The latest photo was a group picture of four people: a pair of undercover agents posing as a married couple, along with Natasha and Yelena.
The four of them were smiling so sweetly that anyone who saw it would think they were a genuinely happy family.
On the back of the photo, it read: 'Only I... only I thought this was a real family, only me…'
"For those three years, it was the most relaxed time of my life. At one point, I even thought it was real—that everything before was just a dream. I truly treated you like my sister, Yelena…"
Black Widow murmured to herself as she stared at the photo for a long time, and then spoke with firm resolve to Blake.
"Blake, I need to find her…"
Days passed with just photos arriving, and who knew how long it would take for Yelena to contact Black Widow.
Taking the initiative seemed like a good idea.
Yelena was just bait set by Dreykov. Blake knew there was something off, but he walked right into the trap.
Both sides knew what they were getting into.
It didn't take long for Blake and Natasha to find some clues.
It was almost as if Dreykov was worried Blake wouldn't be able to find Yelena.
Tony accessed the building's surveillance directly and found that the person delivering the letters both times was the same little boy.
The boy, named Hobson, lived nearby and watched older kids play basketball in the park every day.
According to him, every time, the "big sister" would find him at the basketball court, give him $20 to deliver a letter, and tell him to make sure he slipped it halfway into a specific mailbox when no one was around.
"Mister, are you guys FBI? Have I been used to deliver secret intel or something? Will I go to jail for this?"
"No, you've been a great help to us, and you'll get a reward for it!"
Blake waved his hands, and as if performing a magic trick, he pulled out a brand-new handheld game console.
"Wow!"
The boy, who was just about ten years old, exclaimed in excitement.
"Thank you, sir! Is there anything else I need to do to help?"
"All you need to do is keep coming here every day to watch them play basketball, just like you always do."
"I understand, sir! If that sister comes to find me again, I'll think of a way to stall her so you can catch her!"
Blake laughed heartily and ruffled the boy's hair. "What a clever little rascal!"
"I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful," Black Widow smiled as Blake, having just finished talking to the boy, walked over to her.
Before they approached the boy after reviewing the surveillance footage, Blake had specially gone to buy the new game console.
"Of course! I'm an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
Blake boasted proudly.
"A rookie agent, level one," Black Widow teased with a grin.
"Alright, enough of that. Let's find a place to hide. Yelena could show up any minute."
Blake quickly changed the subject.
As it turned out, Blake's luck was running strong lately.
The two waited through the afternoon, and just as the street basketball game in the park was wrapping up, a girl appeared around the corner.
"Blake! I that's her! That's Yelena!"
Yelena was clearly Natasha's weakness. At that moment, Natasha lost all the composure and rationality of a top-tier agent.
"Don't get excited, Natasha. Let's wait and see to make sure first."
Blake reassured Natasha as he kept his eyes on the girl.
Sure enough, the girl walked straight toward the basketball court and made a beeline for Hobson.
Black Widow nervously gripped Blake's hand.
When the girl was about ten meters away from Hobson, he turned and saw her.
Then…
"Sister, run! There's a bad guy looking for you! He's hiding nearby…"
Hobson suddenly yelled at Yelena.
Yelena immediately turned and ran.
"Damn it!"
Blake cursed as he and Black Widow charged forward like leopards.
"You're a liar, kid! I'll come back to get that game console from you!"
Blake yelled at Hobson while chasing after Yelena.
"I don't care, you creepy old stalker! If you dare come back, my dad will beat your junk into pulp, you jerk!"
Hobson flipped Blake off with a bright, defiant middle finger.
"I'm definitely going to file a complaint with the New York Department of Education. The education system has failed these kids! Where's the trust between people?"
Blake grumbled in frustration.
"Blake, you flank her from that side. Don't hurt her!" Black Widow pointed in the direction Yelena was running, giving Blake another route.
"No need for all that!"
Ignoring how strange it looked, Blake stopped, crouched down, and suddenly leapt into the air.
The cement ground shattered under his feet, leaving a large crater as he soared over ten meters high, landing at the other end of the alley.
He and Black Widow now stood on either side, blocking Yelena's path.
"Oh my god! I think I've gotten myself into big trouble!"
Hobson, witnessing Blake's leap, was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped to the ground. Quickly packing up, he prepared to run home, but not before stuffing the game console into his backpack.
"Hobson, where are you going? Aren't you coming home with me?" another kid called after him.
"No way! I need to get home now! I've gotta tell my dad we need to move right away—I'm in huge trouble, man!"
Hobson slung his backpack over his shoulder and ran off in a panic.
In the alley, Yelena, now cornered, slowed down.
She turned to face Black Widow and said, "So, what is it? Are you here to catch up, or are you here to kill me, sister?"
-----------------------------------
Yelena's story was complete and compelling, especially for Natasha, who had finally found her long-lost sister.
After Dreykov's death, the Red Room had been taken over by others who used a nerve agent to control all the Black Widows.
Yes, Blake had only recently learned that "Black Widow" wasn't a title exclusive to Natasha. In fact, every agent who graduated from the Red Room received the Black Widow designation.
Whenever a Black Widow was severely injured during a mission, they were forced to commit suicide. This practice was known as "scrapping" in the Red Room.
Yelena had escaped the control of the nerve agent by chance, which is why she had been on the run, constantly evading the Red Room's pursuit. Recently, she had fled to the U.S., where the Red Room's reach hadn't fully extended.
She hadn't expected to encounter a Black Widow in America and assumed the Black Widow had come to kill her. But she soon realized the target was Natasha and Blake.
Recognizing her sister, Yelena had been cautious, unable to trust anyone easily due to her past and the ongoing pursuit. That's why she had tested Natasha multiple times.
Her story was complete and believable. If not for a hint from Hawkeye that Dreykov wasn't dead, Blake might have believed Yelena.
"It's okay! You're safe now! Stay here, and your brother-in-law will take care of you!"
Blake grinned like an old fox.
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