Comforting Little Spider

General Ross was not the only one among the military's top brass secretly pushing for a military-strengthening plan.

One of his rival generals had commissioned Oscorp Industries to develop superweapons in an attempt to create an ultra-modern steel legion.

But Norman Osborn's ambitions went far beyond developing high-tech weapons.

"Weapons will always have limits, but the human body's potential is limitless..."

He had long been secretly supporting genetic modification research within the company.

Dr. Connors, the Lizard Man, was working on a branch of that project.

The research had achieved preliminary results.

But before the Physical Enhancement Serum had passed its final tests, Norman impatiently injected it into himself.

Even now, he could not forget the thrill of sending a researcher flying with a single kick...

The serum greatly enhanced Norman's strength, speed, and endurance, but it severely damaged his nervous system, causing him to develop a second personality—a violent, paranoid Green Goblin filled with destructive urges.

When he learned that other directors among the upper management of the Osborn company he had built with his own hands were trying to bypass him and sell the company off cheaply,

Norman Osborn began his retaliation...

While Su Ming and Tony were still throwing money around in Las Vegas,

Oscorp Industries' annual celebration grandly opened in New York.

Social elites, company executives, and all the employees enjoyed fine food and wine at the venue.

Peter Parker attended the event as a part-time photographer as well.

The venue was filled with laughter and cheer.

Just as everyone happily shared in the festivities, Peter Parker's Spider-Sense sounded an urgent warning.

"Him again?"

A green figure appeared above everyone's heads, standing atop a flying glider.

Peter was no stranger to the man clad in green armor and wearing a demon mask.

He had once invited Little Spider to join him in building a great enterprise. His overwhelming ambition and murderous aura had left a deep impression on Peter Parker.

Wearing a full set of combat gear developed by the company, Norman Osborn locked onto the location of the company executives and threw a Pumpkin Bomb.

"Trying to steal the fruit of my labor? Die, all of you!!"

An explosion flashed—nearly every company executive became an intact skeleton, scattered across the ground.

The Pumpkin Bomb instantly stripped away all their flesh—and their lives.

The sight terrified everyone at the scene.

As people scattered in panic for their lives, Peter Parker ran into a corner, changed into his Spider Suit, and arrived in time to engage the Green Goblin.

At that point, he still did not know who the man was.

Peter Parker could not stand by as the Green Goblin slaughtered civilians without restraint.

Peter was soon locked in a difficult battle.

Norman Osborn, strengthened by the serum, was vicious and powerful, with an endless array of high-tech equipment.

Peter's nearly shattered mask was the result of just one Pumpkin Bomb.

Norman naturally knew that Spider-Man was Peter Parker.

He had discovered Peter's secret when he attended a family gathering earlier.

The wound on Peter's arm had been inflicted by Norman's tracking dart.

At first, he had wanted to join forces with Spider-Man, who possessed an extraordinary physique like his own, to achieve great things—those who obeyed him would prosper, while those who defied him would perish.

But this little bug's repeated interference with his plans had completely enraged the second personality within Norman.

He swore to eliminate every obstacle before him!

When he gained the upper hand in battle, he fell into a common villainous flaw—talking too much.

When Peter heard the Green Goblin threaten to kill Aunt May and Gwen, he flew into a rage.

He beat the Green Goblin senseless in just a few moves. Only when Norman voluntarily removed his mask did Peter discover in shock—wasn't this the father of his best friend, Harry Osborn?

While Peter was stunned, Norman secretly controlled the glider and launched a blade that shot toward Peter's back...

But Spider-Sense detected it, and Peter barely dodged the fatal strike.

Who could have expected the blade to pierce straight into Norman's body instead?

In his final moments, Norman Osborn's kindness returned, and he told Peter:

"Don't tell Harry..."

But when Peter brought Norman's body back to his home, his best friend Harry saw it.

