Noah took a deep breath, the shock in his chest still unsuppressed. He suppressed his emotions and stared at Finn, saying solemnly, "Call him back.. perform it again, then I'll believe you."
When Noah saw the true face of Max, whom Finn had called out, it was undeniably real—
A blue gaze.
"And where did you meet this friend.. again?" Noah knew that Finn had great social skills; one could say he had come into contact with people from all walks of life. However, he hadn't expected that Finn's social circle even extended to mutants.
"Young Master Finn was found by me in the morgue," Max replied hurriedly and respectfully.
Finn: ".." Just get out of here.
Finn! You actually dare to go to the morgue?" Noah no longer cared how blue Max actually was. "Why would you go to a place like a morgue? Aren't you afraid? Don't you know you have claustrophobia?
Noah still remembered taking Finn to a haunted house before.
Finn walked in standing up, fainted from terror upon coming out, also scared Noah half to death.
Hearing this, Elias suddenly felt that Noah's usual interference in Finn's life wasn't even that much; at least regarding something like going to the morgue, Noah didn't even know, so he might as well just install a tracker on Finn.
"You have claustrophobia too?" Peter showed a shocked expression.
How do you end up with more and more illnesses!?
"Max is an employee of the Osborn Group. He was electrocuted to death in an accident, as.. a member of the Brand Promotion Department, I have to go and check on the situation." Finn could only brace himself and use the same explanation he had given Peter before.
Are you joking with me?" Noah was practically dying of frustration because of Finn; this young man had a face that looked incredibly innocent, yet no one knew what kind of schemes he was concocting behind his back. "Even if the Brand Promotion Department is empty, the Osborn Group isn't going to send you to the morgue to handle this!
"This can also be considered.. black material on the Osborn Group. I'll try to secretly collect some." Finn could only continue attempting to make excuses.
Noah frowned. This explanation was somewhat acceptable, as he also knew that Finn had always been looking for ways to take down Harry Osborn. Perhaps he really did want to collect some dirt on the Osborn Group, so that he could hold more leverage against Harry.
"You've certainly got guts, even daring to go to the morgue." Noah glared at Finn crossly.
"Then how did you know?" Noah looked at Peter strangely again; he naturally knew that Peter was Harry Osborn's best friend. It was understandable that Finn would sneak around to collect dirt, but no matter how one thought about it, this matter should not have been known by Peter.
Peter knows some friends in scientific research, so I asked him to help me find out if it's possible to turn Max back to his original self," Finn explained, before quickly changing the subject and looking at Peter. "So, what was the result? Is this really the only way? Can Max never change back?
No, it's that Max himself is unwilling to change back," Peter shook his head. "It's the reason you and I.. mentioned before.
"What reason?" Noah Hart asked, frowning.
"I said before that if Max could dance in this look on the Halloween stage, it would definitely be incredibly cool," Finn said somewhat guiltily, though he still thought so in his heart even now.
"Young Master Finn, I am already working hard on learning breakdancing," Max said immediately, his tone sincere and solemn.
Noah stared blankly at Max: ".." Should I introduce a psychiatrist to you as well?
"So you mean you'll change back after Halloween?" Finn was still somewhat restless as he spoke up and asked.
[If I think about it that way, it's actually not a bad idea. I might as well take this chance of mutation to leave myself a [Life Stage]!]
Peter: ".." With such a positive mindset, you'll succeed at whatever you do.
Max fell silent for a moment, then raised his head, looking at Finn with a serious gaze as he spoke, "An agent from S. H. I. E. L. D. said my power is great and can be used to protect others, just like.. Spider-Man."
“That’s great.” Finn blinked. He thought that since Max already looked up to Spider-Man as an idol, following in his footsteps to become a hero was the right path, so he said in agreement, “Just consider it a birthday gift from God, guiding you toward a bright future filled with blue light.”
Do you think so too?" Max said joyfully, immediately a shy yet expectant smile appeared on the man's blue-glowing face. The man paused, then asked in a low, nervous, uneasy voice, "Then, then can I.. can I become your bodyguard, Young Master Finn?
Finn: ".." So, when you say "others," are you referring only to me?
