r18novel Chapter 43: Your Choice
Chapter 43: Your Choice
Norman was not in a wheelchair or wearing a breathing tube this time.
He sat in his office, which he hadn't sat in for a long time, and in a soft chair that he hadn't felt in a long time.
He actually wanted to change into a brand new, elegant, and luxurious suit, just like before, full of vigor and confidence.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do it.
He can't even manage something as simple as getting up and walking, let alone changing his clothes.
He used to love sitting here, in front of the bright, floor-to-ceiling windows.
He's sitting here now, but his body is on the verge of death.
"What a beautiful city," Norman murmured, gazing out the window.
Outside the window, tall buildings stand side by side, like a steel forest.
Sunlight streams onto the surface of the high-rise buildings, and behind each shining window may lie a story.
At this moment, Norman Osborne simply watched quietly, becoming a silent spectator, appreciating the city's scenery, and trying to listen to the stories behind the windows.
dong dong——
However, a knock on the door interrupted his enjoyment.
Norman turned around, pressed a button on the desk, and the office door opened.
He was a boy wearing Osborne work clothes.
He was the most interesting friend his son had ever met.
He was also the son of one of his old friends.
Peter Parker.
"Come in."
"Sorry to bother you..."
Peter stepped inside and tried to close the door behind him, only to find that it closed automatically, which made him feel a little embarrassed.
"What? Have you given up on saving them?" Norman returned to his previous posture, gazing out the window.
"What? No! Of course not, Mr. Osborn."
Peter suddenly realized that this was the first time he had been alone with Norman.
Before that, there was Oz, and then Dr. Connors.
Now he is all alone.
Unlike the sense of concealment that the Spider-Man mask gave him, he was now Peter Parker, an ordinary high school boy, and it was inevitable that he would feel nervous.
"Then what are you doing here? Are you here to laugh at me?"
"I wouldn't do such a thing, Mr. Osborn."
Peter began to look around, trying to find Oz.
But this guy is a strange crow; it's not like he can just find it whenever he wants.
"I'm looking for my crow..."
Peter hesitated for a long time before finally telling the truth.
Then he could clearly hear that Mr. Osborne's breathing had become much rougher.
Oh my god, I must have brought up the very thing I shouldn't have said!
Oz pulled out Norman's breathing tube so many times, how could anyone possibly welcome him!
"Sorry, that's not what I meant... Since it's not here, I'll be leaving now..."
Peter felt he couldn't stay any longer.
If you stay here and say things that make people think all sorts of nonsense.
Norman Osborn might go berserk again, and might even turn into a monster!
After all, the Osborn Corporation has produced so many random and shoddy products...
As Peter reached the door, Norman suddenly called out to him.
"Peter."
"Huh? I'm here!" Peter's body tensed instantly. He didn't understand why he did it, but he did it anyway!
Just when Peter thought Norman was about to say something harsh to pressure him into finishing the experiment, Norman said instead:
"Come and chat with me for a while."
"Huh? Oh... okay... no problem."
Peter walked up to him like a quail.
It has to be said that Norman's current face could easily be mistaken for that of a monster.
His face was droopy and shriveled up, his skin was like tree bark and it looked like there were scales carved on it, which was disgusting to look at.
"Mr. Osborne, what would you like to talk about..." Peter asked weakly.
Norman glanced at the kid and chuckled, "Where did your Spider-Man spirit go? Weren't you so talkative? Now you're like an ostrich."
Peter felt much better after being teased like that.
He scratched his head. "Sorry, you must have found this funny."
"A joke?" Norman shook his head. "If Harry had even half your conviction, I'd be popping champagne to celebrate."
Peter just chuckled twice.
Norman said, "I believe you want to save me, Peter."
He turned to look at the boy in front of him, whose slightly embarrassed and shabby appearance revealed an extraordinary charm.
Norman asked, "Tell me, kid, what's it like being Spider-Man?"
When Peter heard the first part of the sentence, he thought he was going to be asked why he became Spider-Man.
When he finally prepared his answer, he discovered that the question was about what it was like to be Spider-Man.
It seems no one has ever asked him this question.
Even Oz didn't ask; instead, he said that the road would be difficult and that you needed to be prepared.
"..."
Peter thought about it carefully for a while and replied, "It was a bit bad at first, but it's okay after I got used to it."
"When I first acquired this ability, it caused a lot of trouble in my life, but gradually, as I mastered it... that is..."
He paused for a moment, then said, "Choosing to become Spider-Man felt incredibly comfortable and I thoroughly enjoyed it."
Norman laughed out loud after hearing this: "A pushover like you expecting to enjoy life? With so many chores to do all day long, you'll break down sooner or later!"
Peter blushed slightly, wanting to retort.
Norman suddenly stopped laughing and his expression turned serious.
