"Three minutes should be enough for you to think it over." Nick Fury glanced at his watch.
He didn't seem worried that Mark would refuse.
And Mark didn't seem inclined to refuse, either.
He needed money far too badly.
Whether it was the Mental Hospital treatment bills Ben Parker and May owed or Peter Parker's hefty student loans, the whole family needed money.
Peter, however, stood beside him, looking deeply worried.
If he could help it, he didn't want Mark joining S.H.I.E.L.D.
He knew that if Mark joined S.H.I.E.L.D., his identity as Spider-Man would definitely be exposed.
There was no telling what would happen then.
Gwen Stacy felt the same way.
She knew perfectly well that those senators would never tolerate a neurotic individual with powerful abilities.
Those people wanted absolute control.
But Mark knew none of that.
He took a deep breath and was just about to speak when Steve burst through the door and interrupted him.
"Oh, fuck you, you cotton-picking black bastard. I heard you weren't happy with my report and wanted me to rewrite it. Do you know..."
Halfway through his tirade, Steve noticed all the people in the room. He hurriedly shut his mouth and switched to his cool, aloof persona.
"Ahem. What I meant was, I'm very good at writing reports." He forced a smile.
Mark recognized the man holding the shield as Captain America at a glance.
Except...
A strange look came into his eyes.
Well, damn. This universe's Steve was Captain Potty Mouth.
What a hell of a character!
Nick Fury looked utterly exasperated.
He wanted Steve to leave, but Steve had spotted Gwen Stacy in the crowd.
Their eyes met, and they tacitly agreed to pretend they didn't know each other.
Gwen Stacy had already asked Steve to keep her secret.
Though Steve swore like a sailor, his character was still trustworthy.
He had kept Gwen Stacy's secret.
"Commander, I've still got muscles to work on. I'll be going."
After Steve left the office, Nick Fury sighed helplessly.
"Sorry you had to see that."
Mark waved a hand. "Not at all, Commander. I'd like to..."
Once again, before he could give his formal answer, Coulson shoved the office door open.
"Commander, something bad has happened."
He leaned in and whispered into Nick Fury's ear, and Nick Fury's expression changed dramatically.
"That's all for today. I have something to deal with. Phil, see them out."
"Understood."
Coulson turned to Mark and the others. "My apologies. I'll escort you out now."
Mark opened his mouth. "But I've already agreed."
"The Commander doesn't have time right now."
"But you do."
"I don't have the authority to recruit agents."
"What about someone else?"
"Sorry. Let me see you out."
In the end, Coulson escorted Mark out of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Downstairs, Mark looked up at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Building, his eyes full of envy.
"The movies never said the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. made six figures a year!"
After all, even Steve had only rented an old apartment in the movies.
It didn't even have an elevator.
But S.H.I.E.L.D. in this universe seemed to have plenty of funding.
He felt as though he had missed out on the entire world.
Seeing this, Peter breathed a sigh of relief beside him.
Spider-Man's secret was safe for now.
Gwen Stacy glanced at her phone. "I have something to do in a bit, so I won't be seeing you home."
Mark waved a hand. "It's fine. I'm taking Peter to buy a car."
Peter was stunned.
"Us? Buying a car?"
"You heard me."
Mark grinned. "Peter, the family's only car is totaled. I wrecked it."
Peter: "..."
He seemed pretty proud of himself.
Definitely a mental patient!
"Quit standing there. Come with me."
Mark pulled Peter along. "I'll need to take out a loan in your name later. I can only afford the down payment."
Peter: "!!!!"
"Wait, Mark. I think we need to discuss this with Uncle Ben."
"No need. Relax. I'm about to become an elite making six figures a year. I can afford the loan payments."
"But they haven't accepted you yet."
"He will."
At noon, Mark drove his newly purchased Jeep back to Bleecker Street.
A real man had to drive a Jeep!
Even Ultraman Leo was afraid of this weapon.
After getting out, Mark looked thoroughly pleased with himself.
He was about to become an agent with a six-figure salary.
Peter looked utterly dejected.
He was about to be buried in debt.
Once they got home, Peter quietly went to the bathroom to wipe away his tears.
Mark, meanwhile, discovered that Ben Parker and May were still home.
Seeing them sitting on the couch watching television with worried expressions, he couldn't help wondering.
"Aren't you working today?"
Ben Parker shook his head and said wearily:
"We heard from the factory. Work's been suspended for the next few days."
"Suspended?"
"Yes."
May forced a faint smile. "Everything will be fine soon. Don't worry."
Mark frowned. "Because Osborn Tower was blown up?"
Ben Parker glanced at May and reassured her, "Mark isn't a child anymore."
May thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, he isn't a child anymore. He has a right to know all this."
She turned to Mark. "This disaster triggered a huge economic crisis. The factory has already been sold to that man in Hell's Kitchen. They're going to convert it for other uses. A lot of workers were laid off, including us."
"There's no severance pay."
Ben Parker added, "Kingpin has a huge appetite. Nobody dares cross him. His men have threatened the union, too."
Hearing this, Mark clenched his fists.
"I hate rich bastards who still pinch every penny."
After cursing, he went straight back to his bedroom.
Ben Parker: "????"
"He seemed pretty angry," he said to May.
May nodded. "Only for a moment."
They looked at each other and finally felt reassured.
Mark had grown up. At least he wasn't as impulsive as he had been three years ago.
That was a good thing.
Ten that night.
Mark didn't enter the game.
Claiming his Intermediate Demon Hunter rewards and forging the Dragon-Slaying Sword were both important.
But tonight, he had something more important to do.
Hell's Kitchen!
He wouldn't let anyone bully Ben Parker and May.
The Parker family would never bow to anyone!
He immediately switched into the Demon Hunter Set and pushed the window open.
Whoosh!
The night breeze was cold, but Mark's anger burned hot.
He leaped onto the neighboring rooftop, becoming a dark blur that vanished into the night.
Next door, Mary Jane heard the noise from Mark's room, but the call of "Bruce" never came.
She opened her window and stole a peek, feeling deeply uneasy.
Last time, Spider-Woman had stolen her role as Bruce.
This time, Spider-Man seemed to have no need for Bruce at all.
If she had known things would turn out like this, she shouldn't have left early that night.
But if she hadn't left early, she would have been caught in the collapse of Osborn Tower.
She wasn't sure she could have survived that disaster.
So she still hadn't had a choice.
At that thought, the light in Mary Jane's eyes dimmed further.
Her future was uncertain.
As for Mark, on his way to Hell's Kitchen, he ran into a very cool guy.
"Whoa, slicing bullets with a sword! He's practically Superman... No, wait. He's Deadpool!"