New York, Oscorp Industries.
On this day, the entire inspection team from the Department of Defense arrived at Oscorp Industries, ready to check on the progress of the human enhancement serum they were developing.
Inside the laboratory, Dr. Stromm, Oscorp Industries' chief scientist, was introducing a new type of aircraft developed by Oscorp Industries to General Sorkin, the leader of the inspection team. This was one of the projects Oscorp Industries was developing for the Department of Defense.
"...This is the new type of aircraft we've developed. We've now perfectly solved the problems of parallel gliding and gravity balance..."
Dr. Stromm hadn't finished speaking when General Sorkin coldly interrupted him, "I know, but I'm not interested in it. I only want to know the status of the human enhancement serum!"
"General, this new type of aircraft was a weapon specified for procurement by the Department of Defense last time..." Norman Osborn, who was standing nearby, stepped forward to explain. The development of the human enhancement serum hadn't been successful yet, and he didn't want the Department of Defense to know about it prematurely. This was not good news.
General Sorkin snorted and ignored Norman, "Mr. Osborn, to be honest with you, I never approved your plan. Those were approved by the previous Person in charge. Now, I need to know the progress of the human enhancement serum, understand?"
Norman's face turned grim. General Sorkin was clearly making things difficult for him, but he had no choice but to agree to the general's demands, so he nodded in agreement.
Seeing Norman's reaction, General Sorkin smiled with satisfaction and looked at Dr. Stromm.
Dr. Stromm hesitated to make a decision. He glanced at Norman, and after Norman nodded, he began to explain the situation of the human enhancement serum to General Sorkin.
"We subjected mice to vapor inhalation experiments, and their physical abilities increased eightfold. This proves that our experimental direction is correct. With continued research, we will soon be able to create a super-serum like during World War II, replicating enhanced humans like Captain America..."
"Sounds pretty good," General Sorkin nodded faintly, then asked, seemingly casually, "Are there any side effects?"
At these words, Norman's face immediately changed. General Sorkin, seeing Norman's change, looked suspiciously at Dr. Stromm, who was standing beside him.
General Sorkin had an imposing aura. The bald Dr. Stromm couldn't withstand General Sorkin's sharp gaze and truthfully revealed the situation.
"After undergoing vapor inhalation tests, the mice quickly showed significant violent tendencies and aggressive behavior. We must revert the entire research to the equation stage; perhaps only then can we solve this problem."
Seeing that Dr. Stromm had actually revealed the truth, Norman glared fiercely at Dr. Stromm, then looked at General Sorkin: "General, this is just a minor issue, it won't take long to solve..."
"Enough, Mr. Osborn." General Sorkin interrupted Norman's defense, sneering: "You are deceiving the Department of Defense. Remember, I'm only giving you two weeks. If the human trials are still not successful by then, I will revoke your research funding and transfer all projects to others!"
With that, General Sorkin let out a final cold snort, then left with the inspection team, leaving behind a cold-limbed Norman Osborn standing in place.
It was known that for this opportunity to procure from the Department of Defense, Norman Osborn had gambled almost everything he had. He had even taken out a huge loan from the bank. But now, General Sorkin's words meant that this opportunity, which he had worked so hard to obtain, had a very high chance of being completely lost, causing all his previous operating costs and research funds to evaporate, and even potentially collapsing his business empire, which he had painstakingly built over decades.
The more he thought about it, the more twisted Norman Osborn's face became. He simply couldn't afford the enormous cost of losing Oscorp Industries.
"Impossible, no one can take it from me!"
Norman Osborn dismissed everyone from the lab, leaving only Dr. Stromm. After some thought, he finally made a very risky decision.
He was going to test the human enhancement serum directly on himself!
"Mr. Osborn, this is too risky! The human enhancement serum hasn't reached the human trial stage yet, you'll be in mortal danger!"
Dr. Stromm tried to dissuade a distraught Norman Osborn. He understood Norman's urgent feelings, but any research findings intended for human application must undergo repeated experiments and data comparisons.
The current human enhancement serum was far from that stage!
"I don't have any more time! If we don't get the Department of Defense order, Oscorp Industries will be completely finished!"
Norman had no intention of stopping. He was facing the biggest crisis since the company's inception. If he couldn't successfully overcome it, the business empire he had built with his own hands would instantly turn into ruins!
Oscorp's position was not ideal. Those Wall Street capitalists would certainly not miss this good opportunity; they would pounce like hungry wolves, tearing him to shreds!
Norman made up his mind. He directly drank the catalyst for the human enhancement serum, lay down on the experimental apparatus, and had Dr. Stromm secure the apparatus's harness for him.
But just then, a chilling voice suddenly began to echo repeatedly in Norman's mind.
"If you enhance yourself, you will surely die..."
"If you enhance yourself, you will surely die..."
...Upon hearing this voice, Norman vaguely saw in his mind the scene of his Oscorp Industries being devoured by the Wall Street wolves after his death, and he saw his son, Harry Osborn, homeless because Oscorp Industries had been taken by others.
"That's right, the human enhancement serum isn't fully successful yet. I can't take such a risk. I will surely die..."
Seeing these images, Norman Osborn broke out in a cold sweat and began to regret it.
"Dr. Stromm, quickly release me!"
Norman then began to shake violently. He ordered Dr. Stromm to unfasten the experimental apparatus for him, and he stepped down from the machine.
Dr. Stromm unfastened the harness for Norman and asked excitedly, "Mr. Osborn, have you finally come to your senses?"
"Yes, as the head of Oscorp Industries, I must not put myself in danger. Dr. Stromm, quickly find someone who can conduct experiments for us. Speed up and experiment to achieve the best results for the human enhancement serum. Did you hear me clearly?"
Norman nodded, put on his clothes, and instructed Dr. Stromm on what to do next.
Although he couldn't conduct the experiment himself, he could have others do it.
There were still two weeks until the Department of Defense's deadline, which was enough time for him to find many people to conduct experiments for him!
Norman calmed his anxious heart, then, after giving Dr. Stromm further instructions, he walked out of the laboratory!
However, just as he walked out of the laboratory, he suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart, as if he had lost something important.
Although it felt strange, Norman didn't pay it any mind. He often had this feeling; it was just a sense of crisis.
But then, a thin figure suddenly appeared in his mind.
It was Ron—the person he had just seen when he took Harry to Columbia University not long ago!