Hawk stood with his hands in his pockets at the edge of the rooftop of the Times Square Building, looking at the Spider Spirit and speaking in a very calm tone.
Peter just felt that Hawk was putting on airs.
But...
He thought for a moment and quickly realized why Hawk suddenly took action.
It wasn't just Peter.
As Peter and Mary took the subway home together, and Hawk drove Gwen home, Gwen also guessed the reason why Hawk suddenly took action.
However, Gwen looked at Hawk with some curiosity.
"If the incident hadn't happened in Times Square, would you have intervened?"
"..."
Hearing this, Hawk glanced at Gwen, then seriously thought for a moment, chuckled, shook his head, and said, "I don't know."
The reason he took action was because it was Times Square.
It was the most profound place in his memory of this life.
No exception.
Because here, on September 10, 2009, he lost his smart, well-behaved, and lovable sister Anya, who grew up with him despite being born with a congenital heart disease.
And appearing in Times Square was Electro, no matter what his reason for being there or what his purpose was.
But appearing and causing destruction in Times Square, Electro was undoubtedly rubbing salt in his wounds.
Times Square could not tolerate such an unhealed wound!
So Electro died.
No other reason, simply because he appeared in Times Square.
That's all there is to it.
The next day.
As expected, last night's battle between Spider-Man and Electro in Times Square made the front page again.
Especially in the Horn Daily, which featured a 4K high-definition photo.
Hawk looked at the front-page photo of Spider-Man twisting in mid-air in the newspaper, lifted his head, and smiled at Gwen, who always came here on her days off: "I don't know how good Peter's photography skills are now, but his selfie skills keep getting better."
Gwen, who had been rinsing the vegetable sink with the faucet, released her right hand, letting the retractable faucet return automatically, turned around to the island counter, glanced at the newspaper in Hawk's hand: "For this photo, that Grandet gave Peter a bonus of 500 bucks."
The owner of the Horn Daily is a modern-day Grandet, which is well-known.
Hawk, upon hearing the bonus amount, took a sharp breath.
"Five hundred, wow, which Grandet is this generous?"
"Mary said so."
Gwen shrugged, recalling her conversation with Mary on the way, amusedly saying to Hawk: "Peter stood Mary up again."
Hawk raised an eyebrow.
"What happened?"
"Peter said, while Spider-Man is still the hot topic, he's going to find a way to take a few more photos of Spider-Man to earn more gold coins from Grandet."
"Hiss!"
Hawk took a breath.
But...
He thought for a moment, chuckled, and set the newspaper down: "Peter's Uncle Ben passed away, and now it's just Aunt Mei at home. The annual property tax is a hefty expense. I guess Peter doesn't want Aunt Mei to struggle, plus Peter is indeed different from me."
Hearing this, Gwen placed her hands on the island counter in front of her, smiling at Hawk.
"How is he different?"
"He's genuinely kind."
After finishing the hot cocoa Gwen brought from home, Hawk looked at her: "If someone else had Peter's abilities, they'd probably have achieved financial freedom by now."
Gwen blinked and looked at Hawk: "Is that why you're considering covering Peter's share of the costs for our trip to London?"
Hawk shrugged and smiled slightly.
"I've achieved financial freedom."
"Hawk."
"Hmm?"
"You're actually kind too."
Gwen looked at Hawk intently.
Hawk raised his eyes to meet hers.
Their eyes locked.
The next second.
Gwen smiled slightly, clapped her hands, and headed toward the backyard: "Alright, Mr. Kindness, finish cleaning up breakfast, then come to the backyard; we have a lot to do today."
Although she had lived in an apartment all her life, she always had a dream.
That after getting married, her home must have a backyard, with flowers and plants she tended with care.
And here it was.
Her dream realized ahead of time.
A little while later.
Hawk slid open the living room's sliding door and stepped out onto the backyard porch, looking at Gwen, who was already holding a small trowel: "I may not be able to help you today."
Gwen turned her head: "What's up?"
Hawk shrugged.
"Harry just called, invited me to the manor, asked if I had time."
"Harry?"
Gwen was slightly startled, curiously asking: "Harry has time now?"
Since Norman Osborn's passing, Harry had been busy with Osborn matters, so busy he couldn't even attend the graduation dance a few days ago.
