Chapter 5

On the way to Queens, the latest news was playing inside the car.

"Billionaire Tony Stark has gone missing while testing a new weapon in Afghanistan..."

Hearing this, Harry called his father.

"Father, have you seen the news?"

"Of course. You mean Stark's disappearance, right? I have some Stark Industries stock myself and was just planning to sell it."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Don't sell their stock. Find a way to acquire more—the more, the better."

"What? But son, Tony Stark's fate is unknown. Once it's confirmed that he isn't coming back, Stark's value will drop drastically..."

"Father, trust me. Even if Stark really doesn't come back, I have other plans for Stark. Oh, and if they start selling off their factories, I think we can take over a few of them when appropriate."

"All right, I'll listen to you."

It would have been best if he could directly become a director of Stark Industries, or even its Chairman, but that was unlikely. Even if the other directors agreed to sell all their shares, that "Pepper" would find a way to retain ownership of the company.

"Mr. Osborn, we've arrived."

"All right. Wait for me up ahead. Once I'm done here, I still need to inspect a factory nearby."

Ding-dong. Harry rang the doorbell.

"May! Someone's knocking at the door!"

"Good heavens! Ben Parker, can't you see I'm cooking? Can't you move your precious butt for once?"

"All right, all right... Who is it?"

Bang!

"Hello, I'm Harry Osborn. I'd like to see Peter Parker. Is he home?"

Looking at the middle-aged man holding a newspaper before him, Harry was somewhat shocked. Uncle Ben was still alive... That meant Peter had not truly become Spider-Man yet. He was only a high school student with spider powers.

Yes, a high school student. In fact, if Harry had not skipped grades and entered university after obtaining the system, the two of them might very well have enrolled at Empire University together and become close friends.

"Mr. Osborn, right... Peter! Mr. Osborn is here to see you!" After calling out twice, Ben examined Harry again. "Osborn... Wait a minute, are you that Osborn? Harry Osborn's Osborn?"

"If you mean Harry Osborn, Chairman of Osborn Enterprises, then yes."

Smack. Uncle Ben's newspaper fell to the floor.

"Mr. Osborn, please have some. Of course, it probably doesn't compare to the tea you usually drink..."

Aunt May brought over some tea. Once they learned Harry's identity, Ben and May invited him inside to talk.

"Don't say that. I actually like your tea very much." Harry took a small sip before continuing, "I came here because of a company asset—a spider."

"Peter stole something from you!?" Ben tried to rise in agitation, but May held him back.

"Of course it isn't that serious. A few months ago, Midtown High School organized an educational visit to Osborn Biotechnology Company. The topic was genetically modified organisms."

As he spoke, Harry took out several photographs.

"During the experiment... due to a staff member's mistake, a spider escaped and then jumped onto your nephew. Look at this photo... We suspect your nephew unknowingly helped that spider 'stow away.'"

"So you want to ask where he went after the visit ended?"

"That's right. But it seems he isn't home."

Ben and May exchanged a glance and sighed.

"We don't know what's been going on with that child lately. He comes home very late every day. You should have a good talk with him, Ben."

Bang!

A muffled sound suddenly came from the second floor.

"Peter?" Ben called out tentatively.

"Ah... it's me. I... I just woke up. I'll be right down!"

The future Spider-Man ran downstairs with only half his clothes on, his hair a mess. If one looked closely, there seemed to be faint bruises on his face, almost too subtle to notice.

"Where were you when we called for you just now?" May asked worriedly.

"Uh... I was asleep just now. I wasn't feeling well today, so I went to sleep as soon as I got home. You probably didn't see me..."

May wanted to say something else, but Peter interrupted her.

"Mr. Osborn, I really admire you. I saw the Power Armor you designed—it was so cool..."

Harry's expression turned a little strange. Peter seemed like he was supposed to be saying those words to Tony Stark.

"Peter! Mr. Osborn came today to ask you about the spider!"

Aunt May briefly explained the matter of the spider. Harry, meanwhile, secretly watched Peter's expression. Peter did not appear overly shocked—he had likely already been shocked in private earlier.

"Uh... Mr. Osborn, about that spider, I hope you won't be angry. After the visit that day, it bit me. I panicked and slapped it to death..."

"It bit you?" Harry feigned shock. "But that was a Genetically Modified Spider! Have you felt any discomfort? I suggest taking some of your blood back for testing. After all, we don't know..."

"No, no, no. There's no need for a blood test. I feel fine!" At the mention of drawing blood, Peter shook his head fiercely.

"Peter, this is for your own safety..." Aunt May worriedly grabbed Peter's arm. "Hmm... hasn't your arm gotten a little swollen?"

"Really, I'm fine, Aunt May. My arm's like this because I've been working out lately." Peter helplessly pushed Aunt May's hand away. "Anyway, Mr. Osborn, I'm really fine. But the spider's body... uh, specimen, I kept it. It's here."

Harry took the Genetically Modified Spider's body in surprise. The little thing had already been made into a specimen, and it looked like it had been preserved well.

It seemed there were advantages to arriving early. The young spider hadn't yet realized how great this power was, or the responsibility he would have to bear, and had readily handed the spider specimen back.

"Something is better than nothing... Oh, right, here's my business card. If you feel unwell, you can contact me immediately. After all, you being bitten by the spider was our responsibility."

Harry handed over a business card, prompting Peter to secretly exclaim things like, "I got Mr. Osborn's business card!"

"Then I'm very sorry for disturbing you at a time like this. I think we'll leave it at that for today. I still have some things to take care of." Harry checked his watch. It was getting late.

"Oh, of course, Mr. Osborn. I mean, take care."

Before leaving, Osborn gave it some more thought. Why not bring Peter along while he inspected the factory and build some rapport? It might prove useful someday.

"Uh, Peter, I'm actually going to check on a Civilian Exoskeleton Factory now. If you're interested, I can take you with me."

"Mm, take care... What? I can visit your factory?"

"Of course, as long as the two of you agree. If I remember correctly, you're still a minor."

Peter looked at Aunt May and Uncle Ben with both excitement and apprehension. In the end, the two slowly nodded.

"That's awesome!"