Chapter 4763: X Royal Family: New Life (Twenty-Two)

When the weather is clear, the shadows of tall trees appear even denser, falling on the stone-paved steps like a pair of hands wearing black silk gloves playing ancient piano keys. When the sky is blue to the extreme, the shadows of leaves are always a very deep blue-purple; even a casual glance makes one marvel that such vivid colors actually exist in real life.

Clarkia's architecture is very fond of using wooden structures paired with crystal glass windows and domes; when the weather is good, the natural light indoors is extremely abundant. After being diffused by the crystal windows, everything is covered in a layer of hazy soft light.

Under such light, Natasha's red hair shed its original cool tone and turned into a passionate orange-red, while Bucky's head of black hair was also lit up into brown, the slightly swaying strands glowing; the whole person looked as if he had just walked out of a medieval religious mural.

Steve walked up and gave Bucky a hug.

"You've finally arrived. And, ma'am, has work been going smoothly lately?"

"Let's talk about me first," Bucky said. "I'll tell you some good news: stingy Nick finally intends to give me Level 8 agent treatment; from now on I'll be a peer-level colleague of Coulson's. Oh, right, he ate a Golden Apple a couple days ago, did you know?"

"I just found out," Steve said. "Don't forget, he's my die-hard fan; anything that happens he thinks of notifying me first. Whether to eat the Golden Apple, he even consulted me about it."

"I forgot about that," Bucky laughed. "You know, sometimes I always forget you're Captain America, or rather can't connect the past you with the present you."

"Perfectly normal. When we met, I was still a scrawny shut-in; if you hadn't dragged me out, I might not have left the house for a year. We've both changed a lot."

Steve paused, then said: "SHIELD work is too busy; Coulson is aging too fast. In just over a decade he's grown wrinkles. Good thing there's the Golden Apple."

"I always feel Nick just can't bear to part with his capable assistant and wants him to work a few more years. After all, where would you find such a cheap and useful Level 8 agent?"

"You're the next one," Steve laughed. "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Agent Carter hasn't reached Level 8 yet; you came much later than her, yet you're promoted before her."

"Speaking of this I..." Bucky hesitated, glancing at Natasha beside him. Obviously some complaints between good buddies weren't suitable to say in front of an outsider.

But Natasha waved her hand and said: "A good agent should understand when to play dead. If you'd understood this principle earlier, you'd have been promoted long ago."

"You don't look quite right," Steve observed Natasha carefully, then said. "Seems like you have no energy; you wouldn't have caught a cold too, would you?"

"I don't have a cold," Natasha said. "Who else has a cold?"

"Tony, of course. You came late so you don't know; a sick Tony Stark is ten thousand times more difficult than usual..." Steve stopped there, apparently also feeling it wasn't good to badmouth someone behind their back. But he'd been holding it in for a long time, so he also gave Bucky a meaningful look.

"No need for eyebrow signals here; I'm leaving right now." Natasha sighed lightly. "When does the hot spring banquet start? I need to go sleep first."

"It's in the evening," Steve said. "If you're tired, go rest a bit; we'll wake you up when it's lunch time."

Natasha left without a word. Steve watched her retreating figure with some puzzlement: "What's wrong with her? Why does she look like she's..."

Bucky shook his head. "I don't know either; maybe just physically a bit unwell. Let's walk around the island; I have to tell you just what absurd tasks Nick assigned me..."

"Perfect, I've got lots to say too; let's talk while we walk."

When Natasha arrived at the lodging, these people from the Central Universe were all absent. Tony and Shiler went to the hot spring baths to help wrap things up; Matt and Shi Difen went to find mutant leaders to research legal issues regarding sanctions. She hadn't even entered the room when she ran into another universe's Captain America.

"Good morning, ma'am... oh wait, you're not our universe's Natasha?"

Natasha nodded but said nothing. Captain America said with some puzzlement: "You look a bit unwell; are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Natasha waved her hand. "I just need rest."

Finished speaking, she entered the room and went to her bedroom, falling asleep head-on-pillow. The Main Universe Captain America stood at the door puzzled for a while, but soon left. When he returned to his own lodging, Black Widow was eating snacks.

"I ran into the Central Universe's you," he said. "This is the first time I've seen that universe's Natasha..."

"Impossible," Main Universe Black Widow said. "During the previous Multiverse War, you definitely saw her; you just didn't speak."

"That's not right," Captain America said. "Although I might see any hero in the Multiverse War, Central Universe people are very special, completely different from other counterparts. If I'd seen her, I'd definitely recognize her."

