Chapter 15 Spider-Man Origin
Yang Le and Gwen's location wasn't far from the Biology Exhibition Area. In just a few minutes, they arrived in front of a group of Glass Display Cases.
"Wow!" Gwen looked at the strange and bizarre animals and plants before her with amazement. "It feels like watching 'Resident Evil' all over again."
"I didn't know you still watched Old Movies from '01, Miss Trendsetter," Yang Le teased, poking fun at Gwen who always called him old-fashioned.
"That's because I have to consider the feelings of an antique like you. The lonely look on your face when you tell Old Jokes and no one laughs reminds me of the old folks in Public Service Advertisements."
Faced with the teasing, Miss Gwen's counterattacks were always sharp. Seeing Yang Le raise his hands in surrender, Gwen smiled triumphantly.
Joking around, Gwen and Yang Le strolled to the front of several Mini Display Cases. In front of the cases, a Tour Guide Machine was playing a Film introduction on repeat.
"To date, approximately 42,751 species of Spider have been discovered in the World…"
"Look at these Little Guys." Gwen approached the display case with interest. "They look quite beautiful, don't they?"
"I didn't expect you to be interested in these things." Yang Le leaned closer to Gwen, looking genuinely surprised. "Most girls don't usually like these."
"Gwen Stacy is not most girls." Gwen glanced at him proudly. "What's wrong? Old Man, are you perhaps afraid of these?"
Yang Le chuckled noncommittally. Gwen ignored him and continued to admire the Spiders.
Observing the Spiders, Gwen quickly noticed one that was different from the rest.
This Spider was covered in fine yellow fluff all over. It had two slender red stripes on its abdomen. Its eight legs were composed of three colors: red where they joined the Body, yellow in the middle, and purple at the ends. It looked quite alluring.
"Experiment Subject 65B?" Gwen read out the Label in front of the display case. The Labels in front of the other display cases listed the Breed of Spider, but this one didn't.
"Habby, do you know this kind of Spider?" Gwen looked at Yang Le beside her, noticing he was looking around as if searching for something. "Habby, what are you looking for?"
"Oh, I'm looking for Peter. Bookworm Mr. might know what this is," Yang Le explained, turning his head.
Of course, Yang Le wasn't looking for Peter to find out the Spider's Breed. The large words "Experiment Subject" were clearly labeled; this was obviously the Spider-Man Origin story. So, where was their protagonist?
"Clearly, Bookworm Mr. is currently in the Tender Trap, but we have a stronger Substitute."
"Uh, what?" Yang Le's mind was preoccupied with Spider-Man Origin, and for a moment, he didn't understand what Gwen meant.
"Tour Guide Machine," Gwen said, pointing to the Tour Guide Machine next to her, enunciating each word.
After speaking, she sighed. Ignoring the absent-minded Yang Le, she walked to the Tour Guide Machine alone and began to Inquire.
Seeing Gwen looking a little annoyed, Yang Le quickly walked over to comfort her.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry isn't going to cut it, Aleksei." The Overcoat man who had bumped into Yang Le earlier was in the Exhibition's Toilet, roaring into his Phone in a low voice. The hand gripping the Mobile phone was trembling slightly from the force.
"Those big companies have never given us a second glance. Their so-called apology is just a dismissal notice. They've seized my Achievement, and you participated in the Experiment but didn't receive your Remuneration. We're always just Playthings in their hands."
"I know, Adrian," Aleksei gritted his teeth, his muffled voice like a war drum. "I won't believe their Lies anymore. The Plan continues."
"That's right, let's give those high and mighty people a heavy Punch." Adrian's tone was strange, anger laced with excitement, like a Venomous Snake about to drag Adam and Eve into hell.
But his twisted face and prominent hooked nose made him look more like a Vulture about to feast on a corpse.
Aleksei on the other end of the Phone didn't reply, but Adrian heard it.
"Boom!" Accompanied by a loud crash and the screams of the Crowd, Adrian knew Aleksei had set off. The heavy Footsteps seemed to make the Ground tremble.
"Habby, look, this Spider looks really agitated." Gwen pointed to Experiment Subject 65B. Unlike the other Spiders that were quietly huddled in corners, 65B seemed to sense something. It was constantly crawling around in the display case, looking very uneasy.
"Call Mary Jane, Gwen. I think we should get out of here," Yang Le frowned, watching the restless 65B. If this Spider was indeed the Radioactive Spider, then it would definitely possess Spider-Man's divine skill—Spider-Sense, commonly known as Peter's Spidey-Sense.
"What's happening?" Although Gwen was puzzled, she still took out her Mobile phone, but didn't dial, waiting for Yang Le's explanation.
"I think…"
"Boom!"
Before Yang Le could explain, a deafening sound erupted, drowning out even the chatter of the Crowd. It was followed by earth-shattering shaking.
"Earthquake!"
Someone shouted, and the word was like a drop of water into a hot oil pan. The Crowd instantly exploded. Screaming, tourists stampeded towards the Doorway to escape.
Display cases were knocked over, equipment was pushed aside, and these priceless items fell under the feet of the panicked mob.
Facing the surging Crowd, Yang Le immediately pulled Gwen into his arms and moved with the flow towards the Exit.
This wasn't the time to go against the Crowd; that would be pure foolishness.
Yang Le, at 1.78 meters tall and with a sturdy Figure, perfectly shielded the petite Gwen, around 1.5 meters tall, in his embrace.
With her head resting on Yang Le's chest, even amidst the noisy Crowd, she could hear his strong and steady heartbeat.
Lost in her thoughts, Gwen didn't notice a small yellow Little Guy crawling up her arm along a strand of spider silk…
Fortunately, the Biology Exhibition Area wasn't far from the Doorway. Yang Le and Gwen quickly ran out of the Exhibition.
The Exhibition was already surrounded by Police cars, Ambulances, and Fire Trucks. Outside the Police Line, a large Crowd had gathered.
"Gwen, did Mary Jane answer the Phone?" Yang Le asked Gwen, who was still on her Mobile phone.
"No one's answering." Gwen put down her Mobile phone and shook her head. She had called both Peter and Mary Jane, but neither had answered, indicating they were both busy. It was very likely they were still trapped inside the Exhibition.
"Gwen, you go to a safe place first."
"You're going back for them? Don't do anything stupid, Habby!" Gwen tried to grab Yang Le as he turned back towards the Exhibition, but he was too fast and she missed.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
"What's wrong, Gwen?"
Gwen was about to chase after him when someone grabbed her arm. Turning around, she saw it was her Dad George Stacy.
"Peter and Mary Jane are still inside, and Habby just ran back in to find them."
Gwen quickly explained the situation clearly and concisely.
"That little rascal!" George gritted his teeth and picked up his Radio. "Attention, attention, someone has run back inside…"
Gwen looked at the Exhibition with worry, completely unaware of the Spider crawling onto the back of her hand.
(End of Chapter)