Chapter 46: The owner of the car is Lorien! Gwen arrives late at night!
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"Wow~"
Gwen approached the edge of the building, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Dr. Lizard, now severed into four distinct pieces. She couldn't help but voice her thoughts. "It seems that having weapons makes a difference. Fists and kicks really are a bit too weak." She nodded, satisfied, and added, almost casually, to the remains, "And by the way, I do smell good."
Indeed, Lorien could vouch for that. Whether it was body perfume or shower gel, Gwen always had a pleasant scent.
Turning her attention back to Skyfire, who had just sheathed his sword, Gwen's curiosity bubbled over. "Isn't that car Lorien's? How did you transform from a car into this?" she asked.
Skyfire, ever the model of efficiency, didn't indulge in unnecessary conversation. "The boss assigned me to eliminate the threat," it replied, its voice metallic and precise. "Now that the task is complete, I'm leaving."
With that, Skyfire grabbed the building's edge with one mechanical hand and hooked its fingers into the wall, beginning its descent.
"Wait!" Gwen called, rushing to the edge to get more information. But before she could say more, her eyes caught the two gold-plated words on Skyfire's chest as it descended. They were emblazoned prominently against the red steel: "Lorien."
"It really is Lorien's!" she exclaimed, feeling a surge of joy. This confirmed what she had suspected—lorien was no ordinary person. His low-profile demeanor and reluctance to showcase his abilities mirrored the principles he had taught her. Like her, he sought to be a free, independent hero, not a professional one.
This revelation filled Gwen with a sense of relief and excitement. She realized that when she eventually told Lorien about her identity as Spider-Gwen, there would be no need to worry. They shared the same mindset.
"Great!" she shouted in excitement.
Then, snapping back to the present, Gwen remembered the gene transmitter still running nearby. She quickly rushed over to shut it down. With Dr. Lizard no longer in her way, it was a simple task.
"Pah pah~" she clapped her hands, satisfied with the result. "Time to go home!"
In the midst of the live broadcast, Gwen gracefully swung away, disappearing into the night, leaving the viewers with a final glimpse of her in action.
Returning home, Gwen slipped into her room through the window, humming a tune. She pondered when she should approach Lorien. Having indirectly revealed her identity, she now felt it was time for full disclosure. But when should she go?
Gwen leaned against the window, staring at the moonlit sky. She recalled Dr. Lizard's words: "The Scarlet Witch is still abroad, and the Avengers are all gone. Who can you rely on?" This implied that New York was currently without its usual protectors.
"Yeah~" Gwen thought, a plan forming in her mind. "Tonight would be perfect."
With her resolve firm, Gwen donned her hood once more, climbed out the window, and shot a web, heading straight for the North Building's top floor where Lorien resided.
...
Meanwhile, in his apartment, Lorien, having seen the resolution of the incident, switched the TV channel and resumed his evening. He liked to leave the TV on, a small indulgence of wasted electricity. Skyfire had completed its mission perfectly—no unnecessary words, just action.
Skyfire had already parked in the underground garage of the North Building and sent a message to Lorien's phone: "Boss, mission accomplished."
Lorien replied with satisfaction, "Well done. You're free to connect to the Internet and learn about the world until my next orders."
"Yes, sir!" came the prompt response.
Satisfied, Lorien turned off his phone and tossed it onto the bed. He had no fear that Skyfire would turn rogue like Ultron. As its creator, Lorien was the bearer of the Allspark, ensuring the Transformer's absolute loyalty.
With that assurance, Lorien grabbed a cup of milk tea and moved to the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying the night view. He wondered how Wanda had changed during her time away. The universe had a way of altering people, and he was curious to see how she had evolved under his guidance. He anticipated her visit upon her return, looking forward to the company.
"Knock knock~"
His musings were interrupted by two soft knocks on the right side of the window. Smiling, Lorien turned to see who it was. The window appeared empty at first glance, but then he saw her. Spider-Gwen, hanging upside down from a thread of web, slowly descended until they were eye to eye, separated only by the glass.
Even without seeing her full face, Lorien recognized those vibrant, lively eyes. It was Gwen.
Holding his milk tea in his left hand, Lorien used his right to trace four letters on the glass: "Gwen."
As if on cue, Gwen's eyes widened in surprise. She pulled back her hood, revealing her flushed face and flowing blonde hair. "Hello, Lorien. I'm your mentor, Spider-Gwen~"
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Can I have power stones?