DC Apostle in the Marvel Universe

Only someone like Russell would send a seemingly delicate and alluring beauty to walk alone through Hell's Kitchen, a place notorious for crime and chaos, carrying a large bag of cash.

"Aren't you worried about my safety?" Heather asked suddenly after taking the black travel bag filled with cash from Russell.

"Why would I be? You hardly see any thugs around these days... Besides, even if you did run into any, it's not you who should be worried, it's them..." Russell shrugged.

Others might be fooled by Heather's appearance, thinking she's a helpless young girl, but he would never make that mistake...

Russell's response instantly wiped the smile off Heather's face, replacing it with a glare, "You... Fine, I'll go myself!"

With that, Russell reached for the black travel bag in Heather's hands.

However, Heather had no intention of giving it back. Instead, she said quietly, "You're coming with me."

For some reason, Russell suddenly felt like the dynamic between him and Heather had shifted. It was as if she was now assigning him tasks, rather than the other way around.

"Uh..."

He was about to refuse, but when he noticed Heather's fair skin starting to take on a faint green hue, he quickly swallowed his words, "I'll go get the car keys. Wait for me downstairs."

Without waiting for her reply, Russell let go of the bag and walked away without looking back.

'I'm really letting down all my transmigration predecessors out there... This can't go on. I need to change this situation. I need to take back the initiative!'

Although Heather had no idea what was going through Russell's mind, seeing his slightly flustered and tense figure, she suddenly thought this arrangement wasn't so bad...

...

Thanks to the ambush, Russell's beloved pickup truck was now in a semi-wrecked state.

The front windshield and the passenger seat were both riddled with large holes, making it unsuitable for daily use. So, Russell had no choice but to opt for the more imposing Chevrolet SUV.

When he pulled up in front of the office building, Heather, still holding the travel bag, wordlessly opened the passenger door and got in.

Once inside, Heather casually tossed the bag aside and gestured forward with her fair right hand, excitedly signaling him to drive, "Let's go! I've never been to Hell's Kitchen before!"

Watching Heather's inexplicable excitement, Russell could only sigh silently.

He was starting to regret letting Heather handle this. If he had known it would turn out like this, he would've gone himself.

On the way to the house he had damaged, Heather, sitting in the passenger seat, began interrogating Russell about his past like a journalist.

"How many people are in your family?"

"Where were you born?"

"What are your plans for the future?"

"Have you had a girlfriend before?"

Truth be told, even Russell himself didn't know the true background of the body he now inhabited. So, he had no choice but to fabricate a somewhat believable backstory.

But just as he finished answering Heather's almost background-check-like questions, her previously excited expression suddenly darkened...

"You know, if you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. I asked the Doctor for your file. I won't force you to say anything, but I don't want you to lie to me."

Seeing Heather on the verge of tears, looking as though she had been deeply wronged, Russell felt a headache coming on.

He hadn't even seen the background information of this body himself, as he didn't care much about it.

But he never expected Heather to go out of her way to ask the Doctor for it, and for the Doctor to actually hand it over.

Despite her pitiful expression, Russell couldn't bring himself to reveal his true identity.

So, he opted for a slightly more palatable explanation, "I'm sorry. After the experiment, I lost all my memories. Aside from my name, I can't remember anything..."

Russell explained with a serious expression. If he were an actor, he felt his current performance might just earn him an Oscar.

"Really?" Perhaps his acting was too convincing, as Heather seemed to genuinely believe him.

"It's true. If you have my background information, could you give me a copy when we get back? Back at the base, I was afraid to know, afraid to face it... But now, I've realized that no matter what my past was, I need to confront it."

If Heather weren't sitting right next to him, Russell would've given himself a standing ovation for his stellar performance...

'Maybe I should try Hollywood later?'

Russell's current physique was nearly perfect; biceps, eight-pack abs, deltoids, you name it.

Plus, his looks weren't bad either, with a certain sunny aura about him. He was practically the ideal leading man for action blockbusters.

"I'll give you the file as soon as we get back. I shouldn't have doubted you."

Hearing this, Russell finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had managed to talk his way out of it...

For the rest of the ride, Heather didn't continue her interrogation. Instead, she fell silent, staring ahead.

When Russell arrived at their destination, he saw the last people he wanted to run into... NYPD officers.

Someone must have called the police; otherwise, they wouldn't be here.

Just as he was about to reverse and leave, he spotted a familiar figure.

Jeans, a black leather jacket, dark wavy hair, and gothic makeup.

It was Jessica, whom he had met just a couple of days ago. She was standing across the street, snapping photos with her camera.

As if sensing something, Jessica stopped shooting and looked around. Her eyes soon landed on Russell in the car.

Without hesitation, Jessica crossed the crowd of onlookers and approached the car, opening the door and hopping in.

Before Russell could say anything, Heather, sitting in the passenger seat, shot Jessica a wary look.

"Don't misunderstand. We're just friends who recently met... This is Jessica. She's a friend I met with Allen a couple of days ago in Hell's Kitchen."

Russell explained calmly...

But as soon as he finished, Heather replied in a strange tone, "Oh, just a friend you recently met?"

Russell sensed something was off, but he didn't elaborate further.

Because at that moment, he noticed the police officers in the distance walking toward them, their hands instinctively resting on their holsters...