LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 86: FEAST
Chapter 86: FEAST
After several hours of office fun, Benjamin and Felicia finally started to talk about Oscorp.
Feeling full and satisfied, Felicia relaxed on the sofa as she tossed a stack of papers onto the coffee table.
“Here’s what you wanted. Oh, and there were also a few gold bars. Same rules?”
Benjamin took the stack of papers first and glanced at it. Hearing what Felicia said, he looked at her curiously.
“He actually has gold bars?”
“Yeah. With his name engraved on it and shit. There was also a tracker inside but don’t worry, we already melted it and recasted.”
Must be some emergency fund or something.
Benjamin shrugged and nodded.
“Same rules. You get 60%, I get 40%. Split mine into 20-10-10.”
“Are you still donating 20% to charity? Do they even run out of money from how much you have been giving them?”
“Well, I don’t really need that much money.”
While he keeps 10%, the remaining 10% he just pours into EPD funds.
It’s because of this that Captain Holt and Major Johnson turn a blind eye to some of his more…questionable actions.
Actually, Benjamin had long since told them about him blackmailing over half of the government officials.
Initially, they were shocked and wanted to reprimand him but after finding out what those people were doing and what they were planning, they decided that this was for the best.
In fact, if possible, Benjamin wanted to replace those people already but doing so would affect a whole lot more. It was better to get them on a leash and slowly replace them in time.
Eventually, he wouldn’t need to blackmail anyone.
Captain Holt and Major Johnson actually didn’t know what to do with him. To say that Benjamin was not corrupt was a lie. But then again, he doesn’t even use most of the money on himself and instead donates it to charity and adds more into EPD funds…
He’s basically embezzling…in reverse!
As for those blackmails…he only blackmailed those who were trying to dig some secrets to blackmail him and other EPD members.
What do you call someone who blackmails your own blackmailer?
And so, they decided it was best to just leave it to Benjamin.
In any case, this guy is already a God. Even if he wanted to conquer the world, they would be helpless!
Felicia sighs and asks.
“So? Which charity is it going to be this time?”
“Are there new ones?”
“Let’s see…”
Felicia took out her phone and started to do a casual search.
“There’s this new one in Midtown. It’s called FEAST apparently.”
“FEAST?”
Benjamin was a bit surprised as he wasn’t unfamiliar with this name.
“Yeah. It’s short for Food, Emergency Aid, Shelter, and Training. Want me to send someone to investigate if they’re legit?”
Felicia asked since she knew that there were some charities that only looked good on the surface but were up to some shady things behind the scenes.
Benjamin thought for a moment.
From what he remembers, FEAST was originally a front for Martin Li’s, also known as Mister Negative, criminal activities.
But here, Benjamin recalled that he had already captured him in the past together with Hammerhead, Tombstone, and Shocker.
“Do you know who’s in charge of it?”
“Hmm, a woman by the name of May Parker.”
“I see…well, I’ll go check it out myself. I have some free time anyway. Besides, I should probably make a few public appearances once in a while.”
When EPD began expanding, Benjamin didn’t show himself in public for a while as he mostly handled everything behind the scenes.
Eventually, people forgot what he looked like so he doesn’t get swarmed by fans now whenever he goes out unlike when he first started the EPD.
Felicia yawned and lay down on the sofa.
“Alright, suit yourself. I’m gonna rest up here. You fucked me too hard…”
“Haha, you wanted it hard.”
Benjamin chuckled and left.
Outside her office, Benjamin found Felicia’s assistant doing some work behind a desk and greeted her.
“Felicia’s resting right now. If there’s any urgent matters today, call me.”
“Yes, boss!”
The secretary nodded energetically.
Benjamin nodded and left the building soon after.
Checking on his phone, he found the address of FEAST and hailed a taxi.
Though he could portal his way there, Benjamin didn’t feel like always traveling that way so he would sometimes drive or use public transportation.
“Where to, sir?”
“FEAST. Here’s the address.”
“Ooh, gotcha. I know the place.”
“Thanks.”
Benjamin started to look out the window to take in the view of a normal day in New York but the Indian driver didn’t seem to stop speaking.
“I see you got out of Freedom Building. Do you work there by any chance?”
“Uhh, I guess you can say that.”
“Must be nice. I’ve heard a lot about the VR thing that they made. Ah, but I haven’t tried it yet. I don’t have the money to buy one sadly. Do you know about it?”
“Yeah…FreeDome, right?”
“Do you play it, sir?”
“Sometimes…though not recently.”
Benjamin shook his head.
He didn’t have as much interest in VR gaming as he thought he would.
Sure it was fun the first few times but in the end, he rarely plays it now.
Well, it was also true that he was busy most of the time so there wasn’t the time to play.
Death seemed to be having fun playing it though.
In the game world, she didn’t have her powers so she also couldn’t kill anyone accidentally.
The driver was still not finished talking.
“I hear that you can sell game items for real money, is that true?”
“Ah, yes. Although it’s not the company’s intention, there are some rich people among the players who pay real money for game items. Those whales…”
Benjamin clicked his tongue.
“That’s nice. If only I have money to buy a FreeDome.”
The driver sighed.
Benjamin shook his head.
“It isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get a good item to sell. Even if you play now, getting a rare item is like winning a lottery.”
