintain a human form.
One had to admit that the minuscule power of the spider totem was a form of protection for Xia Luo.
If he hadn't angered Norman with his words, Norman might not have killed him.
At this thought, Xia Luo felt a bit rueful.
As long as Spider-Man was weak and helpless enough, he could avoid a lonely fate.
Looking back at Little Spider, its two fangs were now sparking, yet it eagerly continued absorbing mutant cells, its efficiency maxed out.
Xia Luo decided to reward this little guy with a drumstick tonight.
Wait, he realized he'd never actually fed Little Spider anything else.
Before long, Little Spider finally finished the task, leaping back into Xia Luo's palm and sinking its two fangs into his skin.
In an instant, red and blue magical energy glowed as the fragmented spider totem on Little Spider's body quickly receded, and a fragmented spider totem began spreading across Xia Luo's chest.
Buzz.
The spider totem inherited from Lizard Parker gradually extended its missing sections, filling them in quickly.
Then, one spider totem after another appeared, with a total of five layers overlapping, emitting a brilliant light before finally dimming and vanishing in the next second.
Carter and the others present watched this spectacle, speculating on the nature of these totems.
"This must be the source of Spider-Man's power. I'm envious!" Coulson sighed.
Hearing this, Xia Luo glanced at him.
"If you're so envious, I can give it to you."
Coulson's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"What do you think?"
Xia Luo rolled his eyes, shooting a web to snatch the trophy on the stage into his hand.
"Ha! Excellent, I'm first place!"
"No, that's mine!!" Jonah cried out in despair.
"Shut up."
Agent Hill grabbed a rag, stuffed it into Jonah's mouth, then jogged over to Xia Luo.
"Mr. Spider-Man, now that you're done, can I get a picture with you?" she asked expectantly.
Xia Luo scratched his head, "Uh, sure, you've been waiting for me?"
"Yes, I wouldn't bother you until you were done with your work."
"Wow, it's rare to have such an understanding fan—I'm not used to it."
Xia Luo continued, "So, I've decided to throw in a signed autograph as well."
"Awesome! Can we start now?"
"Yes."
"Great, look here—three, two, one, yay~!"
"Let's take another one."
"Sure, but you're standing a bit too close—wait, why are you pouting?"
Not far away, Carter was startled to see the typically serious Agent Hill revealing such a fangirl side. It took her a moment to react.
"Coulson, do you have any idols?" she asked.
Coulson nodded. "Of course, it's you, Captain."
"Me?" Carter's expression was peculiar.
Coulson replied earnestly, "Yes."
Imitation doesn't mean replacement.
An hour later, the agents escorted away the captured, cursing mutants, temporarily ending the spectacle.
The scene, left in disarray, soon became empty.
Before long, a green figure crawled into a corner of the wall.
"It hurts, it's unbearable… Where are those Spider-Men? Why is there no one here…"
Professor Connor's body trembled as he struggled to withstand the pain that felt as if it pierced his bones, desperately searching for any trace of Spider-Man.
He knew there would be many Spider-Men here tonight.
But upon arriving, he couldn't find a single one to alleviate his suffering.
"Ahh!! Damn it, why is this happening?!"
Professor Connor clutched his head and howled in despair.
---
Xia Luo lay back on a web, swaying slightly as he waited for someone.
Swish!
Suddenly, a grappling hook flew up, latching onto the low wall of the rooftop. A shadowed figure swung down, landing in a pose reminiscent of the Black Widow's signature style, which made Xia Luo snicker internally.
"Spider-Man, we finally meet," Felicia said, standing up with a smile.
Xia Luo nodded. "I heard you wanted to see me. I reached out to you, you know that."
Felicia nodded, moving next to Xia Luo and casually sitting on the web as if it were the most natural thing.
"Nice hammock you've got here," she commented, examining the web strands stretched in midair.
"Is someone pulling it from the other side?" she asked.
Xia Luo shook his head. "I have no idea."
Shifting his position, he said, "You stole something from Kingpin."
Felicia's brows furrowed at that.
"You planning to get it back for him?"
"Something like that."
"You think you can actually do it?"
"Easy there. I won't get physical with you. Let's start with why you wanted to meet."
"I need a favor from you."
With a lithe movement, Felicia leaped onto the water tank, landing as gracefully as a black cat.
Xia Luo raised a brow. "This should be interesting. Go on."
Felicia smiled. "Help me with this, and I'll hand over what I took."
Xia Luo nodded. "Perfect, it's a deal."
"Follow me."
"Sure."
Swish!
In an instant, web and grapple hooks crossed, two figures swinging between the skyscrapers.
In a Hidden Basement…
The quiet hallway stretched before them, each empty room they passed silent and dark.
"This is a hospital?" Xia Luo asked curiously.
Felicia explained, "It's an underground clinic for patients with… sensitive identities."
"Oh, I get it. A private hospital for the underworld. Somewhere cops won't find."
"Exactly. I've booked the whole place."
"You're loaded."
"More or less."
