Karl spoke calmly to Tony.
"In another life, you were just a man in a suit. Now you're my friend. At the very least, I can make sure you have the strength to protect yourself — and the people you love. May, Raven, and the others need that protection too."
Tony fell silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Thank you, Carl."
His voice carried rare sincerity.
Extending human lifespan was already beyond the reach of most governments. Enhancing the human body safely was another level entirely.
More importantly… Karl intended to include Pepper.
Tony didn't need to say anything.
They both understood.
Their relationship had deepened steadily. No official confession was necessary.
Karl waved dismissively.
"Alright, we're leaving. Christmas and New Year are coming. Come spend them with us. It'll be livelier."
Tony smirked.
That casual tone felt far more natural than Karl's serious face.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll bring Pepper."
Only then did he realize he hadn't decorated the mansion at all.
Pepper usually handled that.
Karl nodded.
Behind Aunt May, Raven, and Wanda, shadow soldiers emerged and guided them into the Shadow World. Speedster followed another shadow soldier toward the manor.
Return to the Manor
Once home, Karl immediately dispatched shadow soldiers to repair the damage.
Broken furniture was replaced.
Structural damage was restored.
Servants were recalled.
Aunt May and Raven resumed control of the estate operations.
Karl walked into the manor storage hall.
A chair was placed behind him.
He sat.
Shadow soldiers brought forward a woman.
Yelena Belova.
Her fractured leg had already been set and healed. The Red Room's enhancement procedures had granted accelerated recovery.
She slowly raised her head.
A tall, broad-shouldered man with black hair and blue eyes sat before her like a judge.
Karl's Offer
"I'll give you a choice," Karl said calmly.
"Serve as security at this manor. You live. No assassinations. No missions. You protect the people here. You will have leave."
He paused.
"And you may not know this… but Natasha Romanoff is alive."
Yelena's pupils shrank.
"That's impossible. Taskmaster told us she died."
Karl gave a quiet laugh.
"Taskmaster lied. Dreykov lied. The Red Room couldn't compete with S.H.I.E.L.D., so they declared her dead to erase her."
He leaned forward slightly.
"She defected. She became Natasha Romanoff. A Level 7 S.H.I.E.L.D. agent."
Yelena's breathing faltered.
Natasha… alive?
Karl continued.
"You've seen her."
Silence.
Yelena's eyes flickered.
"When you applied to be a housekeeper at my manor. You came with two others. One of them was your sister. I chose Raven instead."
Her mind raced.
The woman with calm eyes…
the familiar voice…
the feeling she couldn't explain…
Years of separation.
New identities.
Different allegiances.
She hadn't recognized her.
Yelena's voice trembled.
"…I've spent years on missions. Intelligence gathering. Assassinations. I never saw her."
Karl spoke evenly.
"That's how they kept you controlled."
He leaned back.
"So now you choose.
Serve here and live.
Or refuse… and die."
He said it as casually as one might comment on the weather.
Yelena's Decision
Yelena lowered her head.
If Karl spoke the truth…
then the Red Room had stolen her life.
This manor was paradise compared to the hell she knew.
Her sister was alive.
She still had family.
"…I agree."
She hesitated.
"You said… I can have leave?"
Karl nodded.
"Yes."
He rose.
"Shadow soldiers will remain within your shadow. Betrayal, endangerment, or suspicious behavior will result in immediate execution."
Nearly thirty shadow soldiers slipped silently into Yelena's shadow.
She did not resist.
"Yes, boss."
Integration into the Manor
Karl brought Yelena to Aunt May and the others.
He explained she would serve as security for the manor.
Aunt May looked surprised but asked no questions.
If Karl arranged it, there was a reason.
After introductions, Raven escorted Yelena away to examine her healing leg and ensure proper recovery.
Gwen Awakens
Upstairs, Gwen Stacy opened her eyes.
The ceiling above her was unfamiliar — elegant, expensive, and impossibly far removed from the streets she knew.
She tensed immediately.
Her clothes had been changed.
Her Spider-Woman suit was gone.
Her identity had been exposed.
Every muscle in her body coiled with readiness.
The door opened.
Click.
Karl stepped inside.
"Well," he said with a faint smile, "our little Spider-Woman is awake."
Gwen stared at him.
Black hair.
Blue eyes.
Danger.
Her spider-sense screamed in warning.
Whoever this man was…
he was far more dangerous than the monster she had fought.
"Who are you?" she asked cautiously.
"And where am I?"
Karl studied her calmly.
The room felt smaller.
Heavier.
Like gravity had intensified.
Gwen's instincts shouted only one thing:
Run.
But she did not move.
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