A stranger. An intruder. A man who had defied all security measures and appeared in his office as if reality itself had bent to his will.
And yet, despite his wariness, Osborn couldn't ignore what the man had just said.
A cure.
For his family's disease.
For the curse that had haunted every Osborn for generations.
Osborn forced his voice to remain level. "What did you just say?"
Soren smiled faintly, swirling the red wine in his glass before taking a slow sip. "I said, Mr. Osborn, that I can cure you." His eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.
"Your wariness is understandable, but I'm the doctor. And as a doctor, it's quite easy for me to see what's wrong with you."
Osborn narrowed his eyes, his grip on the chair tightening.
No one outside his closest circle knew about his condition. And yet, here was this man… this nobody stating it as fact.
"You expect me to believe that you, some uninvited, unknown magician, have the answer to something I haven't been able to solve?" His voice was laced with scorn. "Do you take me for an idiot?"
Soren chuckled, unbothered by the insult. "Not at all. I take you for a desperate man."
A flicker of something passed through Osborn's expression, but before he could speak, Soren continued.
"You've spent billions searching for a cure. The brightest minds in the world have worked tirelessly to halt your inevitable fate, and yet, here you are, watching yourself decay day by day." He tilted his head. "How many more sleepless nights can you afford, Mr. Osborn?"
Osborn clenched his jaw. The worst part?
The bastard was right.
His body was failing. He could feel it… his muscles weakening, his organs slowly succumbing to the genetic disorder that had claimed every Osborn before him.
And Harry…
Osborn inhaled deeply, reigning in his emotions. "If—if—I were to entertain this absurd notion." He said slowly, "What would you want in return?"
Soren's smile never wavered. "8% of Osborn Industries."
Silence.
"Are you insane?!" Osborn shot up from his chair, his eyes blazing. "Eight percent? You think I'll give away a piece of my company just because some mystic charlatan promises me a miracle?" He scoffed. "Impossible."
Osborn Industries was worth tens of billions. Giving away 8% of it was equivalent to handing over his blood, sweat, and tears.
Soren, however, remained entirely unfazed. He took another sip of wine before placing the glass down, folding his hands neatly in his lap.
"Don't be so hasty, Mr. Osborn." His voice was smooth, unwavering. "After all, what use is money if you're dead?"
Osborn froze.
"You might have a week left, if you're lucky." Soren continued. "And if you die, Osborn Industries will not remain in your family's hands. Do you really think your son can outmaneuver the wolves circling your empire?"
He leaned in, his tone almost mocking. "How long do you think it will take before someone replaces the Osborn name entirely?"
Osborn's breath was heavy.
"And let's not forget." Soren added, his voice now carrying a dangerous edge, "That I'm not just offering a cure for you." He paused, watching Osborn's reaction carefully. "I'm offering to eradicate your family's genetic disease entirely."
Osborn's eyes snapped to him.
"For you."
"For Harry."
"For every Osborn that will ever be born."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Osborn's hands trembled slightly at his sides.
Harry.
For years, he had lived with the crushing guilt of knowing his son was doomed to inherit the same fate.
He had worked tirelessly to find a cure, not just for himself, but for Harry.
And now, for the first time… someone was offering him a way out.
A way for his son to be free.
"…You'll cure him too?" Osborn asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Soren nodded. "And any future children he may have."
Osborn's breathing was uneven. He ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he exhaled sharply.
"Eight percent." He muttered. "But only after you prove that I'm cured." His eyes hardened. "And only if Harry is cured as well."
Soren grinned. He raised his wine glass in a silent toast.
"Deal."
The engine of Osborn's luxury car purred quietly as he pulled up outside the Everlife Medical Center.
For a long moment, he sat there, staring at the building's façade.
He had tried to rationalize it. Tried to convince himself that this was all some elaborate con.
But in the end, one truth remained:
If Soren was telling the truth… then this was his only chance.
With a deep breath, Norman Osborn stepped out of the car.
As if sensing his arrival, the doors of the Everlife Medical Center swung open on their own.
Osborn's heart pounded as he stepped inside. He wasn't a man who easily trusted others.
But tonight…
He was willing to take that risk.
For himself.
For his son.
For the Osborn legacy.
