Shin cast a glance at Peter Parker, who looked visibly uneasy standing in front of him. He found the whole situation somewhat absurd. After all, Dr. Connors had Spider-Man as his assistant!
Though Peter had just debuted, his current power level was greater than that of Captain America. More importantly, he possessed an exceptionally sharp Spider-Sense, making him one of the least likely individuals to fall prey to sneak attacks or ambushes.
With someone like him as a research assistant, Dr. Connors' personal safety should've been more than adequately safeguarded. Not to mention, Shin had already arranged for additional protection bodyguards from the Hand were deployed to shadow both Connors' family and his daily route between home and the lab.
Peter scratched his head, his expression a mixture of guilt and frustration. He finally said, "Yesterday at noon, I came to the lab like usual… but after a while, Dr. Connors said he was heading to the bathroom. He never came back."
The words sounded unbelievable, but Peter's tone was serious. He didn't seem to be joking or exaggerating.
Gwen Stacy, standing beside him, added solemnly, "We checked the surveillance feeds. Every camera in the lab, even the corridor outside the restroom. Dr. Connors walked in… and just vanished. No one else was seen entering or exiting."
Shin let out a low chuckle, though his gaze grew colder. "Sounds like he ran off on his own," he quipped, but the tone carried the bite of suspicion.
Of course, he didn't actually believe Connors had fled. The man was no shady rogue scientist or someone afraid of being silenced. He was a newly crowned Nobel Prize winner and a reputable public figure. Even if Oscorp was engaged in questionable projects, Connors' work was completely clean.
As for the idea that he might flee over mistreatment or disputes with the company? That was laughable. His regenerative serum was revolutionary. He stood to earn a fortune from the patents alone. If he had any dissatisfaction with Oscorp, he could simply resign openly and take his research elsewhere. There was no reason for a secretive disappearance.
"Impossible!" Peter objected immediately. "Just before he went to the restroom, we were still discussing ways to cut production costs for the serum! He wouldn't run away without saying anything!"
"I know," Shin nodded, his voice sharper now. "Which is exactly why this whole event exposes the truth, it wasn't voluntary."
The young Spider-Man was clearly still inexperienced. He didn't understand how Shin had so quickly arrived at the conclusion that someone had abducted Connors. But Gwen seemed to catch on. Her eyes lit up with a flash of realization. "You're saying… there's a spy inside Oscorp?"
Bingo.
"Exactly, Ms. Stacy," Shin replied, giving her a nod of approval. "Very observant."
Then, with a wave of his hand, he added, "Alright, that's enough from you two. The rest of this is out of your hands. You can go back."
Peter looked unwilling. "Wait, I think we might be able to help. Could you at least give us a lead to follow?"
Shin shook his head decisively. "No. Go home. Get some rest. Dr. Connors will be back in a few days."
He didn't say it out loud, but in Shin's mind, Peter was far too unpredictable. If he were allowed to investigate on his own, maybe he'd manage to find Connors but there was no guarantee it would be that Connors.
In countless superhero stories, the protagonist rushes in to save the scientist… only to bring back the mutated villain version. The last thing Shin wanted was for Connors to become the Lizard again and spiral into an endless cycle of transformation and tragedy. That cliché had been played out enough.
Besides, Shin had no intention of letting Peter, or anyone, see his investigation methods. Best to send them off before things get serious.
As the two young assistants left with clear reluctance on their faces, Shin turned and closed the lab door behind them.
"They seem genuinely worried about Connors," Wanda remarked, folding her arms. "At least their concern seems real."
"True enough," Shin said. "But Peter Parker has another identity. Can you guess what it is?"
"The newly emerged Spider-Man?" Wanda offered with a smile.
Shin rolled his eyes. "Was that supposed to be a secret? It wasn't exactly hard to figure out."
Even if Shin hadn't been familiar with the comics and films, he would've figured it out anyway. The signs were too obvious.
Dr. Connors, being no fool, probably already knew too. Peter had used the lab equipment to tinker with his gadgets, including the spider web shooters. The lab had 24/7 surveillance. It wouldn't take more than one or two viewings of Peter's activities to draw the correct conclusion.
The modern age wasn't kind to secret identities. In a world of omnipresent cameras and digital footprints, masks just didn't cut it anymore.
Wanda gave a soft laugh. "He doesn't seem ready to let go of this investigation. Should we keep an eye on him?"
"No need," Shin replied. "Superheroes and people like us operate very differently. Let him follow his own trail. He won't approve of the methods we're about to use anyway."
Pietro shifted uncomfortably and finally spoke up, "Uh… what exactly are those methods?"
Shin's expression darkened slightly, and he let out a scoff. "Simple. The enemy was careful. They likely erased all evidence and tampered with the surveillance. If we follow normal investigative procedures, we'll come up empty-handed."
He paused, then added, "But there's no way they could have removed every spy within Oscorp. This was too coordinated. To abduct someone with Connors' security… they've had eyes inside for a long time."
"So, we just read everyone's mind," he concluded flatly. "Dig deep. Someone has the answers."
Pietro and Wanda exchanged a look. It was a harsh, invasive method but terrifyingly effective.
Psychics changed everything.
Why pore over files, interrogate people, and connect vague dots when you could just pluck the answer straight from a person's thoughts?
Shin wasn't even worried whether the enemy expected this approach. If they thought he was just another cape-wearing hero who played by the rules, they were in for a very unpleasant surprise.
He wasn't Superman.
He had no intention of giving villains a chance.
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