"Other heroes might be like that, but I'm different." Black Widow shook her head. "I understand her."

"You mean the Central Universe Black Widow has no difference from other counterparts?" Captain America gestured slightly. "No special abilities?"

Black Widow shook her head. "None. If forced to say, she's weaker than other counterparts."

"Ah?" Main Universe Captain America was genuinely surprised. "She's actually weaker? Why?"

"Too many good days." Black Widow shrugged lightly. "Powerful agents need harsh environments to temper them; only long-term high-pressure environments can keep my body in optimal condition. If it's too leisurely, all sorts of problems appear."

Captain America was somewhat uncomprehending. Black Widow laughed lightly, then said: "Did you know? The Central Universe's Natasha actually gets her period."

Captain America's movement paused slightly: "You don't?"

Black Widow rolled her eyes lightly: "I'm a modified soldier; the purpose of modification is to make me a perfect agent. Would a perfect agent bleed while fighting?"

Captain America opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. He was projecting his own situation onto Natasha; after all, when he underwent modification, it was basically all positive effects — stronger, firmer, more focused, and reproductive function unaffected. He never expected Black Widow, also a modified human like him, would have this kind of problem?

"Then... how is that achieved?" Captain America asked further, then added, "Of course this is your privacy; I'm not asking out of curiosity but concern. Even though so many years have passed, doesn't mean problems won't arise..."

"Chemical methods," Black Widow said. "I know you all suspected I had no uterus, but organ removal surgery does too much damage to the body. They painstakingly cultivated perfect agents, not to throw them on an operating table for a cut; that risk is too great."

Captain America nodded. Selecting astronauts and pilots, even some special forces members, they all avoid people with surgical history. Especially those who've had open-chest or open-abdomen surgery, because surgical damage to the body is too great and may fundamentally affect constitution. Second, some wounds look healed but are never as good as original. Under high pressure or special environments, they can be fatal.

Although Natasha is a modified human with technological components, this kind of thing can be completely avoided; no need to add unnecessary risk.

"But you said she might..."

"Actually, after so many years, chemical methods have long been ineffective," Black Widow shook her head. "Now it's more psychological factors. If I can't maintain combat readiness at all times and instead weaken, I fundamentally can't complete work well, so I've kept the state from back then."

"Oh, I understand," Captain America nodded. "Her side's work environment isn't that perilous, to the point she can live like an ordinary woman. However, I saw she looks quite unwell; this isn't entirely a good thing, is it?"

"Of course, I don't think any counterpart would want a period. I feel maybe some accident caused her to become like this." Black Widow had no schadenfreude; she just said. "But she'll find a way to solve it. After all, no matter how good their universe's situation, she still has to work; this really affects efficiency too much."

Natasha slept straight through to lunch time. Just as she regained some consciousness, she heard knocking. Steve's voice rang out: "Ma'am, it's lunch time; get up and eat something."

Natasha slowly shuffled out. Her appearance startled everyone — not that her looks changed, mainly her movements were stiff; many had never seen Natasha like this.

"What exactly is wrong with you?" Strange frowned deeply. "You really won't go for a checkup? I can help you book Elder Council Hospital?"

"Don't mention checkups," Natasha's face was black as a pot bottom. "If that damn Nick hadn't dragged me for a checkup, none of this would've happened!"

"So what exactly happened?" Stark pressed. "You wouldn't really have menstrual cramps, would you?"

But he quickly realized saying that wasn't good. He said: "I always thought you didn't get periods; although getting them now isn't bad, but can this condition not be treated?"

Natasha said listlessly: "I indeed didn't before, but since participating in SHIELD's comprehensive checkup last time, they told me a hormone index in my body had changed, and I started bleeding again..."

"I'm a bit confused," Matt thought a moment. "What hormone index changed?"

"The Red Room uses hormonal modification to let female agents avoid periods, letting them maintain complete combat power. Generally lasts a lifetime, but my lifetime is apparently a bit too long." Natasha said helplessly. "The hormones in the drugs completely decayed over a decade ago; they've already stopped working."

"Then why the change only now?"

"Naturally psychological effect. If I didn't know, nothing happened; but once I knew, the effect started. The human body's hormones are this magical."

Stark suddenly understood. He looked at Natasha with some worry: "Then can't you take some painkillers?"

Steve, however, seemed to have already thought of something: "Ordinary painkillers don't work on us modified humans; but if we use large doses, it might cause more serious damage, probably not worth it."

Natasha nodded listlessly.