Hawk stood at the edge of the Times Square building's rooftop, hands in his pockets, looking at Spider-Woman and speaking calmly.
Peter just felt Hawk was showing off.
But…
He quickly thought about it and soon realized why Hawk had suddenly made a move.
It wasn't just Peter.
As Peter and Mary went to take the subway home together, and Hawk drove Gwen home, Gwen also guessed why Hawk had suddenly acted.
However, Gwen looked at Hawk with some curiosity.
"If it hadn't happened in Times Square, would you still have intervened?"
"…"
Hawk looked at Gwen, thought seriously for a moment, then chuckled and shook his head: "I don't know."
The reason he intervened was precisely because it was Times Square.
It was one of the most profound places in his memory in this life.
There was no other.
Because here, on September 10, 2009, he lost his sister Anya, who grew up with him in this life, and who, despite a congenital heart condition, was intelligent, well-behaved, and adorable since childhood.
As for Electro appearing in Times Square, no matter why he appeared there, and no matter what his objective was.
But Electro appearing in Times Square and causing destruction was undoubtedly rubbing salt into his wound.
Times Square would not allow any more regrets!
So Electro died.
No other reason, just because he appeared in Times Square.
That's all.
The next day.
As expected, the report of Spider-Man battling Electro in Times Square last night once again made the front page.
The Daily Bugle, in particular, published a 4K high-definition photo.
Hawk looked at the front-page photo of Spider-Man twisting and soaring in the air in the newspaper in his hand, then looked up at Gwen, who came here even on her day off, and chuckled: "I don't know how good Peter's photography skills are now, but his selfie skills are getting better and better."
Gwen, who was rinsing the sink with the faucet, released her right hand, letting the retractable faucet spring back automatically.
Hearing this, she turned to the island counter and glanced at the newspaper in Hawk's hand: "That miser gave Peter a five hundred dollar bonus for this photo."
It was well-known that the Daily Bugle boss was a modern-day miser.
Hawk gasped at the amount of the bonus.
"Five hundred, wow, which miser is so generous?"
"Mary said so."
Gwen shrugged, then remembered her conversation with Mary on the way over, and said to Hawk with some amusement: "Peter stood Mary up again."
Hawk raised an eyebrow.
"What happened?"
"Peter said that while Spider-Man is hot right now, he needs to quickly find a way to take more photos of Spider-Man to get more money from that miser."
"Hiss!"
Hawk inhaled.
But…
He thought about it, chuckled, and put down the newspaper in his hand: "Peter's Uncle Ben passed away, and he only has Aunt Mei at home. The annual property tax is a huge expense. Peter probably doesn't want his Aunt Mei to work so hard, and Peter is indeed different from me."
Gwen heard this, placed her hands on the island counter in front of her, and smiled at Hawk.
"How is he different?"
"He is a truly kind person."
After Hawk finished the hot cocoa Gwen brought from home, he looked at Gwen: "If anyone else had Peter's abilities, they would probably be financially free by now."
Gwen blinked, looking at Hawk: "So, that's why you want to pay for our trip to London this time for Peter?"
Hawk shrugged and smiled slightly.
"I am financially free."
"Hawk."
"Hmm?"
"You are actually very kind too."
Gwen looked at Hawk without blinking.
Hawk met Gwen's gaze.
Their eyes met.
The next second.
Gwen smiled slightly, clapped her hands, and walked towards the backyard: "Alright, Mr. Kind, hurry up and clean up breakfast, then come to the backyard. We have a lot to do today."
Although she had lived in an apartment building since she was little, she had always had a dream.
That was, after getting married, her home must have a backyard, and the backyard must be filled with flowers and plants she carefully tended.
Now, her dream had come true ahead of time.
A while later.
Hawk slid open the living room's sliding door and walked onto the backyard corridor, saying to Gwen, who had already picked up a small shovel: "I might not be able to help you with the work."
Gwen turned her head to look: "What's wrong?"
Hawk shrugged.
"Harry just called and invited me to the manor, asking if I had time."
"Harry?"
Gwen was slightly stunned and asked curiously: "Is Harry free now?"
Since Norman Osborn's death, Harry had been busy with Osborn matters, so busy that he couldn't even attend the graduation dance a few days ago.
He couldn't even attend yesterday's graduation ceremony.
Moreover…
"Are you and Harry good friends?"
