Mutants and William Stryker

With that cancer treatment technology capable of overturning the entire medical industry and even rewriting human history.

The name Harry Osborn skyrocketed in popularity across the globe, as if it had been strapped to a rocket.

The reputation and market value of the Osborn Group reached an unprecedented peak as a result.

Driven by this massive wave of prestige, and with the deliberate guidance and full support of Norman Osborn, Harry Osborn logically entered the highest decision-making level of the Osborn Group.

Not long after, at a carefully arranged internal meeting, Norman Osborn announced a decision that everyone found both surprising and yet entirely expected—he would resign from his position as chairman, to be succeeded by his son, the seventeen-year-old genius, Harry Osborn.

Although this decision caused some minor ripples, any skepticism appeared pale and powerless in the face of Harry's achievements, which were so dazzling they bordered on miraculous.

Furthermore, Norman remained the largest shareholder and had explicitly stated that he would continue to support Harry from behind the scenes.

And just like that, Harry Osborn became the helmsman of this massive business empire in a way that was nothing short of legendary.

"How does the chairman's office feel?"

Norman stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the traffic below that looked like matchboxes, a gratified smile on his face.

Harry sat behind the wide desk that symbolized power, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface, his gaze calm.

"Not bad, the view is quite good."

Harry replied casually; to him, the power and wealth brought by this position were merely tools.

The purpose for which tools are created is simply to achieve human goals...

"By the way, Dad, regarding the Osborn family's genetic disease..."

Harry looked toward Norman.

"I know. With the technology you possess now, solving it is only a matter of time."

A trace of imperceptible worry flashed in Norman's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by pride.

"Hmm."

Harry nodded.

That was correct; the gene-editing technology brought from the Kryonaut world could, in theory, already resolve the genetic disease in his body.

It would just take a little more time, but this heavy stone that had been pressing on his heart for years could finally be moved aside.

But this was only the first step.

Harry narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts drifting further away.

In the near future, this city would turn into an alien battlefield.

According to the timeline in his memory, that cataclysmic alien invasion was only a few years away.

Before that happened, he still needed enough power to protect himself...

The wealth and prestige brought by conquering cancer were just the beginning.

Just as Harry was lost in thought, the office door was knocked upon.

"Mr. Osborn, Mr. Norman, a visitor has arrived."

Norman's secretary poked her head in.

"Let him in."

Norman said.

Harry looked up, feeling somewhat puzzled. He had just taken over, so it stood to reason that there shouldn't be any important visitors so soon, especially ones being received by Norman personally.

Soon, a middle-aged man wearing a crisp military uniform, with a resolute face and sharp eyes, walked in.

His gait was steady, and he carried the distinct, iron-blooded aura of a soldier.

"Harry, let me introduce you.

This is Colonel William Stryker, the head of an important military project."

Norman walked forward with a smile. He turned to Stryker: "Colonel, this is my son, Harry Osborn, the current chairman of the Osborn Group."

"Colonel Stryker."

Harry stood up and extended his hand, a polite smile on his face.

Deep down, however, he felt a bit of confusion, as the name felt somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

Was it a military contractor? Or perhaps a past collaborative project?

"Mr. Osborn, I've heard much about you."

William Stryker shook Harry's hand with a steady grip, his gaze carrying a scrutinizing tone.

"Colonel Stryker, I wonder what aspect of cooperation you are looking to pursue with the Osborn Group this time?"

Harry released his hand, returned to his calm demeanor, and asked.

The Osborn Group had always collaborated with the military in the fields of biotechnology and weapons development, such as the previous physical enhancement serum project that had nearly created the Green Goblin.

Now that he had developed such a powerful weapon as gene editing, it was not strange for the military to come knocking to seek cooperation.

However, the answer from William Stryker was completely unexpected.

"Mr. Osborn, do you believe that... superpowers exist in this world?"

William Stryker did not answer directly, but instead asked a question in return.

"Hmm?"

Harry was momentarily stunned.

Superpowers?

He instinctively glanced at Norman and noticed that his father also wore an expression that said, "I knew you would ask that."

It seemed his father had known the man's intentions all along.

"The Colonel is referring to... something like what's described in science fiction? Like beings who possess extraordinary strength, can fly, or manipulate energy?"

Harry pondered for a moment before asking.

"That's right, those kinds of unreasonable abilities. And they are real."

William Stryker's expression was exceptionally serious, with no hint of joking.

As he spoke, William Stryker pulled a tablet out of his briefcase and handed it to Harry.

The tablet screen lit up, playing a series of jaw-dropping video clips.

Some people bent steel bars with their bare hands, some teleported and vanished on the spot, some conjured ice walls out of thin air, and others underwent bizarre mutations, displaying superhuman strength and speed.

These images showed no signs of editing; they looked terrifyingly real.

Harry took the tablet, his expression shifting from initial confusion to intense focus.

He swiped across the screen, watching the video clips with a slight frown.

This...

Harry's pupils constricted, his heart skipping a beat, but he quickly regained his composure.

This was the Marvel World, home to existence-defying beings like Iron Man and Hulk.

Existence is rational; if something exceeds common sense, it is only because one's level of cognition is insufficient, just as humans could not comprehend the existence of the microscopic world before the invention of the microscope.

As a man of science, one should aim to summarize the laws behind these phenomena...

"These are..."

He returned the tablet to William Stryker and asked with curiosity.

"These are anomalies born among us.

They... are Mutants."

William Stryker took back the tablet, his gaze sharp, and he emphasized the word as he spoke it, enunciating every syllable.

"Mutants?"

Harry was stunned upon hearing this, feeling a sense of disbelief.

This word...

Images of Wolverine, Professor X, and Magneto flashed through his mind instantly...

Mutants!

Not just ordinary super-powered individuals, but Mutants?!

Wait, Tony Stark, the Avengers... he had always assumed he had transmigrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But now, Mutants... this was clearly the setting of the X-Men universe!

Could these two universes have merged?

Or perhaps, were Mutants always present in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, just not yet officially revealed?

Harry's heart rate accelerated slightly as countless thoughts raced through his mind.

If that were the case, then this William Stryker standing before him... wasn't he that notorious villain from the X-Men series?!

The madman dedicated to eradicating Mutants, creating Sentinels, and running the Weapon X project!

Was he destined to cross paths with villains?

However...

Mutants...

Thinking of the diverse and incredible superpowers in X-Men, Harry felt a surge of excitement.

Healing factors, telepathy, metal manipulation, weather control, teleportation...

These abilities all stemmed from a super-factor within Mutants known as the X-Gene...

If he could study it thoroughly...

"So, Colonel Stryker, the project you want to collaborate with me on is about... Mutants?"

"That's right..."