"That loathsome, wretched spider—has he abandoned his responsibilities as an Avenger? This detestable Spider-Man has once again appeared in our streets and alleys, engaging in his self-righteous vigilante activities to satisfy his sense of moral superiority!"
Jonah Jameson was, as always, criticizing Spider-Man in the Daily Bugle: "Other than giving himself a bit of a moral high, and bullying ordinary criminals who don't even require his intervention, I see absolutely no benefit in his return to the streets."
"Oh my god, Jonah Jameson," Gwen said with heavy sarcasm as she looked at her phone while sitting on the bus. "How can this Spider-Man be so wicked?"
"Anyone with eyes can see that Spider-Man is like a crutch for Jonah," Peter joked, sitting beside Gwen. "A person with a physical disability needs a crutch to walk; Jonah needs Spider-Man to talk."
The most absurd thing about Jonah was that many of his viewpoints actually formed a complete personal theory and system that didn't require Spider-Man at all—or perhaps just needed Spider-Man as a brief example. But no, he made it seem as though his entire ridiculous worldview was adapted specifically because of Spider-Man, which ensured that Peter could never bring himself to like the man, no matter what.
Perhaps Spider-Man really was a crutch for the Daily Bugle; ever since Jonah began attacking him, the newspaper's circulation had spiked. Regardless of anything else, Spider-Man was undeniably popular.
If Peter hadn't joined the Avengers and gained access to their channels to sell his own merchandise, Kingpin or Hydra probably would have started selling Spider-Man toys to turn a profit. Imagine a group of Hydra agents or mobsters getting beaten up by Spider-Man during the day, only to go home at night and work the sewing machines to make Spider-Man plushies.
Just kidding—they'd be sent to prison to work those sewing machines.
Wait, if it were a private prison...
"Why are you spacing out again?" Gwen waved her hand in front of Peter's face. "What are you thinking about?"
"I was wondering if those private prisons holding the street-level criminals I bust are actually owned by Kingpin," Peter said in a low, serious voice. "And then he makes the inmates work the sewing machines to produce bootleg Spider-Man dolls for sale. He probably makes millions a year."
Only in matters like these did Peter Parker's mind leap about with absolutely zero scientific logic.
"Even if that were true, what could you do? Ask Kingpin for a cut? Or are you planning to sue a mob boss who's already in prison just to make him stay there a few more years?"
Peter thought about it seriously; she had a point.
The two were on their way to the F.E.A.S.T. center. After returning to his street-level life, Peter's mental state had normalized significantly. Captain America and the others seemed to have finally remembered the original intention of inviting Spider-Man to the Avengers: it was so that while the Avengers were away on missions, Spider-Man could use their resources to better protect New York.
Things had just gotten a bit sidetracked along the way.
Fortunately, Peter had adjusted well on his own, so he didn't need the Avengers—who were themselves a collection of people struggling with internal mental conflicts—to provide counseling. Tony Stark had developed a fear of inadequate firepower and anxiety after the Battle of New York; Steve Rogers dealt with persistent existential anxiety; Hank Pym was constantly torn between the Avengers' violent methods and his own pacifism; and Bruce Banner was quite literally a patient with multiple personalities.
The only cheerful one was likely Thor. His parents were alive and well, though he frequently had to work "overtime" in the Nine Realms. He was often baffled by his teammates' brooding nature, unable to understand what they were so anxious about.
We are protecting the people and saving the world. Why are your faces always so gloomy?
Peter, meanwhile, intended to return to a more routine daily life, which was good for his well-being.
"I'm sure Aunt May will be happy. She's always complaining that F.E.A.S.T. is short-staffed," Peter said as the bus arrived near the center. Gwen noticed with surprise that the white walls of the building had been vandalized with messy graffiti and asked Peter curiously, "What's going on here?"
"You know Mr. Li's philosophy. F.E.A.S.T. is meant for the homeless and the unemployed who can't support themselves. The center helps them find jobs, but a lot of people... well, they find the work too tiring and don't want to do it. They just want to come back and keep staying at F.E.A.S.T. for free."
As an immigrant from the East, Martin Li was surprisingly "uncompromising" in this regard, kicking out the lazy Americans who were just looking for a free ride.
"He's considered a superhero now, Mister Negative or whatever," Gwen said with some surprise. "Doesn't he worry about his reputation?"
"To help more people who actually need the help—that's what he says. I think he's right. If you can be self-sufficient, you shouldn't just wait around to die—assuming the pay for the job is fair for the effort. You can thank President Matthew Ellis for that; he defeated Mr. Obama in the primaries."
Gwen looked at Peter, momentarily confused, unsure what this had to do with President Ellis.
Are you implying you saw another timeline in some other universe where things went south after some 'Black Pharaoh' took office?
Peter remained silent. As a U.S. President, Matthew Ellis possessed two very rare traits. First, he acknowledged America's past mistakes and actively sought to correct them—provided he wasn't the one who made them. Some said he was spending the nation's credit to build his personal reputation; others said he was reconstructing the national image. Opinions varied.
Second, he truly, truly loved superheroes and vigilantes. Police funding across the federal states was being cut more severely every year. In the President's own words: "We have superheroes assisting in arrests in almost every state and major city in the country. What do we even need police for?"
It could be said that the birth of the Avengers and the arrival of the so-called "Age of Heroes" were inextricably linked to him. As for civil rights movements, he didn't seem particularly concerned.
The two got off the bus and headed to the F.E.A.S.T. kitchen. The staff didn't stop them; they all knew the two kids, especially Peter, who visited quite frequently.
"Oh, Peter, and Gwen! You're here."
Aunt May was delighted to see them. She added casually, "Perfect timing. Felicia is making cookies; you two can go and give her a hand."
"Felicia?"
Once Aunt May was a short distance away, Gwen looked at Peter. "Felicia Hardy? As in our upperclassman?"
"Yeah."
Gwen shot a glance at Peter. She seemed to recall that Peter had never mentioned Black Cat came to F.E.A.S.T. too.
-----------------------------------------------
I handpick only the finest and most captivating novels for you. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon HongMengZi