Harry Osborn acted swiftly...
Once Oscorp's R&D department confirmed the validity of the experimental data, he immediately notified Sean, and the two reached a preliminary cooperation agreement.
The new CEO of Oscorp quickly realized that the true driving force behind the project was not Dr. Connors, the owner of the lab, but his friend who served as the lead researcher.
Thus, whether it was negotiations or signing contracts, Sean took full charge...
Dr. Connors was more than happy to stay out of it, his research had reached its final critical stage, and he had no patience for tedious formalities.
Inside Oscorp's conference room, a beaming Harry extended his hand.
Having just signed the official contract, Sean stood up as well.
The two exchanged a knowing smile...
Three days prior, the first human trial of ALZ-112 had been conducted, and the results proved that the drug worked not only on chimpanzees, but also on humans...
This partnership breathed new life into Oscorp, which had been battered by media scrutiny and internal turmoil.
"Oscorp will rise to new heights under your leadership," Sean said with a smile.
His meticulous planning was finally bearing fruit, so he was in excellent spirits.
Harry's youthful face brightened with relief, "Let's hope so, Sean. Don't forget, Oscorp now has a piece of you too... you and Dr. Connors hold shares in the company."
The immense pressure of the past few weeks had left the young CEO anxious and exhausted.
Had Sean not stepped in with ALZ-112 at this critical moment, Harry couldn't imagine where he (or Oscorp) would be now.
Sean smiled faintly...
Due to Oscorp's strained cash flow, Harry had opted to compensate him with company shares rather than an outright payment.
However, the agreement stipulated that these shares could not be held long-term... once ALZ-112 hit the market, they would be bought back in cash.
Thus, a mutually beneficial deal was sealed...
As Sean stepped out of Oscorp's headquarters, he glanced back at the towering skyscraper, his eyes glinting thoughtfully.
Perhaps he had moved too quickly, which triggered Harry's subconscious wariness. That special clause was likely added to prevent Sean and Dr. Connors from gaining too much control.
"Learning fast, aren't you?" Sean murmured in amusement.
To him, Oscorp was merely a stepping stone... he had no intention of devouring this particular slice of the pie.
Now, all that remained was to wait for the rewards to roll in...
Hands in his pockets, the young man disappeared into the bustling crowd, his eyes alight with anticipation.
.....
<...Dr. Curt Connors and Mr. Sean Cyphers have jointly developed 'ALZ-112', a groundbreaking gene therapy that promises to revolutionize treatment for neurological disorders! Oscorp is proud to contribute to this humanitarian cause, bringing this miracle drug to market and alleviating the suffering of countless patients!..>
On television, the young and handsome Harry spoke with fervor, effortlessly fielding reporters' questions while sprinkling in his trademark charm.
"Human potential is truly remarkable," Sean mused as he sipped his Blue Mountain coffee, "Just a while ago, Harry Osborn was just another spoiled rich kid. Now, he's transformed into a capable CEO..."
Today, Sean had taken a rare day off at Gwen's invitation, accompanying the golden-haired girl whose feelings for him were becoming increasingly obvious.
"The real prodigy here is you!" Gwen stirred her coffee, her bright eyes shining with admiration, "You're so young, yet you've already co-developed a revolutionary drug with Dr. Connors... one that's about to hit the market and generate massive profits. Isn't that something to be proud of?"
"Well, as they say... I'm just standing on the shoulders of giants." Sean smirked...
'Or more accurately, on the shoulders of a Cheat System...' he chuckled inwardly.
"But you're famous now! The papers are calling you the next Tony Stark or Reed Richards. They were both prodigies who made their mark at a young age."
Gwen was far more excited than Sean himself, recounting the media's exaggerated reports with playful enthusiasm.
Sean listened quietly, occasionally nodding along.
No wonder he had become an overnight sensation.
Compared to Dr. Connors' relatively unremarkable past, Sean's backstory was far more compelling... a young genius who lost his parents, raised by an uncle, then left to fend for himself after his guardian's death. Despite the hardships, he excelled academically, earned a place at Stony Brook University, and dedicated himself to scientific pursuits...
This kind of inspirational narrative was exactly what the public craved. People were tired of billionaire playboys and their scandals. They wanted something fresh... a 'real' American Dream.
The truth? Irrelevant...
Sean saw through it all. Harry was using this opportunity to rehabilitate Oscorp's tarnished image, while the media seized on a sensational story to boost sales. Even Tony Stark had been dragged into the fray for comparison.
Everyone had their own agenda, and Sean was perfectly content to play along. After all, every step he'd taken was meticulously calculated.
With Dr. Connors as a shield, any minor doubts would hardly matter...
Gazing out the café window at the bustling streets, Sean felt a brief sense of detachment. He had truly taken his first step in this world.
Gwen sipped her coffee, her soft eyes lingering on Sean. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass, casting an almost ethereal glow on his face, enhancing his quiet mystique.
As soothing music filled the air, the surrounding noise seemed to fade, leaving only a tranquil and intimate atmosphere...
When Sean finally snapped out of his thoughts, he found Gwen staring at him with undisguised affection, her eyes shimmering like springwater.
'What's going on?' Sean wondered.
He hadn't been trying to flirt... if anything, he'd kept a deliberate distance. Yet Gwen's attraction only seemed to grow.
'Did the System secretly boost my charm stat or something? How troublesome...'
Suppressing a smirk, Sean leaned back and stared at the ceiling, thoroughly pleased with himself...
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