Ch.32 Synthesizing Artificial Webbing

In the laboratory.

"Professor Curt, how have you been lately?"

Charlie Parker walked into the lab and noticed that the lizards in the ecological tank had been replaced with a new batch.

A busy Curt Connors, upon seeing Charlie, immediately brightened up with excitement.

"Hey, Charlie, you're finally here! Quick, help me look at this data. Oscorp suddenly pulled the funding for the experiments, and I'm running out of time," Curt hurriedly led Charlie to the computer.

Charlie glanced at the constantly flashing biological experiment data on the screen and then looked at the tired face of Professor Connors. He couldn't help but start worrying.

This guy seemed to be reaching the last desperate step.

If things continued like this, Professor Connors would indeed use himself as a test subject, ultimately turning into a lizard monster, completely losing his sanity.

Charlie considered whether he should destroy the experimental data to at least delay things for a while.

But if he did that, Professor Connors' hard work would go down the drain, and it might drive him even crazier.

No scientist, especially those in the Marvel Universe, could endure such failure and despair.

The results would only get worse.

Whether it was Norman or Professor Connors, the failure of their genetic serum research was due to a lack of funding.

Norman himself had been forced to experiment on himself when Oscorp pulled its funding.

After becoming the Green Goblin, Norman killed his competitors, gaining more control over Oscorp and increasing access to its resources.

He had promised to fund Professor Connors' research, but after Norman's death, Oscorp was nearly paralyzed, and future funding was no longer guaranteed.

As a result, Professor Connors couldn't ensure his experiments would continue successfully.

Rather than delaying the experiment and causing irreversible consequences, it might be better to push things forward—at least there would still be a chance.

With this in mind, Charlie said to Curt Connors, "I think there's something wrong, but I need more time to verify it."

"We don't have time," Curt's face was grim.

"I know, the funding is running out."

Charlie thought for a moment. "I could try talking to Harry. He's a friend of mine, and we might be able to work something out with Oscorp. He could agree to help."

Professor Connors sighed, "It won't work. I know Harry well; he can't influence Oscorp's decisions, and there's no way he could convince his father."

As of now, the news of Norman's death hadn't been leaked, and no one knew that Norman was the brutal Green Goblin.

That was thanks to S.H.I.E.L.D.

It was also part of Harry's perks for joining S.H.I.E.L.D.

Charlie stood up and smiled. "Professor Connors, don't worry. Trust me. I know that Norman was also conducting genetic experiments, so he needs you just as much as you need him.

Maybe Oscorp is having some internal issues right now, which is why funding has been delayed.

Once Mr. Norman gets back on track, he'll definitely resume supporting your research."

"Do you think that's possible?" Professor Connors looked at Charlie, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"Of course."

Professor Connors thought about it, "Yes, recently the Green Goblin caused a lot of trouble for Oscorp. People suspect Mr. Norman because of this, and it's made things more difficult for him."

"Exactly."

Seeing that Professor Connors had calmed down, Charlie smiled. "Many people think Norman might actually be the Green Goblin. That's a pretty wild assumption."

"Of course, it's absurd! If Mr. Norman were the Green Goblin, he wouldn't have nearly blown Harry to pieces."

Professor Connors didn't suspect anything.

When the Green Goblin first appeared, he bombed Oscorp's shareholders' meeting. Although Norman had left early due to illness that day, his son Harry was still present.

The explosion nearly killed Harry.

That's why Harry, facing Oscorp's collapse, couldn't save the company on his own and had to rely on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s help to possibly turn things around.

Charlie's words relieved some of the pressure on Professor Connors. He looked at Charlie with pleading eyes.

"Charlie, please. I really can't give up on my research."

"No worries, I'll get you an answer within a week."

Charlie stared directly at him. "But you have to promise me, during this time, no rash actions—like experimenting on yourself. That would completely ruin your chances of getting more funding."

"Of course, I understand."

Professor Connors took a deep breath and slowly sat down.

"Charlie, thank you. Since you came, I feel much more at ease," he said with a relieved smile.

"Don't mention it."

Charlie glanced around the lab. "By the way, Professor Connors, I need some simple equipment to synthesize biological proteins. Can I borrow it?"

"No problem. I'm attending a research conference in the next few days, so I'll give you the lab password."

"That's not necessary. I'll finish quickly."

"Alright, El, come out. Let's leave the lab to Charlie."

"Understood."

Soon, Charlie found himself in the next room.

He fiddled with the equipment and found it much more efficient than what they had in school.

Then, he began preparing the materials for the artificial webbing.

He needed regular webbing as the main ingredient, but Charlie used his own web proteins, which would improve the results.

Next were various supplementary materials in precise proportions.

Professor Connors' lab had more than enough materials, and the process for making artificial web proteins was quite simple. Peter Parker could do it at home, but since this was Charlie's first attempt, he needed the lab's equipment.

Once he got more practice, he wouldn't need to go through this much trouble.

Before long, the artificial web protein synthesis went smoothly.

Staring at the web proteins in the container, Charlie tapped his chest, and the nano-metal quickly covered his right wrist.

He removed the web-shooter and injected the artificial web protein into the bottom of the device.

Charlie examined it closely. When he activated the switch, the web protein shot out under a slight electric and pressure stimulus, rapidly expanding in the air to form sticky, highly durable artificial webs.

"Splurt!"

In an instant, the fine artificial webs shot out wildly, splattering all over Charlie's face.

Charlie: "..."

He wiped the webs from his face.

It was clear that his first attempt at making artificial webs wasn't perfect.

The plasticity of the web proteins needed to be improved.

Onward!

Two hours later, Charlie finally produced a satisfactory batch of artificial webs.

Using regular webbing as the base material wouldn't have allowed him to succeed so quickly.

Next was the compression process for the artificial webs.

Without compression, a web-shooter could only hold ten milliliters of web protein, which would run out quickly.

Of course, he could avoid compressing it by installing a large-capacity storage unit in his suit, but that would be cumbersome.

The compression process was simple and could be left to the lab equipment.

Within half an hour, Charlie tapped his chest and removed several spare web-shooters from the spider emblem, carefully injecting the compressed web proteins into them.

As the nano-metal on his palm merged back into the chest device, Charlie finally left the lab, satisfied.

At the school gate, he pulled out his phone and called Harry.

"Hey, Harry. I met Spider-Man last night, and we became friends. Cool, right?" Charlie chuckled.

On the other end, Harry sighed in relief.

"Charlie, you've finally turned up."

"Let's meet at the Oak Restaurant in an hour."

"Sure. By the way, since you're friends with Spider-Man now, can you reach out to him? I have something important to tell him."

"I'll try, but I can't guarantee I'll be able to reach him. After all, he's the city's hero, the nemesis of crime, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, New York's greatest legend, the world's most valuable asset, the universe's brightest star, not someone just anyone can—"

Beep, beep, beep...

The call ended.

Charlie pouted.

"Hanging up before I'm done talking? Rude."