The TV broadcast shifted to footage of the New York police arresting Harry.
"In addition to successfully arresting Harry Osborn, the police have discovered a body believed to be Norman Osborn's. Due to the body being severely burned, dental records will be needed to confirm its identity."
Not many knew that after Harry was arrested, he saw [Black Mask] in the hospital under police surveillance.
"You... who are you?"
Atreus didn't respond. He said calmly, "I promised someone I wouldn't kill you. But that doesn't mean you're going to have a happy time in prison."
Many American prisons are privately run. Wealthy people can pay to stay in what amounts to a villa-like cell. The only thing they don't have is freedom; everything else isn't a problem.
With several broken bones, Harry screamed, "Police! Police! Somebody, help me!"
"Go ahead and scream! Even if your throat goes hoarse, no one will come to save you." The eyes beneath Black Mask glinted with cruelty.
Atreus approached Harry with the intent to crack his skull and lifted him off the ground like an eagle snatching a chick.
"Professor Yang sends his regards!"
The next second, hundreds of volts of electricity surged from Atreus's hand.
"Ahhhhh—!"
If Atreus wanted, he could fry Harry's brain like 'caramel pudding.' He was 'gentle,' carefully controlling the voltage as it attacked Harry's brain until Harry lost control of his bowels, and a stench filled the room. Only then did the system notify him:
[Host has successfully destroyed Harry Osborn's brain. After assessment, this person has entered a vegetative state.]
Looking at Harry, drooling and muttering incomprehensible sounds like "Aba aba," Atreus left, satisfied.
No video evidence was left behind.
The next day, New York was in an uproar.
Due to the scandals surrounding the Osborn family, Osborn Corporation's stock plummeted 89% at market opening.
Atreus made a killing.
It's important to know that short-selling involves borrowing stock. Atreus effectively used one stock to borrow four times the amount, meaning his gains or losses were quadrupled.
He had mortgaged all his Stark Industries stock to make the deal, and his profits were astronomical.
Of course, if he made a killing, someone else was wiped out.
Silicon Valley Bank, which held a large amount of Osborn stock, went bankrupt due to massive losses.
But, as the saying goes, "Better them than me."
Seemingly unaffected, Atreus became a recognized rising star on Wall Street.
While others took down small fry one by one, Atreus burned entire households.
His success was built on the graves of the Osborn family.
However, Atreus rejected invitations from various investment funds on Wall Street, and instead appeared in a place no one expected.
"Mrs. Toomes, Ms. Toomes, this is the least I can do for Adrian."
He placed a sponsorship contract in front of Liz and her mother, filled with business terms that could make anyone's head spin.
They only understood one thing: a benefactor had appeared.
Due to a different timeline, the [Vulture] hadn't made much of a name for himself. The only certainty was that his house was still under a mortgage.
If history repeated itself, the Toomes family would be impoverished after Adrian was captured by Peter, forced to leave their mansion and move back to their old home, out of Peter Parker's sight.
It was a tragic love story, crushed by reality.
But this time, Atreus's financial power solved it all.
Liz, with tear-filled eyes and large dark circles, asked, "I don't understand, Mr. Atreus. Why are you helping us?"
"Peter Parker!" The name Atreus said shocked Liz to her core. "I think you understand what I mean."
Liz's eyes widened in silence.
"What do I have to do?"
"Nothing. Just continue your relationship with him. Oh, and no jealousy," Atreus said mysteriously.
Liz seemed to understand. "You want to control Peter, don't you?"
"No, no, no. I just want to be a good [spectator]." Atreus spoke words even he didn't believe, but in reality, he needed someone to keep an eye on Peter. After all, the little spider was at the heart of the zombie universe. No one could watch Peter better than someone close to him.
The Toomes family had no reason to refuse.
That afternoon, Peter was taken aback when Liz came knocking, visibly heartbroken.
No one expected Liz to throw herself into Peter's arms, tearfully expressing her sorrow over losing her father and her love for him.
