Ch: 23-30
Chapter 23: Mary Jane's Band? Spider-Gwen?
"Academic personal matters?"
Gwen blinked her large, azure eyes.
Though a bit confused, she obediently nodded her head.
"Alright, then don't work too hard."
"After all... you didn't get much rest the night before last."
At this, Gwen's cheeks uncontrollably flushed with a hint of red again.
Seeing her shy appearance, Johnny felt a surge of heat in his heart.
He really wanted to pull her away right now to 'rest' some more.
However.
For a greater goal (referring to the advanced versions of Ki Disc and Bukūjutsu).
For the peace of the Universe (referring to preventing MJ from ruining Peter).
Johnny held back.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of myself."
Johnny smiled meaningfully... To a genius like Johnny, the afternoon classes were as boring as listening to a monk chanting scriptures.
Finally, the bell rang for the end of class.
Gwen was clearly reluctant to leave, walking slowly beside Johnny while clutching her books.
That clingy vibe, as if she wanted to hang herself on Johnny, was palpable.
It caused tons of critical damage to the single dogs passing by.
Just as the two were walking through the teaching building's corridor, preparing to head downstairs.
"The drum part of this song is still a bit weak; we need more explosive power."
A familiar and somewhat assertive female voice drifted out from the nearby activity room.
Immediately following.
Several girls carrying musical instruments pushed the door open and walked out.
Leading them was the one with fiery red hair.
Mary Jane Watson, who was the center of attention wherever she went.
At this moment, she had changed into a leather jacket with a slight rock-and-roll style.
Those tight leather pants outlined her long legs in a heart-stopping way.
Wild and sexy.
Completely different from the girl-next-door socialite style she had in the cafeteria at noon.
"MJ?"
Johnny raised an eyebrow and stopped in his tracks.
Mary Jane also saw Johnny.
Her face, which had been serious while discussing with her teammates, instantly blossomed into a bright smile.
"Hi! Gilda!"
She walked over quickly.
Her gaze lingered on Johnny for a moment before seemingly casually sweeping toward Gwenbeside him.
"What a coincidence!"
"Indeed, quite a coincidence."
Johnny smiled, his gaze inconspicuously brushing over the girls behind her carrying guitars and basses.
"I just heard you talking about drum beats? You've formed a band?"
"Of course."
Mary Jane confidently tossed her red hair.
"The Mary Jane Band, I'm the lead singer."
"How about it? Interested in coming to hear our rehearsal? We have a performance for the School Anniversary in a few days."
This invitation sounded like it was addressed to both of them.
But those alluring eyes were fixed squarely on Johnny.
Johnny didn't agree directly, merely shrugging noncommittally:
"If I'm free, I'll consider it."
At this moment.
Mary Jane seemed to only just officially notice Gwen.
She sized Gwen up, a flash of amazement in her eyes.
But it also hid an imperceptible trace of competitiveness.
"This must be your girlfriend, right?"
"So beautiful. This temperament... tsk tsk, simply born for the stage."
Gwen was a bit embarrassed by the praise and politely reached out her hand:
"Hello, I'm Gwen Stacy."
"Gwen? Good name."
Mary Jane shook Gwen's hand. Suddenly, as if thinking of something, her eyes lit up.
"Hey, Gwen, are you interested in joining our band?"
"Huh?"
Gwen was stunned, clearly not keeping up with Mary Jane's train of thought.
"Me? But... I don't know how to play any instruments."
"It doesn't matter!"
Mary Jane was a bit overly enthusiastic as she directly grabbed Gwen's arm.
"Technique can be practiced, but looks and temperament are innate."
"Our band just happens to need a drummer who can command the stage. I think your image is perfect!"
"Besides, playing the drums is a great way to relieve stress."
Watching Mary Jane's overly familiar manner.
And then seeing Gwen's expression change from initial bewilderment to gradual interest.
Standing to the side, Johnny's gaze became somewhat strange.
The Mary Jane Band?
Gwen Stacy?
Drummer?
Hiss... this plot development feels a bit familiar?
Johnny rubbed his chin.
In the setting of the parallel Universe 'Spider-Gwen' he had seen.
Gwen seemed to be the drummer for The Mary Jane Band, right?
And... if it follows this script.
Doesn't that mean Gwen is very likely to be bitten by that damn Radioactive Spider later on?
And then put on that classic black-and-white hooded bodysuit?
The image instantly flashed through Johnny's mind.
The design of that suit was famous for showing off the figure.
Especially the lines of the legs and buttocks.
If Gwen really wore that and swayed in front of him... or even wore it while having 'academic exchanges' with him... ahem.
Johnny felt some of his DNA stir.
That visual impact would definitely be a hundred times more exciting than simple JK uniforms or black stockings!
"Seems... not bad?"
Johnny silently gave Mary Jane a thumbs up in his heart.
What a great assist!
"Since MJ said so, Gwen, you could give it a try."
Johnny added fuel to the fire at the right time.
"I also think you'd look very charming playing the drums on stage."
Hearing her boyfriend's support, the hesitation in Gwen's eyes completely vanished.
"Then... I'll try?"
"Awesome!"
Mary Jane excitedly exchanged contact information with Gwen.
With that level of enthusiasm, one would think they were long-lost sisters.
Of course.
Johnny knew very well.
Mary Jane was using the 'curved path to save the country' tactic.
Pull the main wife into her circle first and build a good relationship.
Only then would she have more opportunities to get close to him in the future.
This woman's level was indeed a bit higher than a direct player like Felicia... At the school gate.
"Then I'll head out first, Johnny."
Gwen, holding her books, stood on her tiptoes and printed a kiss on Johnny's lips.
"Rest early tonight, don't get too tired."
"Don't worry, go ahead."
Johnny watched Gwen get into Chief George's police car until the taillights disappeared around the corner.
"Alright."
"The one at home is settled. Next..."
"Time to go into the wild."
Johnny mounted his vintage bicycle and kicked off.
The wheels spun rapidly, heading toward the most prosperous part of Manhattan.
Speeding toward Broadway... Broadway, in front of the Shubert Theatre.
A black Bentley Mulsanne slowly pulled up to the curb.
The car door opened.
Harry Osborn, wearing a well-tailored haute couture suit, stepped out with elegance.
Following him was Peter Parker, wearing a slightly cheap suit and looking a bit constrained.
Finally.
It was Mary Jane, dressed up and as charming as a red rose.
"Thanks for dropping us off, Harry."
Mary Jane brushed her hair and gave Harry a charming smile.
"This car is really comfortable to ride in."
"It's my honor to serve you, MJ."
Harry bowed slightly like a gentleman, his eyes full of admiration.
Peter, watching the two interact from the side, felt sour in his heart.
But he still forced himself to cheer up, clenching his fist to encourage Mary Jane:
"MJ, your audition today will definitely be a success! You're the best!"
"From your mouth to God's ears, Peter."
Mary Jane smiled at Peter, but the smile was clearly more polite than anything else.
"Let's go, let's head inside."
Harry glanced at his watch.
"I've already had the best box seats arranged; we can watch you shine on stage."
The three walked into the theater entrance chatting and laughing.
And just as their figures disappeared behind the doors.
"Screech—"
The sound of braking rang out.
Johnny put one foot down, stopping at the base of the theater's steps.
He looked up at the giant sign flashing with neon lights.
The Phantom of the Opera.
