Welcome back to A Song Of Spiders And Dragons. Last time, the investigation of Martin Li's office commenced, unearthing a secret room hidden behind a shrine. And in this room was all the evidence needed to link Martin Li to the Demons. But, alas it was also a burn room. Thankfully, our terrific trio managed to shut it down and preserve the evidence. Now they're on their way out. So, what awaits on the other side of the walls? Read on to discover...

(Our scene opens up in the hallway of the F.E.A.S.T. Center, with Spider-Man, Spyro, and Cynder sneaking out of the burn room. And just as they get out, who do they run into, but Martin Li.)

Martin Li: (Knowing full well what they were doing) Hello, Peter. Spyro, Cynder, good to see you.

Spyro: (Caught off guard) Hey... Mr. Li. Fancy running into you here.

Martin Li: Shouldn't be that odd, it's my facility.

Cynder: I thought you were going to be out of town for a few days.

Martin Li: (Dodging the fake question, then getting straight to the point) Did you find what you sought?

(As the tension gets palpable enough to cut with a knife, Aunt May enters the scene, unintentionally acting as a buffer between the two)

Aunt May: Martin, you're back.

Martin Li: (Covering up his dark side again) Sadly not for very long. Just needed to get a few things from my office.

Aunt May: You must've heard about City Hall.

Martin Li: Indeed I did. (Looking knowingly at Spyro, who we know saw him at City Hall) Tragic, very tragic.

Aunt May: Peter was there, and was very lucky to get out of there alive. I think Spyro and Cynder were there too actually.

Martin Li: (Slightly disappointed, but hiding it well) At an Osborn rally? I didn't think you were fans of his.

Spyro: I can confirm we were there, but Cynder and I attended for the sake of Officer Jefferson Davis, an old friend of ours. He was being commended for his bravery that day.

Martin Li: Ah, yes. That makes so much more sense. I'm terribly sorry for your loss. I never knew Officer Davis, but he seemed like a good man.

Cynder: (Knowing full well Martin Li is full of shit) He was one of the bravest humans we've ever known.

Martin Li: Well, what matters is that you're all safe.

Aunt May: Amen to that.

Spider-Man: (Knowingly) But the perpetrators are still out there. Who knows what they've got planned.

Martin Li: I don't think you four have anything to worry about. (Suddenly turning slightly menacing towards the trio of heroes) So long as you stay away from places you're not supposed to be. (Suddenly jovial again) Well, I'd best be off.

Aunt May: When will you be back?

Martin Li: That's a bit unclear. All I can say is I'll be back in action here when my work is done. This is... important to me.

(And with that, Martin Li walks off. Fast forward a few minutes, and we see him leaving F.E.A.S.T., with our terrific trio right on his tail. But in that moment, his eyes briefly glow white. And just as he walks away, some civilians sitting outside the center turn photo-negative, and start attacking Spider-Man, Spyro, and Cynder. Trying not to hurt the civilians, the group eventually manages to fight them off, but not before Martin Li gets away)

Spider-Man: What... just happened?

Spyro: That must be what the Demons described. Martin Li's corruption ability.

Cynder: That was unlike any corruption magic I've ever seen. I don't know where he picked that up, but we're in uncharted territory here.

Spider-Man: We need to suit up.

(Fast forward a few minutes again, and the trio is on the center's roof, and they have Yuri on the line)

Spider-Man: We've got the evidence. Head to the F.E.A.S.T. center in Chinatown.

Yuri: And what should I expect to find?

Spyro: Some really strange stuff hidden in Martin Li's office. But listen: the Demons have another attack planned.

Yuri: Where? When?

Cynder: We're still working on the specifics of that.

Spider-Man: All we can tell is it likely involves something called "Devil's Breath".

Yuri: Sounds... destructive. So what are we dealing with here?

Spyro: An Oscorp product. Knowing the Mayor, probably some kind of bioweapon. We've got a folder on the stuff that we're holding onto.

Cynder: Copies will be on their way as soon as we can.

Yuri: We'll check the office out. If it checks out, an APB's going out straightaway.

(And with that, Yuri hangs up and Spider-Man immediately dials MJ)

Spider-Man: Hey, MJ. Just checking in.

MJ: (Whispering) Hey guys, not really a good time, can we call you back?

Spider-Man: What's going on? Why are you whispering?

MJ: Ember, Flame and I are in the middle of something. Why don't we catch up over dinner at my place?

Spider-Man: (Slightly caught off guard) Sure, sounds good. Wait a second, remember what you told me about Li's "corrupting touch"?

MJ: Yeah, why?

Spyro: Let's just say we saw it in action when some perfectly nice homeless people jumped us.

Cynder: Strange thing is, their eyes were glowing. Yuri said the same thing about the guard who let Shocker out.

MJ: So Shocker was working for Li. It's all connected...

Spider-Man: There's more. But I guess we'll talk about it over dinner.

MJ: Sounds good. (Hangs up)

Spider-Man: Dinner plans. Awesome. Now I just have to figure out what to cook.

Spyro: So long as it's not dumplings, I think we'll be fine.

Cynder: (Checks their call line) Don't look now, but Doctor Octavius is calling.

Spider-Man: (Picks up the call) Hey, Doc. What's up?

Octavius: Have I got exciting news for you three! Swing by the lab ASAP, I don't know how much longer I can wait to show you this!

Spider-Man: Uh, can we swing by later, I kind of made dinner plans, and...

Octavius: Dinner can wait, you have to see this! I can't say for certain that I can pay you yet, but I've likely been able to keep the wolves away from the door, at least long enough for us to get started. This advanced version of the project, if it works, will attract more investment than we'll know what to do with!

Spyro: Fingers triple crossed. We'll be right there. (Hangs up the line)

Spider-Man: Maybe this means we're employed again.

Cynder: We can swing in for just a moment.

(And with that, the trio takes off towards Octavius Industries, ending our tale for today)

And that looks like a good place to end for today. So, now we see Martin Li's corrupting touch in action, and it's nothing like Cynder has ever seen before. As to whether that's good or bad, we'll just have to wait and see. So, what developments are springing up at Octavius Industries? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!