Melting Chapter 84: Rewards, Determination... (Patreon)

“Good day, Uncle Aaron.”

In the CEO’s office, under Norman’s friendly but firm gaze, Harry forced out a greeting, then stood still like a wooden dummy, his expression blank. Glancing at Aaron’s overly youthful and absurdly handsome face, Harry felt completely ill at ease.

So this is what it means to be a winner in life…

“This is your son Harry? He’s quite handsome,” Aaron remarked after a brief glance.

Yet Norman gave a scornful snort. “Handsome? He’s got nothing on you, Boss. I just hope he causes me a bit less trouble—that’s enough to make me grateful. Just a few days ago, he got expelled from a private school and had to transfer to a public high school. It’s been a giant headache.”

With Aaron as the yardstick, Norman was no longer even remotely satisfied with Harry. He sighed repeatedly at the stark gap.

Harry felt a wave of self-consciousness. Usually, being called ‘handsome’ might have pleased him, but coming from Aaron, it only made him more uneasy—like he was being teased. He forced a dry smile.

Seeing Harry like that, Norman silently shook his head. “Boss, from now on I’ll leave Harry in your hands. I only hope he can grow up to be healthy and eventually take over my role, continuing to serve you.”

Serve him? No chance! Harry thought bitterly.

Aaron said nothing. A first-class “tool” like Norman was definitely convenient; no need to change. As for Harry…

He strode over. “Wh-what are you doing?” Harry asked, startled, seeing Aaron raise a hand. Then he glanced at Norman, looking alarmed. Don’t tell me my own father’s offering me up as tribute?!

From Harry’s perspective, Norman was smiling happily—apparently quite satisfied with this arrangement. No, I can’t let them treat me like I’m some bargaining chip… He briefly pictured Peter in his mind…

“All done.”

“Huh?”

Harry opened his eyes. All he saw was Aaron gently pressing a hand to his head. He felt as if something was drawn out of him—yet simultaneously something else was added.

“Thank you so much, Boss! As Hammer said before, you really are the God of Miracles!” Norman gripped Aaron’s right hand in gratitude.

Harry was baffled. What on earth just happened? My father’s not some mindless worshipper, is he? Aaron barely did anything, and he’s all grateful now? Is that how Osborn Group ended up under Aaron’s name in the first place? No wonder Dad can’t hold his head high…

“As soon as you finish your follow-up physical, your family won’t have to worry about any inherited diseases,” Aaron said calmly. The Primordial Furnace could dissolve even the fiercest of ailments at the source. If one day he ended up in some “quantum zombie universe,” he’d probably be the ultimate savior.

Norman’s face lit with renewed excitement.

“All right, enough about that. Norman, I hold you in high regard, so I plan to grant you the reward you deserve.” Aaron cut short any further talk and came up to Norman.

Again, he simply reached out and touched Norman’s head. In a flash, Norman felt a tremendous energy rush in. The faint weakness left by his bullet wound disappeared. His body seemed to swell, becoming more robust. The muscles he’d once lost from overdoing scientific work were now refortified.

“My body…” Norman clenched his fist. He suddenly felt as though no feat was impossible. Glancing up at the three-meter-high ceiling, it seemed he could reach it with a casual jump. He also glimpsed a tiny insect buzzing across the room – and found he could track its flight path and wingbeats with disturbing clarity.

“Take your time adapting to the new power I’ve given you,” Aaron said, returning to the boss’s chair. “If something like today ever happens again, at least you won’t be completely powerless.”

He had bestowed upon Norman traits on the level of a mutated scorpion soldier plus ant powers: super-regeneration, super-strength (able to lift 40 tons and drag 100), dynamic vision, extreme agility, and endurance. Combined, it far surpassed any possible “Green Goblin,” and came free of harmful side effects. Even a bullet to the brain might not kill him – though it could cause memory problems. It was just about that level of healing ability.

Harry’s mouth hung open, failing to process it all. Meanwhile, Norman’s face glowed with excitement. A super-soldier formula—something he’d researched for the military, never fully perfected. But Aaron only needed a gentle pat to turn a normal person into a super-soldier! Norman was utterly sold on this boss.

“Don’t worry, Boss. As long as I’m alive, I’ll manage the Osborne Group well under your leadership!” he promised fervently. Words alone were insufficient; Norman would prove his worth through actions.

“Harry, thank your Uncle Aaron!” he barked. Harry resigned himself to murmuring a thanks. Aaron waved him off, so Norman hustled Harry out of the office.

Once Aaron was alone, he drummed his fingers on the wooden desk, eyes closed in thought. Hmm, time to power up my women as well. He already had broad abilities – with omniscient eyes, super hearing, spider-sense, etc., he could typically protect them.

But you never know. If they themselves possessed real powers, they’d be safer, especially if they ended up traveling to other realms or universes. So he typed out text messages for each of his women, then rang up Barbara Morse.

“Hey, sweetie, I miss you…”

“Stop being sappy – or, well, I like hearing it – but hurry, I want you to contact ‘Egg-Head’ so we can talk.”

“Egg-Head?” She paused, quickly realizing he meant Fury. “All right, dear. Where?”

“How about your place?”

She licked her lips, recalling how she craved the “milk-flavored ice cream” Aaron served.

“Fine by me,” Aaron replied.

“OK!” she said happily, then ended the call. Casting her gaze about, she realized something was missing: she was low on stockings. She often ripped several pairs at a time – that brand’s quality was questionable, but she liked it anyway. Chuckling to herself, she decided to shop later, possibly roping Nick Fury into the plan.