"Tsk, Broadway..."
Johnny casually locked his bicycle to a roadside railing.
"The last time I came here to see a play seems to have been back in high school."
He straightened his black casual suit.
Though not as extravagantly wealthy as Harry, with that face and his tall, straight build.
Standing there, he was perfect material for street photography.
"However..."
"Who among decent people comes to see a play?"
A wicked smile curled at the corner of Johnny's mouth.
He didn't come here to cultivate his mind.
He came for that red-haired stunner and the system's tempting reward.
Peter and Harry are both here?
Even better.
The thrill of poaching right under a good brother's nose.
That's the essence of the many children many blessings system.
Johnny strode with his long legs to the ticket office.
"One ticket, for the seat with the best view."
"Preferably the kind where I can see the backstage clearly."
Chapter 24: Tombstone Lacking Eyes
The interior decor of the Shubert Theatre was the height of luxury.
Huge crystal chandeliers, red velvet curtains.
The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the stench of decaying wealth.
Johnny had bought a ticket for a corner seat on the top floor.
Although the view here was a bit skewed, it was quiet and very high up.
Standing here, the entire layout of the theater was laid bare before him.
Whether it was the lighting on the stage or the movements in the VIP boxes below, nothing escaped his eyes.
Johnny leaned against the railing, fiddling with a coin in his hand.
His gaze fell upon a luxury box on the second floor.
There, Harry Osborn was elegantly crossing his legs, holding a glass of champagne.
Peter Parker sat beside him, looking somewhat stiff.
Clutching a bottle of Coke, his eyes stared nervously at the stage.
"The rich end up together, while the poor watch with their own eyes."
Johnny shook his head, a playful smirk playing on the corners of his mouth.
However.
He wasn't here today to watch these two besties act all bromantic.
His gaze shifted slightly.
Passing through the curtains at the side of the stage, he locked onto the backstage area.
Backstage, outside the dressing room.
Mary Jane had changed into a medieval court gown.
The corset cinched her proud bust to the point of overflowing.
Her snow-white skin shimmered with a porcelain-like luster under the lights.
Her red hair was pinned up high, revealing a long, elegant swan neck.
Beautiful.
Breathtakingly beautiful.
It had to be said, this woman was indeed a natural stunner.
Whether it was the purity of a girl next door or the nobility of a stage queen.
She could handle it all with ease.
"Tsk tsk, this figure, this aura..."
Johnny rubbed his chin, his eyes becoming somewhat heated.
"If she could wear this outfit and kneel..."
Ahem.
Johnny timely cut off those NSFW images in his mind.
After all, he was in a public place now; he had to mind his image.
At this moment.
The audition backstage seemed to have already begun.
Mary Jane was performing a monologue for several judges.
Her voice was very infectious, and her expressions were perfectly on point.
Even the director, who had been keeping a stiff face, couldn't help but nod, showing a satisfied expression.
It seemed this audition was in the bag.
As long as no accidents happened.
However.
Right then.
An accident arrived.
"Bang!"
The iron door backstage, which had been tightly closed, was violently kicked open.
Several burly men in black suits with faces full of muscle barged in.
Leading them was a tall, bald man whose skin had an eerily pale, deathly white hue.
Tombstone.
One of the gang leaders of New York's underworld.
Also a capable lieutenant under Kingpin (though he occasionally worked solo).
As soon as this guy appeared, the originally noisy backstage instantly fell silent.
The murderous aura, as if he had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, made everyone present feel suffocated.
"Who is Mary Jane?"
Tombstone looked around, his voice low and raspy.
His gaze quickly locked onto Mary Jane, who was standing in the center of the stage.
A flash of lewd light flickered in his eyes.
"Oh, found her."
"She really is top-tier."
Tombstone grinned, revealing a mouthful of forest-white teeth.
He strode forward, ignoring the staff members who were furious but didn't dare to speak up.
He stood directly in front of Mary Jane.
His height, over 1.9 meters, was like a wall.
Completely shrouding Mary Jane in shadow.
"Little girl, you look good."
Tombstone reached out a large hand, wanting to touch Mary Jane's face.
"Come with me."
"I've opened a private room upstairs; there's good wine and a good show."
"I just happen to be missing a leading lady to have a couple of drinks with me."
Mary Jane's face turned pale, and she instinctively took a step back, dodging the hand.
"Sir, I am auditioning."
She tried her best to remain calm, but her voice still carried a hint of trembling.
"Please have some self-respect."
"Auditioning?"
Tombstone acted as if he had heard a hilarious joke.
"Hahaha! Auditioning for what?"
He turned his head and gave the director a cold glance.
"Hey, old man."
"I've taken a liking to this girl."
"The leading lady for this play is her. Do you have a problem with that?"
The director was so scared he was trembling, shaking his head repeatedly:
"No... no problem! Of course no problem!"
"See."
Tombstone turned back to look at Mary Jane again, the smile on his face becoming even more insolent.
"This is the rule."
"In this Broadway, if I say you're the leading lady, you're the leading lady."
"But on the condition that..."
He took another step closer, the nauseating smell of tobacco and blood hitting Mary Jane's nostrils.
"You have to serve this lord well first."
"Come with me, and after tonight, you'll be the most famous star on Broadway."
"Otherwise..."
Tombstone's gaze suddenly turned cold.
"Forget about acting."
"Whether you can walk out of this theater in one piece will be a question."
This was a blatant threat.
Mary Jane bit her lip hard, her eyes rimmed with red.
She just wanted to be an actress, to make a name for herself through her own efforts.
Why?
Why did she always have to run into scum like this?
On the high balcony.
Johnny, who had seen everything, had eyes that instantly turned cold.
"Tombstone?"
Johnny let out a cold laugh, the coin in his hand being squeezed out of shape.
"A piece of underworld trash."
"Dares to touch the woman I've set my sights on?"
"I think you find your name isn't auspicious enough and want to actually set up a Tombstone for yourself, huh?"
He had originally wanted to wait for Mary Jane's audition to end for a romantic encounter.
But it was ruined by this guy.
This wasn't just disturbing his elegant mood.
It was a provocation to his authority!
In this Marvel Universe.
As long as it was prey targeted by him, Johnny Gilda.
It was already marked with his label.
Except for him, no one could touch it!
Not even if God Himself came!
"Seeking death."
Johnny's body moved slightly, preparing to fly over directly and give this white-skinned pig a lesson.
To let him know why the flowers are so red.
However.
Just at the moment he was about to act.
His movements suddenly stopped.
That's... Harry and Peter?
"Hmm?"
Johnny raised an eyebrow and pulled back his stepped-out foot.
"It seems I'm not the only knight in shining armor."
"True."
"That kid Harry is one of the financial backers of this theater."
"Causing trouble on his turf, isn't that slapping him in the face?"
Johnny leaned back against the railing, watching the movements below with interest.
Since someone was willing to go up and trigger the landmine first.
Then he didn't mind watching the show for a bit.
Just right.
He also wanted to see this crown prince of the Osborn Group.
Exactly how much weight he carried.
Most importantly.
He understood that a character like Tombstone.
Wouldn't have any fear of Harry just because of his Osborn background.
Might as well let them go first.
When the time came, appearing last as the hero.
He would be able to capture Mary Jane's heart even more.
Chapter 25: Harry, Your Father is Dead
Backstage.
Mary Jane huddled in a corner, her exquisite face now as pale as paper.
