"How many cups of coffee is this today?"
"Around the ninth, I guess."
"My god, is he okay?"
"Who knows, I think we should not provide him with any more coffee."
"But he will scold, and we can't argue with him."
"But this can't go on."
In the corridor of the Time Management Bureau, a steaming hot cup of coffee sat on the tray in Gwen Spiderman's hand. The Spider-Girl next to her frowned, seeming very dissatisfied.
"I know Director Nick worries about the future of the human race and Spider Man, but that's not a reason for him to go without sleep for seven or eight days. The human spirit can't withstand such torture."
"I know too, but who can persuade him?"
"Peter, oh, that lucky guy from the Central Universe, he has known Director Nick for the longest time. He should have a solution."
"Then let's go find him later."
The two of them pushed open the door to Nick's office, only to find that the lucky guy they were talking about was standing in front of Nick. Gwen Spiderman nudged Spider-Girl with her elbow and said, "I told you I wasn't the only one who was worried about this. Peter must be persuading him, let's not disturb them."
Spider-Girl nodded in agreement with Gwen's thoughts. She felt that among so many Spider Men, the one from the central universe was more mature and capable of persuading Nick out of this self-destructive work pattern.
The two Spider-Women didn't think much about it. As Gwen Spiderman set the coffee down in front of Nick, she noticed that he looked a bit dazed. She thought that Peter must have persuaded him successfully.
Peter saw Gwen Spiderman greet him and said, "Oh, thank you guys, your coffee assured that I could have a further talk with Director Nick, and then he could go rest."
Gwen Spiderman and Spider-Girl exchanged a glance, thinking that Peter's words confirmed their suspicions. They felt relieved and left with a spring in their step.
Nick picked up the coffee with a face full of fatigue, while Peter looked sympathetic. He sat across from Nick and said, "Of course, I agree with you. An uncontrolled Spider Totem is very dangerous because we are relying on it to traverse the Multiverse now."
"If the passage collapses one day, I dare not imagine the disaster that will befall my comrades. Spider Man has already endured enough from man-made disasters; we don't need a natural one on top of that."
Nick nodded but didn't say anything. Looking at the fatigue and vicissitudes on his face, Peter felt his eyes welling up. He swallowed a lump in his throat and then said, "Director, you do not need to do all this for us."
"Don't speak like that." Nick furrowed his brows, seemingly reluctant, but Peter could still see a touch of relief in his side profile.
What an asshole I am, Peter thought. What's there to even ponder over? Doing something that benefits everyone, to lighten Nick's burden, to make this elder - who has done so much for all the Spider Men - have an easier time achieving his goal, why not?
"Alright, Director." Peter clasped his hands, lowered his head and said, "As I mentioned before, somehow, when the Morlun Family sacrificed to the Bat Totem, I gained a lot of Faith Power and also figured out their method of communicating with the Beast Totem."
"This isn't a difficult task, actually. Every Spider Man can proactively communicate with the Spider Totem, it's just that they are not aware of this, hence they didn't do it. But I can do it. I can open up a channel for Spider Men to communicate with the Spider Totem."
"The Morlun Family knows that if they forcibly seize the Totem with external force, the power they need is countless. But if they become believers of the Totem, opening the channel from the inside, pouring power into it, it will be much easier to overwrite the fundamental files of the Totem."
Peter looked into Nick's eyes and said, "That's to say, I open the internal channel, and you forcefully pour power into it, until the ownership of the Spider Totem is rewritten as you, then you can control the Spider Totem."
Nick blinked and said, "So this is the truth about the Morlun Family hunting Spider Man? They hoped you could open the channel for them?"
Peter nodded and said somberly, "They have been rampant in the Multiverse for many years, killed countless Spider Men, but not a single Spider Man has ever capitulated to them, never."
Nick held Peter's wrist and said, "Perhaps you know that I'm also using Spider-Man, using your talents and abilities."
Looking into Nick's eyes, Peter, without any conflict or hesitation, said, "But you have given us something in return."
