Chapter 57: Illusion

"This must be the place. This studio's location is really remote; it's clear he had no good intentions," Peter said, looking at the abandoned factory ahead. After finding the address, the two had headed straight there.

"I hope he's not asleep yet; otherwise, I'll have to drag him out of bed."

Peter made another quip before he and Maverick walked to the entrance of the Wonder Studio.

This factory had only one entrance. Although there could be other hidden doors, a quick inspection around the perimeter revealed none.

After passing through a misleading front hall, Peter and Maverick found a concealed door leading to a deeper part of the facility.

This must be his actual studio, as they saw the Spider-Man suit that had appeared in the news hanging on the wall above the workbench.

In addition, all the walls were covered with photos of Spider-Man and various scenes.

"Wow, Beck's secret Spider-Man club. Just from looking at these, I'd think he was my biggest fan," Peter joked, seeing all the photos and videos.

"It looks like he planned everything here, including the museum and later the Brooklyn Bridge," Maverick pointed to a series of photos on the wall and explained to Peter.

Peter, seeing this setup, remarked wryly, "This guy had me completely on his leash."

He then took the Spider-Man suit down from the wall and inspected it closely.

"Suction cups. That's the key to how he can climb walls too." The suction cups on the suit's hands and feet explained Beck's wall-crawling ability.

Peter then tossed the suit back onto the wall, where the suction cups adhered firmly: "Functional enough. Low tech, but it works for show."

While Peter examined the Spider-Man suit, Maverick was observing other equipment belonging to Quentin Beck.

He picked up a cube-shaped device on the table and examined it.

As soon as he held it, the device seemed to activate.

A soft blue light emanated from the cube, quickly unfolding into a realistic image of a ceiling cracking and pieces falling down.

"This is... a new type of holographic projection technology. It's so realistic that it's hard to tell the difference between reality and illusion," Maverick remarked, observing the projection.

"It looks like he uses these to create his illusions. I have to admit, the design is quite ingenious," he added, handing the holographic device to Peter.

Peter, seeing the projection, said, "This is the ceiling of that museum where he made his first public appearance."

"It seems his fishbowl head really does contain a lot. This technology makes holographic projections small, portable, and incredibly realistic."

"With such great talent and technology, he doesn't need to turn to crime to make a lot of money," Maverick noted, admiring the lifelike image.

With this technology, there are so many legitimate ventures he could pursue—like opening a holographic cinema or patenting holographic technology and running a company. Instead, he chooses to put a fishbowl on his head, commit robberies, and create chaos, all while calling himself Mysterio.

Peter shrugged and said, "I can't understand it either, but that's just how these people think. I've seen quite a few over the years in New York."

"They always have their own twisted logic. They make mistakes but blame others, just like Quentin Beck."

What a waste, Maverick thought, shaking his head. He gathered the remaining holographic devices from the table. He planned to study them and perhaps use them as projectors for movies, or even develop them into products for a tech company.

If Quentin Beck wasn't going to use this technology wisely, Maverick wouldn't hesitate to. Once he reverse-engineered and upgraded the technology, it would become his own.

Maverick was confident he could take this technology further, making it applicable in many more fields.

After examining Quentin Beck's personal studio, Peter and Maverick continued to explore the facility.

The factory was too large to consist of just the front area. There had to be more to it. Plus, they hadn't seen Quentin Beck yet and had no idea where he was hiding.

As they delved deeper, the factory's lights suddenly went out, plunging them into darkness.

The abrupt darkness made them both wary. Just as they were bracing themselves, the entire space suddenly lit up again.

When the lights came back on, what greeted them was no longer the dilapidated factory but a vibrant, lush meadow.

It was clear that this scene was created using Quentin Beck's projection technology.

As they looked around, several figures wearing glass helmets appeared around them.

Seeing Peter and Maverick surrounded, Mysterio, standing on a high platform, chuckled mysteriously. "When you think something is fake, there is often something real within it. But when you believe something is real, it turns out to be fake."

"Hello, Spider-Man. I've prepared quite a few surprises for you."

"And this new friend—Spider-Man brought someone to help him. But no matter. Although I prepared a one-man show, it's enough for both of you."

As he spoke, Peter shot several webs at the figures nearby, but it was evident they were illusions, as his webs passed right through them.

"Enjoy the gifts I've prepared for you. I hope you're still standing here in a while," Mysterio taunted, his laughter echoing as his image faded, leaving Peter and Maverick in the middle of the illusory meadow.

"I can't believe they let a lunatic like him out of prison. Didn't they do any mental evaluation?" Peter, clearly annoyed, asked Maverick.

Maverick shrugged helplessly. "If they were that reliable, we wouldn't need to be here."

At that moment, he was communicating with Venom, trying to get it to locate Quentin Beck's real position.

After all, no matter how impressive his special effects were, Beck was still just an ordinary man. Once they found him, this charade would come to an end.

°°°

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