Every year, Times Square holds a grand New Year's Eve celebration, and this year was no exception, even though many buildings next to the square were still under repair; in fact, this year's scale was even larger than in previous years.
"Saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, everyone wants a good start."
Gwen wrapped her arm around Andrew's arm and sighed, "This year has been too disastrous. Everyone hopes for peace and prosperity next year."
Andrew shook his head, "That's a good thought, but when you look back in the future, you'll find that this year was the best year in the next decade."
Gwen was displeased, "Do you have to be so pessimistic?"
"The wheel of history cannot be stopped."
Andrew said, "Let's not talk about that. You've been very busy lately. Tonight, spend some quality time with me. It's my first time attending a New Year's Eve celebration."
Gwen felt a little guilty and ashamed. During this time, she, Jessica, and Skye formed a team to be Super Heroes in Hell's Kitchen, so busy that she didn't even have time to do homework, let alone accompany Andrew.
Gwen promised, "I will definitely spend quality time with you tonight."
Soon, the time came to the last few seconds of 2008. In Times Square, everyone counted down in unison: "Three, two, one... Happy New Year!"
2009 officially arrived, but contrary to what the public hoped, this year was destined not to be peaceful.
...
"Everyone is hoping for the disaster to pass completely, but according to my estimation, there will only be more and more disasters."
At Osborn Group, Norman Osborn, who looked much older than before, handed a wine glass to General Ross of the America Army, saying.
General Ross, nicknamed Thunderbolt General, took the wine glass and said, "Our army will protect America."
"In fact, the previous few disasters were not resolved by the army."
Norman smiled, "General Ross, don't be angry. I'm not saying that your military didn't try its best, but the military's power is too weak, completely incomparable to those so-called Super Heroes."
"The military's power is not weak; it just didn't have time to mobilize."
General Ross snorted and said impatiently, "Norman, what exactly do you want to say?"
"I want to say that we should cooperate to develop the Human Enhancement Serum."
Norman said, "Once the Human Enhancement Serum is successfully researched, the army will definitely restore its glory from World War II."
General Ross asked, "How come I heard that your Osborn Group's Human Enhancement Serum failed?"
"It didn't fail; there was just a slight flaw. Some of the lab mice became very aggressive."
Norman corrected, "As long as General Ross, you are willing to share the formula and data of the military's Human Enhancement experiment, I am confident that I can completely resolve this flaw."
Both the Osborn Group's Human Enhancement Serum and the military's Human Enhancement experiment were actually trying to restore Dr. Erskine's Super Soldier Serum—the serum that made Captain America's chest muscles bigger than a woman's.
Similar projects were numerous in America. The Osborn Group's Human Enhancement Serum was considered the closest finished product to the Super Soldier Serum—on the same level as the Soldier Serum restored by Howard.
General Ross hesitated. After a moment, he said, "I can cooperate with Osborn Group, but in addition to the Human Enhancement Serum formula, I also want the Lizard Serum formula."
Norman was stunned, then said, "The Lizard Serum formula? General Ross, the Lizard will produce another personality and become uncontrollable."
"It's fine. Just treat them as animals."
General Ross said, "I plan to use death row inmates to create some Lizard. Their combat power is quite good."
"Is that so?"
Norman hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, but Osborn Group will not acknowledge this matter; it will only say that the formula was lost."
General Ross said, "No problem, Norman, I hope you don't disappoint me."
"Don't worry, this time, I will never fail."
Norman said very resolutely. He was running out of time and had to inject the Human Enhancement Serum as soon as possible, otherwise, he would die.
In addition, Osborn Group's recent performance was too poor. Norman needed military orders to retain his position as chairman, otherwise, those shareholders, like Vampires, would not hesitate to abandon him.
"It's a pity I can't find Banner, otherwise, why would I need to cooperate with Osborn Group?"
General Ross thought of something and sighed secretly, "What Iron Man, what Spider-Man, in front of the Hulk, they are simply not worth mentioning. Only Ghost Rider can put up a fight."
...
Inside a simple hut in Siberia, a long-haired man with a scar on his face, looking very tough and wild, held up the newly forged Arc Reactor and said proudly, "What Tony Stark can do, I can do too."
"Ivan, you are more of a genius than Tony."
Obadiah, the bald, bearded man, clapped excitedly, "You miniaturized the Arc Reactor with just a raw blueprint."
"The Stark Family are a bunch of thieves. They stole everything from the Vanko Family."
Ivan Vanko threw the Arc Reactor aside and said angrily, "The Stark Family spends their days reveling in America, indulging in extravagance, while our Vanko Family is trapped in Siberia suffering. I must settle this score with Tony Stark."
"Be careful."
Seeing Ivan casually toss the Arc Reactor, Obadiah was almost scared to death. Please, that was a nuclear reactor. If it exploded, he would become the most tragic villain to die.
Obadiah secretly cursed, "These Russians, they are just rough in their work."