Just as Tombstone's rough, large hand was about to touch her trembling shoulder—
"Stop!"
A sharp shout, accompanied by hurried footsteps, broke the suffocating silence.
Bang!
The dressing room door was kicked open once again.
Harry Osborn, dressed in an expensive suit, rushed in with Peter Parker.
Seeing them, Mary Jane, who had been in despair, suddenly had a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Harry! Peter!"
She sounded as if she were grasping at a final straw, her voice carrying a hint of a sob.
"Save me..."
When the director saw Harry, he felt as if he had received a grand pardon, nearly kneeling down to call him 'Young Master'.
In this capital-driven New York, the name 'Osborn' was sometimes more effective than the Mayor's.
Tombstone stopped what he was doing.
He slowly turned around, his greyish-white, lifeless eyes cold.
He coldly scanned the two uninvited guests.
"Oh, look who it is."
Tombstone grinned, revealing forest-white teeth, his tone tinged with amusement.
"Isn't this the crown prince of the Osborn Group?"
"What's the matter? Not drinking champagne in your mansion, but coming to a low-class place like this to experience life?"
Facing Tombstone's mockery, Harry forced down the nervousness in his heart.
He straightened his back and adjusted his slightly messy tie.
He attempted to maintain the dignity and majesty of a top-tier second-generation wealthy heir.
"I am one of the shareholders of this theater."
Harry lifted his chin, looking down at Tombstone with a condescending gaze.
"Here, my word is the law."
"Mister, I don't care what path you walk in the underworld."
"Now, immediately, get out of my territory and stay away from Miss Watson."
"Otherwise, the Osborn Group's legal team and security department will make you understand the meaning of regret."
Harry spoke these words with powerful conviction.
In the past, within New York's social circles...
As long as he brought up the name of the Osborn Group, he was basically invincible.
However.
This time, he had clearly miscalculated.
"Hahahaha!"
Tombstone burst into a fit of harsh, wild laughter as if he had heard some grand joke.
The laughter shook the surrounding glass until it hummed.
"Osborn? Legal team?"
"Kid, have you failed to grasp the situation?"
Tombstone abruptly stopped laughing and took a step forward, his massive shadow directly enveloping Harry.
"This is the backyard of Hells Kitchen, not your Wall Street!"
"You've got guts to talk to me like that. Just like your dead old man, you've got some spirit."
Harry frowned, a faint sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
"What do you mean? How do you know my father?"
"How do I know him? Heh."
Tombstone leaned in close to Harry, a nauseating scent of blood wafting over him.
He lowered his voice, his tone ominous.
"Young Master Harry, aren't you curious why you haven't been able to contact your great father since last night?"
"The executives of the Osborn Group are all looking for him, and you can only claim to the outside World that he's on vacation."
"Tsk tsk tsk, what a filial son."
Harry's expression changed instantly.
It was true.
Since last night, his father Norman Osborn had gone missing.
Calls wouldn't go through, no one was home, and even the Flight Glider and Green Goblin Armor were gone.
But he had always assumed his father was in some secret lab conducting that damned human enhancement experiment.
"How do you know what I've done... and do you know where he is?"
Harry's voice began to tremble, and the arrogant aura from before dissipated by more than half.
"Of course I know."
Tombstone's gaze was playful, like he was looking at a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
"Because we all work for the same boss."
"Last night, your old man in his Green Goblin persona followed Bullseye and the others to find trouble with a young man."
"The result..."
Tombstone reached out and made a'slice' gesture across his neck.
"Wiped out."
"Even the bodies were tossed into the Hudson River to feed the fish."
"What?!"
Harry felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. He staggered back two steps, nearly falling to the floor.
Father... is dead?
The invincible Norman Osborn, dead?
How is that possible!
"No... you're lying! That's impossible!"
Harry roared, but the panic in his eyes had already betrayed him.
"Believe it or not."
Tombstone shrugged with an air of indifference.
"Anyway, this news will spread through the entire underworld by tomorrow morning."
"I'm thinking, if I release this news right now..."
"Tsk tsk, will the Osborn Group's stock price drop to the value of scrap paper tomorrow?"
"When that time comes, will you, a crown prince who has lost his father's protection, still be able to shout at me like this?"
These words were like a heart-piercing sword, ruthlessly stabbing through Harry's psychological defenses.
Without his father, and without the deterrent power of the Osborn Group...
In the eyes of these outlaws, he, Harry Osborn, was just a fat sheep that could be crushed at any time!
He opened his mouth, wanting to argue, wanting to threaten.
But he found he couldn't even manage a complete sentence.
His legs wouldn't stop shaking.
Seeing Harry's terrified state, Tombstone gave a disdainful snort.
"If you know what's good for you, get lost."
"Go back and drink a few more bottles of good wine before you go bankrupt."
With that, Tombstone waved his hand.
The several burly men in black behind him immediately closed in with sinister grins.
Pairs of ill-intentioned eyes scanned Harry's expensive suit.
Watching this, Mary Jane's heart went completely cold.
She had originally thought Harry was a legendary hero arriving on colorful clouds.
The result... he just chickened out?
He didn't even dare to resist?
Despair once again shrouded her heart.
However.
Just then.
Peter Parker, who had been standing behind Harry without speaking, spoke up.
Even though he was afraid and his legs were shaking...
When he saw the look of despair in Mary Jane's eyes...
The hot-blooded sense of justice in his heart still clouded his judgment.
"Don't touch her!"
Peter suddenly rushed forward, spreading his arms.
He stood in front of Mary Jane and Harry.
His thin frame looked so ridiculous in front of Tombstone.
"This is a public place!"
"What you're doing is illegal! I've already called the police!"
"I order you to leave here immediately!"
Peter's voice was loud, but it clearly lacked confidence.
It even carried a slight tremor.
Hearing this, the entire backstage fell into a brief, dead silence.
Then.
"Pfft—Hahaha!"
Tombstone laughed so hard that tears almost came out.
He looked at Peter as if looking at a fool.
"Order me?"
"Kid, have you studied yourself into stupidity?"
"Or do you also want to take a swim in the Hudson River?"
"Harry, this is your friend?"
Tombstone shook his head, his gaze suddenly turning fierce.
"It seems you've chosen the hard way."
"Since you don't want to leave, then don't leave at all."
"Beat them!"
Tombstone gave a look.
His subordinates, who had been unable to hold back, immediately pounced like wolves and tigers.
Bang!
The man in the lead landed a punch directly on Peter's face.
"Ugh!"
Peter cried out in pain as he was sent flying, crashing heavily into the dressing table.
Bottles and jars shattered all over the floor.
"Peter!"
Mary Jane cried out in alarm.
Before she could react, two burly men had already grabbed Harry from both sides.
"Let me go! Do you know who I am!"
Harry struggled desperately, but how could someone raised in luxury be a match for these professional thugs?
Slap!
A harsh slap landed on Harry's face.
"Shut up! You little brat!"
The scene instantly spiraled out of control.
Violence, chaos, screaming... and on the high-level stands above the theater.
Johnny Gilda played with the deformed coin in his hand, taking in everything below.
Watching Harry go from arrogant to broken, and watching Peter go from brave to being taken down in seconds.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
"Is this the so-called hero saving the beauty?"
"It's too tragic; I can't even look."
Johnny shook his head and straightened his sleeves.
Although Harry and Peter's performance was pathetic.
