Peter, who had been given an all-night crash course by Harry at the cost of the poor guy's sanity, stepped out of the room yawning and rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"Uncle Ben? Aunt May? What are you doing here?"
Ben and May stepped forward and hugged him.
"We received an invitation from your boss, so we came. It was too late last night to disturb you," Uncle Ben said.
"I thought you wouldn't make it back and was planning to pick you up myself today."
The words had barely left Peter's mouth when he noticed the unease on their faces. He pressed, "Uncle Ben, Aunt May, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
Aunt May went to get him breakfast, while Uncle Ben lifted his teacup and took a steadying sip. "If your boss's men hadn't 'invited' us with guns in their hands, we probably wouldn't be here," he said at last.
Ben mimed firing a gun.
"The trip scared us half to death, but seeing you and Harry chatting by candlelight—looking so happy together—put us at ease. At least you're safe."
Peter scratched his head. He hadn't expected Jack to drag Uncle Ben and Aunt May here by force just to keep him indoors.
He felt both relieved and worried.
His emotions were tangled into a complicated knot.
He was glad they were safe here, yet terrified the outside world would soon descend into chaos and countless people would be hurt.
At the same time, he was deeply afraid the outside world would spiral into disorder, with many innocent people getting hurt.
Sensing Peter's anxiety, Ben clasped the boy's hand on the table and spoke earnestly. "Peter, go do what you feel you must. With great power comes great responsibility. Like your father, you were never meant to live an ordinary life."
"Your dad looked like an average guy, but as his brother, I could feel how special he was. So be bold and do what you have to do—just promise me you'll keep yourself safe."
With Uncle Ben's eight-word mantra echoing in his ears, the power within Peter surged, ready to break its seal and fully evolve.
Garfield-Spider evolves—into the Amazing Spider-Man!
Peter was already planning how to shuttle between New York and the lab from now on, juggling both worlds…
Meanwhile, Jack was listening to Mosquito Girl's report. Night had fallen in the Middle East. After a full night of flying, she had reached Ethan, used mosquitoes to spell out a message to lure him out, and the two had met without incident.
"Ethan, Mosquito Girl is the helper I'm sending you. When there's someone you need eliminated, just tell her," Jack's voice came through the communicator.
The moment the words landed, Mosquito Girl protested coquettishly, "Huh? Master, you're so unfair—sending me away the moment I'm useful. What a rotten Master~"
"Stop talking nonsense. I sent you there so you can evolve faster. Behave yourself, work hard, and grow into something capable," Jack said calmly.
Still pouting, she muttered, "Cold-hearted Master~"
"Ethan, build up your power. Earth still has plenty of crises ahead," Jack said, then cut the connection with Ethan and Mosquito Girl. It was time to test his own plan.
"Crossbones, how's the preparation?" Jack dialed another number.
A gruff voice answered, "Report, Marshal. Everything's green. Ready to attack at any time."
"Good. Prepare to—"
Suddenly, gunfire erupted outside the lab, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"Attack. Leave no one alive. Bring back anything valuable," Jack ordered coldly.
"Roger! All units move! Priority target: test subject codenamed Electro—insulate your gear!"
Brock Rumlow, a.k.a. Crossbones, immediately relayed the assault order.
Target: Ravencroft Institute, the secret research base controlled by Osborn Group shareholders.
After issuing the command, Jack headed out to investigate the source of the gunshot.
The timing was too perfect—clearly a provocation, waiting for the person in charge to step outside.
The moment the gunshot rang out, Peter's first instinct was to shield Uncle Ben and Aunt May, hustling them to safety.
"Peter, be careful," Aunt May said, gripping his hand tightly, worry filling her eyes.
"Don't worry, Aunt May. I'll be fine." He patted her hand and sprinted toward the sound of the gunfire.
Jack and Peter arrived at the lab complex gate at the same time.
Outside the gate stood rows of armed soldiers. Inside the reinforced iron gate, several Black Widows stood quietly, waiting for the Master—no, the boss—to deal with the situation.
"Report. Who are they?" Jack asked grimly.
A Black Widow in her mid-twenties pulled up the surveillance feed and handed it to him.
The first figure Jack saw on the screen was painfully familiar—General Ross.
"They're demanding that we hand over someone named Bruce Banner, but we don't have anyone by that name here," the Widow reported.
Hearing this, Jack understood immediately. "I know what's going on. Open the side gate. I'll go out myself."
Peter tried to follow, but Jack blocked him. "Forget it, you weakling who can't even stop a bullet. Stay inside."
Peter spread his hands in helpless surrender. He wanted to flip Harry a cheerful gesture but feared Jack might snap his fingers—or worse, cut his cock off—so he restrained himself.
Harry, meanwhile, was indeed in high spirits—Peter's earlier poking at his ticklish spots had nearly made him laugh himself unconscious.
Though worried, the Widows obeyed orders and opened the personnel-sized side gate.
Jack stepped out to face General Ross and his troops.
"Jack, hand over Bruce Banner immediately. He is a federal fugitive," Ross shouted through a megaphone.
Jack casually warmed up, rolling his wrists and ankles. "Here's your chance—get off my turf. If you want to arrest someone, show me a warrant first."
Before his words even finished echoing, a soldier stepped forward and fanned out a stack of arrest warrants.
"I know Bruce Banner is here. My troops will conduct a search. You have no right to stop us. Obstructing us means opposing the Federation," Ross said coldly.
Seeing the paperwork, Jack looked briefly embarrassed, then shrugged. "Bruce Banner? I sent him to Russia ages ago. Try Vladivostok—or maybe Yekaterinburg."
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