In Stark's lab, a mecha suit took a steaming hot pizza out of the oven and placed it in front of Peter. Stark, sitting next to him, snapped his fingers and said, "This is my latest invention. I finally figured out how to get the mecha suit to heat up my pizza. It uses the same intelligent calculation circuit as the oven, and the oven sends real-time temperature data to it..."
Peter opened his mouth wide in awe, then said, "Why use a billion-dollar mecha suit, instead of buying an oven mitt that costs a few bucks?"
Stark waved his hand dismissively, "You don't understand. The data from the oven is too complex. How am I supposed to know at what temperature and for how long I should cook it so the pizza wouldn't burn? It's a mystery to me—I hate such arcane stuff. Using a mecha suit and an intelligent program is much more convenient."
Peter looked at the slice of pizza, thinking it seemed okay to eat. As he reached out to take a bite, he yelped in pain from the heat. "I still need an oven mitt. This is too hot!"
"Well, you can wait for it to cool down and we can chat in the meantime."
Peter replied, "Alright, I haven't done my homework yet."
As he pulled out a stack of textbooks from his backpack, Stark glanced at them and said, "What's the point in writing this? It's totally insulting to your intelligence."
"I can't help it, I've been a good student my whole life. I never turn in my homework late."
"Alright, if you want to write, then write." Stark sat across the table and watched Peter do his homework. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but hesitated.
Peter was concentrating on his homework for a while then looked up, noticing Stark staring at him. After they stared at each other for a moment, Peter finally asked, "Is there something wrong, Mr. Stark? Did I make a mistake in my homework?"
"Ah...no, there's nothing wrong. I'm just saying, it would be great if your handwriting was a bit nicer. Why don't you try calligraphy or something? You know, the one with floral script and all."
"No way, we're not allowed to write in cursive for exams, at least not in this state, Mr. Stark. Can you write in cursive?"
"Of course, I can."
"It doesn't count if you do it while wearing the mecha suit..."
Stark pursed his lips and said, "Actually, I have a question for you..."
"What is it? I'll be glad to answer."
"I...never mind, the pizza's getting cold. You should eat."
Peter, slightly puzzled, picked up the pizza and stuffed it into his mouth. It was prepared by an Italian chef the day before, and just needed reheating. It actually tasted quite good.
Peter was a bit hungry, so he wolfed down the entire pizza slice. Stark sat across from him, resting his chin on his hands, watching as Peter asked, "Aren't you going to eat? It's pretty good."
"No, I'm not hungry."
But watching Peter eat was kind of mouthwatering. He'd take a large bite, chew it thoroughly so his cheeks are puffed out like a hamster. Finally, Stark also ordered a pizza for himself.
While eating, he asked, "Let's suppose, just suppose, you wanted to help someone. What would you do?"
"Help someone? Then I would help. Is there a problem? If there's a problem, then solve it first before helping."
"But... I mean... there are some reservations..."
"What reservations?" Peter looked at Stark, finding his expression a bit conflicted. "If you want to help, then just help. If there are reservations, then maybe you don't want to help."
Stark stopped chewing. Apparently, Peter hit the nail on the head. "To put it right, I want to help him. It is a good deed that he wants to do, but it might take him a very long time to get it done if he does it himself..."
"If it's a good deed, then help him. What's the big deal? Is doing a good thing wrong?"
Stark, seeming to struggle, said, "But it would make me lose face. I mean... I'm Stark! It's awkward for me to go up to him and say, 'Hey, the great Stark is going to help you out. Are you game?'"
"You'd get beat up," said Peter, mouth full of pizza. "So if you said that, would he accept your help?"
"That's why I am having second thoughts—he probably won't."
"So, he doesn't want your help, but you insist on helping. Is that it?"
"I'm not insisting on helping!" Stark raised his voice, "There's no person or thing in this world that could possibly make Stark 'insist' on helping."
"Then don't help. If the person doesn't need your help and you don't specifically want to help, then everyone should do their own thing."
Stark put his hand on his forehead and said, "No! I mean... I want to help him, really... but it's not mandatory... Anyway, I knew this would be pointless, Doctor Schiller actually asked me to ask you, this naive kid. That damn vampire doctor charged me millions of dollars for just a few words. I should've known better..."
"Doctor Schiller asked you to ask me? Why? Is this question so difficult? If you want to help, just help. If you don't want to help, then don't. If someone is willing to let you help, then help. If they're not, then don't help."
"Forget it, you're just a kid, you wouldn't understand the rules adults play by..."
"Oh, I get it, actually you want him to beg you for your help, right?"
"Nonsense, that's not what I'm thinking!"
"As Peter munched on pizza, he explained, "You want to help him, but also want to maintain your dignity. Ideally, he would beg you for assistance, then you can do good without losing face, right?"
Stark buried his head in his pizza without answering.
