The Mastermind Is Me?

Chapter 25: The Mastermind Is Me?

"The future is different, Master."

In the Original plot, George had confronted Ghost-Spider alone with a gun, demanding to know her identity.

The future Russell had deduced was ninety percent similar to the scene before them.

The difference was that Gwen had not been injured.

In the deduction, Gwen had fallen into danger because she was hurt.

The situation before them looked perilous, but since Gwen was unharmed, she could retreat safely.

"Is it different?" The Ancient One asked. "Then will you continue to intervene?"

The Ancient One did not know what future Russell had deduced.

He was already retired. He did not need to keep watching this all day.

Otherwise, what would be the point of retiring?

"Of course."

Russell chuckled and stepped out of the Mirror Dimension.

"When you cast your spell later, Master, please erase my presence as well."

This kid.

The Ancient One raised a brow.

He was just walking out of my Mirror Dimension like that?

He did not even need a Portal.

As he stepped out of the Mirror Dimension and revealed himself, Russell sighed inwardly.

Why can't I cast spells through the Mirror Dimension?

I'm still too weak. I need more practice.

He connected telepathically to George.

George, it's Russell.

I'll take Gwen away directly.

Later, everyone will forget about this.

Figure out an explanation yourself.

A Portal opened beneath their feet, and Russell and Gwen vanished from where they stood,

entering the Mirror Dimension.

The Ancient One raised a brow again.

Well, damn. Whose Mirror Dimension was this?

Coming and going as you pleased—did I, the former Sorcerer Supreme, have no dignity left?

Russell suddenly slapped his forehead hard.

"Russell, what's wrong?"

Gwen asked with concern.

The Ancient One looked over as well.

Had forcibly entering and leaving the Mirror Dimension drained too much of his Spiritual Energy?

"It's nothing. I just suddenly realized that I'm really stupid. Truly."

Russell shook his head, indicating that he was fine.

"I knew that Portals could connect the Mirror Dimension to the outside world and allow free passage;

I didn't know I could open a Portal first, then cast spells through it."

Simply put, Spiritual Energy could not leave the Mirror Dimension, so spells could not be cast through it.

But through a Portal, Spiritual Energy could pass outside, allowing him to cast spells.

Gwen looked utterly confused. What was Russell even talking about?

The Ancient One said, "Is there a difference?"

"I can walk a few fewer steps." And it looks more mysterious, too.

Russell looked at Gwen and asked curiously,

"By the way, Gwen. What happened here?"

The mastermind had been dealt with, and the timing no longer matched, yet the incident had still happened.

Gwen looked confused.

"I don't know either.

It seems that because Kingpin died, the forces under him started fighting among themselves.

Tonight, the streets were full of punks, gangsters, and police officers.

I accidentally got surrounded by the police."

Russell fell silent.

He had caused Kingpin's death;

he had lit the fuse for the infighting among Kingpin's forces—Murdock's death;

he had persuaded Gwen to go out tonight after George tried to stop her.

Well, damn. Was I the mastermind all along?

Russell turned to The Ancient One, seeking an explanation.

Sensing Russell's gaze, The Ancient One was quite pleased. He stroked his beard and spoke slowly.

"If an event's time, place, cause, process,

and result have all changed, leaving only a trace of similarity,

is it still the same event?"

"Wouldn't that make them two different events?" Gwen asked, puzzled.

Could these Masters not explain things more clearly?

The Ancient One nodded and continued waiting for Russell's answer.

From Gwen's perspective, she was not wrong.

Russell did not answer immediately. He thought of an old joke from before he had transmigrated.

A fate Spider-Man could never escape—losing an Uncle Ben.

"Is that remaining similarity... fate?"

The Ancient One nodded approvingly.

"You learn quickly.

We can choose to submit to fate, change fate, or resist fate.

The prerequisite is discovering fate."

The Ancient One continued guiding him.

"So, Russell. Have you discovered it?"

What were they talking about?

Gwen's gaze moved back and forth between Russell and The Ancient One.

Ever since Russell had become that... Master or whatever, he had started speaking more and more cryptically.

Russell had a guess, but he had no way to prove it.

The guess relied on wisdom, along with just a tiny bit of knowledge about the plot.

Proving it relied on strength—real strength.

Russell shook his head, then said, "Someone's coming."

His guess was that Gwen would leave her original universe and become one of the Spider-Men who maintained the Multiversal Spider-Verse.

Outside the Mirror Dimension, the police had long since left.

A scarlet Portal, one that did not belong to Kamar-Taj, opened.

A tall man wearing a Spider Suit in shades of red, purple, and blue stepped out first.

His entire body radiated ferocity and danger.

The leader of the Spider-Society, Spider-Man 2099—Miguel O'Hara!

The Mirror Dimension dissipated, and Russell's group of three appeared.

"You do not belong to this universe. You have interfered with the workings of Spacetime."

Miguel swept a cold gaze over The Ancient One and Russell.

"Who are you, and where do you come from?"

"Oh my, young people these days are truly remarkable."

The Ancient One chuckled softly.

"Earth-616. The Ancient One."

"The Ancient One? The Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj, The Ancient One?"

Miguel asked in surprise.

The Spider-Society was an organization that spanned the Multiverse. Relying on the Web of Destiny, it could travel through the Multiverse.

Naturally, he had heard of the Masters' organization, Kamar-Taj.

The Ancient One nodded with a smile.

Miguel's expression relaxed somewhat.

This time, Spacetime disturbances had appeared on Earth-65, and he had thought some evil villain had emerged.

But with the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj here, it was probably a misunderstanding.

As long as it was explained clearly, they could avoid a vicious battle.

"Spider-Society, Miguel O'Hara, greets Master Ancient One."

Miguel introduced himself first, then asked tactfully.

"Master Ancient One, could you explain what happened?"

The Ancient One lowered his gaze to Russell.

Immediately, Russell became the center of everyone's attention.

"Earth-404. Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj and Mage Spider-Man, Russell."

The next Sorcerer Supreme was still a Sorcerer Supreme.

The Ancient One raised a brow but did not expose Russell.

Miguel frowned.

He knew Kamar-Taj, and he knew the Sorcerer Supreme.

But what was a Mage Spider-Man? And who was Russell?

"Greetings, Master Russell."

Though confused, Miguel did not neglect proper courtesy.

Russell fell silent as he considered how to explain it.

Dealing with righteous people was such a hassle.

If he were a villain, Russell could just throw out a line like:

I, Russell, have acted as I pleased all my life. Why should I explain myself to anyone?

Then inspiration struck.

"Spacetime has not been disturbed."

A flash of anger crossed Miguel's face. "We detected Spacetime fluctuations."

"What was disturbed was Spider-Man's Web of Destiny."

Russell bluffed.

"You are not a true Spider-Man, nor are you a Master.

You do not understand the Web of Destiny or the Multiversal Spacetime View well enough.

What happened just now was a fluctuation in Spider-Man's Web of Destiny."

Miguel's face darkened.

"I am Spider-Man.

"Though I was never bitten by a Radioactive Spider, cannot stick to walls, and have no Spider-Sense,

"I am Spider-Man."

Russell merely looked at Miguel quietly.

The tables had turned!

"Um, could you explain something to me?

What is the Spider-Society?

What is the Web of Destiny?

What is the Multiversal Spacetime View?"

Please keep reading.