He didn't even make it to yesterday's graduation ceremony.
Moreover...
"Are you and Harry close?"
"Not bad."
"Then go ahead."
"Aren't you going?"
"Nope."
Gwen shook her head, looked around the backyard, then smiled at Hawk and said, "I'll use the computer to create a rendering of my design for the backyard later. You'll definitely like it."
"If it's done by you, I'll definitely like it."
Hawk responded, then said to Gwen, "So, should I go now?"
Gwen waved her hand.
Hawk smiled, turned around, and left the backyard, heading toward the garage.
He actually wasn't very eager to go to Harry's Osborne Manor.
But if he had to choose between tidying up the backyard and going to Osborne Manor, he'd choose to go to Osborne Manor.
Two hours later.
Osborne Manor.
Just as Hawk drove up to the entrance of Osborne Manor, he saw a familiar face standing there.
"Peter?"
"Hawk."
Peter, who was about to walk into the manor, turned his head and looked at the approaching Audi A8, his eyes brightened, and he walked to the passenger side, opened the car door, and got in.
Peter was somewhat surprised.
"Why are you here?"
"Harry called and invited me."
Hawk said, then seemed to remember something, and as he drove into the manor, he glanced at Peter: "Did Harry call you too?"
Peter nodded, "Yes, he called this morning."
Saying this, Peter seemed to realize something and gave Hawk a look.
Hawk smiled.
As the main building of Osborne Manor appeared in view, Hawk already had a vague guess in his mind.
As expected.
When Harry saw them and after exchanging greetings and hugs, he started playing the video about the Spider Serum he found in the Osborn Experiment Database. That's when Hawk knew his guess was correct.
However...
He felt a bit confused.
But it wasn't a complete mystery.
Looking at the video Harry was playing, Hawk already knew what Harry would say next, but he did not understand why Harry asked him to come.
Harry wanted to know Spider-Man's identity, and Peter would suffice.
Everyone knows.
Spider-Man's exclusive photos were licensed to the Horn Daily by Peter Parker, who has Spider-Man's contact information, which is an open secret in the New York City gossip media circle.
But what about him?
Until—
Hawk looked at the photo Harry handed over, took it, and examined it.
Peter also leaned in to take a look.
In sight.
On the rooftop of Times Square, there was a clear image of himself standing at the edge with Spider-Man in this photo.
Hawk raised an eyebrow and looked at Harry.
"You followed me."
"No."
Harry sat down on a nearby sofa and shook his head: "I just hired a private investigator to follow Spider-Man, trying to figure out his real identity."
Hearing this, Hawk nodded and handed the photo to Peter beside him.
Peter, while looking at the photo in his hand, curiously asked Harry: "Harry, why are you looking for Spider-Man..."
Harry didn't hold back, saying 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 sought you out, tell me who Spider-Man is, or give me a way to contact him."
Peter opened his mouth.
Sitting nearby, Hawk spoke first: "I just happened to run into him last night, you should ask Peter instead. He's Spider-Man's personal photographer, after all."
He had no interest in getting involved.
This was a matter between Peter and Harry.
After Hawk finished speaking, he got up from the sofa and wandered around the manor's living room.
He seemed to recognize a familiar scent.
But he couldn't quite place it at the moment.
Thinking about it, Hawk then walked towards the direction of the annex.
Harry, watching Hawk vanish from sight, then turned his gaze to Peter.
"Peter?"
"Harry..."
Facing Harry's gaze, Peter opened his mouth, then thought for a moment: "I'll send him a message, asking him to come and meet you."
A radiant smile appeared on Harry's somewhat gloomy face.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Peter also smiled, but his smile looked a bit forced.
Half an hour later.
As Hawk drove away from Osborne Manor with Peter hitching a ride, Peter finally couldn't help but say, "Harry wants Spider-Man's blood."
Hawk glanced at Peter: "So what?"
Peter frowned and said, "Harry believes Spider-Man's blood can cure his family's genetic disease, but I found the video before my parents disappeared, and the Spider Serum back then was fused with my DNA, 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 at Dr. Lizardman's sewer platform?"
"Uh..."
Peter's brows furrowed tightly.
Hawk chuckled lightly: "Whether I give it or not is my decision. Whether he dies or not, that's his problem."
Hearing this, Peter fell silent.
And then...