Norman's Death

"Xue Ren is guarding him at Osborn Manor with the security detail. He's been behaving himself."

Mercury replied, "However, he doesn't intend to notify his son to return. He only wrote his son a letter to explain a few matters. We examined the letter carefully, and there's nothing wrong with it."

"He's probably worried we'll go after Harry."

Wang Bert snorted. "Norman isn't someone who gives up easily. Keep a close watch on everyone he comes into contact with. By the way, have you found that Indian guy named Niels?"

In this world, Harry Osborn had been studying abroad all along, closer to the setting in The Amazing Spider-Man! Mercury said, "We went to the place Norman told us about, but Niels had already left. Norman may have arranged it in secret!"

"Find him."

Wang Bert said, "Also, officially sign the contract with Norman tomorrow and take over the shares of Osborn Corporation!"

Mercury nodded excitedly. "Yes, Blood God!"

Under the witness of a lawyer, Wang Bert and Norman Osborn signed the share transfer agreement!

"Mr. Wang, Mr. Osborn, I'll handle the remaining procedures!"

The lawyer put away the contracts, shook hands with the two men, and left. Lying in his bedroom, Norman stared at Wang Bert and said with hatred in his eyes, "Bert Wang, I hope you keep your promise. Otherwise, I won't let you go even as a ghost!"

"Don't worry. I never break my promises."

Wang Bert smiled faintly and said, "Mr. Osborn, tomorrow is an auspicious day. Please die in peace!"

Norman glared at Wang Bert and said through gritted teeth, "Tomorrow, I'll die of illness!"

"I'll prepare your funeral!"

Wang Bert left with a smile. Norman furiously smashed the bedside table with one punch. Xue Ren watched everything coldly without doing anything, simply standing there and monitoring Norman in silence!

The next day, Norman "died of illness." Wang Bert looked at his corpse and said, "Everyone else, leave. Mercury, Xue Ren, and Natalie stay!"

Everyone obeyed and left. Once the door closed, Wang Bert said, "Xue Ren, you've disappointed me a little. Norman pulled something right under your nose, yet you noticed nothing!"

"Blood God, hasn't Norman already..."

Xue Ren froze. Just as he was about to defend himself, he saw Mercury's stern glare and hurriedly lowered his head. "Blood God, it was my oversight!"

"Your attitude is good. This matter isn't entirely your fault either. Norman was simply too cunning!"

Wang Bert said, "He prepared many methods in the bedroom beforehand, such as fake-death drugs. That was why he insisted on returning to his bedroom and lying down!"

"Fake-death drugs?"

Everyone was stunned. Xue Ren could not help asking, "Blood God, are you saying Norman isn't dead? Didn't his heart stop?"

Wang Bert smiled. "He is dead, but he didn't kill himself. Natalie killed him!"

"What?"

Everyone was even more shocked. How had this suddenly turned into Natasha? Natasha asked with an innocent expression, "Blood God, what are you talking about?"

"Mercury, take off the ring on her left hand!"

Wang Bert ordered. Mercury had long found Natasha unpleasant, so she immediately walked over, grabbed her left hand, and removed the gemstone ring from her middle finger. Natasha did not resist, because she knew resistance was useless! Mercury inspected the ring and said to Wang Bert, "Blood God, there's a tiny needle in this ring!"

"Natalie secretly used that needle to prick Norman's arm earlier."

Wang Bert slowly said, "I don't know exactly what toxin was on the needle, but it could slow a person's heartbeat and create the effect of fake death!"

Killing intent surged in Xue Ren's eyes. "She's a traitor?"

Natasha asked, "Blood God, how did you discover it? And what do you mean when you say I killed Norman?"

"The fake-death drug Norman took himself also slowed his heartbeat!"

Wang Bert sneered. "He was an Enhanced Human, so both you and he increased the dosage of the toxins. As a result, the fake-death drug became a real death drug. His heart truly stopped, so you killed Norman Osborn!"

Everyone was shocked. So that was what had happened. Norman Osborn was truly unlucky. Then again, even without this incident, he had been doomed to die, because Wang Bert had already seen through everything! "This won't be easy to explain to the Director!"

Natasha sighed. She asked Wang Bert, "Blood God, you knew from the beginning that I was sent by S.H.I.E.L.D., didn't you?"

Wang Bert asked, "What makes you think that?"

