Peter: ".." It was probably because he wanted to become my archenemy for life.
Peter is quite impressive." Fearing that his friend might look down on Peter, Finn spoke earnestly, "Peter has even secured an internship for a research project at the Osborn Group. Of course, he earned Dr. Connors' recognition through his own merit. Do you know Dr. Connors? He is a top scholar in the field of biological genetics, he has previously led several breakthrough studies at the Osborn Group. Their current project is also exploring the field of biomedicine; in the future, it can treat and help more people.
Peter was actually somewhat surprised; he discovered that Finn had truly taken everything he had said earlier to heart.
Hearing Finn say this, the looks Noah and Elias gave Peter also changed—it turned out he was actually a top student. Noah worked in design, Elias was a guitarist; the two of them, both completely ignorant of scientific research, still found someone like Peter, an academic type, to be impressive.
"How did you become friends with Harry Osborn?" Noah asked in confusion. He had also investigated Harry Osborn for Finn and had never heard of Harry Osborn having any good friends.
"We were childhood playmates," Peter explained.
"Played together when you were little? Then you knew Finn when you were little too?" Noah asked curiously.
Peter was momentarily stunned, but then he shook his head; he didn't remember seeing Finn in his memory.
"Harry and I don't have the kind of relationship where we grew up together," Finn said with a smile.
By the way, Peter, are you going to the Werewolf game tonight?" Finn suddenly remembered something and looked at Peter as he asked, "There are games for pro players and games for newbies. I can play with you.
Peter thought seriously for a moment. ".." If I play Werewolf, I might not be very friendly to someone like you [whose thoughts are transparent].
Seeing Peter's silence, Finn thought he didn't like this kind of game. Thinking that since it was Peter's first time here and it wouldn't be much fun without any acquaintances to play with, he took the initiative to suggest, "How about I show you around the party?"
Then, Finn began taking Peter on a tour of the party. Because many parties had been held over the past month, Finn's parties were becoming increasingly lavish, his dedicated event planning team had been constantly innovating on that foundation. Finn also knew that hosting parties cost a lot of money, so he now had the event planning team deliberately control the costs for him.
Peter suddenly thought of the [ESFP] personality he had specifically looked up today—the "natural players" born for excitement. However, these traits also caused them to often indulge excessively in momentary pleasure, temporarily casting aside the responsibilities and duties they ought to uphold.
enough—
Finn seemed to have completely forgotten the part where he had just been making those harsh threats.
"You're late. We've had magic shows at our parties all along, featuring three very young magicians. They are all incredibly talented," Finn introduced as he walked.
“And then?” Peter Parker asked.
"Those three magicians suddenly said they were going to South Africa to steal diamonds, then they vanished," Finn said with a straight face.
Peter: ".." He really couldn't tell whether it was the truth or a joke.
When it came to playing, Finn tossed the previous plotline of "accumulating Misery Value" to the back of his mind. He enthusiastically took Peter on a tour of the various areas, warmly introducing him to many friends. Peter discovered that Finn was truly skilled at socializing, although these high-quality friends were young, they were already somewhat famous in their respective fields.
Finn, don't listen to that Cross's bragging. His game proposal sounds heavenly, but he can't make something like that at all; he's just a blowhard." Another friend of his who was a game designer, Blake, proactively approached Finn and said excitedly, "If you invest in him, such a large amount at that, do you realize you're just throwing your money down the drain? That studio he set up is a scam! It's nothing more than a shell company.
“It would be one thing if anyone else said it, but don't you think it's strange that you're saying this?” Finn had been warned by others before, telling him that Cross's character was unreliable and that he should be cautious with his investments.
"Why?" Blake stared with an expression of confusion in his eyes.
".. Do you still remember the game proposal you gave me?" Finn asked.
At this question, Peter became interested.
“Blake is planning to develop a single-player game called 'Escape from the Psychiatric Hospital,' where the protagonist is a mental patient who thinks he is a piece of popcorn that hasn't popped yet.” Finn turned to explain to Peter.
"He thinks he's popcorn?" Peter asked.
Exactly, the protagonist is called [POPCORN], a mental patient with a popcorn bucket growing out of his head," Finn began to explain the game. "And his skill is a self-detonation on the spot, with a special effect where his head actually explodes with popcorn.
Peter: ".."
Then his tasks include finding other psychiatric patients in the hospital to form an alliance. For example, there's a patient who thinks he is a trash can and randomly appears in the mental asylum to eat garbage; there's a patient who thinks he is a ghost, but he is actually a literal supernatural spirit that can only float in the air; and there's a patient who thinks he is a plant, who must be watered to move, requiring a watering for every single step. You can also have a conversation with the vegetative patient; if you tell him, 'You're about to bloom,' a 'brain flower' will bloom from his head.
When Finn saw this proposal, he felt that Blake, as the creator, was a bit "sick" in the head.
Of course, there are also various kinds of doctors acting as captors. One of them is even a 'Grafting Maniac.' After catching a player, he can dismember them and stitch them together with other fellow patients to create a new species—for example, turning them into a 'Popcorn' plant-human.
This game sounds quite interesting." Peter Parker couldn't help but laugh; he truly felt that this game was worth playing. "If it ever hits the market, I'd want to play it too.
See!" Blake was greatly encouraged by Peter's praise. "Finn, I'm telling you, what this world lacks most is not mental patients, but sane people who are even more twisted! My game might be low-budget, but believe me, it will definitely bring you massive returns.
".." Finn really felt that this single-player game was absurd.
He clearly didn't have much faith in the future prospects of this game, but regardless—a failed investment was still a good thing.
[A mental patient investing in a mental asylum game—what a perfect match.]
Hearing Finn's inner thoughts, Peter froze and looked at the young man in surprise.
