Chapter 14: Osborn's Super Soldier Program
"General Ross."
Batman wore a white lab coat, following behind Norman like a real Oscorp employee, listening as the multinational company's CEO greeted the visitor.
Beside Batman were several other white-coated researchers. He stood among them without raising suspicion. Everyone's attention was focused on General Ross.
"Welcome, we're honored by your visit..."
Norman's face beamed with enthusiasm as he shook hands with Ross. But the gray-haired general didn't seem interested in pleasantries, getting straight to the point:
"I want to see how far the super soldier program has progressed."
Norman smiled broadly as he led Ross and the military group, but not to the underground Level 2 human experimentation lab. Instead, to another location.
This space was open. Seven or eight athletic young men wobbled through the air on demonic wing-like flight devices.
Researchers surrounded them, constantly recording data.
'That's the glider mentioned in the 'Spider Slayer' plan?' Batman silently followed behind everyone.
Yesterday in the lab, Batman hadn't finished reading the "Spider Slayer" plan. His understanding of this device was limited to it being used against "Spider-Man."
"We've solved the problems of parallel gliding and gravity balance. We've produced the first generation prototype..."
Norman introduced it to Ross.
Ross showed no expression:
"I already saw the glider last time. I'm not here for it."
With that, he took the lead. Without needing Norman to guide him, he walked straight toward the underground Level 2 laboratory.
The military clearly followed Ross's lead. Others hurried to catch up. Norman's expression flickered uncertainly, but he quickly stepped forward to walk alongside Ross.
Everyone stopped before a transparent containment tank. The person inside was long dead. But neither Ross's group nor Norman's researchers showed any surprise.
As if they'd long known what experiments were being conducted here.
"What's the progress?" Ross asked.
"Experiments are ongoing. Progress is very fast." Norman dodged, showing no intention of answering directly.
But among the fifty transparent tanks, the uniformly deformed human bodies already demonstrated the experiments' failure.
Ross stopped, staring expressionlessly at Norman for several seconds.
"A serum successfully created sixty years ago. Sixty years later with higher technology and better infrastructure, yet you still cannot replicate it."
"Mr. Norman, I'm giving you two more weeks. If the super soldier serum still cannot be successfully developed, I'll have to withdraw military funding from your company on behalf of the military."
Withdrawal!
That single word struck Norman's heart like a sledgehammer.
Ever since Ross invested on behalf of the military and promised a long-term business relationship if the super soldier serum was replicated, Oscorp had invested most of its capital into super soldier serum research.
Later military funding made Norman go all-in, despite drawing other shareholders' dissatisfaction. But with the super soldier serum plan in one hand and Otto's fusion energy plan in the other.
A two-pronged approach. Norman had never worried about success or failure.
But now with the super soldier serum not yet developed and Ross proposing withdrawal, plus Otto's experiments stuck at a critical point with no progress.
"General Ross, I don't know why you, as an Air Force Lieutenant General, are obsessed with the super soldier program rather than the glider and combat suit that could obviously completely upgrade Air Force combat methods?"
Faced with withdrawal, Norman gritted his teeth and questioned him.
Norman's attitude change couldn't escape Ross's notice. Seeing Norman's red eyes glaring at him, his emotions also turned volatile:
"You want to know why?"
"Do you want to know what kind of failure I've experienced?"
"Three years ago I deployed a division's worth of forces, over twenty tanks and seven aircraft, just to surround one monster!"
"Do you know the result of that operation? Failure! Complete failure! Do you know how many wives and children waited at home, only to receive a corpse?"
"Those were living people! Those were my soldiers!"
Ross's blood rushed, his entire face and neck turning red as he sprayed spittle at Norman:
"If I had a super soldier army, none of this would have happened! Now do you understand why I'm not interested in gliders?"
Norman's face was covered in foul-smelling spittle. He lowered his eyelids without a word, silently enduring the pressure Ross imposed.
Behind him, several researchers even showed expressions of sympathy.
"2003. The Hulk and the military fought a major battle. After that, the Hulk's whereabouts became unknown..." The instant Batman heard Ross mention "surrounding a monster," he recalled the CIA records.
"Today someone sent emails about human experiments to the Daily Bugle. One surveillance footage, one recorded video."
Ross stared at Norman:
"If your company still cannot successfully replicate the super soldier serum in two weeks, the military will no longer cover up any exposure and will withdraw funding from your company."
With that, he waved his hand broadly and led the military representatives out of Oscorp Tower, leaving Norman standing in place with an uncertain expression.
"Mr. Norman..."
Someone called quietly.
Norman ignored everyone, returning alone to his sixtieth-floor penthouse office. Looking at the documents scattered everywhere from being rummaged through, he didn't care. He had no mood to worry about such trivialities.
After a long moment, he called his secretary:
"Stop all research funded by Oscorp. Put all the money into the super soldier serum."
"Release the Spider Slayer. I want to see Spider-Man before sunset tonight."
The secretary was a mature woman in her thirties. Brown hair pinned back, looking extremely capable.
She looked somewhat hesitantly at Norman slumped in his chair:
"Mr. Norman, are you certain? This will cause the other shareholders to collectively vote you out..."
"I have backup. Among the shareholders I have allies. Do as I say!" Norman said impatiently.
"Then... should Dr. Otto's fusion research also be stopped?" the secretary asked carefully.
"Stop it. Stop everything!!"
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