The camera suddenly pulled back, the Osborn Group logo slowly unfolded above the city, its golden patterns shimmering brilliantly against the skyline, while below, crowds surged with the cheers and applause of countless citizens.
In the final second of the video, the image suddenly froze on the words "Power Armor New Era."
Immediately after, the screen went completely dark.
The entire venue fell into a brief silence.
In the moment everyone held their breath, a dazzling spotlight pierced through the air, striking the center of the stage ahead and completely isolating all the unknown undercurrents in the backstage.
Finn did not hesitate for a moment, stepping toward the light.
It was someone that no one had expected to appear.
Countless shocked gazes—some curious, some scrutinizing, some unfamiliar—fell upon him all at once.
The young man showed no signs of stage fright; instead, he lifted his chin slightly, a graceful and confident smile spreading across his face.
The light in his green eyes seemed even brighter than the spotlight.
He stood in the center of the stage, raised his hand, gave a slight nod to the audience below.
The clear voice traveled through the microphone, spreading across the entire venue, through the lens, reaching the ears of every viewer waiting before the live stream.
“Hello, everyone.”
Welcome, everyone, to today's Osborn Group press conference.
I am Finn Osborn.
Chapter 35: Proof and Self-Deprecation
Before the press conference, Peter took the initiative to stay by Harry's side.
Regarding the matter of Max Dillon, Peter, who had been involved in it all along, already understood it very clearly. S. H. I. E. L. D. had finally, just before the press conference, produced a somewhat crude custom-made vest for Max, but it was at least functional. Much like the concept Finn had proposed previously, the vest could temporarily absorb all the electricity within Max's body, allowing him to appear at the press conference scene in the guise of an ordinary person.
But Peter was equally aware of the conspiracy Marcus had meticulously prepared against Harry.
Peter was afraid that something unexpected might happen before the press conference, so he stayed by Harry's side in advance to prevent any danger from occurring.
On the way to the press conference, everything seemed relatively calm.
Until—
Peter caught a glimpse of Harry clutching a pill bottle, hurriedly shoving painkillers into his mouth.
What's wrong?" Peter asked Harry, who was covered in cold sweat, "Does it hurt somewhere?
"Headache." Harry was relatively frank when facing Peter, his brow furrowed as he braced himself.
—And of all times, it had to be right now.
Harry even wanted to go to the Osborn laboratory to first cut away the nerves that were constantly giving him a splitting headache.
Are you okay?" Peter naturally knew that the press conference was just around the corner, leaving no time to take Harry to the hospital, so he could only ask urgently, "Is there any way I can help ease the pain?
Usually at times like this, Harry would probably grab a bottle of liquor and take a few swigs.
But the press conference was about to begin, he couldn't go on stage after drinking.
The more Harry tried to force himself to remain sober and rational, the more the sharp, piercing pain in his head surged, as if all the suppressed tension and anxiety from these past few days were exploding all at once at this very moment.
"Damn it!" Harry began to curse under his breath. Everyone was staring at him; he couldn't lose control at a time like this—
Seeing the agitation and pain churning in Harry's eyes, along with the grotesque bulging of his veins, Peter couldn't help but lose his composure.
Calm down, Harry. Painkillers take time to kick in," Peter said patiently, hoping Harry could settle his emotions, perhaps that would bring some improvement. "Let's rest in the car for a while. We still have time, don't rush.
Harry looked up at Peter, remained silent for a moment, finally took a deep breath.
He slowly closed his eyes, frowning deeply as he leaned back into the back of the chair in exhaustion.
"Today is also Finn's birthday." Harry spoke suddenly, his voice betraying no emotion.
".. I know." Peter didn't expect Harry to suddenly mention Finn at a time like this.
Of course, you know." Harry's lips curled into a forced smile. How could he not know that his best friend had also become Finn's close friend? "Finn must have been preparing the grandest party for his twentieth birthday for a long time. There's no way your invitation was left out, right?
"You can go too, Harry, you are his brother," Peter said hesitantly.
Is that so?" Harry looked up at Peter, his green eyes as cold and lifeless as ever. "What kind of gift should I give him? Should I give him the Osborn Group shares he wants most?
"Harry, we are both clear on what happened with Max Dillon and Marcus now. You also know that Finn doesn't do all these things just to help you, right?" Peter spoke earnestly; he had originally thought this would be the best opportunity to ease the strained relationship between Finn and Harry.
It's not for me, it's to prevent the interests of the Osborn Group from being harmed. This is the empire our father left behind; there is no reason to let outsiders trample upon it." Harry said in a cold voice, then he gave a mocking laugh, "But it's fine, at least he has some sense. But have you ever considered that Finn also wants to use this press conference—
"Impossible, he wouldn't do that." Peter knew what Harry was trying to say and immediately shook his head in denial.
You really believe him." Harry's cold green eyes stared at Peter. "Is it because Finn always acts so well-behaved in front of you? Do you know he's raising money to sue me? All the shareholders who are opposed to me have expressed that they will fund him, just so he can prove that I forged my father's will to strip me of my inheritance rights.
In the video Finn gave him, including how Marcus won over those shareholders and how they slandered him behind his back, Finn was also having a great time being part of it all.
How could that not be Finn's true thoughts?
At this press conference, we might be standing on the same side for now, but what about after that?
Peter Parker began to get a headache as well, as if no matter what, he could never escape the topics of shares and inheritance.
The actions Finn took against Harry were real; he indeed managed to step precisely on Harry's landmines with every single move, Harry could not pretend to ignore them, nor would he fail to strike back.
