"How is this ball so powerful?"
Jessica poked the Meow-Meow Ball, "Did brother really get it from an antique shop?... I suspect it was given by Black Spider again, just like that big guy (the Destroyer) who wanders around the manor all day."
Matilda blinked. Tiny electric sparks shot from the metal ball in her hand, lighting the cigarette she'd been holding in her mouth for quite a while— 'I'm just an innocent kid who likes smoking; I don't know anything...'
Rumble, rumble...
The ground suddenly trembled slightly, surprising the two sisters.
Jessica: "What's going on, Matilda? Did you blow something up again?"
"Phew—"
Matilda exhaled a small puff of smoke, removed the cigarette with her fingers, and said uncertainly, "Not sure..."
She wasn't sure if she had used too much force.
"No, wait...! It seems to be..."
Jessica shot into the sky, "Let's go up and take a look!"
Matilda tilted her head slightly, hugged the Meow-Meow Ball, and used its power to fly into the sky as well.
As they flew higher and higher, they finally saw clearly what was happening...
A massive sinkhole was collapsing rapidly, spreading outward quickly. Although it was far away, they were still shocked by the sight...
Matilda: "Is this an earthquake?"
"No... I don't think so..."
Jessica observed for a moment.
She noticed that the giant sinkhole stopped after expanding a certain distance, "Look...it stopped..."
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
If it hadn't stopped, she would have had to inform Ye Li and Gwen to evacuate New York immediately.
…..
"Skye, dinner's ready~"
Outside the restroom area.
Ye Li leaned against the wall, waiting. "We'll eat out today; Gwen and the others are waiting for you."
"Gurgle—pfft—!"
Inside, Skye rinsed her mouth and complained, "You're terrible, Li! Always bullying me like this!"
Ye Li smiled gently— 'Who told you to keep refusing to give up home base?'
"Huh?"
Someone was secretly pleased with himself when suddenly he sensed that the powerful lightning spell he left on the Meow-Meow Ball had been triggered.
'Are Matilda and the others in danger?'
Ye Li was puzzled—Didn't the second sister say she'd take the younger sister along as a detective assistant?
[You've defeated Jessica Ye's fated enemy, Madame Gao, one of the Five Fingers of the Hand. As her associate, you may choose one reward:]
[1. Monetary reward: 1 million USD.]
[2. Random reward: A complete Yu-Gi-Oh gift set.]
[3. Servant reward: Convert Madame Gao to gain an absolutely loyal subordinate.]
'What's this weird notification?'
Ye Li briefly thought about it...
He quickly understood—Matilda must have defeated Madame Gao using his lightning spell.
"That thunder spell was set by him."
He was the one who had cast that lightning spell.
Technically, he had snatched the kill.
But what's with this [Complete Yu-Gi-Oh Gift Pack]?
Ye Li thought it was probably just a normal item, like [Captain America Figurine], [Tifa's Photo Album], or [Refreshing Soda].
Madame Gao was even less useful... Summoning a less-intelligent old lady seemed worse than playing cards.
Thus, he selected: [Option 2]
[The "Complete Yu-Gi-Oh Gift Pack" has been delivered. Open it?]
[Yes]
["Deck" has been issued.]
["Duel Disk" has been delivered.]
["Holographic Simulation Device" has been delivered.]
[Please select an initial location to install the "Holographic Simulation Device".]
'What? There's even a holographic simulation device?'
Ye Li had thought the system would just throw him a few cards, at best some Blue-Eyes White Dragons. He hadn't expected it to be so generous as to provide a full holographic device.
This device wasn't just for playing cards—it could also significantly assist with combat training.
He decided to directly install the "Holographic Simulation Device" in the club's large training ground.
In almost the blink of an eye, the system finished installing it, with lifetime warranty included.
It had to be said—
—a vendor this reliable was rare...
…..
Outside the collapsed Tesseract research facility.
"Motherf—!"
Nick Fury, aboard the helicopter, looked down at Loki escaping with the Tesseract and commanded the pilot, "Fire! Shoot at them!"
"Sir... This is an emergency evacuation helicopter..." the pilot stammered.
The pilot awkwardly replied, "It's not an armed helicopter... We have no weapons..."
"Oh, damn it! I'll do it myself!"
Thunk—
Fury angrily pushed open the cabin door, took out his small pistol, and started shooting at Hawkeye, the "traitor" piloting Loki's vehicle—pew pew pew!
Clang clang clang!
