Chapter 67: Whitewashing
Although the beautiful assistants sent by Hydra were quite pleasing to the eye, Russell didn't pay too much attention to them.
He was indeed a man who couldn't resist temptation, but he wasn't a man who would easily fall into a trap.
After handing the design sketches to Peter and giving him an encouraging look, Russell left the lab and returned to his office on the third floor.
Professional matters should be handled by professionals.
Although Peter wasn't considered a professional yet and didn't have much experience, with No. 3's help, Russell believed he would grow rapidly.
As for No. 3, No. 3 was already a very mature AI, and it knew how to upgrade itself.
While Russell was slacking off playing games in the office, Peter and No. 3 were working hard in the lab.
Days passed by like this.
Although Peter still had to go to school during the day and only had time after classes, since the lab was located in a neighborhood with good public security, he didn't have to rush home as soon as it got dark.
This wasn't Hell's Kitchen; even going home at night, Peter wouldn't be in any danger.
While Peter and No. 3 were working hard, Russell also took some time to do a few things besides slacking off and playing games.
For example, he transformed into the superhero Serum and cracked down on crime in New York a few times.
He didn't suddenly become a superhero because he was bored; he had his own plans.
In the underground world, the Traveler's reputation was already quite well-known.
Even the veritable Kingpin of the underworld had to give him some face, more or less.
But in normal human society, besides being somewhat known in the detective industry, he wasn't famous in other fields.
He wasn't particularly interested in the identity of a superhero.
However, he was very interested in the huge economic value behind the superhero identity.
In this regard, the Fantastic Four were a good example.
Before becoming superheroes, while Mr. Fantastic and the others weren't particularly poor, they weren't exactly wealthy either.
However, after they became superheroes and revealed their identities publicly, the four of them achieved a double harvest of fame and wealth.
Although Russell had extremely excellent money-making abilities, his previous methods of making money were a bit too singular.
To put it simply, it was all money earned by risking his life.
If he could make a name for himself as a superhero, not only would he become famous, but his Octopus Monster Lab would also become famous along with him.
The current lab was mainly used for upgrading suits, but if there was a chance to develop the lab into a military-industrial giant like Stark Industries, he wouldn't mind.
It could bring both fame and huge economic returns, so doing the superhero business wouldn't hurt.
Besides these, he also had a little personal motive.
Gwen!
He was very interested in Spider-Woman Gwen!
Although Gwen was slightly less stunning than Diana, she was also a rare beauty.
More importantly, Gwen was a beauty with spider superpowers.
That kind of flexibility, just thinking about it was exciting.
To better play the role of a superhero, he also specially designed a white combat suit with black patterns for himself.
Calling it a combat suit, it was actually just another form he transformed into using the serum.
The monster-like appearance of the serum didn't look like a good guy, so he slightly changed the serum's image.
He didn't adopt Gwen's tight suit design, but instead had the white symbiote transform into the appearance of a modern combat suit, and slightly referenced the style of the inner symbiote armor.
After designing his new appearance, he began his "superhero" journey.
Cracking down on street crime!
Saving people in danger!
His superhero plan was very simple.
First, gradually build up reputation, letting the people of New York know that there was a new superhero named Serum in New York.
Then, wait for a suitable opportunity, for example, after resolving a major event, reveal his true identity.
Finally, referencing the methods of the Fantastic Four and The Seven, become a widely loved, rich, and famous superhero.
Although the plan was simple, if everything went smoothly, he should be able to become a well-known superhero faster than Tony.
From another perspective, this was also a whitewashing plan he was creating for himself.
If mob bosses like Kingpin whitewashed themselves through means like charity donations.
Then becoming a superhero was Russell's method of whitewashing.
Although becoming a superhero would mean he couldn't act as freely as before.
At least when using those bloody methods, there would be some restrictions.
But this wasn't a problem at all.
As long as he didn't use bloody methods in broad daylight, there wouldn't be much of a problem.
With the halo of a superhero, most of his actions would be actively rationalized and justified.
Even if they didn't seem entirely rational and just, ordinary people would rationalize them as righteous.
Besides, having been a killer for so long, it was time to switch to a more legitimate identity.
Four in the afternoon.
Queens.
A black Chevrolet sedan was speeding down the street, trying to shake off the police cars behind it.
Besides the four or five police cars following behind, a news helicopter was also following unhurriedly, providing live coverage.
This was a group of robbers who had just robbed a bank.
The sedan sped wildly, and the robbers inside kept firing at the police cars behind them.
High-speed chase, police-robber shootout, bank robbery...
This crime, which should have been an ordinary robbery, quickly became headline news for major media outlets due to the live broadcast.
Just as this group of robbers was frantically attacking the pursuing police cars, a white figure descended from the sky, landing on the street ahead like a meteor.
This white figure was none other than Russell.
This was already the fifth day since he began his "superhero whitewashing plan."
After descending from the roof of a nearby building to the street, he flexed his hands and stood there waiting for the robbers' sedan.
Although the robber driving the sedan saw him, he had no intention of avoiding him; instead, he floored the gas pedal, trying to run over Russell who was blocking the road.
The idea was nice, but reality was cruel.
Boom!
The robbers' sedan did hit Russell, but it wasn't him who was knocked away.
The speeding sedan was like hitting a solid wall; its front end completely caved in, and it was forced to a stop.
The robbers inside the car never expected such an outcome.
Not only did these robbers not expect it, but the police behind them and the reporters in the helicopter didn't expect it either.
Let alone the ordinary people who witnessed this scene through the live broadcast.
After "stopping" the speeding sedan, Russell pushed aside the car, which was no longer worth repairing, came to the side of the door, and ripped off the completely deformed door.