"I have a friend..."
William muttered the words he had sent to Peter Parker, his cheeks involuntarily flushing.
Alright.
The image of this "friend" would henceforth be his alias for navigating the World.
Specifically used to take the blame for embarrassing situations, he was the new era's scapegoat.
He looked at his brand new car; the warmth of his cheek and the sound of his dignity shattering still seemed to linger on the car door.
He needed to find an opportunity to take the car for a thorough maintenance.
Especially the car door area.
He would need to use the highest-grade car wax to repeatedly polish it, completely erasing the unmentionable "intimate contact history."
Picking up the keys from the ground, William pulled open the door of the black Audi and sat inside.
Unlike the wildness and rawness of the "Silence of the Lambs," everything in this car exuded the brilliance of civilization and order.
The top-grade leather seats perfectly conformed to his back, as if tailor-made for him.
The central console's design was simple yet full of technological flair.
A large touchscreen silently lit up the moment he sat down.
"Welcome, Advisor William Rodriguez."
A soft, neutral electronic voice sounded in the car. It wasn't the slightly playful tone of Friday, but a more steady, professional, butler-like cadence.
"Hello?"
William asked tentatively.
"Synchronizing your personal schedule, encrypted contacts, and Stark Industries internal advisor permissions."
"Detecting slight fluctuations in your physiological indicators, elevated heart rate, and slightly increased adrenaline levels. Would you like me to play soothing music or adjust the car's scent?"
"...No, thank you."
William felt like a guinea pig being monitored from all angles.
"What's your name? Jarvis?"
"I do not have a formal name. According to my core protocols, you may refer to me as 'Driver' or 'Assistant.'"
"Then I'll call you 'Alfred,'" William said casually.
"Name recorded. Good morning, Mr. Rodriguez."
William felt a little lightheaded from being called "Mr. Rodriguez."
Although just two minutes ago, this "elite" person had his face pressed against the car door.
He started the car.
The engine sound was almost inaudible, only a faint electrical hum indicating that this steel beast had awakened.
"According to your schedule, you currently have no appointments. Based on real-time New York traffic data analysis, returning to your apartment in Manhattan is estimated to take twenty-eight minutes. Would you like me to plan the best route for you?"
"No, just drive around," William said.
"Take me for a casual drive, away from congested areas."
"Understood. I have planned the 'New York Scenic Route' for you."
The black A8L, like a melted Shadow, silently slid out of the underground garage and merged into the New York traffic.
William leaned back in his seat.
He felt as if he had been placed in a mobile capsule, isolated from the World.
"Alfred," William suddenly spoke.
"Please pull up reports of abnormal weather or high-energy reactions globally within the last 24 hours."
"Retrieving... Search scope: public news, meteorological monitoring stations, some unencrypted scientific research forums... Retrieval complete."
On the central control screen, several pieces of information were listed.
Most were boring sunspot activity or thunderstorms in certain areas.
But one item caught William's full attention.
"Source: New Mexico Local News Network. Title: 'Rare Aurora Appears in Desert Town, Meteorologists Call It 'Unexplainable'.' Summary: Last night, a large-scale, continuous aurora phenomenon occurred near Bridge Town, New Mexico, accompanied by strong geomagnetic disturbances. Multiple local residents claimed to have witnessed an unidentified object falling from the sky..."
William's eyes narrowed.
New Mexico.
Bridge Town.
Unidentified object falling from the sky.
This was not some rare aurora.
This was the landing spot where Thor was kicked down to the mortal realm by his father, Odin.
It was the meteorite crater created by that precious Meow-Meow Hammer.
What followed was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s complete lockdown and Loki's schemes.
And a tin can falling from the sky, turning a small town upside down.
A huge, glittering "main quest" prompt was slapped onto William's face without warning.
To go, or not to go?
Any other transmigrator would probably be boiling with excitement right now, figuring out how to get to that town.
To offer Thor a hot coffee when he was at his lowest, and casually touch the hammer that no one else could lift, and sign a 'Asgardian Prince Accidental Insurance' policy.
What could he gain after a claim?
Fragments of a Son of the King of Gods physique?
Lightning Affinity?
Or longevity genes?
Each was filled with fatal temptation.
William's heart was indeed beating faster, but not from excitement, but from fear.
What appeared in his mind was not glittering abilities, but a risk assessment map composed of countless fine lines.
Reward: Extremely high, potential abilities are cosmic-level.
There were three risks.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
That place must be led by Coulson, surrounded three layers deep and three layers out like an iron barrel.
His sudden appearance there would be more conspicuous than a penguin popping up in the desert.
Destroyer.
That was Asgard's War Machine; with one energy blast, his top-of-the-line bulletproof A8L probably wouldn't even have its license plate left.
His newly acquired Bio-static Adhesion ability, in the face of that level of energy impact, would probably only allow him to stick to a wall when he died, in a rather peculiar posture.
The third unknown.
Loki, Odin, Heimdall... This involved the succession of the divine throne.
For him, a mortal insurance salesman, to rashly get involved was more thrilling than selling fire insurance on a volcano.
Tony going there for a stroll would be more reliable than him going.
This was a typical high-risk, high-reward, but uncontrollable process, with numerous unexpected factors, and extremely luck-dependent speculative business.
"Alfred."
"I'm here, Mr. Rodriguez."
"Collect all news from Bridge Town, New Mexico, and its surrounding areas, and send it to my mobile phone."
"Command confirmed. Filtering relevant information for you."
"Additionally,"
William leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
"Help me focus on police reports and community news from Queens, New York City, especially those involving high school student Peter Parker."
Thor was certainly tempting.
But that was a future, distant and hot to handle.
Little Spider was his immediate high-potential stock, his Angel round client.
A high school student right beside him, who had just awakened his abilities, whose mind was not yet mature, who was full of goodwill towards the World, and had an extremely high "accident rate."
This was the most perfect insurance client.
Investing in Peter Parker was investing in the future.
Safe, controllable, and stable returns.
Just then, the special mobile phone for the "Anonymous Online Guidance Counselor" vibrated again.
"Mr. Counselor! Help! I... I bent Uncle Ben's favorite wrench!
I just wanted to hand it to him, and then it... it was like dough!
Uncle Ben looked at me so strangely. Does he think I'm a monster?
Also, I just tried to get out of bed and ended up tearing off half the bedsheet, and it's stuck to my back!
I swear I've showered!"
William looked at this message, and a scene already formed in his mind.
A scrawny teenager, with half a blue and White checkered bedsheet stuck to his back, clutching a twisted wrench, looking at his relative with a terrified expression.
"Anonymous Online Guidance Counselor":
"Calm down, Peter. This is just a normal manifestation of excess energy and insufficient control.
Regarding the wrench, you can explain it as 'significant recent fitness results.'
Regarding the bedsheet, try sprinkling some baby powder on your back before sleeping next time. It's a physical barrier, very effective.
Remember, your body is undergoing an unprecedented upgrade.
Think of it as a new phone; you always need some time to get familiar with its performance and bugs.
Your manual has a chapter on 'Prevention and Remedial Measures for Unintentional Damage to Household Property.'"
Going to New Mexico to eat dirt, or staying in New York to be a high school student's "personal Grandpa," he chose the latter.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"