Obedience

His gaze rested on Pietro, and Zhang Ye’s expression turned somewhat uneasy.

Among everyone present, Pietro was probably the person closest to Zhang Ye. He had not only been Zhang Ye’s companion ever since Zhang Ye first crossed over, but also the "family" member who had shared hardships with him the longest.

Pietro and Zhang Ye had a life-and-death bond. Without Pietro, Zhang Ye likely would not have been able to escape that universe. They were brothers who knew each other inside and out.

Zhang Ye had placed nearly all of his trust in him.

But now, Venom’s words had cast an eerie veil over everything Zhang Ye had once known so well about Pietro.

Miss Minutes, can you check whether there’s anything else on Pietro? Zhang Ye called out to Miss Minutes in his mind.

Checking. Please wait.

Check complete. No abnormalities found. Would you like to view Pietro's soul slide?

No need. Zhang Ye frowned, then could not help asking again. There really aren’t any abnormalities? Maybe something is attached to his mental world, or somewhere else.

Sorry, I found no records of any differences in Pietro’s body, soul, or mind from before. There are also no traces of erasure, alteration, replacement, or contamination.

Frowning, Zhang Ye pondered for a moment before tentatively asking Pietro.

"Pietro, since we met, you haven’t experienced anything unbelievably bizarre, have you?"

Pietro froze at the question. He did not understand why Zhang Ye would believe the words of something that clearly was not an organic life-form, but since Zhang Ye had asked, he carefully searched his memories.

The windmill turned, and the scent of grass and soil filled Pietro’s nostrils. The next moment, Pietro slowly shook his head and answered with clear eyes, "No. I don’t know anything."

Zhang Ye did not reply. He merely fell silent in thought.

Everyone else wisely refrained from disturbing him. Ashley and Blood Baron especially knew that this was no longer a topic they could involve themselves in.

Right now, it was best to stay quiet and keep the others from noticing them.

The atmosphere gradually grew heavy. After a moment—

"I really don’t know anything." Pietro was starting to feel unnerved by Zhang Ye’s stare.

"Don’t be nervous. I would never doubt my own brother." Zhang Ye withdrew his gaze. He could guarantee that Pietro was still the person he remembered, that there was no soul from another world inside him. But that did not mean there was nothing else on him.

Perhaps it was the gaze of an upper-level narrator, perhaps contamination from a higher dimension, or perhaps something else entirely.

Zhang Ye could not determine it yet, but he knew Pietro carried a tremendous secret—one that was likely connected to the Ruined Universe, perhaps even to the Time Twister.

"It’s time to discuss your problem, Ashley." Zhang Ye knew now was not the time to dwell on Pietro. He turned and walked up to Ashley. "Honestly, I’m still surprised you managed to find your way here."

"I didn’t know where you went, but I guessed that since you’re supposedly a ‘hero,’ you’d be interested in Osborn. So I came here to try my luck." Ashley met Zhang Ye’s gaze without fear.

"I see." Zhang Ye now understood why this girl had come here. Her finding him had been purely a matter of luck. "Then what would you have done if I hadn’t come here?"

Ashley clenched her fists and answered, "It wouldn’t have mattered if I didn’t find you. I would’ve killed Osborn and his Villain Alliance!"

"Like a superhero," Blood Baron said with a sinister chuckle.

"I’m not some goddamn superhero!" Ashley instantly bristled. She glared viciously at Blood Baron and spoke word by word.

"The superheroes already failed. They died in that battle long ago. That proves only one thing: so-called ‘heroes’ are bullshit. If you want to take down other villains, then you have to become a villain stronger than them!"

"So that’s what you think. No wonder I always felt a strong sense of discord coming from you." Zhang Ye smiled and shook his head before continuing. "I don’t care what you think, but you should understand that I won’t allow anyone who knows where we came from to remain alive in this world."

"Fine! Then kill me if you’ve got the guts—mmph!"

"The child doesn’t know any better, sir. Please don’t take offense." Venom directly stuffed Ashley’s mouth shut, then shook his head at Zhang Ye with an ingratiating smile.

"Ugh, why are you stopping me?!" There was not a trace of fear in Ashley’s eyes, only boundless fury.

"Just shut up already." Venom was starting to regret possessing this little girl. Her mind was even more stubborn than those insane Skrulls. "Rest assured, sir, we will act entirely according to your instructions and will not raise any objections."

"Really?" Zhang Ye raised an eyebrow.

"Scout’s honor." Venom controlled Ashley and spoke in unison with her.

"It had better be." Zhang Ye nodded casually. "As it happens, I need some manpower right now. Osborn City’s villains are nothing special, but taking them out quickly without anyone noticing won’t be easy. With your help, things might become simpler."

Zhang Ye did not care what Ashley was thinking right now, nor did he care about Venom’s little schemes. To educate disobedient people like them, there was no need to punish them too harshly. Just keep them firmly in hand and lock them by one’s side. Given enough time, they would naturally change.

Perhaps this was what people meant by, "Those near vermilion turn red, those near ink turn black." Maturity and change never required some major event. It did not necessarily take someone dying or a car accident to make one see the light.

More often, one simply woke up one day, or happened to witness someone else’s actions, and suddenly understood something in one’s heart, undoing a knot that had long seemed impossible to untie.

"Rest assured, Wizard. Your loyal servant will become the vanguard that expands your territory. It’s time for that damned skull to pay the price he deserves."

Since resistance was impossible, it was better to offer his loyalty quickly. Hearing Zhang Ye’s words, Blood Baron immediately pulled his lips into a ferocious grin.

Venom on the other side nodded repeatedly as well. "Us too. You know me, sir. I fully understand my host’s thoughts. This little girl has already prostrated herself before you."

"I haven’t…!"

Ashley opened her mouth, then turned her head away under Zhang Ye’s gaze and let out a cold snort.

".Fine, but only temporarily."