Marvel: The Dimensional Mercenary

The rain began quietly, its gentle patter filling the air.

Most of the rooms in this house were in an old-fashioned Western style.

As Max entered the room, it was dimly lit, and Mariko was already in bed.

Her bare shoulders peeked out from the white pajama straps, accentuating her delicate collarbone. Mariko, lost in her dreams, appeared fragile, evoking a natural instinct to protect.

"You fell asleep so quickly?"

Max sat down beside Mariko, observing her in this different world.

With her grandfather's passing and her father's resentment, how could Mariko fall asleep so swiftly? Was it exhaustion or the weight of recent events?

Max furrowed his brow. At that moment, Mariko turned slightly, her back to Max, and the pillow slightly elevated, revealing something underneath.

A dagger?

"This woman may not be as vulnerable as I thought," Max mused. Having a dagger beneath her pillow meant she felt unsafe and possibly in constant danger.

It was as if Max himself had to sleep with a gun in hand during wartime.

Since Mariko was asleep, there was little more to observe. Max got up and left her room to search for Yukio.

However, his search of the house yielded no sign of Yukio.

Where could she have gone?

Max was taken aback. He saw a car pull into the house, and a man emerged with a suitcase.

"Is that Mariko's fiancé, Noburo Mori? He seems to be looking for something here!" Max decided to follow him.

Mori went into Yashida Shingen's room but didn't get a chance to say much before being dismissed by Shingen. After Mori left, Shingen appeared slightly flustered and didn't know how to inform Max, but the items he had prepared for Jack had vanished in a matter of seconds.

Shingen was shocked. How did that guy accomplished it?

....

As the founder of the Yashida Group, Yashida Ichiro's funeral was a significant event, drawing considerable attention.

The funeral was grand, attended by prominent monks, politicians, wealthy individuals, and reporters.

Among the family members present were Shingen, Mariko, and Mariko's fiance, Mori.

Yukio, Wolverine, and Viper were all there!

Max stood in a corner not far away, feeling like he was in another world.

"Who's the man next to Mariko?" Wolverine asked Yukio as he glanced in Mariko's direction.

"That's Mori, Mariko's fiancé. It's a political marriage," Yukio replied with a hint of disdain.

Wolverine pondered for a moment, his eyes showing a faint glint.

"Is the old wolfy thinking about something hot?" Max couldn't help but smile to himself.

The attendees were almost assembled, and the officiating monk nodded slightly to Mariko. She followed him into the mourning hall.

Max sprang into action!

As he approached the mourning hall, he turned to the passersby and prepared to open the door to let himself in.

Just a few steps from the door, Max was about to turn the handle when he suddenly noticed Wolverine behind him, his gaze fixed on the monk standing beside Mariko. Wolverine rushed over.

"Be cautious, they are not..."

Before he could finish his warning, the monk swiftly grabbed Mariko's hand and pulled her to the side. Simultaneously, other monks in charge swiftly removed their robes, revealing tattoos and brandishing guns.

"It's the Black Ninja Clan!"

Yukio exclaimed, her voice echoing through the chaos.

Pandemonium ensued. The guests fled in panic, while Wolverine and Yukio fought to rescue Mariko, who had been seized. However, their efforts were quickly thwarted.

In the midst of the chaos, Wolverine was hit by several bullets, and the wounds didn't heal as rapidly as usual, causing him considerable pain. Yukio, with his basic combat skills, managed to incapacitate several adversaries but was unable to reach Mariko in time.

Max remained unyielding within a different realm!

The Ninja Clan? While Mariko had indeed been kidnapped by the them in the original storyline, it was Shingen and Mori who had hired them. This was precisely why Max had chosen the Ninja Clan as a stepping stone. Now that Shingen had hired Max, naturally he won't need to hire the Ninja's.

So, who had hired the Ninjas to abduct Mariko?

As Mariko was on the verge of being spirited away from the venue, Max chased after her.

Regardless of who had contracted the Ninjas, Mariko was his assigned mission. There were no impediments in his alternate dimension, and within mere seconds, Max had caught up to the scene. He noticed that a car for the getaway was idling nearby.

Without hesitation, Max sped in the direction of the vehicle.

"Get in the car, get in the car…"

The Ninja members ushered Mariko into the car, opened the door, and motioned for her to enter. Then, they circled around to the other side and prepared to join her in the vehicle.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out, and the individual about to step into the car crumpled to the ground.

Max holstered his weapon, cast a quick glance at the bewildered Mariko behind him, and promptly started the car, speeding away from the scene.