bioinnovel Chapter 400 [3 Chapters Combined] A New Crisis
Chapter 400 [3 Chapters Combined] A New Crisis
"It seems that the impact of this 'natural gas explosion' is more severe than the one a few months ago. Even students from Midtown High School heard the news and went home early."
After a brief silence, he began to tease her with a deliberately relaxed tone, trying to dispel the remaining tension in the room.
"We originally thought you'd be busy with school club activities as usual, and might not even have time to come home for dinner? Looks like there's no way you can slack off now~"
Throughout the conversation, they never asked Riley what he had been doing all this time, or why the sandman who suddenly appeared had come to attack them. They didn't even mention how their everyday neighbors had suddenly become mysterious government agents.
Yes, it was the heartfelt relief and satisfaction of witnessing Riley's safe return.
In her mother's gentle, harbor-like embrace and her father's unwavering, rock-solid support, Riley's last vestige of anxiety stemming from the concealment vanished completely. In its place was a strange, familiar sense of relief.
Ultimately, this wasn't the first time he'd experienced being "caught in the act."
As her thoughts raced, Riley's memories quietly opened a crack.
But the images that emerged from it had nothing to do with "Rie Parker"...
Rather, it is something more distant and heavier, yet it also contains fragments of similar warmth and satisfaction.
That was another world, another life.
The young anti-drug police officer stood helplessly in a simple barracks near the border, facing several uncles who suddenly appeared, looking travel-worn but unable to hide their worry and anger.
Those were his father's closest comrades-in-arms during his lifetime. They were also his "family" who raised him after his parents suffered misfortune.
But he went against their wishes, secretly enrolled in police academy, and reinstated his father's police badge number.
Even knowing the immense dangers, he resolutely went to the most perilous front lines. Driven by a surge of passion, he believed he had done everything perfectly, able to deceive his uncles and prevent them from worrying about him.
As a result, he was caught red-handed by these experienced seniors.
How similar the situation was then to this moment!
There was no harsh reprimand or forced removal as expected.
He simply stared silently at the police badge on his chest, his eyes swirling with memories of his deceased father, heartache for the younger generation who disregarded his own safety, and finally, a heavy sigh and the helpless acceptance of the words, "You brat, you're just as stubborn as your father... Come back alive, you hear me?"
That time, after his evasion and concealment were exposed, he felt not punishment, but a deeper and closer connection, a sense of belonging to the circle inherited and protected by his parents.
Unfortunately, he ultimately failed to keep his promise and fell on the eve of victory.
It was this regret that made Riley, after being reborn into this world, value his family's feelings above all else.
"Haha, it seems that whether in my past life or this one, I'm someone who only remembers the good times and never the bad times; I have absolutely no memory..."
Thinking of this, Riley couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
Clearly, no matter what world Riley is in, his ingrained bad habit of deliberately reporting good news and hiding bad news under the banner of "I'm doing this for their own good!" will always lead to a similar "judgment" and acceptance at some point, full of caring meaning.
It was only now that Riley belatedly realized...
True concern cannot be concealed.
Deliberate lies will only become more and more obvious in front of loved ones you spend every day with, eventually turning into shackles that torment both parties.
Just like in a certain elementary school student who is a death god, almost everyone around him knows his true identity, but only his childhood friend is completely unaware of it, and he even claims that it is to protect her.
Incidentally, a long time ago—when King treated Spider-Man like an easy target, kidnapping John in order to force Spider-Man to show himself and compel J. Jonah Jameson, who had always been at odds with Spider-Man, to publicly ask for help on television—Riley had already vaguely realized from the subtle changes in Ben's eyes that…
The secret identity that she and Peter thought they had hidden perfectly was probably no secret to May and Ben, who loved them deeply and knew them very well.
However, after that day, the parents neither stopped Riley and Peter from their actions nor questioned them further, and life went on as usual.
Mei would still leave late-night snacks for the two brothers, and Ben would still be a loyal listener, listening to the brothers share all sorts of interesting things that happened at school... as if that meaningful glance when they met at the Daily Bugle had never happened.
This "unusual" calm made Riley doubt his own judgment for the first time, and then a sliver of hope arose within him.
This led Riley, who deep down didn't want her family to worry about her, to adopt an ostrich policy—since you don't ask, I'll just keep pretending! I'll keep it a secret as long as I can!
