System PP: 【..】What you were just thinking about definitely wasn't me.
"PP is your exclusive system. Is there something you can't tell PP, Host?" System PP felt that Finn was deliberately hiding some key information; for instance, in Finn's profile card, there was a race that had always been marked with a [?].
It was clearly being intentionally hidden by Finn.
"PP, you know that after a mission is completed, the system can also earn points based on how much you assisted the Host in completing the mission, right? Then, besides purchasing those high-level plugins that help the Host, these points can also be exchanged for personal attributes or.. other things." Finn began to explain ambiguously, imparting knowledge to the rookie system.
System PP couldn't understand. System PP also knew that Finn used to be an old system filled with high-level plugins, but what PP was more curious about now was his Host's little secret. "So, what else did the Host exchange for?"
Don't ask, it's useless anyway." Finn had no intention of explaining. "I spent too many points on the Host, so in the end, I didn't have any points left for myself. I could only exchange for something randomly; it's better than having nothing at all.
"What was it exchanged for?" System PP was dying to know.
Stop asking." Finn was incredibly stubborn this time, refusing to say a word. "I can only tell you, in my capacity as a senior system, not to foolishly dump all your points on your Host like I did. You'd be better off saving them up; in the end, you might even exchange them for something big. Even an Electro-man like Max requires several thousand points to exchange for.
System PP could vaguely sense that his Host had indeed exchanged for some kind of gene, but it didn't seem to be anything high-level.
Moreover, it wasn't obvious enough that even System PP, who was closest to him, hadn't discovered it until now.
By the time Finn arrived at the banquet venue, Harry was already there.
Harry had also suddenly become enthusiastic about attending these kinds of business banquets recently, as if specifically to push his younger brother, Finn Osborn, into the spotlight. Harry led Finn through the crowd of guests, patiently introducing him to various business celebrities and industry tycoons.
Compared to those internet celebrities at Finn's Party, the people at this kind of business banquet are true elites at the top of the business pyramid. At least even Andrew, who was merely an observer, could see that Harry Osborn was truly paving the way for Finn.
Finn had always been skilled at socializing and never felt intimidated in such settings; with just a few words, he could naturally become acquainted with others. Moreover, since this Young Master Osborn, who naturally commanded attention, had become incredibly popular recently, many young entrepreneurs proactively approached the Osborn brothers to chat, eagerly looking forward to being invited to Finn's next party.
Harry's gaze toward the eloquent Finn was filled with smiles.
Finn's gaze swept across the room, seeing that almost everyone was holding a champagne flute, creating an atmosphere of high-end elegance and sophistication. He suddenly tugged at the sleeve of Harry, who was also holding a glass, whispered, ".. Can I have a little drink?"
Since he had already drunk at the last birthday party, Finn suddenly didn't care much about the rule that those under twenty-one weren't allowed to drink.
No." Harry frowned and refused, immediately thinking of the Seven Major Sicknesses in Finn's body, "Your health isn't good to begin with.
The anticipation on Finn's face suddenly froze, his eyes overflowing with question marks: "??"
—You're saying my health is bad? And how good is yours, exactly? At least I haven't had an episode yet!
Harry simply indifferently took a glass of sparkling apple juice and handed it to Finn.
"If it were Noah, he definitely wouldn't stop me," Finn said, blinking slowly as he spoke.
System PP: 【?】Host, you.. why have you turned bad?
As expected, Harry's fingers stiffened. After a brief pause, he stared at Finn, his tone cold and slightly mocking, yet maintaining a professional attitude. "I'll drink with you when we get home. You're already twenty; it's only right that you see where your limit is."
Finn: ".." Are you planning to drink me straight into the hospital?
At this moment, a man holding a scepter suddenly appeared at the banquet.
The man lifted his chin slightly, stepping into the banquet hall with slow, deliberate strides that carried an air of arrogance, as if he looked down upon all living things.
