Shadow of the Beautiful World

Norman Osborn dropped the phone in his hand, and he sat back on his chair angrily.

He turned his chair and looked at the city beyond the frameless glass wall behind him. From this height, he could almost see the entirety of New York City.

His blue eyes throbbed with residual anger.

His anger is understandable.

Just now, his incompetent subordinates lost a spider worth 40 million dollars!

Ordinary spiders are definitely not worth so much money, and Norman is not a fool who will spend money on useless things, so that spider must be worth the price.

The origin of the spider was a bit shady, so Norman couldn't use official means to recover the lost thing, which was why he was so angry.

He lost it, forever.

He just missed out on a big project that could make tens of billions in profits.

The behemoth of S.H.I.E.L.D. suddenly fell down a few months ago, which caught everyone by surprise.

While other people were worried about the chaos that would inevitably come after the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., a visionary guy like Norman had already seized the opportunity in the crisis.

The collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D. was sudden, and even the Eye of Heaven, which connected most of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s systems, was unable to guarantee that this sudden handover process was absolutely perfect.

A lot of important information flowed into society after the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., and a big businessman like Norman also took the opportunity to lie on the body of S.H.I.E.L.D. to absorb the nutrients he needed.

Many of SHIELD's research results on biotechnology in the past ten years have fallen into the hands of Osborn Corporation.

That's how the $40 million spider came about.

It was done very secretly.

However, because the government still maintains the suppression of dangerous biological experiment projects, Norman has no way to immediately transform the precious knowledge in his hands into finished products, let alone use them to make profits.

However, just after the recent Titan riots, under the lobbying of many capitals, the World Security Council finally decided to relax the suppression of biological experiment projects.

On the one hand, the world seems to be in chaos, and human civilization needs better force to protect itself.

On the other hand, without the restraint of S.H.I.E.L.D., the ban effect of the World Security Council is no longer as effective as before. Many experiments are being secretly restarted, and the suppressed decree is no different from a dead letter.

It's better to push the boat smoothly and leave a good reputation with those capitals that can influence politics.

To be honest, without a person in charge like Alexander Pierce with a strong wrist and a strong background, even the World Security Council, which has extremely high power in name, would not be able to do many things.

In short, the bound hands of a big businessman like Norman who obeyed the law on the surface are finally loosened, and his business can start researching and making profits in an open and honest manner.

And when everything is getting better, the biochemical spider sold from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Negligence of the experimenter...

lost...

Lost it, my God!

Norman couldn't imagine how such a small probability event would happen to him.

It took Norman Osborn several minutes to calm down his angry mood. He breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the phone on the table, and called the current head of his company's biological laboratory .

That spider...

Norman said:

We have all the information about how it was cultivated, can we make a new one?

Facing the inquiry from the big boss, the person in charge of the laboratory hesitated for a few seconds before replying:

Theoretically, it is possible, but with all due respect, boss, even if we reproduce a new spider, it will be difficult for it to reach the level of the original.

This is not because our level is not enough, but that the gene fragment of that spider shows signs of being locked up.

Locked?

Norman frowned, he is also a biologist, he can understand the meaning of his subordinates.

He asked:

How could it be locked? Didn't you find it during the inspection?

That particular segment of the gene is invisible. We only discovered the problem when we tried to replicate the gene. Boss, apparently the guy who sold us the spider hid it.

The head of the laboratory said:

And according to the information we have, that spider was bred by biologists Richard Parker and Mary Parker of S.H.I.E.L.D., but the spider's gene is not just mutated.

We now suspect that when Richard and Mary bred the spider, they added the genetic module of another weird creature.

But that's the problem, boss.

The biologist said in a puzzled voice:

We can't tell what the weird creature is, it doesn't seem to exist in the classification of any creature currently known on Earth.

Um...

Norman had completely calmed down at this time, he thought for a moment, and asked again:

So, can Dr. Richard and Mary be found now? S.H.I.E.L.D. is gone, maybe we can...

Sorry, boss.

The head of the laboratory whispered:

According to the results of our search, Richard and Mary died in the line of duty as early as 1998. Their plane crashed in South America. In addition, don't you think that the surnames of these two people are very familiar ?

Parker...

After being reminded by his subordinates, Norman's eyes narrowed immediately.

Peter Parker... Merlin Riley's nephew? Does this matter have anything to do with Merlin?

After hesitating for a few seconds, Norman made up his mind and said:

Storage... No, destroy those materials, cancel this project, we can't take any chances!

You choose a new experimental project, I will give you enough funds, I only ask to see the results in the shortest possible time!

Okay, boss.

The head of the biotechnology laboratory said:

We happen to have a project with a very high degree of completion in our hands. It is the 'enhanced serum' that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been promoting. It originated from Captain America Steve Rogers.

Its official name is sss serum. According to the experimental blueprint in our hands, we can develop a brand new bio-enhanced serum in up to 3 months! The best part is that it can also be used to delay aging, and The effect is very obvious.

