Drake wanted to play it safe.
The system had clearly stated that there would be a cooldown period between acquiring templates. However, it never mentioned how long the wait would be before he could obtain a second one.
Because of that, he didn't want to take any risks.
If I only get one chance for a long time, then I need to make it count, he thought.
His goal was already set.
Superior Iron Man.
As far as he remembered from the comics, that version of Tony Stark was absolutely insane.
Superior Iron Man had technology far beyond normal Tony. He had even created suits and inventions on ridiculous levels of power.
MCU Tony Stark was already a genius, no doubt about that.
But Superior Iron Man?
That was a completely different league.
MCU Tony is great... but Superior Iron Man is way more broken.
A grin slowly spread across Drake's face.
And that's exactly what I want.
If he was going to gamble his first template...
Then he would aim for the absolute best.
Drake nodded to himself.
The plan sounded good in his head, but there was one big problem.
"How exactly am I supposed to meet Tony Stark?" he muttered.
He was just a kid.
A normal school student.
Tony Stark was already famous, rich, and the owner of Stark Industries.
There was no way Drake could just walk up to him and say:
"Hey Tony, I know you're going to get poisoned by your arc reactor in a few years. Also, I know how to fix it."
That sounded like the fastest way to end up on a watchlist.
Drake rubbed his forehead.
No rushing.
He still had time.
If this was really around 2006, then Tony had not become Iron Man yet.
That meant the cave incident had not happened.
Obadiah was still around.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was still moving in the shadows.
And Tony was still just a genius billionaire enjoying life.
Good. That gives me years to prepare.
Drake looked toward Peter.
Peter was talking quietly with Harry while writing something in his notebook.
Still, I'm not stupid enough to just barge in and try to copy the city model idea to create a freaking new element out of nowhere, Drake thought.
And if I suddenly go to Tony and say, "Hey, this looks like a new element," even a blind man would realize something is wrong.
Drake sighed.
He simply couldn't find a proper way to do it yet.
I should gamble a little...
Let me try getting a smart person to owe me a favor first. Maybe I can become more intelligent through a template.
He looked around the classroom.
The smartest students in class were Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy.
And Peter is easier.
If I save Peter from Flash bullying him, that should count as a favor, right?
Drake thought for a moment before focusing back on the front.
Right then, the teacher entered the classroom.
The noise immediately died down.
"Alright everyone, take your seats," the teacher said.
Peter was talking quietly with Harry while writing something in his notebook.
Still, I'm not stupid enough to just barge in and try to copy the city model idea to create a freaking new element out of nowhere, Drake thought.
And if I suddenly go to Tony and say, "Hey, this looks like a new element," even a blind man would realize something is wrong.
Drake sighed.
He simply couldn't find a proper way to do it yet.
I should gamble a little...
Let me try getting a smart person to owe me a favor first. Maybe I can become more intelligent through a template.
He looked around the classroom.
The smartest students in class were Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy.
And Peter is easier.
"Alright everyone, take your seats," the teacher said.
The class quickly quieted down after the teacher entered. Drake sat in his seat with his chin resting on his hand, but his attention wasn't on the lesson at all. Every few minutes, his eyes drifted toward Peter.
He had already made a plan.
If Flash bullied Peter, he would step in, help him out, and earn a favor. Simple.
At least, that was how it was supposed to go.
One class passed.
Then another.
Soon, lunch break arrived.
Students immediately got up and started heading toward the cafeteria while talking and laughing.
Drake frowned.
The whole morning, he had been keeping an eye on Peter, ready to jump in at any moment.
But nothing happened.
Flash didn't bully him.
He didn't push him, mock him, or even talk to him.
Nothing.
Drake narrowed his eyes.
What the hell? Since when did Flash stop bullying Peter? Isn't that basically his daily routine?
He sighed in disappointment.
Just as he was thinking that, a voice suddenly came from in front of him.
"Oh, there you are, man."
Drake looked up and saw Flash sitting down across from him. A few basketball team members followed and sat nearby.
Drake blinked.
Speak of the devil...
"Where were you all morning?" Flash asked. "You looked kind of absent."
Drake simply shrugged.
"Just feeling under the weather."
Flash nodded before scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"Anyway… can I borrow a few bucks? I need them for something. It's kind of an emergency."
Drake stared at him for a moment before casually pulling out fifty dollars and handing it over.
Flash immediately grinned.
"Thanks, man. I owe you one."
The moment those words left Flash's mouth, Drake's entire body froze.
DING.
A familiar screen instantly appeared before his eyes.
[Favor Debt Confirmed]
[Target: Flash Thompson]
[Calculating Superior Template...]
[Template Acquired: Agent Venom]
For a few seconds, Drake just stared blankly.
His brain stopped working.
...What?
WHAT?!
Agent Venom?
Flash Thompson's future Agent Venom template?!
Drake sat there in complete shock.
Fuck! I didn't even think of that!
He immediately shouted inside his head.
"System! This was an accident!"
The system replied without delay.
[Host did not establish template acquisition preferences.]
[System automatically processed favor conversion.]
Drake's eye twitched.
"...You have got to be kidding me."
Taking a deep breath, he quickly gave a new order.
"From now on, don't automatically convert favors into templates unless I personally approve it."
A second later, the reply came.
[User preference saved.]
[Automatic template conversion: Disabled.]
Drake slumped back in his seat and slowly looked toward Flash.
Flash was happily eating food like nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Drake's mind was in complete chaos.