He forced himself forward. The moment he stepped onto the path, the outside world faded. The constant hum of the city, the honking cars, the chatter of people, the distant sirens, all of it disappeared, as if he'd stepped into another realm.
His footsteps echoed against the stone. Ahead, seated in the center of an open-air hall, was Soren Macaluso.
Dressed in the same immaculate black robes, the mysterious doctor held a delicate porcelain cup, steam rising from the pointed tea leaves floating within.
Soren didn't even look up.
"You arrived faster than I expected, Mr. Osborn."
His voice was calm, almost amused.
"It seems you're well aware of your condition."
Osborn stopped a few steps away, his expression guarded. "If a man is drowning, he doesn't hesitate when someone offers him a hand."
Soren finally looked up. "A wise answer."
"Let's not waste time. Can you really cure me?" Osborn exhaled slowly.
Soren set down his tea. "Without a doubt."
There was no arrogance. Just pure certainty.
Osborn's fingers twitched at his sides. Even now, a part of him screamed that this was a trap… that trusting a man like this was dangerous.
And yet… he had no other options.
"Fine." His voice was firm. "What do I need to do?"
Soren gestured for him to follow.
The treatment room was unlike any medical facility Osborn had ever seen.
No high-tech machines. No monitors. No sterilized equipment humming in the background.
Just one thing. A silver-white operating table at the center of the room.
Osborn frowned. His instincts screamed at him to turn around. "You're joking, right?" He scanned the space. "No scanners, no genetic sequencing equipment, not even a simple IV."
"Mr. Osborn, if modern medicine had the answers, you wouldn't be here, would you?" Soren chuckled.
Osborn stiffened. He hated how this man kept cornering him with logic.
Soren continued, his voice smooth as silk. "You already agreed to give away eight percent of your company. Would you have done that if you still believed in traditional medicine?"
Osborn clenched his fists.
This was suicide.
…But so was waiting for his disease to finish him off.
With a deep breath, he forced himself to step forward. "Let's get this over with."
Soren gestured toward the table. "Lie down."
Osborn did.
The moment his back touched the cool metal, he felt it. A strange energy pulsed through the table, as if it were alive. His heartbeat quickened. His breath grew shallow.
Soren stepped closer, a scalpel appearing in his hand.
Osborn's body tensed. His fingers gripped the edges of the table. "I swear to God, if this is some ritual sacrifice~"
Before he could finish, a flash of light filled the room.
A beeping sound echoed in Soren's mind.
[Beep! Congratulations, Host! You have healed a World-Class E Character: Norman Osborn.]
[Abilities Analyzed: Management Lv7, Biochemistry Lv8, Piano Lv7.]
[New Ability Drawn: Piano Lv7.]
Soren blinked.
…Piano?
Well, that was unexpected.
He had hoped for something more useful, perhaps Osborn's biochemical knowledge or even his management skills.
Still, 8% of Osborn Industries was the real prize.
As the green light faded, Osborn's eyes fluttered open.
He felt different. Lighter. Stronger. Rejuvenated.
Osborn sat up abruptly, eyes wide with disbelief. "What the~"
Soren crossed his arms. "Feeling better?"
Osborn's hands trembled as he touched his own chest, his pulse steady for the first time in years. He clenched his fist, no weakness. No pain. No tell signs of the disease that had plagued him his whole life.
It was gone.
"...How?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "That was… too fast. That shouldn't be possible."
Osborn slid off the table, staring at his hands. He could feel it in his bones, he wasn't just better.
"You really did it." A slow grin spread across his face.
Did you think I was lying?" Soren raised an eyebrow. "
Osborn let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "No. But seeing it… feeling it… is something else entirely."
Then, his expression turned serious. He locked eyes with Soren.
"The deal still stands." He said firmly. "I'll have my lawyers transfer 8% of Osborn Industries to you."
Soren nodded. "And your son?"
Osborn hesitated. He had been so focused on his own survival that he'd nearly forgotten…
"I'll bring him tomorrow."
Soren just smiled.
Osborn exhaled sharply, shaking his head in disbelief. Then, he turned toward the exit.
His mind raced as he stepped through the halls of the Everlife Medical Center, back down the bluestone path, and out into the night.
