He had heard this sentence from others before, but coming from Finn Osborn, it carried a lethal weight capable of crushing all his self-esteem and obsessions.
There was no sharp tone, no oppressive hostility.
But even that simple sentence was enough to completely crush his dignity to pieces.
Aiden clenched his teeth and gripped the stack of documents he had brought, turning and leaving in a frantic, undignified mess.
Max and Andrew both looked at Finn with eyes full of profound admiration—
Their family's young master was truly someone who, when he didn't speak, would either say nothing at all or completely shatter a person's worldview with his words.
[Just slapping down a villain, easy peasy.] Finn thought to himself as he watched Aiden's retreating figure, this was his specialty after all. Finn proudly struck a pose in his own mind and boasted secretly to System PP, [PP, learn from this. In the future, you should also assist your host in shutting people down like this.]
System PP: 【Learned.】
[System PP high-fived you. gif]
It's just that right now—
Finn turned and reached out to pull up Peter, who was still sitting on the sofa in a low mood, looking dazed.
Between the terrorist attack and Aiden's interrogation, which was comparable to a terrorist attack, these two consecutive massive shocks left Peter Parker looking completely soul-crushed, even though his emotions were finally starting to settle. But since things had already reached this level of intensity, Finn decided he might as well crank the stimulation up to the max today, treating it like a form of desensitization therapy.
System PP: [??] Host, are you being unreasonable again?
"Let's go. I'll take you somewhere," Finn said.
"Where are we going?" Peter asked in a hoarse voice.
Finn didn't answer Peter, but instead pulled him into the car, insistently refusing to let anyone else follow, drove off himself.
This was something Finn only realized after Aiden West appeared and questioned Peter:
The world's kindness and expectations toward the innocent, pitiful, missing Felix.
As long as it continues.
As long as Felix remains missing.
Then there will still be countless voices persistently seeking the truth.
Always harboring compassion and anticipation, waiting for news of that poor child.
These gentle voices, these pure expectations, these harmless kindnesses meant nothing to Finn, but to Peter Parker, they became blunt knives that repeatedly stabbed, piercing Peter deeply.
Because Peter Parker knew—
All fantasies of a "happy ending" never existed from the very beginning.
This was the most cruel part.
The intense rift between this beautiful kindness and the cold truth left Peter mired in the mud of reality, trapped in a cycle of internal conflict and constant agony, unable to break free.
Peter, you know, the reason I don't face certain things isn't because I'm afraid," Finn said, no longer avoiding the subject, but explaining instead, "it's just because I don't like them.
It's like how everyone has foods they dislike; I have other preferences, there's no need to force myself to eat them.
Finn didn't know exactly how Peter knew he was Felix, but he had never been one to insist on getting to the bottom of things.
I know, I know, Finn," Peter said with a trembling voice. He had already guessed where Finn's destination was, so at this moment, his heart was racing. The sense of approaching danger, helplessness, panic made his spine go cold. Peter clenched his fists and spoke, subconsciously wanting to escape, "I can understand, so there's no need for us to—
"No, I realize now that it is necessary." Finn shook his head gently.
It was precisely because the little Spider-Man carried such heavy secrets in his heart that every heated discussion online, every passerby's sigh of regret, every voice praying for Felix's safety.. were, for Peter Parker, a cruel reminder.
It only serves to constantly remind him of Felix's death, remind him of the tragedy he failed to prevent two years ago, remind him of the regret of his helplessness behind that door..
Finn knew that it wasn't that Peter lacked the courage to push open that door, but rather that his appearance last time had stopped him.
But because of that single intervention of his, that secret door trapped not only eight-year-old Felix, but also Peter Parker.
Finn did not want to let Peter suffer like this anymore.
To me, Felix's story is already a very distant one. Even I cannot project my current self into it. That story has ended for me, but for you, it has not," Finn murmured. "If I don't take this step, then.. you won't be able to move forward any better either.
Not only Peter Parker, but also System PP.
They will all get stuck here, unable to take the next step with determination.
Finn thought, why was he unable to end his mission?
Maybe it was because—
The story of The Missing Felix has never had an ending.
The car came to a slow halt.
The destination was exactly 45 Elwood Avenue.
They had arrived once again at.. the very starting point of this story.
Peter subconsciously stared straight ahead, not daring to look at that familiar yet cold building. After his last humiliating escape, his remaining courage to push open the door seemed to have been completely shattered, let alone facing it with Finn. Just as he was tense with anxiety, that warm, fair hand tightly grasped his.
Peter looked up, meeting Finn's clear, emerald eyes; the young man's gaze was bright, as if it always carried an unquenchable radiance.
The next second, Finn's firm voice reached his ears:
Peter, let's go and rescue Felix from here.
Chapter 107: Welcome to the World
I had Catherine and Joseph renovate this house.
But, in truth, I never asked about it either.
"You've visited before, but actually, this is the first time I've walked in here as Finn Osborn." Finn stepped into the house first; even though it had been a long time for him, a sense of overwhelming familiarity was still pulling at him intensely at this moment.
Finn once thought that he would never return here again.
But—
In fact, taking this step wasn't that difficult for him.
At least he looked much more relaxed than Peter.
Even if Peter Parker is Spider-Man, when it comes to seeing the world, Little Peter still falls far short of me.
The Wilsons put a lot of thought and energy into renovating this house; I think you can tell that at a glance." Finn walked slowly inside, his gaze falling upon the exquisite ceiling, the warm wall colors, the carefully reselected furniture, every detail perfectly tailored to what a child would love. Finn couldn't help but curl his lips into a slight smile, a soft warmth rippling through the young man's bright green eyes. "I am truly happy to have met Joseph and Catherine; to me, they are the very image of the best parents I could imagine.
