Stepping out the door, Maguire looked at the street before him, its foreign charm unmistakable.
Whatever doubts he'd had moments ago were swept away.
"Since fate's given me a new life, I'm not going to waste the opportunity."
Still, when he thought about his cheat—the Bully System—he couldn't help but wonder.
What exactly counted as "bully behavior"?
Just then, from the nearby apartment, his neighbor Mary Jane burst out in a hurry.
Tears streaked her cheeks—she hadn't even had time to wipe them away.
A disheveled, booze-reeking middle-aged man followed right behind, his expression full of rage.
"Don't you dare bring up your damn mother," he barked.
"You're nothing but a worthless piece of trash—just like your useless mom!!"
Mary Jane, voice trembling, replied, "I'm going to school."
At that moment, the sight of Maguire in his sleek black suit caught both of their attention.
Seeing his unusually sharp attire, Mary Jane was surprised.
*Peter's wearing a black suit today? That's so different from his usual style.*
*He's probably trying to get my attention.*
*And… huh, I never noticed before—Peter's actually pretty handsome, and his body's not bad either.*
She knew Peter Parker better than anyone.
Though they'd been neighbors for years, the timid Peter had never spoken much to his dream girl, Mary Jane.
Still, she'd long since noticed the shy boy next door who "worshipped helmets" and looked at her from afar.
But with plenty of suitors around, a poor, meek boy like Peter had never been her type.
To her, Peter was nothing more than a "nice guy" who nursed a harmless crush.
Mary Jane's father, Carl, also glanced at Maguire from a distance.
*What's with this broke kid next door? Wearing that kind of outfit?*
Carl was already buzzed and in a foul mood, so seeing Maguire didn't improve his temper.
Peter's reputation for being mild-mannered was well known on the block.
As a local street punk, Carl pointed at him and snapped, "Brat, why aren't you off to school? What are you staring at? Get lost."
The insult lit a spark in Maguire's chest.
"What the hell did I ever do to you? Think I'm easy to push around?"
"I'm not your friendly neighbor Peter Parker—I'm *Bully Maguire*."
"And I don't put up with your crap."
With a flick of his hand, a Cuban cigar from his system's storage appeared in his palm.
He tossed it lightly into the air, catching it smoothly between his teeth.
With practiced ease, he lit it with his custom lighter.
Then, exuding menace, he strode toward Carl.
Of course, to Carl, this "menace" was just an act.
Mary Jane, seeing Peter actually heading toward her drunken father with that look, thought to herself:
*Is he trying to act tough to scare my dad… to win me over?*
*If so, he's making a mistake—my father's not the kind to be intimidated by Peter.*
But Maguire closed the distance, his gaze hard as steel.
Carl's lips curled into a mocking smirk.
"What, kid? You gonna meddle in our family business?" he sneered.
"A little brat still wet behind the ears, pretending to be a man with that cigar—get the hell—"
Carl didn't get to finish.
A big hand grabbed his shirt, and in the next instant, both of his feet left the ground.
Maguire had lifted him one-handed.
Mary Jane's eyes went wide.
*When did Peter get so strong?*
*And this bold? He used to avoid my drunken father at all costs…*
*What's going on? Has he finally decided to pursue me?*
Carl, suspended in the air, barked hoarsely, "Kid, are you crazy?! Put me down!"
He squirmed, but how could an ordinary man hope to break free from Bully Maguire's grip?
No matter how hard he struggled, Maguire's hand was like an iron vise—completely unyielding.
Realizing he was powerless, Carl froze.
Maguire took a deep drag from his cigar, then slowly moved it away.
A thick cloud of smoke blasted directly into Carl's face.
Coughing violently, Carl gasped for air.
Mary Jane stood frozen, unable to process what she was seeing.
Maguire looked at Carl in his grasp and said slowly,
"What was it you just said? Go ahead—say it again."
…
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