Looking back now, that idea was ridiculously naive and hopelessly selfish.
He used his self-righteous "protection" to put parents in a state of mental anguish, knowing that their children were putting themselves in danger every day, yet having no choice but to cooperate with their performance.
If one didn't already know it, many things simply wouldn't make sense.
Why is it that recently, despite Riley's frequent "Spider-Man business" leading to a surge in truancy, and even being perceived by teachers as entering a rebellious phase and showing signs of "school aversion," resulting in his homeroom teacher repeatedly calling his parents to school for face-to-face meetings...?
When Ben and May returned home, they didn't scold Riley. Instead, at dinner, May gently suggested to Riley, "Riley, if you've been... well... too much academic pressure lately, or if something else is distracting you and you feel too tired, Mom and Dad can help you ask the school for leave so you can rest at home for a while. After all, grades are secondary; your physical and mental health is the most important thing."
Looking back now, it wasn't that they excessively spoiled their child and indulged Riley's "truancy" during his "rebellious phase"...
Instead, through daily news reports, they learned of the heavy responsibility Riley carried on his shoulders, and while filled with worry, they also respected their child's choices, cautiously probing and offering support.
In addition, the most direct evidence is that not long ago, District 13, under the guise of the "National Novel Influenza Prevention Enhancement Plan," dispatched a medical team to Ben and May to inject them with the second-generation super soldier serum, which had undergone rigorous safety testing and improvement.
In China, this kind of thing would be commonplace. In fact, even paid injections would be readily available, let alone free ones.
But this is America.
In this country where capitalism reigns supreme and government credibility has been severely overdrawn by various "experiment scandals" and "surveillance scandals," the first reaction of ordinary people to such "unclear-origin" official medical practices is absolutely suspicion and resistance.
But what about Ben and May?
Without the slightest hesitation, they calmly and cooperatively completed the injection, without any resistance or objection from the entire audience.
Even in the days that followed, when they clearly felt more energetic, some of their old ailments were relieved, and their strength was astonishingly great, far exceeding the range of ordinary people, they simply smiled at each other and said knowingly, "This 'vaccine' is really effective," without showing any surprise, unease, or questioning that ordinary people would have.
All these anomalies now connected, pointing to a crystal-clear conclusion—they not only knew Peter and Riley, who were now the rising star Spider-Man, but also knew that District 13 and Spider-Man were allies fighting side-by-side.
That's why they accepted the injection of the second-generation super soldier serum so readily.
They simply believe that the children they've watched grow up would never harm them.
Thinking of this, Riley straightened up slightly from her mother's embrace, her gaze passing over her father's and mother's eyes, which remained gentle and seemingly all-encompassing. Her heart was filled with guilt and gratitude. She abandoned her initial plan to continue feigning ignorance and gently tightened her grip on her parents' hands.
"Dad, Mom..." His voice was more firm than before, and filled with deeper apology. "I'm sorry... I should have had the courage to sit down and tell you sooner... much sooner. Instead of making you keep guessing and worrying."
Ben shook his head, then took his son's hand in his own with a firm and gentle grip, which made Riley instinctively relax.
"Riley, everyone has the right to choose their own path... You chose to be a hero, which takes immense courage. As your parents, all we can do, besides be proud of you, is make sure our home is still here and the lights are still on when you look back."
He paused, trying to calm himself down as the muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched as he struggled to force a smile.
"As for worrying... that's the duty of parents. But rather than being kept in the dark and making wild guesses, we'd rather know what you're facing, know if you're safe... and we've always hoped that you would take the initiative to talk to us about this, just like you did today."
Mei listened quietly, tears silently streaming down her face—tears of emotion and relief.
She reached out and covered her husband's and son's clasped hands, the three hands tightly overlapping to form a small, powerful core.
"Your father is right, Riley. We love you, all of you. We support your choices. We're willing to share your burdens—in our own way. As long as... as long as you promise us you'll be careful, you'll protect yourself, okay?"
The warmth of his family, like the most resilient thread, quietly stitched together the last thread of estrangement in Riley's heart caused by the hidden secret. He felt an unprecedented sense of ease and resolve, as if he were filled with renewed energy. He nodded solemnly, his gaze sweeping over his father and mother: "I promise you, I will. And... I won't hide anything from you anymore. About District Thirteen, about some missions... if I can, I will tell you."
