****
"Sir, there's something off about Russell's information as well."
"What is it, Jarvis?"
"His identity is fabricated, and quite poorly at that."
"That's it?" Tony raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Many people use fake identities—illegal immigrants, assassins, spies. But what did that have to do with him? Tony didn't expect any further involvement with Russell.
"Sir, his appearance is quite similar to Miss Stacy's. It's as if he appeared out of nowhere, with no past to trace," Jarvis elaborated.
"Aren't all agents like that?" Tony replied dismissively.
"Alright, Jarvis. Just keep an eye on him and Gwen. No need to do anything unnecessary."
He owed Gwen a debt of gratitude for last night's events. Looking into Gwen was just a precautionary measure. As long as Gwen's actions didn't pose a threat to Stark Industries, Tony wouldn't interfere. In fact, he'd even helped cover Gwen's tracks after confirming she was only acting as a vigilante.
"Understood, sir."
---
**Elsewhere...**
"Russell, you've already driven down this street once." Gwen glanced at Russell behind the wheel, feigning surprise. "Don't tell me you're lost?"
"I'm checking if anyone's following us," Russell replied with a roll of his eyes.
"After last night's commotion near Stark Industries, who knows if someone might come after you."
Gwen scratched her head, puzzled. "I was careful to avoid the cameras when I left last night. How did Stark manage to find me?"
Russell pointed to the sky. "Stark Industries owns a bunch of private satellites. Any one of them could've caught you."
"Plus, Tony Stark has Jarvis—a highly advanced AI. With the combination of big data and AI, it's pretty easy to find someone in New York."
Gwen frowned. She knew the power of big data and AI, but she didn't think this world was that much more advanced than her own. Looking around at the buildings and recalling the tech she'd encountered over the past three weeks, the technological levels seemed pretty similar.
"We've been circling long enough. If someone were tailing us, they'd have given themselves away by now. Looks like only Tony Stark knows your true identity, which is good news." Russell parked the car.
"We're here, Smith's Pizza. Don't be fooled by the dated décor—the taste is way better than some fancy-looking boutique places."
"Smith's Pizza?!"
"Huh? You've heard of it, Gwen?"
"Yeah, I have." Gwen nodded. "A while back, when I ran out of money, the Smiths took me in. I even worked part-time here for a bit."
Russell looked at Gwen with a curious expression. "What a coincidence. When I first got to New York and had no money, the Smiths took me in too."
Was the world really this small? Thinking back on attending several charity funerals and only gaining a single attribute point, Russell understood. It wasn't that the world was small, but that good people were rare.
"Hey, Gwen!"
A booming voice greeted them. The speaker was an older man, but his clothes hinted at a muscular build underneath—a hint that he was once a chiseled, fit individual.
"You're back! How did the interview go today?"
"It went great, Mr. Smith," Russell jumped in with a smile, "I thought I'd bring Gwen here to celebrate, but I didn't expect you two to already know each other."
"Oh, it's you, Russell. You know Gwen too?"
"Good afternoon, Mr. Smith." Gwen greeted him first before explaining, "Russell is my boss now."
"What? You're her boss? And in just a few months, you've become a bookstore owner? Not bad, kid." Mr. Smith laughed heartily.
"Then you really do have something to celebrate. Have a seat, order whatever you like—my treat."
"I'll have a Kobe Pizza, no extra spice, and a Coke. Thanks, Mr. Smith."
"You...," Mr. Smith chuckled and shook his head. "This is New York, not LA."
Kobe Pizza is a pepperoni pizza, and "Kobe" was the name of a legendary NBA star who, at this time (2010), was enjoying fame from back-to-back championships.
"I'll have a fruit pizza, thanks, Mr. Smith."
"Alright, coming right up."
A short while later, Mr. Smith came back with two plates.
"Russell, your Kobe Pizza."
"Gwen, your Fruit Pizza."
"Thanks, Mr. Smith," they both said.
Perhaps because they had come early, the restaurant wasn't very busy. The coincidence of Russell and Gwen's shared connection with the Smiths caught Mr. Smith's attention, and he started to ask how they'd met.
Replacing vampires with thugs, Russell roughly narrated how he first met Gwen.
"Gwen, you were too careless," Mr. Smith said, his voice a mix of concern and reproach.
"I've told you before, right? I have a friend, and just the other day his granddaughter was abducted when she was out alone at night." His eyes reddened slightly as he spoke.
"Thankfully, she's okay now. She was brought back last night by a mysterious stranger."
Gwen lowered her head and muttered quietly, as if embarrassed, "I understand, Mr. Smith. I was wrong."
Russell glanced at Gwen, realizing why she'd been out last night. She'd been hunting down thugs to save Mr. Smith's friend's granddaughter.
As for the "friend"—that was clearly just a convenient excuse!
Well, at least that bloodsucking fiend had it coming. It should've been torn to pieces instead of merely being dispatched with a UV light.
Afterward, Russell comforted the elderly man, assuring him he'd watch over Gwen and protect her well. Yes, he would certainly keep Gwen safe... even if it meant using her as a shield.
"Gwen, let's go visit that girl," he suggested.
"Hmm? Do you have a way?" Gwen asked with surprise.
Russell shrugged. "I don't have a way, but I have a friend who might."
Sometimes a meeting is enough to make an acquaintance, and an acquaintance can be called a friend.
Russell's "friend" was none other than the renowned psychiatrist and Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One.
He had no hard evidence, but he wasn't foolish. He knew the root of his "symptoms" all too well.
After a session of therapy and a good night's sleep, every trace of negativity vanished. That was beyond the realm of ordinary psychotherapy.
---
**A Neighborhood in Manhattan**
Gwen quickly put on her hood and spider mask. She stripped off her coat, revealing her black, white, and magenta spider-suit beneath.
Did she wear that suit all the time? At least she wasn't underdressed.
Russell put on his own "troublemaker" gear: a Zorro hat, a Guy Fawkes mask, and a cape.
He pressed the doorbell.
"Hello, we're here to do a..." he began, but was promptly pushed aside by Gwen.
"Hello, I'm Ghost-Spider. I'm the one who brought Miss Smith back last night."
"Can I come in and check on Miss Smith's condition?"
(End of Chapter)