"Mr. Tobias Frewer, I'll be blunt. I'm very interested in ctOS technology, but Blume Corporation seems to have labeled it as not for sale. Do you have anything to say about that?"
Harry, sitting opposite Tobias, posed the question.
Tobias was an old man who had lost his source of income after leaving Blume and had become homeless.
"Why would Mr. Osborn be interested in this technology?"
"Just as the advertisements say—a smart city. It's quite practical technology, and I appreciate it. If you've been to New York, you'd know how crowded that city is."
Beyond that, it could fill in Harry's final gap—information security. ctOS could help him block 90% of Agents. Once the system was laid out in New York, the city would hold no secrets from Harry.
In fact, as the creators of ctOS, many of them didn't have many ulterior motives; they truly believed this technology could make cities better.
At least the man in front of him was like that.
Unfortunately, after the mastermind Quinn took over, the original intent of this technology was corrupted.
After discovering the dealings between the company and the investor Quinn, several developers left. Tobias was fired for this reason and ended up in his current state.
If this had happened before all that, they might have easily believed Harry's words and joyfully accepted Osborn's investment.
But now, money alone wouldn't easily convince them to work for Harry.
"Someone once told us the same thing, but..."
"But they obviously weren't telling the truth." Harry indicated he could guess what had happened.
"The system was developed and put into use, a time of great success, yet several founders were kicked out of the team. Any fool can see there's a problem there."
"I can understand if you don't trust me, but there is one thing where our goals align."
"Finding what's hidden under ctOS and taking down Blume Corporation."
Tobias watched Harry's eyes while he spoke, trying to find any trace of a lie.
"I heard you want to buy Blume Corporation," Tobias said.
"Yes, but they won't sell. So I've been wondering if there's something else behind that company."
"Then you should go find DedSec."
Harry was somewhat speechless. Everyone had been scared off; as soon as they spoke, they told him to find this hacker organization.
But as far as Harry knew, that organization wasn't entirely composed of good people either.
He could perfectly well gather these developers together again and invest in them to work for him. Why would he go looking for a hacker organization with such complex motives?
"You are a developer of ctOS; I'm not going to go chasing after a group of hackers with unknown origins. As long as you nod, I can fund you and your former team to continue developing ctOS. Moreover, you'll retain operational authority; I don't need that."
Harry would only install ctOS in cities where his power grid was laid. As long as a city used the Osborn power grid, software permissions were meaningless to him; he just wanted the functionality.
The Osborn Group needed such a system to assist the company in controlling the city, but not the kind of control Quinn and Blume exercised.
Harry had different expectations for this system, rather than using it to peek into someone's privacy.
As for permissions, even the highest software access and the most complex security protocols were meaningless in front of Lening.
"As for the mastermind you're afraid of... I think you can have some confidence in the Osborn Group, don't you agree?"
As Harry spoke, he handed over an anonymous bank card. Nearby, the television was broadcasting news about the Osborn Group having just delivered a batch of new power armor to the Department of Defense.
Finally, after a long conversation, the old man relented; he was willing to work for Harry.
Tobias's nod was just the beginning.
The problems in this city were too severe. ctOS held too much leverage over powerful people, which allowed the mastermind Quinn to control the city and push for the installation of ctOS at will.
Looking at it from another angle, Harry could take the opportunity to take down most of the city's officials and then support a few upright ones to help him manage the city.
Just like he had done in New York.
"Very well. I know you have a facility very suitable for network work. That place is called The Bunker, right?"
"How did you know? I mean, that place has been abandoned for a long time. I don't think it's usable anymore." Tobias felt this Harry Osborn was more of a hacker than actual hackers; Harry did all the talking, and it seemed there was nothing he didn't know.
"It doesn't matter. Osborn already has construction crews in Chicago, and they don't have work right now. I'll have them go over and restore that place."
Harry was referring to Max and his group. With them, getting power to The Bunker wouldn't be a problem at all.
"There's one more thing. I don't know how you've shielded yourself from ctOS, but once they find out we've restarted The Bunker, they'll likely send mercenaries to attack us."
Tobias wasn't exaggerating; Chicago was practically Quinn's backyard now.
However, while such methods might work against poor technical staff like them, for the wealthier Harry, it wasn't an issue.
"Yes, that is indeed a problem. So let's end this before they realize the mercenaries have already been bought off by me. If they hire another group, I'll have to bleed money again."
Tobias didn't immediately register what Harry was saying—so those mercenaries were actually on Osborn's side now?
Harry patted Tobias on the shoulder. "Go back to The Bunker. My people will go with you. Now, I'm going to meet another one of your colleagues."
After settling things with Tobias, Harry went directly to a bar in the Pawnee district. He remembered that another developer of ctOS often frequented this place.
"Harry Osborn?"
As soon as he entered, an enthusiastic fan recognized Harry and cried out in surprise.
To this, Harry naturally responded to the fans' enthusiasm.
"Yes, I'm Harry Osborn. Actually, I plan to buy out the place for tonight. Osborn's treat, have fun!"
"I love Osborn!"
The people drinking here were all mature adults, or rather, the Osborn Group's fans were mostly quite rational.
Harry had heard that Tony was currently holding Iron Man tours everywhere, and his fans were much more fanatical. Men and women in cosplay could be seen under Stark Tower every day.
After everyone raised their glasses together, Harry sat down at the bar.
"A rich man like you has never been here before. Can I take a photo with you? I want to post it on my social media account; it'll be good publicity. I assume you won't charge me for copyright or anything?"
Facing the bartender's request, Harry straightened his clothes and indicated it was fine.
"You're a good man. What would you like to drink?"
"A beer is fine, thanks."
"I wouldn't have guessed a multi-billionaire shared the same tastes as us," the bartender said, opening a bottle of beer for Harry. "You didn't really come here just for a drink, did you?"
"I didn't. I'm looking for someone—Raymond Kenney, or Bone Grady, whichever name you're familiar with."
The bartender looked strangely to the side upon hearing those two names. Harry followed his gaze and saw a hooded man leaving the bar.
"Thanks, brother."
Harry patted the bartender's shoulder and ran out after the hooded man.
"Hey! Didn't you say it was your treat!"
"On the table!"
The bartender looked at where Harry had been sitting and found a check on the table.
"Paying with a check? Isn't that a bit too casual..." Halfway through his sentence, the bartender stopped and quietly tucked the check away.
"He's a rich man; everything he does is right."
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