Chapter 60: Mutation°Catalysis
Finn hadn't painted for a while, but after returning home today, he felt a sudden impulse and painted an entire new set of emoticons.
It was still the image of [Mr. Suit].
To be precise, this is a brand-new series—Mr. Suit and His Pride.
Under Finn's creation, Pride is a glowing crystal ball adorned with a mini crown, that crown is identical in style to the one on Mr. Suit's head.
In the painting, Mr. Suit is always inseparable from his self-esteem: they sit upright together at the conference table during meetings, they fire beams to zap workers together, they lie stiffly by the pillow to sleep together, even in the moments when he is adjusting his suit and tying his tie in front of the mirror, the crystal ball is placed upon its exclusive throne, observing the handsome appearance in the mirror within the same frame.
If someone reached out to touch his self-esteem, Mr. Suit would immediately turn his body to shield the crystal ball in his arms, his brow furrowing with a vigilant gaze and his suit shoulders tensing. At the same time, the light from the crown-topped crystal ball would suddenly brighten by a degree, as if to declare: self-esteem is the most important!
The deeper the night grew, the more inspiration Finn found in his painting.
And of course, there was the most important scene:
When Mr. Suit stepped right into a mud puddle, his entire body was covered in mud, his exquisite hairstyle was drooping, his suit was dirty, he still had to use both hands to hold up his fragile, precious, glowing [Self-esteem] high in his palms.
—That is truly vivid!
System PP: 【..】That's why they say life is the fountain of creativity, right?
After painting for nearly the entire night, Finn had only managed a brief sleep before dawn, he was so exhausted this morning that he simply could not wake up.
Finn had always been full of energy, so Harry was initially worried when he saw the young man looking so exhausted, unsure if his brother was having another episode, until he saw the latest meme update from Seven Major Sicknesses on his phone.
Complex emotions·Harry: ".." You really haven't been idle all night.
Scrolling through the phone screen, Harry frowned as he looked through them one by one, only to find that he had to pay to download them in the end.
"Get some more sleep at home." Harry didn't take Finn to the company anymore; he and his pride had gone to work.
Finn didn't sleep much longer. After Anthony found out that Finn didn't go to work at the Osborn Group today, he practically rushed to Finn's house immediately to catch him.
What about what we agreed on back then? You were going to be a Rat Rise partner, but what are you doing now? Are you really just going to abandon me?" Anthony said in disbelief. "Right, right, you were constantly shouting about wanting to compete with your brother for the Osborn Group, so what's going on now? Did you get your shares? You didn't get any shares! You're just working! You love working so much!!
Finn lifted his bleary eyes and looked at Anthony, who was constantly complaining in front of him, with a look of confusion.
Didn't I give all the sketches to you?" Finn asked in confusion. "I've also done the promotion and the rat costume for you. It's being recorded in three days, right? I've already cleared my schedule. Don't worry, I'll definitely be there.
Since you love working so much, then come to work with me!?" Anthony only wished Finn could actually grasp the point, "Isn't our Rat Challenge project interesting? Isn't it more fun than those Osborn affairs of yours?
"Why are you suddenly so irritable all of a sudden?" Finn was somewhat taken aback.
"Working for too long! Anyone would get irritable!" Anthony explained helplessly.
Long System Career · Finn: ".." Can I? My life has been quite uneventful, I'm actually quite dedicated to my work.
With only three days left until the program recording, Anthony was busy running around every day; he desperately hoped Finn could join him.
Especially now that "Rat Rise: Human Challenge" has garnered immense attention due to Finn's vigorous promotion, which leaves Anthony both delighted and under immense pressure. In his original expectation, Finn was naturally his best Rat partner, that was how it had been agreed upon. But as it turned out—
Finn, who was constantly at odds with Harry Osborn and always competing against him, suddenly turned around and went to work at Osborn Group, he went to work there quite seriously. This made Anthony feel that all his previous heartfelt indignation on behalf of Finn, as well as all the hard work he had put into doing a mountain of legal research regarding the inheritance lawsuit, had all been fed to the hamsters.
