Press Conference

Harry Osborn moved quickly. Once Osborn Industries' R&D department confirmed the authenticity of the experimental data, he directly notified Sean. The two parties reached a preliminary cooperation agreement. The new president of Osborn Industries could see that the one truly holding the reins was his good friend, who served as the experimental assistant, rather than Dr. Connors, the owner of the laboratory.

Therefore, all negotiations and contract signings were handled by Sean. Dr. Connors was happy to oblige; his research had reached a critical final stage, leaving him no mental energy for these tedious matters.

In the Osborn Industries conference room, a beaming Harry extended his hand. Sean, having just signed the formal contract, also stood up. They exchanged smiles. Three days prior, the laboratory had conducted its first human trial, proving that ALZ-112 was not only effective on chimpanzees but also on humans. The finalization of this cooperation breathed some much-needed life back into Osborn Industries, which had been suffering from public opinion pressure and internal conflicts.

"Osborn Industries will return to its peak under your leadership," Sean said with a smile. His meticulous planning had finally paid off, and he was in excellent spirits.

"Thank you for your kind words, Sean. Don't forget that you now have a stake in Osborn Industries as well. You and Dr. Connors jointly hold shares in the company," Harry said, a smile gracing his young face. The immense pressure of the past few days had left the young man, who had hastily taken a leave of absence from school, in a state of anxiety and gloom.

If Sean hadn't come through with ALZ-112 to save the collapsing Osborn Industries in its time of crisis, Harry couldn't bear to imagine what would have become of him.

Sean gave a faint smile. Due to Osborn Industries' current broken capital chain and tight cash flow, Harry had decided to offer a certain percentage of company shares as compensation during their negotiations. However, the agreement stipulated that these shares could not be held long-term; they would be repurchased with cash once ALZ-112 was officially launched.

This mutually beneficial transaction was thus concluded.

As Sean walked out of Osborn Industries, he glanced back at the towering modern building, his gaze flickering slightly. Perhaps his pace had been too fast, too anxious, which had triggered Harry's subconscious vigilance. That was why Harry had added a special clause to prevent him and Dr. Connors from joining forces to covet Osborn Industries.

"Making progress quickly," Sean murmured, shaking his head with an amused expression. For him, Osborn Industries was merely a stepping stone; he had no intention of devouring this rich cake.

Next, it was just a matter of waiting for the harvest.

With his hands in his pockets, the young boy's eyes were filled with anticipation. His upright figure gradually disappeared into the crowd.

"...Dr. Curt Connors and Mr. Sean Sipes have jointly developed 'ALZ-112,' a groundbreaking gene therapy drug and a boon for all patients suffering from neurological diseases! Osborn Industries is determined to contribute its part to this endeavor that benefits humanity. We will work together to launch this new drug to market, to save those who are suffering from the torment of illness!"

On television, the young and handsome Harry spoke passionately. He handled questions from media reporters with ease, occasionally displaying his humorous and witty side.

"Human potential is truly incredible. Not long ago, the Harry Osborn I knew was just a rich young man indulging in pleasure. Now, he has transformed into a capable group president."

Sean sat in a cafe, taking a sip of Blue Mountain Coffee. He had received an invitation from Gwen today and, for once, had given himself a day off to go shopping with the blonde girl whose intentions were becoming increasingly obvious.

"The truly remarkable one should be you!" Gwen stirred her coffee, her beautiful eyes sparkling with astonishing brilliance. "You are so young, yet you and Dr. Connors have successfully developed and manufactured a new drug that will soon be on the market, generating immense profits. Isn't such an achievement something to be proud of?"

"How does the saying go... I'm just standing on the shoulders of... oh no, giants." Sean's lips curved into a slight smile. Reaching the pinnacle of life depended entirely on the system's power!

"Anyway, you've already become famous, you know. The newspapers are portraying you as a new generation of genius, much like Tony Stark of the past and Reed Richards of Columbia University. They all emerged at a young age, displaying extraordinary, innate talent."

Gwen was even more excited than Sean himself. She recounted the exaggerated media reports in a playful tone, while Sean listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a remark.

It was no wonder Sean had become a celebrity overnight. Compared to Dr. Connors, whose life experiences were rather unremarkable, Sean's background was undoubtedly more compelling. Not only had he achieved great success at a young age, but he had also lost his parents early, was raised by his uncle, and lived alone after his only remaining relative passed away. He maintained excellent academic performance and, through his own efforts, was admitted to the State University of New York, subsequently dedicating himself to the great cause of science.

Such inspiring and encouraging news reports were precisely what the citizens of New York enjoyed. They were tired of the constant gossip and scandals surrounding billionaire playboys; it was time for a change of pace.

With follow-up reports from the news media and the deliberate efforts of Osborn Industries to fan the flames, what was originally a simple press conference was hyped into the emergence of a genius scientist. Some questioned whether it was deliberate, fabricated marketing, but any such voices were immediately drowned out by the overwhelming tide of public opinion.

Who cared about the truth?

What people wanted was an eye-catching legend, the success story of a young boy who worked hard and became a new generation of scientific genius. Compared to Tony Stark, who inherited his father's business and lived a dissolute life, this was the true American Dream!

As for what the actual facts were, no one paid attention. People were merely satisfied with participating in this wave of public opinion, nothing more.

Sean saw it clearly: Harry intended to use this opportunity to reverse Osborn Industries' negative image. The media, having finally found excellent material, was not about to let it go. To boost newspaper sales, they were constantly exaggerating the facts and even dragged Tony Stark into it for a jab.

Each party had its own agenda, and Sean was happy to go along with it. After all, everything he did had a reasonable explanation, and with Dr. Connors as a shield, even minor doubts were inconsequential.

Looking through the glass window at the people coming and going on the street, the endless stream of vehicles, Sean felt a moment of daze. He had finally taken his first step in this world.

Gwen savored the coffee, its taste a blend of bitterness and sweetness, her gentle gaze fixed on Sean. The young man seemed lost in thought. The afternoon sun streamed through the glass, illuminating his youthful face, adding an indefinable air of mystery and allure.

Soft music flowed through the air, and the surrounding noise gradually faded, replaced by a serene and subtle atmosphere. When Sean came back to his senses, he found Gwen, sitting opposite him, her beautiful eyes like a ripple of spring water, gazing intently at him. Her budding affection was almost overflowing.

"What's going on?" Sean wondered, completely bewildered. He had no intention of flirting and had maintained a subtle distance, yet he couldn't stop Gwen from getting closer.

Could it be that the system also boosted my charm, making girls throw themselves at me?

What a bother. The young man looked up at the ceiling, a pleased smile on his lips.