บท 56: Chapter 56 The Aftermath

Leaving Hell's Kitchen with the bottle of whiskey gifted by Batman, Spider-Man walked home in a daze, his head swimming with disbelief and joy.

He still couldn't wrap his head around it: not only had he met his idol, but Batman had also given him a gift!

"Peter, why are you home so late?"

When Peter Parker opened the door, he found his Uncle Ben sitting sternly in the living room. His gaze immediately locked onto the bottle of whiskey in Peter's hands, and his expression darkened.

Uncle Ben recognized the whiskey at once.

Despite his modest means, Uncle Ben knew a thing or two about fine alcohol. This particular bottle—a rare Old Malt Cask Laphroaig 17-Year (1987 Distillation)—was almost impossible to find on the market.

The fact that Peter was holding such a high-value, authentic bottle made Ben suspicious.

"Peter, what did you do?" Uncle Ben's voice was serious, his eyes narrowing as he asked, "Where did you get this?"

"Uh… I, uh…" Peter stammered, his mind scrambling for an explanation but coming up blank.

What neither of them realized was that Peter's encounter in Hell's Kitchen had unknowingly altered the course of fate.

In the original timeline, Uncle Ben was supposed to die that very night from a gunshot.

This phenomenon was the butterfly effect: a seemingly minor change, like a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon, could lead to a tornado in Texas weeks later.

Meanwhile, Anton, back in his usual appearance, walked out of Hell's Kitchen with Eddie.

At the neighborhood's edge, they met Winston, who had been waiting for them.

"Kingpin men are taken care of. Hell's Kitchen belongs to us now," Winston said with a satisfied smile.

The surrounding streets bore evidence of a fierce battle: lingering traces of floodwaters, splatters of blood in the corners, and bullet holes peppering the walls.

"If you need anything in the future, don't hesitate to contact us. We'll do everything we can to help," Winston added. "After this successful partnership, you'll always be honored guests of the High Table and the Continental."

"By blood oath?" Anton asked with a smile.

"By blood oath," Winston replied solemnly.

"In that case, I'll give you some advice," Anton continued. "Daredevil is a native of Hell's Kitchen. He doesn't want this place to revert to chaos. The High Table is a rule-based organization. As long as you enforce your rules here, he won't interfere."

"Understood," Winston nodded, recognizing the advice as Batman way of ensuring peace in the area.

With that, Anton and Eddie waved goodbye and headed back to the Daily Bugle.

"The front page needs a new headline tomorrow," Eddie said with a grin, waving his camera. "Daredevil, Venom, Batman, and that little Spider—Kingpin didn't lose unfairly."

He didn't mention Coulson or SHIELD, knowing such organizations preferred to stay out of public reports.

"You're right," Anton agreed with a smile. "People will love seeing New York become a better place."

The Next Day

The Daily Bugle hit the stands with a front-page headline:

"Kingpin Arrested! Crime Empire Toppled! Four Heroes Cleanse Hell's Kitchen!"

Half the page was taken up by a striking color photograph featuring:

Daredevil, the brooding protector of Hell's Kitchen.Batman, America's most famous vigilante.Venom, the misunderstood anti-hero who had fought alongside Batman before.Spider-Man, the scrappy newcomer in a makeshift costume.

While Daredevil and Batman were already well-known, Venom's presence intrigued readers. People recalled his previous appearance on the Golden Gate Bridge, battling another monster alongside Batman. It seemed Venom wasn't a villain after all, but rather an ally to Batman.

As for Spider-Man, the public reaction was mixed.

"Spider-Man?"

"He looks like a high school kid. What can he even do?"

"Can he shoot webs? Climb walls? That doesn't sound cool at all."

Midtown High School

Peter Parker, now more attuned to his surroundings thanks to his enhanced senses, overheard these dismissive remarks. His spider-sense, like a sixth sense, made him acutely aware of his classmates' skepticism.

Biting his lip, Peter felt conflicted. The Daily Bugle had called him a superhero, which made him proud, but his peers' doubts stirred a desire to prove himself.

"You seem upset," a sweet voice said suddenly.

Peter turned to see Gwen Stacy, the school's golden girl and resident beauty. With her blonde hair and sharp intellect, Gwen was both admired and respected. Her father, NYPD Captain George Stacy, added to her untouchable aura.

"You're a fan of Spider-Man?" Gwen asked, noticing Peter's discomfort with the ongoing discussions.

"Yes," Peter admitted, blushing slightly.

Gwen smiled. "I think he's great. He seems like someone our age, but brave enough to stand beside Batman. That takes courage."

"Really?" Peter's eyes lit up.

From that moment, Peter resolved to embrace his role as Spider-Man, not just for himself but to inspire others.

Fate, as it turned out, had a way of correcting itself. While Uncle Ben's life had been spared, Peter still found his purpose—not through loss, but through the pursuit of courage and responsibility. His destiny, though altered, now promised an even brighter future.

At the Daily Bugle

"Today's issue is selling like crazy! New York's practically sold out!" Eddie exclaimed, brimming with pride. "Anton, under our leadership, the Daily Bugle is going to new heights!"

At that moment, J. Jonah Jameson was in Hawaii, lounging with a beautiful blonde on his arm. Hearing the news from New York, he smiled.

Jonah had been worried when he first learned Anton was going up against Kingpin. But seeing the outcome, he knew he had made the right choice—Anton was his ideal successor.

Nearby, Jonah spotted John Wick, the former hitman-turned-peaceful husband, enjoying the sea breeze with his wife, Helen. Life, Jonah thought, was just about perfect.

Back in his office, Anton was equally satisfied—not just because of the Daily Bugle's success, but because of a notification from his system:

[Mission Complete: Arrest Kingpin]

Reward: 6 million Justice Points

Total Justice Points: 12 million

This meant Anton was closer to upgrading his Batman armor to an even more powerful version. For now, though, he decided to save his points, knowing the best suits were still out of reach.

The story of Hell's Kitchen had reached its conclusion, but for Batman, Spider-Man, and their allies, the journey was far from over.