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Ch. 238 Gwen with a Sharp Tongue but a Kind Heart
🕑 Added 2023-12-29 16:02:00 +0000 UTCPerkins was indeed on the High Table's list of targets, but she was just one of many.
Judging from the fate of the five assassins who were also on the list but died during their capture, the High Table had not issued orders to capture Perkins and the others alive.
Perkins was, in fact, an ordinary person.
However, she was a woman with extensive experience in assassination and deadly skills.
She might not be able to take on the High Table or resist them in combat.
But simply escaping wouldn't be a problem.
She would need to keep a lower profile and completely distance herself from the world of assassins in the future.
"If I choose to run, I do have a chance of evading the High Table's capture."
"However, I won't choose to run."
"I don't want to spend the rest of my life in hiding, living like a mouse in fear," Perkins said to Russell seriously.
Russell wasn't surprised by her choice. Assassins, who were accustomed to life and death situations, didn't choose to flee out of fear of death. If a killer lacked the courage for this, they probably wouldn't be a competent one.
"Since that's the case, let me be straightforward."
"I can offer you protection, but the condition is that you must undergo brainwashing," Russell stated calmly.
"Brainwashing?" Perkins raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled.
It wasn't that she didn't believe Russell had the technology for brainwashing; she just found it unexpected for him to suggest such a thing. If Russell were still the mad traveler he used to be, this move would make more sense. But now that Russell had "reformed" and become a superhero, brainwashing didn't seem like something a superhero should do.
"Yes, brainwashing," Russell confirmed. "I have a highly reliable brainwashing technique. Aside from some discomfort during the process, there are no other downsides."
Seeing Perkins's confusion, Russell chuckled. "I can tell you're skeptical, but I assure you, it's effective."
Perkins didn't immediately respond. She frowned, contemplating. After a moment of silence, she said, "Alright, let's go through with this brainwashing. I'm curious to see what your so-called technique is like."
As an experienced assassin who had navigated the world of killers for many years, Perkins quickly made a decision that aligned with her self-interest.
On the surface, agreeing to brainwashing meant entrusting her future to Russell. However, Perkins wasn't particularly worried about this.
She was well aware of her current situation. Losing control of her life to Russell was still better than falling into the hands of the High Table. While she could choose to leave New York and live in anonymity, she preferred dying at the hands of the Continental Hotel's direct assassins. At least that way, she'd die more honorably.
"Now that you've agreed, let's go!"
After saying this, Russell stood up and left the guest room. Perkins followed without hesitation.
The Brainwashing Room.
Upon entering this clearly designed secret room, Perkins's attention was immediately drawn to the brainwashing chair in the center of the room. She couldn't help but notice the restraints on the chair, and she began to understand why Russell had mentioned discomfort during the brainwashing process.
Taking a deep breath, she asked Russell, "Do I need to prepare in any way? Or will you inject me with some special drugs?"
"No need for all that trouble. Just sit in the chair, and my AI assistant will take care of the rest," Russell replied calmly.
"Alright."
With that, Perkins removed her leather jacket and remained in her snug-fitting undershirt as she approached the specialized brainwashing chair.
She hesitated for a moment before taking a seat. As she sat down, she couldn't help but eye the various restraints on the chair, making her realize that the brainwashing process might be more uncomfortable than she had anticipated.
"Shall we begin?" Russell asked, standing beside the chair.
Perkins nodded, and Russell activated the procedure. The room's robotic assistants moved to secure Perkins's limbs firmly to the chair, preventing any sudden movements.
Once Perkins was securely restrained, a peculiar device resembling an adult toy was inserted into her mouth, and its strap was fastened.
If it weren't for the lack of other torture instruments in the room, Perkins might have felt like a prisoner about to undergo severe interrogation.
"Let's start!" Russell said calmly.
"Start?" Perkins mumbled through the device in her mouth.
Russell chuckled again. "Yes, start. I have a very reliable brainwashing technique here, remember? Don't worry; it won't hurt you."
Perkins didn't respond, but her frown deepened as she braced herself for what was to come.
Taking control of the robotic assistants, Russell initiated the brainwashing process.
After what seemed like an eternity, Russell finally got up from his chair and left the Brainwashing Room.
In the next moment, he appeared in the training area, where Gwen and Peter were sparring.
Gwen was currently engaged in combat with Peter, both of them utilizing their superhuman abilities and equipment.
Hulk sat nearby, watching the battle and occasionally taking a swig from a massive tankard of alcohol.
Upon Russell's arrival, Hulk lifted the tankard as if offering it to him. "Want some?"
"No, thanks," Russell declined with a smile.
After hearing his response, Hulk withdrew the tankard and continued drinking.
Russell didn't interrupt Gwen and Peter's sparring but sat down on a nearby chair, observing their fight.
Both Gwen and Peter fought with similar superhuman abilities and equipment, following the combat style they had learned from their mentor.
The only difference was that Peter's Spider-Web Shooter had more functions than Gwen's equipment, while Gwen's mastery of her superhuman abilities exceeded Peter's.
