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Ch. 208 Join the Glorious Evolution
🕑 Added 2023-12-14 16:01:01 +0000 UTCUnless Tony redesigned the appearance of the Iron Man suit or adopted a new superhero name in the future, he had secured the copyright for Iron Man!
Even Stan Lee couldn't stop him, as he had declared!
Apart from these minor matters, his main focus during the past week had been on the super-spider that Betty brought back from Osborn Corporation.
Although Peter was relatively safe due to Serum, Russell wasn't a demon. If possible, he wanted to minimize the risk.
Betty had brought back thirty super-spiders from Osborn Corporation. Out of these, Russell had taken twenty for direct experimentation.
Due to security concerns, he hadn't allowed Betty and Dr. Sterns to participate in the experiments. He even had the experiments conducted in a temporary laboratory set up by No. 3 in an unmanned factory, rather than the Octopus Monster Lab.
While Russell wasn't a scientist, he didn't need to personally perform the experiments. With No. 3 and the robots it designed and produced, he only needed to provide the necessary materials for the experiments, such as Peter's blood and Osborn Corporation' super-spiders. Of course, this also included Dr. Connors' data and information on cross-species genetics experiments.
After handing over the Second-Generation Symbiote to Norman Osborn, Octopus Monster Industries officially joined Dr. Connors and Dr. Octavius' projects, becoming one of the backers behind these two projects.
In the unmanned factory, devoid of any human presence except for robots and artificial intelligence, Russell sat in the laboratory and watched No. 3 conduct the experiments with boredom.
The experiments had been ongoing for five days now.
Out of the twenty super-spiders he had brought, more than half had perished.
Through these days of experimentation and analysis, No. 3 had confirmed that Osborn Corporation' super-spiders could induce genetic mutations in Peter. However, No. 3 couldn't provide precise data on the extent of these mutations yet.
Besides that, No. 3 also attempted to use the current experimental data to refine Dr. Connors' cross-species genetics technology.
Although Russell wasn't particularly interested in cross-species genetics, he allowed No. 3 to explore this avenue since it seemed to have sparked No. 3's interest.
Russell took out his phone, browsing the newly established Octopus Monster Media Company's promotional materials for Kara, Hulk, and others while waiting for No. 3's research results.
Once the remaining super-spiders had been expended in the experiments, they could begin Peter's evolution into Spider-Man.
At 3:30 PM, as the twenty super-spiders designated for experimentation were nearly depleted, No. 3 controlled a robot to take out the final ten super-spiders.
"Don't be nervous; it won't hurt. After a good sleep, you'll wake up as Spider-Man," Russell reassured Peter, who was sitting nervously next to him.
Peter had been brought directly to the factory after school. Currently, he was wearing a surgical gown specially prepared by No. 3, and he anxiously watched the surgical table at the center of the laboratory.
"Really, there won't be any accidents?" Although he tried to control his emotions as best as he could, Peter's voice still carried some nervousness.
"Don't worry; nothing will happen. The worst-case scenario is that you won't gain superpowers," Russell said calmly.
"Yeah." After hearing Russell's words, Peter nodded.
Seeing Peter still looking nervous, Russell sighed helplessly.
"I heard you like a girl named Liz. Have you thought about when to ask her out?"
Just as Russell finished speaking, Peter's expression shifted from nervousness to shyness.
"No, I mean, I'm just curious about her."
"Sure, just curious!"
Despite growing up in the United States, a country known for its open-mindedness, Peter clearly wasn't one of those young Americans with extensive experience in dating. There was an inherent shyness about him.
"Liking someone is natural; there's nothing to be embarrassed about!"
"You're good-looking, doing well academically, and you have a decent income now. You have no reason to feel inferior."
Russell offered some words of encouragement.
"I'm not feeling inferior; I just don't know how to interact with girls."
Peter rebutted.
"Not knowing how to interact with girls is precisely because you haven't interacted with them before. You can't learn how to date just by studying; you have to practice."
Russell spoke from experience.
"I..."
Peter wanted to explain further but ultimately decided against it. No matter how he explained it, he couldn't change the fact that he had never been in a relationship.
"After gaining superpowers, try living a different life than before!"
"You're still young; you should enjoy the beauty of this age rather than making yourself seem like a bookworm."
Afterward, Russell reached out and ruffled Peter's hair, much like one would do with a dog.
"Yeah," Peter nodded.
"Alright, go join the glorious evolution!"
Russell pointed at the prepared surgical table.
Peter swallowed nervously, stood up, and approached the table.
Once Peter lay down on the table, No. 3 controlled a robot to secure him in place.
Then, in various parts of his body—limbs, neck, heart—six super-spiders were placed.
Typically, one super-spider was sufficient to transform Peter into Spider-Man. However, to maximize the effects of genetic mutation, No. 3 had devised a completely different evolution plan for Peter.
Although this decision appeared somewhat reckless, No. 3 had calculated and confirmed the safety of the plan several times.
"Let's begin!" Russell instructed No. 3.
"Understood, sir!" No. 3 immediately responded.
Just as Peter was about to say that he was ready, the six super-spiders received an electric shock and began biting him.
Although these six super-spiders weren't particularly large, the moment they bit Peter, he instinctively reacted, trying to shake them off his body.
However, restrained by the bindings, he could only allow these super-spiders to bite him.
A breathing mask inhaled an anesthetic gas inside, and in the blink of an eye, Peter lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep.
After Peter had fallen into unconsciousness, the six super-spiders were removed from his body.
At the same time, two syringes filled with green liquid were placed next to Peter's hands.
"Inject it!" Russell calmly ordered.
Hearing Russell's command, No. 3 began controlling the syringes to administer the injection.
The green liquid in the syringes was none other than the latest Third-Generation Enhancement Serum developed in the Octopus Monster Lab.
Russell hadn't informed Peter in advance about the enhancement serum.
Even though Peter idolized him blindly, Russell was accustomed to keeping a few cards hidden.