Clad in a gilded cloak, his bright gold armor shimmered with a cold light under the crystal chandeliers, his helmet featured two sharp horns. With a scepter in his hand wreathed in a faint blue glow, he instantly commanded everyone's attention.
It even made Finn suddenly feel as if he had returned to the scene of the Halloween Party.
[So cool!] Finn felt his eyes light up as he watched. [Next time, I can have Noah design something in this style for me too.]
Is this a Halloween costume?" Finn asked doubtfully, tugging at Harry's sleeve, "Who is he?
Harry frowned slightly; he did not know him.
Immediately after, he saw that arrogant, mysterious guest raise his hand and carelessly wave the scepter.
Accompanied by a flash of blue light, there was a loud boom—
The fountain statue in the center of the garden suddenly shattered before everyone's eyes, causing the guests to scream in terror.
Everyone watched this scene in disbelief.
Panic erupted instantly, the crowd began to scatter in all directions, leaving behind nothing but the sound of frantic footsteps and terrified screams.
But in the blink of an eye, the man teleported like a ghost, steadily blocking the end of the crowd's escape route.
A haughty and mocking smile curled at the corners of his mouth as he commanded in a cold, deep voice—
“Get on your knees, all of you.”
What was even more astonishing and terrifying was that four identical mysterious guests had appeared in the banquet hall at this moment, closing in on the fleeing guests like prey, trapping them in the center. The man's contemptuous and arrogant gaze fell upon the crowd surrounded in the middle; accompanied by a condescending pressure and indifference, it sent chills down people's spines.
These figures, who usually dominated the business world and commanded the winds and rains, were now like lambs with their fates gripped, watching this scene with pale faces. The invisible pressure was suffocating, as the fear in their hearts rose layer by layer, more and more people could no longer withstand the terror and collapsed to their knees, not even daring to lift their heads, for fear that their fate would shatter like a statue in the next second.
The man's voice fell once more, colder and heavier than before, carrying an even more overwhelming pressure:
I said, kneel!
In the vast banquet hall, more and more figures knelt down, even their breathing filled with cautious trepidation.
Finn was also startled; he was among the first group to hurriedly bow his head and kneel down submissively.
And it was a quite standard kneeling posture.
Yet he couldn't help but lift his eyes in curiosity, cautiously sizing up this uninvited guest at the banquet.
Seeing Finn kneel, Andrew also knelt down beside the young man, observing his surroundings with nervous anxiety.
"Harry.." Kneeling, Finn hurriedly tugged at the sleeve of Harry, who was still standing.
[Brother, don't try to be a hero! You can't fight, you're sick too! What's wrong with kneeling for a moment?]
But Harry still kept his brow furrowed, standing firmly in place.
In a crowd of people kneeling on the ground, that upright figure appeared exceptionally conspicuous.
"Harry!" Finn was getting a bit anxious. He naturally knew that his brother had a pride that refused to bow, especially when it came to kneeling before others. But the current situation was clearly extraordinary; everyone was kneeling, so wouldn't he just become a target?
As expected, Loki's gaze landed precisely on Harry Osborn.
The corners of his mouth curled upward, his smile laced with undisguised contempt and mockery:
There are always some ants who cannot see the situation before them.
Very well, then you shall be their example.
Loki slowly raised his staff, the tip pointing directly at Harry, his movements so slow they carried a sense of fatal, deathly pressure.
Let them see what fate awaits those who resist their rulers.
Seeing the deep blue beam of light condensing at the tip of the staff, its radiance growing ever stronger—
Finn rose up almost by instinct, shielding Harry firmly behind him.
Finn!
Harry's pupils constricted; he never expected that Finn would step in front of him.
In the young man's green eyes, which had been indifferent just moments ago, there was now nothing but pure shock and terror. That piercing blue light was still flashing in his peripheral vision, a suffocating pain spread from his chest, making even breathing difficult and labored.