This difference was entirely expected. Gwen had been the Spider-Woman for longer than Russell had been in this world. If Gwen wasn't proficient in using her powers by now, it would be quite disappointing.
Additionally, Gwen possessed more combat experience than Peter. While Peter had never faced real combat situations, Gwen had experienced various battles, both conventional and unconventional.
In simpler terms, Peter was still getting beaten.
Whether sparring with the Hulk, Russell, or Gwen, Peter was always on the receiving end of the fight.
If it weren't for his remarkable regenerative abilities that came with his spider powers, Peter would have needed days to recover after each sparring session with any of the three.
Although he couldn't gain the upper hand in these fights, Peter displayed unwavering determination. He refused to admit defeat.
Russell expected Peter's resilience, as he had always possessed an exceptional level of determination for someone his age.
However, he was somewhat surprised by Gwen's current performance.
Gwen was fighting with utmost seriousness, not holding back in the slightest. Not only Russell, even the seemingly simple-minded Hulk had noticed.
"Did Peter and Gwen have a falling out last night?" Russell asked Hulk.
He hadn't stayed at the headquarters overnight, so he wasn't aware of any unpleasant events that might have occurred between Peter and Gwen.
From Gwen's actions, it seemed like Peter had done something to upset her.
"Nope," Hulk replied in a low voice.
After his response, he took another swig from the tankard.
"Are you sure?" Russell raised an eyebrow.
When Gwen sent Peter flying once again, this time delivering a series of powerful kicks along the way, Russell decided it was time to intervene.
He stood up, vanished in an instant, and reappeared between Gwen and the airborne Peter. With one hand, he blocked Gwen's right fist aimed at Peter's head, and with the other, he gripped Peter's shoulder to stop his trajectory.
"That's enough," Russell said to Gwen.
Upon hearing his voice, Gwen withdrew her fist, removed her mask, revealing her delicate, fair-skinned face.
"His current abilities are too weak. I don't think he's qualified to join the Justice League yet," Gwen said seriously.
Russell didn't immediately respond to Gwen's statement. Instead, he released his grip on Peter's shoulder, allowing him to regain his footing.
Once Peter was steady on his feet, he removed his mask, revealing his bruised and battered face.
Peter didn't say anything but looked at Russell and Gwen with a forlorn expression.
Although Gwen's words had been somewhat impolite, Peter knew she was speaking the truth.
If it weren't for Gwen refraining from using any lethal weapons, he would have been defeated long ago.
Seeing Peter's current expression, Russell understood that he had once again taken a heavy blow.
Although Peter had lost before, this was the first time he had lost to a woman, and it was Gwen, who had the same superpowers as him.
"You've only had your superpowers for a short time, and you're still doing quite well," Russell reassured Peter, patting his shoulder.
However, before Peter could respond, Gwen's voice rang out.
"Don't comfort him; weak is weak!"
"If he joins the Justice League now and goes up against those armed criminals, the reputation the Justice League have built will quickly be tarnished because of him."
"He's not ready to be a superhero at all!"
Gwen's tone was icy as she spoke.
If Russell didn't understand Gwen's character, he might have thought she was being too harsh. Although Gwen's words were hurtful, Russell knew why she was acting this way.
In simple terms, she had a sharp tongue but a kind heart. Gwen was hitting Peter hard because she didn't want to see him get hurt.
While Peter had dreams of being a superhero, he didn't truly understand what the life of a superhero entailed. Besides the admiration and attention, there were many unpleasant aspects to it. More importantly, being a superhero was not entirely safe. It was one thing if you had the power to protect yourself and others, like Russell did. Even if some people were unhappy with you, they would hesitate to act against you because of your power. But Peter and Russell had a significant gap in their abilities. Even if Peter didn't reveal his true identity, given his current mindset and abilities, he might end up in the hands of ruthless criminals one day.
Peter indeed had extraordinary physical abilities, but they couldn't stop bullets. Moreover, he hadn't even unlocked his Spider-Sense yet.
"Sir, I..." Peter began to explain but gave up on it soon after starting.
His words might have sounded hurtful, but the fact remained that he was still weak. Among the six members of the Justice League, Peter couldn't defeat even one of them. Gwen was the weakest among the Justice League, yet she could effortlessly overpower him.
"Take it slow; there's no need to rush," Russell told Peter. "You don't need to become a world-saving superhero. Just be the neighborhood guardian for the people of New York, alright?"
Russell spoke, knowing that Peter couldn't immediately grasp the full scope of being a superhero.
Furthermore, Russell didn't expect Peter to save the world like heroes in action movies. Peter only needed to do what he could within his capabilities. After all, if adults relied on a minor to save the world, they would be pretty useless.
"Okay, sir, I understand," Peter said, still looking a bit downcast.
Russell didn't expect Peter to fully comprehend everything immediately. It would take time.
After Peter's response, Gwen seemed about to say something more, but Russell gave her a stern look, silently advising her not to provoke Peter any further. Understanding Russell's glance, Gwen refrained from speaking further and left the training area.
