Chapter 80: Unfortunate Benchmark
After Peter stole his lines, Harry was still thinking about how to make up for it.
With the words he could manage to say, he should at least express his importance and care for his brother at a time like this.
Harry, you aren't calm enough." Finn spoke up at this moment, "Go calm down first before you come to talk to me.
Harry: "??" His younger brother's words successfully silenced him.
Finn was actually feeling a bit afraid now seeing Harry Osborn, the biggest contributor of Misery Value.
Of course he knew that his dear brother had come here without a moment's rest as soon as he got off the plane to give him Misery Value, but the problem was that he didn't want Misery Value right now!
"I am just worried about you, Finn," Harry said, unable to help himself as he frowned.
I'm fine." Finn said, his expression unchanging and his speech logical. "The person Sheila is targeting is Peter Parker, not me. I was indeed kidnapped, but I wasn't injured. The real problem now is that because of this accident, a huge pile of my schedule has been put on hold. I'm still in a state of shock and don't have the energy to deal with this. Since you're back, shouldn't you focus on the main point and take over all the work I've missed to handle it as soon as possible?
Harry: ".." He almost felt like he was talking to a businesslike version of himself.
For some reason, Harry felt that every time he wanted to bond with Finn, Finn would always come crashing at him like a brick.
“Osborn Group's affairs cannot be delayed. Since I am not injured, I certainly cannot slack off here.” Finn only wanted to get rid of this top-ranked big brother who sat at the peak of the Misery Value list as quickly as possible. After this kidnapping, his Misery Value had actually broken through the crucial nine-digit threshold. Finn was now well aware of how much Harry valued him, so he deliberately put on a serious and solemn expression, as if to say, 'The Osborn Group would go bankrupt without me.' "Harry, I'm going to work right now."
.. You stay here." Harry grabbed Finn, his veins bulging as he took a deep breath. "I'll go handle it.
"Do you have anything else to do?" Having said that, Harry turned his head and stared at Peter with a pair of eyes that were terrifyingly dark.
Peter shook his head vigorously.
Then you watch over Finn for me," Harry instructed in a low voice. "Give him another full physical examination, make sure he gets plenty of rest.
After Harry Osborn left, Dr. Bruce Banner and Tony Stark carefully examined Finn's body from head to toe once again.
Once they knew Finn had wings, the missing piece of the genetic puzzle was finally filled in.
"Your physical indicators are much better than they were during the last checkup." Dr. Bruce Banner scanned the latest test report and subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, his tone carrying a hint of genuine reassurance.
"At least those messy little problems like anemia and stomach issues have all disappeared." Stark raised an eyebrow, a look of approval crossing his face as well.
“??” Finn was stunned, his face filled with bewilderment.
"What kind of expression is that?" Even Iron Man found Finn's expression strange.
[My CEO sickness.. is gone??] Finn could hardly believe it. [Is my sickness actually curable?]
Finn hadn't opened his personal profile card in a long time; he had almost forgotten that he even had this panel.
He quickly took a look at that long list of debuffs—
His Seven Major Sicknesses: [Stomach Ache, Anemia, Hemophobia, Sleepwalking, Hypoglycemia, Mental Illness, Claustrophobia].
Now, only four of the Seven Deadly Sins remained: [hemophobia, sleepwalking, schizophrenia, claustrophobia].
“My illness is actually cured!?” Finn stared at the report in his hands. He had thought that once this debuff was chosen, it was irreversible; he hadn't expected that his illness could actually be cured. The young man looked up and asked in unconscious confusion, “How could my illness be cured?”
Of course your illness will get better." Iron Man immediately cast an incredulous look at Finn, his tone suggesting it was only natural. "It's not like you have cancer or anything. Even that troublesome genetic disease your brother had is almost cured, isn't it?
That's right, it will get better naturally." Peter looked at Finn with a smile, genuinely happy for him and relieved that the Wilsons' efforts had finally paid off, giving Finn a more reasonable explanation. "The Wilsons have been taking such careful care of you, not to mention how good Mr. Joseph's cooking is. With three regular meals, balanced nutrition, the most expensive, top-quality ingredients, how could your stomach issues not get better?
Finn was shocked.
—Before this, he hadn't expected a butler could actually cure illnesses, either.
