Morning, New Mexico.
Warm sunlight streamed through the restaurant's glass windows, illuminating the natural wood tabletops.
Damian took a sip of coffee, then slowly cut into the fried egg on his plate. Just as he brought the fork to his lips, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.
He frowned and set down his cutlery.
Pulling out his phone, he saw Peter Parker's number flashing on the screen.
"Why did this kid suddenly decide to call me?"
Damian muttered to himself, his finger hovering for a second over the answer button before finally pressing it.
"Z! Where are you right now?!"
The moment the call connected, Peter Parker's urgent voice burst through the speaker.
Damian paused, then replied thoughtfully:
"Wait a minute… let me sort this out. I'm currently in the observable universe, the Laniakea Supercluster, the Virgo Supercluster, the Local Group, the Milky Way, the Solar System—Earth…"
"You're disgusting!"
Peter's exasperated voice crackled through the line. After a few deep breaths, he pressed on:
"Are you in New Mexico right now?"
Damian glanced around the restaurant. Confirming there were no security cameras, he answered:
"No! What would I be doing in New Mexico? Hunting for oil? I'm not a U.S. soldier!"
Peter fell silent for a beat, still skeptical.
"Really? Then where are you? What are you even doing?"
Damian casually speared a piece of bacon and improvised:
"I went back to China a few days ago. Right now, I'm about to head to the pigsty to slaughter a pig. Do you like pork? Want me to save you a cut?"
Peter reluctantly let go of his suspicion.
"Uh… thanks, but I'll pass. I'm not really into pork."
After swallowing the bacon, Damian said leisurely:
"Peter, being a picky eater isn't healthy. Pork is an excellent source of protein and packed with B vitamins. Plus, eating more pork can effectively prevent spontaneous combustion."
"…Prevent what?"
"Yeah. People who self-destruct usually don't eat pork."
"…You must be the devil."
With that, Peter hung up.
Damian stared at his phone as it switched to a busy signal, then broke into a wicked smile.
He tucked the phone away and resumed his breakfast.
Just then, a neatly uniformed waitress approached, holding a folded newspaper. She smiled politely.
"Good morning, sir. This is today's paper—would you like it?"
Damian nodded. "Thank you. Just leave it here."
The waitress gave a slight bow and walked away. Damian pushed his plate aside and unfolded the newspaper.
The faint scent of fresh ink filled the air. On the front page, bold headlines leapt out:
Renowned Long Island Winery Changes Hands as Mysterious Billionaire Diluc Legunfender Enters North American Wine Market
Damian's eyebrows shot up. The article read:
Yesterday, Channing Daughters Winery—a celebrated estate on Long Island, New York—officially announced its acquisition by Diluc Legunfender, proprietor of the rapidly expanding "Dawn Winery Group."
Sources estimate the deal at $230 million, setting a record for Long Island winery acquisitions.
At only 22 years old, Mr. Legunfender has already secured a commanding share of the European wine market. This move marks his official entry into North America…
Accompanying the article was a photo of Diluc:
A red-haired young man stood amid rows of vineyards, face stern, eyes sharp. Even in print, his presence radiated undeniable intensity.
"Damn it! Do all you rich people make money this fast?!"
Damian gritted his teeth, his expression a cocktail of envy, jealousy, and bitter admiration.
He turned to the next page, where the headline of the second news item was equally eye-catching:
"Night Owl, the Night Hero, Strikes Again—Wipes Out the Red Cloak Gang Overnight!"
At 11:42 p.m. last night, New York police found dozens of seriously injured and dying gang members in an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn. It was confirmed that all of them belonged to the notorious Red Cloak Gang.
There were no signs of a firefight at the scene, and the methods used were identical to those employed by the recently active urban superhero, "Night Owl."
It is understood that the Red Cloak Gang has recently been involved in multiple cases of drug and human trafficking.
New York Police Department spokesman Chief George Stacy stated that while vigilantism is discouraged, this incident did help the police dismantle a major criminal organization.
Damian's gaze lingered on the words "Night Owl" for a moment, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
"Eliminating another one… that's a good way to do things!"
Previously, aside from his skill in the West Wind Sword Technique, he had been no different from an ordinary person. In a world where everyone practiced American-style iaido, his traditional technique was practically useless.
If you really encountered someone with a gun, you'd have a hard time even protecting yourself—let alone taking on criminal gangs.
But now that he had the Eye of God, he would naturally continue to lie low.
He hadn't even figured out his own unique elemental combat skill—his Elemental Burst—or fully unlocked the enhancements granted by the Eye of God. Double-crossing could wait.
He continued scrolling down, and the headline of the third news item was far more serious:
Dr. Storm Mendel, Head of Biotechnology at Oscorp Industries, Dies Suddenly—Norman Osborn "Heartbroken"
Dr. Storm Mendel, head of the Oscorp Industries Biotechnology Laboratory, died of a sudden heart attack at his home last night at the age of 52.
Norman Osborn, chairman of Oscorp Industries, issued a statement early this morning, calling Dr. Mendel an "irreplaceable genius" and describing his passing as a "great loss to the scientific community."
It is understood that the bio-enhanced serum project Dr. Mendel had been leading had entered a critical stage, and his sudden death may cause significant delays.
The New York Police Department stated that preliminary investigations have ruled out foul play, though the official cause of death still awaits the final autopsy report.
The three stories in the newspaper might seem unrelated—but they were all far from insignificant.
Especially the last one. It seemed Norman Osborn was heading down the same dark path once again… becoming the Green Goblin.
Although Damian had expected this, it still unsettled him now that it was actually happening.
As Harry Osborn's friend, Damian didn't want Norman to become the Green Goblin—but he currently had no way to cure the Osborn family's hereditary condition.
Damian sighed, set down the newspaper, picked up his coffee, and took a sip, gazing thoughtfully out the window.
Across the street, Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Thor
were entering a café—Thor's towering figure standing out in the crowd.
Seeing them, Damian suddenly had a brilliant idea.
"Hehehe…"
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