In this warm and intimate moment, a slight but persistent vibration emanated from Riley's waist, breaking the silence of the room. It was the encrypted communicator that Sheriff Black had given him.
Riley stiffened slightly, instinctively feeling a pang of reluctance. He had just forged this new, honest connection with his family and wanted to prolong this moment. He glanced at his parents; May's eyes held understanding and a barely perceptible tension, while Ben nodded gently to him, indicating that he should proceed.
Riley smiled apologetically, took out his communicator, and stepped aside slightly to avoid his parents' sight, but didn't leave their line of sight. He pressed answer and lowered his voice, "This is Riley."
Peter's voice came through immediately, devoid of its usual playfulness and composure, filled with obvious urgency, accompanied by the blaring of sirens in the background: "Rieley, something's happened! A massive attack has occurred near Times Square in New York! The attackers are a heavy armored unit codenamed 'Iron Monger'! They're currently engaged in fierce fighting with a S.H.I.E.L.D. task force. Civilian evacuation is hampered, and buildings are severely damaged! We've detected extremely high energy levels and damage indices; the core reactor is highly unstable and could explode at any moment! We need you!"
"Huh? Iron Monger?!"
Riley's heart sank.
He knew this; it was the terrifying war machine created by Obadiah Stan, the former head of Stark Industries, using Tony Stark's technology, in the original storyline.
But the problem is, Obadiah has already cleared his name, hasn't he?
Even the "Iron Monger" of this universe was personally made by Riley and his team, specially tailored for Obadiah. How could it reappear as a villain and clash with S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Was Peter under a spell, or had the world finally succumbed to Riley's repeated time travels and gone mad, becoming something he couldn't comprehend?
Lost in thought, Riley instinctively turned his head and quickly glanced at his parents.
Although Ben and May couldn't hear the specifics, they understood from Riley's instantly grave expression and the urgent tone faintly coming from the communicator that another crisis had occurred.
Mei instinctively clenched her hands, her eyes filled with worry, but she tried her best to restrain herself and not make a sound.
Ben quietly gazed at his son, his eyes filled with complex emotions—an instinctive worry about the potential danger, and a silent support for his son's upcoming journey.
This put Riley in a difficult position.
Having just met his parents after the truth was revealed, and without even having a chance to properly comfort their anxieties, he was about to leave again due to another emergency, leaving them behind in District 13, a place that felt safe yet unfamiliar to them.
He wanted to spend more time with them, to say a few more words, to…
"Railley!"
A voice came from the other end of the communicator again.
This time, however, it was Tony who spoke, and his tone, which was usually nonchalant, became unusually serious.
"I'm guessing you're busy with something else right now, but the Iron Monger's modus operandi is very strange. Its firepower and destructiveness far exceed previous records. Every minute of delay could mean more civilian casualties. S.H.I.E.L.D. also seems to be trying to recover or protect some critical item and is consistently unwilling to share intelligence with us, explaining why they were suddenly attacked by the Iron Monger... The situation is extremely chaotic. We need you, as soon as possible!"
Riley closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Fragments of memories from his past life as a narcotics officer flashed through his mind—when receiving emergency operation orders on the border, even if he had just finished a fierce battle, even if he was physically and mentally exhausted, even if he knew that there was deeper danger ahead, that sense of mission of "duty" would instantly overwhelm all personal emotions.
That feeling resurfaced clearly once again.
Different battlefields, same responsibilities.
He opened his eyes, his gaze now clear and resolute. He turned to his parents, meeting their concerned eyes.
"Dad, Mom," his voice regained its composure, tinged with guilt but even more so with determination, "I'm sorry, just now... and now there's another emergency, I need to be dispatched immediately."
Mei's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just loosened her hand, which had been instinctively gripping her son's sleeve, and gently lowered it with trembling, yet incredibly firm, hands.
She took a step forward and hugged Riley again, this time briefly but tightly, as if she wanted to pass on all her strength and support to him.
"Go, child," she whispered in Riley's ear, her voice trembling with tears, yet crystal clear, "go do what you must do. We'll be here waiting for you. Come back safe and sound."
Ben stepped forward, said nothing, but patted Riley's shoulder heavily and with trust in his large, kind hands.
Those few pats were worth a thousand words; they were a father's entrustment, a man's tacit understanding, and a silent fortress from behind.