"If the CEO sickness is gone, can I still be a CEO?" Finn couldn't help but think.
System PP: [Host, whether you are a CEO or not doesn't matter at all.] You aren't on that path anyway.
Tony really couldn't fathom Finn's strange and stubborn way of thinking.
But he already had a rough idea that this Young Master Osborn had most likely been locked in a laboratory by Norman Osborn since he was a child. Growing up in such an environment, it wouldn't be surprising if he had more than just a bit of mental abnormality; even if the neural pathways in his brain were a few degrees more twisted, it would still be within the realm of reason.
There must be some unknown reason behind why Finn would have the idea that this [illness won't get better].
After becoming Iron Man and a superhero, Tony Stark had also seen too many people who were extreme, filled with hatred, crawling out from the depths of darkness; most of these people had unfortunate childhoods.
Possessing special abilities√
A traumatic childhood.
Treated as an experimental subject by his father since childhood√
With a father and an older brother who were just as cold and arrogant.
After his father passed away, he handed over the entire inheritance to his brother.
He even has a body full of ailments and incurable mental illnesses, even a tendency toward self-harm.
Even Iron Man felt that Finn was so stacked with buffs that it would be perfectly reasonable for him to become a cynical villain.
At first, Iron Man only thought Finn was nothing more than the "young Tony Stark" hyped up by the outside world—a young master who relied on his family background and talent to attract attention, all flash and no substance. Now, even if one ignored the incredible talent and genius mind Finn already possessed, the fact that he could grow up in such an environment and still turn out so radiant, optimistic, innocent and enthusiastic was already quite extraordinary.
Working in his brother's company, throwing parties with friends, making investments, playing the part of a cute dancing hamster, having a sweet romance with Spider-Man, simultaneously making the whole world ship their CP.. Iron Man truly understood what Peter meant by that sentence; this Young Master Osborn really doesn't dwell on anything.
—Heartless and carefree, he goes wherever the fun is.
—He even jumped off buildings twice.
Even Iron Man only realized just now that being "clueless" could actually be an advantage.
Tony's brow suddenly furrowed, he asked abruptly and directly, "Did you go to elementary school? Middle school?"
He had checked Finn's records; his history before high school was a complete blank.
".. Does that matter?" Finn asked back hesitantly.
The System didn't need to go to school in the first place; his high school life was nothing more than a setting provided by the world.
Tony fell silent.
It was exactly as he had suspected—Finn Osborn was someone who never had a normal childhood.
In this moment, Tony Stark suddenly thought of his father.
He used to have many grievances against Howard Stark, but compared to Norman Osborn, those conflicts suddenly seemed insignificant.
Tony thought of those wings hidden within Finn's body, so perfect they were almost flawless, felt a sudden heaviness in his chest.
Iron Man was a top scientist himself, he knew better than anyone the terrifying cruelty hidden behind those wings on Finn's back.
—Too perfect, how could it be so perfect?
Precise genetic sequence adjustments and perfect morphological optimization could not be explained by luck alone. It was a result built upon countless failed experiments, with the pain of countless test subjects being torn apart, reshaped, repeatedly tortured serving as the price. Iron Man could never understand the act of modifying one's own child. Even if it were to cure a family genetic disease, he would never do such a thing.
He didn't dare to think too deeply about it—how much pain, torment, inhuman experimentation a child would have to endure to be forced to grow wings so beautiful yet so cruel.
If Norman Osborn were still alive and standing here right now, he would definitely give him a straight punch without hesitation.
[Misery Value rising, Misery Value +0.5%]
Finn's heart skipped a beat.
—No way? In Iron Man's eyes, not having gone to school counts as a point of misery?
—Or is it because, as a "young Tony Stark," being so smart despite never having attended school accidentally wounded his pride?
"Even though I didn't attend much school, many of the world's top elite people have taught me," Finn explained. After all, he was a high-level system that had assisted a hundred hosts in their dramatic turnarounds. Thinking of those glorious moments when he helped hosts step by step toward the pinnacle of their lives, the young man's handsome face immediately brightened, a hint of pride was hidden in his tone.
"The Host is a shining person, I want to be a shining person just like him," Finn thought.
