The days of being a spiritual mentor in Meiman.

Chapter 4743 X Royal Newcomer (22)

Chapter 4743 X Royal Family: New Life (Twenty-Two)

On a clear day, the shadows of tall trees appear even darker, falling on the stone steps like a pair of hands wearing black silk gloves playing ancient piano keys. When the sky is an intense blue, the shadows of the leaves are always a very rich blue-purple; even a casual glance makes one marvel at how such a vibrant color could actually exist in real life.

Clarkia's architecture often features wooden structures paired with crystal glass windows and domes, allowing for abundant natural light inside on sunny days. The light is diffused through the crystal windows, casting a soft, hazy glow over everything.

Under such light, Natasha's red hair lost its original cool color and turned into a vibrant orange-red, while Bucky's black hair was also illuminated to brown, with the slightly swaying strands glowing, making him look as if he had just stepped out of a medieval religious mural.

Steve walked over and gave Bucky a hug.

"You've finally arrived. And, ma'am, how's work going lately?"

“Let me tell you about myself first,” Bucky said. “I have some good news for you. Stingy Nick Fury is finally going to give me Level 8 agent status. From now on, I’ll be Coulson’s colleague. Oh, by the way, he ate the golden apple the other day, you know?”

“I just found out,” Steve said. “Don’t forget, he’s a huge fan of mine, and he always thinks of letting me know first. He even consulted me about whether or not to eat the golden apple.”

“I forgot about that,” Bucky said with a smile. “You know, sometimes I just forget you’re Captain America, or I can’t connect the past with the present.”

“That’s perfectly normal. When we first met, I was a skinny, homebody. If you hadn’t dragged me out, I probably wouldn’t have left home for a year. We’ve both changed a lot.”

Steve paused for a moment before saying, "S.H.I.E.L.D. is too busy, and Coulson is aging too fast. In just over ten years, he's already got wrinkles. Luckily, there's the Apple of Life."

"I always felt that Nick was just reluctant to part with his capable assistant and wanted him to stay for a few more years. After all, where else could you find such a cheap and useful Level 8 agent?"

“You’ll be next,” Steve laughed. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. Agent Carter isn’t even at level eight yet. You came much later than her, but you’ve already been promoted before her.”

“Speaking of this, I…” Bucky hesitated, glancing at Natasha beside him. Clearly, some complaints between close friends weren't something to be discussed in front of outsiders.

Natasha waved her hand and said, "A good agent should know when to act like he's dead. If you had understood this earlier, you would have been promoted long ago."

“You don’t look quite right,” Steve said after observing Natasha closely. “You seem a bit listless. Could you have caught a cold too?”

“I don’t have a cold,” Natasha said. “Who else has a cold?”

“Of course it’s Tony. You guys are late, so you don’t know, but a sick Tony Stark is a million times more difficult to deal with than usual…” Steve paused here, clearly feeling it wasn’t good to talk about someone behind their back. But he had been holding it in for a long time, so he gave Bucky a wink.

“You don’t need to flirt here. I’m leaving right away.” Natasha sighed softly and said, “When does the hot spring banquet start? I need to get some sleep first.”

“It’ll be evening,” Steve said. “If you’re tired, go and rest for a while, and we’ll wake you up at lunchtime.”

Natasha walked away without a word. Steve, watching her retreating figure, said with some confusion, "What's wrong with her? She looks like..."

Bucky shook his head and said, "I don't know either, maybe I'm just feeling a little unwell. Let's walk around the island, I have to tell you about all the ridiculous jobs Nick has given me..."

“Perfect timing, I also have a lot to say, let’s talk as we walk.”

When Natasha arrived at her lodgings, none of the people from the central universe were there. Tony and Schiller had gone to the spa to help with the cleanup, while Matt and Stephen had gone to discuss legal issues related to sanctions with the mutant leader. Before she could even enter her room, she encountered Captain America from another universe.

"Good morning, ma'am... Oh, wait, aren't you Natasha from our universe?"

Natasha nodded, but said nothing. Captain America asked, somewhat puzzled, "You look a little unwell. Are you alright?"

“I’m fine,” Natasha waved her hand and said, “I just need some rest.”

After saying that, she went into the room, went to her bedroom, and fell asleep immediately. Captain America from the main universe stood at the door for a moment, somewhat puzzled, but quickly left. When he returned to his residence, Black Widow was eating snacks.

“I’ve encountered you from the central universe,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve seen Natasha from that universe…”

“Impossible,” the Black Widow from the main universe said. “You must have seen her during the previous multiverse war, you just didn’t get to speak to her.”

“That can’t be right,” Captain America said. “While I might meet any of the heroes in the multiverse war, the people in the central universe are very special and completely different from other counterparts. If I meet them, I’ll definitely recognize them.”