At the end of the hallway, Felicia stopped in front of a hospital room.
Through the round glass on the door, they saw an elderly man lying on the bed, his face wrinkled, his body hooked up to countless tubes and monitors.
"This is…" Xia Luo felt the figure on the bed seemed familiar.
"That's my father, Walter Hardy," Felicia said, a flash of sadness in her eyes.
"Your father?"
A flicker of surprise ran through Xia Luo. He'd seen Walter not long ago, looking no older than forty.
But the man in the bed looked at least seventy or eighty.
What could possibly age someone so rapidly?
"Yes. My father was exposed to something strange, and he ended up like this," Felicia explained.
Xia Luo's expression turned curious. "Up till now, I never would've guessed you had a dying father."
"Are you mocking me?"
Felicia didn't seem upset. She kept her gaze on Walter.
"My father always told me to do what made me happy, but with him like this, it's hard to live for myself. As long as he thinks I'm happy, that's enough."
Just then, Walter's eyes fluttered open slightly. Seeing this, Felicia put on a bright smile.
Moments later, Walter slipped back into unconsciousness.
"He doesn't have much time left."
Felicia turned to Xia Luo, her gaze steady. "He's aging at an accelerated rate, and all kinds of horrific illnesses have set in. He can't hold on much longer.
I went to SHIELD. I know your secret. You have the power to regenerate. I want your regenerative cells." She was blunt.
"Sorry, that's a myth. I don't have regenerative cells." Xia Luo refused without hesitation.
Felicia frowned. "At the Impersonation Competition, I saw the strange totem on your chest. That has to be why you're… immortal."
"You were spying on me."
Xia Luo shrugged. "But I really don't have regenerative cells."
Felicia didn't believe him. "I'll give you what I stole from Kingpin if you'll give me a bit of your blood. Is that really too much to ask?"
"Not at all. But your father would die from it." Xia Luo said seriously. "Because, I'm telling you, I really don't have regenerative cells."
He continued, "If I'm guessing right, your father's condition probably has something to do with the item you stole from Kingpin."
Felicia's expression shifted. "You guessed right."
"I knew it. If you want to save your father, you'll need to start with that item." Xia Luo turned, glancing at Walter through the door.
"You have two choices:"
"First, you give me the item, and I'll give you my blood. But if Walter's condition worsens because of it, you can't hold me responsible.
"Second, we team up. You hand over the item, and I'll get a qualified scientist to find a real cure for your father."
Felicia refused instantly. "No, the second option would waste too much time."
"That item's been in Kingpin's possession for a while now. With his resources, he's had plenty of time to get top scientists to research it."
"I think the best approach is to go to Kingpin himself. He might already know how to cure my father."
At her words, Xia Luo rolled his eyes.
"You already had a plan, so why'd you come to me?"
"Because it was my worst-case option."
Felicia sighed. "If your blood could save Walter, I wouldn't have to risk going after Kingpin.
But it seems you're sure your blood can't help him, and that messes with my plans. I can't afford to take that chance."
Xia Luo crossed his arms, scrutinizing her.
"I think there's another reason."
Felicia: "…"
"Alright, you caught me."
She spread her hands with a helpless look. "Actually, my backup plan was to ask for your help in dealing with Kingpin. It seems he's after you, too, though I doubt he'd ask for your help. More likely, he'd try to use something to threaten you.
So it seems we both have a reason to work together."
Xia Luo turned and sat down on a hallway bench.
"Alright then, if that's the case, let's see the item you took."
"No problem. Follow me."
Felicia opened the door to the adjacent room, pulled back the blanket, and revealed a trapezoidal stone monument inscribed with strange runes.
"So casually displayed?" Xia Luo's mouth twitched.
Felicia nodded. "Yeah. My father always said the most dangerous place is the safest place."
"Haha, sounds like your father reads a lot."
"He does."
Felicia patted the stone. "This is the Monument of Time. It has the miraculous power to reverse aging.
When my father found out about it, he went through a lot of trouble to steal it, but he accidentally activated its power and aged several decades in an instant."
Xia Luo shook his head. "So, you're saying this is karma?"
"You think it's God's punishment?"
"Pretty much."
"No, I have to clarify something."
Felicia looked straight at Xia Luo. "We distribute what we steal to the poor. We're righteous thieves."
Xia Luo chuckled. "Everything?"
"Part of it."
"Alright, I get it. That's the 'management fee' for your charity fund."
Xia Luo didn't care much about the details.
Staring at the Monument of Time, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
He knew about this artifact; it could indeed reverse aging, but if misused, it could also harm the user.
Xia Luo had no interest in it, but plenty of people would.
He told Felicia, "Once I take this, Kingpin will tell me where to meet for the trade."
"My goal is to take Kingpin down, and you want to save your father. Our goals don't clash."
"Just make sure you don't try anything underhanded, or if your father dies, it's on you, not me."
At his words, Felicia shivered.
"Alright, I understand."
She indeed had her own plans, but after Spider-Man so easily saw through her, she would have to tread carefully.
---
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