"Alright, take a break, Peter. If you're feeling uncomfortable, make sure to get a check-up at the medical room," Russell instructed Peter.
After Peter and Gwen had left the training area, they all gathered in the living room. Russell and Gwen sat across from each other, exchanging glances.
"You're being too hard on him; he's just a teenager," Russell began.
"But those criminals won't care if he's a teenager or not," Gwen replied nonchalantly, crossing her legs.
"I know you're looking out for him, but you also need to consider the practicality of the situation," Russell continued.
Although he made a valid point, Gwen didn't immediately agree with his perspective. She had her reasons for acting the way she did, and it was rooted in her concern for Peter. She was tough on him because she didn't want to see him hurt.
Silent for over ten seconds, Gwen finally spoke in a gentler tone, "Alright, fine, we'll go with your plan. But I don't want him to join the Justice League right away; it might not be good for him."
"I don't want him to join the Justice League immediately either. He needs some time to learn," Russell assured her. "And you can help with that. After all, you're his senior, right?"
While Gwen had expressed her reluctance to work with Peter yesterday, Russell believed it was a good idea for them to operate together. Peter had no romantic interest in Gwen; his affections were directed towards Liz, a classmate at school. Furthermore, Gwen wasn't attracted to Peter either. Russell knew that having both of them with the same superpowers work together would help Peter understand how to use his abilities more effectively.
"I said yesterday that I didn't want to work with kids," Gwen remarked.
"Helping kids grow is an adult's responsibility, isn't it? Just think of Peter as your distant cousin or a junior from school," Russell suggested. "You don't have to be with him all the time. You can guide him through a few hero activities, and then he can work on his own. I'll have No. 3 keep an eye on him at all times. If you're still worried, you can watch over him yourself."
Russell continued to persuade Gwen to accept this proposal. While it was indeed a solution, Gwen wasn't quick to agree. She remained silent as she pondered the idea.
After careful consideration for several minutes, she finally said, "Alright, we'll do it your way, but make it clear that I'll only teach him for a limited time."
"Just a while will do. Peter has good learning abilities; he'll catch on quickly," Russell replied with a smile.
Although Gwen was still somewhat reluctant, she had clearly made a significant concession compared to yesterday.
As for the "limited time" she mentioned, when she officially took on the role of Peter's superhero mentor, it wouldn't be a matter that could be resolved in just two or three days.
After the small "conflict" between Peter and Gwen was resolved, Russell had no immediate plans to leave the Justice League headquarters. He also had no intention of heading to the training area to "fight" the Hulk. Instead, he decided to spend time with Gwen at the headquarters.
While it seemed like he was idling, at Gwen's request, Russell had No. 3 create a web shooter for Gwen, similar to Peter's. Not only that, but he also had No. 3 upgrade Gwen's suit to match Peter's Spider-Man suit in terms of functionality. While the style wouldn't change, all the features of Peter's suit would be added to Gwen's.
Gwen could use her superpowers skillfully, but having additional functions in her suit would be advantageous. After spending over an hour at the headquarters with Gwen, Russell left for the brainwashing room.
When he entered the brainwashing room, he saw Perkins, her close-fitting bodysuit soaked with sweat, looking like she had just come out of a pool.
Upon Russell's arrival, Perkins, who was sitting on the couch, immediately stood up and said to Russell, "Can you trust me now?"
"Of course!" Russell replied with a smile.
Although Perkins appeared unchanged from before, the effects of the brainwashing were deeply ingrained in her.
Not all brainwashed subjects behaved like Bakshi, desperately obedient to Russell. In fact, Bakshi was the exception. Natasha, Bucky, and Perkins, after being brainwashed, behaved almost the same as they did before.
Unless Russell triggered the strongest compulsion effect with a trigger phrase, they would maintain their normal behavior. However, in their subconscious, they would have an instinctual response to obey any of Russell's commands.
In this state, even if Russell told them to hold a gun to their own temples and pull the trigger, they would do so without hesitation.
"Go back to your room, freshen up, and then come to my office," Russell instructed Perkins.
Afterward, Russell left the brainwashing room and headed to his office. Twenty minutes later, Perkins, now in the female version of the Justice League uniform, arrived at Russell's office. She stood straight, like a guard, in front of him.
"You don't need to be so formal; please have a seat," Russell said to Perkins.
Perkins nodded and resumed her elegant, deadly assassin posture, sitting down in front of Russell.
"Now that you're one of us, I'll be straightforward with you," Russell began. "Among the assassins in New York, your skills are not weak, but for the Justice League, your skills barely meet the minimum standard."
"To help you better meet the Justice League standards, I'm going to arrange for you to undergo an enhancement with the Strengthening serum at No. 3's unmanned facility."
"After the enhancement, I'll have a symbiote known as White Zetsu bond with you, granting you powers that are not inferior to those of ordinary superhumans."
Russell looked at Perkins calmly as he spoke.
"I won't refuse the chance to gain more power," Perkins replied with a smile, returning to her femme fatale persona.