“Other heroes might be like that, but I’m different,” Black Widow said, shaking her head. “I know her.”

"You mean the Black Widow in the central universe is no different from her counterparts?" Captain America gestured slightly. "Does she have no special abilities?"

Black Widow shook her head and said, "No. If I had to say, she's weaker than her counterparts."

"Huh?" Captain America from the main universe was genuinely surprised. "She's weaker? Why is that?"

"I've had too many good days," Black Widow shrugged lightly. "Powerful agents need harsh environments to hone their skills. Only a long-term high-pressure environment can keep my body in top condition. If I'm too idle, all sorts of problems will arise."

Captain America was somewhat puzzled. Black Widow chuckled softly, then said, "Did you know? Natasha from the central universe actually menstruates."

Captain America paused slightly: "Aren't you coming?"

Black Widow rolled her eyes slightly: "I'm a modified warrior. The purpose of the modification was to make me a perfect agent. Does a perfect agent bleed while fighting?"

Captain America opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. He was projecting his own experience onto Natasha's; after all, when he underwent the modifications, the effects were almost entirely positive—he became stronger, more determined, and more focused, and his reproductive function wasn't affected. He never expected that Black Widow, who was also a modified human, would have such a problem.

"Then...how was that achieved?" Captain America pressed, then added, "Of course, that's your privacy, and I'm not asking out of curiosity, but out of concern. Even though so many years have passed, it doesn't mean there won't be problems..."

“It’s done using chemical methods,” Black Widow said. “I know you’ve all suspected I don’t have a uterus, but organ removal surgery is too harmful to the human body. They go to great lengths to train perfect agents, not to throw them on an operating table and get stabbed; that’s too risky.”

Captain America nodded. The selection process for astronauts, pilots, and even members of special forces should exclude anyone with a history of surgery, especially open-chest or open-abdomen surgery. Surgery is extremely damaging to the body and can fundamentally affect one's health. Secondly, even if a wound appears to have healed, it will never be as good as the original. In high-pressure or special environments, it could be fatal.

Although Natasha is a cyborg and has a lot of technological components, this kind of thing can be completely avoided, and there is no need to increase the risk unnecessarily.

"But you said she might..."

“Actually, after all these years, chemical methods have long been ineffective,” Black Widow shook her head and said. “Now it’s more of a psychological factor. If I can’t stay in combat mode at all times and instead become weak, I simply can’t do my job well, so I’ve maintained the same state I was in back then.”

“Oh, I see,” Captain America nodded. “Her working conditions aren’t as dangerous, so she can live like a normal woman. But she seems quite uncomfortable, which isn’t entirely a good thing, is it?”

“Of course, I don’t think any of my counterparts would want to menstruate. I think something might have happened that caused her to become like this.” Black Widow wasn’t gloating; she simply said, “But she’ll always find a way to resolve it. After all, no matter how good things are in their universe, she still has to work, and this is really affecting her efficiency.”

Natasha slept until lunchtime. Just as she was starting to wake up, she heard a knock at the door. Steve's voice came from outside: "Madam, it's lunchtime. Get up and have something to eat."

Natasha slowly moved out. Her appearance startled everyone, not because her looks had changed, but mainly because her movements were stiff. Many people had never seen Natasha like this before.

“What’s wrong with you?” Strange frowned deeply. “Aren’t you really going to get a checkup? I’ll make an appointment for you at Presbyterian Hospital?”

“Don’t even mention the physical exam,” Natasha’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot. “If it weren’t for that damned Nick Fila dragging me to the physical exam, none of this would have happened!”

"So what's wrong?" Stark pressed. "You're not really having menstrual cramps, are you?"

However, he quickly realized that what he said was not a good idea. He said, "I always thought you didn't have periods. Although it's not a problem now that you have them, is there no cure for this problem?"

Natasha said weakly, "I didn't used to come, but ever since I had my last full physical exam with S.H.I.E.L.D., they told me that one of my hormone levels had changed, and I started bleeding again..."

“I don’t quite understand,” Matt said after thinking for a moment. “What hormone levels have changed?”

“The Red Room uses hormone therapy to prevent female agents from menstruating, thus maintaining their full combat effectiveness. Generally, this can last a lifetime, but my lifetime is obviously a bit too long,” Natasha said helplessly. “The hormones in the drug completely wore off more than ten years ago and are no longer effective.”

"Then why are you only starting to change now?"

"Of course it's because of psychological effects. If I didn't know, it wouldn't have any effect, but once I did, it started to work. That's how amazing human hormones are."

Stark suddenly realized. He looked at Natasha with some concern and said, "Can't you take some painkillers?"

Steve, however, seemed to have already thought of something: "Ordinary painkillers are useless for us cyborgs, but if we take large doses, it might cause more serious damage, which is probably not worth it."

Natasha nodded weakly.