Ned Leeds is Peter's best friend, a tech geek and a "human plug-in."
If you get fooled by his chubby, dark, slightly simple and honest appearance and think he's just a silly kid, then you're completely wrong.
By observing small details, he was the first person to discover Peter's identity as Spider-Man, and he became the logistical support in Peter's operations.
When Peter mentioned that they would have lunch together with Corin, Ned clung to Gwen, whining and begging to join as well.
Out of his passion for technology, Ned had mentioned many times that Tony Stark was his idol, but he knew that in Peter's heart the one he admired even more was the Crimson Duke.
Whether it was Iron Man or the Crimson Duke, Ned had finally managed to grab a chance to get close to a superhero.
Even though this was Gwen's family dinner, he still shamelessly came along.
The moment he walked in the door, Peter dragged him over to help with things, and he didn't get to see New York's public idol right away. It made his heart itch like it was being scratched by a cat's claws.
"Hurry up and clean this. You'll see him in a bit."
Peter, who was also helping in the kitchen, looked at his buddy's somewhat innocent chubby face and comforted him helplessly.
'I also want to have a good talk with Mr. Corin, but didn't I get dragged over here to work too?'
'You might as well work with me, bud.'
———
Leaving aside the two boys quietly speeding things up so they could meet their idol sooner.
George stood on the balcony, looked at the family and friends inside the room, exhaled a cloud of smoke, then looked seriously at Corin and sighed, "Mr. Crimson Duke, thank you… for everything."
Corin directly pinched the cigarette butt out with his fingers.
"Good people shouldn't get a bad ending, right?"
George really wanted to agree with Corin, but someone who had seen all kinds of things in society couldn't say the same words.
Those who kill and set fires end up rich and powerful.
Thinking about the comrades who had died in gunfights, George wanted to save them too, but reality was clearly much crueler.
"But some good people… already reached their ending."
Seeing the trace of loneliness on George's face from recalling the past, Corin shook his head helplessly.
'If someone else dies it's fine as long as I live. Even superheroes can't save everyone. Do you think a police captain can?'
Corin had no intention of discussing this issue in depth with him.
"Captain, a friendly reminder. When you go to work, wear your bulletproof vest."
In free America, there are gunfights every day. That's no joke.
Hearing Corin's simple and blunt advice, George nodded and laughed.
"That really is a good idea."
What George was most grateful to Corin for was that he saved his daughter. That kind of gratitude was even stronger than when Corin had saved him before.
"Dinner is ready!"
At this moment, Gwen's bright voice came from inside, loudly calling everyone.
———
Ned finally met the legendary Crimson Duke.
"Hello! My name is Ned Leeds. Your… your suit and mask?"
The little chubby guy's face flushed red with excitement. Standing by the dining table, he looked at the man in front of him and didn't dare sit down for a long time.
Under the warm invitations of George and his wife and Gwen, everyone sat down one after another.
Corin recognized Ned, the team's technical support. After glancing at Alyssa, who was also proficient with computers, he smiled.
"No need to be polite. Actually, that suit and mask came about partly because of some coincidences."
"You might not know this…"
"Originally I had no plan at all to make such a flashy outfit."
The moment Corin started talking, he drew everyone's attention, to the point that they even forgot to eat.
As Corin shared past stories in a relaxed and friendly way, bursts of cheerful laughter kept coming from the dining room.
"Come on. Let's welcome Mr. Crimson Duke and Miss Alyssa! Thank you for everything you've done, and for today's reunion. Cheers!"
Seeing that no one had started eating yet, George raised his glass first and suggested beginning the meal.
"Cheers!"
Everyone raised the cups in their hands. Of course, most of them were drinks.
Outside the window, a light drizzle began falling again, but it didn't affect the lively atmosphere in the dining room at all.
After getting a little more familiar, Ned started showing his goofy side, constantly throwing out tricky questions that made everyone burst into laughter.