It had to be said.
They had indeed secured the perfect timing for his entrance.
Mary Jane was currently in a state of extreme fear and despair.
At a time like this, as long as a beam of light shone in...
Even if it was just a little bit.
She would throw herself at it without hesitation and hold on tight.
Furthermore.
His beam of light was a 2400-watt super searchlight.
"Alright."
"The supporting actors' scenes are finished."
"Now it's time for the protagonist's entrance."
Johnny turned around, choosing not to fly straight down.
That would be too shocking and might scare Mary Jane.
If he was going to act, he had to go through with the full performance.
He wanted that sense of romance that seemed like a coincidence but was actually destined.
He strode with his long legs toward the side door leading backstage.
There, the lighting was just right.
The atmosphere was perfectly set.
Chapter 26: Looks Like I Arrived Just in Time
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The dull thuds of flesh being struck, accompanied by the crisp sound of bones breaking,
echoed through the narrow backstage dressing room.
"Ah—! Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me!"
Harry Osborn was curled up on the floor, his expensive high-end suit now covered in dust and blood.
He held his head in his hands, letting out a shrill scream.
The usually elegant Young Master Osborn now looked like a stray dog.
The news of his father's death, combined with the intense physical pain,
had completely shattered all his psychological defenses.
"I beg you... let Harry go..."
Mary Jane huddled in a corner, her tears having long since ruined her meticulously applied makeup.
She screamed in despair, trying to stop the brutality.
However,
her pleas were met only with Tombstone's even more cruel laughter.
"Hahaha! Did you hear that? This chick is worried about you!"
Tombstone sat on an intact chair, legs crossed, playing with a dagger in his hand.
"Hit him harder!"
"Let this kid know that without that green-skinned daddy of his, he's nothing!"
"Yes, Boss!"
Several thugs grinned sinisterly, their leather shoes raining down on Harry like a storm.
On the other side,
Peter Parker wasn't doing any better.
Though he struggled desperately to save Harry and Mary Jane,
his scrawny frame was pinned firmly against the wall, a burly man's hand clamped around his throat.
"Cough, cough... Let... let go..."
Peter's face turned red, his feet kicking uselessly in the air.
Slap!
The burly man delivered a backhanded slap, making Peter see stars.
"Behave yourself, little nerd!"
Watching this scene,
Tombstone nodded in satisfaction.
He stood up, his massive frame of over 1.9 meters
casting a shadow that completely enveloped Mary Jane.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Tombstone walked up to Mary Jane and crouched down.
His dead-fish eyes stared intently at Mary Jane's chest, which was heaving violently from fear.
"Do you see, beautiful lady?"
"This is reality."
"Your prince can't save you, and your knight is just a piece of trash."
"In this World where the strong prey on the weak, only power is the hard truth."
Tombstone reached out with a large, rough hand, intending to pinch Mary Jane's chin.
"No... don't..."
Mary Jane shrank back desperately, her back pressed tightly against the cold wall.
She had thought she could change her fate through the audition and escape her original family full of alcohol and violence.
She had thought that by climbing the great tree of the Osborns, she could rise above her station and become a phoenix.
But now... the dream was shattered.
Reality was like this filthy hand about to touch her, cruel enough to make one suffocate.
"Am I destined... to rot in the mud for the rest of my life?"
Mary Jane closed her eyes, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes.
Just then,
Creak—
A soft sound echoed.
The iron door connecting the backstage to the side entrance was slowly pushed open.
A beam of light shot in through the gap in the door.
"Who's there?!"
Tombstone's movements paused, and he snapped his head around.
In the direction of the backlight,
a tall, slender figure walked in slowly with hands in pockets.
"I say..."
A magnetic voice, tinged with a bit of playfulness and coldness, rang out.
"It's quite lively here, isn't it?"
"Do you mind if I join in?"
Johnny Gilda.
He stood at the door with a casual smile on his face.
His gaze swept over Harry, who was on the ground like a dead dog, then looked at Peter hanging on the wall.
Finally,
it fixed on Mary Jane, whose face was covered in tear stains.
"Looks like I arrived just in time."
Johnny shook his head and sighed.
"Such a beautiful face; it would be a waste if it's ruined by crying."
"Who the hell are you?!"
The burly man who was holding Peter let go of him, cursing under his breath.
He turned around and walked toward Johnny.
"If you don't want to die, get the hell out— ugh!"
Before he could finish his sentence,
Johnny raised his hand.
He threw a punch.
Bang!
A muffled sound.
The burly man was sent flying backward,
crashing heavily at Tombstone's feet.
Pfft—
The man spat out a mouthful of blood, along with several white teeth.
At his jaw... it had completely collapsed, and one could even see the exposed pink gums!
His jawbone had been punched off!
It literally flew out!
"Aaaaaah!!"
The delayed, intense pain caused the man to let out a pig-slaughtering scream as he rolled frantically on the ground.
Everyone was stunned.
The thugs who were beating Harry stopped their actions and looked at this scene in horror.
Although Harry and Peter had swollen eyes and blurred vision,
when they saw the figure standing at the door, an unprecedented light burst from their eyes.
"Joh... Johnny?!"
Peter clutched his neck, gasping for air, his face showing the ecstasy of having survived a disaster.
"Saved..."
Harry was even more excited, his whole body trembling.
"Johnny! Save MJ! Save us!"
Harry roared with all his might.
Johnny ignored them.
He stepped forward, his leather shoes clicking on the floor.
"Who else wants to try?"
Johnny looked around at the remaining thugs, his eyes cold as if he were looking at a group of dead people.
"Damn it! All together! Kill him!"
Although the thugs were afraid, they were desperate criminals after all.
They exchanged glances, pulled out batons and daggers from their coats, and rushed forward with strange cries.
"Courting death."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three consecutive muffled thuds.
No one saw how Johnny made his move.
They only saw the three thugs who rushed up fly back even faster than they had come.
Crack!
Crack!
Accompanied by the hair-raising sound of bones cracking,
the fate of these three was the same as the first one.
Jaws shattered, blood dripping!
One unlucky bastard's jawbone was even punched straight through his cheek,
hanging from the flesh and swaying.
Urgh...
Seeing this bloody scene, the director not far away couldn't help but vomit.
Mary Jane was so scared she covered her mouth, her large eyes filled with horror.
But even more so... it was a deep sense of shock.
This man was powerful, cold, and yet damnably charming!
Johnny stepped over the wailing thugs on the ground and walked straight up to Tombstone.
At this moment, Tombstone's
originally pale and fierce face had turned ashen.
Cold sweat dripped down his bald forehead.
He stared intently at Johnny's overly young face.
In his mind, the photo sent by his boss, Kingpin,
gradually overlapped with the face before him.
"It's you?!"
Tombstone's voice trembled, all his previous arrogance gone.
"Johnny Gilda?!"
The ruthless man who had wiped out four supervillains—Green Goblin, Bullseye, Electro, and Mysterio—in a single night!
The monster that even Kingpin had to treat with caution!
"Oh? You know me?"
Johnny raised an eyebrow and stopped less than two meters away from Tombstone.
"Since you know me, you should know..."
"I don't have a very good temper."
Johnny glanced at Mary Jane huddled in the corner, then at Harry and Peter on the ground.
Finally, those cold eyes locked onto Tombstone,
and a spine-chilling, fierce grin appeared on his face.