“At the very least, let's finish this press conference smoothly first,” Peter said. “Regarding Finn.. once this press conference is over, I will bring Max Dillon to see you. He is quite pitiful; as you know, he died in an accident at the Osborn Group on his birthday, when he woke up in the morgue, he underwent a mutation and became Electro-man. Yet even so, he was still willing to testify for Finn, even willing to pretend that nothing happened to help the Osborn Group cover everything up.”
Max Dillon was clearly the most critical key in the conspiracy Marcus had been brewing, the fuse that would ignite all the conflicts. As long as this fuse failed to detonate, Marcus's long-planned scheme would be nothing more than a complete failure.
"How much money did Finn give him?" Harry asked indifferently.
It's not money." Peter shook his head. ".. I don't know how to put it, but Max strongly believes that Finn gave him a new life.
“New life?” Harry thought the word was ridiculous.
"Max said it was like a dead heart suddenly feeling a vibrant heartbeat," Peter nodded.
Harry could not understand a word Peter was saying. He certainly did not believe that an ordinary employee would willingly help the Osborn Group clean up its mess without any personal gain, especially since the Osborn Group was indeed the one most directly responsible for this matter.
After the press conference is over, I will bring Max to see you, you will have a clearer understanding of what has been happening during this time," Peter said in a soothing tone. "You will also know that from the very beginning, Finn only saved Max to.. save the man himself. Not to use him as leverage in his hand, nor to treat him as a useful tool. He might say some tough words and act as if he is calculating, but he would never actually do so.
Finn does contradictory things." Peter frowned, his voice tinged with an unspeakable sense of helplessness, "But there is.. a reason for it.
"Reason?" Harry let out a cold laugh.
It was clearly not the right time to dwell on these things either.
Time was almost up. Harry braced himself against the car door, attempting to get out, but suddenly froze.
His arms felt as if they were filled with lead, making it impossible for him to lift them. Even with the slightest exertion, his fingertips began to tremble uncontrollably, causing his entire arm to shudder slightly.
"To the control room first." Suppressing the irritation and unease in his heart, Harry took a deep breath.
Harry had prepared a contingency for the press conference long ago—a secret control room that Marcus had not detected. Here, he could have full control over all camera switching, visual staging, signal output.
Upon reaching the control room, Harry's condition did not improve; instead, his arm grew increasingly stiff and trembled even more violently. The headache that had briefly subsided returned with a vengeance, feeling as if countless needles were stabbing into his brain, making it impossible for him to focus.
Harry clenched his fists and rushed into the bathroom, enduring the discomfort.
He suddenly pushed up his sleeve, revealing the green scales representing the hereditary curse of his family. They shimmered with a cold light on his trembling, stiff forearms, faintly emerging from beneath his skin.
Just at a time like this..
Not at a time like this!
Harry's eyes surged with rage as he slammed his fist violently against the glass mirror.
The mirror shattered instantly, sharp shards of glass slicing into his knuckles, bright red blood flowed down his palm.
Harry!" Peter heard the commotion and rushed in immediately, his face full of shock. "What are you doing?
Blood was still trickling down through his fingers, his arm continued to tremble uncontrollably. Harry lowered his eyes, his cold face devoid of all expression, with only an unshakeable chill and violence hidden deep within his green eyes. After the impulse passed and the feeling of regret set in, Harry also realized that in his current state, he was simply unable to take the stage.
"How can you even—" Peter was also full of anxiety, frantically helping Harry bandage his wound.
Good grief, seriously, why don't you go see a psychiatrist too!
Just then, a cell phone rang.
—It was Finn.
What on earth is wrong with you? I thought you would have dealt with those troubles before the press conference? In the end, is this all you're capable of?" On the other end of the phone, Finn's voice was extremely fast and carried a hint of provocation. "Marcus and the others are acting incredibly arrogant now. Judging by their attitude, they've probably already discussed where to hold their victory banquet tonight.
“I have countermeasures.” Harry answered the phone with his other, uninjured hand, his voice cold as he suppressed his irritation.
[Countermeasures? I hope you keep your word. Where are you? The press conference is about to start.]
"Cancel the press conference," Harry said, his voice through gritted teeth.
In the current situation, this was the only optimal solution.
On the other end of the phone, Finn's voice instantly rose, followed by a barrage of questioning, incessantly lecturing on truths that Harry could not possibly fail to understand. Harry's brow furrowed deeply, the veins in his temples throbbed, he felt that his patience had reached its absolute limit.
"I know, I have a contingency plan. Cancel the press conference," Harry repeated once more.
—So what if the press conference was canceled?
—This loss is not something the Osborn Group cannot afford.
Are you doubting that I didn't bring Max Dillon? I did; he is right there in the audience." After a brief pause, Finn Osborn seemed to have calmed down as he asked him, "If I weren't on your side, I wouldn't have bothered to collect all that evidence to give to you, would I?
“Is that so?” Harry asked back indifferently, which was also the question he wanted to know.
—Will Finn Osborn really stand on his side?
If he is on his side, why is there always endless arguing?
If they stood on his side, why, at the moment he offered a concession, would they still cling stubbornly to the shares?
If they were on his side, why did they never try to please him? Perhaps he would have been willing to give more.
Instead of being like this, clashing with each other time and time again, where no brotherhood exists at all.
[Harry, you'd better show up right now.]
On the other end of the phone, Finn also used a cold, threatening tone.
If you don't show up here, I'm not sure what I might do on a stage that is the focus of the entire world.
Harry let out a low laugh, his voice filled with mockery.