Peter stood to the side. He had originally thought that Finn would say he didn't need protection and then take the opportunity to encourage Max to protect more people, but instead, Finn spoke with a deadpan expression:
Actually, in my original vision, my ideal setup should be a butler, a bodyguard, a secretary.
Spider-Man: "??" You have ideals like that?
Peter found that Finn's thoughts always inexplicably veered off the normal track, before suddenly jumping to an entirely different channel.
Max's words suddenly made Finn think of his original plan.
When he first became Finn Osborn, he had specifically thought about the configuration his status should have. At that time, he was benchmarking against Harry Osborn; as the Young Master Osborn of the Osborn family, having a butler, a bodyguard, a secretary was certainly not excessive.
But I already have two butlers," Finn was truly considering what Max said. "And Joseph's expenses on food are too high, so I don't have any more budget to hire a bodyguard or a secretary.
Peter: ".." In other words, if there were a budget, you still intended to hire everyone, didn't you?
I don't need a salary!" Max said hurriedly, even pulling out a bank card with his insulated gloves and respectfully presenting it before Finn. "This is all my savings from since I started working—
Finn: ".." Coming to work with funding?
Max's eager and sincere appearance actually reminded Finn of his own back then—he, too, had been carrying a body full of sparkling plugins exchanged with his own points, with nothing but the single-minded desire to be the Host's most attentive little assistant.
[Oh no, I think I'm empathizing with him.]
"But you can't be like this. If you're going to be my bodyguard while still being this blue, you'll attract too much attention," Finn frowned.
Max's expression, which had been full of anticipation, collapsed instantly, the blue electrical light on his face seemed to dim.
How about this: you go back to S. H. I. E. L. D, have them install a plugin on you. No, I mean equipment," Finn said after thinking for a moment. "Do you understand? It's like treating you as an autonomous light bulb, or rather, an energy container. When you need to turn the light on, let the electricity flow back into your body to maintain your current form; when you need to turn the light off, take all the electricity back in and return to being an ordinary person.
Take all your savings to S. H. I. E. L. D, see if they can solve the problem of the electrical energy in your body in this direction," Finn continued. "It's fine; if the funds are insufficient, ask me. I have money.
Finn Osborn already had the attitude of a client now; instead, he would fearlessly throw out requirements and then simply wait for the other party to provide a solution.
Max's grip on his bank card tightened, his eyes filled with anticipation, the man's voice trembled slightly: "Then.. if I can eventually become the kind of person you described, Young Master Finn.."
“Of course I welcome it,” Finn said with a bright smile, his competitive streak surging once again. “You have no idea how cool you are right now! You're worth more than all of Harry Osborn's bodyguards combined!”
Peter watched as Max's complexion brightened even more from the praise, before he strolled out the door with a wide, toothy grin.
I'm going to S. H. I. E. L. D. right now!
Spider-Man: ".." There was even an aura in his voice that suggested he was going to blow up S. H. I. E. L. D. right now.
Seeing the doors close, Noah and Elias stood there in a daze.
“Are you really going to hire a bodyguard like this?” Noah asked, sounding somewhat incredulous.
"I thought you would encourage him to become.. a hero like Spider-Man?" Peter looked at Finn with some confusion, after all, he could also see that Max already possessed very powerful strength.
Why? Not everyone wants to become a hero; it's Max's own choice," Finn replied candidly. "He just wants to become my bodyguard? Why wouldn't I agree? It's not a bad thing for me.
Peter froze for a moment, but then felt that it did indeed seem to be the case.
"If I even have a bodyguard now, the only thing missing from my ideal setup is a secretary." Finn didn't think too much about Max; instead, his thoughts jumped elsewhere again.
At this moment, the doorbell rang again.
Peter was stunned for a moment, thinking for a second that Max had returned, but when he opened the door, he found that Andrew was standing outside.
Spider-Man: ".." Young Master Finn, your secretary is here.
Chapter 32: Trash°Name Tag
Everything Peter could think of, Finn had thought of as well.
During the drive to the Osborn Building, Andrew felt as if he were sitting on needles under Finn's gaze.
"You're going to be my secretary from now on," Finn said, still using that commanding tone.
Andrew: "??"
