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Mary invited him out for a walk.

In the park, withered marigolds stretched out from twisted and broken brick flowerpots.

Next to it is a ceramic garden goblin model with a crack in its forehead, where someone has placed a rusty miniature golf club.

The golf club lay not far away, amidst the tall weeds.

"It's unbelievable! There really is a time machine! And the most unbelievable thing is that my future child saved me!"

Mary exclaimed in surprise, her expression complicated as she said to Peter, "Peter, are you really going to become a superhero in the future? The kind of person who saves and changes the world? That sounds incredible."

After a moment of silence, Peter said, "I do possess special abilities, but these abilities come at a price."

Mary listened to Peter's words and expressed her agreement.

She smiled and said, "Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, as Ben often says."

Mary walked forward with Peter in a cheerful mood. She didn't ask Peter about his future anymore, but instead introduced him to the surrounding environment.

"The surrounding area is nice; this is typical of suburban New York: painted wood paneling and 80s-style interiors."

"However, I've never tried this style before. The only thing I've ever done to decorate a house is to hang a bird skeleton model above the kitchen sink. I guess it's a crow. Only by sticking to this one thing do I feel like I'm the owner of the house."

She quickly added, "Seeing reality clearly has never been my strong suit."

The two sat down near a bench.

The evening sunlight shone on the two of them, reflecting their warm and cozy mood.

Mary continued, “I often slowly rotate that bird skeleton—I attach the skeleton to a popsicle stick with fishing line and wire, and let the bird and its bones lazily rotate in the afternoon sun.”

"Richard told me more than once that this bird model doesn't belong here and there's no need to hang it above the kitchen sink where we usually wash dishes."

She stopped and asked Peter, "Do you know what I answered, Peter?"

"I do not know."

Peter was happy to listen to the mother talk about the little things in her life.

This probably gave him a long-lost sense of relaxation.

Although his soul does not belong to this body, it may be due to a subtle influence that he enjoys being with Mary.

This also allowed him to absorb much of the violent aura brought by the dark creatures.

“I told him that this is the only thing I want in this place, and the only thing I own in this place, because it was there when we first met and bought the house, and it is a wonderful memory for me.”

Mary then recounted how she and Richard met.

In summary, Richard was once charming and affectionate.

He persuaded Mary to stay in New York and use some of his savings to buy a piece of land where they could live. Life would be wonderful because he wouldn't be staying there all the time; he needed to conduct some experiments or research, or he might go to the East Coast.

"Oh, by the way, I'll also get a job and start settling down. Your father is a really good husband, and he'll definitely be a great father in the future."

Peter listened to Mary's story without saying a word, and looked up into the distance.

Near the park in the distance, a guy who looked like he was doing nothing productive was sitting next to a withered marigold, smoking one cigarette after another.

He probably thought that smoking just one more cigarette would relieve the oppressive feeling in his chest and help him breathe a little easier.

He gently flicked the ash onto the little goblin's damaged head.

As Peter listened to his mother recount the stories of his father, he felt his slightly dark emotions ease considerably.

Several hours passed.

Night falls.

But the sky was not completely swallowed by darkness; there was still some light.

The chirping of crickets replaced the chirping of cicadas, and a gentle breeze dried Mary's sweat.

Soon, a scavenger appeared in the distance—an ugly, filthy "werewolf" that looked like a wild dog.

He was "sniffing" around, not like a good guy.

The other person was thin with long limbs, and he was making comical "dance steps" as if he were enjoying music that no one else could hear but himself.

Her long brown hair was pulled up tightly on both sides and tied on top of her head with a rubber band.

Peter could see him constantly picking at the scabs on his arm.

And it was noted that all his teeth were still there, but judging from their color and stability, it wouldn't be long before they broke like icicles.

The smell of cat urine hits your nostrils so hard you can't avoid it.

He was one of the drug users.

Mary, who was speaking, did not recognize the drug addict and thought he was someone who came to greet her in a friendly manner.

"Hello."

As he spoke, the scavenger approached the two men.

Seeing the other person walking towards him, Peter immediately stood up alertly.