And Corin's answers were always full of humor, without the slightest air of a superhero.
It made everyone's understanding of the Crimson Duke more vivid and complete.
Finally, through Corin's introduction, Ned met a stunningly beautiful woman who was dazzling to look at, Alyssa.
"I thought she was just Mr. Crimson Duke's girlfriend, but I didn't expect she's also good at hacking... and doesn't seem weak at all?"
Ned, who had been stammering awkwardly when facing Alyssa earlier, instantly changed his aura when the topic turned to something he was good at.
He threw out several hacker-related questions to Alyssa, but she answered them cleverly.
Although no one else understood what the two of them were discussing, judging from Ned's increasingly ugly expression, Alyssa's level was clearly not something this tech geek could match for now.
What a person is good at is often what they like.
When Alyssa was working solo in the bounty hunter world back then, she had taught herself hacking, even reaching the level where she could casually browse backstage information from the underground black market.
With Stark's technology and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s authorization added on top of that, Alyssa's technical ability had received another systematic boost.
Of course Ned, this tech geek, couldn't compare.
Seeing himself completely crushed by Alyssa in every direction, Ned experienced a brief moment of frustration, then his eyes suddenly lit up and he clung to Alyssa, asking to become her apprentice.
And when he heard that Corin and the others also had a secret base, he became even more eager, wanting to go see it for himself.
Alyssa was someone who cared about looks. She had no feelings toward the little chubby guy in front of her, so she cast a pleading look toward Corin.
Corin couldn't help laughing, thinking to himself, 'This is Marvel's number one mage. Why wouldn't I hurry up and recruit him?'
Clearing his throat, he said to Alyssa, "It's not easy to meet a kid with the same interests. You can take him along sometimes."
Then he looked at Ned.
"You're welcome anytime."
Corin's attitude moved Ned so much he nearly ascended on the spot. In his heart he screamed, "Holy crap!
"Who said superheroes are all arrogant and look down on everyone?"
"Mr. Crimson Duke is clearly really friendly!"
Thinking that he could visit a superhero's base anytime in the future, Ned got so excited he shoveled down another bowl of rice.
Alyssa widened her big sparkling eyes and looked at Corin, sending a silent signal.
"You sure about this?"
Corin answered with his eyes.
"You won't regret it!"
Out of trust in Corin, Alyssa accepted Ned's request, but she refused to let him call her "teacher." She didn't want others to know she had such a fat and dark apprentice.
"Call me big sister!"
Alyssa rolled her eyes at Ned and began her endless life of disliking him.
There was no helping it. Since Corin had already made the decision, she could only agree. After all, he was the boss.
Besides, he paid far too much, both day and night.
When Peter and Gwen heard that Corin actually allowed Ned to visit his secret base, the way they looked at Ned immediately changed.
Why does this dumb chubby guy get to go?
Looking at Ned acting all smug, the young couple said in unison:
"We want to go too!"
Watching the lively scene of the young people in front of them, Aunt May and George and his wife showed knowing smiles.
Crack!
At that moment, a loud thunderclap sounded outside the window, startling Ned. The tableware in his hand slipped and fell.
Buzz!
Corin's eyes moved slightly as magnetic control quietly activated.
The spoon suddenly stopped mid-fall, then slowly floated back to Ned's hand.
The little chubby guy stared at the scene in front of him, mouth wide open in disbelief, the rice in his mouth almost falling out.
The others were also shocked by the almost magical method.
When the spoon returned to Ned's hand, Corin's voice sounded at the same time.
"In my hometown, if your tableware falls on the ground while eating, you'll get beaten."
As Corin's voice gradually faded, he turned his head and looked into the distance.
Everyone at the table thought the rainy day had stirred up Corin's homesickness, and the laughter and conversation immediately softened.
But in fact, Corin had just accidentally noticed a beam of light flashing away together with the lightning just now.
With such a unique entrance style, who else could it be besides Thor?
Has the Bifrost been repaired?
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