"Peter, you've got mail."
Early in the morning, Ben Parker brought in the newspaper, milk, and the mail, glanced at it, and called loudly upstairs. The three of them had been living here for some time and were slowly settling in. Peter still missed Mary Jane, but reality made it impossible to see his dream girl, and his nightly duties as a vigilante had gradually divided his attention.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Coming downstairs, Peter immediately saw the letter on the table. It was addressed to him, and the envelope was unusually ornate, with gold foil edges.
"Mirai Pharmaceuticals… that's the company that recently developed four miracle cures for terminal illnesses. Uncle Ben, why would they send me a letter?"
Peter was puzzled. His name was clearly on the envelope. Inside was an invitation to visit Mirai Pharmaceuticals, mentioning that he had lost something there.
"They took notice of your talent?"
"My talent has nothing to do with pharmaceuticals," Peter said firmly to Uncle Ben. He specialized in physics, and the invitation explicitly addressed him. The only thing he had lost recently was his student ID, and he was certain he had never been to that company. Did the Mirai Pharmaceuticals boss find it?
If that were the case, why not just return it? Why such a formal invitation? Peter couldn't understand the whims of the wealthy.
Ben Parker took a bite of pie, silently placed another slice on Peter's plate, and asked, "Are you going?"
"Of course! They sent an invitation. Uncle, don't you have enough to eat?"
Peter raised an eyebrow at Ben's gesture. To be honest, he wasn't fond of Aunt May's pie either. If it weren't for Ben's senior romance, they wouldn't have eaten pie five days a week for ten years.
"Uh, you need more nutrition, kid."
"No, toast is enough. They'll pick me up soon!" Peter declined. Aunt May's pie wasn't bad, but after ten years, anyone would grow tired of it. And Uncle Ben had at least thirty years…
It was currently high school vacation in New York, and Peter had been admitted to Columbia University for physics—not because of Kamar Taj, but by his own merit. His foundation was already solid, and an extra year of study had helped him get accepted.
Soon, a car arrived at the Parker home. Peter opened the door before the driver could ring the bell.
"You're from Mirai Pharmaceuticals?"
"Yes, we're here to confirm Mr. Parker's acceptance of the invitation. If he agrees, we'll take him to the company now."
"Of course, I accept." Peter responded immediately and asked, "Can I bring a camera?"
He worked part-time at a newspaper for fun, and Mirai Pharmaceuticals was hot news. Capturing internal photos would be an extra bonus.
"Certainly. The company has no restrictions on that."
After the driver confirmed, Peter told Uncle Ben and Aunt May and got into the car.
Mirai Pharmaceuticals' headquarters was in the Bronx, near Manhattan. Hyuga Mirai had bought an entire high-rise and renovated the top floors. The volunteer clinical trial center was a few kilometers away. Choosing the Bronx for the office allowed Hyuga Mirai, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others to live on the top three floors.
With the company's sudden fame, foot traffic increased.
After getting out, another person met Peter at the gate and escorted him to the elevator, pressing the button to the top floor—the office floor, not the residential area. The elevators were controlled by Hyuga Mirai; no one could use them without her permission. Even J.A.R.V.I.S. couldn't hack Mirai Pharmaceuticals' internal network, only monitor employee activity.
Entering the spacious office, Peter froze upon seeing Hyuga Mirai.
"Mr. Parker, long time no see. Thank you again for your help last time. Your student ID was lost nearby—remember to keep it safe."
Hyuga Mirai smiled and handed him the ID. This Spider-Man looked more like the "bully Maguire" type, which intrigued Mirai further.
"Uh, thank you. Did you guess my identity then?"
Peter wondered how the ID fell out of his backpack on the rooftop.
Guided by Mirai, they sat on the office sofa. Hyuga Mirai, now in Kaguya's appearance, entered carrying two cups of tea, placed them down coldly, and left. Her playful personality shifted depending on her audience: voluptuous before Tsunade and Kurenai, Kaguya before Mirai alone.
"This isn't hard to figure out, Mr. Parker. A student ID falls from the sky, and a Spider-Man swings overhead—it's not hard to guess."
In truth, she had retrieved it from Peter's backpack but would never admit it.
"Do you have plans, Mr. Parker? You helped me last time. Whether as a vigilante or a professional photographer, either works."
Hyuga Mirai sipped her tea, subtly testing him. She sensed a bit of magic in Peter—not entirely his own.
"Sir, excuse me, you mean…"
Peter hesitated, unsure of her meaning.
"The NYPD needs an external instructor. If you accept, they'll announce tomorrow that Spider-Man is their best friend. As for a photographer, I bought The Horn Newspaper yesterday; there's a vacant spot. Joining won't affect your studies. Oh, and congratulations on Columbia."
Peter was stunned. He knew American billionaires were powerful but didn't expect such a reward for merely saving someone.
"Sir… I…"
He was torn between being a vigilante and a photographer. The NYPD had been unfriendly lately, threatening to capture Spider-Man. Being a legal vigilante would make things easier. Photography was his hobby, and a car was still a family goal.
"There's a third option: join Mirai Pharmaceuticals as a superhero, like Stark's Iron Man," Hyuga Mirai suggested. "You'd have no worries."
"Superhero…"
Peter's eyes widened. He never expected this. Though he hadn't fully researched Mirai Pharmaceuticals, the recent news made its strength clear.
"Sir, I never considered this. I thought today was just to get my ID and visit the company."
"Oh, there's nothing much to see here."
Before she finished, Hyuga Mirai—now 18—entered.
"Sir, Tony Stark in Iron Man armor is flying here, expected in one minute."
"This isn't how a billionaire should act. From now on, block all J.A.R.V.I.S. surveillance for a month at Stark Tower. Let him come up directly when he arrives."
Peter wondered if this was the same Stark. He had studied the world's news daily, knowing Stark was a superhero and inventor of the Iron Man suit. Stark actively seeking Mirai was surprising.
"Sir… should I step aside?" Peter asked nervously.
"Listen if you want, or tour the office. Ordinary offices are less interesting than lab equipment anyway. 18."
Hyuga Mirai handed contracts to Peter.
"These are different agreements. Choose one if you like; if not, ignore them. Discuss with your family—no need to hide things like being a superhero. Under capital operations, a superhero can legally act."
Peter left with the contracts, shaken. Superheroes could act legally, and Mirai Pharmaceuticals had offered him a huge opportunity. He considered discussing this with Uncle Ben first, keeping his Spider-Man identity secret for now.
As he left, he saw Tony Stark exiting the elevator. Peter wanted a photo, worth $500, but the newspaper he worked for belonged to Mirai, so he refrained.
"Do you have a real AI? J.A.R.V.I.S. said it's completely restricted, as if physically cut off. That's never happened before!"
Tony was alarmed. J.A.R.V.I.S., though advanced, couldn't fully handle real AI. Without J.A.R.V.I.S., using the Iron Man suit was risky.
"Forget that for now, Mr. Stark. Don't track people recklessly. The one-month J.A.R.V.I.S. lockdown is a small lesson. Come, lets talk business."
Hyuga Mirai gestured to the sofa. Stark complied but continued speaking.
"I want to consult your research team or hire them for a private project."
Hyuga Mirai nodded.
"If it's palladium poisoning, it's easy to solve, but my price is high. I'll acquire Stark Industries' closed weapons division. Agree to that, and we can fix your problem within an hour."
18 entered with acquisition documents. Stark stared—this person might share some of his tastes.
But buying back the weapons division… Stark was deeply conflicted. He had shut it down to pursue his ideals. Now, to save his life, he might sell it again.
(End of Chapter)
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