It was only after Max mentioned bodyguards that Finn suddenly realized he was just one secretary short of the ideal configuration he had originally envisioned. However, there was really no point in him having a secretary; wouldn't it be ridiculous for a playboy rich second generation to go through the motions of hiring a secretary? Harry's secretary, Felicia, helped manage a dense schedule of official business, but what about his secretary? Was he supposed to arrange party schedules?
But Finn also realized it.
Such a position was, of course, a perfect opportunity to exert one's influence and humiliate others.
Being the CEO's secretary for Harry Osborn was certainly a prestigious and respectable white-collar profession, but being the secretary for a wastrel like Young Master Osborn made it seem somewhat ridiculous.
“You understand, don't you? A secretary's position is one where you must be on call, you have to do whatever I tell you to do, no matter what it is,” Finn said with an air of arrogance. He certainly knew that his condescending tone was infuriating. Especially since Andrew was filming him, Finn had to ensure that Andrew could capture some footage of his contemptuous behavior for the video material.
Andrew began to think along the lines of Finn's thoughts again.
It was likely because Finn had been working as a low-level employee under the Osborn Group, which was headed by Harry Osborn, had grown resentful. Logically speaking, Harry was currently Finn's superior and could assign Finn work at will. Now, by taking someone who looked like Harry as a secretary, he was merely using the opportunity to vent his frustrations toward Harry by bossing him around.
Whether or not he was a secretary.. it didn't seem to make any difference to Andrew.
Anyway, it was just a title; the only one who would actually take it seriously was likely Young Master Finn himself.
"Alright." Although there was no real difference, in order to show that he had some emotional value, Andrew deliberately furrowed his brows, forced a slightly strained expression onto his face, nodded slowly.
He could tell that this was exactly the kind of reaction Finn wanted, so he played along with the Young Master Osborn's wishes.
"Don't worry, I'll pay your salary according to what Harry's secretary makes." Finn nodded in satisfaction. He always kept in mind that his bastard rich second-generation persona involved using the power of money to crush people's self-esteem.
"That won't be necessary." Andrew really didn't want it this time.
Are you looking down on me?" Finn's face immediately darkened. He deliberately misinterpreted the meaning of Andrew's words, his tone filled with dissatisfaction. "Do you think I can't even afford to hire a secretary compared to Harry?
“I feel that.. I am not worthy,” Andrew said with complete sincerity.
Self-worth is something you give yourself." Finn did not back down. He had to push Andrew forward, after all, he was currently benchmarking himself against Harry Osborn. "Listen to me clearly: I am not inferior to Harry Osborn in any way, so naturally, you are not inferior to Harry's secretary in any way either.
"And besides, where do you think I fall short?" Finn asked, staring at Andrew with a sharp gaze.
[Of course he's inferior in every way!]
Finn was shouting for Andrew in his heart, but his face still maintained an air of self-important arrogance.
Andrew probably curses me as a stupid fool hundreds of times a day in his heart," Finn speculated secretly, "He must be enduring this torment from me just to make money.
System PP suddenly chimed in: [Actually, Host, you haven't really tortured Andrew that much, have you?]
"PP, you're so cruel." Finn recalled his own "great achievements." He clearly had no legitimate reason right now; he was simply acting on his personal whims, using money to force a reclusive social phobe to perform magic in public; forcing someone with uncoordinated limbs to struggle through dance; forcing a high school student to be an on-call ox and horse at his beck and call; even forcing someone who clearly loathed him to film videos of him every single day.. Not to mention, Andrew now had to take on the position of [Secretary].
You actually think that's not enough!?
Cruel System PP: [..]
PP, you have to understand that people are different. Just because you are willing to do these things doesn't mean Andrew is willing to do them. The targeted schemes I employ are meticulous plans tailor-made for different personalities," Finn explained seriously. "I am already certain that Andrew hates me very much. Did you see his expression every time he agreed to something for me? He would force himself to suppress his disgust, frowning reluctantly, before barely managing to give me a nod!
Just like me, I also understand what you hate," Finn said. "It's just that I don't do it.
System PP clearly froze for a moment, he even suddenly felt a sense of curiosity: [Host.. why don't you give it a try?]
"Are you sure?" Finn also became somewhat hesitant.
"Confirmed." System PP truly felt curious; he felt that the Host's methods were ineffective against him.
Finn hesitated for a few seconds before muttering under his breath in his mind, ".. Trash system."
System PP: 【..】