Symbiotic Agent

"And me, I've also been upgraded to level six. Why don't you shake hands with me?" Daisy's voice interrupted Holm's thoughts.

Daisy grabbed Coulson's hand and shook it, only letting go after she heard him congratulate her on reaching Level 6.

Holm could clearly see that Coulson's smile differed when facing Daisy and himself.

He treated Daisy with a polite and courteous smile, one that was gentle and slightly doting.

It's great to have a background; your boss will always smile at you. Holm once again reflected on Daisy's influential background.

After a series of formal discussions, Coulson exchanged a few words with them and left the hamburger joint. He still had numerous tasks to handle and was far less free than Holm and Daisy.

Seeing Coulson push open the door and leave, Holm and Daisy both breathed a sigh of relief. Although the atmosphere had been harmonious, for Holm, there was the unavoidable pressure of his superior's presence, and for Daisy, there was the authority of her higher-ups.

"Do you want to experience the true hidden strength of this store? After all, we spent money on those items earlier. Maybe we could get a proper version of the set meal if we explain our identity to them," Holm said, turning to Daisy.

Listening to Holm's suggestion, Daisy thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No, no, my stomach capacity is limited. If I eat here, I won't be able to enjoy the place you mentioned."

"Although it's a shame to waste money on the food, didn't you say you'd treat us? This way, it'll feel like I'm spending your money there, and I'll feel better about it."

At this point, Daisy suddenly turned to Holm, narrowed her eyes, and asked, "Are you regretting it? You want to use the burgers here to shut me up and save yourself from paying for another meal?"

Holm was briefly stunned but then laughed dismissively. "What a joke. It's just a hamburger. How much can it even cost? You underestimate me too much."

As he said this, he stood and waved at Daisy to follow him out.

Hearing him, Daisy stood up and followed Holm out of the hamburger shop, still thinking about what to order later.

Meanwhile, inside Holm's body, he was engaged in a conversation with Venom through his consciousness.

Well, you'll have to save your chocolate this week. We only have so much left in stock, and you'll need to wait until next week to buy more.

Venom was stunned to hear the bad news and immediately erupted in confusion. Why? Why? Why can't I buy my chocolate until next week?

The chocolates left are only enough for three days. If I want them to last the week, I'll need to eat half as much daily.

No! How can you treat me like this? How am I supposed to live without chocolate, especially when you don't even let me eat human brains?

How can you torture me like this? Not only do I get no brains, but now my chocolate is halved! Do you think it was easy for me to cross galaxies and follow a meteorite to get here? Now, I'm forced to endure hardship again after only a few days of joy!

Venom's emotional outburst was so intense that Holm was completely drowned out before he could respond.

Realistically, Holm shouldn't have been so tight on money. With dual salaries from Hydra and SHIELD, and years of service, he should have accumulated savings.

However, Holm had only occupied this body for just over a month, and once his memories were restored, he realized that his predecessor had squandered or recklessly invested most of his earnings.

Extravagance wasn't unexpected—being a double agent came with immense pressure, often requiring outlets for release. While the high expenses were understandable, Holm now viewed his predecessor's spending as irresponsible.

Regarding investments, Holm now saw them as a complete loss. His predecessor had avoided serious investing, convinced his life was unpredictable and could end at any moment—whether at SHIELD's hands or Hydra's.

He had focused on living fully, believing it better to die without regrets than to leave behind unused wealth.

As a result, Holm inherited no savings. His predecessor's reckless financial decisions had left him in a precarious position.

Holm's reason for halving Venom's chocolate supply wasn't tied to the expense of treating Daisy but rather his recent financial calculations.

At their current spending rate, they wouldn't make it past the next month. Raising Venom was proving far more costly than Holm had anticipated. Chocolate wasn't cheap, especially not the premium kinds Venom demanded.

If Holm were living alone, his salary would easily cover his lifestyle while allowing for occasional indulgences and savings. However, with Venom's addition, his current income was insufficient.

Fortunately, Holm's promotion to Level 7 and assignment to a special team meant an impending salary increase.

But those changes would only come next month. For now, Holm needed to survive the week.

The most pressing issue at hand was calming Venom. Otherwise, the constant shouting in his mind might cause Holm's head to explode.

Stop, stop, stop! Listen to my explanation first. While your chocolate intake will be reduced this week, I promise to make up for it next month. Holm interrupted Venom's tirade.

Sure enough, Venom paused at the mention of a chocolate replenishment next month, giving Holm the opportunity to explain further.

As Holm drove Daisy to the store he had mentioned earlier, he continued his mental dialogue with Venom.

He discussed the price of chocolate, his salary, Venom's meal costs, and their remaining budget to get through the month.

As Holm laid out the facts, Venom began to see the financial strain he was causing. His earlier outbursts weakened, replaced by reluctant acceptance.

Finally, Holm promised a stable chocolate supply moving forward and occasional outings for snacks. Venom, showing his polite and sensible side, acknowledged Holm's struggles and agreed to compromise.

By the time they reached the restaurant, Holm and Venom had reached a consensus.

Holm then focused on his meal with Daisy, though his mind lingered on how to earn extra money.

Venom, on the other hand, gleefully sampled the food Holm discreetly shared, giggling as he fantasized about the promised snacks.

As long as there was something new to eat, Venom didn't seem to mind halving his chocolate ration.

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