"Peter, I have to tell you something."
"What?"
"It's harder to be a good person than a bad person."
"..."
Norman's eyes were like those of a vicious wolf, fixed on Peter. He said:
"It's easy to become a bad person; all you have to do is commit some illegal and harmful acts."
"But being a good person... is far more difficult than being a bad person."
Peter said, "But I feel..."
Norman interrupted, "How long have you been Spider-Man? Half a year? Twenty years? Probably not even three months?"
Peter lowered his head and whispered, "About a month."
"Look," Norman pointed at Peter with his sharp finger, "you've only just begun. You have no idea how difficult the road ahead will be."
"You will make enemies and get into countless troubles because of saving people. They will think that you ruined the good thing and point the finger at you as the source of everything."
"Moreover, some of the people you have helped, when they encounter trouble again and long for your quick arrival but you do not come, will also blame you for their mistakes."
"You're not Superman; you can't help others 24/7."
"You can only help others within this short period of time and to the extent that you can do it."
Peter was speechless, unable to refute Norman's sharp words despite his displeasure.
"That's the problem: if a good person stops being a good person, everything they did before can be easily erased."
Even so, are you still going to take the job?
Upon hearing this, Peter looked up at Norman and nodded.
"..."
Norman was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Very good, really good."
"Your determination is admirable," Norman said sincerely.
Unlike the praise he received from others, Peter did not feel any secret elation from the compliments this time.
There was only silence and contemplation.
Peter said, "Mr. Osborn, we can definitely cure your condition!"
"Alright," Norman waved his hand. "I know my own body best; you don't need to cheer me on."
Peter wanted to say again, "But..."
But Norman suddenly grabbed her wrist and held it tightly.
Promise me one thing.
Peter let the other man hold his wrist, even though he could easily pull it off.
"if only......"
"No, it's very simple," Norman interrupted again.
"What?"
"Please take good care of Harry for me."
Then Peter saw Norman loosen his grip and then shakily take a small cube from the desk.
He held the small object, handed it to Peter, and said:
"When you feel the time is right, give this to him. It's the only thing I can leave him."
Peter instinctively refused: "No, Mr. Osborn, you're not dead yet..."
"Peter." Norman simply repeated his name, looking at him.
"..."
After a long standoff, Peter finally accepted it, saying, "I'll probably give it to him the moment I see him."
"Maybe so, but I think you should know better than me when to hand it over to him."
"Let's leave now and get to work on the serum experiments to treat Harry's impending illness."
After Norman finished speaking, he waved his hand, choosing to send Peter away, and turned his chair around to continue looking out the window.
Peter didn't know what to say, so he could only hold the small cube and look back at that figure every three steps.
After Peter left.
Norman gazed out the window at the scenery for a moment, then said:
"I know you're here."
"Huh?!"
Oz was shocked. Was this guy really that awesome?
I'm a little guy favored by Morgan Freeman, how could he see through me so easily!
"Come out, crow."
Norman did not see Oz. He looked around his office but could not find the crow at all, not even a feather.
Just as he thought he was overthinking it and turned back, a black raven with red eyes suddenly appeared in front of him.
"I knew it!"
"Know what?" Oz spoke in a human voice.
"I know you're more than just a simple crow."
Norman was not surprised that the raven could speak human language. He silently looked at Oz's ruby-like eyes and found them mesmerizing.
"Uh... if you keep doing this, I'll pluck your nose hairs, you believe me?" Oz was speechless.
"...I only want to know one thing," Norman said.
"What?"
Oz caught a feather that had suddenly fallen from his back and brushed it off on himself as if he were scratching an itch.
"To Peter, are you Fury?"
"I really will pluck your nose hairs, I'm not kidding."
Oz said fiercely, but upon seeing Norman's bewildered expression, he realized he was simply reacting to the situation (a great tragedy!).
"Yeah, what's wrong?" Oz said.
"Then for the others who can see you, is it death?" Norman asked.
Upon hearing this, Oz jumped onto the guy's lap and then poked his rotten face with a feather.
What do you think?
"I don't know," Norman said, still observing the raven's subtle movements. "I'm going to die, aren't I?"
"The crow doesn't know."
Norman closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and asked the last question.
"Harry will be safe, right?"
This time, the crow finally answered directly.
"Your choice corrected his mistake."
Norman chuckled, a very comfortable and happy laugh.
He slumped into the sofa chair, muttering to himself:
"That's fine too."
————(Easter egg)
"One last question, why are your eyes red?"
Norman felt a sharp pain in his nose as soon as he finished speaking.
"Do you think I'm an AI? Asking me all these questions, if you keep asking, I'll pull out your manhood!"
Oz then reached out his hand.
Norman covered his nose, indicating his incomprehension.
"what?"
"Give me the monthly pass."