Doctor Lizard Who Wants All Humanity to Evolve

"So, make it quick, Toby. Are you taking this job or not?"

"If you don't take it, I'll post the commission on the underground network. That way, I can still earn half the commission~"

Hearing Kingpin's final tease, Toby briefly weighed the pros and cons before deciding to take the job.

A fifty-million-dollar commission, plus an unknown reward from Tony Stark, was already worth making such a long trip for.

"I'll take the job. Also, get me a local passport and plane ticket, and prepare an off-road vehicle and supplies for me there. Deduct the costs from the commission for the next job I do for you."

When Toby agreed, a smile immediately appeared on Kingpin's lips at the other end of the line, though his tone was deliberately sorrowful.

"I'll naturally have all that prepared for you, but with the relationship between us, talking about money is really hurting my feelings. You only need to tell me when you plan to leave!"

"Also, even though this isn't my commission, I should still remind you: Tony Stark has already been missing for two months. The odds of him still being alive are already very slim, and the later you leave, the slimmer those odds become."

Toby felt that made sense.

Although he had seen the movie and knew Tony was probably alive.

As time passed, though, it was inevitable that Tony might be affected by his butterfly effect and actually die in some cave in Afghanistan.

So, to keep his fifty million from going down the drain, Toby decided to leave as soon as possible.

"Then tomorrow. Book me a flight for tomorrow morning."

"Alright. Tomorrow morning, I'll have someone deliver the passport and ticket to your home together."

With the job settled, Kingpin exchanged a few more pleasantries with Toby before hanging up in satisfaction.

Kingpin had given this huge job to Toby partly to further strengthen their relationship and do him a favor.

The other reason was to have Toby, the "King of Jobs," complete this nearly impossible task and reinforce the Kingpin Empire's reputation for reliability.

Now that both goals had been achieved, Kingpin naturally left satisfied...

After exercising all afternoon, Gwen only woke up groggily near nightfall, her whole body feeling like it was about to fall apart.

Since Monday was tomorrow and Gwen still had school, the two did not go for a second round, lest this model student be unable to even attend class the next day.

Thus, after eating dinner together, Toby took Gwen home.

Of course, on the way back, Toby also told Gwen that he would be going out of town on a "business trip" for a while.

Although Gwen had always known about Toby's other identity, she never asked too many questions about that side of him.

So while Gwen could tell that this "business trip" was definitely not simple, she merely reminded Toby to be careful and did not pry further.

That was also one of the reasons Toby liked Gwen. She could be considered one of the rare normal female characters in the Marvel world—devoted, calm, and incredibly trusting toward the person she loved.

After taking the battered Gwen home, Toby returned to his own house as well.

The moment he entered, Ben and May wore the same expression Peter had before: Why are you back?

Toby did not explain much. He merely told the old couple that he would be leaving town on business for a while tomorrow morning.

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The old couple did not ask any further questions either.

Toby did not go on "business trips" often, but he still took a few each year, so the old couple did not think much of it.

When Toby arrived in the basement and opened the passage to the second level, he saw Peter talking with Dr. Connors, who was tied to the corner of a table in the laboratory.

Hearing the door open behind him, Peter turned and saw Toby, then could not help letting out a long breath.

He jogged over to Toby and said in a low voice.

"Toby, I think Dr. Connors still isn't quite right. He isn't in his Lizard Man state right now, but he seems mentally unstable. The things he says feel somewhat... extreme?"

Toby nodded knowingly. "I understand. Go upstairs and get some rest. I'll take over from here."

Peter had spent last night tracking the Lizard Man without sleep, then guarded the Lizard Man all day today. He was already exhausted beyond belief.

So when he heard Toby was taking over, he had no intention of staying. Like he had been granted relief, he quickly left.

Toby was not surprised by Peter saying that Dr. Connors's words had been somewhat extreme.

Although the effects of Dr. Connors's Lizard Regeneration Serum had worn off and he had reverted to human form.

That did not mean Dr. Connors had truly returned entirely to normal.

If Toby remembered correctly, ever since Dr. Connors transformed into the Lizard Man, the serum's side effects had spawned a second, evil personality within him, much like the Green Goblin.

This evil personality would frequently tempt the primary personality, gradually pushing the host himself toward extremism.

Dr. Connors should currently be in the stage where he was being tempted.

After Peter left, Toby slowly walked up to Dr. Connors and said flatly, "Doctor, do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?"

Dr. Connors, tied to the corner of the table by Peter, looked at Toby and revealed a sinister grin.

"Hehehe, Toby Parker. You, and your cousin Peter Parker—I should have guessed long ago. As Richard's son and nephew, neither of you could possibly be so ordinary!"

"You are the same as me. We are all higher lifeforms after genetic evolution. And as fellow higher lifeforms, I believe we should not be enemies. We should cooperate, shouldn't we?"

Toby narrowed his eyes and folded his arms. "Oh? How do you propose we cooperate?"

Seeing that Toby had not immediately rejected him as Peter had before, Dr. Connors's eyes lit up, and his voice rose excitedly.

"Of course, we'd work together to evolve all of humanity!"

"Our human bodies are far too fragile. A little illness, a minor injury, and we could be crippled or killed. As the dominant species on this planet, humanity should not be so weak!"

"We humans should be as perfect as you and me!"

"Just imagine it—if humans all possessed the agility and strength of you and Peter, along with the regenerative abilities of my Lizard Regeneration Serum, only then would they deserve their status as the rulers of this planet!"

"And as long as we cooperate—if you give me a little of your and Peter's blood, then add Osborn Enterprises' Canary Device, a drug-dispersal system capable of covering an entire city—once I develop the perfect serum combining our strengths, we can evolve an entire city all at once!"

"In less than a month, we can complete the genetic evolution of the entire country. In just one year, the whole world can evolve into perfect beings!"

"This is my grand plan!!"