"Touching someone I've set my sights on."
"How do you want to die?"
Tombstone swallowed hard and subconsciously took a step back.
He was panicked.
He was truly panicked.
He knew how powerful Green Goblin's equipment was, and he had seen Electro's destructive power firsthand.
Even those four monsters had fallen into this kid's hands without even a corpse left.
Was his own strength enough to even fill the gaps between this guy's teeth?
"Mis... misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!"
Tombstone forced a smile that looked worse than crying and raised his hands.
"Mr. Gilda, I didn't know she was your friend."
"If I had known, I wouldn't have dared to touch her even if I had a hundred times the courage!"
"I'll leave right now! Leaving immediately!"
As he spoke, he started to back away, trying to slip away.
"Leave?"
Johnny tilted his head as if he had heard a joke.
"You beat up my people and terrified my girl."
"And you want to leave with a simple 'misunderstanding'?"
"Do you think I'm running a charity?"
Johnny turned his head and looked at Mary Jane.
At this time, although Mary Jane was out of danger, she was still shaken.
In those beautiful eyes, besides the fear of Tombstone,
there was more of an awe for Johnny's terrifying power,
and a trace of... a desire to rely on him.
Johnny was all too familiar with this look.
It was the signal that the prey was about to be caught in the net.
"At a time like this..."
Johnny thought to himself.
"If I don't show you something ruthless, how can I make sure you never forget me for the rest of your life?"
Thinking of this,
the aura on Johnny's body suddenly exploded.
"In your next life, remember to keep your eyes open."
Johnny clenched his right fist, and a layer of white energy glowed faintly around it.
"As for now..."
"Go to hell!"
He didn't intend to hold back with this punch.
He wanted to use the most violent means to directly crush this gang leader who dared to act tough in front of him!
With this punch,
Mary Jane's favorability would definitely hit the max!
Chapter 27: Two Rewards
"Boom—!"
The air was compressed at extreme speed, letting out a sonic boom.
Johnny's fist hadn't even touched Tombstone's body yet.
But that terrifying gale from his punch...
...had already caused the pale skin beneath the clothes on Tombstone's chest to ripple like waves.
"No! My skin is bulletproof! You can't kill me!"
Tombstone's eyes widened, his teeth gritted hard, and every muscle in his body was tensed to the limit.
He tried to use the mutated skin he was so proud of to tank this blow head-on.
In his understanding...
...even a Rocket launcher couldn't punch through his defenses in one hit!
However.
The next second.
"Pfft—!"
The expression on Tombstone's face instantly froze.
He lowered his head.
He looked at his chest in a daze.
There.
His originally indestructible grey skin had turned into a massive, gaping hole.
And behind him.
Johnny's blood-stained fist was slowly being withdrawn.
In his hand, he was still clutching a heart that was still slightly twitching!
"Plop."
Johnny casually tossed the lump of mangled meat onto the ground.
"Bulletproof?"
Johnny flicked the blood droplets off his hand, a contemptuous smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Sorry."
"My fists are armor-piercing."
"Uh... cough, cough..."
Tombstone opened his mouth wide, wanting to say something.
But only a gurgling, bubbling sound came from his throat.
A large amount of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs poured from his mouth.
His eyes, filled with terror and disbelief, gradually lost their light.
"Thud!"
His massive frame fell straight backward, slamming into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Tombstone, one of the giants of the New York underworld...
...had been pierced through the heart.
The director was completely scared witless, slumped limply in his chair.
Mary Jane Watson was covering her mouth, even forgetting to breathe.
Her beautiful eyes were wide and round, staring fixedly at Johnny.
Is this... that man's power?
Not only can he send people flying, but he can also... punch right through them?
Is he even human?!
He must be Superman!
In the corner.
Harry Osborn and Peter Parker supported each other, their faces also blank with shock.
Even though they had long known Johnny was strong...
...being strong to this extent... isn't it a bit much?
This was practically grinding their worldview into the dirt!
Just then.
[Ding!]
[Detected that the target Mary Jane Watson has witnessed the host's divine might and is struck by extreme shock and a sense of security!]
[Favorability has increased significantly!]
[Current Favorability: 100 (Unswerving until death)!]
[Congratulations to the host! Successfully conquered the third Marvel Goddess!]
[Obtained Milestone Reward: Teleportation Trial Card ×3!]
[Skill Description: A secret technique from Planet Yardrat. As long as you can sense Ki, you can instantly move to the target's side! Note: This is a one-time consumable, please use with caution!]
[Obtained Max Favorability Reward: Bukūjutsu (Advanced Version)!]
[Skill Description: No longer limited by the efficiency of Ki usage, flight speed is significantly increased! Can reach up to Mach 100! From now on, the sky is your backyard!]
Hearing the system's prompts in his mind...
...Johnny was overjoyed.
Sweet!
This is so damn sweet!
Not only did he solve a problem, but he also maxed out favorability and got a god-tier skill!
The Teleportation Trial Cards were one-time use, but at a critical moment, they were definitely life-saving or divine tools for a sneak attack.
As for the Advanced Bukūjutsu... Mach 100!
How fast was that?
That's 100 times the speed of sound!
That's roughly 34 kilometers per second!
At this speed, even Iron Man's latest armor wouldn't be able to catch his dust!
This kind of treatment was no different from Superman.
Johnny took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart.
He turned around, the coldness on his face instantly vanishing.
In its place was a gentle and concerned smile.
He ignored the corpse and bloodstains on the ground.
He walked straight toward Harry and Peter in the corner.
"Are you both okay?"
Johnny glanced at the two of them, his tone full of concern.
"Not... not dead..."
Harry, with half his face swollen, struggled to stand up to express his thanks.
"Johnny, thank you... if it wasn't for you, I..."
Right at that moment.
The door was opened again.
But this time, a group of Doctors rushed in.
They had received an emergency call and arrived in time.
Seeing the Doctors take over their care...
...he stopped paying attention to these two brothers in misfortune.
Instead, he turned his gaze to Mary Jane, who was still huddled in the corner, shivering.
Johnny came up to Mary Jane and crouched down.
He reached out with a large hand that, though wiped, still carried a faint scent of blood.
He gently cupped Mary Jane's tear-streaked little face.
"It's okay now."
"The trash has been cleaned up."
"As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you."
Mary Jane looked at the man before her.
She looked into his eyes, deep as the sea.
Then she looked at the corpse not far away that had brought her endless terror.
An unprecedentedly strong emotion instantly broke through the dam of her rationality.
"Johnny..."
Mary Jane could no longer hold it back.
She suddenly threw herself into Johnny's arms, her hands tightly clutching his neck.
"Waaaah..."
She cried out loud, venting all her grievances, her fear...
...and the relief of having survived a disaster.
Johnny took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her slender waist, gently patting her back.
He felt the trembling and attachment of the beauty in his arms.
"There, there, don't cry."
"We're classmates, helping each other is only right."
"You won't be pretty if you keep crying."
After this bit of emotional play...
...the distance between the two of them could be said to have gone from ordinary friends to zero distance in an instant.
Not long after.
Piercing sirens sounded outside the theater.
Chief George Stacy rushed in with a large number of Police officers.
Looking at the mess all over the floor and the corpse with a huge hole in its chest...
...George's eyelids twitched violently.
He glanced at Johnny, who was holding and comforting Mary Jane, and sighed helplessly.