Holding her tightly, Peter couldn't shake the feeling that his good karma had just dropped by 233 points.
Everything seemed back on track until...
One day, Atreus was soaking in his villa's hot spring.
The 30-square-meter pool overlooked a beautiful lake. As he gazed at the swaying maple trees and listened to the birds sing, Atreus relaxed at the pool's edge.
Thanks to a certain benefactor, he was swimming in wealth. His current fortune could rival the benefactor's, but the thought of Batman's stern, unfeeling face still irritated him.
Normally, no matter how much he tried, he could never squander Wayne Enterprises' fortune.
But then again, the future is unpredictable.
As the water rippled around him and the underwater jets massaged him, a white-gloved hand suddenly dropped down from the ceiling near the door.
*Knock knock!*
A polite knock on the door.
Atreus's left eyebrow twitched. "The door's open," he said.
A woman's voice floated in from outside. "Kratos, could you ask the lady to leave?"
Atreus tapped the water, and the next second, Canary emerged from beneath the surface, casting a complicated glance at the intruder before gracefully wrapping herself in a towel and gliding out.
Gwen swung in from the rooftop.
It was a somewhat eerie scene—Black-and-White Spider-Woman dropping in like that. For most people, it would have been terrifying.
"When did you find out?" Atreus asked, spreading his arms and leaning back in the pool.
"I had my suspicions. After seeing your two assistants last night, I confirmed it. Their voices are too recognizable." Gwen dangled herself upside-down using her webs.
It was the classic Spider-Man pose—holding onto the webs with both hands while her long, graceful legs hung in a diamond shape.
The two faced each other in an inverted world.
"I forgot to add voice change for them," Atreus mused, not particularly bothered. "So, Ms. Stacy, you've ruined my moment. How are you planning to make it up to me?"
Gwen pulled off her mask, revealing an intelligent and stunningly beautiful face. "Should I make it up to you with myself?"
"Oh? Is it because I'm Kratos, or because I'm rich?"
"For the Kratos who saved my life multiple times." Gwen didn't hesitate to lean in for a kiss, only to be stopped by Atreus's finger on her lips.
"You should know my situation."
Gwen blinked. "Of course. I learned from Peter that 'good men are meant to be fought for.'"
"Not enough."
"And another thing: 'If you can't beat them, join them.'"
Atreus finally laughed.
As Atreus stood up, Gwen continued her advances.
"You're different, Gwen," Atreus murmured, his hand tracing the curve of her waist as they danced at his latest soiree. His harem of beauties watched from the sidelines, their eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of jealousy.
Gwen smirked, "Is that a bad thing, Atreus?" Her voice was a sultry purr, a promise of untamed passion.
"Not at all," he replied, his thumb brushing against her lower lip. "It's intriguing. I like intriguing."
Their lips met in a fiery kiss, a clash of tongues and teeth. Atreus's hands gripped her hips, pulling her closer. Gwen moaned, grinding against him. "Fuck, Gwen," Atreus growled, "You're a wild one, aren't you?"
"You have no idea," Gwen replied, her hands moving to his belt. She unbuckled it, her fingers brushing against his hardening cock. "I want to taste you, Atreus. I want to drink you."
Atreus groaned, his head falling back as Gwen's hand wrapped around his cock. She stroked him, her thumb brushing against the precum beading at the tip. "Fuck, Gwen, you're killing me."
Gwen smiled, her tongue darting out to lick the precum off her thumb. "Mmm, you taste divine, Atreus."
She sank to her knees, her eyes never leaving his as she took him into her mouth. Atreus groaned, his hands fisting her hair. "Fuck, Gwen, yes. Suck me, baby. Take it all."
Gwen did, her head bobbing, her tongue swirling. She could feel Atreus's cock hardening even more, his grip on her hair tightening. "I'm going to cum, Gwen. Swallow it all, baby. Drink it all."
Gwen moaned, her eyes watering as Atreus's hot cum filled her mouth. She swallowed every drop, her tongue cleaning him off.
(End of Chapter)