Spider-Man got played into tears

"I think accepting those terms sounds pretty good."

Ben was the first to offer his opinion. Unlike the other three, who were single, he already had a family. After learning how stable Stark Industries was, he had almost no reservations left.

Once he spoke, Johnny followed suit, agreeing to Tony's terms.

Susan did not immediately state her position. Instead, she continued looking at Reed.

They were still dating, and she would follow Reed's lead.

Reed happened to look at her just then. A smile spread across his face as he teased, "Honestly, I was sold as soon as I heard his terms. I just didn't agree right away because I was worried you guys wouldn't be on board."

Everyone laughed at that. With that, the decision to work for Tony passed unanimously.

The next day, Reed returned to Tony's villa.

"Looks like you've made up your mind," Tony said with a smile.

Reed nodded without hesitation. Now that he had decided, there was no reason to drag things out.

"You're my boss from now on, then. When do we sign the contract?"

"Right now."

Tony took out a contract he had prepared in advance. Reed read it carefully, and after confirming that there were no problems with any of the terms, he promptly signed his name.

With the contract signed, Reed immediately changed his tone. "Boss, when will our research funding come through?"

Seeing his eagerness, Tony said bluntly, "I need a little time to get things ready. It'll arrive in three days."

"But first, I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?" Reed asked, puzzled.

Rather than explain, Tony stood up. "Follow me."

He led the way toward the underground laboratory in his villa. Reed hurried after him, and they soon arrived at the lab.

Reed also saw Bruce sleeping inside the nutrient chamber.

His expression immediately changed, uncertainty flashing across his face. "Boss, what's this?"

"Bruce Banner. A guy who transforms into the Hulk. You saw the news, right?"

At Tony's words, Reed immediately recalled the hottest news story of the moment.

A green monster had rampaged through New York, leaving heavy civilian casualties.

The news had spread across the entire United States the day before. Even Reed, who rarely paid attention to the news, had seen it.

"Boss, you're saying he's the monster that rampaged through New York?"

"That's right."

"I happened to be there, too. After he passed out, I brought him back here."

Tony made it sound easy, but Reed was dumbfounded. He had watched footage from the news coverage.

The Hulk had been so terrifying that no one dared go near him, yet his new boss had brought him back to his own villa while he was unconscious. The man really had a talent for courting death.

Once his amazement passed, however, Reed's gaze burned with excitement as he looked at Bruce.

No scientist could resist the chance to study the Hulk, and Reed was no exception.

Now that he knew the man before him was no ordinary person, Reed asked directly, "Boss, what do you want me to do?"

"Simple. Replicate his genes and create a god!"

Tony looked at Reed and enunciated every word. Reed began trembling, not with fear, but with excitement.

After witnessing the Hulk's destructive power, who wouldn't want that strength?

The idea of creating a god excited him even more.

Reed immediately thumped his chest. "Don't worry, boss. Leave it to me. I'll uncover his secrets."

Tony nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. Stay here and work on him, then. Here's a tip: you can start with his blood."

"Understood."

With that, Reed threw himself straight into his work. Tony left the laboratory without disturbing him.

He trusted that Reed would not disappoint him. Soon, he would reap the results.

While Tony was busy acquiring the Hulk's power, Peter was planning how to capture Osborn alive.

Although he felt a little guilty toward Harry, the same old saying still applied: once the floodgates of desire opened, they were not so easily closed.

Using his friendship with Harry, Peter easily found out where he lived.

When night fell, Peter left home once again in his Spider-Man suit.

Swinging between the tall buildings, Peter soon reached Manhattan's wealthy district. As he looked at the luxurious villas and estates, feelings of envy, jealousy, and resentment welled up inside him, though he had never given them much thought before.

I have superhuman powers. Why do I have to cram myself into the slums while these people get to live here in comfort?

If a corruption progress bar had appeared at that moment, +1 after +1 would surely have kept popping up over Peter's head.

Using the information he had gathered during the day, Peter found Harry's villa without trouble.

Hanging upside down by a strand of webbing among the trees outside, Peter soon got a clear view of the villa's interior.

There was a middle-aged man in pajamas and several servants. Harry was not home.

Naturally, Peter fixed his sights on the middle-aged man, Norman Osborn, who was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper.

Without the slightest hesitation, Peter launched a surprise attack.

Crash!

The glass shattered on impact. Assuming Norman was an ordinary person, Peter chose brute force and burst into the villa.

The servants screamed at the sight of Peter breaking in.

Peter had already rushed to Norman's side and grabbed his collar, intending to drag him away by force.

But just then, a fist slammed into his chest without warning. Completely unprepared, he had no time to react before he was sent flying like a cannonball.

Clatter! Crash!

The noise echoed through the villa. Peter lay curled up on the floor, surrounded by scattered debris.

His mind reeled. Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

Wasn't he supposed to be an ordinary person? Wasn't this supposed to be easy?

He sent me flying more than ten meters with one punch, and he's supposed to be an ordinary person?

Questions flooded his mind. Fighting through the pain, he got up and looked toward Norman.

Norman, who had been sitting on the sofa moments earlier, had vanished without him noticing.

Peter's gaze darted around the room as he searched for Norman.

Just then, a strange cackle rang through the villa.

A second later, a figure wearing a demon mask and riding a green glider charged straight at Peter.

Peter's pupils contracted at the sight, and he quickly twisted aside. But he was a fraction too slow, and the Goblin Glider struck him in the waist.

Pfft!

Blood rose in Peter's throat, filling his mouth with its metallic taste.

Without time to think, he forced himself through the pain and rushed out of the villa.

The information was wrong. This guy was no ordinary person. Peter did not dare stay any longer. He fled the villa and vanished into the night.