For a boy Peter's age, this was precisely the stage when outside values could influence him most easily.
While other teenagers were still memorizing the periodic table, he had already begun fighting crime.
Had that been all, he could have remained a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
But Tony's involvement had introduced him to the most extraordinary people in the world.
Because of the Civil War, although the boy had never said it aloud, he had begun leaning toward the idea that heroes mattered more than knowledge, and knowledge mattered more than school.
That was what made this so troubling.
Peter had a brilliant mind, yet he had begun devoting himself to practicing combat skills with Shang-Chi.
The incident with Lies had dealt him a blow.
He had lost his ability to judge and believed in the cage Lies had built for him.
If Tony hadn't noticed his signal cutting out and found him through triangulation...
Peter might have remained trapped in Cold Storage.
After Basil left, Peter sat lost in thought, holding the owl feather.
He kept glancing outside and couldn't focus on class.
During recess, Ned heard from him about what had happened yesterday.
"You're saying an alien wanted to kill you?"
"It was Lies. But you could put it that way."
"Lies is an alien?"
"I'm not sure either."
That green-skinned Skrull had wanted to kill him, and Lies seemed to be their leader.
Peter drew several connections on a piece of paper.
Ferdinand had mentioned weapons on the black market. Peter thought he could start there to track down Lies.
After school, he went to Taran Industries, feeling apprehensive.
The moment Ferdinand heard that a kid had come looking for him, he knew it was Peter.
He brought Peter into his office.
"Listen, I know you're proud of