BOOM!
The two emerged onto the rooftop edge of a high-rise building near the street. WHEE-WOO WHEE-WOO WHEE-WOO— Just as Peter predicted, the moment they left the underground, a huge explosion erupted from the collider site. Police cars that had been roaming aimlessly in the streets immediately converged on the location.
Two enormous, open sinkholes—the sites of the particle ports—now marked the center of the street. The good news was that the area directly above this location was an empty lot. It made sense. Taller buildings require deeper foundations. Building an underground base beneath a skyscraper would offer concealment but pose massive safety risks. The open collision chamber was not a basement. Given Kingpin's influence, acquiring a piece of land under the guise of future development to conceal the collider was simple. It was a fortunate coincidence that no skyscrapers had been built there yet. The absence of tall buildings prevented the explosion from causing even greater structural damage.
Peter pointed to a burly figure who had just exited a police car below, lightly nudging Miles: "Miles, aren't you going to call your dad?"
Miles's face was a map of conflict. He and his father had a deep generation gap. Or rather, the typical gap between a middle-aged father and his rebellious teenage son. Miles resented his father's forceful expectations, but his father remained determined to raise him into an outstanding young man. Their relationship was currently strained.
Peter leaned down and whispered: "Miles, I'll tell you a little secret. Your father was watching from one of those nearby buildings while you were fighting Kingpin!"
"What! What did you say?! Is that true?" Miles was shocked.
"Of course it's true," Peter laughed. "He was even cheering you on!"
Peter had indeed seen Miles's father. Jefferson Davis was in one of the buildings that had been caught in the turbulent spatial seam. As a result, his father had a perfect view of Miles fighting (and being beaten by) Kingpin. He also witnessed Miles's determination to stop Kingpin's evil actions.
After listening to Peter's description and analysis, Miles finally made up his mind. He pulled out his phone, found "Dad" in his contacts, and after a moment's hesitation, tapped the screen.
Doot—Doot— The glowing screen reflected the anxiety on Miles's face.
Down on the street, Jefferson Davis picked up his phone. Seeing Miles's name flash, he quickly answered: "Miles! Miles! Miles, are you okay?" Miles had missed several days of school and hadn't contacted home due to the inter-dimensional chaos. His father was frantic, terrified that something had happened to him.
"I'm fine, Dad," Miles's voice steadied as he heard his father's anxiety. "You sound busy, so..."
"No, no, no! I'm free! I'm completely free right now!" Jefferson quickly corrected himself. "I know, I know I haven't been able to connect with you the way you want, but I see your potential. It's remarkable, and that's why I push you... But this is your life. No matter what you do, you are the best! We—we can even find a wall, a privately owned one. I think the one at the police precinct is fine. My colleagues wouldn't mind if you left some of your artwork there..." Jefferson poured out everything he had been holding in. Honestly, he was terrified.
"It's okay, Dad," Miles's nose stung, and a tear rolled down his cheek. This was the first time he had ever heard his strict father speak so honestly. He was deeply moved. He had so many things he wanted to tell his father, but they caught in his throat.
From behind, Peter gently patted his back. "Why don't you talk to him in person?" Peter suggested, using a gesture to convey his meaning, pointing down.
Miles's eyes lit up. But he still shook his head, refusing the very appealing idea. After a long hesitation, he said: "Dad, tomorrow, I want to invite a friend over to the house. Can I?"
"Of course! Of course, you can!" Jefferson agreed without hesitation. Then he asked: "Is... is it a girl?"
Miles's forehead knotted: "Dad, I'm only 14! It's a boy, obviously!"
"Oh, oh," Jefferson replied. "It's fine, Miles. Fourteen is practically an adult. It's okay if you want to date girls or throw a party..." Jefferson spoke with a tone of complete understanding. He seemed to believe Miles had been avoiding home because he had met a girl and was intensely involved with her.
Miles: ... Dad, are you being too open-minded?
Peter was equally speechless: Did his dad just imagine some very strange things?
After Miles stressed several times that his friend was indeed a boy, Jefferson still sounded unconvinced. Miles had no choice but to hang up the phone.
"Why did you invite me over?" Peter asked, confused. Miles waved his hand: "Everyone else went home. I finally caught one who hasn't left. Can't I be a good host?"
"Alright," Peter nodded, accepting the reason. "But are you sure you don't want to go down and say hello to your dad?"
"No, I don't think so," Miles hesitated. "Is it necessary?"
"It is!" Peter stated solemnly. "Think about it, you are going to take up the mantle and become the new Spider-Man. Given your father's profession, you two will inevitably cross paths. If you use this identity to establish a good relationship now, everything will be much easier later. Miles, you don't want to fight your father, do you?"
"Uh... that actually makes a lot of sense," Miles felt there was something odd about Peter's logic, but he couldn't pinpoint it.
Nevertheless, he stood up and took a step forward: "I'm going down then?" "Go on," Peter waved his hand.
Miles immediately leaped off the rooftop, turned invisible mid-air, and quickly approached his father.
Ignoring Miles and his father's impending meeting, Peter turned and looked into the darkness behind him. He spoke calmly: "My dear lady, are you going to come out on your own, or should I drag you out?"
"Oh, no, no, no. I'll come out myself. Please don't trouble yourself." A graceful figure emerged from the darkness and stopped a short distance from Peter.