"Because you never touched me, and you even deliberately toyed with me. That's very abnormal. Any man who sees me wants to push me down at the first opportunity! After all, I'm just too beautiful!"

Natasha said, "I could never understand why you didn't touch me before, but now I know. You didn't leave me alone because I lacked charm. You did it because you already knew I was a spy!"

Wang Bert and the others were speechless. Though her conclusion was right, wasn't her reasoning process a little too bizarre?

"Natalie, can you be any more narcissistic?"

Wang Bert mocked. Mercury even deliberately moved farther away from Natasha, afraid she might catch it from her! Natasha snorted. "I'm never narcissistic. I only state facts, such as the fact that you're a scumbag!"

Wang Bert said unhappily, "How am I a scumbag? I never even touched you, okay?"

Natasha said righteously, "That's the worst thing about you! A stunning beauty like me was right in front of you, yet you didn't touch me. And you still dare say you're not a scumbag?"

"What savage logic!"

Mercury and Xue Ren were both speechless. This woman simply was not normal, was she?

Wang Bert looked at Natasha with a hint of pity and said, "Other people turn inferiority into arrogance. You turned inferiority into narcissism!"

"Me, inferior?"

Natasha smiled disdainfully, put her hands on her hips, and thrust out her chest. "If I were inferior, wouldn't every other woman have to jump into the sea and kill herself?"

Mercury looked at Natasha's chest, then at her own. Her hand unconsciously moved to the hilt of her Samurai Sword. So what if you have a good figure? Believe it or not, I'll slice them off? Wang Bert shook his head and said, "Enough of that. Call Nick Fury and have him bring a vial of Captain America's blood in exchange for you!"

"What do you want Captain America's blood for?"

Natasha asked in astonishment. Wang Bert said, "I have my own use for it. Xue Ren, take her away. Let her make the call, but don't let her escape. She's a top-level agent!"

"I absolutely won't let her escape!"

Xue Ren solemnly promised. He had made two mistakes in a row. If something went wrong again, he would be too ashamed to face Blood God himself! "Scumbag, I officially inform you that you've lost your only chance to obtain this beautiful lady!"

Natasha snorted at Wang Bert and left the bedroom with her head held high, as if she were the victor! "I'm not interested in short legs!"

Wang Bert said blandly. Natasha's smile froze. She turned around and glared fiercely at Wang Bert. Do you know what you just said? You said the one thing you should never have said. You're dead, scumbag!

"Move!"

Xue Ren shoved Natasha away in dissatisfaction. After they left, Mercury asked, "Blood God, Natasha killed Norman. Can we use that to do something? Natasha was sent by Nick Fury!"

"There's no need right now. We'll use it when we need to later. In any case, this sort of thing doesn't expire!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Have the coroner examine Norman's body and list the cause of death. Natasha doesn't know that I installed eighteen ultra-high-definition cameras in this room!"

Mercury understood. She nodded. "Yes, Blood God!"

The day after Norman Osborn died, Electro Max appeared on television. Under Trish's introduction, the viewers learned his identity and why he had become Electro. They sympathized with him greatly. Some audience members even went up to hug Max, moving him deeply.

Next, Max sighed that he did not know what to do in the future. Trish smilingly suggested that he become a Super Hero and had him demonstrate his ability to control electricity on the spot, drawing a wave of astonished cries! Max seemed somewhat tempted, but he feared the public would not accept him. Trish seized the chance to launch a television poll. In the end, ninety percent of people supported Max becoming a Super Hero! Thus, Max decided to sign with Watchmen Company, the newly established Super Hero celebrity company under Blood God Group, and debut as a Super Hero! On the same day, New York Police Department Chief George Stacy held up the Green Goblin's helmet and announced that Green Goblin had been dealt with. The police had also rescued eight homeless people subjected to Green Goblin's illegal experiments. All eight had been enhanced, and they decided to join the police in maintaining order in New York!

All of New York was shaken. Reporters filled the area outside the police department, and public support for the police finally began to recover. Osborn Corporation's stock price stabilized somewhat as well! Also on that day, Nick Fury sent someone to exchange Captain America's blood for Natasha—S.H.I.E.L.D. possessed a large amount of Captain America's blood, since he had often had blood drawn back then.

Nick Fury also sent Coulson to contact Max and invite him to join S.H.I.E.L.D., but Max firmly refused.