Meanwhile, in Aaron’s office, a knock sounded. “Come in,” he said. Dr. Connors stepped inside with some papers, wearing an awkward expression.

“Boss, this is an invitation from Empire State University. They want to bring some students here on a tour.” He set the letter and a roster on the desk. “Empire State University is deeply partnered with the Osborn Group – Dr. Octavius used to teach there…”

Aaron considered handing it all off to Felicia. It was just a tour, no big deal, and he didn’t want to waste time. But his eyes flicked over the attached list, and he stopped short at the top name:

“Gwen Stacy?”

He perked up. She was from Empire State University, right? That was interesting. “We’re partners, so you and Otto handle it. Let them see our research atmosphere. Maybe they’ll yield some good future talent,” he told Connors.

Connors nodded eagerly and left to finalize details. Aaron fished out Gwen Stacy’s photo, scanning her background. He nodded, pleased. She looked like a well-rounded “secretarial” type – yes, indeed, Aaron liked capable recruits.

Felicia had been overworked; a kind boss like Aaron might bring in more female secretaries to share the load. Gwen was both beautiful and highly competent, worlds apart from mere showpieces. Looking hopefully through the rest of the file, he found no one else comparable. Sigh, Earth certainly had plenty of pretty women, but those who combined beauty and capability were rare indeed.

Out in the corridor, Norman Osborn and Harry, rather than leaving, headed to the high-security R&D floor. Harry felt confused and half nervous at his father’s newfound excitement. “Dad, where are we going?”

“Quiet. Just follow me.” Norman, suppressing his elation, took Harry to a specially reinforced chamber – a lab built to handle hazardous experiments. It wasn’t in use yet but was filled with punching bags, barbells, steel plates, etc. At first, Norman had wondered what sort of “bio-experiments” needed such a bulletproof chamber. Now he realized Boss is wise indeed. He felt guilty for ever doubting him.

“Dad, w-why are we here?” Harry asked. “Are you going to tell me why you’re so deferential to that man, Aaron?”

“I’m not,” Harry reflexively denied. Norman shook his head. He knew his son’s thoughts too well; from an outside perspective, his praising Aaron so highly might look sycophantic. But Norman believed that if they had to do it all over, he’d choose the same path in a heartbeat. Good bosses like that were once in a lifetime.

“Look at me, Harry!” Norman demanded. Harry, perplexed, watched his father tear open his suit jacket, baring a perfectly sculpted torso. That alone shocked him. He knew Norman had lost most of his muscle after marriage… Over the past few years, he’d looked downright sickly. But no sooner had Harry begun to process it than Norman bent down and single-handedly lifted a barbell marked 200 kilograms!

Even that wasn’t all. With a slight smirk, Norman let go three of his fingers, now holding the barbell between just his thumb and index finger – no strain whatsoever!

“D-Dad, it’s not April Fools…” Harry mumbled, stepping closer for a better look. Surely that barbell is fake, right? Possibly made of paper? But beaming with excitement, Norman spun the “toy” overhead with just two fingers. The thunderous whoosh of it slicing the air rattled Harry’s illusions. He swallowed, concluding it must be real.

Norman then flung it aside dozens of meters, marched to a steel plate several centimeters thick, and threw a punch. Boom! The overwhelming force – likely tens of tons – pressed the steel sheet so hard it caved in, leaving a clear fist imprint. The bolts securing it flew off, clattering into the back wall. Because of the extreme recoil, Norman’s knuckles split open, blood splashing across his fist and face, but he barely seemed to notice. Lost in the euphoria of fresh power, he laughed like a man possessed.

“D…Dad, so you’re a Super—Superman?” Harry stammered, half worried for Norman’s mental state but also a bit thrilled. If Dad’s Superman, does that make me SuperBoy?

“Superman? No, I’m not.” Norman turned, breathing hard. “Harry, do you understand now? This is the power Boss awakened in me. It’s just like that old saying: ‘When a dragon chooses to perch on your roof, fortune rains down like fire.’ Boss is that dragon. A force beyond nature. He burned away generations of our family's burdens like dry leaves in the wind. Now look at us—strong, sharp, and limitless.”

Norman toweled off the blood. His fist was already healing. “Super strength, super healing, super reflexes… plus dynamic vision…” He felt out this brand-new body. Unbelievably strong.

Meanwhile, hooking himself up to an automated blood-sample scanner, he told Harry, “Remember this: from now on, the Osborn family will serve only one man: Aaron! If there’s anyone else, it’s only his women. As for everyone else…” He merely sneered.

Harry stood speechless. Bad news: I’m not the son of a random Superman. Good news: Dad’s boss is a literal god. So maybe that means he can become a super being himself. He thought it over, then tried to lift the battered barbell. With some strain, he did manage to lift the 200 kg weight a bit.

He gaped. “I can pick up 200 kilos?!” He’d never been super-strong before. Norman laughed.

“Yes, Boss must’ve given you a little upgrade too. You’re nowhere near me yet, but you’ve definitely exceeded normal human limits. Harry, Boss values you—I hope you’ll be like me and serve him loyally. Our family’s greatest glory is to follow him. That changes everything about our family’s destiny.”

Harry felt dazed. Recalling that annoyingly young face… He’s a god, and I’m just a mortal. Perhaps calling him ‘uncle’ isn’t so bad. He drifted closer to the computer readout of Norman’s new vitals and felt another rush of awe.

“Dad,” Harry finally said quietly, “I want to apologize to him—and properly thank Uncle Aaron.” He looked up with renewed determination.