Chapter 30: Help Him! Undercurrents Surge!
"Damn it! Damn it!"
"I came up with the company's circuit plan—why should the credit be taken by those guys above me?"
Maxwell "Max" Dillon, an electrical engineer at Osborne Corporation, was drowning his sorrows on the rooftop of a building. Empty beer cans littered the ground as he teetered dangerously close to the edge.
Max had always believed in his talent for electrical engineering. Since childhood, he had dreamed of becoming an engineer. But his single mother had dismissed his ambitions, insisting he wasn't smart enough to succeed. Instead, she pushed him into a factory job as a wireman.
After years of relentless effort, Max had finally secured a position as an electrical engineer at Osborne Corporation. But his temper—shaped by years of frustration and neglect—made him unpopular among his colleagues. He was a nobody in the company.
During a major circuit overhaul, he had provided an excellent solution, seizing what he thought was his opportunity for recognition.
Yet, instead of appreciation, his superiors had stolen the credit.
The disapproval of those around him and the lack of success at work had driven him to this rooftop.
As he drank to numb his sorrow, he flipped through the news on his phone aimlessly.
[Osborne Corporation in turmoil due to shareholder disputes. Many unprofitable or low-profit research projects have been halted. The company's future remains uncertain...]
"What a mess."
[Breaking: Green Goblin's body still missing. Experts speculate Norman Osborn faked his death to evade justice...]
"Norman? Damn it! Open the champagne!"
[Tony Stark announces the closure of Stark Industries' weapons division, sending investors into a frenzy as stock prices plummet...]
"You bastard! You made me lose money! Damn capitalists! Damn them all!"
[Ghost-Spider dismantles multiple gang strongholds, aiding NYPD investigations. The gang leader, identified as 'Tombstone,' remains at large. Fans praise her approachability, though Lady Knight supporters have differing opinions...]
"Superheroes? Can they save my damn life?!"
Annoyed, Max shut off his phone before reaching the next news headline: "Mysterious black spiders spotted in Afghanistan."
He took another swig from his beer can, his mind clouded with despair. Under the influence of alcohol, he stumbled toward the building's edge, prepared to end it all.
He never noticed the two figures swinging toward him in the distance.
---
"Ethan, your place is so far from school—it must be exhausting to commute."
Ethan Lee smirked. "Why don't you move into my manor? Free water, free electricity, no rent. I can even hire a driver to take you to school."
Cindy Moon wriggled in his grasp, her arms wrapped tightly around him as they swung between buildings. "I'm afraid you'll eat me. And, Teacher, can you keep your hands to yourself? If you grope me in midair, I might lose my grip, and we'll both plummet to our deaths."
"I'm just curious about your spider silk. Besides, you don't seem to mind."
"It's because of that strange attraction between us!" Cindy huffed. "You may act all refined in class, but if Felicia saw you now, she'd be disappointed."
Ethan chuckled. "I think she'd be excited."
Just as he was about to tease her further, the system's voice rang in his head: [Gwen Stacy's fated enemy detected: "Electro" Maxwell Dillon.]
Huh?
Ethan quickly scanned his surroundings and locked onto Max, still standing at the edge of the rooftop.
The guy was ready to jump.
Ethan pondered for a moment before deciding… to intervene.
Since Max was already prepared to die, he might as well get something out of it. Would "giving a helping hand" count as defeating him? If the system labeled Max as a "fated enemy," that meant he would eventually pose a threat to Gwen.
And Ethan preferred handling his enemies before they became a problem.
Still, he had some moral boundaries. He'd just give Max a little "push"—figuratively speaking.
At that exact moment, as Max leaned forward, a strong gust of wind hit him from behind.
Oh my God, does the universe really want me dead?!
Before he could process the thought, he slipped off the rooftop.
Unfortunately, his fall coincided with Cindy's trajectory.
"What the hell?! He's going to crash into me!"
Instinctively, Cindy shot out a web, ensnaring Max and slamming him against the glass window of a nearby skyscraper.
"That scared the hell out of me! If you're gonna die, do it somewhere else!" she scolded, patting her chest in relief.
Her spider-sense and speed were superior to Gwen's, but her strength and endurance were slightly weaker. If Max had collided with her, it would have been painful—especially with Ethan in tow.
Ethan raised a brow. "Aren't you a superhero? Shouldn't you be more sympathetic?"
"Who told you I was a superhero?" Cindy shot back. "Listen, just because we have powers doesn't mean we should play hero. We can't even protect ourselves! I'll explain later."
Ethan wasn't worried. He knew about the Morlun family. But thanks to the system, their totemic powers wouldn't affect him.
Meanwhile, Max—still stuck to the glass—was in shock. I can't even die properly?!
His despair quickly turned into something else as he stared at Cindy. Her lithe figure, strong waist, and sleek spider suit captivated him.
He felt like he was falling in love.
I don't want to die anymore.
"Hey, what are you staring at?" Ethan moved his hand over Cindy's chest, blocking Max's view.
Cindy: "…"
He's just looking, but you've already made a move.
Her grip faltered for a second, nearly dropping Max.
---
Osborne Tower – Chairman's Office
"A video of one of our engineers attempting suicide has gone viral. Spider-Man saved him, but the Labor Protection Association is now accusing us of mistreating employees. And—"
"Enough!"
Harry Osborn clenched his teeth and slammed his fist against the desk. "Don't bother me with this nonsense! I have enough problems already!"
The employee nodded and left, not wanting to provoke his boss further.
Alone in his office, Harry seethed. The damn board keeps throwing distractions at me!
Frustration boiling over, he slammed his hand against a hidden panel.
A secret door slid open, revealing Norman Osborn's hidden arsenal: the Green Goblin's battle suit, serum, glider, and pumpkin bombs.
Harry stepped into the dimly lit chamber and picked up the mask.
After a long hesitation, he slowly put it on.
"No one… will take this company from me."
A chilling cackle echoed in the room.
---
Meanwhile, deep in the New York sewers…
A flashlight beam cut through the darkness as Peter Parker's voice called out.
"Dr. Connors? Are you there?"
Beneath the city, unseen forces stirred.
The undercurrents surged.