“My cousin won a lottery once. But then his parents found out so he treated them. And his parents’ parents found out so he treated them. And his parents’ parents’ cousins found out so he treated them. And then his parents’ parents’ cousins’ other cousins found out-.”
“Can you skip to the end?”
“He’s broke now.”
“...”
Although Benjamin could tell the answer from the start, hearing it still made him speechless.
Sure enough, if you struck it reach, it’s best not to tell anyone…
“Don’t worry, my parents are in India so I won’t tell them if I win the lottery.”
“That’s good.”
“I will just tell my brother.”
“...”
Benjamin fell silent again.
He could already tell what would happen if he did that.
Benjamin shook his head and looked out the window.
“Are we not there yet?”
“Oh, it’s just around the corner here.”
“Alright, here’s fine. Drop me off.”
“Okay, boss.”
Benjamin sighed and got out of the taxi.
“Oh right, what’s your name?”
“Dopinder sir.”
“...Is that so?”
Benjamin was surprised.
To think he would meet the taxi driver that drives Deadpool around…
“How’s Deadpool?”
“Oh, he’s very sad last time we met. Said something about not meeting a purple potato alien.”
“...”
Was he still hung up on that!?
Benjamin smiled wryly and shook his head.
He took out a few bills and handed them to Dopinder.
Dopinder took it and was surprised to find it was more than the fare.
“Uhh, sir?”
“Take it. Consider it payment for taking care of that guy. He doesn’t pay does he?”
“He gives me crisp high fives.”
“....That’s called not paying. Anyway, go and buy yourself a FreeDome. Just don’t tell anyone if you get anything good.”
“Understood sir! I will only tell Mr. Pool!”
…I did just say not to tell anyone, right?
Benjamin was too exhausted to retort and stopped caring.
Anyway, he already warned him.
Benjamin watched Dopinder drive off then looked at the stack of papers in his hand and sighed.
He originally wanted to read them on the way but that guy wouldn’t stop talking.
“Well, I suppose I’ll look at it later.”
Benjamin chucked it in his Inventory for now and walked towards the FEAST building.
The building used to be an old covered basketball court but was closed for quite some time due to the owner’s passing.
Eventually, it seems that it was bought and turned into a shelter for the homeless which helped get people off the streets and get jobs.
Benjamin walked inside and saw a wide area and several bunk beds and tables here and there.
Overall, although it looked a bit chaotic, everything was clean and neat.
With some work, this could become a good shelter.
At this moment, an elderly figure wearing an apron approached him.
“Excuse me, is there something you need here?”
Seeing this elderly woman, Benjamin guessed who she was.
“Hi, are you perhaps May Parker?”
The elderly woman was surprised but suddenly chuckled.
“What are you saying? I’m not May.”
“Yes? Someone called me?”
“Huh?”
Benjamin was surprised when he heard someone else talk.
He looked at the person who just arrived and saw a middle-aged woman with short brown hair wearing a simple green collared shirt tucked in her brown bants.
She looked nothing like in the comics or the movies and instead become this…hot MILF!
System!? Am I really not in an eroge version of Marvel!? Why is Aunt May a hot MILF!?
[Host, stop complaining. Wait till you see Janet Van Dyne.]
…
Benjamin was speechless.
Janet Van Dyne? Hank Pym’s wife? The one still stuck in the Quantum Realm?
…Don’t tell me she’s gonna be a hot GILF!?
System! Tell me! Is she a hot GILF!?
[Host would know if you go in the Quantum Realm.]
…Should I go now?
Benjamin was quite curious.
At this moment, May waved his hand in front of Benjamin.
“Hello? Are you still there?”
“Ah, yeah…sorry, I didn’t expect you’d be so…young.”
“Oh, you. I’m nearly 40 years old. How can I still be young?”
Benjamin thought for a moment.
In the comics, Aunt May should be around 50 already…well, Peter is also still in High School so I suppose it’s only fair that Aunt May is also younger.
Benjamin coughed.
“Ahem. I’m Benjamin. I came here today as I was thinking of donating some money here.”
“A donor! That’s great news, May!”
The elderly woman looked excited.
May was also excited and nodded.
“Thank you very much! Umm, how much are you planning to donate?”
“Hmm, I haven’t decided yet. At least 3 million I think. I’ll decide more after looking around.”
“T-three million!?”
“At least!?”
The two were shocked.
They didn’t expect such a huge donation at all!
Benjamin nodded.
“I’ve taken a quick look at the area and I know you’ll need money to renovate. It can’t stay like this forever. It would be better to get individual rooms for privacy at least. The food could also be better. Ah, I’m not saying the food is bad but it’s just not enough. On the ride here, I noticed there were still a few homeless people on the streets. I think it’s necessary to start different branches. You would need more employees too and it’s not possible to make them work for free so you’d need to pay them. I think 3 million is enough for a long-term improvement.”
“...”
“...”
“Of course, we can’t let these people just live here indefinitely without doing anything. They would need to take jobs soon enough. Maybe implement some policies or rules for those who stay here. For jobs, I have several positions I can provide. Although they wouldn’t need any technical skills, their personality needs to be checked and tested.”
“...”
“...”
The elderly woman and May were both silent for a while.
“What do you think?”
“W-who are you exactly?”
“Hm? Oh, let me introduce myself. I’m Benjamin Freed of the EPD. Also Chairman of Freedom Corp.”