What was even more infuriating was that Anthony couldn't see Finn at all.
He could only piece together snippets of Finn Osborn's "overachiever" exploits from various updates on his social media feed.
"It's not that.. things have changed a bit." Finn felt a little guilty when asked, his eyes shifted slightly.
"What change? You suddenly realized you're a good candidate for working a 9-to-5?" Anthony pressed.
Performance Record · Finn: ".." I have always been a good candidate for working a 9-to-5.
"Harry and I had some communication issues before, but now he needs me to go back to the Osborn Group to help him, as his brother, I have no reason to refuse," Finn said, while stealing a glance at the Misery Value progress in his mind.
—Good heavens, it has already risen to [65.59/100].
—In other words, only about thirty more points are needed to pass the mission.
Although Finn had indeed originally planned a wealthy family tragedy starting with Harry Osborn, aiming to strip him of everything and provoke discord between brothers, he had never expected that his so-called starting point.. would actually involve Harry miserably contributing the most Misery Value to him. Finn felt quite guilty about it in his heart.
Even System PP could no longer stand it and told Finn to find someone else to exploit.
Finn hadn't decided how to gather the remaining Misery Value at this moment, so he simply decided to just let things slide.
The most urgent matter right now is to first help the workaholic Harry Osborn handle the affairs of the Osborn Group.
Just then, Finn and Anthony's mobile phones rang almost simultaneously.
Before Finn could even answer, Catherine rushed in, frantically knocking on the bedroom door, while Max and Joseph also stood at the doorway with solemn expressions.
"What's wrong?" Finn's heart tightened as his eyes fell on the phone in Catherine's hand.
On the screen, it was a live news broadcast—a massive black hole had suddenly appeared in the sky above downtown New York City.
An alien army was descending upon New York without any warning.
Who could have imagined that before Rat Rise could even happen, the aliens would have already invaded Earth.
Finn's pupils constricted sharply as he hurriedly answered the phone; it was Peter calling.
"Finn, where are you?" Peter's voice on the other end of the line was filled with worry and anxiety.
In the background, there was a continuous, rising clamor and chaos.
"I'm at home," Finn said.
That's good. Is Harry with you too? Whatever you do, don't come out. Just stay at home." Spider-Man, who was currently struggling against the aliens, breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that Finn's address was far from here and wouldn't be affected by the alien invasion for the time being. "Max will protect you, I—
Before Finn could tell Peter, Harry had already gone to the Osborn Building early that morning, then the call was suddenly cut off.
It didn't seem like it had been hung up on intentionally; it felt more like Spider-Man's phone had been accidentally knocked away during a struggle.
Max, let's go." Finn frowned and stood up, "To the Osborn Building.
"This is too dangerous!" Catherine hurriedly intervened.
“Are you crazy? To the Osborn Building now? You'll be torn to pieces by those aliens before you even get there!” Anthony stared at the live broadcast on his phone, his face pale, as he gripped Finn's arm tightly.
Harry is still at the Osborn Building; I should have gone with him this morning." Finn was filled with regret; he hadn't expected that after last night's turmoil, he would encounter such an unexpected situation today. "You all stay here; the alien attack shouldn't affect this place. Max will protect me.
That won't do either!" Anthony refused to let go no matter what. "No matter how powerful your bodyguard is, how many aliens can he fight? Besides, Max wasn't a bodyguard before; he was just an electronic engineer.
Just as he finished speaking, Anthony's peripheral vision suddenly caught a glimpse of blue light.
At this moment, Max was enveloped in a pale blue light, with currents of electricity dancing across his bare skin. The man stood there, the air around him seemingly warping slightly from the surge of electricity, exuding an intimidating aura that suggested anyone who approached would be electrocuted to death.
This is no ordinary bodyguard!
With that Electro-man's appearance, he looks even more alien than an actual alien.
Anthony's pupils contracted sharply, his face filled with shock: "This.. this isn't special effects?"
