Restart, Spider-Man!

Empire State University.

The rumble of a motorcycle echoed as it pulled into campus, skidding to a stop below the building.

Xia Luo yanked off his helmet and hurried into the classroom.

"You're late," Harry noted.

Sliding into his seat, Xia Luo shot him a side-eye. "I'm still doing better than you. This is the first time you've shown up to class in two months."

Harry twirled his pen nonchalantly. "You've only made it to a few more than I have."

He sighed. "We're doomed this semester."

Xia Luo grinned. "Only you are. Dr. Connors and Dr. Octavius already agreed to give me credit."

Harry nearly snapped his pen in two, his voice tight with frustration. "Why didn't you tell me about that kind of deal?"

"You never asked."

The gleam of satisfaction in Xia Luo's smile was hard to miss.

Just then, Dr. Octavius strode into the room.

"Apologies for my absence these past weeks, everyone. As you all know, my artificial sun experiment suffered a rather serious setback due to sabotage. But everything's back on track now, and I expect to resume as planned. Which means I'll be lecturing regularly."

His words made the class shift uncomfortably. What challenging project was coming this time?

Dr. Octavius glanced around, and his gaze settled on Xia Luo.

Sensing his stare, Xia Luo suddenly felt uneasy.

Tony was too busy upgrading his suit to help him out. Please, not tritium calculations again; he really couldn't do those.

Luckily, it wasn't quite that bad.

Dr. Octavius smiled. "Stark Industries recently released its synthetic webbing material, so today's project is to replicate that. Xia Luo, I understand you've done some research on synthetic webbing. How about a demonstration?"

Relieved, Xia Luo stepped up to the front and deftly synthesized a sample of artificial webbing, much to Dr. Octavius's satisfaction.

"Excellent, as expected of…"

The contact for Spider-Man.

These past few days, after discussions with S.H.I.E.L.D., Dr. Octavius had learned of Xia Luo's role.

He wasn't fond of the web-slinger who'd swiped his tech, but that didn't lessen his appreciation for Xia Luo's talents.

Exceptional people are always in demand. Spider-Man just happened to know him first, but Octavius believed he could win him over.

Soon after, class ended. Checking the time, Xia Luo turned to Harry.

"Harry, I've got to run. Connors needs me for something."

"Sure, sure. Run along, Mr. Big Shot," Harry grumbled, his gaze sour as Xia Luo hopped on his bike and headed toward Carter's mansion.

Dr. Connors was still staying with Carter for now, as the lizard scales on his forehead had yet to fully disappear.

Thirty minutes later, in Dr. Connors's lab.

"Hey, Dr. Connors, how've you been?"

Xia Luo greeted him with a wave, noticing Carter and Felicia were also in the lab.

"Something up?" he asked.

Felicia nodded. "With Carter's help, I managed to 'break' Adrian out. He's currently holed up in my castle."

"Don't even mention that castle."

"Fine," she sighed, pulling out her portable computer.

On-screen, Adrian was holed up in a makeshift lab, carefully repairing his Vulture suit, oblivious to the surveillance.

"Are we really letting him fix his suit?" Carter frowned.

Felicia shrugged. "The plan's changed. He's still on guard. I'll need more time to earn his trust. If we want to find out how he uses the Time Stone, we'll have to wait and let him demonstrate it for us."

Xia Luo nodded. "As long as we have the stone, we've got the upper hand."

"Except you handed it over to S.H.I.E.L.D.," Felicia grumbled.

Xia Luo smirked. "Who said I actually gave it to S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

He moved to a corner of the lab, pulling a black cloth away to reveal…the real Time Stone.

Felicia's eyes widened. "The one you gave to S.H.I.E.L.D. was a fake?"

"Obviously."

Carter chuckled. "Giving them the real one would've been a waste. They wouldn't have figured it out anyway."

Dr. Connors chimed in, "Carter's connections at S.H.I.E.L.D. mean they won't question it. We've got her to thank for that."

"Yep," Carter said, proudly tapping the badge on her chest. "I'm now Deputy Director, so my clearance is much higher. With Fury's missteps, the director's chair will be mine in no time." She grinned smugly.

