The crisp, feminine voice rang out like a bell, bright and playful.
Nathan turned instantly. He knew that voice.
It was Gwen Stacy—Ghost Spider.
When he pivoted sideways, his eyes caught her face: bright, intelligent eyes that sparkled with energy, pale skin framed by strands of blonde hair tipped faintly pink, and a confident smile that was impossible to ignore.
Her figure was outlined by the crisp uniform she wore, and hanging from her chest was a shiny new work card.
Nathan's gaze lingered on it. The badge bore her photo, her name, and a single line of information in bold print:
Osborn Trainee.
His brow lifted slightly. "You work here?"
Gwen's smile widened, and she puffed out her chest with pride. "That's right. I got the official offer just yesterday. As of today, I'm part of Osborn."
Her eyes curved into little crescents of joy, her whole face glowing with excitement.
It was no small accomplishment.
After all, the name Osborn was on everyone's lips these days. The company had exploded onto the global stage as a rising titan of biotechnology and medical innovation. Within a few short years, Osborn had grown into one of the top 50 most influential enterprises in the nation, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with corporations that had ruled for decades. Their advancements in core treatment technology alone had shaken entire industries.
For a young scientist like Gwen, being chosen as an intern there was the equivalent of being handed a golden ticket to the future.
"Not bad," Nathan murmured. "Congratulations."
Before Gwen could answer, something stirred at Nathan's chest.
A small, glossy black head peeked out cautiously from his jacket—two big, bright eyes blinking curiously.
Little Spider-Man.
The tiny creature tilted its head, locking its gaze on Gwen. For a moment, its normally playful expression hardened into something else—vigilance.
It was subtle, but Nathan noticed it immediately. His little companion was wary.
Gwen's eyes, however, widened in astonishment. "Oh my gosh!" she gasped. "Is… is that your pet? It's so cute!"
She bent down slightly, her voice dripping with awe.
Nathan gave the smallest nod.
"Can I… touch it?" Gwen asked hopefully.
The words had barely left her lips before Little Spider-Man reacted. With a swift movement, it snapped its head back and disappeared inside Nathan's jacket, retreating like a child hiding behind its parent's legs.
Nathan's voice was calm. "It doesn't like strangers."
Gwen's shoulders slumped a little, disappointment flashing across her face. "Ah… okay. I understand."
Still, her eyes lingered on Nathan with a gentle curiosity.
"You know," she said softly, "I didn't expect you to like spiders."
For Gwen Stacy, who secretly carried the mantle of Ghost Spider, spiders were far from ordinary creatures. Her entire life had been changed by the bite of one. She had a natural affection for them, a strange bond that went beyond simple biology. And yet, looking at Nathan, with the small spider creature that seemed so unique and… different… she felt something she couldn't quite explain.
What was it?
Was it just that Nathan's pet was adorably round-eyed and more expressive than any spider she had ever seen? Or was it something deeper, something she couldn't yet put into words?
Gwen didn't know.
But she did know one thing: because of the little spider on Nathan's chest, she found herself liking Nathan more than she expected.
---
"By the way," Gwen asked suddenly, "why are you here?"
Nathan didn't blink. "Just here to handle something."
Her eyes flicked to his chest, where she noticed something missing: no Osborn employee badge.
Realization dawned on her face.
To Gwen, it seemed obvious now. He must be some kind of outsourced worker—maybe here to repair equipment, maybe just maintenance or glass cleaning. She thought his reluctance to explain was out of embarrassment.
She didn't press the matter. Instead, she flashed him an encouraging smile.
"Well, if you ever need anything, let me know. As an intern at Osborn, I don't have much authority… but I still have a little pull."
She glanced at the clock on the wall and gasped.
"Yikes! I'm going to be late! I can't be late on my first day!"
She waved quickly. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
Before Nathan could reply, she spun on her heels and sprinted down the corridor, her blonde hair bouncing behind her.
Nathan watched her go, his expression unreadable. "So Gwen's part of Osborn now…" he murmured.
---
Just then, a familiar figure approached—Kurt, his trusted aide.
"Boss," Kurt asked casually, "is that girl someone you know?"
Nathan nodded once. "An acquaintance of sorts."
Kurt tilted his head. "Want me to keep an eye on her? Maybe give her some protection?"
Nathan's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Not protection. Something else."
Kurt leaned in, recognizing the tone that meant Nathan was about to give private orders.
"Find out the source of her powers," Nathan whispered. "Investigate how she got them."
Kurt froze, his eyes widening. "Powers? You mean she has… abilities?"
Nathan gave a slight nod.
Kurt swallowed, then straightened. "Understood, Boss. I'll handle it."
Nathan resumed walking. "And one more thing. The Hand—going forward, it's yours. Manage it. Expand the intelligence network."
Kurt stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes bulged in disbelief. "Boss… did you just say… the Hand? The top ninja organization from Hell's Kitchen?"
He had heard countless rumors about them—an organization steeped in shadows, feared across New York. Assassins, spies, mystics—their reach stretched further than most dared to admit.
And his boss had just said it as casually as one might assign someone the keys to a car.
Nathan turned, his gaze calm but unwavering. "Yes. They're yours now."
Kurt's throat went dry. For months, he had thought himself unshakable. He had served Nathan loyally, weathered impossible orders, grown more confident under his boss's guidance. But this?
The Hand was the stuff of legends.
For Nathan to have subdued them without even a ripple reaching the wider world… it was beyond comprehension.
Kurt swallowed hard, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You… you really are full of surprises, Boss."
Nathan didn't respond. He didn't need to.
---
Later that day, in a quiet room at Osborn, Gwen rode the elevator upwards. She glanced at her badge again, fingers tracing the Osborn logo.
Her lips curled into a quiet smile. "I made it," she whispered. "Osborn… I'm here."
---
Meanwhile, deep in his private lab, Nathan's research continued. The screens lit up with intricate formulas and experimental simulations.
Gamma signatures intertwined with crimson demonic energy, calculations of cell stability flashing across lines of code.
Nathan's eyes narrowed, then widened in triumph.
At last, the models stabilized.
He leaned back, a grin breaking across his usually stoic face.
"Very good. Finally… success."
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