"Do all New Yorkers drive like this?"
Pietro, feeling dizzy, pushed open the taxi door and got out.
He finally understood how Strange felt when he was in the passenger seat before...
"That'll be 100 dollars."
The Black taxi driver extended his hand from the window. "100 dollars."
"Shit! With your driving skills, you still want 100 dollars?"
The white-haired punk rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a crumpled 50-dollar bill. "You're only worth this much!"
"Click!"
The driver cocked his gun and repeated, "100 dollars! You trying to skip out, bastard?"
"Hennnnnn——"
Pietro took a deep breath through his nose—!
...Then he reluctantly pulled out another 50 dollars from his pocket.
"Good!"
"You win!"
After paying the money...
He raised a finger, pointed toward the research institute, licked his lips, and said, "Just you wait! When I come out of there, you'll get what's coming to you!"
"Thirty years east of the river!"
"Thirty years west of the river!"
"Never underestimate a poor young man!"
Pietro turned and confidently strode toward the research institute—!
"Lunatic."
The Black driver sneered disdainfully and happily pocketed the hundred dollars.
He knew that the Trifolium Research Institute wasn't a place just anyone could approach. That weirdly dressed guy… how could he…
"Click~"
Pietro pushed open the institute's front door and walked in boldly.
The security personnel didn't stop him at all.
'My god... is he really from the institute?!'
The driver was startled and immediately stepped on the gas to leave.
He couldn't afford to mess with people from the institute...
"Where should I go?"
Pietro curiously looked around at the reception area. Everyone around him was dressed in white lab coats.
"Hello."
The receptionist checked his facial data and said, "Your information is in the system, and you have the highest priority appointment."
"Hey, I knew it!"
Pietro said smugly, "I must be a VIP, right?"
The receptionist took out a sleek, futuristic-looking white bracelet from a box and handed it to him.
"This is your numbered bracelet, Test Subject No. 3089. It will guide you to your designated laboratory."
"Pietro: ?? Test subject?"
"Hmm?"
The receptionist looked confused. "What's wrong? Didn't you volunteer as a test subject? The information verification is correct—Pietro Django Maximoff?"
"Pietro: Uh... yeah, that's me..."
"Receptionist: Then hurry up, won't you?"
"Pietro: ..."
'What the hell did he sign me up for?'
…..
"The target has been under constant surveillance."
Qin Feng looked at Mike Peterson's location data and said, "Looks like we've joined a major organization."
A clone soldier next to him spoke in Tang Ren's greedy tone.
"Big organizations are great! Big organizations have lots of money... but ugh, the gear is kinda weird. I still don't understand what exactly I'm operating here."
"Qin Feng: It's… probably some kind of bionic robot..."
"Ned: You guys don't even know how awesome our club is, let me just say—"
"Peter: Alright, Ned, quit bragging. We're approaching the target."
Wuuuennn…
Their tactical van stopped near an old factory.
"Careful. The news said this guy just killed someone… And didn't they say those centipede guys explode?"
The driver, Song Yi, poked his head out cautiously, looking a bit nervous...
"You're controlling a clone, not going in yourself. What are you scared of?"
Tang Ren, in the passenger seat, nudged him. "Hurry up and get down there!"
"Oh, oh, oh..."
Song Yi's controlled clone pushed open the car door and, along with Tang Ren, took the lead in approaching Mike Peterson's residence...
Tang Ren moved cautiously. "What if we accidentally kill him? I've never killed anyone before..."
"Ugh, shut that crow's mouth."
Song Yi leaned against the wall, the door to Mike Peterson's house right in front of them. "Keep your voice down... I heard the target has a kid. Don't freak out and shoot him by accident."
"Me? Nervous? ...Come on, what are we waiting for? Let's just rush in!"
"Bang!"
Tang Ren kicked the door open and raised his gun. "Nobody move! Stay where you are!"
"Ah!"
A young Black boy, Ace, screamed in fear inside the house.
"Huh? It's just you?"
Song Yi, catching up, asked, "Where's your dad?"
Ace's eyes darted around nervously, but he didn't say anything.
"Boom!!"
A straight punch suddenly shot out from the shadows by the door, slamming into Song Yi's controlled clone soldier's head...
"Damn! This guy's tough!"
Tang Ren immediately swung his rifle butt back at Mike Peterson's forehead. "You damn Black guy! Take this!"
"Bang!"
"Ouch!"
The battle inside the house erupted in an instant.
The sounds of fighting and objects crashing filled the room.
A few minutes later...
"Boom———!!"
Mike Peterson smashed through the wall and was sent flying out!
He rolled on the ground a few times before getting up and roaring, "You! You bastards! My wife was taken from me! My job was taken from me! My home was taken from me! What more do you want from me!?"
One could see fiery orange veins beginning to appear on his neck.
"Hey, calm down."
Peter stepped out of the car and tried to calm him down. "I think you've misunderstood. We just need your cooperation for an investigation. As long as you comply, we won't hurt you."
"Cooperate?"
Mike's eyes flashed with paranoia as he shouted, "Cooperate so you can drag me off for more experiments?!"
"Calm down. Actually... our organization doesn't even consider you valuable enough for experiments..."
Peter took off his sunglasses, revealing his vertical pupils and the green scales at the corners of his eyes.
"Have you ever seen the old news about the Lizard Man? I was once just as lost and confused as you, but someone took me in and taught me how to use my power..."
"You..."
Mike Peterson was stunned when he saw Peter's unnatural appearance and heard his words...
[Perfect opportunity! This is the moment!]
Ned, who was observing, immediately spoke in the group communication channel: [Shoot him now—tranquilize!]
[I... I'm aiming...]
Hidden in cover, Qin Feng held his special toxin bullet gun, aiming carefully at the target. He asked nervously, [This gun really won't kill him, right...?]
[Old Qin, you're still hesitating at this moment? Just shoot already!]
[But.....]
"Pia———!!"
A unique gunshot rang out.
A swelling appeared on Mike Peterson's forehead as the tree viper venom from the bullet rapidly spread across his skin...
"Thud!"
He collapsed.
[Oh, it worked!]
Ned cheered: [Quick, bag him up!]
Tang Ren praised over the channel: [Old Qin, that was a damn good shot!]
Qin Feng: [Huh? No... it wasn't me...?]
Tang Ren: [What?]