Seeing Peter's serious expression, the scavenger knew he was not someone to be trifled with and took a step back.

"Go away!"

Peter didn't waste any words with him and spoke to him bluntly.

Seeing the imposing aura emanating from Peter, the scavenger immediately left dejectedly.

"That's not a normal guy."

Peter said to Mary, "It's too late, let's go back."

Mary stared at him blankly for a long time, then smiled and said, "It's incredible that Peter actually stood up to protect me!"

A sense of pride appeared on her face.

"You must have been very tired while saving the world, Peter."

She asked Peter.

"It's not too tiring, but sometimes you have to think too much. Also, Mother, I'm not here to save the world, just to protect the people around me."

Peter finally managed to utter the word "mother".

Mary's eyes reddened slightly when she heard Peter call her mother.

She fought back tears and smiled at Peter, saying, "I know who that is, it's Gwen, right? The way she looks at you is very different, and the way you treat her is different too. As her mother, I can feel it. You two must have been through a lot."

She reached out and stroked Peter's face. "I'd rather you become your mother's hero in the future, not everyone's hero."

Mary spoke her truest thoughts.

Peter was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Mary's words touched him.

He could feel his mother's care and love for him.

"Yes, I can be your hero, even if it's just for a short time."

He said to the other person.

Chapter 323 Peter vs. the Shadow Agent

On the way back, Peter asked Mary.

"A female school teacher, a profession that allows a girl to have a sense of existence by making her life choices."

Mary said to him, "Peter, have you ever had a teacher like that? A teacher who inspired you to learn more and made you a better person?"

Peter paused for a moment and then said, "I probably have never met a teacher who would stand at the table and read poetry to me so earnestly."

"No one has ever shielded me from a bullet, given me roses, or tried to teach me anything else, I mean as a teacher."

Peter tapped his fingers as he spoke.

He thought of some other bad memories about his teacher.

Mary looked at Peter, took his hand and said, “Well, Peter, it seems you’re not having a very happy time in school. I had a teacher, an English teacher, who introduced me to Edgar Allan Poe, Plath and Dickinson.”

"And Keats, Donne, Yeats, and all those writers of love."

She paused for a moment and then continued:

“I hope I’m the kind of teacher that girls will remember, and maybe that’s why I’m trying to be a teacher. I want to leave something behind.”

The two walked to a coffee shop while talking.

Mary invited Peter inside for some fruit juice.

In her words, it was an unforgettable conversation between her and her future child.

The waiter came over, and Mary ordered herself a tropical drink and Peter a fruit juice, telling the waiter to add some cranberry juice (to solve Peter's sour face problem; Mary teased Peter that his face looked like a bitter gourd).

“These girls need help. Some of them are just a little lost in the fog, while the others are deep in the darkness.”

She paused and continued:

“Those girls who have been abused by their parents or molested, some of them are drug addicts, some are polarized, some harm themselves, their families or the world—in many ways—have abandoned them.”

“They were abandoned by the wolves and lions in the plains and jungles. They need our help because we are the only ones who are helping them without asking for anything in return. This means I still have a lot to do.”

Peter listened quietly; it was the first time he had ever learned so much about this woman who was his nominal mother.

The image of the mother in the old videotapes gradually became more detailed.

The waitress appeared while the two were talking.

She handed the cranberry vodka to Mary.

Then, a drink that looked like aquarium cleaner was placed in front of Mary, decorated with orange slices and cherries, and not one, but two small paper umbrellas.

This drink was so unique that Peter couldn't help but take a second look.

“I have to tell you,” Mary continued, “that the school has become less like a school because of some harmful things. It feels like a school for rich girls, with some frivolous and arrogant girls, like a bunch of troubled teenagers fighting each other with sharp teeth, whose parents are willing to do anything to make sure their children have a place.”

“These girls became notorious in this university with its Greek columns, heraldic peaks, and ivy climbing walls.”

“That’s it, Peter. We don’t just want to guarantee these girls a minimum standard of living. We want to provide them with everything, a complete passport to a real life.”