After returning to New York, Harry immediately sought out Doctor Connors. This research was crucial to how he would deal with the Retrovirus.
In the laboratory, Harry was reviewing the first-stage report from Connors.
"This vial of Human Serum can counteract the Rage Factor in genetically modified animal serum, greatly reducing the danger of those genetically modified animal serums. However, this is an antagonistic neutralization. If this reaction takes place inside a human body, it will cause enormous damage."
In other words, Peter would not be turned into a monster by the genetically modified serum, but the serum was toxic to him.
"The serum contains a rare Self-Healing Factor, which is presumed to originate from this section of the genetic sequence."
"This allows this... Friend Sponsor to possess terrifying strength and reflexes." Connors glanced at Harry but did not ask where the serum had come from.
The serum had naturally been made from Peter's blood. That blood had not been used for transfusions.
Harry examined it. Half of this genetic sequence came from the Genetically Modified Spider, while the other half should have been Peter's own genes.
After the genes spliced together, the cells were instead able to translate a series of entirely new proteins, greatly enhancing Peter's physical abilities and allowing Spider-Man to possess immense strength and reaction speed.
In other words, only Peter could truly use the Genetically Modified Spider Serum, and only Peter had been lucky enough for this genetic sequence to insert itself in exactly that position.
If the gene had not inserted itself there, and the mutation had gone any deeper, he would have become Six-Armed Spider-Man. Any deeper, and he would have become a Giant Spider Monster.
What a coincidence... Perhaps he should find an opportunity to investigate the origins of this technology thoroughly.
Because in some Marvel settings, Peter's parents had been connected to this thing.
Now Harry had obtained the secret behind Spider-Man's power.
But until Osborn possessed the ability to directly modify human genes, Spider-Man remained impossible to replicate.
Still, this Self-Healing Factor could be cultivated in a culture chamber and used as an auxiliary ingredient for an enhancer.
"So, I cultivated this Self-Healing Factor and added it to the Human Enhancement serum. As long as the subject withstands the intense reaction during the first injection, the enhancer's effects on the mind can be greatly reduced—perhaps even completely overcome."
Connors briskly led Harry toward the laboratory.
"But it isn't one hundred percent safe."
Connors did not answer. He merely nodded.
"Out of one hundred test subjects, thirty-four mice died, fifty-seven mice underwent varying degrees of berserk transformation, and the remaining..."
Harry looked toward the few remaining mice. They were exceptionally docile, and there seemed to be intelligence in their eyes—but they had also been kept in more advanced containment equipment.
"Their performance in the Water Maze Test improved significantly. They could reach an eighty percent correct response rate without any training, and they even developed the ability to respond to language, just like..."
"Just like trained dogs?"
Connors nodded.
"Their speed and reflexes have also improved tremendously. Especially their two front teeth—their hardness has increased significantly. I had to change their containment measures."
The mice were housed in a massive reinforced-glass enclosure, like a simple ecosystem. It was clear that Connors cared deeply about them.
So the success rate was nine percent...
"Although the success rate is only nine percent, this... this is undoubtedly a great experiment. We've already taken the first step." Connors looked exhilarated.
After all, Biological Enhancement Technology was an enduring legend in this world, not to mention that Connors had served in the military—no one disliked Captain America.
"Doctor, where are all your records stored?" Harry suddenly asked.
Connors froze for a moment and pointed at the computer.
"But the experimental data hasn't been entered into the computer yet..."
"This computer can no longer be used, Doctor. You need to complete the experiment at Osborn's facility."
"But..."
Harry shook his head, cutting Connors off.
"Someone has accessed your computer."
"What!"
Connors understood this experiment, and therefore understood its importance!
"But they only found the materials related to the genetically modified serum. They did not find the data on the Human Enhancement serum or Human Serum."
Harry sensed the information Leining had sent him.
Doctor Connors had served in the military, after all. Although Harry thought his security measures were practically made of paper, the mix of obvious and hidden precautions seemed to have fooled the thief.
The remaining experiments had to be completed under more secretive measures.
Very quickly, Harry erased all the data from Connors's laboratory and moved it to a new research facility.
It was a secret facility beneath the Explosion Zone.
Using reconstruction as a cover, Harry could conceal the existence of this area to the greatest extent possible and complete construction without anyone noticing.
Although there was no definitive evidence yet, many signs indicated that a mysterious organization had been operating behind these recent Operations.
Locals might have been confused, but Harry knew there were only a handful of underground groups in this world worth mentioning.
No matter who had directly targeted him, Hydra was probably involved behind the scenes to some extent.
Although Osborn was already one of the top families in the United States on the surface, Harry was still far too inexperienced when it came to dirty tricks.
"This... this isn't some illegal construction project, is it?" Connors was stunned by the enormous underground space.
"Doctor, what is the Governor of New York called? This project is completely legal. It just hasn't been publicized, so naturally no one knows about it." Harry smiled and patted Connors's shoulder, then pulled a ceramic capacitor from his pocket.
"What is this?" From the outside, it looked like an unremarkable keychain, neither attractive nor special.
"A type of High-Energy Capacitor. Carry it with you, and it can help you remain concealed and monitor your surroundings."
Part of Leining was stored within the capacitor. It could directly monitor nearby electronic devices and even humans with abnormal vital signs.
After Harry's training, Leining had gradually become unfathomable.
"You only need to bring this little thing close to any circuit connected to the Osborn power grid, and it will be fully charged."
Harry brought the capacitor close to the circuit, and in an instant, its power bar filled up.
"Fully charged instantly?" Since following Harry, Connors had become somewhat numb to such black technology and did not overreact. "Can it charge a phone?"
"It can. It has voice control, and it can even be used as a grenade."
"Huh?"
"Literally. In an emergency, you can throw it out like a grenade. Enough of that—take a look at your new laboratory. I also happen to want to see the new potion. I have some ideas."
Connors's laboratory was located in an area still under construction, but his laboratory had been completed first.
This place was basically equipped the same way as his lab at Empire University. It had also been fitted with Osborn's latest Potion Manufacturing Device. Almost every known biochemical material was stocked here; it only needed data input to process them automatically, making it faster and more accurate than manual operation.
"Anyway, Doctor Connors, this laboratory belongs to you now. Let's see your new potion."
After the data was entered, the Fabricator quickly produced Connors's new potion—Connors could not stop praising how convenient the equipment was.
Compared to the glaring fluorescent green from before, the enhancer's color was much softer after the Self-Healing Factor had been added. It looked far more reliable.
The system also reacted.
[Improved Green Goblin Enhancer] [An enhancer perfected using Spider-Man's Self-Healing Factor. It increases the user's strength, speed, reaction ability, and intelligence. An unfinished work from the original story, it is particularly effective on the Osborn family.] [Use with caution. It is still unsafe. Perhaps you should find a way to improve it further.]
Before you continue