The test results on his computer screen confirmed it. His body was completely free from the ailment that had plagued his ancestors. It was as if someone had pressed a reset button on his life.
As he stood in his office, staring at the glowing screen. He had spent years and fortunes trying to find a cure, only to see his efforts crumble in the face of the genetic curse. But now, after just a single visit to Soren, everything had changed.
"Oh my God." Osborn whispered under his breath. "This is impossible. This... this can't be real."
He leaned forward, his eyes scanning the data again, hoping for any sign that this was a mistake. But there it was, every single indicator showing normal. His heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol levels… everything was perfect.
It wasn't just a minor improvement, it was a complete and utter transformation.
His fingers trembled as he swiped a hand through his hair. How could this be? How could a doctor, a stranger, come in and solve something that had been unsolvable for generations?
His mind raced with questions, with ideas. If a man like Soren could cure him, what else could he do? What other advances in medicine or technology could this man possess?
Osborn's thoughts drifted to his company. If someone with Soren's skills could join his team, they could revolutionize not only medicine but everything. They could cure the world's most dangerous diseases. They could change the future.
"If such a person could join the company…" His hands clenched into fists, excitement and greed mingling in his chest.
The thought took root in his mind, and he couldn't shake it. He knew that having Soren on his side would be more than a business opportunity.
Without a second thought, Osborn picked up the phone, dialing his son's number.
Harry Osborn stood before his father in the company's sleek, modern office, trying to make sense of the scene. His father, usually calm and cold, seemed almost... energized. It was unsettling. His father's excitement was frightening, and it wasn't like anything Harry had ever witnessed before.
"Dad." Harry said cautiously. "Is everything okay? Why'd you call me over in such a hurry?"
Osborn's eyes glimmered with a light Harry had never seen. His father had always been the picture of control, but today, there was a spark in his eyes, something close to hope, even joy.
"Sit down, Harry. There are things I've been meaning to tell you. Important things."
Harry sat down. "What's going on, Dad?"
Osborn sighed heavily, sitting across from him, his hands steepled in front of his face. "You know that our family has a history. A curse, if you will. Very few men in our bloodline live past the age of forty."
Harry's heart skipped a beat. "You're talking about that fable?" His voice was tight with fear. "Wait, are you telling me that... you?"
"Harry." Osborn interjected. "I'm fine. It's not what you think. It's not a curse, but a genetic defect, something that has plagued our family for generations. I've been battling it for over ten years, but I've come to realize, time is running out. My time was running out."
Harry's face paled. "Dad... are you saying you~"
Osborn waved him off, his expression growing more animated. "No, no. Just listen, Harry. This morning, when I thought there was no hope left, I met a genius doctor."
"A man whose methods, whose skills are beyond anything I've ever seen. He cured me."
Harry blinked in disbelief. "A doctor cured you? After all this time? How?"
"His name is Soren Macaluso." Osborn continued, a trace of awe in his voice.
"In just a few minutes, he healed me. I'm free of it, Harry. I'm healthy, my body is no longer shackled by that disease. And the most incredible part? This doctor promised to help our family. He promised to cure the genetic defect, to change the future for us."
Harry felt a rush of emotions, relief, disbelief, and a strange sense of hope he had never allowed himself to feel before. He had grown up hearing about the disease, the fate of his grandfather, his uncles, and the rumors of a family curse that haunted them all. The thought of his father, of himself, escaping that same fate seemed impossible.
"Dad, this is... this is incredible." Harry whispered. "You mean to say we... we can finally break the cycle?"
Osborn's eyes were wide, almost manic with excitement. "Exactly. And that's why I called you here, Harry. Soren has agreed to help us, but I paid a price. I want you to come with me."
Harry had been terrified for his father's health, worried about losing him too soon, just like every other man in their family. But now... now everything was different.
"Okay, Dad." Harry said slowly, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in his head. "Let's do it."
Osborn stood up, his face full of pride. "Good. Come with me. Let's go see the doctor."
Soren hadn't expected Osborn to return so soon.
Yet, as the evening air settled over the city, the heavy doors of the Everlife Medical Center swung open once more.
Norman Osborn stepped inside, but this time, he wasn't alone. A young man followed closely behind him… Harry Osborn.