On one side were agents who had to remain in the shadows and might even be murdered by their own people. On the other was a glamorous Super Hero celebrity admired by millions. Anyone knew which side to choose! Nick Fury refused to give up and tried to poach people from the police department, only to be rebuffed by Chief George, who had city government support—New York's public safety had been far too poor recently, and both the police department and the city government were under tremendous pressure!

Also that day, an authentic Picasso owned by New York's underground emperor, Kingpin, was stolen. Kingpin was so furious that he beat several guards to death on the spot with his cane.

Kingpin's confidant Wesley waited until Kingpin finished venting his anger before calmly saying, "According to my investigation, Felicia stole it!"

"Black Cat?"

Kingpin, a towering, massive fat man, froze. Wasn't she on his side? Wesley said, "She has now become Blood God's secretary!"

"So this was Blood God's warning? He truly is domineering!"

Kingpin understood. He first snorted, then sighed. "Wesley, this is the era of Enhanced Humans. If we don't have Enhanced Humans on our side, we'll be eliminated sooner or later!"

Wesley smiled. "Yesterday, someone named Niels contacted me. He said he has Green Goblin's technology. As long as we help him leave North America and escape the Blood Clan's pursuit, he'll give us the technology."

"Green Goblin's technology?"

Kingpin's eyes lit up. "Agree to it. If there's an opportunity, keep the man himself!"

"I know what to do!"

Wesley nodded. Kingpin paced back and forth a few times, then said, "Handle this discreetly. Don't let the Blood Clan discover it. Also, when Osborn Corporation changes hands, send Blood God a bottle of red wine in my name!"

"Alright!" Wesley nodded!

Amid all the turmoil, time reached July. On this day, Wang Bert completed all the procedures and officially became Osborn Corporation's major shareholder and chairman! Inside the chairman's office, Wang Bert proudly said to Ivan Vanko, "This is the military-industrial corporation I promised you. Satisfied?"

Ivan puffed on a cigar and said, "Barely. It's enough to make suits!"

"Your standards really are high!"

Wang Bert sneered. Then he had Mercury place a contract in front of Ivan and said, "I'll give you one percent of the shares and a board seat first. Within five years, I'll give you another four percent!"

As soon as he said this, Frank and James were both shocked. Although Osborn Corporation's stock price had crashed, it still had a market value of around one hundred billion dollars. Five percent of the shares amounted to more than five billion dollars. Was this man really worth that much? In fact, even Ivan, who had always been arrogant and unruly, was somewhat stunned by the offer. He had never expected anyone to value him so highly! Ivan did not hypocritically refuse. He decisively signed his name and said, "Within five years, I'll double Osborn's market value. Otherwise, I won't take a cent of these shares!"

"This guy is so arrogant!" Everyone marveled. This Russian was exceptionally arrogant! "That won't be difficult for you!"

Wang Bert had Mercury put the contract away for filing, then asked, "Have you completed the miniaturization of the Arc Reactor?"

"It's done, but there's a small problem. The palladium inside can cause poisoning!"

Ivan said, "Still, as long as you take proper precautions, it won't be much of a problem. After all, no one wears a suit all the time. We aren't unlucky bastards like Tony Stark!"

When Tony was mentioned, Ivan clearly took some pleasure in his misfortune. Wang Bert smiled and continued asking, "How long will it take you to finish the suits?"

"One or two months."

Ivan said, "My suit will definitely be better than Tony Stark's sissy suit!"

"Are you talking about Iron Man's suit?"

Frank asked in surprise. This arrogant Russian could actually make Iron Man suits?

"Of course."

Ivan said proudly. Without that ability, how would he dare accept so many shares? At last, Frank and the others understood why Wang Bert valued Ivan so highly! Wang Bert said, "Ivan, make several more suits. One for you, one for Frank, one for Mercury, and one for Blade. Uh, if you have time, make one for me too. Mine doesn't need weapons. Focus on flight and looking cool!"

"Flight and looking cool?"

Ivan was speechless. If this were not his boss, he would absolutely kick him flying. He said, "That many suits will take a lot of time, and they'll require a great deal of funding. The materials alone for each suit will cost over a hundred million dollars!"

"Don't worry about money. I have plenty!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Prioritize making suits for you, Frank, and Mercury. They might come in handy very soon!"