“Finn, the Wilsons have always loved you as if you were their own child,” Peter said, following in Finn's footsteps. Upon hearing the young man's words, he responded with immediate, heartfelt urgency. After all, it was Finn's very presence that had truly saved the Wilsons' lives, which had been shattered by the coma of their daughter, Lily.
Finn stopped walking and then slowly turned around, his gaze fixed steadily on Peter.
That's why I feel even more guilty." Finn's tone remained calm, but at this moment, an unmistakable sadness and bitterness began to well up uncontrollably from deep within the young man's eyes. Perhaps it was because he was standing in this house filled with memories, a house that held the traces of the living Felix, that these emotions seemed to begin flowing out uncontrollably, "I couldn't save Lily, I couldn't save the others either.
Bitter words, carrying.. the countless times Finn had struggled with the confessions surging in his heart.
Peter's heart gave a sudden jolt.
This seemed to be the first time that Finn stood before Peter's eyes, yet what he displayed was the vulnerability and guilt belonging to Felix.
The barrier that Peter had never dared to touch all this time had, at this moment, vanished.
This felt like another one of those moments where Peter came closest to the boy he was two years ago.
It wasn't your fault! You were just an eight-year-old child back then!" Peter immediately rushed forward to stand before Finn, refuting him anxiously, directly exposing the truth without any reservation. An eight-year-old child could not possibly understand the ugliness of human nature, the evil that can be hidden deep within an adult's heart, the fact that there is so much unfairness and misfortune in this world, the fact that justice and courage alone are not enough to successfully resist fate, most importantly, the fact that the world's destiny can ruthlessly crush the innocent, the young, the weak. "Those mistakes, those crimes, those tragedies—it was all caused by Palman! You did your best! You were brave enough! And besides, you really did save Lily.
"Even though Lily Wilson remains in a coma at the hospital to this day, two years later, no one can deny that Felix did indeed save that girl." and
Since you can comfort me like this, why do you blame yourself so harshly?" Finn's lips curled into a faint smile as he gazed at Peter. "We all know very well who the source of this evil is. If you don't want me to blame myself, then I don't want you to be in such pain and regret either.
Peter stared at Finn, speechless.
"Peter, actually, my memories before the age of eight are already very blurry. For you, it might have only been two years. But for me, I don't even know how many years have passed." Finn spoke slowly, his gaze carrying a sense of distant reminiscence.
Hearing this, Peter's tears could not help but burst from his eyes the next second.
—He already knew before.
The boy who lost his life at his most tender and vibrant age became the most dedicated [System], one who only wanted to help others achieve their life's ideals.
Traveling through countless strange worlds, accompanying different Hosts day after day, year after year.
Listening intently to their wishes, working hard to pull them out of their lows, stubbornly believing that good people will receive happy endings..
Peter thought that although Finn had once been a temperatureless System, he must possess.. the most burning soul.
They warmed, illuminated, redeemed the hosts who had lost their way in the swamps of fate, but looking at it another way, those hundred hosts were just like Finn's guardians, as they also accompanied, taught, witnessed every bit of Finn's growth.
Like a fledgling, Finn gradually grew full and complete wings in those worlds.
Until many years passed—
Finn finally got the chance to grow up into a [human].
Possessed a pair of beautiful wings.
Descended before his eyes.
Peter, I clearly remember the appearances of Lily, Ella, Ellison, Jessie, but I can't remember the stories from our childhood clearly anymore," Finn continued, "What I remember most clearly is the Halloween when I was eight years old; we were all dressed up. Just like the figures in my paintings that you saw—[Iridescent Unicorn Girl], [Moonlit Apprentice], [Sea Breeze Traveler], [Dawn Racer], me, the [Sleepless Summer] with little wings.
Finn said with a curved smile, his youthful expression returning to the relaxed and vibrant state it had before.
This is the [Summer's Family] series," Finn said, revealing a secret that was no longer a secret, "because they really are my family.
Finn reached out and took Peter's hand, then began to enthusiastically introduce each room to him one by one.
This is Ella's room; she is the Moonlit Apprentice. For Halloween, she played a little witch, holding a magic wand that could transform things, she even had Lillian paint her face with special designs—a moon on her left cheek and a star on her right. Don't let her cute and well-behaved appearance fool you; she's actually very lively and can't sit still for a moment. However, her biggest dream is to stand on the screen one day and become an actress. Even back when she was at home, she was always pestering us to play house with her to practice her acting skills.
..
This is Ellison's room. One look at this room and you'll know he loves cars—all kinds of cars. Ellison is very generous; he promised each of us that he would buy us many cars once we grew up. But I don't need him to buy me any anymore; my current financial strength allows me to buy plenty of cars myself. That's right, [Dawn Racer] is him. He loves cars so much that he wants to become a professional racer when he grows up.
..
This room belongs to Jessie; he is the [Sea Breeze Traveler]. As you know, our father, Palman, is a violin teacher, but none of us actually have a talent for the violin. Among us, only Jessie has a great talent for musical instruments and music. However, compared to the violin, he prefers the piano. But Palman always forced Jessie to play the violin; later, our mother bought a very small piano for Jessie, but that little piano was also smashed by Father. But now, in this room.. Jessie can finally have his own grand piano. It's truly beautiful, isn't it?
..
There's also an extra room here for Lily, prepared by the Wilsons. She is that [Iridescent Unicorn Girl] who loves unicorns so much. Lily was also very good at painting; back then, I loved playing with her most. She was very warm and incredibly patient, teaching me how to draw many things. She also has a favorite singer, Karl Voss, whom she constantly thinks about, saying she wants to see his live concert.
..
Completely different from what Peter had imagined beforehand, Finn began to lead Peter on an enthusiastic tour.