Leo's statement that he wanted to have dinner together in the evening was not just a random joke, but that he had already discussed it with several key management members a few days ago.
The company is just starting up now, and the current key management members will be the mainstay of the company in the future, so it is very important to do a good job in team building.
Because the venue was in the middle of a meeting at the moment and people were coming and going, Peter took the initiative to suppress his spider sense.
So he didn't realize that Leo had actually been standing not far away for a while, listening to the conversation between him and Otto.
When Peter saw Leo, he thought he had just arrived.
At this time, I heard Leo inviting me to have dinner in the evening, and he was as cordial as he treated his employees.
Peter felt that since he didn't want to continue to stay at El Technology Company, he might as well speak clearly now so as not to let down Leo's respect.
"Mr. Erwin, thank you for your compliment. I just tried my best to complete what I should do today."
Peter smiled modestly and continued,
"Besides, I am not going to attend the dinner party tonight.
And, Mr. Erwin, don’t be angry, I actually don’t plan to work at Er Technology Company in the future.”
After Peter finished speaking, he hurriedly explained again:
"Mr. Erwin, I don't mean to say there is anything bad about El Technology Company, I just have things that interest me to be busy with.
In addition, thank you very much for your recognition and appreciation of me these days, but I really can’t stay in your company.”
Leo laughed at Peter's serious explanation. This cute and serious look probably wouldn't make anyone angry.
Besides, Leo had no reason to be angry. After all, Peter did not sign any labor contract with El Technology Company.
"Peter, you don't want to continue working at El Technology Company. In fact, I have known it for a long time.
More than a week has passed and you haven't submitted a formal resume or cover letter to the human resources department. I have already been mentally prepared."
Peter smiled awkwardly and scratched his head, expressing his apology again.
Leo touched his chin and thought for a while, then said:
"I just invited you to have dinner together in the evening. It was a tactful way of trying to persuade you to stay.
I am actually very optimistic about your ability and work style, and I believe you will be able to achieve success in El Technology Company in the future.
But everyone has his or her own ambitions, and since you have something you want to do, I won’t force you to do it.”
Leo took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Peter,
"You spoke well today, and here is the reward you deserve.
Originally I planned to give it to you when we have dinner together in the evening, but since you don't want to go, I'll give it to you now.
The total here is two thousand dollars, and the extra is the bonus I promised you."
Although Peter thought in his heart that the money was too much, his hands took the envelope with utmost honesty and put it into his arms.
"Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Erwin."
With these two thousand US dollars, at least his living expenses and rent will be covered for the next two to three months.
Maybe even buy Mary Jane a decent gift.
"Peter, can you introduce this gentleman to me?"
Otto, who was standing next to him, was ignored by Peter and Leo for a long time, and he couldn't help but take the initiative to show his presence.
Only then did Peter remember Otto, suddenly reacted, and quickly introduced Otto and Leo.
"Dr. Octavius, this is Mr. Leo Irvine, he is the actual leader of El Technology Company.
Mr. Erwin, this is Dr. Otto Octavius, he is one of my university teachers."
Otto took the initiative to say hello to Leo, and then shook hands warmly.
Leo unexpectedly discovered that for some reason, Otto's palms were a little weak.
"Peter, is this the same university professor where you worked as a scientific research assistant that Miss Jane mentioned last time?"
"Yes, Professor Octavius is an outstanding scientific researcher. I have been working with him during college."
Leo already had a draft in his mind. When he heard Peter's definite answer, he asked directly:
"But last time I heard Miss Jane say that there were some funding problems with the scientific research project you participated in, Peter, and even the research couldn't be carried out."
Leo didn't wait for Peter to answer, turned to Otto and said with a smile,
"Dr. Octavius, is that true? I wonder if I can provide you with some help?"
Since Otto just saw that Leo gave Peter two thousand dollars without any ambiguity and distress, he actually had some thoughts in his mind.