"Move!" Harry's voice trembled with urgency as he reached out to pull, but he couldn't move the person in front of him at all.
[Misery Value rising, Misery Value +2%]
"Finn!" At the same time, Andrew could no longer care about exposing his supernatural ability, all of his previous cowardice and hesitation vanished. He suddenly stood up, his eyes freezing with a cold light, he raised his hand to trigger his telekinesis.
Clang—
With a loud bang, the scepter flew out of Loki's hands and slammed heavily onto the ground.
Loki looked toward where the scepter had fallen in disbelief, then turned back in shock and anger. Before he could react, he caught a glimpse of the lightning and thunder in the sky in his peripheral vision.
Blue lightning tore through the night sky, its roar terrifying.
Pupils Constricted · Loki: "??" That guy with the hammer arrived so quickly?
No one can harm Young Master Finn!
A deafening roar echoed through the night sky as a streak of rapid blue lightning tore through the darkness.
Immediately after, the electricity struck every one of Loki's figures at the scene with precision, shattering all those illusions. Max instantly locked onto the only real body, turning directly into a current of electricity and rushing toward Loki's eyes, his face filled with ferocious rage.
Loki's eyes widened, when he saw only a blue phantom, his heart jolted in shock; he almost thought Thor had mutated just to catch him.
"Who are you?" Loki asked in astonishment when he focused his eyes on Max.
—Before coming to rule the atrium, no one had told him that there was a species in the atrium that shared the same lightning and thunder as Thor?
Loki even felt a sense of trance, as if he had found Thor's true lightning brother.
"I am Young Master Finn's bodyguard!" Max's body was dancing with electricity, the deep blue electric light instantly locked onto Loki.
Loki, who had underestimated his opponent, let out a cry of painful struggle amidst the sound of electric currents.
Damn it! These lowly ants! Even Thor has never shocked him like this!
At the same time, a strand of webbing carrying an electric current tore through the air and swiftly wrapped around Loki's wrist, binding his arm tightly.
Red and blue figures followed in quick succession. Spider-Man's movements were incredibly fast, layers of webbing shot from his hands, instantly binding Loki—who was paralyzed and unable to move from the electricity—tightly.
Finn looked at the three people before him, who were working together in perfect coordination: ".."
—When did you guys start practicing such a seamless combo behind my back?
Before Finn could think further, a streak of gold and red light sliced through the night sky, Iron Man descended steadily. Another man, carrying a shield and appearing equally strangely dressed—likely someone cosplaying as Captain America—also arrived, his aura commanding and imposing.
Spider-Man did not linger in the fight, landing steadily with a few leaps in front of Finn, Harry, Andrew, his tone urgent and filled with extreme worry:
Are you guys okay?
I'm fine." Finn waved his hand indifferently, but his tone betrayed an uncontrollable excitement; that scene just now was truly spectacular. "Who is this man? Is he a villain? So S. H. I. E. L. D. sent Max just to catch this bad guy? Are you heroes participating in this mission together? That was so cool just now.
[I am so lucky to be able to attend this banquet! To think I could actually witness such a legendary scene!]
".." Looking at the carefree Finn, Spider-Man was momentarily at a loss for words.
Oh, right." Finn suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Andrew, saying with feigned surprise, "Having superpowers is also very amazing, that's great!
Andrew: ".."
—I'm almost scared to death!!
Andrew couldn't understand how Finn had no sense of crisis at all.
He didn't even dare to imagine what the consequences would have been if he hadn't acted in time and that beam from the scepter had fallen upon Finn—just thinking about it made him feel a chill run through his entire body. Even now, Andrew still couldn't find his voice, his fingertips were still trembling.
Finn's gaze drifted back toward his rear in a delayed reaction, a dull pain radiated from his wrist; Harry's fingers were still tightly gripping his wrist, the force so heavy it almost sank into his flesh.
When he looked up and met Harry's green eyes, Finn's heart skipped a beat.