At Peter's house.
Everyone sat down, and Aunt May brought coffee for them.
Peter went straight to the point. "Dr. Connors came to catch up."
Sora Yukihara sneered, "Driving a limited-edition Lincoln he can't even afford himself, with a professional driver—whether he came to show off or 'catch up,' it's obvious at a glance."
Peter continued, "He said a lot, but in the end, he wanted to take away my father's research data."
Aunt May added, "He also invited Peter to be his assistant. Not part-time, not an internship—a full-time position with a very high monthly salary."
Uncle Ben, however, said suspiciously, "We haven't seen him for over ten years, and suddenly he shows up acting kind, offering a job that pays as much as my yearly income per month. There's definitely something fishy."
"Ben, you're thinking too negatively."
Aunt May tried to calm him.
"Let's pause for a moment."
Sora Yukihara interrupted their argument and looked at Peter. "Did you give him the research data?"
Peter shook his head.
"Smart."
Sora Yukihara let out a sigh of relief.
In the briefcase left behind by Peter's father, two things were the most important: the decay rate algorithm, and the key coin to unlock Roosevelt Station.
However, the decay rate algorithm was only compatible with the Parker family's genetic line. It wouldn't work for anyone else.
If that information were leaked, tragedy might repeat itself.
"I'm not stupid."
Peter said seriously, "Their attitude made me suspicious, so I had to be careful. Especially that Dr. Ratha—there's something very unsettling about the way he looks at people."
Uncle Ben agreed, "His final warning was enough to show he's not a good person."
Aunt May wanted to argue, but Dr. Ratha's parting words left her with nothing to defend.
"He was never a good person to begin with."
Sora Yukihara said calmly, "But don't worry. After tomorrow, you won't have to worry about him anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Sora Yukihara, what are you talking about?"
Everyone felt something off about Sora Yukihara's attitude.
"Nothing. Just be careful."
Sora Yukihara didn't bother explaining further. Instead, he turned to Gwen. "Baby, I'll walk you home."
"Okay."
After witnessing Sora Yukihara's extraordinary side, Gwen had become noticeably more obedient.
Uncle Ben walked them to the door, muttering, "Are they going to be alright? Especially Sora Yukihara… I have a feeling he might do something reckless. Should we keep an eye on him?"
That was just the kind of person Uncle Ben was.
"No need."
Peter recalled, "Sora Yukihara has always been strange. Whenever I'm with him, I hear all kinds of bizarre things."
"I see… alright then."
"Get some rest."
Was that the end of it?
Of course not.
Sora Yukihara knew Dr. Ratha's vicious nature all too well.
Now that Ratha had made his move, there was no way Sora Yukihara would remain passive.
His choice was exactly what he had said before—
Eliminate the root.
Oscorp Tower.
Inside a conference room, Dr. Ratha was furiously berating the bearded man in black.
"Damn it!"
Ratha shouted, "You useless trash! Do you even know how much the company pays you every month? And you can't even handle a simple task!"
Fortunately, it was late at night. Aside from security personnel, the building was empty.
And the conference room was soundproof, so Ratha didn't worry about anyone overhearing his outburst.
The bearded man replied nervously, "Boss, it's not that we're incompetent. That Sora Yukihara's strength is just too bizarre. With a single kick, he broke twelve of my partner's bones. His power is more terrifying than a rhinoceros."
"Are you certain?"
Ratha calmed down slightly.
"Absolutely. I saw it with my own eyes."
"Next time, we must capture him!"
"He has great research value!"
Ratha gritted his teeth.
"No need to wait for next time."
Sora Yukihara's voice suddenly echoed from the window.
What was even more bizarre was that he was suspended upside down in midair.
The bearded man immediately drew his gun and aimed at Sora Yukihara.
"Not bad. Pretty alert."
Sora Yukihara remained completely unfazed, even leisurely "floating" closer until he stood directly in front of the gun.
"Shoot!"
"I'll take responsibility!"
Sweating profusely, Ratha shouted when he saw the man just standing there, holding the gun without acting.
The bearded man tried to pull the trigger—but he couldn't control his body at all.
"Why are you so eager to kill me?"
Sora Yukihara looked at Ratha curiously. "You tried to kidnap me earlier, and now this… I don't recall offending you."
Ratha roared, "What are you waiting for?!"
"Boss… I can't control my body!"
"Ah—!"
The bearded man struggled desperately, but his body refused to move.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Shoot!"
"Enough shouting."
Sora Yukihara grew annoyed. "Stop yelling all the time. I'm not deaf. This technique is called Parasite String—it's used to control people's bodies."
Ratha stared at Sora Yukihara in horror, unable to speak.
He didn't understand what Parasite String was, nor could he comprehend the power of a Devil Fruit.
But fear of the unknown—and of death—made his legs tremble uncontrollably, countless terrifying thoughts flooding his mind.
Sora Yukihara asked leisurely, "Hey, you still haven't answered my question."
Ratha swallowed hard. "I was inviting you, not kidnapping you."
Sora Yukihara's eyes turned cold.
"Ah—!"
"No… I can't do this!"
The bearded man's body slowly turned toward Dr. Ratha.