The Detective Agency members gathered together and recorded a "thank-you video" for Spider-Man on their phones. After uploading it, they chatted for a while before going their separate ways. Of course, Peter Parker did not go home—like a nimble cat, he slipped silently into the empty chemistry lab.
If J. Jonah Jameson found out about this, Peter thought self-mockingly as he rummaged through the reagent bottles, he'd be over the moon—Spider-Man's first official crime. But then again, Peter Parker is the one doing this. What does it have to do with Spider-Man? Luckily, there aren't any cameras in here. Let's see... I can probably make three batches of Web Fluid. Hope that's enough. And I hope this all ends tonight—who knows when Herman's boxing gloves are going to explode.
Less than twenty minutes later, three bottles of pearlescent Web Fluid had been stuffed into his jacket pockets. After opening the door and checking both directions, he confirmed no one had noticed him before leaving the school.
Peter did not notice that Carl, who had stayed behind for football practice, was nearby. From far down the hallway, he happened to see Peter leaving and became curious. What was skinny Parker doing at school this late?
Was he messing around with something? Could Carl use it to mess with him and win back a little face?
Curious, he sneaked into the lab. He searched for a long time for whatever Parker had been doing but found nothing, so he sniffed around and located the lab bench that smelled of chemicals.
"What was he doing here?"
Carl curiously removed the drain cover from the sink and found white stuff stuck to it. Was this what Peter Parker had been working on?
He tried to tear off a piece, but could not pull anything loose. All he could do was curse under his breath. He made a mental note of it and left the chemistry lab—unaware that the webbing would automatically degrade within two hours. By the time he came back tomorrow, it would all be gone.
Meanwhile, Peter had already changed into his costume and was calling Uncle Ben.
"Hello? Uncle Ben, I'll be home late tonight. Just tell Aunt May her worrying nephew went to watch some excitement. What excitement? Remember to watch the Daily Bugle broadcast!"
An unprecedented thrill surged through his body like electricity. Spider-Man swung through the Manhattan dusk toward his next target. He needed a battlefield, and to ensure safety and prevent interference, the roads would have to be closed off. He could find Captain Stacy, but Captain Stacy did not have the authority to lock down an entire combat zone. The ones who did were the Avengers.
So he swung all the way to Avengers Tower, landed expertly on the skyscraper's helipad, and headed inside.
"Stop, soldier. One more step and you'll be in the restricted area."
Steve Rogers emerged in a short-sleeved shirt, holding a cup of coffee. Peter could only explain, "I have some kind of... danger sense, Captain. If I step into a dangerous area, I'll know."
"That's no reason for you to take risks, kid. What did you come here for?"
"I found a way to lure Scarecrow out, but there are two problems. First, I need a section of road closed off. I can't find anyone important enough to make that happen, so I thought maybe the Avengers could help."
"That isn't difficult. What's the second problem? You can tell us, and the Avengers will handle the rest."
"That's the second problem, Captain. The Avengers can't get involved."
Peter stated his request. "Last time, Herman couldn't beat me and ran away in a panic. This is how I plan to draw him out: give him a fair battlefield and let him come here willingly to fight me to the finish. If the Avengers get involved, he'll most likely run away immediately."
The Captain summed up his objection in one sentence. "So you want us to place all our hopes on you defeating Scarecrow, and on his weapons not exploding in the process."
"I didn't propose this because I think I failed and need to make up for it, Captain. I proposed it because... I just think I can do it."
Peter removed his mask and looked at Rogers. Rogers looked back at him, then sighed and took out his phone.
"You win, kid. I know a friend who can help you."
Using his dynamic vision, Peter caught a glimpse of the name flashing across the screen—"Nick Fury." He smiled, thanked him, put his mask back on, and prepared to leave.
Of course, the Captain had a new question.
"Uh, kid, where exactly do you want to close off?"
"Times Square, Captain!"
Watching Spider-Man swing away, the Captain nodded and placed the call. "All right, Nick, I need you to help me lock down Times Square. I'm not crazy..."
Only by challenging Herman somewhere important enough would Scarecrow be more likely to agree to settle things there, and Times Square was the best choice. Peter arrived and took out his old camera, constantly moving between buildings to find the best angle. When the fight started, he would stick the camera there and set it to shoot automatically, then see whether he could get a few photos to sell to Jameson.
If only someone had told me before I crossed over how American high schoolers get rich quickly without working part-time jobs or committing crimes. Right now, all I can do is take pictures of myself like the real Peter Parker... Once I have money, I'm definitely building my own high-tech base like Peter Parker in Spider-Verse, filled with all kinds of suits. Or maybe I should first add a display function to my suit's lenses.
He truly had no idea how to make money. If only he had crossed over as Harry Osborn instead. Now all he could do was wait for the Brazil World Cup and persuade Uncle Ben to bet everything on Brazil losing 1–7—this was the one event he remembered most clearly, something he could not forget even after crossing over.
"All right, it's time for the Daily Bugle's 6 p.m. live broadcast. Next stop, the Daily Bugle building! Time to meet my dear number-one fan for the first time!"
Inside the Daily Bugle media building, J. Jonah Jameson was reviewing another news piece he had written that day. Another day spent condemning those damned masked freaks. He took a sip of water and cleared his throat when his old friend Robbie suddenly pushed open the studio door.
"Jonah, something big happened."
"What could possibly be so big, Robbie—"
"Spider-Man is here!"
J. Jonah Jameson's expression froze for a moment, then he immediately reacted. "Good! That disgusting spider vermin finally came to us! As long as I, Jameson, still draw breath, I will never let that freak destroy freedom of the press!"
"He didn't come here to destroy freedom of the press, Jameson." Robbie cut off Jameson's rant. "He said he brought us an exclusive."
Jameson's expression immediately stiffened.
"Welcome to today's Daily Bugle News. Before today's regular news, we received a special recording." A few minutes later, Jameson sat in the studio looking as sick as if he had eaten fly droppings. If Spider-Man had not told him Scarecrow's weapons could explode at any moment, he would not have given a damn about that spider freak.
"Hey, Scarecrow. It's me, Spider-Man. Remember me?"
The video was clearly a phone-recorded selfie. Spider-Man's huge face was shoved right up against the camera. "I still remember how I beat you senseless that day, forcing you to desperately threaten innocent civilians just to make me leave. What's wrong? Been hiding these past few days?"
"I got beaten senseless?" Herman raged from inside his hideout. "I almost killed you that day, you bastard spider!"
He decided to ignore that damned bug. No matter what it said, he was not going out.
"I know you might be scared. Maybe you're worried you can't beat me, or maybe you're worried your weapons aren't as powerful as you've been claiming—or maybe you're just afraid of the Avengers. If that's all it is, don't worry. I've handled it. After eight tonight, it'll be just you and me. We settle this in Times Square. No Avengers, no police, but every media outlet in New York will be watching. I'll let the whole world see that your weapons are nothing special, Scarecrow."
My weapons are nothing special?!
Furious, Herman immediately opened his wardrobe, took out his suit, then carefully considered whether this was really wise.
"—It's every media outlet in New York, Herman. And if that bug isn't lying, it'll be just him."
After thinking it over carefully, Herman began taking off his clothes and putting on his suit.
There could not be a better opportunity. All of New York's media would remember that Scarecrow defeated Spider-Man!
It reached the top thirty in the category without any promotion. Thank you all for your support.
Before you continue