From that day on, Harry also regarded Spider-Man as the murderer of his father—an enemy beneath the same sky.

Peter was in tremendous pain. On one hand, he had never killed anyone before, and facing death directly left him deeply unsettled;

On the other hand, the dead man was his best friend's father, a man he had called Uncle since childhood.

He could not accept that Uncle Norman—the powerful businessman who had always smiled warmly at him in his memories—had died before his eyes, even because of him.

He did not know how he should face Harry Osborn, his friend who had lost his father.

Nor did he know how to calm his own anxious mind.

With his thoughts in complete turmoil, Peter remembered Su Ming and, as if possessed, came to his room.

He hoped to find a trace of inner peace.

Listening to Peter Parker's quiet account, Su Ming sighed.

"I never expected so much to happen after I was gone for just a few days!"

Looking at Peter's lost and helpless expression, Su Ming sighed again—he was still young.

After thinking for a moment, he spoke.

"Peter, congratulations..."

Little Spider was baffled by Su Ming's abrupt words.

He was already so upset and conflicted. Couldn't Su Ming see that? Why would he say something like that?

Was he a devil?

But Su Ming was older and more experienced, so perhaps he had a different perspective.

Peter quietly waited for what Su Ming would say next.

Meanwhile, Su Ming was beginning to regret blurting that out.

Because he knew that Spider-Man could only truly grow after experiencing all kinds of setbacks, misunderstandings, and even the loss of loved ones.

But so many things had yet to happen. He could not exactly tell Peter that this was how the plot had been arranged, could he?

Besides, Gwen's father had not died because of Su Ming's appearance, so Peter should count his blessings, right?

Could Peter possibly be allowed to know something like that?

No!

Peter Parker was still a student. The growth of his mind required time.

It would be a terrible sin if Su Ming led him astray...

With that in mind, Su Ming said gently,

"Yes, Peter. Congratulations! You successfully passed another trial of fate."

Listening to Su Ming's words, Little Spider fell into thought.

Su Ming then began his great art of persuasion, pouring an entire vat of inspirational wisdom into Peter's young heart.

In short, Peter had not killed anyone. The Green Goblin had brought it upon himself.

Besides, if Peter had not acted in time, even more victims and families would have been plunged into grief.

Those who committed many injustices would bring about their own destruction~

With great power came great responsibility.

He who wished to wear the crown must bear its weight.

And so on and so forth...

To be fair, after Su Ming's extensive brainwashing and persuasion, Peter visibly began to feel better.

Peter actually knew in his heart that Su Ming was right. Even if the Green Goblin was the father of his best friend,

that did not change the fact that he was a murderous monster who treated human lives like dirt.

Looking at Su Ming patiently guiding and comforting him, Peter remembered Su Ming's profit-driven ways, and a question could not help appearing in his mind:

Since he clearly understood so many principles, why had he chosen a path filled with the stench of money?

He then voiced the question in his heart.

That question struck right at Su Ming's heart.

"Damn it, if I hadn't focused on making money, I would've died in the first episode, okay?"

Thinking back to the things he had just said to comfort Peter, those were all hard-earned truths distilled from nine years of compulsory education, well-rounded moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and practical development, plus society's brutal beatings.

—They were all top-tier life lessons. Just learn them~

"Don't worry. Once I've made enough money, I'll choose to become a superhero too and save the world with you!"

Peter Parker's face filled with excitement at those words. He knew it—Mr. Silver Duke would definitely embark on this glorious path!

God, how did he understand so much?

The tangled emotions that had troubled Peter suddenly became clear after just a few words from him.

Peter could not help viewing the man before him in a completely new light—powerful and principled, calm and wise!

I must become a man like him! Peter told himself once again...

Su Ming comforted Peter with a kindly expression, but inwardly he screamed:

Impossible!!

Absolutely impossible!!!

It would be impossible to ever make enough money!!

Superhero? I won't be one even a little bit in this lifetime...