It's this kid again.
How many days has it been?
He's almost become a regular at the Police station.
But... the one who died this time was Tombstone, a super-criminal who had been a headache for the Police department for many years.
This kid, though his methods were a bit ruthless...
...one had to admit, he did a great job!
The Police quickly cordoned off the scene and began taking statements.
Because there were witnesses like Mary Jane, the director, Harry, and Peter...
...plus Tombstone himself was a wanted criminal who had initiated the armed assault.
Johnny's actions were, without suspense, preliminarily judged as self-defense.
Although this defense was a bit excessive... considering the opponent was a criminal with a superhuman constitution, it was considered a reasonable counterattack.
After finishing the statements.
Harry and Peter had already been loaded onto the ambulance.
Before leaving, Harry even grabbed Johnny's hand.
He kept saying that from now on, the Osborn Group would be Johnny's strongest backer.
Johnny just smiled and nodded.
He certainly hoped so.
But... I hope you can still say that when you find out your dad was killed by me.
Though it wasn't like he intentionally meant to kill his dad.
Chapter 28: Some Words, I Only Want to Say to You Alone
"Johnny..."
At the theater entrance.
Mary Jane tugged at Johnny's sleeve, her large, red, and swollen eyes filled with hope and longing.
"Tonight... do you still have time?"
"I want... I want to talk to you alone."
"Some words, I only want to say to you alone."
The hint couldn't have been more obvious.
Johnny looked at Mary Jane's pitiful yet subtly flirtatious appearance.
He chuckled inwardly.
He had just finished with Felicia, and now Mary Jane was throwing herself at him.
This many children many blessings system is truly the industry's conscience.
"Of course."
Johnny reached out to help her tidy her messy red hair, his gaze gentle.
"I never refuse an invitation from a beautiful woman."
"But I still have to go to the police station to give a statement, so I'm not sure if I'll have time yet."
"It's okay, call me anytime you're free!"
"Alright then."
"Mm-hmm!"
Mary Jane nodded heavily, breaking into a smile through her tears.
The charm of that moment made the surrounding streetlights pale in comparison.
After Gilda and George left.
The Director, who had been scared into a nervous state, walked over tremblingly.
"Um... Miss Watson."
"Congratulations, you passed the audition."
"You are the female lead of this play."
"The one and only female lead."
Are you kidding?
Even a ruthless man like Tombstone was killed by this woman's friend with a single punch.
If he dared not let her be the lead,
He feared he would suffer the same fate.
"Re... Really?"
Mary Jane froze for a moment, then was ecstatic.
"Thank you! Thank you, Director!"
She was so excited she was incoherent.
She knew.
All of this was brought to her by this man.
If he hadn't appeared in time to save them,
She wouldn't even be standing here now.
He gave her a second life.
It was also him who gave her the ladder to her dreams... New York City Police Department, Interrogation Room.
The coffee here was as bad as ever, tasting like an old rag.
Johnny sat on the iron chair.
Opposite him,
Chief George Stacy had a dark face.
The ballpoint pen in his hand tapped "thump thump" on the notepad.
"So, what you're saying is..."
"Tombstone, that two-meter tall, three-hundred-pound super-criminal with bulletproof skin, accidentally bumped into your fist?"
"And because the inertia was too great, a through-and-through wound appeared in his chest, and his heart went missing?"
"That's quite reasonable, isn't it?"
Johnny shrugged, his expression sincere.
"Director, you know, forces are reciprocal."
"He was moving too fast when he rushed over; I just slightly raised my hand, wanting to say hello."
"Who knew his physical condition was so poor? He looked sturdy, but he was actually as fragile as a potato chip."
"This is a typical tragedy caused by a high-speed moving object hitting a stationary object."
"Pure accident, pure self-defense."
George's mouth twitched violently twice.
What the hell "fragile as a potato chip"!
That was Tombstone!
A gang boss who had been a headache for the NYPD for over a decade!
If it were before, and someone dared to fool him like this,
George would have locked him in the detention cell to cool off for twenty-four hours.
But now... looking at the young man with a faint smile on his face,
George only felt a sense of powerlessness.
Agent Coulson from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Divisionhad already greeted him.
This kid's file had been encrypted to the highest level.
Never mind killing a wanted criminal in self-defense in a theater,
Even if it wasn't, no one would care.
Slap!
George closed the notepad and rubbed his brow irritably.
"Fine, stop giving me this physics talk."
"Since the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division said it's fine, I can't be bothered to deal with you."
"Scum like Tombstone, if he's dead, he's dead. It saves the taxpayers some prison food money."
Speaking of which,
George's tone suddenly shifted as he leaned forward.
It was the gaze of an old father.
"But, Johnny."
"Official business is over, let's talk about personal matters."
That red-haired girl, Mary Jane Watson."
"As far as I know, she's Gwen's classmate."
"Just now at the theater entrance, the way she looked at you didn't seem as simple as just a classmate."
"That kind of look..."
"You know what I mean, right?"
Johnny raised an eyebrow.
Tsk.
This old geezer has sharp eyes.
He even observed such details?
As expected of an old criminal investigator who's been at it for decades.
But, trying to bluff me?
Still a bit green.
"Director, you're really wronging me here."
Johnny looked innocent, even carrying a bit of "you don't understand me" grievance.
"You saw the situation at the time."
"That Tombstone not only wanted to force himself on her but also wanted to kill her to silence her."
"In that desperate situation, I appeared like a God descending to earth and saved her life."
"For any normal woman, under the influence of the Suspension Bridge Effect, developing a bit of admiration and dependence on me, isn't that normal?"
"It's human instinct and a confirmation of my charm."
Johnny spread his hands, speaking righteously.
"But I promise you."
"I have nothing but pure classmate feelings for her."
"Just like my love for Gwen, pure and flawless."
George frowned.
This kid's skin is thicker than a city wall.
What Suspension Bridge Effect, what pure and flawless.
Who would believe that!
A man understands men best.
That look, that aura—he was clearly a fox ready to steal a taste at any time.
But unfortunately, he couldn't catch any substantial evidence.
"Hmph."
George snorted coldly and stood up.
"I hope what you're saying is true."
"Johnny, you're very capable, and your future is limitless."
"But I still want to remind you."
"Gwen is a simple, good girl. If you dare to hurt her..."
George straightened his police uniform, his hand intentionally or unintentionally resting on the service pistol at his waist.
"Although I can't beat you, I guarantee I will make you regret it."
"This is a father's promise."
Johnny also put away his joking expression and nodded solemnly.
"Don't worry, George."
"In this World, no one loves Gwen more than I do."
(After all, she is my main wife, my system starter.)
"That's good."
George waved his hand.
"Alright, you can go."
Chapter 29: Do You Have Me in Your Heart?
When he walked out of the police station doors,
It was already late at night.
Manhattan's neon lights dyed the sky an ambiguous purplish-red.
Johnny glanced at his watch.
8:30 PM.
It was just when the nightlife was beginning.
He pulled out his phone and skillfully dialed the number he had saved not long ago.
"Hello? MJ?"
"It's me, Johnny."
"Yeah, I just got out from that nagging old man's place. Are you free now?"
"Now? Of course I have time."
"Alright, I'll come find you."
Hanging up the phone, Johnny hailed a taxi.
He had managed to fool his Father-in-law.
Next.
