Chapter 73 Eddie’s Devaluation

[Once inside the office, Eddie Brock approached J. Jonah Jameson with barely contained excitement. Jameson glanced at him quizzically. "Who are you?" he asked.]

[Robbie quickly stepped in to explain. "You officially hired him last week, Jonah. He's a freelance reporter."]

["I hired you? What's that smell?" Jameson had obviously forgotten about him, but he smelled a strange smell before he finished speaking. ]

[Eddie introduced himself: "My name is Brock, Eddie Brock! May I take the liberty of telling you that I really like that shirt of yours?" The two shook hands. ]

[Then Eddie handed him the photo of the tower crane incident he took, "This is a photo of the crane incident, take a good look!" J. Jonah Jameson took his photo and showed off to Robbie, "He said he likes my shirt!"]

[At this time, Peter also walked in. He greeted Miss Brant, "Hey, Betty!", "Hey! Peter!" When Peter approached, she gently reminded him, "You'd better go in right away. There's a new guy here, and he's going to sell his Spider-Man photos!"]

[Peter glanced into the office, said "Thank you!" to her, and then walked into the office.]

[Seeing Peter come in, Jameson immediately said to him: "Peter, you are late, maybe too late, Blake has already defeated you!"]

[Eddie corrected: "It's Brock, sir, Eddie Brock!" Peter was noncommittal and took out his own photo, "But I got this for you!"]

["But he already got this for me!" Jameson pointed to the photo in Robbie's hand, and Robbie took Peter's photo and began to look at it. ]

[Eddie glanced at Peter's photo and looked at him strangely: "I didn't see you there, how come you were so high up?"]

[Peter raised his eyebrows, "I climbed up there and nearly fell off the flagpole."]

["Flagpole?" Eddie recalled doubtfully that he didn't seem to see any flagpole nearby.]

["So, which one should we use?" Robbie asked Jameson.]

[Jameson didn't hesitate. "I like Bullock's. Their pictures are better. And cheaper, too!"]

[Robbie turned to Eddie. "Congratulations, we'll use yours. You'll be paid $50."]

[Eddie lit up instantly. "Thank you, sir! You won't regret this! I know how to take better photos than any of those other amateurs."]

["You see, photography is not just about that, no harm done, flagpoles or anything like that! It's about combining light, composition and drama! I want this job, sir!"]

[Eddie boasted about himself but also belittled Peter, and even pretended to tell Peter that he meant no harm.]

[At this time, Miss Brant came in with a document, and Jameson signed it casually. Brant used her fingers to dip into her saliva to change the pages. Jameson continued to sign the document while listening to Eddie flattering him.]

["Sir, there's another dream I've got," Eddie began dramatically. "To work with the greatest newspaper editor of all time—J. Jonah Jameson!"]

[[Jameson watched him with a cigar clamped between his teeth. Turning to Robbie, he mused, "There's a vacancy at the paper, right? Johnson quit, didn't he?"]

["You fired him," Robbie corrected flatly.]

["Whatever," Jameson waved dismissively.]

[At this time, Peter, who had been listening, interrupted him, "Wait, I know what makes a good photo. I have been here for a long time. If there is a job, I think it should be given to me."]

[Robbie agreed, "He's right, Jonah! Peter has worked with us for many years and he's done a great job!"]

["You want this job, you want it too, but does anyone care what I want?" Hoffman opened the office door and said, "I care!"]

["Shut up and get out!" Jameson barked. "I want the public to know Spider-Man is a menace, a slimy criminal! Whoever gets a photo of him doing something bad gets the job! What are you waiting for? Chinese New Year? GOGOGO!"]

[Eddie immediately agreed, "I'll get it right away, boss!" Peter followed him out of the office and said to Eddie from behind, "You'll never be able to take the photo!"]

["Oh?" Eddie sneered. "Watch and learn!"]

Tony looked at Eddie's exaggerated performance with disgust. He hated people who said one thing to one person and another thing to another person the most. Apart from belittling others, he didn't see what other abilities Eddie had.

Rhodes, sitting nearby, shook his head. "Does he really think he's fooling anyone? He's already managed to alienate most of the team before even starting. Not a great look."

Uncle Ben was disdainful of Eddie's clown-like performance. He only knew how to elevate himself by belittling others, but this method would not last long.

Peter, on the other hand, remained unfazed. He had outgrown the insecurity and financial struggles of his younger self. Now, he found Eddie's antics more amusing than frustrating.

[Peter was walking on the street when his eyes were suddenly drawn to a store with a red scrolling sign that read "Spider-Man saved the daughter of the police captain. Spider-Man became a city hero!"]

[Peter stopped and watched this scene. A familiar old man walked up to him and said to him: "I am the only one who can change the world!"]

["Peter wanted to say something, but was interrupted by him. "No need to say more!" Then he left, leaving Peter watching with a smile on his face.]

[Harry Osborn, after weeks in the hospital, finally returned home. His butler, Bernard, greeted him warmly. "Welcome home, Harry!"]

[Harry embraced him tightly. "Thank God you're okay, Bernard."]

["Thank you, sir." Bernard stepped aside as Peter arrived, carrying a basketball. "Hey, Harry," Peter said with a grin, handing it over.]

[Harry turned the ball over in his hands, noticing Peter's name written on it. "This is… my old basketball!"]

["That's right."]

[A smile spread across Harry's face as he dribbled the ball. "Man, we had some good games in the backyard with this."]

[Peter laughed. "We were terrible, but we still thought we'd make the college team."]

[Harry smirked. "Just so we could hang out with the cheerleaders."]

[Peter raised an eyebrow. "Exactly."]

["Hey, speaking of which… do I have a girlfriend?" Harry asked suddenly, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.]

[Peter hesitated. "I don't know."]

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