"Not bad."
"Then you go."
"You're not going?"
"No."
Gwen shook her head, looked around the backyard, then smiled at Hawk: "I'll use the computer later to make a rendering of my backyard design. You'll definitely like it."
"I'll like anything you do."
Hawk replied, then said to Gwen: "Then I'll go?"
Gwen waved her hand.
Hawk smiled, turned, and left the backyard, heading towards the garage.
He didn't really want to go to Harry Osborn's manor.
But if he had to choose between tidying the backyard and going to Osborn Manor, then he would choose Osborn Manor.
Two hours later.
Osborn Manor.
As Hawk drove up to the entrance of Osborn Manor, he saw a familiar face standing at the gate.
"Peter?"
"Hawk."
Peter, who was about to walk into the manor, turned to look at the approaching audi a8, his eyes lit up, and he walked to the passenger side, opened the car door, and got in.
Peter was a bit surprised.
"How did you get here?"
"Harry called to invite me."
Hawk said, then seemed to remember something, and while driving into the manor, he looked at Peter: "Harry called you too?"
Peter nodded: "Yes, he called this morning."
At this point, Peter also seemed to realize something and glanced at Hawk.
Hawk smiled.
He looked at the Osborn Manor main building that had appeared in his sight, and he already had a rough guess.
Sure enough.
When Harry met both of them, exchanged greetings and hugs, and then began playing the video of the Spider Serum found in the Osborn experimental database, Hawk knew he hadn't guessed wrong.
Only…
He was a little confused.
But not that kind of confusion.
He looked at the video Harry was playing, already knowing what Harry was going to say next, but he didn't understand why Harry had called him over.
Harry wanted to know Spider-Man's identity, and Peter was enough.
It was well known that Spider-Man's private photos were authorized to Peter Parker of the Daily Bugle, and Peter Parker had Spider-Man's contact information, which was an open secret in New York City's gossip media circles.
But what about him?
Until—
Hawk looked at the photo Harry handed him, took it, and looked at the photo in his hand.
Peter also leaned over.
In view.
On the rooftop of Times Square, his figure and Spider-Man's figure, standing at the edge of the rooftop, clearly appeared in this photo.
Hawk raised an eyebrow and looked up at Harry.
"You were following me."
"No."
Harry sat down on the nearby sofa and shook his head: "I just hired a private detective to follow Spider-Man, trying to find out his true identity."
Hawk nodded upon hearing this, then handed the photo in his hand to Peter.
Peter also looked at the photo in his hand, and asked Harry with some curiosity: "Harry, you're looking for Spider-Man because…"
Harry did not hide anything and said to Hawk and Peter: "The Osborn family has a genetic disease; it was my father Norman before, and now it's me. Spider-Man might be able to cure me, so I found you two. Tell me, who is Spider-Man, or give me a way to contact him."
Peter opened his mouth.
Hawk, sitting beside him, preempted: "He and I just happened to meet last night. You should talk to Peter about this; he's Spider-Man's personal photographer."
He had no interest in getting involved.
This was Peter and Harry's private matter.
After Hawk finished speaking, he got up from the sofa and started wandering around the manor's living room.
He seemed to smell something familiar here.
But he couldn't remember it for a moment.
Hawk thought to himself, then walked towards the direction of the annex.
Harry looked at Hawk, who had disappeared from sight, then turned his gaze to Peter.
"Peter?"
"Harry…"
Peter met Harry's gaze, opened his mouth, and then thought: "I'll message him and ask him to come meet you."
Harry's somewhat gloomy face broke into a bright smile.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Peter also smiled, though his smile was a bit forced.
Half an hour later.
As Hawk drove Peter, who was hitching a ride, away from Osborn Manor behind them, Peter finally couldn't help but speak: "Harry wants Spider-Man's blood."
Hawk glanced at Peter: "So?"
Peter frowned and said: "Harry thinks Spider-Man's blood can cure his family's genetic disease, but I found a video from before my parents disappeared. The Spider Serum back then was fused with my genes, so it only works for me. If others inject it, they might die."
Hawk glanced at Peter.
"Peter, do you remember what I said back on that sewer platform with Dr. Lizard?"
"Uh…"
Peter's brow furrowed.
Hawk chuckled: "Whether I give it or not is my business; whether he dies or not is his business."
Peter fell silent upon hearing this.
Then…
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