Soren immediately noticed the resemblance. Harry carried the same sharp features as his father, though his expression was less hardened by time. There was an uncertainty in his eyes.
Soren rose from his seat. "Mr. Osborn, you're back so soon. I assume that means you've confirmed I'm not a liar?"
Norman Osborn looked momentarily embarrassed.
The man who had once walked in with the pride of a business tycoon now carried himself with politeness, almost reverence.
He bowed his head slightly. "Doctor, you must forgive my ignorance." His voice was steady. "I was blinded by my own arrogance. I failed to recognize the depth of your skill. I sincerely apologize for my past doubts."
Soren raised an eyebrow, amused.
Osborn's humility didn't go unnoticed. Harry, who had been silent until now, stared at his father in shock.
This wasn't the man he knew. His father never bowed to anyone. Never apologized. Never admitted ignorance.
And yet, here he was, treating this mysterious doctor with a respect he had never shown anyone before.
Harry turned his gaze to Soren. He didn't look much older than him. Could this really be the genius doctor who had performed a medical miracle overnight?
Soren met his stare with an easy smile. "This must be your son, then."
"Harry Osborn. My only son and heir." Osborn nodded.
At the introduction, Harry straightened, regaining some of his composure.
Soren chuckled at the intensity of the young man's gaze. "You don't have to look so skeptical, Mr. Osborn." He turned to Norman. "Your son is young and full of promise."
Osborn sighed inwardly.
He had expected Soren to demand the share transfer first, but the doctor didn't even mention it.
Instead, he simply said. "Let's begin."
The process was the same.
Harry lay on the silver-white treatment table, his fingers tapping against the cool metal.
Soren stood beside him, the strange scalpel appearing in his hand with a flicker of light.
Harry's heart pounded. He opened his mouth to ask a question, how does this work? What are you going to do?
But before he could speak, his world flashed white.
Moments Later…
The doors to the treatment room opened.
Harry stepped out, his face blank with confusion.
He touched his chest, then his arms, as if expecting something different. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting… pain, discomfort, something unnatural, but instead, he felt… normal.
He turned to his father, his eyes full of questions.
Norman silently shook his head. Not here.
Soren watched the interaction with amusement.
"Mr. Osborn." He said casually, "I've done my part."
Norman snapped out of his thoughts. He took a deep breath, his lips trembling slightly. For the first time in generations, the disease that had plagued the Osborn family was gone.
He reached into his coat, pulling out a neatly prepared document.
"Here." His voice was steady, but there was an undeniable emotion beneath it. "This is the share transfer agreement. 8% of Osborn Industries, as promised."
Soren took the papers with barely a glance, setting them aside without even reading them.
Norman watched, his mind racing. Most people would have seized the documents, checked every line, every clause. But Soren…?
It was as if the money, the power… none of it mattered.
Soren simply smiled. "Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Osborn."
Norman hesitated for a moment. Then, his expression hardened with determination.
"Doctor Soren." He spoke the name carefully, deliberately. "Join me."
"Oh?" Soren arched an eyebrow.
"I want you on my research team." Osborn's voice was earnest. "With your medical knowledge, we could achieve things the world has never seen. You don't have to hide away in this place. We could change everything."
"No." Soren didn't even hesitate.
Osborn blinked. "You don't even need time to consider?"
Soren chuckled. "Mr. Osborn, what do I need from you?" He gestured lazily. "I already have money. And now, I'm your second-largest shareholder." His smirk widened. "If anything, you work for me."
Osborn stiffened.
Harry's eyes widened slightly.
Norman had spent his entire life controlling people. Being the one in power.
But for the first time, he realized… he couldn't control Soren.
Not with money.
Not with power.
Not even with the promise of scientific discovery.
Soren had everything he wanted.
Osborn's jaw tightened, but he quickly masked his emotions.
"…I see." He exhaled sharply. "Then, I won't insist."
But as he turned to leave, he made a silent decision. Soren was no ordinary man.
And if Norman Osborn couldn't control him...
Then he would have to make sure he was always on his side.
At any cost.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Fellow Phantoms and aspiring Phantoms to be, if you seek to access advanced parts of this story procced to my shadowy realm of p@treon.
PhantomDream