Director Fury had good aim, but unfortunately, Hawkeye had stolen a high-quality SHIELD vehicle, and the bullets bounced harmlessly off the bulletproof glass.
Loki, sitting in the back seat, glanced at the amusing Fury, raised the scepter embedded with the Mind Stone, and fired a shot—biu!
Boom!
The helicopter's rotor was hit, causing it to tilt rapidly.
Fury fell out, rolling on the ground several times, helplessly firing a few angry shots at Loki as he fled.
"Sir!"
Coulson's voice came over the comm: "Director Fury, do you copy?"
Fury was extremely irritated but concealed it, giving orders: "Coulson, return to base. Issue a Level 7 alert! From now on, we're at war..."
…..
The next day.
"I summon 'Keeper of Dragon Magic' in attack mode."
In the center of the field.
"Roar—!"
The virtual projection device created a lifelike game monster, its roaring clearly audible.
Ye Li placed the card face-up on his Duel Disk, "Activate effect: discard one card from my hand, add one 'Miracle Fusion' from the deck to my hand, and then activate..."
After the turn ended, on the opposite side.
Tony, also wearing a Duel Disk, hesitated as he flipped through his cards, "...uh...this...I..."
Just as he was about to pull out 'Ancient Gear Golem'— [Sir, Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. is calling,] Jarvis said.
Tony: [Hey, you're interrupting me at this moment?]
Coulson: [Tony, I need to see you immediately.]
Tony: [I'm busy now. No matter how much you miss me, please wait a bit.]
Coulson: [The situation is urgent...]
[Beep—]
…..
Meanwhile.
Ye Li also received a call: [Hello, Natasha, I suppose you're calling about something urgent as well.]
[Also?]
Natasha: [Yes, there's something very urgent. Can we meet? Do you have time?]
Ye Li: [Oh no, I'm busy dueling right now.]
Natasha: [Dueling?]
[Yes, dueling.]
Ye Li: [Tony's here too, he's having fun. Want to play a couple rounds?]
Natasha: [???]
Outside the club hall.
"Hey, Ned, you can't do that."
Peter complained, "That doesn't match the rules Li said. Why can't my monster hit yours?"
"Because my monster can fly and yours can't."
Ned instinctively learned to bluff, "Makes sense, doesn't it?"
"?"
Peter retorted, "Wrong! Green Goblin can fly too, but wasn't he pulled down by Ghost Spider?"
Ned shrugged, "Can your monster shoot webs?"
Peter: "You're cheating!"
"Click~"
The glass door was pushed open.
Striking burgundy-colored hair caught everyone's attention.
"Whoa~"
"A beauty!"
"Welcome!"
Ghost Spider club members were polite, warmly greeting Black Widow with admiring glances, avoiding inappropriate comments.
"New face, here to register?"
A man who considered himself a gentleman explained to Natasha, "Actually, online registration is open, you don't need to come in person."
"Hey! Are you an idiot? If this beautiful lady didn't come here, how would we meet her today?"
Another member in a floral shirt waved his deck, "Beautiful lady, what's your name? Care for an exciting duel?"
"Duel?"
Natasha didn't reveal her name and glanced around, "It's much more relaxed here than I expected."
Mary Jane interjected, "We're here to have fun, not military training."
Natasha smiled slightly, "Then Barbara must be enjoying herself here~"
"You're here looking for Barbara? She..."
"Jane, shh—" Barbara pushed open the inner room's door, raised a finger signaling Mary Jane to keep quiet, then waved at Natasha, "You, come here quickly!"
"..."
Natasha walked into the inner room, approached Barbara, and asked, "...Why didn't you call my name?"
Barbara: "I thought you wanted to keep it confidential."
"Where is he?"
"Still dueling, it's an intense moment right now."
"Is Mr. Stark still here?"
"Oh, no, Mr. Stark already left."
"Then..."
"His little girlfriends came. They're currently gathered in the president's private lounge playing cards."
"..."
Natasha asked hesitantly, "Really...?"
"Really!"
Barbara confirmed, "I can even hear them angrily slamming cards on the table. They must be losing badly!"
Natasha: "..."
Are these cards even legit?
…..
Inside the president's private lounge, Gwen, Jessica, and Felicia sat next to Ye Li.
Skye and Cindy, however, sat on the opposite couch, their eyes pretending to focus on the Yu-Gi-Oh! cards on the table, looking slightly out of place...
The difference between them...was complicated...
"Gwen."
Ye Li asked, placing an arm gently around Gwen's shoulder, "Why are you all wearing your high school uniforms today?"
