Peter, standing at the entrance of the alley, felt utterly lost.
He remembered leaping down from the building to protect his aunt, but why on earth would he land to see Nick Fury and two unfamiliar Spider-Men?
And Spider Silk, standing behind Peter, is equally puzzled. What was that beam of blue light? Why did Peter's wounds disappeared in an instant?
Nick placed the time-reset device back in his pocket, first addressing Spider Silk. "Before you came here, did you see Shiller?"
"Ah, no." Spider Silk replied truthfully, feeling quite guilty. "I smuggled him out of the sanatorium. I am sorry, I shouldn't have. I'm glad nothing bad happened."
When Spider Silk was done, she looked at Peter apologetically. She had not anticipated how dangerous this world could be. Without Nick arriving in time, unavoidable tragedy might have struck.
"Therein lies the problem." Nick began, "You think you could've escaped his sanatorium without Shiller's permission?"
Spider Silk slightly widened her eyes, Nick sighed lightly and said, "Go back and tell Dr. Shiller exactly what transpired here."
Then the gaze of his remaining eye fell on Peter, who had already rushed over to hold Aunt May, and was looking worriedly at the wound on Aunt May.
"Oh, Peter, you've come back – I am so relieved!" Aunt May spoke weakly, "I thought you were dead, thank goodness…"
Aunt May began to sob. Peter held her close. Suddenly, Peter felt a shadow over his own head. Looking up, he saw a black-gloved hand reaching out and looked up to see Shadow Spider-Man's arm, with a syringe in his palm.
"The latest version of the Cure potion, no side effects, safe for humans." The Shadow Spider-Man gave a succinct introduction, and Peter took the medicine like a lifeline in a crisis.
Peter had her extend her arm, and injected the potion into her. The wound began to heal at a pace visible to the naked eye. While it didn't reach an instant recovery, it looked as if it should completely heal in a few minutes.
"Thank you so much!" Peter immediately rose and spoke to the trio before him as Nick subtly turned his head to see the Scarlet Spider-Man Cain, dressed in red, glancing at the three gunmen lying on the ground.
Kane approached without hesitation, picking up the lead gunman by the upper body, grabbing his chin with one hand and chest with the other.
"Snap."
As Peter watched in shock, the gunman's neck was twisted and broken. Peter stammered aghast, "You, you killed him?! You how, I mean ... aren't you Spider-Man, too?"
Scarlet Spider-Man Cain didn't say a word. He merely tilted his head slightly, his compound eyes blinked as if puzzled why Peter would ask such a thing.
Acting like a skilled worker, Cain moved to the back of another gunman, hoisted him off the ground, ready to twist his neck.
Peter intended to stop him but was held back by Aunt May whispering in his ear, "They were after the belongings of the residents in this neighborhood. I saw them murder our neighbor, Mr. Leon and his family with my own eyes!"
Peter was struck dumb with a look of rage on his face. During his moment of silence, the Scarlet Spider-Man and the Shadow Spider-Man disposed of the remaining gunmen.
Seeing the lifeless bodies strewn on the ground, Peter felt worn out and gloomy -- puzzled over the turn of events. But, clearly, in his eyes, Aunt May was most important at that moment. He looked at Nick and said, "Director Nick, please don't blame Spider Silk. I wanted to meet my aunt. Thankfully, I got here in time, and she didn't face any danger."
"She can't live here anymore; it's too unsafe. Do you know of any safe places where she could stay temporarily?"
Peter stammered somewhat as if embarrassed. He quickly added, "I'm sorry. I know it's presumptuous, but I'm genuinely worried she could face some danger. She's my only relative."
It was clear that Peter was in an awkward position he'd never found himself in before. The well-intentioned boy seldom sought help. Moreover, he hadn't spent much time in another universe, and he barely knew Nick. Asking strangers such requests made him feel embarrassed.
But Nick didn't say much. He just turned around and casually shook his head, "Follow me."
Peter watched Nick pull out a small device and open a square portal. Nick led Aunt May through, and they found themselves in a spacious lobby.
"Time Management Office?" Peter read the words at the top of the exhibition board in the lobby aloud. Meanwhile, Nick had already reached the front desk, speaking with an alien with antennae on its head.
Soon, a female humanoid alien with purple skin approached with a smile and said to Aunt May, "Hello, please come with me. I will show you where to rest."