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Marvel: King of The Swarm Chapter 5: Office Negotiations
🕑 Added 2025-05-29 00:59:01 +0000 UTC"I'm sorry but did you say, you want to go to school?" Norman asked in disbelief as he stared at his son from across his desk in his office.
Harry laughed, "Is it so crazy that I want to hang out with other kids my age and socialize?"
"N-no, no it's perfectly normal," Norman quickly took back his earlier statement, "It's just the first time you've brought it up."
"And when was I supposed to? We barely talk," Harry pointed out and a guilty look flashed across Norman's face, "Which is fine, we're both busy after all, you with the company and me with my lab work."
"Ah yes, speaking of how has your…lab work been going," Norman asked enthusiastically, eager to switch topics away from his absentee parenting.
Harry smiled as if he hadn't noticed, "It's been great, in fact, I want to show you something."
Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a small flash drive that he placed in front of Norman, "While I haven't moved to clinical testing I think it could make the company a lot of money as well."
"Oh really?" Norman asked with faux interest that he thought well hidden, "And just what exactly did you make?"
"Well two things actually, but they work in tandem. The first is a new form of reverse gene therapy that can take an individual's DNA and create an infinite supply of stem cells. Those stem cells can then be used in the bio-cultivator to grow any necessary body part or organ over the course of a few days and implanted back into the original donor without any chance of rejection or complications." Harry explained calmly, though it was a struggle to keep his face straight when Norman froze.
"B-but that shouldn't be possible," Norman muttered, staring hard at Harry as if trying to read his mind, "You're not being serious are you?"
"All my findings are there," Harry explained as he gestured at the flashdrive.
Norman's eyes flickered down to the drive as if someone had dropped a solid gold coin in front of him and after a moment of hesitation, he quickly scooped it up and plugged it into the monitor on his desk.
Harry waited as Norman typed away at his keyboard before going still no doubt reading over the files judging by how his eyes gradually turned into saucers, "Harry this is…incredible…this is probably the most impactful medical breakthrough since the invention of vaccines."
"Yes it is," Harry agreed with a nod before his smile was replaced by a mask of neutrality, "Which is why I want to sell the patent to Oscorp for five billion dollars and 5% percent of all profits made using my findings."
The glimmer of greed in Norman's was snuffed out in an instant as his head snapped back up to stare at Harry, "Y-you patented it?!"
"Of course I did, how could I not?" Harry threw up his hands as if he were helpless, "I know that my discovery has the potential to establish a monopoly on the organ transplant and donation business. At current market rates, a single heart transplant is worth more than 1.6 million dollars. Add to that the premium you can charge for ensuring zero percent chance of rejection and you're easily looking at a multi-billion dollar industry. Not to mention all the other applications you could derive from my technology."
Norman swallowed hard as if he was stuck between deciding if he wanted to scream at Harry or praise him, "That is true, but still, the price you are asking for is far too high, the company would have to apply for a loan to even being considering buying your patent, and then there's your net profit rate, it's just too much."
Harry had to stop himself from rolling his eyes and instead glanced away as if doubting himself.
Norman sighed, "Look I understand and even admire your ambition, but in negotiations like this you need to have all the cards before you sit down at the table."
"You're right dad, I guess I got ahead of myself," Harry admitted as he scratched the back of his head.
Norman smiled, "It's fine, learning to negotiate takes a lifetime of experience and if you keep coming up with stuff like this, you'll have multi-billion dollar offers in no time. Now my counter offer, seven hundred fifty million dollars for the patent and a 1% cut of net profits."
Harry widened his eyes slightly and hesitated before replying, "How about an even five hundred million and 4.75% cut?"
Norman grinned and stretched his hand out for Harry to shake, "You got yourself a deal, my boy! I'll have the company lawyers draw up a contract and then have them meet up with you to sign."
Harry nodded and stood up, "Thanks Dad…also about school?"
"Bah, go if you want, have fun, live a little," Norman answered dismissively, still occupied with the fact that he had gotten his hands on such cutting-edge technology for what accounted for pennies in the grand scheme of things.
Not bothering to stick around any longer than necessary Harry left his father's office and then Oscorp towers entirely returning to his warehouse laboratory.
While Norman may have believed he had won, Harry truly didn't care, he had come up with far more impressive technology and he would be running Oscorp sooner than later meaning he would still end up reaping a majority of the profits.
'You were right about me inheriting my psychopathic traits,' Harry spoke in his mind eliciting a laugh from Nyx, 'What type of bastard cheats his own son to save a couple of bucks?'
'You say that but I know for certain you would do the same,' Nyx teased, making Harry snort.
"Yeah, but the difference between me and my father is that I'm the type of control freak who would find a way to become immortal rather than live vicariously through my child after I'm six feet under.'
—-
Stepping out of the shower, Harry grabbed a towel to dry the remaining water off his body as he stepped in front of the mirror and wiped away the condensation. Harry stared into his reflection's bright amber eyes before zooming out to take in the rest of his appearance. Standing upright Harry was a solid 6 '4 however instead of looking lanky or bulky he was lean with broad muscular shoulders a wide triangular back and a snatched waist showing off his eight-pack, obliques, and prominent v-cut without a shred of fat insight. Below the waist, Harry's long legs were built like a runner's or dancer's with visible musculature but still lean focusing on endurance and explosive movement.
Harry possessed a physique that even Adonis would be jealous of, which had been laughably easy to obtain as modifying his own physiology had proven easier than experimenting on the mice. But Harry's modifications hadn't ended there, he had changed every single facet of his appearance. If he had been a seven before Harry was now an 11 out of ten with a heavy brown, slim nose, and clear glass-like skin pulled taut against his perfect chiseled jaw and high cheekbones. But Harry's favorite change had been his hair growing it out into a shaggy, untamed mane, full-bodied with wild, cascading layers that framed his face in tousled waves giving him a slightly chaotic edge to his appearance.
Harry had scientifically made the most attractive version of himself based on several studies that looked at both genetic and social markers.
Harry smirked at his reflection, a smug but ultimately charming expression of confidence before he pushed away from the mirror and entered his warehouse loft, which was separated into two levels. A ground floor with the kitchen, living room, guest bathroom, and then Harry's bedroom which was open air overlapped the ground floor except for his personal bathroom which was walled off. The entire loft was industrial-themed making use of the exposed brickwork which nicely complimented the dark wooden, leather, and metal furniture. The room was then tied together by warm golden lighting expertly hidden behind shelves and under ledges.
'Hopefully, this space will see more use in the near future,' Harry thought while getting dressed. The last three months he had been busy in his lab nonstop only to eat and sleep and the latter had stopped after Harry realized he could burn a bit of bioenergy to completely refresh his stamina and need for rest.
Checking the time on his watch after putting on his boots Harry nodded, 'Right on time for school.'
