The thought of Felicia eventually growing a pair of fluffy cat ears and a flexible cat tail was enough to convince Peter that failing to develop the Black Cat Serum would be a crime against humanity.
After giving her a detailed briefing on what to watch out for, Peter didn't linger. With a flicker of purple spatial light, he vanished from the secret Hydra base.
When he reappeared, he was back in Gwen's home. Because of Felicia's disappearance, Gwen had been distracted and restless all day, losing even the motivation to go out and fight crime.
"Peter! Any news?" Gwen lunged toward him the moment he appeared.
Seeing her deep concern, Peter felt a pang of guilt. Taking a deep breath, he stroked her back and spoke gently:
"Don't worry, Gwen. I have a lead. It seems to be connected to an organization called Hydra, but finding her immediately won't be easy. It might take a few more days."
Gwen, who trusted Peter unconditionally, didn't overthink it. After a brief moment of intimacy, she watched him head back to his own house.
When Peter entered his home, Uncle Ben and Aunt May were sitting at the dining table, looking as though they had lost their souls from worry. Seeing him walk through the door, the elderly couple cried out in surprise and relief.
"Peter? You're back!" "Thank heavens, you have no idea how worried we were."
Their genuine care warmed Peter's heart, further hardening his resolve to come clean and protect them properly.
"Uncle Ben, Aunt May... there's something I can't keep from you anymore."
Taking a long breath, Peter decided to reveal the truth: that he was the Adjudicator and the current Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"...Previously, I didn't think the timing was right, and I was worried that knowing would put you in danger. But things have changed.
As the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., the enemies I face now aren't just super-villains; they are deep-state organizations and ambitious politicians. I have to adjust my strategy."
Uncle Ben and Aunt May shared a look. Their eyes were filled with shock, but beneath that was a glimmer of realization.
They weren't slow-witted. In many worlds, Aunt May had eventually figured out the Spider-Man secret on her own.
After a moment of silence, Uncle Ben lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag before asking: "Tell us, son. What do you need us to do?"
Peter relaxed significantly. He had feared Uncle Ben wouldn't be able to accept such a reality, but it seemed he had overthought it.
After all, Peter's recent actions in "restoring Brooklyn" perfectly embodied the mantra of With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility. Even Ben couldn't find fault in that.
"First, I need to ensure your safety."
Peter pulled out the Perfect Lizard Serum and manifested a symbiote to demonstrate. Uncle Ben didn't hesitate for a second—he took the injection immediately.
Aunt May was a bit overwhelmed, but followed suit. They knew this was for their own good and realized that, given their age, the best way to help Peter was to ensure they weren't his Achilles' heel.
The transformation was dramatic. Not only did they gain extraordinary strength and vitality, but their features regained a youthful glow.
The decades of hardship and labor seemed to melt away; they now looked at least ten years younger than their peers—more like carefree, wealthy retirees.
"How do you feel?" Peter asked with a smile.
"This is incredible!" Aunt May moved her body, marveling at the newfound lightness and strength. Uncle Ben was doing bodybuilding poses, muttering, "Good Lord, I feel like I could go out and help Gwen on the streets right now."
May promptly pinched his waist. "How old are you? Stop dreaming about that! Our job is to make sure we aren't a burden to Peter!"
Uncle Ben chuckled sheepishly and looked at Peter. "So, what's the rest of the plan?"
"Physical enhancement is just the foundation," Peter explained. "Beyond that, we need to build an indestructible 'social armor' for ourselves."
"Social armor?" Uncle Ben looked thoughtful.
"Exactly," Peter nodded. "The ones who want me dead most right now are the military brass and high-level politicians. To them, the deeper I hide you, the more vulnerable you are. So, I'm going to do the opposite."
"I plan to bring you both to the forefront. I want you to step into the spotlight and become public figures the world watches!"
"What?!" May stood up from the sofa in shock. "Peter, are you joking? Us, public figures? We're just ordinary people!"
"You were. But not anymore." Peter smiled. "I'm going to go public as the owner of Parker Tech. At the same time, I'll announce the establishment of the Parker Charitable Foundation."
"I want you two to run it. I want you to be the ones helping the homeless, funding children who can't afford school, and supporting the impoverished."
"I want the people to view you as their 'Saviours.' At that point, anyone who wants to touch you will have to answer millions of citizens.
Politicians fear nothing more than the tide of public opinion. If they dare move against you, they face a sea of public rage that would strip them of the power they crave.
They will never trade their political careers for our lives. Once this 'social armor' is complete, we will be untouchable."
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