"Power-hungry," Xia Luo muttered.

"By the way, how's that 'thing' coming along?" he asked.

"Which thing?"

"You know, that thing."

"Oh, right. The thing." Carter cleared her throat. "Since Kingpin's disappearance, Hell's Kitchen has descended into chaos. But with your and Spider-Man's help from the shadows, Ben and May have started to consolidate Kingpin's forces. The trouble is, they've hit a snag."

"With whom?"

"Kingpin's lawyer, Matt Murdock."

"Matt?"

Xia Luo's face changed. "He's Kingpin's lawyer?"

"Yes, a top-notch lawyer Kingpin poached from Stark's circle."

Carter looked serious. "With Murdock around, we've failed to gather enough evidence to arrest many of Kingpin's associates. Ben and May are capable, but they're no match for the real Spider-Man. Hell's Kitchen might spiral out of control again soon."

She continued, "And not just that. Kingpin has other dangerous operatives—likely waiting for his return or planning to assassinate Ben and May. They're in real danger."

Xia Luo frowned. "Looks like Kingpin wasn't entirely honest with me. I'm cutting off his formula for two days to remind him who's in charge."

Felicia blinked. "You think that's a threat?"

"Oh, it's a threat." Xia Luo pulled a can of formula from his bag. "I'll make Kingpin watch as I pour every last drop into the toilet." His grin was wicked.

Dr. Connors chuckled approvingly. "A brilliant strategy—using formula as leverage. I'm impressed."

Carter made a face. "That's such a ridiculous image."

She shook her head. "I should get going; there's work waiting back at headquarters. Fury seems to have caught onto our plan—he's clinging to Alexei for dear life. I can't lose my first Thunderbolt so soon."

"In that case, it's time for a special operation to make Fury back off."

Xia Luo's grin turned mischievous. "Hell's Kitchen will be lively tonight. Get Fury involved, and Alexei will give him quite the surprise."

Carter paused, then matched his wicked smile.

"Oh, I'm looking forward to tonight's surprise."

Watching their sinister smiles, Felicia instinctively took a step back.

These two were beginning to look more like villains than heroes.

---

"Hey, look what I brought you, little buddy."

At that moment, baby Kingpin was dealing with a very unfortunate diaper situation. But the instant he saw the formula in Xia Luo's hands, his face lit up with excitement.

"Goo-goo~"

In the next second—

"Goo-goo… WAAAH!!"

Baby Kingpin shrieked in horror as he watched his precious formula being heartlessly dumped into the toilet by the devil himself.

Tears streamed down his face, his tiny heart shattered; he felt an anguish that words could not express.

"Mr. Fisk, this is what happens when you don't tell the truth."

With a cold expression, Xia Luo installed the chip into the headset, activating the neuro-link to communicate with baby Kingpin.

"I told you everything, I swear," baby Kingpin whimpered.

Xia Luo crossed his arms. "But not everything that matters."

"You didn't ask, so I didn't think of it."

"Oh, so now it's my fault?"

"Who else's would it be?"

"Are you sure about that?"

Xia Luo pulled out a second can of formula from his bag.

"It's my fault, it's my fault!!" Baby Kingpin's gums clenched as if he had teeth. Well, he didn't—but he would've ground them if he did.

"Now, about Matt Murdock. What's his deal?" Xia Luo handed the formula over to the little guy.

Clutching the can as though his life depended on it, baby Kingpin muttered, "He's an undercover spy, planted close to me for years. I've known he was after me for a long time."

"But right now, he's guarding your territory."

"I expected that. He's not doing it for me, but for Elektra—his ex. She's my top assassin, the best I've recruited."

Xia Luo nodded thoughtfully. "And he's a lawyer… this really isn't what he should be doing."

Baby Kingpin gave him a side-eye. "Matt became a lawyer to settle scores, not to serve justice."

"Oh, I get it now. He's not a hero—yet. He just needs a mentor to show him what it means to be one."

Xia Luo tossed back his hair confidently. "And there's only one person who could take on that role: Spider-Man."

"With great power comes great responsibility. That line should resonate with him too."

Baby Kingpin's face went deadpan.

