I'M IN MARVEL

The daylight was long, and the cool night descended over New York.

Russell stirred awake, feeling his body refreshed and comfortable. Stretching and glancing around, he noticed he was alone in the consultation room. Dr. Yao had left, but a note was left on the table.

It was a consultation schedule:

"3 pm every Saturday."

A small message accompanied it:

"If you need to make changes, Russell, you can adjust the time on the note. I'll arrange it flexibly according to your schedule.

– Dr. Yao"

Russell made no changes, left the note where it was, and exited the clinic. Getting into his car, he started the engine and began the drive back to his apartment in Queens.

The streets of New York were enchanting at night, though sparsely populated. Few pedestrians wandered the sidewalks, and even fewer young women.

Unfortunately, Russell spotted one—a blonde girl being pursued by a vampire.

"Little girl, you look like you're in trouble. Need some help?"

Pulling over, Russell rolled down the window and addressed the girl.

She turned toward him, her blue eyes brimming with a mix of caution and indecision. She seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

As she lingered, Russell took the opportunity to analyze her appearance.

Blonde bob-cut hair, piercing blue eyes, a stunning face, and a tall yet petite frame of about 1.65 meters—she appeared no older than 18.

Her presence was puzzling. A girl of her stature and seemingly good upbringing had no reason to wander alone in the dimly lit streets of Queens.

"Bang!"

A sudden thud on the car roof broke the moment.

"Hey, pal! Don't meddle in business that ain't yours," barked the vampire, who had caught up to her.

Russell sighed. "I hate vampires."

He pulled an ultraviolet flashlight from the glove compartment and shone it on the creature.

Vampires—Blade universe edition—shared the standard weaknesses: ultraviolet light, garlic, and silver. Their arrogance, however, remained unmatched.

The vampire hissed, disintegrating into ash under the harsh light.

The blonde girl facepalmed, shaking her head with a weary smile. "I was trying to lure him out to track down his victims. Thanks for ruining my plan."

"Really? My bad," Russell replied, scratching his head in embarrassment.

The average person would have reacted in shock to such an event, but her calm demeanor was telling.

"Forget it; you meant well," she said, pulling up her hood.

With a flick of her wrist, she shot out a strand of spider silk and swung into the night sky.

Her voice echoed as she disappeared, "I'll track him another way. His scent is unforgettable."

"Spider-Woman?" Russell muttered, watching her fade into the distance.

"No," her voice echoed faintly, "Ghost Spider."

Russell leaned against his car, dumbfounded.

This world was full of surprises.

In the morning, his therapist had been none other than the Ancient One. By evening, he had encountered a girl who appeared to be Gwen Stacy, swinging through Queens as Ghost Spider.

But wasn't Gwen Stacy's father, George Stacy, only around 30 years old in this timeline? Was she from another dimension?

Puzzled, Russell returned home.

---

His apartment sat on the seventh floor of an old building in Queens, with the lower six floors serving as a bookstore.

He hadn't planned the setup himself; a few days ago, he had purchased the property from a man named Hong Fei.

Hong Fei had sold it for less than market value, with one condition: the bookstore must remain operational, as it was his late parents' legacy.

Russell had agreed, partly for the price and partly to pass the time while waiting for his mysterious panel to upgrade.

Turning on the TV, he sought some entertainment.

"Emergency Notice!"

The broadcast cut to a live scene of chaos in New York:

Two massive robots were battling in the streets. One, a silver-gray mechanical giant with an oversized arm, held a smaller red-and-gold robot in a death grip.

Russell instantly recognized the combatants.

Iron Monger and Iron Man.

This was the climactic fight from Iron Man (2008), where Tony Stark confronted Obadiah Stane outside Stark Industries.

Despite knowing the significance of the battle, Russell had no intention of interfering.

Tony Stark's friendship was valuable, and Russell did hope to befriend the genius billionaire someday. But now was not the time.

For one, Russell's abilities were still in their infancy. While he could withstand small-caliber bullets, react faster than most humans, and launch basic psychic attacks, his lack of mobility and vulnerability to high-caliber weapons made him ill-suited for large-scale combat.

Sure, he was 90% confident he could subdue Stane with a mental attack.

But in this world, 90% wasn't good enough. Only a 98% certainty was worth risking his life.

Secondly, his current identity was a fabricated one that couldn't withstand scrutiny. Getting involved would attract unwanted attention from S.H.I.E.L.D. or worse, HYDRA.

He needed to remain a "good citizen" and develop quietly.

As the scene played out on TV, a black-and-white figure swung into view—a hooded hero joining the fray.

Ghost Spider.

Russell smiled.

Ghost Spider had already proven herself as a capable hero across dimensions. With her aid, Tony Stark's Mark III armor would easily overpower Iron Monger.

Taking out his phone, he noted the time: 10:24 PM, October 24, 2010.

It was still early. Remembering Dr. Yao's advice, Russell drafted a recruitment notice to post outside the bookstore:

---

[Help Wanted: Reading Room Administrator]**

Job Responsibilities: Negotiable.

Application Conditions: Negotiable.

Salary: Negotiable.

Hours: 10 AM to 4 PM, with a two-hour lunch break.

---

Satisfied with his unconventional recruitment strategy, Russell decided to post it in the morning.

For now, he would bide his time, waiting for his panel to finish upgrading. When it did, he would finally make his mark on this chaotic world.