System PP: 【Host, you have already done it.】
Tony and Bruce exchanged a glance. Surely the people Finn mentioned weren't all the researchers in the laboratory?
But looking at Finn's current appearance, Iron Man and Dr. Bruce Banner felt that Norman Osborn's affection for Finn probably wasn't fake either.
If he hadn't grown up surrounded by absolute love and protection, he certainly wouldn't have this appearance now, overflowing with immense kindness and innocence.
It looks like you won't be collecting any more illnesses now," Dr. Bruce Banner joked at this moment. "You can change your online handle from 'Seven Major Sicknesses' to 'Four Major Sicknesses.' I'll strive to earn an eighth doctorate so I can cure your remaining illnesses as well.
Finn was once again in a daze. Since those four conditions could be cured, could it be that—
Could his [hemophobia, sleepwalking, schizophrenia, claustrophobia] also be cured??
In fact, Finn even felt that he hadn't been sleepwalking lately.
He used to eat, drink, play every day, feeling so excited at night that he couldn't sleep.
Now that he has become the Vice President of the Osborn Group, his days are packed with schedules, at night, Peter comes to him for "every night, every night." After a full set of combinations, he is so exhausted that he falls asleep the moment he hits the bed, without even having the strength to get up in the middle of the night to "cause trouble."
Finn felt that a brand-new solution domain had suddenly appeared in his fixed equation.
Or, it had appeared long ago, without him ever realizing it.
—He just hadn't noticed it all this time.
"Why hasn't Andrew arrived yet?" Peter also found it a bit strange at this moment. The S. H. I. E. L. D. agent had previously gone to rescue Andrew, who had been immobilized by Sheila using web, heard that his arm was dislocated, but fortunately, there were no fractures. By now, he should have arrived after receiving treatment.
"Andrew? I heard from the S. H. I. E. L. D. agent that his emotions are very unstable. They sent him straight to Dr. Thomas's office after his treatment, telling him to get some counseling before heading home to wait for us to return," Finn answered. He didn't want Andrew rushing over in a frenzy to gift him a massive wave of Misery Value.
Thinking of this, Finn looked at Peter sincerely and said, "Peter, your emotions are much more stable."
Self-aware Spider-Man: ".." If I couldn't hear your inner thoughts, I would have been driven mad by your misery long ago.
Peter still had no clue as to why he could hear Finn's inner thoughts, but he was truly and deeply grateful for the existence of this buff.
After Peter and Finn arrived home, they saw Andrew sitting in the living room with a dejected expression as soon as they walked through the door.
"Are you okay?" Peter asked hurriedly, looking at Andrew, whose arm was wrapped in a splint.
“It's just a dislocation, it should be fine in about a week," Andrew said, shaking his head quickly. He then looked at Finn with eyes full of self-reproach and anxiety; the thought that he had actually allowed someone to kidnap Young Master Finn right in front of him made Andrew feel like he was going to die of frustration. "Young Master Finn, you aren't injured, are you?"
I'm fine," Finn said nonchalantly, as usual. "Besides, I had the chance to visit the Avengers' new base, which was pretty cool.
Peter thought of Andrew, who had lost control in a rage during their previous phone call, then looked at the relatively calm Andrew before him; it seemed that psychological counseling had been effective.
But in the next second, Andrew slowly turned his head, his dark eyes staring straight at Peter, his tone icy.
I've already heard. The one who kidnapped Young Master Finn this time is that woman who has been showing you frequent favor. She even wants to devour you to serve as nourishment for her child," Andrew asked. "Peter, do you know what this means?
Peter felt inexplicably uneasy under his gaze: ".. Wh-what do you mean?"
“Cheating never ends well,” Andrew said calmly, his tone carrying the warning of a toxic fan. “Peter, I know you're very popular and well-liked right now, so make sure you don't harbor any inappropriate feelings for any women or men out there. Even if you are Spider-Man, even if we are friends, if you dare to do even the slightest thing to betray Young Master Finn—”
Spider-Man: ".." Your mental state isn't exactly in great shape either.
But it was also fine; Peter felt that having someone like Andrew, a toxic fanboy, acting as a secretary by Finn's side was actually quite reassuring.
When he doesn't act, he's silent, but when he does, he can indiscriminately bomb everyone.