"How many people have you fooled with that line?" he asked, scowling.

Xia Luo wagged his finger. "It's not fooling anyone. It's Spider-Man's guiding principle—a timeless truth."

"Only a fool would fall for that garbage," baby Kingpin scoffed.

Xia Luo shrugged. "True. At this point, he's probably the only one who still believes it."

"Well, enough chit-chat. I'm off to dismantle your empire."

With that, he pocketed the neuro-link device and turned to leave.

Behind him, baby Kingpin cried out.

Wait—don't go!!

You forgot to mix my formula!

Come back and make my formula, you monster!!

But the door closed mercilessly behind Xia Luo.

Staring at the dark, cold room around him, baby Kingpin felt the chill seep into his very soul.

Hmph. When I'm big enough…

I'm going to make my own formula!!

---

Neon lights glowed against the night as Xia Luo strolled solo down the streets.

"Hey handsome, want some company?"

A woman waved to him from the Red Light District. Xia Luo patted his empty pockets, then gave her a disdainful look.

"What's your rate?"

"Three hundred."

"Too cheap. I'll pass."

He moved on quickly, hearing a muttered "cheapskate" behind him.

Nearby bystanders, noticing this exchange, also quickly lost interest in him as a target. Clearly, a poor young guy wasn't worth the trouble.

Soon, Xia Luo arrived outside Kingpin's mansion. This place had become Ben and May Parker's new headquarters since they'd taken over.

A guard in a sharp suit noticed Xia Luo loitering nearby and waved him off, unamused.

"Kid, get lost. This isn't a place for someone like you."

Xia Luo lifted his chin, looking down his nose at him.

"You may not care about me now, but someday, I'll be way out of your league."

Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

The guard glared after him. If it weren't for the new boss's orders, they would've taught that arrogant kid a lesson by now.

With a smug smile, Xia Luo made his way to a nearby underground bar.

In the hidden basement, a well-dressed blind lawyer sat calmly at a table, surrounded by rough-looking men with tattoos and intimidating faces.

"Mr. Murdock, those two are really pushing us. Say the word, and we'll carve them up."

"Yeah, Spider-Man or not, this is Hell's Kitchen, not his playground."

"They're locking up more of us every day—guys who'll be in jail for life. We don't want that future."

The gangsters spoke up angrily, their voices competing, but Murdock remained calm, seemingly ignoring them until they settled down. Only then did he reach up and remove the earbuds he'd been wearing.

Since losing his sight, his remaining senses were incredibly sharp. To avoid sensory overload, he'd learned to use earplugs in noisy places.

The lawyer instinctively turned his unseeing eyes around the room, but he didn't hear the heartbeat he was listening for.

"Where's Bullseye?" he asked.

One of the men stood up. "As soon as the boss vanished, he ran off looking for new clients. No loyalty, that guy."

Murdock frowned. With Bullseye gone, who could help him locate the missing Kingpin?

After a moment's thought, another man made a suggestion.

"The boss left behind a genetic disruptor. We could use that to kill those two Spidey wannabes."

"No way. That's meant for the real Spider-Man. Using it on those fakes is a waste."

"Then what do we do? Those two are tougher than any other copycats we've faced. Without the disruptor, we can't take them down."

"Then why'd you act all tough earlier, saying you'd go in there and kill them yourself?"

"Because…if I didn't, I'd look weak."

"Idiot."

As the argument broke out again, Murdock suddenly tilted his head, listening to something outside. Without a word, he got up and headed for the door.

On the rooftop, a web hammock swayed gently in the breeze.

Murdock stopped at its edge, tapping his cane lightly against the ground.

"Spider-Man?"

Xia Luo sat up, whistling as he stretched. "Yeah, that's me. And you're Matt Murdock?"

"I am. I knew you'd come looking for me."

Murdock spoke steadily. "I'm aware of your plans. I don't intend to interfere, but I need to find Kingpin."

"I can tell you where Kingpin is, but first, you'll have to deal with the people inside for me," Xia Luo replied.

Murdock frowned. "You could take care of them yourself. Why ask me?"

"Tonight's…not convenient for me."

Murdock: "..."

---

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