Why?

Emotion and reason, two conflicting feelings, clashed repeatedly in his mind, tangling into a mess and leaving his eyes bloodshot. Seeing his breathing grow heavier and his face turn hideously fierce, the on-site staff hurried away, afraid to provoke him and bring trouble upon themselves.

Peter collapsed to his knees in front of Uncle Ben and placed his hand against Uncle Ben’s face, which had turned slightly blue from suffocation. Tears streamed down his cheeks.

He regretted it deeply.

He regretted telling Uncle Ben the results of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s investigation.

He regretted not storming into Director Garrett’s office yesterday and forcing him to reveal the name and address of the witness who had left no name.

He regretted being useless. He clearly knew that all the evidence had been fabricated by Hydra, yet he could not find a single flaw in it.

He regretted revealing to Uncle Ben that he was considering joining Hydra, making Uncle Ben, who was already in dire straits, worry about him.

He regretted focusing only on complaining at the time and failing to notice the change in Uncle Ben’s emotions.

He regretted…

A thousand words clogged his chest, yet he could not say any of them. Every kind of self-reproach filled his heart and constricted his throat, leaving him able only to hold Uncle Ben and sob, "I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…"

There was no greater pain in life than wanting to care for one’s parents, only to find them gone.

As his pain and self-reproach intensified, the magnetic field within his body began to spin frenziedly, rapidly rising to the threshold of the Nine Heavens realm.

After quietly crying beside Uncle Ben for more than half an hour, Peter’s emotions finally eased somewhat. He slowly rose and headed for Director Garrett’s office.

Although Uncle Ben was gone, Peter could not let him leave with his name stained. He had to clear his name. No matter how displeased Director Garrett was today, Peter would get that person’s name and address, even if he had to use force!

Perhaps out of consideration for Uncle Ben’s death, Director Garrett did not refuse to see him this time.

After entering the office, Peter stood in front of the desk and stared at Director Garrett. "I saw that one witness’s name wasn’t listed on the evidence documents. I want to know who that person is."

Director Garrett frowned. "Peter, S.H.I.E.L.D. has its rules. We can’t casually reveal a witness’s identity."

Peter ignored Director Garrett’s words. He merely glared at him and asked again, "Who is that person?"

"Peter, I understand how you feel, but you have to understand that what happened to Mr. Parker was an accident. No one wanted this."

"Who is that person?" Peter’s eyebrows shot up as he shouted harshly.

The more Director Garrett refused to tell him, the more certain Peter became that there was something wrong with that person.

"Sigh, Peter, some things shouldn’t be dug into too deeply. Otherwise, the result may not be what you want. I don’t want you to be hurt again."

"That person… who is it!" Peter smashed his fist through the desk and glared furiously at Director Garrett.

Director Garrett’s expression changed. In the end, he sighed helplessly. "Fine. Since you insist on knowing, I’ll tell you. That person is…"

"George Stacy!"

Peter staggered when he heard this, and all color instantly drained from his face.

"How could that be?"

Director Garrett looked at Peter sympathetically and sighed.

"If Uncle Ben wasn’t Hydra, then George Stacy was ordered to frame him. In that case, George Stacy must be Hydra."

"If George Stacy didn’t frame Uncle Ben, then Uncle Ben must also be Hydra."

"If George Stacy was also framed by Hydra and genuinely didn’t know who was Hydra, then he dragged Uncle Ben into it to escape punishment."

"Peter, of these possibilities, which one do you find easiest to accept?"

Peter stood there in a daze for a long while before finally letting out a miserable howl and fleeing with tears streaming down his face.

Like a madman, he charged out of the S.H.I.E.L.D. building and headed straight for Gwen’s home. Once he arrived, he stood at the door hesitating for a long time before finally making up his mind and pounding on it.

Gwen opened the door. She was visibly happy to see Peter, but then she became awkward, turning her face aside and not daring to look at him.

Peter’s heart immediately sank halfway. He did his best to keep his voice steady.

"Where’s Mr. Stacy? I have something I want to ask him."

Hearing the distance in Peter’s form of address, Gwen’s expression instantly grew flustered. She stammered, unable to figure out what to say.

A haggard George Stacy emerged from the room and gently patted his daughter’s shoulder. "Gwen, let us talk alone."

Torn between both sides, Gwen wanted to say something but could not get the words out. She could only walk back into the room, looking over her shoulder every few steps.

Peter already understood, but he still asked hopefully, "Mr. Stacy, you were the one who testified that Uncle Ben was Hydra, weren’t you?"

"That’s right. It was me." George nodded woodenly.

Peter immediately felt blood rush to his head. Clenching his fists, he asked in a trembling voice, "Why?"

"Why? Heh, why does there have to be a reason?" George gave a bitter laugh. "S.H.I.E.L.D. needed Hydra, so I gave them Hydra. Simple as that!"

"You’re aiding the wicked!" Peter had initially thought there might have been some misunderstanding or that George had some unspoken difficulty, but George’s indifferent attitude now enraged him completely.

"Do you know how many innocent people this will wrongfully condemn?"

"Do you know how many Hydra members this will let escape justice?"

"Do you know…"

Peter pointed at George and began cursing him furiously, but George grew angry as well. He cut Peter off and shouted back at him.

"I know everything!"

"I even know that S.H.I.E.L.D. never intended to capture Hydra!"

"I also know that S.H.I.E.L.D.’s mass arrests and collective punishments are entirely meant to deal with pressure from above!"

"They need to produce results for the president!"

"Because the president has been watching this matter closely, S.H.I.E.L.D. has to catch Hydra. If there’s no Hydra, they’ll manufacture one!"

"I also know that many political forces are using this opportunity to suppress their rivals and bring down their competitors!"

"I also know that the reason no one has ever found anything wrong with the fabricated evidence is that they made the evidence themselves!"

"After I was arrested, my political enemies sent someone in to pass me a message. Either I obediently signed a confession agreement and stepped down from my position as police chief, or Gwen and I would both be arrested and thrown in prison as Hydra!"

"Tell me, if you were in my place, how would you choose?"

"You’re asking whether I know about those problems?"

"I’m telling you now, I know everything! But I fucking don’t care anymore!"

"Now let me ask you this: Did you know any of what I just told you?"