After arranging Max, Aaron looked at Flint, the Sandman. "I remember you have a daughter?"
Flint was even more humble than Max. His tall figure subconsciously bent down, nodding subserviently, not daring to look Aaron directly in the eye.
He nodded nervously. "I need money and a formal identity so my daughter can receive an education like a normal person and smoothly go to college."
"Boss, I really need this job. As long as you are willing to let me join the group, I am willing to do anything for you."
Before Flint became Sandman, he was an unemployed, marginalized figure. He even robbed a bank with others.
Because Aaron influenced the timeline, this time he did not kill Peter's relatives, nor did he harm Gwen's parents.
But he still fell into a sand pit experimental area with severe nuclear radiation contamination during a chase, turning his cells into sand and becoming the famous Spider-Man villain, Sandman.
But before he committed evil, he coincidentally met Harry.
Harry, seeing Sandman's impressive abilities, instinctively thought of his uncle Aaron, and thus introduced Flint to the Security Department.
As soon as Flint heard that he had a chance to become an official employee of Aaron Industries, he immediately followed Harry to Aaron Industries without a second thought.
After Norman learned about Flint's abilities and the condition of his sick daughter, he waved his hand and covered all the medical expenses.
This made Flint, a doting father, incredibly grateful to Norman and Aaron Industries.
As a doting father, Flint robbed banks precisely to pay for his sick daughter's treatment and her education.
In the US, education and medical care are two towering mountains that drive middle and lower-class citizens to despair.
The so-called free medical care in public hospitals often requires waiting for several years, possibly until the illness naturally heals or the person has been dead for a long time, before one can get an appointment.
Just calling an ambulance costs thousands of dollars.
To cure his daughter's illness, he would need at least hundreds of thousands of dollars.
To cure his daughter, even if the cost was death or imprisonment, he would not hesitate.
Although Flint didn't have much education or worldly experience, he knew how to be grateful and repay kindness.
Norman, on behalf of Aaron, saved his daughter and even gave him the opportunity to become an employee of Aaron Industries, allowing his daughter to live with her head held high instead of having a supervillain father and potentially being bullied by her peers. He was naturally immensely grateful.
Therefore, upon seeing Aaron, this burly man, over six feet tall, was like a child, deferential and afraid of being rejected.
Aaron noticed Flint's inner turmoil and frowned slightly. "Flint, raise your head like a man."
Flint was startled, hesitantly raising his head, but his body remained bent.
"Stand up straight."
Aaron glanced at Erik and the Venom Squad who had just stepped through the main door, and said solemnly, "Remember, you are people of Aaron Industries. No matter who you face, you don't need to be so cautious, because you represent Aaron Industries, you are my face."
"I can accept your failures, but I absolutely cannot accept you being deferential and overly cautious when facing outsiders."
"Understand?"
Flint realized Aaron's underlying meaning, his expression brightened, and he immediately puffed out his chest and nodded heavily. "Understood, boss."
As a man, if not for being crushed by life, Flint would not want to be so weak. But he had to consider his daughter.
However, after today, Flint knew that he only needed to be responsible to Aaron and Aaron's women. He no longer needed to be subservient to anyone else.
Erik deeply resonated with this statement.
Just like when he faced Coulson before or when dealing with A.I.M., Fisk Group, and Sokovia mercenaries, he and the Symbiote Squad killed indiscriminately.
Did no one know that The Headless Maniac was Aaron's subordinate?
Did no one really know Erik was Aaron's enforcer?
Those media and high-ranking officials all held many relevant photos of them. But without exception, none of these photos were circulated.
Why? Isn't it because their boss is Aaron?
And Aaron's power shakes the Earth.
His friends are spread across the seven continents.
Who dares to cause trouble?
Erik's life during this period completely overturned the worldview he had formed over decades.
He never thought that he could openly kill people without being wanted.
Before joining Aaron, he wouldn't even dare to dream of such a thing.
"Boss, are you looking for us?" Erik said excitedly.
He vaguely felt that perhaps he had a chance to become the official Head of the Security Department?
He felt that his abilities were the greatest among the people present, besides Aaron.
However, Aaron's next sentence shattered Erik's illusion. "Next, I will introduce you to the new Head of the Security Department—Lilith."
Aaron clapped his hands and a wisp of black smoke emerged from thin air, converging into the figure of a beautiful woman.
She was Lilith, Dracula's daughter, and now Aaron's maid and herald.
Erik's smile froze, while the others didn't have many thoughts, respectfully greeting her as 'Head'.
Lilith realized Erik had an issue with her and, after getting Aaron's permission, looked at Erik.
"Shall we play?"
Erik instinctively wanted to refuse. Based on his decades of experience, with Lilith's beauty, she was definitely Aaron's exclusive possession. She might even become the mistress of the house someday.
"Erik, you guys try it. In Aaron Industries, the capable rise, and the weak fall. Aaron Industries doesn't keep idlers."
Aaron knew his thoughts and signaled him to go all out.
Upon hearing this, Erik immediately became eager to try.
"In that case, I won't be polite."
"Look..."
As Erik just opened his mouth, Lilith had already traversed dozens of meters, appeared behind him, and placed a dagger at his neck.
"You lost."
Erik: ...
"I wasn't ready yet."
Lilith chuckled softly, returned to her original position, and gestured for Erik to continue.
The latter's expression was very displeased.
A surprise kill right at the start? Seriously?
He immediately channeled steel to form a spear and lunged at Lilith. However, Lilith waved her hand and tore the spear apart.
This time, Erik quickly conjured a layer of steel protection around himself. But Lilith's sharp claws easily tore through the steel protection, checking him again.
"You lost."
Erik was dumbfounded.
He instantly lost again?
Erik looked at Lilith with extreme apprehension.
In that flash of lightning just now, Lilith had used at least teleportation, super strength, energy fields, super defense, and many other abilities.
And each ability far surpassed that of an ordinary Level 4 Mutant.
Even the weapon Lilith used was non-metallic.
In this confined space, Erik simply couldn't fight such a powerful opponent.