Half a month was enough time for a newly awakened Little Spider to turn his community upside down.
William was sprawled on the sofa, using his phone to handle the latest plea for help from his top Angel client.
It felt like opening a surprise blind box that could explode at any moment.
[Little Spider]:
Mr. Counselor! Something big happened! This afternoon, I tried to stop a bag-snatcher, but I got too excited and my web shot crooked, sticking both the lady who was robbed and the robber to a lamppost! Now everyone in the entire block is saying I'm a troublemaker who can't tell friend from foe! What should I do? Waiting online, very urgent!
William looked at the message, and his mind automatically replayed the comical scene.
A young man in a homemade costume frantically apologizing, at a loss, to a man and a woman hanging from a lamppost.
His fingers flew across the screen, quickly typing a line.
[Anonymous Online Guidance Counselor]:
Don't panic, Peter. This isn't a mistake, it's "innovative security measures".
You should now publicly declare that this is a brand new "on-site victim protection mechanism".
It ensures that victims do not leave the scene in a panic before the police arrive, missing their statement.
Remember, you are not creating trouble, you are optimizing processes.
Sent.
William looked at his masterpiece with satisfaction, feeling like a genius in crisis public relations.
"Pfft."
An undisguised scoff came from beside him.
Tandy was draped over the back of the sofa, looking at him with an expression that said, "I've seen through you, you liar."
"You're training a simple and kind high school student to be a professional scoundrel who talks a lot of nonsense."
"Watch your language, little Tandy."
William didn't even lift his head, gently swiping his finger across the phone screen.
A huge advertisement for the Stark Industries Expo, which was set to open in a week, filled the entire screen.
"This is crisis public relations, an important part of after-sales service. I'm teaching him how to turn negative public opinion into a personal brand feature; this is called differentiated competition."
Tandy rolled her eyes, hopelessly.
Beside her, Tyrone silently turned another page of his comic book.
"So replacing Tandy's phone is also part of your after-sales service?"
Tyrone suddenly blurted out, still staring at his comic.
"That's corporate culture building!"
William instantly sat up, speaking righteously.
"My company's employees must have a vibrant mental outlook. A screen cracked like a spiderweb will seriously affect my financial luck; this is metaphysics, you wouldn't understand."
Just as William was about to continue expounding on his "corporate culture metaphysics," a soft click came from the apartment door lock.
This was followed by the subtle sound of the lock core being skillfully picked.
The three in the living room simultaneously turned to look.
The door opened, and Jessica Jones stood in the doorway like a ghost.
She didn't even bother to knock, simply walking in with a spare key she'd gotten from who-knows-where.
She was still in her signature attire.
A black leather jacket, faded jeans, and an eternal expression on her face that said, "Don't bother me, I'm annoyed."
She scanned the three people in the living room, her gaze lingering on Tandy and Tyrone for less than half a second before directly locking onto William on the sofa.
"Well, Patriarch Rodriguez, quite the cozy family atmosphere you have here."
Her voice carried its usual hoarseness and sarcasm.
Before she even fully entered, the scent of cheap whiskey mixed with faint cigarette smoke had already invaded the living room air.
William immediately sat up straight on the sofa, a professional smile plastered on his face: "Detective Jones, what brings you here? I remember the insurance premium... it's not settlement day yet, is it?"
His mind raced.
The effect of [Pain Suppression] obtained after his last "labor" was still active; theoretically, he was now at full health and could fulfill the "payment agreement" at any time.
"Save your pyramid scheme talk."
Jessica walked unceremoniously to the refrigerator and pulled open the door.
Her gaze swept over the neatly arranged milk and juice inside, finally precisely grabbing a can of beer from the bottom shelf, popping it open with a "pop" of her thumb, and tilting her head back to take a big gulp.
Tandy and Tyrone exchanged a look, silently retreating to the corner of the living room, pretending to be two expensive pieces of furniture.
They could feel that the aura emanating from this woman was completely different from their boss's "mouth-strong king" aura; it was from another dimension.
It was a genuine "do not approach" vibe, forged in the blood and fire of Hell's Kitchen.
Jessica Jones had been coming to William's apartment frequently recently.
This stemmed from a special insurance contract.
After dealing with the Purple Man incident, William shamelessly insisted that she buy another one, calling it "enhanced protection."
Jessica initially didn't engage; she didn't have much money and didn't want to owe William any more favors.
Ultimately, William proposed a plan she couldn't refuse.
Labor in exchange for insurance premiums.
In the following nights, William deeply realized how expensive and physically demanding the "premium" for Jessica Jones's policy, titled "Hell's Kitchen Survival Special Protection Insurance," truly was.
He was practically working tirelessly, risking his life, to fulfill this special "payment agreement."
One late night.
When he finally got a temporary reprieve from a high-intensity "premium settlement," collapsing on the bed like a dehydrated fish, feeling every muscle scream and every cell drained.
The familiar system prompt came to his mind.
[Ding! Client "Dark Alley Walker" has submitted a claim for "Basic Hero Protection Insurance."]
[During the pursuit of a serial robber, he suffered a fractured right arm and damaged equipment due to tactical evasion, meeting the claim conditions. Process immediately?]
This guy is really dedicated, still working overtime in the middle of the night... William silently complained in his heart.
"Process."
He responded weakly with his thoughts.
[Claim successful!]
[Ability extraction in progress... You have gained Pain Suppression (Elementary), reducing physical pain by 20% and increasing your tolerance for injuries.]
As soon as the words fell, a peculiar warm current, cool but not cold, like the gentlest spring water, instantly swept from his spine through all his limbs and bones.
His body, which had felt like it was falling apart, seemed to be reassembled, lubricated, and reinforced by an invisible hand.
His back no longer ached, his legs were no longer weak, and even his mental fatigue was swept away.
He felt like he had fully recovered on the spot, even capable of enduring a few more rounds of high-intensity "premium payments."
William slowly turned his head, looking at Jessica, who was sound asleep beside him, but her brow was still slightly furrowed.
The moonlight, filtering through the gaps in the curtains, outlined her resolute yet fragile profile.
The curve of his lips, in the dim light, gradually became "villainous."
-------------------------------
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