"Everyone in this world is exploiting Spider-Man's kindness. We don't ask for anything in return, but the vast majority of people don't even bother to make up a small lie to appease us. They take everything for granted, and they don't even want to leave a few kind words."
Nick felt Peter's wrist tremble slightly, he knew what Peter was referring to. The vast majority of human beings in the vast majority of universes take Spider-Man's kindness for granted.
They do not care about Spider-Man's struggles, and they are not interested in knowing more about him. Over time, most of Spider-Man began to believe that it was only natural to bear the suffering and do better.
But in this vast Cosmic realm, only one Spider-Man does not think this way, not because he is not kind enough, but because he has obtained too much and lost too little. Like a much-indulged greenhouse flower, he is more touched by the stark suffering of others like himself.
This is by no means a matter of course.
"Of course, I would do this," Peter said, his eyes welling up with tears as he looked at Nick. "It's for you to reverse the tragedy of Spider-Man, regardless of whether they think they need it, or whether you are exploiting or loving them."
"It's not me but us," Nick replied. "It's us who want to reverse the tragedy of Spider-Man, and we love them as much as we want to use them."
Nick then ambiguously said, "I also know how much Spider-Man wants to be loved and used.This is the proof of their existence and must not be taken away from them by anyone... Everyone is the same."
Peter opened the pathway to communicate with the Spider Totem, and Nick, with an infinite flow of energy —— something Peter had no idea where he got —— streamed into the Spider Totem.
The ownership of the Beast Totem was continually rewritten. Countless energies washed over this ancient and mighty Totem. But perhaps in the vast Cosmos, the Spider Totem, although special, is not strong enough. Soon, Nick Fury's name was engraved upon it.
Every Spider-Man looked up as Nick Fury's name echoed in their Spider-sense, roaring as if in silence.
God created lambs out of the utmost kindness of men, designed to be whipped by fate and pursued by suffering. Our choice of a deity, in silence, is the most powerful rebellion we can muster against the Creator.
In the corridor of the Time Management Bureau, a hazel-haired white man was followed by Mobius, B15 and a group of agency employees. They moved quickly through the corridor and into Nick's office.
Peter had already left, and Nick, who was standing in front of his desk, immediately raised his hands and said, "No, you can't..."
"Pross Androc of the United States Internal Revenue Service Armed Audit Division Joint Law Enforcement Action Team, now on behalf of the United Nations Security Council Special Commissioner and Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D, to investigate tax issues. Come with us."
Nick's eyes widened when he saw the red-haired female special agent come forward from the crowd with a file. She handed it to Pross and playfully tossed her hair, "This is the first time S.H.I.E.L.D has collaborated with the IRS. It's a pleasure working with you, sir."
Nick stared at Natasha, who gestured back, "Don't be surprised. You still have to undergo investigations from the United Nations Human Rights Organization and the U.S. Labor Investigation Department concerning your inhumane work schedules for employees - jointly reported by Hydra and KGB."
Just as Nick was about to pull out his gun, a ray of orange light came out, directly freezing Nick's timeline. Natasha nodded at B15, "Thank you for your contribution to federal tax issues, but we need to take him back for trial in the federation."
Mobius and B15 cleared the way for the IRS officers to take Nick away. Mobius looked worriedly at Nick's retreating figure, "He's not that guilty, is he?"
"Then you've underestimated him."
Natasha sighed, "There's no parole during the trial. He can rest for at least three months."
Meanwhile, in the depths of the Universe, the power belonging to Spider-Man continues to coalesce. The golden light was becoming denser, and a conscious trail crossed through Universe Space, drifting further and further until it entered the fog.
Karkosa…Polaris Star System Lake Hally...The dark sun is high in the sky…"
In the dense gray fog, the last massive phantom finally arrived. A huge spider hidden in the darkness, hanging silently from the high sky, descended here, quietly reading the message transmitted from the black sun.
"Hello, Spider God Nick."