Otherwise, he would not have taken the initiative to ask Peter to introduce Leo's identity, let alone say hello to Leo proactively and enthusiastically.
You must know that most successful scientific researchers are proud and self-reliant in character. They will neither take the initiative to suppress anyone nor take the initiative to curry favor with anyone.
Otto was also forced to do nothing by the problem of funding, and he also had reasons to continue studying this project.
At this time, Leo suddenly asked if he could help, which was exactly what Otto was thinking.
Otto's character meant that he would not be reserved.
Besides, he was also afraid that if he was a little tactful, Leo would just go down the slope and stop mentioning the help.
So, Otto said directly:
"Mr. Erwin, do you want to provide me with funds to help me carry out my research project? Thank you very much."
Leo was stunned, as the manuscript he had been preparing was suddenly stillborn.
Unexpectedly, Otto's desire for money was so urgent. Leo originally thought that he would need to talk a lot to convince Otto to accept his funding.
But this also proves from the side how important this project is to Otto.
Since Otto took the initiative to ask for Leo's help, Leo felt that he had to turn his back on the client and act appropriately awkward.
Because people tend to take other people's proactive help as a matter of course, and regard the help they ask for as gratitude.
This is also one of the few philosophies of life that Leo understood in his previous life.
"Dr. Octavius, you are right. I do have plans in this regard, but I do it more for the sake of Mr. Peter Parker."
Leo calmly sent himself a good guy card from Peter, and then continued,
"Besides, don't worry, I want to invest in your research project.
However, I need to fully understand and examine your project before I can decide how much to invest.
Note, I said investment, not funding. You know, I am a businessman, so I need your project to bring benefits to me."
Leo smiled and comforted Otto, and answered Otto's question ambiguously.
Otto calmed down for a moment and then realized that private investment and scientific research funding support from the municipal government are different.
Because private investment is 100% aimed at making money.
As a university professor and a scientific researcher, Otto's starting point for doing projects was not to make money at all, so he could only say:
“I don’t know if my research project can make money. After all, as a scientific researcher, I don’t care about the commercial value of the project itself.
However, I can describe to you what my research projects are doing, and I believe you can make your own judgment, Mr. Erwin."
So Otto carefully introduced to Leo what he was doing.
As if he was applying for scientific research funding, Otto explained to Leo in an orderly manner the starting point of his research project, where it had progressed so far, and what results he expected to achieve.
Leo listened very carefully, so he could tell that Doctor Octopus in this world was not the character in the movies he was familiar with.
The Doctor Octopus in this world is less arrogant and truly treats Peter as a student.
In addition, what he is researching is not tritium reactors that are difficult to control, but is dedicated to researching and manufacturing mechanical prostheses that can be freely controlled by human nerve signals.
However, in his previous life, Leo had seen various adaptations of Doctor Octopus, and the final outcome was that Doctor Octopus would definitely turn evil.
Therefore, based on the law that Doctor Octopus will definitely turn black, Leo felt that Otto was definitely not telling the truth.
So, Leo thought for a while and asked:
"Dr. Octavius, I happen to know a lot about machinery. How about you take me to your laboratory for a field visit?
In this way, I can also have a more intuitive assessment and judgment of the commercial value of your research project."
Otto did nothing wrong and directly invited Leo in person, so he could go to the laboratory for a visit now.
It's just around noon now, so it's still very early.
Leo nodded in agreement and prepared to call Bucky, who was still in the El Building, to accompany him to visit Dr. Octavius's laboratory.
Leo naturally called Bucky out of caution.
Otherwise, if Doctor Octopus suddenly turns dark today and pokes at Leo with four mechanical tentacles, who will Leo find to reason with...
Peter was of course very happy to hear that Leo was planning to invest in Dr. Octavius's project, and naturally wanted to accompany Leo to the laboratory.
So, the three of them discussed it and were ready to set off now.
However, just as the three were about to leave, there was some small commotion in the west of the venue.