Carl Is No Longer Allowed in a World That Still Has Hope

Chapter 46: Carl is No Longer Tolerated in a World That Still Has Hope

"So, now you're concerned about other people's mental health, are you, Friendly Neighborhood?" Frank, confirming it was just past four in the morning, picked up the half-finished bottle of whiskey, poured himself another glass, and sat down at the bar, downing it in one go.

"Normally, I'd tell people to go to hell. But I met someone in Hell's Kitchen." He extended his hand, appraising Peter. "Just like you, all in red. He taught me... how to deal with people like you."

Spider-Man nodded while sipping his coffee. "Daredevil. I've heard of him. People say he's a good guy."

"Yeah, I fought him twice because he didn't want me to kill a certain bastard."

The Punisher scratched his hair, then abruptly changed the subject. "When you first showed up, I thought you'd be like him, spouting nonsense about how you can't turn back after killing someone, that you'd become like them. You didn't, so I figured you were alright."

"I was just confirming whether the law could punish Chameleon, and if Chameleon was beyond redemption."

"He's a bastard beyond redemption, and the law can't punish him." The Punisher didn't refute Spider-Man's explanation after hearing it. He just poured more drinks and said, "You wanted to ask if I had a personal vendetta against him, right? I do."

"He kidnapped someone, a father, then disguised himself as him to kill others, and then released him. I didn't know about Chameleon then, but he had already noticed me. He did it on purpose."

Frank Castle didn't elaborate on what happened next, but Peter already knew what The Punisher had done.

"That woman, and their children... they watched their father, a pathetic man who had been locked in a basement by that bastard for over half a month and had just been released, get shot dead in front of them by another bastard... They were having a picnic in Central Park that day, his wife and children, watching their father get gunned down!"

He tossed his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing. The glass hit the bar with a dull thud, followed only by the middle-aged man's powerless curses.

"Goddamn it!"

"Are you okay...?"

The Punisher covered his head with one hand, swatted away Spider-Man's outstretched hand with the other, and took out several bottles of pills from his pocket. There were painkillers, blockers, and sedatives for his nerves.

"This is a personal vendetta, kid. Sometimes Red (the nickname The Punisher used for Daredevil) is right. Killing those bastards doesn't bring you peace; you'll always feel empty. But some people are better off dead, don't you think?"

After taking his medicine, he lit a cigarette and retorted, "Like your... friend?"

"...I really can't find a way to persuade Carl to turn back or accept legal punishment. He, he ate his mother."

Peter couldn't even imagine how someone could do such a thing. He put down his coffee, walked to the railing, and looked out at the New York City still shrouded in darkness. "I can't place my hope in him having any conscience left, that he won't go after my family or friends... I can't find any other way besides killing him or imprisoning him permanently."

"If you can't do it, leave it to me."

Frank Castle downed the rest of his drink. "It's almost five. Let's go."

It was seven in the morning. Gwen Stacy emerged from the subway station near Midtown High School, a backpack slung over her shoulder, walking anxiously towards the school. She felt she had gathered enough evidence to prove her childhood friend Peter Parker was Spider-Man. But yesterday, when she messaged Peter, he said he had something to do and would be home late.

In reality, Peter Parker hadn't come home at all last night. Not the entire night. Gwen had watched the Parker house from her window all night; no lights were on, nor did any Spider-Man crawl in under the cover of darkness. No one came out of the Parker house this morning either.

What worried Gwen even more was that when she messaged Peter again this morning, she received no reply.

"Welcome to today's Daily Bugle morning news. We have received reports that a construction site for a Roxxon Energy Corporation office building exploded yesterday. Although there is no direct visual evidence, according to eyewitness testimony from someone calling himself Detective Mike, he saw Spider-Man fighting someone in the ruins after the explosion!"

JJJ, true to form, attacked Spider-Man. "So, there's no doubt that Spider-Man's fight caused that explosion. Some might say this is the action of a superhero, but if every action these masked vigilantes take results in a building collapsing or Times Square being destroyed! Then, what is more dangerous? Ordinary criminal activity! Or these damn masked vigilantes!"

Gwen wasn't interested in listening to this nonsensical report. If Peter were here, he'd probably make a few sarcastic remarks, but she wasn't in the mood now.

Gwen reached the subway exit and felt someone watching her. But before she could turn around to see who it was, her waist was grabbed, and she was lifted off the ground. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. When her feet touched the ground again, she was on the rooftop of Midtown High School.

"Hoo—"

She let out a shaky breath, still shaken, and saw Spider-Man, who had been holding her, let go. He said seriously, "Miss, you might not know this, but—"

"Peter? What's happening?"

"You are currently—"

Spider-Man was abruptly interrupted and looked at her, bewildered, asking the rather foolish rhetorical question.

"Who, who's Peter?"

"Listen, no matter what, you should..." Gwen ignored her wind-blown hair. She quickly realized something and stared at the Spider-Man in front of her. "I'm in danger, aren't I?"

"Uh, yes! Someone's after you, Miss." Spider-Man said as he ran towards the edge of the rooftop, looking back at her. "Don't run around until you're safe!"

"Okay, we'll talk later." Gwen thought about sending a text to Mary Jane, asking her to call in sick for her and Peter. Then she recalled the brief swinging process. It wasn't scary at all. On the contrary, she felt an unprecedented sense of freedom, even though she was being carried.

If only she could swing freely through New York like this.

The Spider-Man, leaping from the rooftop, sprayed himself with pheromones from a small bottle while free-falling. The smell, like rotten tropical plants, was repulsive, but it was the most effective way to attract Carl's spider-swarm.

"Alright, Carl, you don't have time to pick a second target!" Spider-Man, swinging towards the subway station exit, activated his thermal imaging and delivered a powerful punch to a hippie-dressed passerby. The crowd, which hadn't reacted a moment ago, now saw Spider-Man beating up a civilian again—this time, there was no need for Chameleon to spread rumors. If only the face of the beaten civilian hadn't peeled off, revealing countless spiders underneath.

"How is it, Carl? I bought a new cologne. How does it smell?"

Using his webs to gag Carl, Spider-Man dragged the spider-swarm away from the subway station, crashing onto the road nearby. "Come on, just the two of us!"

Eugene Thompson, who had just exited the subway station, witnessed this shocking scene. He saw Spider-Man swinging away, then a large mass of disgusting spiders emerging from the sewer, gathering with the humanoid monster made of countless spiders, and swinging webs in pursuit of Spider-Man. He couldn't help but widen his eyes, then glanced at the school next door.

"I'm taking a leave of absence today!"

The title is a Haihu meme, the original sentence being "The second son is no longer allowed to exist in a world that still has hope."

I feel like explaining memes is very low-class.