Marvel: The Enlightened One-Chapter 60: [] - A Gift from Anna (Bonus)

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Hey everyone, how are you doing? I hope your day’s going well.

A new week has begun, and working on the longer Chapters since Chapter 72 has been exhausting, especially with the 100 power stones bonuses. This pace is not sustainable. Starting now, bonus Chapters will require 300 power stones.

The milestone rewards remain the same:

500 PS: 2 bonus Chapters

1000 PS: 3 bonus Chapters

1500 PS: 4 bonus Chapters

2000 PS: 5 bonus Chapters

Top 5 ranking: 5 extra Chapters

I still owe you quite a few Chapters, and I’ll be posting them soon.

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Gwen sat in her car across the street from the cemetery gates, a worried expression clouding her features as she stared at the entrance.

She knew that Hawk’s sister had died during the battle between the Hulk and the Abomination back in 2009. She had even guessed that this was the driving force behind his relentless, almost desperate need to become stronger.

The method itself was absurd—getting stronger just by throwing punches every day, to the point where he could kill the Lizard with a single slap. It defied all logic and science.

But that didn’t matter anymore.

What mattered was that guessing the truth and hearing Hawk confirm it himself were two entirely different things.

But—

This was the Abomination and the Hulk she was talking about.

The Abomination was one thing, he was already dead. But the Hulk? Could Hawk actually beat him? And besides, the Hulk had fought alongside the Avengers. If Hawk went after him, the Avengers would almost certainly try to stop him.

Could Hawk win against all of them?

Gwen’s mind was filled with a gnawing anxiety.

She wasn’t worried about trying to convince him to let go of his anger. She wasn’t going to preach about love and peace.

This was his sister, the only family he had in the world.

If he was supposed to just give up on revenge, then why did the U.S. government launch a full-scale retaliation after being attacked? Weren’t they all about love and peace? So why strike back?

And if love and peace were the actual goals, would the government still be stirring up trouble and starting conflicts all over the globe?

Gwen scoffed internally, rolling her eyes.

She wasn’t some naive idealist brainwashed by the public school system, she was a product of an elite private school education, a pragmatist who had earned every scholarship she’d ever received.

Just as her thoughts began to spiral, a figure emerged from the cemetery gates: a tall, stunningly beautiful woman with a regal bearing, her face hidden behind dark sunglasses.

It was Anna.

But she looked nothing like the woman who had been smiling and chatting warmly with Hawk just moments before. Now, her perfect face was cold as ice, and she walked with an aura of raw power.

Behind her, a bodyguard in a black suit followed, carrying a golf bag that clearly wasn’t for golfing.

A moment later, the roar of an engine echoed down the street. Anna’s flame-red Porsche peeled away from the curb and vanished like a streak of light.

The bodyguard got into a black Chevy SUV and drove away from the cemetery.

...

A little while later, Hawk appeared at the cemetery gate.

Gwen tore her eyes away from the rearview mirror, where the Chevy had just disappeared, and got out of her car as Hawk approached, pulling a rolling carry-on suitcase behind him.

Hawk opened the trunk and lifted the suitcase inside.

Gwen watched as the car’s suspension dipped noticeably under the weight. "What is that?"

Hawk stepped aside. "Take a look."

Gwen glanced at Hawk, then reached in and unzipped the suitcase.

Instantly, her eyes went wide.

She drew in a sharp, audible breath. "Hiss..."

"Yeah," Hawk said with a small smile. "That was my reaction too."

Gwen quickly zipped the suitcase shut and shot a nervous look around the street. Seeing that no one was watching, she turned back to Hawk, her eyes wide.

"Where did you get this?"

"I traded five weapons for it."

Hawk shrugged, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "You should know which five."

Gwen froze for a second, then blinked rapidly. "I have no idea what you’re talking about..."

"Gwen."

"Hm?"

"My acting might be bad, but your tidying-up skills aren’t much better."

"..."

The photo of him and his sister, Anya, on the nightstand.

The weapons under the bed, wrapped in a bedsheet that was clearly not folded the way he’d left it. She must have found the weapons, opened the bundle in shock, and then forgotten how he’d wrapped it in the first place.

Gwen’s mouth opened, then closed. She looked completely busted.

The next second, she slammed the trunk shut, her expression suddenly all business. "The people from NYU are here. We need to get back to school. Now."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and marched toward the driver’s side door, refusing to even look at him. But as she turned, Hawk noticed the tips of her ears were a faint shade of pink.

It was kind of cute.

Hawk watched her hasty retreat with a small smile. He didn’t press the issue, just opened the passenger door and got in.

Gwen stomped on the gas, and the car peeled away from the curb.

On the way back to school, Gwen was a silent, focused driver, still stewing in her embarrassment. She kept her eyes on the road, refusing to look at him or give him an opening to speak.

Hawk, for his part, just sat in the passenger seat, thinking about what Anna had said before she left.

A gift?

What gift??

...

The forty-five-minute drive was completed in a record thirty, thanks to Gwen’s uncharacteristically aggressive driving. As they pulled into the school parking lot, she hung up a call with Mrs. Snow.

"The NYU rep is already in the office."

Hawk nodded and got out of the car.

Gwen got out as well and called after him, giving him a quick thumbs-up. "Good luck, Hawk."

"Thanks."

He walked toward the administration building. Gwen didn’t follow. This was his NYU interview, not her Berkeley one. It was a formal process, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to be there.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

"Mrs. Snow."

Hawk entered the office. His eyes immediately fell on a man in a perfectly tailored suit sitting on the sofa, then shifted to Mrs. Snow. "You wanted to see me?"

Mrs. Snow waved him in. Once the door was closed, she introduced the man, who had just stood up. "Hawk, this is Mr. Gary Cooper. Mr. Cooper is an admissions officer from New York University."

The man stood up as Mrs. Snow continued, "Gary, this is the young man I was telling you about. Hawk."

Hawk quickly extended his hand.

"Mr. Cooper."

"Hawk."

Gary Cooper shook his hand, a brief, professional smile on his face that quickly faded back into a neutral, evaluative expression. "I’ve reviewed your scholarship application. I have a few questions for you today. Please, have a seat."

Hawk nodded and sat on the sofa opposite him.

Gary sat back down and picked up a notepad. He looked at Hawk, ready to begin.

This was both an evaluation and an interview. If he made a good impression, an admissions officer with Gary’s seniority had the authority to give him an on-the-spot acceptance.

Of course. That was only if you were exceptional.

...

An hour later.

Gary Cooper closed his notebook. He looked at Hawk, then at Mrs. Snow’s hopeful, expectant face. A genuine smile finally broke through his professional demeanor. He stood up and extended his hand again.

"Congratulations, Hawk. Welcome to NYU."

"Oh! That’s wonderful!"

Mrs. Snow gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.

Hawk was stunned for a second, then quickly stood and shook the man’s hand.

"Thank you, Mr. Cooper."

"You can thank my colleague, Anna," Cooper said with a knowing look. "She’s the one who put your file on my desk."

"..."

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