Chapter 351: The Threat of the Hobgoblin
Adolf operated the machinery, carefully extracting a test tube containing a glowing green genetic serum.
"Is that the serum?" Peter watched the green liquid intently from his hiding spot, torn between intervening or staying hidden.
Adolf began drawing the serum into a syringe. Every researcher in the room stopped what they were doing, their eyes fixed on Harry. Adolf's hands trembled slightly; if the experiment failed and Harry died, his own life would be forfeit.
"Hurry up! Stop stalling!" Harry commanded, seating himself in the experimental chair. Just as the restraints were about to lock his limbs in place, the heavy doors to the lab burst open.
A figure clad in orange and blue flew in on a glider.
"Aha-ha-ha! This is just too perfect!" The Hobgoblin landed with a flourish, looking at Harry on the chair. "Starting the experiment without me?"
"Kingsley, you're becoming increasingly undisciplined," Harry said, his face darkening at the Hobgoblin's arrogant tone.
Roderick Kingsley was the partner Harry had recruited to be the Hobgoblin. Initially, Harry liked him—Kingsley was a talented fashion designer who grew bored with his mundane life and sought thrill in crime. After Kingsley was arrested for a series of bombings, Harry (as the Green Goblin) broke him out of prison, seeing him as a useful pawn. He had even injected Kingsley with a modified version of the Goblin formula.
However, over time, Kingsley had become defiant.
"Haha! A man's gotta laugh, Harry. That funeral face of yours is so boring," Kingsley said, casually sitting down and removing his horned helmet. He looked like an ordinary man; no one would suspect he was a psychopathic criminal from his appearance alone.
"Do you remember the promises you made?" Harry waved Adolf away, signaling him to delay the injection. Adolf breathed a sigh of relief and set the syringe back on the table.
"Sorry, my memory isn't what it used to be. Care to remind me?" Kingsley challenged, showing no fear.
Harry stood up and marched over to Kingsley, grabbing him by the collar. "Don't forget who gave you the scraps that kept you from starving!"
"Heh-ha!" With a burst of strength that matched Harry's own, Kingsley shoved Harry's hands away. "You teaching me how to behave now?"
"I created you, which means I can replace you," Harry threatened, his voice low and dangerous.
Kingsley sat back down, unfazed. "I know. I've seen the five other 'candidates' you've been experimenting on behind my back."
"You've been spying on me?" Harry was shocked. Those five subjects were supposed to be a secret.
Kingsley chuckled. "My eyes and ears work just fine. But tell me, why haven't you injected them with the real serum yet?"
Harry clenched his teeth, his jaw tight with rage.
"Because you're afraid," Kingsley sneered. "You're afraid of creating another monster like me."
"Afraid of someone like you?" Harry laughed at the man's arrogance.
"Who knows?" Kingsley toyed with his helmet. "But tell me... what do you think would happen to Oscorp if its prestigious Chairman suddenly dropped dead?"
"Are you threatening me?!" Enraged, Harry kicked a nearby desk.
Boom!
A section of the wall rotated, hiding the backup Hobgoblin gear and revealing the signature Green Goblin suit.
"You want to fight?" Kingsley donned his mask again, his voice distorted and menacing as he leaned in close to Harry's face.
Harry didn't flinch. "I should be asking you that, you little bitch."
"Me? Hahaha!" Kingsley suddenly lunged, driving a powerful fist into Harry's abdomen.
At such close range, Harry couldn't dodge. The blow sent him flying across the room, crashing into a table. Glass beakers shattered, and experimental chemicals spilled across the floor.
"Ah!" The researchers screamed and ducked for cover.
"Damn it..." Harry groaned, his face flushing red as he clutched his stomach. The punch felt like a cannonball.
"You said you wanted to start," Kingsley mocked, spreading his arms.
Harry looked up with eyes full of hatred. "Kingsley! You're an ungrateful dog. You've broken your master's heart!"
"Then next time, I suggest you get a different breed," Kingsley joked.
Harry lunged forward, using his full strength to tackle Kingsley. The two began a brutal brawl. Harry's punches were fueled by pure fury, and because his version of the serum was superior to the one he gave Kingsley, he began to gain the upper hand. He had sabotaged Kingsley's gear and serum just in case of a betrayal like this.
Harry grabbed Kingsley's arm and yanked, throwing him off balance. Before Kingsley could hit the floor, Harry drove his armored knee into the Hobgoblin's face.
CRACK!
The Hobgoblin mask split open. Kingsley hit the floor, and Harry immediately pinned him down with a boot to the chest.
"You think you can betray me with the very toys I gave you?" Harry spat.
To Harry's surprise, Kingsley began to laugh. The sound echoed through the lab, growing louder and more deranged.
"What's so funny!" Harry barked.
"Why do you think I chose today to confront you?" Kingsley's eyes glinted with cunning. "I'm sure the famous Harry Osborn wouldn't want the world to know he is the Green Goblin."
"Blackmail?" Harry scoffed. "If I kill you right now, who will know?"
"I'm not the one who's going to tell them," Kingsley said, sounding triumphant. "I have a very good friend who is a reporter at the Daily Bugle. If he doesn't hear from me within two days, he has instructions to publish everything about the Green Goblin."
Harry's foot wavered. This was the one thing he couldn't afford. Oscorp was his father's legacy; he couldn't let it be destroyed by a scandal this massive.
"I see. That's your insurance," Harry muttered.
"Exactly. So, unless you don't care about your reputation... feel free to kill me," Kingsley dared him, baring his neck.
From the ceiling, Peter Parker watched the scene in total shock. His mind was racing. Not only did he find out who the Hobgoblin was, but his best friend Harry was the Green Goblin?!
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