Sticky walls of the sewer.
Cold air.
And the smell of rust, sludge, and some unknown fermenting substances forced Hawk to block his sense of smell entirely while walking through it.
He doesn't mind heat or cold, but he can't stand bad smells.
Heat and cold can be tolerated, but the stench is overwhelming, especially when it's this pervasive.
Hawk looked at the Spider Spirit leading the way ahead, with great curiosity.
"How did you find this place?"
"Followed the lizard."
Walking ahead, possibly because of the overwhelming stench, even Peter, wearing a spider mask, spoke with a muffled voice: "Almost there, just around the corner."
Two days ago, while battling the Lizard People at school, he noticed some lizards crawling out of the sewer pipes.
So yesterday, being Saturday and remembering this, Peter, feeling idle, simply ventured into the sewers to search.
As a result, after searching all day, this morning Peter indeed found Dr. Connor's temporary base in the maze-like underground sewage system.
Just like that.
Upon finding it, he thought of Hawk, feeling Hawk might be interested too, so he simply ran to Hawk, inviting him for a weekend exploration of New York City's underground maze.
Very soon.
Following Peter and turning a corner, Hawk saw a platform not far away.
On the platform, some randomly connected power lines clung to the wall with unknown liquid, connecting to a few light bulbs, illuminating the platform cluttered with two laptops and some laboratory equipment.
Once Hawk walked onto the platform, he scanned the surroundings.
"Where's the video you mentioned?"
"Here."
Already at a laptop, Peter typed a few keys, and soon a video appeared on the screen.
"That blood was Hawk's."
"I should call Hawk…"
"Impossible, he definitely won't give it to me."
"Right, Gwen."
"I can kidnap Gwen and force Hawk to give me the blood."
"That's right, kidnap Gwen and make Hawk give me the blood."
"Capture…"
In the video, Dr. Connor, with dirty clothes and sweat-drenched hair hanging over his head, muttered as if possessed, amidst occasional screen flickers.
At the end of the video, seemingly possessed, Dr. Connor unabashedly grabbed three final regenerative potions and injected them into himself, followed by relentless roaring, announcing Dr. Lizard's bright debut.
The video ended here.
Hawk's expression turned bizarre.
So this is why Dr. Lizard targets Gwen, to capture her and force him to give up his blood?
This...
Hawk found it hard to understand Dr. Connor's reasoning.
Thinking about Dr. Connor's actions, he could only explain it with one reason.
"The Lizard Serum has messed up his mind."
"Would you give it?"
"What?"
Hawk looked at Peter.
Peter curiously asked, "If Connor called you, asking for your blood, would you give it to him?"
Hearing Peter's question, Hawk frowned slightly.
Would he give it?
He thought about it, then nodded, looking at Peter.
"If it's not much, I would."
"Why?"
Peter, hearing Hawk's answer, widened his eyes: "Although I don't know what's special about your blood, it's likely crucial for Connor's transformation into Dr. Lizard. Knowing the outcome, you would still give your blood?"
Hawk looked at Peter, speaking calmly: "If he uses my blood to become Dr. Lizard, that's his concern, but whether I give it when he asks, that's my concern."
Peter frowned, shaking his head.
"I don't understand."
"Like you, I also have no parents, but at least yours existed, and you have your Uncle Ben and Aunt Mei. I, on the other hand, am an orphan, always have been. So you can become a Superhero, but not me, never."
"Why?"
"I'm not as kind-hearted as you."
Hawk smiled faintly.
"Of course, I'm not that evil either, but I always follow a principle: repay kindness and avenge enmity!"
"When I was dismissed from Osborn Industries, although it wasn't Dr. Connor's fault, he did write me a recommendation."
"Although the recommendation is now useless, Dr. Connor didn't ask for anything when he gave it, so…"
At this point, Hawk smiled again, looking at Peter: "It's just a vial of blood, no loss to me. Whether he does good deeds or evil, that's his concern. As long as I'm clear in my heart, that's enough."
Listening to Hawk's explanation, Peter nodded thoughtfully.
Hawk then seemed to think of something, looking at Peter: "Why, are you interested in my blood too? If you want, I could give you a vial as well."
Peter snapped back, shaking his head fervently.
"No, no, I don't want it."
"Alright then."
Hawk laughed, stopped talking, and just glanced around the platform once more, shaking his head: "That's why I said Dr. Connor's mind was messed up by the Lizard Serum. He could have just asked me, instead of doing this, let's go."
Now that Dr. Connor's motives were clear, even if they sounded somewhat incomprehensible.
But considering Dr. Connor's mental state in the video, it could be understood.
Madmen have abundant joys.
Just as you'll never know what a cat is thinking, you'll never grasp the thoughts of a lunatic.
So...
Hawk planned to leave.
He was hoping to deal with those five spoils today to see if he could exchange them for money, yet here he was, dragged here.
Looking at Hawk preparing to leave, Peter asked: "What about this side?"
Hawk thought for a moment.
"Burn it."
"Burn it?"
"When a person dies, the light goes out. Besides, if these things stay, what if more Lizard creatures pop up. Though I don't mind, burn it or not, it's up to you."
"Makes sense."
Peter thought, nodding in agreement.
"Alright then, I'll leave this to you, I'm off, New Yorker's friendly neighbor."
Hawk saw Peter nodding, smiled faintly, then turned, speaking with a wave as he left without turning back.
After Hawk left, Peter glanced around, also deciding to leave.
He needed to find tools to burn this place down.
After Hawk and Peter left, a faintly flickering red dot on the platform gradually dimmed.
…