Inside the body bag, besides the skeleton, there was an ID badge.
Using a tissue, Lynn picked up the badge and glanced at it. The name on it was Rick Davis.
The photo matched the remains, confirming he had been an employee of a construction company.
Lynn pulled out his phone and called George Stacy.
As soon as the call connected, he said, "George, help me look into someone named Rick Davis. He worked for the Fuglin Group here in New York."
George didn't question why. "Got it. Give me ten minutes."
He left his office and headed straight to the tech department.
After hanging up, Lynn watched the blood-stained tears fade from the corpse's face, the lingering obsession gradually dissolving.
A surge of the Power of Death swept into Lynn's body.
Like a warm current flowing through him, the sensation loosened every muscle and left him completely at ease.
✨💀~~~~[Grace of Death]~~~~💀✨
Host: Lynn Hall
Age: Twenty-two
Identity: Harbinger of Death (34%)
Supernatural Abilities: Five times peak human physical fitness, Secret Potion Manufacturing (LV3), Phantom Spirit (LV3), Super-Senses (LV3), Bone Shield (LV3), Heat Vision (LV1), Undying Body.
✨💀~~~~~~💀✨
He opened the system and saw the Harbinger of Death's progress had risen by one percent.
Satisfied, Lynn closed the interface.
He hadn't expected the man's final obsession to be nothing more than wanting his body found, rather than revenge or anything dramatic.
While he was thinking, Pepper walked over and crouched beside him. "How did you find a body here?"
"Tony didn't tell you what I am?"
Lynn shot back, amused by her curiosity.
"No, but I'm guessing you're some kind of wizard?"
"Hmm… a necromancer, actually."
After considering how Tony and Natasha viewed him, Lynn decided to just go with it.
Since that Vampire Count already believed it, Lynn figured he might as well use the identity to hide his real one, Harbinger of Death.
When Pepper heard him call himself a necromancer, her lips parted in surprise.
After a moment, she asked, "What exactly is a necromancer? Is it different from a wizard?"
"Yes, it is."
He was just about to explain the difference when George's call came through.
Lynn answered, and George got straight to the point. "I found him. Rick Davis, thirty-seven, no criminal record. Currently employed by the Fuglin Construction Group, working on subway lines. Why are you looking into him?"
Lynn lifted an eyebrow. "You're telling me he's still working normally?"
"Yes. Is there an issue?"
"There's a huge issue. And George… this is way beyond what we can handle."
After hanging up, Lynn immediately dialed Natasha.
As soon as the call connected, her slightly husky voice carried over with a teasing lilt. "Oh? Handsome, what made you call me first? What's wrong—did you start missing me?"
Flirting always seemed to be her preferred method of blowing off steam.
Unfortunately, that kind of flirting only worked on honest men like Dr. Banner.
For someone as seasoned as Lynn, it was nothing more than a warm-up.
"Miss you? Sure. Right after I start missing early morning jogs and tax audits. But on a serious note, Natasha, are you on a mission?"
"No, I'm on vacation—bartending on the side. What's going on?"
"Oh? Then come to Tony's private hospital. And bring Steve, along with any Avengers who know about the Skrulls."
The moment she heard "Skrulls," Natasha's relaxed tone snapped into something sharp and focused. "Ten minutes. I'll be there."
After ending the call, Lynn turned to Pepper. "Pepper, when was this private hospital—or rather, this underground room—built?"
"Three years ago."
Pepper answered without hesitation. "Tony originally built the private hospital in the Upper East Side, but it was moved here due to some issues."
"As for this underground room, he expanded it three years ago specifically to store backup medical equipment."
After explaining, she added, "So… what are the Skrulls? Are they aliens like the Chitauri who invaded Earth?"
Looking at Pepper's wide, curious eyes, Lynn lifted his hands helplessly. "It's better if you don't know. It's not classified, but it's safer for you."
"Alright."
Pepper stood, nodded, and went to find a place to sit. Then she suddenly asked, "By the way, what kind of house do you like? A villa, a gated community, or a high-rise apartment?"
By the time Natasha and Steve arrived, Lynn and Pepper were deep in a debate about whether villas were more comfortable or if community living was more convenient.
"You two… now is not the time to be discussing real estate."
Natasha strode over in her leather jacket, eyes sharp. "Where are the Skrulls?"
"There."
Lynn pointed at the skeleton on the ground and handed her the ID badge. "Pepper said this underground room was expanded three years ago. She checked the records—the construction company that handled the expansion was Fuglin Construction."
"The owner of this skeleton is Rick Davis. But I had George look into him just now, and Rick Davis is still alive and currently working on a subway project."
Natasha and Steve traded a look.
They knew Skrulls could take anyone's form.
So Lynn was implying that a Skrull had killed the real Rick Davis and taken his place.
"This is Tony's private hospital," Lynn continued. "That Skrull must have replaced Rick Davis to get access to Tony's DNA."
Steve stared at the skeleton with a grave expression, then looked at Lynn and Natasha. "Maybe we should apprehend the fake Rick Davis."
"I wouldn't recommend that."
Natasha shook her head, immediately rejecting the idea. "Since we know Rick Davis has been replaced by a Skrull, we need to observe his routine and the people he regularly interacts with."
"Hmm.. There might be other Skrulls among them."
"No need to make it that complicated."
Lynn cut in, interrupting the discussion. "Did you forget about the truth serum? Just catch him, make him take it, and he'll spill everything about the others."
"That's true."
Both Natasha and Steve nodded reflexively. "We almost forgot about the truth serum."
"By the way, Lynn, what are you doing here?"
"Protecting Ms. Pepper."
Lynn pointed at Pepper with a grin. "She's my new boss. And honestly, in this day and age, a kind boss who can give me the kind of house I want and free lodging? That's a rare treasure."
_______
(づ￣ 3￣)づ
Advance Chapters—Patreon.com/Captain69