Marvelous Mutations

Luke sat at the computer, sulking like a kid who just got caught sneaking candy before dinner.

Now that Wanda had discovered his stock investments, there was no way he could hide his private stash of money anymore. This little money hound wouldn't rest until she shook every last cent out of him.

"I'm not some stock expert," Luke muttered defensively. "But there was breaking news online. The boss of Stark Industries, Tony Stark, has disappeared. When something like that happens, the company's stock is bound to tank..."

Wanda nodded seriously, like she understood, even though she clearly didn't.

"So... how do you make money off that?" she asked, tilting her head.

Luke sighed. "You buy shares in their biggest competitor."

Her eyes sparkled like a slot machine hitting the jackpot.

It was as if a brand-new door had opened in her brain.

"Brother, I want to invest too!" she shouted, grabbing his arm and shaking it like a maraca. "I want to invest in stocks!"

"Okay, okay!" Luke shouted, half-dizzy. "Just stop shaking me!"

Wanda's eyes narrowed. "Can you guarantee a profit?"

Luke looked at her like she'd asked whether water was wet.

"I guarantee it," he said flatly. "You will definitely make money."

After all, how could he lose money? His phone had master-level trading algorithms thanks to the system. Even if Tony Stark hadn't been kidnapped, it was practically rigged to win.

Wanda beamed.

"Great! I want to invest everything I have!"

Luke raised an eyebrow, half-curious. "How much do you have?"

They'd only been running the grocery store a few months. He figured she'd saved maybe a few hundred bucks, a thousand at most.

Wanda proudly whipped out her phone, opened her banking app, and began counting aloud with her fingers.

"One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... Fifty-eight thousand six hundred and sixty-eight!"

"Brother! Almost sixty thousand dollars!" she said, eyes twinkling.

Luke froze.

The gaming chair clattered to the floor as he stood up in shock.

He opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked around their dusty little shop with its sagging shelves and faded signs.

'No way the merchandise in this place is worth even five grand…'

'How the hell did she make sixty thousand dollars?!'

Then he remembered the last few customers. The oddly high sales. The lack of refunds.

'Oh no…'

His eye twitched. He let out a deep, long sigh.

"So it's true…" he muttered to himself. "We really are running a black-market shop."

Luke didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

…

While the siblings were discussing insider trading and unintended crime...

Two new customers stepped into the store.

Luke, without even looking up, waved lazily. "Wanda, go handle them. I'm busy digging up Stark's situation."

As always, Wanda sprang into action, after all, someone had to keep the cash flowing.

But what Luke didn't notice... was how the two "customers" stiffened at the mention of Stark.

They exchanged a quick glance. Something cold and professional flickered in their eyes.

Wanda smiled brightly and approached them with her best customer-service charm.

"Welcome! What can I help you with today?"

The two newcomers, a man and a woman, were dressed sharply, both in formal black suits.

The woman had flowing burgundy hair, piercing eyes, and the confident aura of someone who could kill you with a stapler. The man had a calm demeanor and a receding hairline, giving him a harmless look, if you didn't know better.

The woman stepped forward with a polite smile. "We're not here to shop, little sister. We're from the New York Tax Office. We're conducting a compliance inspection."

Wanda's smile collapsed instantly.

'Not shopping?'

She frowned in thought, 'Tax office?'

Oh no.

Had they ever even paid taxes?

"Brother!!!" she shouted, panic rising in her voice.

Luke finally looked up.

As soon as he saw the customers' faces, he froze.

He recognized them immediately.

Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow.

And beside her... Phil Coulson, future director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

In the Marvel universe, one was a top-tier protagonist, and the other a vital supporting character.

And if Luke had any doubts left, the system quickly erased them:

[Ding~ Congratulations, Host! You've met Natasha Romanoff, a core protagonist of the Marvel Universe. Plot Points +2!]

[Ding~ You've met Phil Coulson, a core supporting character. Plot Point +1!]

[Ding~ Plot points accumulated. System Level-Up Complete! Now upgrading to Level 2…]

…

Luke's jaw dropped slightly.

This was it.

Not only had he confirmed the presence of key Marvel characters, but the system had just leveled up.

Which meant.

More powers. More upgrades. More chaos.

And judging by the way Natasha was eyeing him… things were about to get very interesting.

…