—Is the entry barrier for a senior electronic engineer at Osborn Group really this high? What kind of business is your Osborn Group actually conducting behind the scenes!
"Max, come with me." Finn did not linger any longer. He could see that Harry had tried calling him, but the call had been interrupted by Peter's call just now. When Finn called Harry again, there was no answer, which made Finn very worried.
It wasn't just Harry; everyone in the Osborn Group had lost contact, even the usually busy work groups were silent and still.
It was as if all signals had been blocked.
"I'll drive." In this situation, Finn simply tossed his phone aside.
Finn picked out the fastest sports car, once he was inside, he slammed the accelerator straight to the floor. The engine let out a dull roar as he tore off like a flying object. The streets of New York had long since become a battlefield of ruins, littered with countless fragments and debris. Finn paid no mind to the current state of the roads; he simply charged straight toward his destination, crashing through everything and forcing his way through to carve out a path.
Such reckless speeding would naturally attract the attention of the alien forces.
However, Max directly transformed into electricity, acting like a precision weapon; any alien creature that approached would be unable to escape the violent electrical attacks, as the surging sound of electricity intertwined with the roar of the sports car's engine and the continuous explosions in the distance.
Max was not nervous at all; in fact, the surge of adrenaline made him feel an unprecedented sense of power and euphoria.
He used the massive energy within his body without restraint.
Max even felt that the reason he had mutated into his current form was that fate had prepared him for this very moment, so that he could fight to protect Young Master Finn, that he must clear all obstacles for Young Master Finn.
Under the unstoppable protection of the lightning, the sports car darted through the chaotic city like a bolt of blue lightning.
Not far away, Thor, seeing this scene, froze on the spot, the hand gripping his hammer paused.
He suddenly remembered what Loki had told him before—
In Midgard, he found his long-lost lightning brother.
A true brother who was just as tall as him, could release electricity, was single-minded, loud-mouthed, prone to sudden rage.
At that time, Thor only thought that Loki was using nonsense as a pretext to disparage him.
But at this moment, Thor fell into a daze, his hammer-swinging motion frozen mid-air, his wide eyes filled with silent shock.
It really was true!!
And besides, why does it feel like—
This Midgardian's lightning seems even more advanced than his!
Is this your brother too?" Iron Man asked, not caring about the trouble, "He looks more like your brother than the adopted Loki; this electrical energy looks a bit stronger than yours.
Skeptical Thor: ".."
Osborn Building is located in the city center, it has already become a major disaster area of the alien invasion. Fortunately, most of the alien army's forces have been drawn away by the scattered superheroes.
Although the iconic skyscraper of the Osborn Group was currently shrouded in smoke and fire, they seemed to have arrived in time. Several alien creatures were clinging to the building's exterior, roaring as they tried to burrow inside, but it appeared that the interior had not yet been breached.
Young Master Finn, I will never allow any aliens to invade the Osborn Building!
Max let out a roar, his body instantly transforming into blinding currents that surged toward the sky.
In the blink of an eye, a dense and massive web of electricity was woven out of thin air, tightly enveloping the entire Osborn Building. The blue electric light surged wildly, as if transforming into the most fierce and secure electrical barrier to block all alien invasions.
Finn stared in shock at that unstoppable silhouette of lightning: ".." You really do just dive right in without hesitation!
He never expected to find such a talent while working in the morgue!
This is much more capable than the System! He definitely deserves a raise!
System PP: [..] It felt as if it had been stabbed again.
"The power is running low, remember to find a cable to charge it!" In the heat of the moment, Finn could only shout while rushing into the Osborn Building. After entering the Osborn Building, Finn had System PP scan the building for him; nearly most of the employees were hiding in the basement of the Osborn Building. Furthermore, the signal from the top floor indicated that Harry Osborn was indeed still on his CEO floor, surrounded by many armed personnel who were guarding him closely.
Knowing this, Finn couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief; fortunately, his brother still knew how to spend money to find so many people to protect himself.
Finn stepped into the undamaged elevator and went straight to the 105th floor where Harry was.