"Did you forget so quickly about the Space Knights, Peter?" Helen asked, clearly dissatisfied.
"No, I just care about my lottery ticket," Peter replied, assuming the call was about his potential winnings.
"You're too impatient. There's still a day left until the draw," Helen said lazily over the phone. "Or are you already daydreaming about cashing in your multi-million-dollar prize?"
Peter sighed. "It seems you still don't trust me, Helen."
"You're not exactly trustworthy," Helen shot back. "You're full of secrets. I feel like everything you say dances between truth and lies."
Peter decided to change the subject. "So, what's the reason for your call? Did you find something?"
Helen hesitated briefly before replying, "Although I didn't go to Scotland to investigate the mural you mentioned, I did stumble upon something unexpected elsewhere."
Peter sat up straighter. "Where?"
The Space Knights story had been a figment of his imagination. Could they really exist in this world?
"Valen Mining Company," Helen began. "They discovered an open-pit copper mine, and beneath it, they unearthed underground ruins that might hold secrets—especially about the origins of the 'Queen.'"
"How do you know this?" Peter asked, narrowing his eyes.
Helen smirked on the other end of the line. "I have my ways of obtaining information. Valen Mining is collaborating with Stark Group, so you might want to keep an eye on those businessmen. They're known for treating every place they touch as their personal kingdom."
"Why are you so sure I'd be interested in these ruins?" Peter questioned.
"Just a hunch," Helen replied.
"Thanks for the tip," Peter muttered before hanging up.
He leaned back in his chair, staring into the dark night outside. The mysteries surrounding him felt like they were closing in.
Opening his laptop, he typed "Valen Mining" into the search engine. The first link that appeared was a recent news article:
> "Tony Stark Acquires Shares of Valen Mining Group."
The article mentioned that Stark planned to expand his empire by venturing into one of the largest mining corporations in the United States.
Peter's eyes narrowed as he read further. The piece also noted that Stark had been attacked at an airport on his way to a Valen Mining board meeting.
Just as Peter absorbed this, a notification popped up on his laptop: a new email from "Mr. Fantastic," Reed Richards.
Opening it, Peter frowned. Reed wanted to borrow money. Seriously? Did he look rich?
Reed had been having a rough day. That morning, a jewel wasp had stung him, leaving a painful, swollen lump on his hand.
While Reed tried to remove the sting, he thought he saw something outside his window—dark green eyes, glowing in the shadows. His breath caught. Could it be the creature from the Bear Mountain news story?
Just as Reed panicked, a knock sounded on his window.
"Reed, it's me—Peter Parker," Peter called out.
Reed hesitated. Was this Peter? Or the creature pretending to be him?
Peter grew impatient and climbed through the window.
"Isn't this the sixth floor?" Reed asked, dumbfounded.
Peter shrugged. "I'm a rock climbing enthusiast."
Reed muttered, "If you told me you were Spider-Man, I'd believe it."
Peter ignored him, glancing at Reed's swollen hand. Without warning, he deftly removed the wasp's sting.
"How'd you do that?" Reed asked in amazement.
Peter smirked. "Shouldn't you thank me first?"
"Thanks, I guess," Reed muttered. "That jewel wasp sting was awful. They're beautiful, but their sting is brutal."
Looking around Reed's room, Peter noticed a peculiar metal device.
"What's this?" he asked, picking it up.
Before Reed could stop him, Peter placed it on his head.
"Wait, don't—!" Reed shouted.
"What's the big deal?" Peter asked.
"It's a subconscious amplifier," Reed explained. "I invented it a month ago, but it hasn't been tested on humans yet. If something goes wrong, my parents will be furious!"
Peter grinned. "Let's see how it works."
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