"Because high school life is about to end soon~"
Gwen adjusted her neatly worn outfit, smiling sweetly, "So, we wanted to wear these uniforms we've rarely worn."
Ye Li felt inexplicably excited, "Will you all dress like this for the next few days?"
"Huh?"
Gwen, pulling up her JK-style black stockings onto her slender legs, paused briefly, "Yes? What's wrong?"
"If Master likes it~"
Felicia, shaking her cat tail gently, gracefully crawled over the sofa, placing her hand softly on Ye Li's shoulder, "We can wear whatever you like~"
Jessica coughed twice to remind them firmly, "Not just anything!"
Listening to the girls' charming voices...
Ye Li glanced at the scattered duel cards on the table and smiled joyfully, 'Dueling with adorable girls really is wonderful~'
However, something unpleasant quickly arrived—
Knock knock knock~
There was a knock at the door.
Barbara's voice came from outside the door, "Li, Natasha is here on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Ye Li looked at Gwen and Felicia, "You guys hide first."
Their superhero identities hadn't been exposed yet, so they couldn't let Black Widow find out.
Swoosh—! (Gwen)
Whoosh—! (Jessica)
Tap—! (Felicia)
Swoosh—! (Cindy)
The girls seemed to misunderstand something, all quickly hiding together...
Skye, lacking superpowers temporarily, hesitated, "Should I also hide?"
Ye Li: "Ah...no need..."
Swoosh—!
"Hey!" (Skye)
Before he finished, Gwen and Cindy shot webs together, pulling Skye into hiding...
Ye Li: "..." ['What's this supposed to mean?'
"May I come in now, Mr. Ye?"
Outside, Natasha knocked personally and asked.
"Come in."
Click~
Natasha twisted open the door and stepped in. Barbara gave her an encouraging look just before she entered.
Bang!
She immediately shut the door again.
Ye Li, amused, gestured to Natasha, pointing at where Cindy had just sat, "Have a seat."
Natasha walked over, sitting down and subtly examining her surroundings.
Natasha moved to sit down, subtly examining her surroundings... This situation felt familiar; it was exactly like the last time she spoke with Ye Li in his room...
'Why does this happen every time I'm alone with him...'
A certain experienced agent once again felt like she wanted to retire from this...
The seasoned spy was once again contemplating retirement…
Then, the usual slow, drawn-out conversation began.
Ye Li, growing impatient, cut straight to the point, "Agent Natasha, so Egghead wants our club to send a superhero to join his 'Revenge Squad,' is that it?"
"It's the Avengers Alliance..."
Natasha sincerely added, "...It'd be better if we could contact Black Spider. This issue affects the whole world, so please, Mr. Ye, take it seriously."
'Yeah, right...'
Ye Li scoffed inwardly: 'The Chitauri army couldn't even withstand a nuke, and this is supposed to be a global crisis...?'
"Black Spider is out of the question, and I'm not letting the girls join Fury's big boys' club."
"It's the Avengers Alliance..."
Natasha corrected again. She was still part of the team—how did it suddenly become a 'Big Boy Alliance'...
"Relax, Agent Romanoff."
Leaning back against the sofa comfortably, Ye Li said, "I can recommend someone for you. Whether he joins or not depends on him."
Natasha asked, "Who?"
"Daredevil, Matt Murdock."
"Him..."
Black Widow had only a faint impression of this name. After checking her device and seeing Daredevil's details, she hesitated, "But he's not on the original list. I'll have to discuss it with Nick..."
"He might not even want to join you anyway."
Ye Li knew Murdock wouldn't join the Avengers. He only mentioned him as an excuse.
"Miss Natasha, now that our discussion is over, would you be interested in joining me to admire the night sky for a while?"
Ye Li extended his hand after finishing speaking, invitingly.
Natasha's eyes flickered slightly... 'This might be an opportunity...'
Having made up her mind, she smiled openly and graciously took his hand...
…..
After Ye Li led Natasha away, several beautiful girls curiously peeked their heads out, stretching their necks to watch~
"Is big brother taking her to the rooftop?"
Jessica immediately jumped in, "That can't be anything good."
Felicia curiously asked, "Did Master take a liking to that red-haired female agent?"
Cindy said worriedly, "Will Li be alright?"
"Alright now."
Gwen gathered up the scattered game cards on the table, "Li surely has his own intentions. He's smart~ He won't be used by S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Hmph~"
Skye smirked, "With the teacher's habits, you never know..."
The girls started chattering again.