CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 032: NEW YORK’S GREATEST ROMANCE! WANDA TURNS TO THE DARK SIDE!

Obviously, Lorien saw through Tony’s situation at a glance.

Under Wanda’s starry-eyed gaze, Lorien kept his hands in his pockets, glanced at the armor’s closing faceplate, and continued,

"Then hurry up and investigate.

This lizard’s been around for days, and you still haven’t handled it.

It’s clearly a genetic mutation. If someone can control how it spreads, you superheroes might as well retire."

Tony’s armor gave a small nod—he felt the same way.

But before heading off, Tony stepped closer to Lorien and lowered his voice.

"I’m starting to think this is an Osborn Group scandal.

But whether I use Stark Industries’ influence or my identity as Iron Man, I can’t touch them.

That’s why I need your help—use a third party’s power to end this crisis."

It made sense. The Osborn Group was huge. Sure, Tony could take them down, but any direct move from him would make the already fragile Avengers look even weaker. If someone managed to pin the blame on them afterward, that would be the end of the team.

So he needed someone outside the Avengers. And in Tony’s mind, only two people fit the bill—Lorien, and Spider-Woman. That’s why he was here asking Lorien for help.

Lorien nodded.

"Solid analysis. That really is the best and safest option."

"Right?" Tony crossed his arms with confidence.

But then Lorien added,

"Why should I help you?

I don’t have any powers, and there’s nothing in it for me.

Can’t I even hold on to my simple Nine-to-Five Work life?"

Wanda quickly backed him up.

She’d been in a situation much like Lorien’s before, so when she saw he wasn’t eager to help, she stepped to his side and addressed Tony.

"Stark! Not everyone wants to be a superhero.

Lorien just wants to live a normal life and work happily every day.

So even if you want to find a third party, you should go to that Spiderwoman, not bother Lorien!"

After saying that, Wanda pointed toward Gwen, who had just landed on the rooftop of a nearby building.

"Huh?"

Gwen froze. She had just arrived, and someone was already pointing at her?

No way. Did she do something wrong?

She quickly went through a mental checklist. No, nothing! Helping citizens and fighting criminals couldn’t possibly count as a crime, right?

Still, being singled out by Wanda made her nervous. What she really worried about was leaving a bad impression on Lorien as Spiderwoman. If that happened, how would she face him in the future? And how could she still use this identity to give him a good scare?

Tony turned the Iron Man suit toward the rooftop, looking directly at Gwen.

"Hey, Spider-Woman, I think we need to talk."

Gwen immediately shook her head.

"No talk."

Tony: ...

In Los Angeles, he scratched his head. The Iron Man suit in New York mirrored the gesture.

He looked at Lorien. "What should we do now?"

Lorien spread his hands. "How should I know? I’m a psychologist. I can give guidance, not run cons."

That left Tony stuck. If she didn’t want to talk, what could he do?

Wait. Make her talk? That... could work.

According to the intel Friday had collected, Spiderwoman was a righteous superhero. She took the initiative to handle crises and stop criminals. If she heard the situation, she’d probably help.

Tony turned back, ready to speak directly.

"Listen, Spider—"

But when he turned around, Gwen was already gone. The rooftop was empty.

"Sir, she’s left," Friday reported, pulling up the last street footage.

The video showed Gwen swinging into an alley on her web and disappearing.

Tony: ...

He turned back to Lorien helplessly.

Lorien said nothing, only shifting his gaze to Wanda, giving her what could only be described as "the deepest look in New York."

Wanda’s cheeks turned crimson under that gaze, and she unconsciously leaned closer to him.

"Okay, okay."

Tony sighed and made the Iron Man suit wave.

"I’m going, I’m going. I’ll leave right now.

You two keep beating the crap out of that bastard lizard. I’ll keep collecting mutation evidence.

When the time comes, we’ll expose it and let the Osborn Group destroy itself, okay?"

With that, Tony lowered his hands, jets flaring from the suit’s thrusters as he took off.

Lorien turned his head—and caught sight of a shadowy figure sneaking toward the shore.

The moment it noticed him looking, it gave a splash and dove straight into the sea to escape.

Wanda, who had just been caught up in the moment, snapped back to reality.

"Damn, it got away!"

"It’s fine." Lorien patted her head. "With your power, if we run into it again, it’ll be like squashing a bug."

"Mm." Wanda nodded, then suddenly grabbed Lorien’s hand and started running.

"Huh?" Lorien was baffled.

"Hurry! The bridge is fine, let’s go ride the Ferris wheel!"

Lorien glanced back at the building. "But Gwen’s still waiting for us downstairs."

"It’s fine! We’ll take a spin first, then come back and take her for a second round!"

"Is that really okay?"

"Just say the Lizard was too hard to beat and it got away."

"..."

Wanda, you’ve gone bad!