Riley nodded emphatically, his gaze lingering on his parents' faces for one last second, imprinting the deep love and support in their eyes into his heart.
"I promise I will be careful and bring Peter back safely."
After saying that, he didn't hesitate any longer. He turned around and strode quickly toward the door of the lounge, patting his chest lightly as he did so.
The next second, the symbiote, integrated with the nanomaterial, quickly spread and adhered to his body, and the familiar feeling of tightness and power returned.
In just a few seconds, as the black suit enveloped them, standing before Ben and May was no longer the young Riley Parker who had shown guilt and dependence in front of his parents. Instead, it was Spider-Man, the superhero who had saved New York City from disaster!
It wasn't until he stepped out of the lounge that Riley turned around and glanced at his parents.
Although he couldn't communicate with facial expressions through the mask, he straightened his back and nodded to them—a gesture of confidence and commitment befitting Spider-Man.
Then, without lingering, he went to a wall in the corridor, took out the Imperial Belt from the system space with practiced ease, put it on, summoned the dimensional wall, and quickly walked inside.
As Riley left, the lounge returned to silence.
Mei slowly sat back on the sofa, clasped her hands together, her gaze still fixed on the doorway where her son had disappeared. Ben walked over and sat down beside her, gently putting his arm around his wife's shoulder.
"Railley and Peter will be fine, May."
Ben's eyes also held a deep, lingering worry. But after glancing at his wife, all of this worry was hidden deep within him. He spoke softly, as if comforting his wife, yet also speaking to himself, each word uttered with firm conviction.
"Our children are stronger than we imagined and are already able to take care of themselves."
Mei nestled into her husband's arms, nodded gently, and tears finally streamed down her face again.
But this time, besides worry, her tears were filled with pride, and the unwavering maternal love and belief that no matter what happens, she will always wait for her child to come home.
……
The story has two parts, on the other side...
……
Times Square, New York.
The "Crossroads of the World" was bustling with people at dusk. Giant electronic signs flashed dazzling lights, and the neon lights of the Broadway theater had just been turned on. Tourists, office workers, street performers, vendors selling souvenirs... people of all kinds and social classes gathered at this moment, creating a noisy yet vibrant urban scene.
However, upon closer inspection, one will find a disheveled "outcast" in today's painting.
Sitwell Jasper, clutching his bleeding arm, weaves through the crowd.
His bespoke grey Italian suit was now covered in dust and sewer oil stains. Dark red blood seeped from the wound on his left arm through the torn fabric. Even a casual touch from a passerby would send shivers down his spine, causing Sitwell to gasp involuntarily.
He really couldn't understand it...
Just ten minutes ago, he was a senior agent of the World Security Council, a figure who, in the eyes of most people, could easily decide the life and death of others, and was an unattainable existence.
But now, he has become the prey being hunted, fleeing in a sorry state through the streets of New York.
"Get out of the way! Everyone get out of the way!"
He roughly shoved aside the tourists blocking his way, deliberately pushing unsuspecting passersby in the direction behind him.
An elderly woman carrying a shopping bag was pushed so hard that she stumbled and fell to the ground, shattering the porcelain she had just bought inside.
But Sitwell didn't even glance at it.
This chaos is exactly what he needs.
The more people, the better; the more chaotic the scene, the better!
He could hear heavy metallic footsteps approaching from about a hundred meters behind him.
A dark gold armored vehicle, three meters tall and weighing two tons, was relentlessly pursuing Sitwell as it weaved through the scattered crowd.
That was the Iron Monger, a heavy armored weapon that Tony had specially designed for Obadiah, but which was now being used without authorization under the control of the artificial intelligence "Gauss"!
It was from this moment that screams erupted from the crowd.
This is nothing they recognize.
It's not equipment commonly used by the military, nor is it any movie special effect.
They had either seen the US military equipment in the news or had close contact with it during protest rallies.
So much so that even the latest tanks or armored vehicles have at least a basic outline concept for them.
And what's in front of me...
This is completely beyond common sense!
Its massive size, standing three meters tall, makes it hard to imagine how it actually works.
The sleek mechanical structure, paired with a dark gold paint job, reflects a cool light under the setting sun, exuding a beauty that is both technological and powerful.
The Iron Monarch's heavy weight causes the ground to tremble slightly with every step it takes, adding to its imposing presence!