"Then I'm sorry too. I have to log off."
With that, Mark's head abruptly drooped.
The light shining from his inverted triangular eyes dimmed as well.
Those glowing eyes were a special feature Happy had designed for Spider-Man.
They let him monitor Spider-Man's "game" status at any time.
Seeing Mark quit the game without another word, Happy regretted what he had just said.
"Damn it. I shouldn't have told him the teleportation time had increased." He slapped his forehead.
Beside him, Pepper Potts watched Mark swing away without any conscious control.
Despite her concern for Tony's safety, there was nothing else she could do now that Spider-Man refused to cooperate.
"Hey, I'm the best mercenary in New York. If you need help, come to me."
Wade took the opportunity to introduce himself.
"Ask anyone you like. Nobody would ever call Wade Wilson an unprofessional mercenary." He thumped his chest in assurance.
Stark Industries was the industry leader. Landing this job would set him up for life.
He suppressed his excitement.
Pepper and Happy exchanged a glance.
"What's your superpower?" Happy asked.
Wade planted his hands on his hips and declared, "I don't have any superpowers."
"But I can slice bullets in half!" He drew his two swords and brandished them.
Happy rolled his eyes. "Sorry, you're not what we're looking for."
They had already hired several groups of ordinary mercenaries, but still had no news.
That was why they had set their sights on Spider-Man.
After all, Spider-Man had taken down the Green Goblin.
They stood a better chance of success if Spider-Man handled it.
Happy then ignored Wade and turned away to plan their next move.
Pepper handed Wade a nondisclosure agreement.
"No one can know about this. I'll pay you to keep quiet, but if you leak anything afterward, you will end up bankrupt."
"Bankrupt?"
Wade's hand trembled. "Don't worry. I'll keep your secret."
There was no way he could refuse the agreement.
After all, the hush money was substantial.
Ten minutes later, his hush money arrived.
He stuffed the wad of bills into his pocket, turned, and leaped.
Whoosh!
The night breeze blew past as the ridiculous man hopped up and down in place.
Wade: "!!!!"
He looked himself over. "Wait, why can't I fly anymore?"
Wade clutched his head and wailed, his eyes wide.
"No!!!"
An impatient Happy walked over to him.
"There's an elevator," he reminded him.
"Thanks."
Meanwhile, in a dark alley in Hell's Kitchen.
After quitting the game, Mark checked the time and immediately set off toward Queens.
"Demon Dragon's Wing!"
He took the dark red Dragon-Slaying Sword from his game inventory, and with a thought, conjured a pair of Demon Dragon's Wings behind him.
Boom!!
Magic flared. Holy light replaced the sinister aura, its radiance sweeping through the darkness as the mysterious demon hunter shot into the sky and vanished from Hell's Kitchen in an instant.
Before long, he arrived at Bleecker Street.
Whoosh!
A fierce wind rose as the mysterious demon hunter slowly descended into the yard.
As the Demon Dragon's Wings folded away, Mark raised a hand to straighten his Saiyan-style hair.
I'll need to wear a helmet when I fly from now on.
That settled it.
With that thought, he took out his key and opened the door.
Ben and May had already gone to bed.
Peter Parker, who had been sleeping on the living room couch, heard the noise and groggily sat up.
"Mark, time for your medicine."
Squinting, he rummaged out the medicine box.
"Here. A chicken drumstick."
He shoved the medicine into Mark's hand, then fell back onto the couch and went to sleep.
Mark glanced at the medicine in his hand and casually put it back in the box.
"What chicken drumstick? He must be dreaming."
He tucked the blanket back around Peter, then took a tape measure up to the roof.
Mark planned to use his money to add a small room upstairs for Peter.
Of course, that would be an unauthorized addition.
But Mark had a way to sort out the permits.
As time passed, the sky began to brighten.
Mark finally finished the design for Peter's room.
Hmm, this looks pretty good.
I should live in it instead!
He crossed out "Peter's surprise" on the plans and changed it to "Mark's room."
Perfect!
Once he was done, Mark looked at the sunlight outside, stood up, and opened the glass window, letting fresh air flow into his bedroom.
He tilted his face toward the sky and took a deep breath.
"That feels great!"
Despite staying up all night, Mark wasn't the least bit tired.
It seemed his increasing stats had given him far more energy than an ordinary person.
As long as he didn't fight any major battles, he could go three days and nights without sleep.
Creak.
Just then, his next-door neighbor opened her window and immediately spotted Mark across from her.
"Hey, remember me?" Mary Jane greeted him with a smile.
Mark studied her. "You're not wearing makeup. I probably don't."
Mary Jane: "..."
Before she could explain, Mark had already turned away from the window.
Soon, Peter had breakfast ready, and Ben, May, and Mark sat at the table to enjoy the food.
The family was warm and cheerful together.
May used her fork to place some bacon on Mark's plate.
"Sweetheart, you should go to school. Today."
Ben Parker looked at Mark. "That's right. We've already prepared everything for you."
The mere mention of school left Mark feeling helpless.
"Can I refuse?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
After all, as far as he was concerned, the ultimate purpose of school was to find a good job and earn more money.
He already had a way to make money.
Even if it hardly counted as a proper occupation.
Ben Parker spoke to Mark with a serious expression.
"Son, only by gaining more knowledge can you develop the ability to survive in any environment.
"And the greater your abilities, the greater your responsibility..."
Before Ben Parker could finish, Mark slapped his forehead.
"I know. With great power comes great responsibility."
Propping his chin on his hand, he said, "Ben,
"With great power comes great responsibility-and greater authority, too. I think I should run for office."
Ben Parker: "..."
Beside him, May smiled thoughtfully. "Good boy. Why didn't I think of that?"
Peter Parker: "..."
Having received permission, Mark stood up.
"Then it's settled. Once my superpowers reach ridiculous heights, I'll become Homelander, take up the Scepter of God and the crown, shoot some promotional videos, take out anyone who opposes me, and finally move into the White House and make you proud!"
He clenched his fist to cheer himself on.
Ben Parker's face went white with fright.
"No! How could you even think that?"
"I'm kidding."
Mark grinned.
He took thirty thousand U.S. dollars out of his pocket. "Ben, May, here's your compensation."
"What?"
Ben Parker's and May's expressions changed.
"You went to see Kingpin?" May looked deeply worried.
Mark waved a hand, then added, "He's paying ten times the compensation. Kingpin will have someone deliver the rest."
Ben Parker's expression darkened. "Those bad people must have given you a hard time."
"A hard time?"
Mark shrugged. "No, Kingpin is very reasonable.
"Oh, Peter, don't you have class today too? Come help me with the enrollment paperwork."
Before Ben or May could say another word, Mark grabbed Peter and rushed out of the house.
As luck would have it, a luxury SUV blocked their path.
The vehicle pulled up by the curb, and a mountain of a man stepped out, exuding a terrifying sense of pressure.
Peter jumped at the sight of Kingpin.
Mark frowned.
"You came to deliver the compensation yourself?"
Kingpin forced his fleshy face into what he thought was a friendly smile.
"Mark Parker, I told you I'd make you my..."
"Shut up, you bastard!"