Next, people came one after another to talk to Finn; clearly, Finn was an excellent participant and listener. Peter also heard them discussing going to shoot an M249 on a helicopter to Las Vegas, Finn was clearly eager to give it a try.
Peter couldn't help but marvel to himself that this was truly.. a life completely different from that of an ordinary student.
Not long after, the rock music stage performance by [OVERSTEP] officially began, along with a synchronized dance performance by the dance troupe [Pulse Lab] that Finn had specially invited.
A double ace.
The atmosphere on the scene was instantly ignited, exploding to the absolute limit.
Everyone was cheering and taking photos around the magnificent stage, their enthusiasm reaching a fever pitch.
Peter's gaze drifted uncontrollably toward Finn beside him.
Finn pulled Peter to a prime viewing seat on the second floor; naturally, no one would try to snatch a spot from him, the organizer.
The young man stared fixedly at the stage, his eyes filled with fervent vitality, as if he were being drawn in by the most brilliant and scorching light in this world.
[When will I be able to dance as well as them?] Finn thought enviously in his heart.
"Do you like dancing?" Peter Parker asked.
Yeah, I've been learning for a while," Finn's eyes lit up. "I've found some very skilled dancers to be my teachers. I'll tell you a secret, the captain of Pulse Lab has also promised to teach me.
Peter naturally believed that with the Osborn family's wealth, they could hire the most top-tier dance instructors.
He also believed that Finn was the kind of person who would work earnestly at anything he loved.
So, would Finn also earnestly carry out those tragic plotlines he envisioned in his mind?
Peter Parker's mood was conflicted.
He felt as if Finn held a winning hand in his grasp, yet due to some unknown constraint, he was forced to play it in the most disastrous way possible.
—What kind of existence is the System, exactly? Does it require the accumulation of Misery Value?
—If I violate them, will there be some kind of punishment?
Is there any way to help Finn complete the mission without breaking the rules?
Peter's mind was filled with doubts; even the noisy rock music and the heated atmosphere of the party could not, at this moment, distract him from his focus on the question.
Just then, a clear voice pierced through the surrounding clamor, so distinct it seemed as if it possessed its own noise-canceling effect, straight into his ears:
Peter, it's a pleasure to meet you.
Peter turned his head instinctively—
The brilliant lights spilled onto the young man's hair like dancing specks of light.
Finn rested his chin on one hand, watching him with a brilliant smile, while the young man's exquisite and noble features seemed to radiate a dazzling glow under the lights.
With his other hand holding his glass, he raised it toward him in a toast.
The two glass cups clinked together softly, producing a crisp, light sound.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
The young man's thoughts were identical to his spoken words, gentle and sincere.
On the stage downstairs, the massive drumbeat of the rock music crashed down heavily, enough to make Peter's heart skip a beat from the vibration of the loud noise.
"Me too, Finn." Peter suddenly found it somewhat amusing.
What "lifelong nemesis"?
How could such a person make him feel any hostility?
Peter took a sip of the drink in his cup—
It tasted like sweet green grape soda.
Chapter 9: Dog-Walking Buddy
Really!?
As the party came to an end, Finn looked at Noah, his emerald eyes filled with disbelief and pleasant surprise.
He never expected that Noah would actually be so easygoing, even proactively offering to swap cars with him for a few days.
Don't you like it? I'll let you borrow it for a few days." Noah was amused by the young man's overjoyed expression and said in a generous and indulgent tone, "But don't go out driving in the middle of the night, no speeding. Take your medicine and get some good rest after you get home today.
I think my cold is already better," Finn said dismissively. "It wasn't that serious to begin with.
You still need to make sure you get plenty of rest," Noah Hart cautioned, still feeling uneasy. Although he knew Finn was going to work at the Osborn Group, he didn't think Finn would actually focus on his job. "By the way, don't act on your own when it comes to Harry Osborn. If you have any ideas, you must discuss them with us, understood?
"I know." Finn nodded. He still had to work with System PP tonight to brainstorm the upcoming plotlines.
After Finn drove away from the party in Noah's incredibly cool new car in high spirits, he suddenly thought of something else.
It wasn't too late yet; he also wanted to take another trip to the place where he had gone to look for stray dogs last night.
It was just the right time to take this super cool new car out for another spin.
Finn also received a message from Steve Montgomery today. Those three young men had clearly done their utmost to help him conduct a carpet-style search for that stray dog in this area, but they had still come up empty-handed. They inquired that the puppy seemed to have been picked up by a kind-hearted person who had also seen the video, but it couldn't be confirmed.
[Host, body temperature detected at 37.4°C, currently in a low-fever state. It is recommended that you go home and rest to avoid the condition worsening.] System PP's electronic voice sounded in his mind, its programmed rigor carrying a hint of concern.
A low fever?" Finn was somewhat surprised; he didn't even feel anything himself. "I'll go take one more look, just one more look.
Finn still held onto a shred of hope, thinking about driving around that area one more time to take another look; perhaps that little stray dog would suddenly run out.
If I don't find it this time, I'm truly giving up.
System PP remained silent for two seconds, clearly having grasped the Host's stubbornness: 【Host, please pay attention to your speed. The road conditions are dim; please drive carefully.】.
It was just unexpected that as soon as the sports car drove into that wilderness, a figure suddenly lunged out like a ghost from a path that had no streetlights, catching them completely off guard.
System PP: 【Watch out!】
Finn's heart seemed to skip a beat. He instinctively jerked the steering wheel, only to hear a loud "bang" as the front of the car slammed violently into an old tree by the roadside.
The moment the airbags deployed, Finn's scalp went numb, his mind was filled with a single, overwhelming thought—[It's over].
This was the new car Noah just picked up!
A VELOX supercar, one of only ten in the world, worth 2.75 million US dollars!