Peter said, "When I do good, it's simply because I want to. Not for the sake of my image. Honestly, I'm not particularly fond of journalists trailing behind me. They think they're covering some great humanitarian, while I'm just worried about them getting caught up in the aftermath of a battle. It's not implausible."
"Anyway, to tell you the truth, there's nothing disgraceful about doing good and helping others. Approaching someone you want to assist and telling them so, there's nothing shameful about it. Even if you can't ultimately help in some way, at least your intentions were good."
Peter paused, then continued, "Some people may not really need your help. All they need you to do is tell them that you're fighting alongside them, reassuring them they're not alone. That's more than enough."
"Not alone..." Stark murmured.
Peter agreed, "Yes, that's very important. Sometimes it's like the support you guys give me."
"Whenever I need to find someone, I always can. That gives me a lot of confidence. In anything I do, it's a great feeling."
"Like before, when the teacher asked for my guardian's contact number. I couldn't give them my aunt and uncle's number, but I can always think of a few people's names just like that. And I know that those people would certainly come."
"And why did you choose me instead of them?"
"I don't know. The first number that came to mind was Stark Building's contact. Maybe because it's an easy number to remember."
"Or because I treat you the best, kiddo! Those other people would never let you eat so much pizza. They'd just tell you how many calories are in the cheese, and one slice is equivalent of having to run a few kilometers!"
All of a sudden, Peter stopped swallowing. He blurted out, "Oh no, I've just set a fitness plan yesterday, and I've eaten so much. I'll end up as fat as Pikachu!"
He cried out, "My power growth period is over, I must control my diet or I'll get so heavy that even the strongest spider silk won't be able to lift my body!"
Stark swallowed his last piece of pizza and said, "Well then, let's go. Do you know what activity helps burn the most calories? Saving the world. Especially, saving the world alongside Stark."
At his counseling clinic, Schiller was on a phone call with Nick, he said, "....I don't have a clue about this field. How am I supposed to know what progress they've made with their serum?"
"Last time, I tried to get into Connors and Peter's lab. Within three minutes, I had violated over 200 laboratory rules and they kicked me out without even getting a glimpse of the test tubes..."
"... Yes, I did study medicine, neuroscience as a part of psychology, but that was back in my university days. Who can remember? We just learned theoretical knowledge from textbooks, never had to step foot inside a laboratory..."
"You can't expect a psychologist to drill open your skull or concoct hallucinogens..."
"...I don't know about that. But based on Doctor Connors' recent tone...you know, he and Stark don't get along. Who could put up with Stark and his big mouth?"
"Connors also mentioned the other day that when it comes to biotechnology, Osborn Group undoubtedly has the upper hand. Stark doesn't know this, of course, he was discussing it behind his back."
"If I were Connors, I'd probably opt for the Osborn Group as well. Since Osborn Group and Stark group are not on good terms, if he aids Osborn Group in developing the healing serum, Stark would be absolutely livid."
"...Collaboration between the military and Osborn Group? I wouldn't know about that. Your intel on the military side is probably much more extensive."
"Even if Doctor Connors does collaborate with Osborn Group, their research might not necessarily end up in the military's hands. I think you're being overly paranoid. Besides, a simple healing serum wouldn't be enough for the military to gain an upper hand, right?"
"Take prevention over cure?" Schiller switched the phone to his other ear. He casually said, "I think you're being overly cautious, but this matter has nothing to do with me. Even if the military does gain power, it won't hurt me..."
"Cutting my pay? Now that's a bit extreme! I receive just the base salary..."
"What commission? Alright then, stingy! Let me tell you, if Osborn Group gets hold of that serum and is on the same level as the military, Ozborn, no longer in fear of military infiltration and control, will undoubtedly leverage the serum as a bargaining chip to cultivate a more profound all-round cooperation with the military..."
"Although I don't fully comprehend the biotech stuff, it's most likely highly beneficial. If the military's power is strengthened and they turn the tables in the final negotiations, S.H.I.E.L.D. is bound to flinch for a few days..."
"...You want me to persuade Connors? How would I do that? Why don't you persuade Stark? If he is the first one to extend an invitation to Connors, Connors might agree to it. Stark, despite everything, leans more towards S.H.I.E.L.D. If S.H.I.E.L.D has both Stark and the healing serum, the military is certain to suffer a crushing defeat."
"Although it would indeed be troublesome, you know how the Tartu faction can be unpredictable. They've managed to create a colossal monster, what if they abduct Doctor Connors? A genius scientist who can research a healing serum, how much bargaining power would he add in their negotiations?"
Suddenly, a commotion could be heard over the phone on Nick's end, followed by Nick shouting, "How on earth are you guys watching him?!!! How did Doctor Connors go missing?!!!"
"Damn it! Don't think I don't know it's the Tartu Faction's doing! Go tell them, don't think S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't know about their damning scheme! We have plenty of evidence! If they dare to pull something off, I'll immediately report the matter to the Safety Council!!!"