Marvel: Hunter

Chapter 420 420: Help

It sounded like a countdown. Only when he got closer did he realize—it really was one.

…

…

"It's started."

The moment Blaine finished speaking, a loud bang erupted behind him. A crackling surge of electricity followed, along with panicked screams from the crowd.

What had just occurred was only the first wave of the alien device's detonation—a powerful shockwave that instantly disabled all electrical systems. After the countdown, the real explosion would follow. Although it was only a small mechanical device, if it fully detonated, it could very well wipe Big Ben off the map entirely.

If Blaine's guess was correct, that hadn't been Vulture's intention. After all, he was still human, not some mindless killer. There was a difference between dealing in alien weapons and outright mass murder.

Vulture's original plan was likely just to mislead Spider-Man and teach him a lesson—to make sure he stopped interfering.

Unfortunately, things hadn't gone as planned. The device had ended up in Ned's hands, and its X-ray trigger had been accidentally activated. Meanwhile, Spider-Man, likely on his way to track down one of Vulture's associates for information, had discovered too late that the device wasn't just a tracker—it was a ticking time bomb.

A bomb that would activate under X-ray exposure.

After the shockwave hit, Blaine looked up. As expected, the elevator carrying Ned, MJ, and the others was stuck near the top of the structure. Worse, the cables had been severely damaged by the blast. At this rate, it wouldn't hold much longer. Given enough time, the entire elevator could plunge down, turning everyone inside into pulp.

Inside, the trapped passengers clung to each other in terror. Outside, the crowd scattered like startled birds, fleeing in panic. A handful of security personnel struggled to maintain order, evacuating tourists while urgently calling for police and firefighters.

Outside the structure, even Happy, still on the school bus, hurriedly reported the situation.

Amid the tense countdown, Blaine extended his mental senses, searching for something. As for the chaos unfolding around him—he remained completely indifferent.

He wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D., nor was he a superhero. The notion that great power came with great responsibility didn't apply to him. Whether people lived or died had nothing to do with him.

Finally, just as Blaine waited, a figure in a red suit sprinted into view.

Spider-Man.

After learning the truth about the alien device, he had immediately called Ned. Realizing the danger caused by Ned's mistake, Spider-Man abandoned all hesitation and rushed over at full speed.

Somehow, he already knew Ned and MJ were trapped at the top. Perhaps it was thanks to a new function Ned had added to the Spider suit the night before. In any case, Spider-Man climbed frantically, scaling the structure with both hands and feet.

Blaine activated his stealth and followed, rising silently after him.

As they neared the top, an absurd scene unfolded. Police helicopters had arrived, attempting to rescue the trapped civilians first.

But this was Washington, not Queens.

The officers didn't recognize Spider-Man's actions as heroic. Instead, they nearly treated him as a threat—almost opening fire on him in the chaos.

At the top of Big Ben, several specially reinforced, shockproof, bulletproof panes of military-grade tempered glass surrounded the structure. Perhaps they were there for better lighting inside, or perhaps purely for aesthetics.

But now, they had become a potential entry point for little Spider-Man. Unfortunately, an awkward scene unfolded. He hammered at the glass several times with all his strength, but it didn't budge at all—not even a scratch appeared. As expected, it truly was military-grade bulletproof glass.

"Hi, little Spider-Man."

"I guess you'll need my help this time."

"Oh, oh, Mr. Hunter,"

"Quick, help me,"

"The bomb is about to go off."

The sudden voice didn't startle little Spider-Man this time. Instead, he seemed accustomed to Blaine's appearances.

"Alright, then let me lay the groundwork for our next deal first."

"How cheap can this be for you?"

"This won't set a precedent."

Little Spider-Man, clearly anxious, had no patience to keep humoring Blaine. Seeing this, Blaine figured he should make an exception for now—let him get inside first, then discuss payment later.

Blaine raised his arm. With what looked like nothing more than a light tap, the tempered glass in front of little Spider-Man shattered instantly.

To little Spider-Man, it was impenetrable bulletproof glass. To Blaine, it was as fragile as paper—easily broken with a poke.

The moment the window shattered, little Spider-Man didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, two strands of web shot out and stuck to the stone walls of Big Ben. Then, using himself like a slingshot, he launched straight inside.

"Hey, wait a second,"

"Shouldn't we talk about the payment first?"

Blaine quickly realized something was off. Little Spider-Man's urgency left no room for negotiation at all.

"Uh, that… that…"

"System, just now—does that count as me completing the task without getting paid?"

[Not counted.]

[That was just the host's wishful thinking.]

The system's response was merciless. Only someone as thick-skinned as Blaine would ask a question he already knew the answer to.

With no other choice, Blaine followed him inside, planning to assess the situation and find the right moment to pitch his services. At that moment, he truly felt like a sales worker—carrying a briefcase all day, chasing after big shots and celebrities to promote himself and his "products."

"Hmph, selling is selling,"

"Which big shot didn't start from the bottom?"

"Here I am today, tailing little Spider-Man,"

"And he didn't even hire me."

After muttering to himself and firming his resolve, Blaine stepped into Big Ben.

Inside, little Spider-Man was fully focused, just like before. Two strands of web were anchored to the stone walls, while another was wrapped tightly around the elevator, pulling it upward with all his strength.

Fortunately, he had arrived just in time. All the cables had already snapped, and the elevator was on the verge of plummeting. But with a single web line, little Spider-Man turned the situation around and saved everyone inside.

"Hi, hi—Spider-Man!"

"Look, Spider-Man is here to save us!"

"I told you Spider-Man would never abandon us!"

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