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Chapter 14: Witnessing the Birth of Spider-Man
🕑 Added 2025-10-07 15:38:54 +0000 UTC
"What way?" Gwen asked curiously, her eyes sparkling with dollar signs.
"Buy Stark Industries stock!"
"Pfft~~ You think I didn't know that? Do you have any idea how expensive Stark stock is? Even if Dad sold everything we own, we couldn't afford much."
She had thought Lucas might actually have a clever idea. But seriously? Stark stock? If there was easy money in that, Captain George Stacy would've bought in ages ago.
"No~ no~~ no~~~ that's where you're wrong!"
Lucas wagged his finger, striking the pose of a smug sage. His expression made Gwen's fist itch to punch him.
"Forget it. I'm leaving." Gwen gave him a playful slap and sped up her steps.
"Hey, wait! Listen, I've got insider knowledge!" Lucas caught up, lowering his voice. "I know for a fact Stark stock is going to crash soon. That's when we buy in. When it bounces back, we'll be rich."
"You think the market falls just because you say so? Who do you think you are—Tony Stark himself?" Gwen shook her head, unconvinced.
"I'm serious. Would I lie to you? Just wait for my word. I guarantee we'll make money."
His tone was sincere, but Gwen still didn't buy it. No one—not even billionaires—could manipulate Stark Industries stock.
Seeing her disbelief, Lucas didn't press the matter. He couldn't exactly tell her the truth about knowing the future. That kind of knowledge had to stay hidden.
Still, he knew he was right. He'd read enough novels in his past life—every transmigrator in Marvel who had a brain would scoop up Stark stock. Some even became the company's second-largest shareholder. Lucas might not be a genius, but he wasn't stupid either. This was easy money.
On the way, Lucas bought two ice creams. They chatted and laughed until they reached Oscorp Tower, where a crowd of Midtown High seniors had already gathered.
"Hey, Lucas! Took you long enough!"
Peter, Felicia, and Mary Jane waved them over. Peter, as usual, wore his thick, dorky black-rimmed glasses. They hid his looks and made him seem like a complete bookworm.
"Peter, you'll never get a girlfriend looking like that."
Lucas plucked the glasses off and tousled his friend's hair. "Much better."
But without glasses, Peter squinted like a blind man, fumbling to snatch them back.
"Cut it out. Without these, I can't see a thing. You want me walking into walls?"
Once the frames were back on his nose, Peter sighed with relief.
"Ever heard of contacts? Try those sometime." Lucas tapped his own eyes.
"Too much hassle, and way more expensive. Glasses are easier."
"That's nothing. I'll buy you a pair one day. And who knows—after today, maybe you won't need them at all." Lucas said it with a grin, half joking, half serious.
Peter chuckled. "I'll take that blessing, thanks." He clearly didn't believe a word of it.
Soon, the teacher called roll and led the students inside. Oscorp staff guided them up floor by floor, explaining the facilities.
The first few levels were offices. At the 10th floor, each student received an ID card.
"From this floor onward, you'll be seeing our laboratories," a staff member explained. "Right now, we're in the exhibition hall showcasing one of Oscorp's cutting-edge projects: radioactive genetically modified spiders.
"These experiments aim to unlock animal genetic secrets—and potentially transfer beneficial traits to humans, curing disease."
"Wow~~ Cool!!" Peter and Gwen exclaimed together.
Gwen dragged Lucas to a glass enclosure where red-and-black spiders crawled about.
"Look, Lucas! Aren't they pretty? That one's markings look like a face!" she pointed excitedly to one that was more agile than the rest, with longer legs and a smaller body.
Lucas spared it only a glance. He already knew what really mattered—Peter. His eyes stayed glued to his friend.
Over by the girls, Peter fumbled with his camera, offering to snap pictures of Mary Jane and Felicia for the school bulletin board. In truth, Lucas knew he just wanted to keep a photo of his "goddess." Classic simp behavior.
Here it comes. Here it comes!
Lucas leaned forward eagerly. In his sharpened vision, he caught it: a dark red spider crawling onto Peter's neck.
Yes! Do it! Bite him! Bite him now!!
He clenched his fists as if sheer willpower could urge the spider on.
Sure enough, the fangs sank into Peter's skin. Tiny beads of blood welled up.
"Perfect!" Lucas muttered under his breath, pumping a fist. He had just witnessed the birth of Spider-Man.
"Ahh!" Peter yelped, swatting at the sting. The proud little spider was crushed flat in his palm.
He glanced at his hand, saw nothing, and shrugged it off before snapping Mary Jane's photo—unaware that, at this exact moment, Spider-Man had been born.
Satisfied, Lucas finally relaxed. He'd seen it with his own eyes: the rise of his favorite Marvel hero.
"Ahh!"
Beside him, Gwen suddenly cried out in pain. Lucas spun toward her.
"What's wrong? You okay?"
"It's nothing… I think my clothes just built up static electricity." Gwen rubbed her sleeve. The fabric was prone to static, but comfortable enough that she didn't care.
"As long as you're fine." Lucas exhaled in relief before Gwen tugged him toward the next display.
This exhibit featured a robotic arm spinning out strands of white webbing. Nearby machines tested the properties of the synthetic silk.
"This is Oscorp's bionic webbing technology," the guide explained. "It boasts extreme tensile strength and flexibility, lasting around two hours before biodegrading harmlessly."
He then produced a small metal capsule, no larger than a fingernail.
"This container stores the webbing in liquid form. Once exposed to air, it solidifies into silk. Each capsule holds up to one kilometer of webbing."
Lucas's eyes widened. So this is the prototype of Spidey's future web-shooters.
Curious, he raised a hand. "Excuse me—how much does one of those capsules cost?"
