Chapter 65
Dr. Otto
"Don't be nervous, Peter. You're about to participate in a major study that could revolutionize the world. Because of its importance, this research must be kept strictly confidential to prevent malicious sabotage. That's why I had to instruct my men to blindfold you when they brought you here..."
Although he wanted Peter to start working immediately, Norman Osborn suppressed his anxiety and irritability to prevent Peter from becoming suspicious. He adopted the demeanor of a kind elder and gently guided Peter.
"Of course, you're probably already familiar with this research; it's the biological serum development project led by Dr. Connors. After your last success, we observed the lucky surviving mouse for a long time. We found that although it regrown its missing forelimbs, due to genetic mutations, its behavior became increasingly ferocious, and even its appearance changed. On one occasion, it even bit through the cage when we weren't looking and almost escaped."
Halfway through his sentence, Norman snapped his fingers, gesturing to a slightly overweight man working nearby. The man used one of four mechanical tentacles extending from a device worn on his waist to bring a white mouse, which had been kept in a cage since the last serum experiment, to Peter. He used this half-truth, half-lie rhetoric to further gain Peter's trust.
"Therefore, in order to stabilize the serum's effects as quickly as possible and bring it to market sooner to benefit all the disabled people who need it, I've gathered so many outstanding scientists here for secret research and development. Oh, right, I haven't had a chance to introduce you yet, this is…"
"Dr. Otto Gunther Octavius...! Oh my god! I never expected to meet you here!"
However, before Norman Osborn could finish speaking, Peter bypassed Norman Osborn and rushed to the man's side in three quick steps.
Then, meeting the other person's slightly puzzled gaze, Peter, already in fanboy mode, began to sincerely praise the other person's intelligence in an incoherent and excited tone.
"I read about your inexhaustible energy system in a magazine, and it's absolutely amazing! Before this, no one had ever imagined that using harmonic atomic frequencies could create an endless supply of energy with exponentially increasing energy output! It's like a perpetual motion machine! And most importantly, its environmental pollution risk is far lower than that of existing nuclear energy! Once successful, you will spark an energy revolution throughout the world!"
"To correct you, it's about compatibility frequencies, and from a scientific point of view, perpetual motion machines don't exist... But, if the experiment is successful, my invention will be able to provide renewable resources continuously, just like the sun."
At first, Dr. Otto simply thought Peter was being noisy and didn't want to pay any attention to him.
Until Peter recounted in great detail the research he had devoted most of his life to, as if reciting a familiar story.
Dr. Otto raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to look at Peter a few more times.
Then, faced with Peter's unskilled, purely natural, starry-eyed adoration, even the proud Dr. Otto couldn't help but have a good impression of Peter. Even the tone of his response to Peter softened a bit as a result.
"You must be Peter Parker, right? Dr. Connors mentioned you to me before, saying you're very smart and passionate about science, but a bit lazy and always a bit late?"
"Uh... cough cough, I'm sorry about that. Dr. Connors is right, but I will continue to try to change and do better!"
Upon hearing Dr. Connors' assessment of him, Peter's face immediately turned somewhat embarrassed. He could only scratch his head and offer a feeble, weak explanation for his actions.
Of course, the reason Peter was frequently late was not because he, like most young people today, had a bad habit of procrastination.
Rather, it's because, on his way to the lab after school at Midtown High School, Peter would often encounter unexpected situations that required Spider-Man's intervention.
However, in order to protect his identity as "Spider-Man," Peter cannot reveal these secrets and must confess directly to Dr. Connors.
That's why Dr. Connors saw him as someone who sincerely apologized, but whose habit of being late was incorrigible.
"I hope so, my child. I can see that you have a strong interest in science. So, if I may be so bold, I want to tell you that on the path of exploring science, a little cleverness is far from enough; diligence and hard work are also required."
Unfortunately, Peter's explanation was seen by Dr. Otto, who was unaware of the truth, as arrogance and a waste of his intelligence.
So, considering Peter's potential, Dr. Otto placed his hand on Peter's shoulder and spoke to him earnestly in the tone of an elder.
"Moreover, our wisdom is not a privilege, but a gift bestowed upon us by heaven. It should be used to benefit humanity and make life more convenient and better... This is the meaning of science's existence."
"Thank you for your guidance, Dr. Otto Gunther Octavius."
"Otto, just call me Otto, child."
Fortunately, Peter remained humble and obedient throughout, which made Dr. Otto like him more and more.
As his smile grew even wider, he noticed Dr. Connors approaching and turned to look at him, teasing him half-jokingly and half-seriously.
"Hey, Connors! I like this kid! I wonder if you'd be willing to part with such a lovely student and let me have him?"
"Haha, I told you long ago, Peter is a lovable and good boy. So I'm sorry, I won't give Peter to anyone, not even you, old friend."
"Oh, how heartless! You've broken my heart, Connors... How about this: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are yours, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are mine, and he can rest at home on the weekends?"
"That won't do. Peter has already chosen me as his teacher, so you can forget about it."
These two genius scientists, who are usually aloof and arrogant, are now bickering like children because of Peter.
But it was precisely because of this conversation that Dr. Connors' gaze toward Peter gradually became more resolute.
"Yes, Peter is my student... and he only got involved in this mess because he trusted me as his teacher."
"So don't worry, child, your teacher will definitely protect you."
"No matter what the cost."