It was time to harvest new fruit... After picking up Mary Jane at Broadway,
Gilda left the bicycle he had parked at the entrance earlier there.
Then they took a taxi together to a certain jazz tavern on Ninth Avenue.
The lights here were dim, and the melody of the saxophone was lazy and blurred.
Mary Jane Watson sat in a corner booth.
She had already changed out of her gorgeous stage costume and into a black off-the-shoulder cocktail dress.
Her long red hair was draped casually over her shoulders, looking like a ball of burning Fire under the dim yellow lights.
Johnny's eyes unabashedly swept over her exquisite collarbones and deep cleavage.
"Tonight, you are even more charming than you were on stage."
"Smooth talker."
Mary Jane gave him a reproachful White glance, but the smile on her face betrayed her mood.
"Want to order something? The tapas here are good."
The two ordered some snacks and a bottle of whiskey.
After a few rounds of drinks,
The atmosphere gradually became somewhat subtle.
Johnny was in no hurry to get straight to the point.
Instead, while drinking, he chatted with Mary Jane about interesting things on Broadway and their dreams for the future.
He knew very well.
For a woman like Mary Jane, who has strong self-esteem and ambition,
Pushing her down directly would be counterproductive.
He had to be like boiling a frog in lukewarm Water, slowly dismantling her defenses.
Until she couldn't help but jump into the pot herself.
"Johnny..."
After another glass of whiskey, Mary Jane's eyes were already a bit blurred.
She rested her chin on one hand, her eyes glistening like Water staring straight at Johnny.
"You know what?"
"In the theater today, when you walked in..."
"I felt like you were an Angel sent by God."
"Even though you looked fierce when you were killing people, I wasn't afraid at all."
"Instead, I felt very safe."
Mary Jane reached out her hand across the table and gently covered the back of Johnny's hand.
Her fingertips lightly rubbed his knuckles.
"Then..."
Johnny turned his hand over to hold hers, leaning forward slightly.
"What do you want to say, MJ?"
"Do you want to thank me?"
"Or..."
Mary Jane bit her red lips, as if she had made some kind of decision.
"Johnny, I... I actually quite like you."
"From the first time I saw you in the cafeteria, I was attracted to you."
"But..."
Her tone suddenly shifted, a trace of struggle and helplessness flashing in her eyes.
"You have a girlfriend."
"And, Gwen is a good girl."
"She even invited me to join her band today, she trusts me so much..."
"I... I can't do that to her."
Mary Jane tried to pull her hand back, but she tried once and couldn't move it.
Johnny held it very tightly.
"Liking me is only human nature."
Johnny smiled, a smile that carried a bit of confidence and a bit of roguishness.
"After all, an outstanding man like me is like a firefly in the night; it's hard not to be noticed."
"As for the girlfriend..."
Johnny paused, his gaze becoming deep.
"Actually, I..."
Before he could finish,
A slender finger was lightly pressed against his lips.
Stopping the nonsense he was about to say next.
"Shh—"
Mary Jane looked at him with a complex expression.
There was longing, unwillingness, and also a hint of a woman's cunning.
"I understand."
"Men are always greedy."
"How could a powerful man like you only have one woman by his side?"
"But, Johnny."
Mary Jane picked up her glass and drained the remaining liquor in one gulp.
The spicy liquid flowed down her throat, making her cheeks even redder.
"Not this time."
"Because of Gwen."
"I don't want to be that kind of sneaky mistress, and I don't want to destroy the friendship between Gwen and me."
"At least... not now."
Hearing this, Johnny couldn't help but curse "motherfucker" in his heart.
This woman's level is quite high.
Her favorability is clearly at 100, and her eyes are almost dripping with desire.
Yet she can still hit the brakes at a time like this?
Is this the legendary "playing hard to get"?
Or is she negotiating terms with me?
However,
On the surface, Johnny still pretended not to care.
He released Mary Jane's hand and leaned back against the chair.
He picked up the bottle and poured himself a glass.
"Since you've put it that way,"
"Then what else can I say?"
"I respect your choice."
Seeing Johnny's "if you're not willing then forget it, I won't force it" attitude,
Mary Jane actually got a bit anxious.
She bit her lip and asked somewhat unwillingly:
"Johnny..."
"Am I... in your heart?"
"Even if it's just a little bit?"
Johnny swirled his glass, watching the amber liquid rotate inside.
"Yes."
He answered very straightforwardly.
"How much?" Mary Jane pressed.
Johnny looked up at Mary Jane and flashed a smile.
"Every beauty carries the same weight in my heart."
"You and Gwen are both treasures I want to protect."
"Pfft..."
Mary Jane couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"You... you're really something."
"You can say such scumbag lines with such a straight face."
Although she said he was "no fun," the trace of disappointment in her eyes disappeared.
It was replaced by a sense of satisfaction after receiving confirmation.
At least,
He didn't lie to me.
He really does want me.
That's enough.
Mary Jane refilled her glass, then raised it and waved it at Johnny.
"Johnny."
"Actually, I don't mind how many women you have."
"Because I know that a strong man like you is destined not to belong to just one person."
"But..."
"I don't want to make Gwen sad."
"So."
Mary Jane leaned forward, her red lips curling slightly, as she spoke words that made Johnny's heart race.
"If one day,"
"Gwen nods her head."
"If she doesn't mind having one more sister,"
"Then..."
"I'm ready to let my skirt fly for you at any time."
"Even..."
She licked her lips, her eyes extremely charming.
"We can be together."
Holy shit!
Johnny almost dropped the glass in his hand.
This hint... no, this was already an explicit statement!
As long as he handles the main wife, he can unlock the 'It Takes Two' achievement?
Who the hell could resist this!
"That's what you said."
Johnny took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incredibly burning.
"Of course."
Mary Jane laughed and clinked her glass with his.
"I, Mary Jane, always keep my word."
"However..."
"That depends on whether you have the ability to convince your Little Princess Gwen."
Johnny downed the whiskey in his glass in one gulp.
Feeling the alcohol burning in his stomach,
His fighting spirit was also completely ignited.
Handle Gwen?
Isn't that simple?
Just use a few tricks... the days of 'It Takes Two' are just around the corner!
"Just you wait."
Johnny put down his glass, a confident light shining in his eyes.
"That day won't be too far away."
Chapter 30: The Changing Tides
Late at night on the streets of New York, neon lights flickered.
Johnny called a yellow cab for Mary Jane.
He watched as the car disappeared into the stream of traffic at the corner.
Standing by the roadside, Johnny gave a long, deep stretch.
Although he had drunk quite a bit of whiskey,
both of them had maintained a boundary.
That was to not get drunk.
Otherwise, if both were wasted, who would see them home?
"Tsk, what a pity."
Johnny smacked his lips, reminiscing about that kiss in the tavern that carried the scent of whiskey.
Although he hadn't been able to seal the deal in one go tonight and fully claim this future superstar,
it was still quite a fruitful harvest.
After all,
some things lose their charm if they are obtained too easily.
That feeling of push and pull, of playing hard to get...
That promise of "as long as the main wife nods, I am yours for the taking."
It made his heart itch even more.
"As for Gwen's side... it shouldn't be much of a problem."
Johnny hopped onto his vintage bicycle and pedaled slowly.
In his mind, he was already sketching a beautiful blueprint for the future.
Gwen might have a bit of a tsundere personality, but she was truly devoted to him.
Add to that Mary Jane's high emotional intelligence and clever tactics.
