C 15

"When you see Norman Osborne, don't care about his attitude."

Anton listened attentively, nodding in agreement without hesitation while Jonah added, "You know, Osborne needs the Daily Bugle, not the other way around."

"What do you mean?" Anton asked, confusion evident on his face.

In the back of his mind, Anton felt a nagging suspicion that the person Norman Osborne had appointed might not be himself, but rather the old man—Jameson himself. Yet it was clear that Jameson had granted him full authority in this meeting.

"Go in," Jameson instructed as they reached the top floor, standing in front of Norman Osborne's office.

Jameson paused, a smile creeping onto his face. "Go in and take a good look at yourself. Remember, you now represent the Jameson family."

"Understood," Anton replied, his expression a mix of apprehension and determination. He straightened his collar and knocked on the door.

"Come in," came Norman Osborne's voice from within.

With a firm push, Anton opened the door and stepped inside.

Norman looked up, surprise flickering across his features. "If I remember correctly, your name is Anton, right?" He smiled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "I'm genuinely surprised that old Jonah actually gave you the Daily Bugle. I thought he'd cling to his power until the day he died. He must be quite pleased with you."

"Thank you," Anton replied, nodding slightly. He skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point. "The old man didn't tell me what to say, but I believe the purpose of our meeting today concerns the Life Foundation. Am I correct, Mr. Osborne?"

"Not bad," Norman said, motioning for Anton to take a seat. "The Life Foundation is our common adversary. From what I gather, you're the mastermind behind the scandal originating from them. I must admit, you did a commendable job—quite reminiscent of Jonah's style."

"Old man?" Anton raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "It seems he's brought down more major companies than I think."

"Of course, I admire him and regret his retirement," Norman said sincerely.

Anton was unsure if Norman's words were genuine or just a façade. However, as a young man eager for success, he preferred to cut through the niceties and get straight to business. "What exactly does Mr. Osborne want from me today?" he asked.

"Cooperation," Norman stated bluntly. "I came to the Daily Bugle for a partnership."

"It seems that the Oscorp Company has a keen interest in the Life Foundation," Anton observed, feigning surprise.

Norman continued, "After all, our collaboration hinges on the downfall of the Life Foundation. While Oscorp is primarily an arms manufacturer, we also rank among the top companies globally in biological genetics. In simpler terms, we are a renowned pharmaceutical company as well. The Life Foundation is one of our rivals in this field, and the pharmaceutical patents they possess are exactly the kind of supplement that Oscorp dreams of."

"Bringing down the Life Foundation and taking over is indeed a significant advantage," Anton acknowledged. "But what's in it for the Daily Bugle?"

"Shares," Norman replied. He understood the importance of maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship. "As long as the Daily Bugle cooperates with Oscorp to successfully acquire the Life Foundation, I can transfer 5% of the shares of the Life Foundation to the Jameson family afterward."

As Norman discussed the business deal, he assumed a demeanor that was almost detached. "I believe this sufficiently conveys my sincerity."

"Then, happy cooperation," Anton replied, his voice steady.

Anton couldn't help but feel that the offer was straightforward. Five percent of the shares of the Life Foundation might seem paltry at first glance, but considering the size of the Life Foundation, it represented a staggering amount of wealth. Norman Osborne was indeed generous.

It dawned on Anton that the real reason the Oscorp Company sought cooperation with the Daily Bugle stemmed from the latter's influence over public opinion. Without the Daily Bugle, Oscorp would struggle to buy the Life Foundation, unable to even grasp the intricacies of such a goal. Money alone wouldn't suffice.

The existence of the Daily Bugle filled a critical gap for Oscorp in the realm of public relations. This partnership was indispensable to his plans, which clarified why Norman was willing to invest so heavily.

As Anton exited Norman Osborne's office, he reflected on the earlier comment about how he reminded Norman of Jonah Jameson back in the day. His expression turned contemplative. He began to ponder the origins of the Jameson family's wealth. Had the old man truly relied on the Daily Bugle to exploit opportunities, take advantage of situations, and ultimately amass a fortune worth billions?

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, within the walls of the experimental base and the symbiote research center, a different narrative unfolded.

"Are you really going to let me go?" Eddie Brock asked incredulously, staring at the woman named Dora Skirth. He could hardly believe his luck.

"I didn't let you go. You broke free, knocked me out, and escaped," Dora corrected him, her tone serious.

"Understood!" Eddie nodded eagerly. "Don't worry, I won't expose you."

"Before you leave, there are some important things you need to know," Dora said, her expression turning grave.

Eddie sensed the weight of her words and his expression shifted to one of concern. "What is it?" he asked.

Dora leaned in, her voice low. "Do you know why the Life Foundation, a pharmaceutical company, suddenly decided to build rockets and launch a space program?"

"Because of Earth's overpopulation and climate change. Drake wants to be ahead of the curve," Eddie replied, recalling various interviews and comments made by Drake. "Is that not true?"

"No, it's all true," Dora confirmed. "Drake did send a spacecraft to search for a habitable planet. But on the return trip, they unexpectedly discovered a comet."

"A comet?" Eddie asked, confused. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"The onboard computer detected thousands of signs of life on the comet!" Dora explained, her voice filled with urgency. "They brought some samples back."

Eddie's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, are you saying there are aliens?"

"You could say that," Dora admitted. "However, we refer to them as symbiotes. They cannot survive in our environment independently. They require hosts, much like traditional parasites."

Eddie took a deep breath, trying to process the information. "Then these experiments I've witnessed in the past few days…"

"Yes," Dora said, her tone somber. "Drake believes that merging humans with symbiotes will be key to our survival in space. But these experiments weren't included in the test reports. He's been conducting them recklessly. If the experiments fail, the host dies, which you might call a grotesque violation of life."

"He's a lunatic!" Eddie exclaimed, stunned. He had initially assumed Drake was conducting illegal human experiments for profit. However, it was becoming apparent that Drake's ambitions extended far beyond mere financial gain.

He was attempting to fuse humans with extraterrestrial beings—a notion that felt both absurd and terrifying.

This revelation left Eddie grappling with a stark reality: the Life Foundation was delving into realms of science and morality that could have far-reaching consequences. His perspective shifted as he understood the depths of their experiments and the potential dangers they posed to humanity.

….

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