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Chapter 146 Fury’s Call to Black Widow
TL: Kyous
Although a residential building in Queens had been in turmoil because of Doc Ock, things were still peaceful in Manhattan.
Peter, who had long moved to a rented apartment nearby El Building, was cuddling Mary Jane in a deep sleep. While his mutated body didn’t fatigue quickly and only required two to three hours of sleep, who would refuse extra hours of sleep?! Let alone cuddling with your beautiful significant other. If possible, Peter wished to stay in bed all day.
All of a sudden, he tossed and turned over. Still asleep, he frowned. The next moment, his eyes abruptly widened. An indefinable sense of foreboding told him something huge would occur tonight in New York City.
Besides his close distance Spidey Sense, his sixth sense was always accurate. At the moment, he had a bad premonition and was jolted awake instantly. Glancing at the asleep Mary Jane, he didn’t want to wake her up. With a bounce, he flew several meters up, and extending his arms and legs, he firmly stuck onto the ceiling.
Glancing at the bed again, Mary Jane was still deeply asleep. Viewing from this angle made Mary Jane oddly attractive. A smile bloomed on Peter’s face as he quietly left the bedroom, moving to the living room and donning his suit.
He opened the window and cast a glance at the bright moon in the night. Leaping out the window, he reached the rooftop with his webs.
Surveying his surroundings, he followed his faintly indiscernible sense and began swinging around New York City.
……
Hell’s Kitchen, Leo’s house.
Leo, as per usual, slept in the lab instead of at his house. Therefore, only Bucky, Ol’ Tom, Erik, and Natasha were in his house. Bucky and Erik’s bedroom were upstairs while Natasha and Ol’ Tom’s were downstairs.
Right now, the lights in Natasha’s bedroom were still on. She hadn’t gone to bed yet. On the contrary, with Ol’ Tom’s ear-splitting snores as background music, she was reading some books. She didn’t fall asleep wasn’t due to Ol’ Tom’s loud snores, but because she was used to having two and a half hours of sleep, and the remaining time was left for her hobbies.
At the moment, she was engrossed in reading. As though all noises and sounds were blocked off by a barrier, she was absorbed in her own world.
Ring~ Ring~ Ring~
An electronic bell rang out of the blue, interrupting the engrossed Natasha, and causing her to frown. She got up and took a palm-sized yet bulky-looking phone from the drawer. It was an incoming call from Nick Fury.
‘It’s the middle of the night! Why is he calling instead of sleeping?!’ Perplexed, Natasha accepted the call, waiting for Fury’s explanation.
“Agent Romanoff, there’s an urgent task for you.” The moment the call went through, Fury delegated a task right away without greeting.
Natasha pouted but didn’t raise any complaints. Instead, she patiently listened to Fury.
“A moment ago, S.H.I.E.L.D. had issued a Level 5 emergency mission. The location is No. 56, 9th Floor, Waterfront District Building in Queens, New York City. The mission objective is to rescue a S.H.I.E.L.D. ‘s Level 5 non-staff personnel. This personnel is in charge of a project which collaborates with Pierce’s underlings. I want you to sneak into the scene and investigate what’s happening and what the project is about. Take note, S.H.I.E.L.D. ‘s New York branch had formed a rescue party. Do not engage with them. Be cautious.”
Finally, Fury realized it was the middle of the night, but he wouldn’t be too considerate about it. He casually inquired, “Agent Romanoff, are there any problems with your side? If possible, I hope you can set off immediately.”
“No problem. Wait for my news.” Natasha briefly responded before hanging up the call.
As an agent, she must accept her laborious life. Removing her pajamas, Natasha swiftly changed into her black tight suit. After arming herself, she opened the door. However, just as she opened the door, she saw Bucky silently standing in front of her room.
“Mission?” Bucky asked. Coupled with his hearing rather good and the serene night, he could hear everything that was going on downstairs audibly.
“That’s right. Officer Fury’s sudden arrangement. Seems urgent, so I have to head there now.” Natasha explained in short.
“I’ll go with you. I can’t sleep either way, it’s good to go out and exercise for a bit.” Bucky replied while stretching his arms.
“Are you worrying about me? Did Leo’s word from last time somehow move you?” Natasha was confused. “To be frank, it’s impossible for us…”
“No. Please don’t get it wrong. I’m not interested in you or rather, I’m tired of anything that has anything to do about lower body, even a little.” Interrupting Natasha, Bucky stated indifferently, “Going out with you is actually Leo’s instruction.”
“Why?” Natasha asked in puzzlement.
“He said if I found out you’re sneaking out for a mission, I must tag along at all costs.”
“To monitor me?”
“No.” Bucky shook his head. “Using Leo’s words, letting me tag along with you is to constantly remind you that staying at El Tech Company is better than being S.H.I.E.L.D. or whatever agent. To be honest, I agree with him. If you’re just a secretary in El Tech Company, he won’t ask you to do anything in the middle of the night.”
Natasha went silent for a few moments before walking passed Bucky and said, “It’s a bit far. We’ll have to drive there.”
Bucky smiled as a piece of rock weighing his heart lifted up. Natasha’s words meant she agreed to let him tag along. He was afraid Natasha firmly refused his request. If that were the case, then Leo wouldn’t be amiable to Natasha and might even restrict her freedom.
He didn’t want to see his student suffer, but also didn’t want to hurt Leo’s interests. Natasha agreeing to him was the best-case scenario. Picking up the car key, he followed Natasha out.
Not long after, he drove the car, heading to Queens with Natasha. Natasha then pointed out, “In S.H.I.E.L.D.’s mission grading, Level 5 is the dividing area. Any mission above Level 5 is far beyond the scope of an ordinary police department. For today’s mission, stealth and infiltration is the key. Engaging is unnecessary. You should be extra careful not to reveal yourself.”
“Don’t worry, I’m a recon scout. Your infiltration and scouting skills are all taught by me.” Bucky chuckled, “Oh right. Leo also mentions if you’re heading out for a mission, I should inform him. Is that alright?”
Bucky took Natasha’s silence as affirmation and called Leo, explaining the situation.
After Bucky was done with the call, Natasha suddenly asked, “Teacher, let’s say without you as an intermediary and I investigate El Tech Company straight away, how will I end up?”
Pondering for a bit, Bucky answered, “Judging from Leo’s attitude, if you aren’t killed, then skinned alive.”
……
At a residential building in Queens, numerous police cars had gathered around. The residents of the building had long evacuated and the building was sealed off by the police. Although police cars were parked below, none of the police was brave enough to venture up.
On the contrary, all of the police and residents stood miles away from the building, lest one of them was accidentally struck by the rubbles falling from the rooftop.
The current state of the building was a stark contrast to its initial state. Akin to being assailed by a hurricane, holes were punctured into the building and at least half of the building was gone.
On the rooftop, a four-limbed monster was still frantically destroying the staircase. Grabbing and piercing, the shattered bricks and blocks of cement rained down, resulting in no one daring to approach.