If those two got together... and then if the wild Felicia joined them later...
Hiss—
A threesome?
Or a four-player game of Fight the Landlord?
The picture was so beautiful, he almost couldn't bear to look!
"This many children many blessings system is truly a man's ultimate dream."
Johnny couldn't help but give a thumbs-up to his system bro in his heart.
Not only could he grow stronger, but he could also enjoy the bliss of having multiple wives.
This is the life a transmigrator should have!
As for tonight?
"Forget it, let's just consider tonight a day off for Kun-ge."
Humming a little tune, Johnny's figure gradually blended into the New York night... Meanwhile,
In Hells Kitchen, at the top of Fisk Tower,
Before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows,
Kingpin stood with his hands behind his back, towering like a mountain of flesh.
He looked down at the brilliantly lit city beneath him, his expression grim.
The air in the office was oppressive to the extreme.
Wesley stood behind him, a layer of fine cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"You're saying..."
"Tombstone is dead too?"
"Ye... Yes, sir."
Wesley swallowed hard and reported cautiously.
"Just two hours ago, at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway."
"That Johnny Gilda punched straight through Tombstone's chest."
"Even his heart was crushed."
"Bastard!!!"
Kingpin spun around suddenly and slammed a fist onto the heavy desk.
Boom!
The solid wood desk instantly splintered, wood chips flying everywhere.
His fleshy face was now filled with ferocity and brutality.
"Green Goblin, Bullseye, Electro, Mysterio... and now even Tombstone is gone!"
"Is this kid treating my people like low-level mobs to farm for experience?!"
"What does he take me, Wilson Fisk, for?!"
Since he had begun ruling the New York underworld,
no one had ever dared to challenge his authority like this!
Killing his people one after another...
It was practically taking a dump on his head!
"Sir..."
Wesley adjusted his glasses, his voice trembling slightly.
"That Johnny Gilda... he's too dangerous."
"The experts we sent out have been almost completely wiped out."
"If... if he were to come straight here..."
Wesley didn't dare to continue.
But the meaning was clear.
This kid didn't play by the rules, and his strength was ridiculously high.
If he really decided to pull an assassination attempt,
Fisk Tower's security probably wouldn't be able to stop him!
However,
hearing this, the fire in Kingpin's eyes did not extinguish; instead, it burned even brighter.
"Come here? Heh."
"Does he really think killing a few of my subordinates can threaten me, Wilson?!"
"In my, Kingpin's, dictionary, there is no such word as 'fear'!"
Kingpin let out a cold laugh.
"Let him come!"
"I'm only afraid he won't come!"
"Does he really think having some superpowers means he can walk all over New York?"
Despite his words,
Kingpin was a legendary figure of his era, not a reckless brute who only had muscles.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart.
Reason regained the upper hand.
"Wesley."
"Present."
"Contact that Taskmaster."
"The mercenary who can mimic even Captain America as long as he's paid."
"Tell him I have a big business deal to discuss with him."
"Furthermore..."
Kingpin paused, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.
"Contact those ninjas from The Hand."
"Tell them if they can help me take out this Johnny Gilda,"
"I will agree to let them establish a base at my docks."
Wesley's heart jolted.
The Hand!
Those were a bunch of lunatics who worshipped demons!
It seemed the boss was truly out for blood this time.
"Yes, sir! I'll get right on it!"
Wesley didn't dare delay and quickly withdrew.
Kingpin turned around, looking out at the night view once more.
In those small eyes, there was a heart-chilling cold light.
"Johnny Gilda..."
"Whether you're a Mutant or an alien,"
"I'll make you realize that in this New York, only I, Kingpin, am the one and only King!"
...The next morning.
Osborn Group Tower, top floor conference room.
Around the massive conference table sat board members in suits and leather shoes.
Every face wore an expression known as greed.
And at the head of the table,
the chair that originally belonged to Norman Osborn was currently empty.
"Everyone."
A white-haired old man tapped the table, breaking the silence first.
He was the second-largest shareholder of the Osborn Group and the leader of this coup.
"I think everyone knows in their hearts why we are sitting here today."
"Norman Osborn has been missing for two full days."
"Although that Harry kid claimed to the public that his father went on vacation to Europe,"
"But..."
The old man sneered and threw a document onto the table.
"Any fool knows that's a lie!"
"Vacation? The private jet hasn't moved, and there's no record of his passport leaving the country. You call that a vacation?"
"Moreover, I've received reliable information."
"Rumors are flying wild in the underworld."
"Norman Osborn is dead!"
"They say his body was even thrown into the Hudson River to feed the fish!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the room erupted in an uproar.
Although everyone had their suspicions, having it confirmed was still shocking.
"And there's even more explosive news."
"Our young Master Harry, who was supposed to take over,"
"Was beaten into a pulp by the subordinates of that mob boss Tombstone at Broadway last night over a jealousy dispute!"
"I heard he has four broken ribs, a concussion, and is currently lying in the ICU of a private hospital on oxygen!"
Hearing this news,
the eyes of these old foxes present instantly lit up.
Norman was dead.
Harry was incapacitated.
What did this mean?
It meant the massive Osborn Group was now a piece of ownerless fat!
"Everyone!"
The old man stood up, his tone impassioned.
"The Osborn Group cannot be without a leader for even a single day!"
"For the company's stock price, for the interests of the shareholders, we must act immediately!"
"I propose we immediately announce Norman Osborn's death to the public!"
"And activate the emergency plan to restructure the board and kick that spendthrift Harry out of the game!"
"Agreed!"
"Seconded!"
"We should have done this long ago!"
A group of people raised their hands one after another, impatient to carve up this giant cake.
As for the truth?
As for whether Harry lived or died?
In the face of capital interests, that was worth nothing!
...Manhattan, luxury apartment.
Johnny buttoned his shirt while humming a tune as he walked out of the bedroom.
Although he had slept alone last night,
his sleep quality was surprisingly good.
After all, without having to work up a sweat in bed, his energy was naturally abundant.
He picked up his phone from the table, preparing to see if there were any good morning greetings from Gwen or Felicia.
As it turned out,
a news notification popped up on the screen, causing him to freeze for a moment.
[Breaking! Osborn Group releases official obituary: Chairman Norman Osborn has passed away unexpectedly due to a sudden heart attack!]
[Osborn stock price plummeted 20% at the opening!]
[The board announced an emergency restructuring; will the crown prince Harry Osborn be ousted?]
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Johnny looked at the phone screen and shook his head.
"These capitalists sure move fast."
"Norman only died the night before last; his body probably hasn't even floated to the high seas yet."
"This bunch is already impatient to start picking over his bones."
"Heart attack?"
"Heh, they really know how to make things up."
However,
Johnny didn't care much about all this.
Who ran the Osborn Group had nothing to do with him.
As long as they didn't mess with him, it was fine.
As for that unlucky guy Harry... well, hopefully he could spend a few more days in the hospital.
After all, he was busy taking care of Harry's good friend, Mary Jane.
"Whatever, time for school."
Johnny put away his phone and picked up the keys to his vintage bicycle.
"I still have to 'accidentally' run into Gwen today."
"If I can strike while the iron is hot and hint a little at that 'threesome' plan..."
At the thought of this,
the smile on the corner of Johnny's mouth deepened.
He pushed open the door.
The sunlight was just right.
It was another day full of hope.