We Must Trust the Government

After speaking with Gwen for a few minutes, Peter hurriedly hung up.

At that moment, the lawyer also came out and confirmed that S.H.I.E.L.D. was completely behind the operation. Likewise, only S.H.I.E.L.D. had the authority to release them.

Peter could no longer hold back. After saying goodbye to the lawyer, he hurried to S.H.I.E.L.D. again.

When he arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D., he found the place in complete chaos as well. He had no time to worry about such trivial matters and went straight to Director Garrett’s office. After knocking and entering, he explained the situation and began asking about the reason.

"Ugh!"

Director Garrett let out a long sigh, pulled Peter down to sit, and said helplessly:

"At first, I thought this would be a simple matter. But after Rumlow investigated carefully, we discovered that this Thomas actually had an extremely wide circle of acquaintances and was on friendly terms with many people. Some of them were even S.H.I.E.L.D. agents."

"What?" Peter was stunned.

"To prevent S.H.I.E.L.D. from being infiltrated by Hydra, I had no choice but to arrest everyone who had any connection with Thomas and investigate them. As long as they’re ultimately proven innocent, I’ll naturally have them released."

"Then what about Uncle Ben and Aunt May…"

"Since there’s some disorder within S.H.I.E.L.D. right now, we’re short on manpower. I had to discuss it with President Rogers and borrow the police system to help us. Those officers are acting strictly according to the list produced by the investigation. They don’t know anything about your relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D."

Peter let out a long breath. "That’s great. In other words, Uncle Ben and Aunt May will be fine?"

"The specific investigation still needs to be carried out, but as long as they aren’t Hydra, the police will definitely release them soon. Peter, you have to have faith in the Federation’s law-enforcement system." Director Garrett patted Peter on the shoulder and spoke earnestly.

"Of course they won’t be! They definitely aren’t Hydra!" Peter thumped his chest and assured Director Garrett.

"How about this? I’ll call the police and explain your situation, so you can go visit them. There’ll definitely be a result within a few days at most."

"Thank you so much, Director!" Peter said gratefully.

After leaving S.H.I.E.L.D., Peter was no longer as anxious as when he had first arrived. Looking around the headquarters again, he saw that security personnel were constantly taking people away for questioning. The entire headquarters was tense, and everyone was terrified.

Peter sighed, but he understood Director Garrett’s actions. They had to conduct a self-inspection first and remove any members they couldn’t trust before they could ensure the team’s integrity. That would prevent them from being stabbed in the back during the struggle against Hydra.

Still, he believed that S.H.I.E.L.D. would neither wrong an innocent person nor let a guilty one go.

After leaving S.H.I.E.L.D., he went to the police station again and, as expected, was able to see Uncle Ben and Aunt May without any trouble.

He explained the situation and then comforted them:

"Uncle, don’t worry. It’s just a routine investigation. Once the police confirm that you have nothing to do with Hydra, they’ll release you."

Uncle Ben nodded in satisfaction.

"This is a normal investigative process. It’s understandable, and it’s necessary. Since even S.H.I.E.L.D. is conducting an internal investigation, we shouldn’t seek special treatment either. Peter, you should trust the country, trust the government, and trust the Federation’s legal system."

"I will, Uncle."

After visiting Uncle Ben, Peter went to visit Aunt May as well before leaving the police station.

Gwen was also very concerned about what was happening. After school, she hurried over to check on her boyfriend. The two of them had dinner together, and Peter gave Gwen a detailed account of what had happened to his parents.

Although the appearance of a legendary organization like Hydra was shocking, Gwen was more concerned about her boyfriend.

"Peter, no one knows better than I do what a kind boy you are. Whatever your parents were like won’t affect your character. Especially since they died when you were very young and you were raised by Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Please remember this, Peter: no matter what happens, I’ll always stand by your side."

She comforted Peter at length, making it clear that her love for him would never waver.

After spending some tender time together, Peter planned to take Gwen home. But brave Gwen took the crucial step herself. She decided to stay at Peter’s place that night and soothe the low spirits caused by his parents’ troubles.

Thus, on the night Uncle Ben and Aunt May were imprisoned, the two high school students, Peter and Gwen, finally took that last step in Peter’s little house.

With Gwen by his side, the burden in Peter’s heart disappeared, and he almost forgot all about the outside world. Every day, he visited Uncle Ben and Aunt May during the day, then returned at night to make dinner with Gwen, watch some television afterward, and finally spend some more intimate time together.

He had thought these carefree days would continue until Uncle Ben and Aunt May returned from the police station. But a few days later, Gwen called him with tears in her voice and told him that Chief Stacy had been arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D.

Peter hurried to Gwen’s house. Gwen threw herself into his arms in a panic and explained the situation in detail.

It turned out that George Stacy had once worked with Thomas for a while. At the time, Thomas wasn’t with the CIA yet but was with the FBI. That period of collaboration had been so brief that even Chief Stacy had forgotten about the incident and the man involved.

As S.H.I.E.L.D. conducted a deeper investigation, they discovered this connection and arrested George Stacy.

After learning the whole story, Peter lowered his head and kissed Gwen on the forehead as she rested in his arms.

"Don’t worry, Gwen. George only had normal professional dealings with Thomas. He’ll be released soon, just like Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Even S.H.I.E.L.D.’s own agents are being investigated now. Being investigated doesn’t prove anything."

"We have to trust the country, trust the government, and trust the Federation’s legal system!"

After Peter comforted her, Gwen’s fearful mood finally eased somewhat.

Mrs. Stacy, however, wasn’t nearly as optimistic as the two of them. She kept making phone calls, looking for lawyers, contacting the police union, seeking out media reporters, calling former university classmates… She reached out to every friend she could find.

No matter how Peter and Gwen tried to persuade her, she refused to stop. The two of them had no choice but to let her do as she pleased.

But in the face of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mrs. Stacy’s efforts seemed completely futile. Chief Stacy wasn’t released as a result. In the end, helpless, she could only resign herself to fate and pray that S.H.I.E.L.D. was truly conducting nothing more than a routine investigation.

Peter specifically asked around and learned that quite a few people had been arrested during this period because of the Hydra incident. Many high-ranking government officials and corporate executives had even been arrested under warrants specially approved by President Rogers and issued by the chief justice.

Many of those people were released soon afterward, while many others remained under investigation and interrogation, with no outcome to this day.

Peter had complete faith in the relatives around him. He had originally thought that as long as they waited patiently, the truth would eventually prevail, and Uncle Ben and the others would certainly be released.

But no matter how confident he was, he still couldn’t help worrying about his loved ones. Thus, as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Peter traveled back and forth between the police station and S.H.I.E.L.D. every day, visiting his relatives while also inquiring about the progress of the investigation.