On a streetlamp pole in New York,
Spider-Woman Jessica Drew squatted on top of it, watching the scene playing on a nearby TV.
When she saw the professor's wife's soul possess their daughter and say those touching final words,
Jessica was shocked again and again—looking like a total bystander enjoying the drama.
This universe was simply amazing. It felt far more interesting than the universe she came from.
It was a pity—if only there were a Gwen in this universe.
Subconsciously glancing down at her current body, Jessica Drew went silent for a few seconds.
Yes, although her soul was still Peter Parker, she still thought of herself as a man on instinct.
But her body was already a woman.
Just as Jessica started feeling troubled, she noticed Linen, who had remained calm throughout the show, suddenly revealing a surprised expression on TV.
Nothing else—just that Elvin Loggins, to thank Linen for letting him see his wife's soul again and learn her final wish…
He actually handed over his most precious item:
a stone engraved with mysterious symbols.
"Ward? Is this… Satanish's Contract Stone?"
Seeing the symbol on the stone, Jessica Drew instantly swore in disbelief.
She had seen a Contract Stone before—in Mr. Reed's collection.
To prevent the Contract Stone from falling into the hands of ordinary people and causing death and destruction,
Mr. Reed had tried many ways to destroy it.
Unfortunately, even someone as smart as Reed Richards tried everything and failed.
In the end, he could only seal it in the most secure place.
She never expected that this world would also have Satanish's Contract Stone.
Watching Linen, who now looked deadly serious as he put the stone away,
Jessica Drew realized she needed to find this medium named Linen and warn him about the consequences of using the Contract Stone.
Just as she made up her mind, a Ford sports car stopped right under her streetlamp.
Seeing the car stop at her feet, Jessica looked down.
A woman with long burgundy hair and an exceptionally beautiful face smiled up at her.
"Hey, Spider-Girl. Don't you want to come down and chat?
Let me introduce myself—I'm Natasha Romanoff, currently working for S.H.I.E.L.D."
Looking at the Spider-Woman perched above, Natasha's eyes were gentle and friendly.
After seeing Spider-Man Peter Parker in the spoiler system's viewing room, Nick Fury had asked her to investigate.
Unfortunately, the only person who matched Peter's description was a ten-year-old boy in Queens.
Natasha thought Spider-Man didn't exist in her universe after all.
She never expected S.H.I.E.L.D. would instead discover the existence of Spider-Woman.
On the streetlamp,
Facing this beautiful woman calling herself Natasha Romanoff, Jessica scratched her head and jumped down.
Her spider-sense told her Natasha meant no harm.
"Um… how did you find me? And what exactly is S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Landing a meter away—close enough to attack or retreat—Jessica asked curiously.
"It wasn't hard to find you. On the second day you arrived in this city, when you used your webs to catch a group of robbers, S.H.I.E.L.D. already noticed you."
"As for what S.H.I.E.L.D. is…"
After explaining the nature and responsibilities of S.H.I.E.L.D., Natasha smiled and asked,
"Did you just gain these abilities, or did you just arrive in New York?"
"But judging from how skilled you are, and that web-shooter on your wrist, you've had these powers for quite a while."
Jessica shrugged.
How was she supposed to explain?
She couldn't exactly say she was a clone of Peter Parker and got sent to this universe by Mr. Reed using a dimensional shuttle!
Seeing Jessica didn't answer, Natasha said kindly,
"It's okay if you don't want to say. By the way, you probably don't have a place to stay right now, right?"
"Would you like to come to my apartment? Sleeping in the park at night isn't a good idea."
Facing Natasha's enthusiasm, Jessica Drew scratched her head awkwardly.
When she came to this universe, she forgot to borrow money from Mr. Reed.
So she spent last night in the park.
She didn't expect Natasha to notice. Clearly, S.H.I.E.L.D. in this world was very well-informed.
"Thank you…"
After confirming Natasha had no malicious intent, Jessica thanked her and then glanced at the TV program that was about to end.
Following her gaze, Natasha asked,
"Are you interested in Linen?"
"Well… not really. But Mr. Linen is about to be in big trouble."
Hearing that, Natasha's smile vanished instantly.
"You're saying Linen is in big trouble?"
"You know Mr. Linen?"
Jessica asked curiously, and when Natasha nodded, Jessica explained,
"The precious stone Professor Elvin Loggins gave Linen is actually a Contract Stone."
"It's a medium used to form contracts with Satanish, one of the Lords of the Hell Dimension."
"Once someone takes the Contract Stone, they establish a link with Satanish."
"If the holder can't withstand Satanish's temptations, it will bring massive disaster to the world."
"At least… that's what Mr. Reed said!"
Hearing the name Reed, Natasha's eyes flashed with something unreadable before she asked tentatively,
"Mr. Fantastic… Reed Richards?"
"Huh? You actually know Mr. Reed?
Oh my god—does this universe have the Fantastic Four?!"
"That's great! I've asked so many people since I arrived here, but no one knew about Mr. Reed."
"Ms. Natasha, can you take me to see Mr. Reed?"
Hearing Jessica's excited tone, Natasha instantly understood.
This Spider-Woman wasn't from her universe.
Because her world had no Fantastic Four—no Reed Richards at all.
"Don't worry about that. Come back to my apartment first. I'll take you to see Linen tomorrow."
"Since you said Linen is in trouble, we need to solve things one step at a time, right?"
Hearing Natasha's calm words, Jessica thought for a moment and nodded.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Jessica Drew was so excited—finally hearing Reed's name again—that she couldn't stop talking.
Watching Jessica chatter like an excited child, Natasha smiled the whole way.
Tsk.
Just as young as Peter Parker in the viewing room.
No need to interrogate this one.
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