chapter 135 part 1
Chapter 134: What are you doing, Max?
A new day dawned, bright and beautiful with sunlight. Its gentle, warm rays fell upon the citizens of New York, making them feel languid. The bustling crowds hurried along, starting their respective work, and even this rare good weather couldn't make them pause to appreciate the blue sky and white clouds.
This was the norm for fast-paced New Yorkers; scenery could wait until after work.
The chill in the air had gradually and silently faded. People began to shed their thick warm clothing, changing into cooler single layers. Some even wore short-sleeved shirts, topped with a worn-out vest.
Max Dillon was just like that. He hoped today would be a different kind of beginning. He woke up early, muttering to himself in front of the mirror. Clippings from newspapers he'd cut out were pasted on his wall, where words declared, "Brave Max Dillon Saved the World! The Entire World Cheers For Him."
As usual, Max opened the refrigerator, his face lighting up with surprise as he looked at the palm-sized cake he had specially placed inside last night, complete with a few birthday candles.
"Hey, look, Max! Who gave you this birthday cake? It's beautiful! Someone actually remembered your birthday! Oh my God!" Max exclaimed, feigning complete surprise as he opened the refrigerator, his eyes wide with genuine joy.
Ever since his family passed away, Max had celebrated his birthday this way: alone, without friends, without relatives, without anyone who acknowledged him. He always celebrated by himself.
Max carefully held the small cake, which cost only a dozen dollars, as if it were the most precious jewel in the world, or as if someone had truly remembered his birthday and prepared it for him.
He woke up early, placed the inexpensive cake on the table, and ecstatically took out cutlery to cut it. He divided the small cake into several portions, arranging them on multiple plates, pretending that people had come specifically to celebrate his birthday. Max was willing to share his cake with these non-existent guests.
Even though the cake wasn't enough for a single bite, Max still portioned it out, each cut careful, as if he were performing the most sacred act in the world. He left the smallest portion for himself, eating it with delight, occasionally whispering phrases like, "Happy birthday, Max."
As he ate, tears began to fall, pattering onto the table.
He didn't know why, but the tears just wouldn't stop.
It had always been like this. He was all alone, no one paid him any mind. He was a "transparent person," unnoticed, unregarded. Even though he possessed astonishing talent and a kind heart, his low-key personality always made him invisible, and no one ever took him seriously.
Max Dillon had, once again, spent a birthday party all by himself.
He haphazardly wiped his face, checked the time, and realized he was going to be late. Max gobbled down the cake in his hand, then cast a reluctant glance at the other portions before rushing out the door.
He was an Oscorp employee, and being able to work for a global enterprise like Oscorp filled him with pride.
He rushed frantically, finally swiping his card and entering the Oscorp main entrance just a few seconds past the deadline.
"Dillon, you're late again." The haughty department manager, already dressed in his standard expensive suit, pushed up his glasses and gave Max a disdainful look.
"I'm sorry, sir, the damn subway was too slow."
"Are you still unaware that Oscorp is now responsible for the city's entire energy supply?" The manager walked on, not even glancing back at Max.
"I've submitted many, many power grid designs! The company has used a lot of my plans, but no one ever informed me! Those power grids were designed by me!" Max quickly followed behind, arguing.
The manager stopped abruptly, looking at him coldly, and warned him in a low, distinct voice: "You designed it? Don't be ridiculous. You'll stay here and work. You're not included in today's department outing."
"What? The Power Department has an event today? How come I don't know?" Max was stunned. Why had he never heard about it?
The manager sneered. Max was a fool, as lowly as dirt, as stupid as a worm, and as easy to bully as a bunny. Anyone could step all over him. He loved such a diligent and hardworking yet foolish employee who never complained. Bullying Max was his daily pleasure.
Of course, he exploited Max even more for his salary and designs, using various excuses. In his eyes, Max was nothing but a docile blood cow, bled regularly.
Otherwise, Max's life wouldn't be so difficult; he couldn't even afford a decent set of clothes.
The manager stepped into the elevator first. Max followed closely behind, his mind filled with thoughts of volunteering for the department event.
"Oh, right, there's an issue with the electricity in our lab. Go fix it. Make sure it's done today." The manager smiled, then shoved Max out of the elevator with a strong push.
"But it's my birthday today, why is everyone leaving while I have to stay?" Max stood outside, watching Power Department employees board the elevator one after another.
The manager's smile became even more playful: "Because you're special, Max. Oh, happy birthday~"
The elevator doors slowly closed, as if shutting off two worlds. Inside, there was laughter and joy; outside, only Max remained. As always, he was all alone.
In the vast hall of the Power Department floor, only Max stood there, all alone.
Max pushed up his glasses and walked alone, clutching his vest. Kali, as usual, was narrating Oscorp's immense achievements in bio-energy. However, if one listened carefully, they would notice that Kali's voice occasionally became intermittent.
In the laboratory, there were over a dozen huge transparent glass tanks, filled with numerous new gene-engineered electric eels swimming cheerfully. Upon seeing Max walk by, they immediately became fierce, frantically slamming against the glass.
"I've given so much to this company, I designed the power grid, yet I can't even celebrate my birthday..." Max mumbled to himself, laboriously climbing to the cable layer, searching for the problematic 5A power zone.
"Hey, this is Max, can someone turn off the electricity for 5A? I need to fix something here..."
"Are you kidding? I'm going out for the outing! Anyway, 5A is for the lab, and no one's there today!"
"What do you mean? I'm up here by myself, it's dangerous... Hello? Hello? Fine, another one abandoning me. I'll just have to do it myself." Max shrugged. He was already used to it.
He brought over a ladder, slowly climbed up, and found a disconnected joint. The power was still on; the circuits within the cable were full of electricity, periodically sparking with astonishing intensity. The dense circuitry was enough to make anyone dizzy. A slight misstep and a touch would instantly carbonize him.
Max gripped the cables with both hands, muttering to himself that he must be insane, while staring wide-eyed as he slowly brought the two ends together.
Nothing happened.
But when Max placed the cable back into its original position, the terrifying, leaked electricity instantly erupted, surging into poor Max's body.
Screams erupted from Max's mouth as countless currents raged through his body. The electricity surged into every single cell, causing massive numbers of life-sustaining cells to die. Max's vital signs plummeted.
His body fell limply, dropping directly into one of the experimental glass tanks.