Sounds great! That's all.

A smile appeared on Norman's face again, he knocked on the table and said:

Pay attention to the confidentiality work. In addition, change the appearance and don't let the finished product have anything to do with S.H.I.E.L.D..

I understand, boss.

Things in the laboratory were straightened out, Norman hung up the phone, and he leaned back on the chair.

After learning that the spider might be related to Merlin Riley, Norman suddenly felt that the loss of the spider didn't seem like a bad thing.

Using $40 million to avoid the risk of genocide...

Well, it's a good deal!

Boss, in one hour, the representative of Hardmond Biological Laboratory has an appointment meeting with you.

Norman's secretary pushed open the office door and handed a set of documents to Norman. The sweet secretary said softly:

It's about the investment project of their 'Jurassic Park' plan. According to analysts, this project has a very high chance of success. They suggest that you invest more.

Jurassic Park?

Norman opened the file, glanced at it, and soon became interested.

Rubbing his chin, he said:

About the cloning experiment of ancient dinosaurs, but it is used to establish a travel project for the public. It is a wild idea...It is really interesting, but I want to know, can these cloned dinosaurs be used for weaponization?

He put down the documents in his hand, thought for a few minutes, and said to the secretary:

Cancel the meeting, add an investment of 40 million US dollars, and invite that Dr. Hardmon to come to New York. I want to have a private talk with him.

The secretary took down the boss's order, then turned and left the office.

Norman turned on the projection on the table, and re-discovered the materials in his hands, looking at them one by one, trying to find new profit growth points from them.

After a few minutes, he spotted an item he'd overlooked earlier.

It is a legacy of the Mech Augmentation Program within S.H.I.E.L.D.

Research on replicating Iron Man's Super Mark Armor...

Norman flipped through the systematic drawings on the projection in front of him. He narrowed his eyes, then picked up his personal cell phone and dialed a number.

Hello? Dr. Otto? I heard that you are looking for investment for your new experimental project...

I can invest in you, but I need to use your talent in physics to make something for me, a very personal thing.

Yes, a new project, I'll call it...

Iron Patriot!

———————

As time progresses, it is not only the human world that is changing.

Among the stars far away from the solar system, a dilapidated starship is sailing silently in the deep space. Some robots with Decepticon logos are repairing the deck of the starship.

This starship is not the spaceship of the Cybertronians, but was snatched by the Decepticons from a group of interstellar pirates not long ago.

Use this as the new base of operations for the Decepticons and the palace for the newly revived Lord Megatron.

In the modified bridge, Megatron in the form of a robot is standing in front of the podium. This silvery-white robot with a height of more than 10 meters is looking at the sea of ​​stars in front of him.

Its loyal lieutenant, Soundwave, who single-handedly completed Megatron's resurrection, stood behind the leader.

The Decepticon troops fighting in other galaxies have received your orders, and they are heading towards the scheduled assembly point, Lord Megatron, you will soon have a powerful army that can destroy the earth!

Soundwave said in a low, distorted voice:

We will pay back all the shame that that world brought us!

Megatron said nothing.

After being resurrected, it seems to have become even more reticent.

It was several minutes before it spoke:

Don't comfort me, Sonic, I'm not that fragile yet, I can accept failure, failure makes us more sober.

Do you really think that relying on a steel legion is enough to destroy the earth? You have also seen the monsters bred in that world... Creatures that surpassed steel, it is not a world that can be destroyed casually.

The leader of the Decepticon put the giant electromagnetic cannon on his arm against the deck of the bridge, and made a low voice, it said:

Shockwave is dead, Knockdown is dead, the Autobots found new friends in that world, and they get a victory to remember.

Optimus Prime, that tough opponent who can never be defeated is actually dead.

Speaking of this, Megatron's voice actually carried a trace of regret and nostalgia, it said:

I still remember the posture of Optimus Prime leading the Autobots to attack us on the battlefield of Cybertron. It is an opponent I recognize, but even it...

Megatron shook his head silently, it said:

We're going back to Earth, but not now, we're going back to Cybertron first!

There's only one wreck there, my lord.

Soundwave said cautiously:

Going there only adds to the sadness.

No, there's definitely more than just ruins there, Soundwave.

A strange, metallic smile appeared on Megatron's mechanical face, and it said:

You saw Optimus Prime fall into the crack of the world with your own eyes back then, so you didn't wonder how it survived and how it reached the earth? There are still mysterious things in our hometown that we haven't discovered.

And that thing may be the biggest reliance for us to return to Earth! We must find it!

Just as Megatron was describing his plan for the future to his adjutant, Soundwave, the bridge door was pushed open, and a junior Decepticon soldier walked into the bridge with respect and fear, and half-kneeled on Megatron's side. Days later.

It spoke to its leader in the language of the Cybertronians:

Master Megatron, that broken shuttle we picked up on Pluto has been opened, but inside...you should probably come and see for yourself!

Um?

Megatron looked at his subordinate in surprise.

These low-level Decepticons dare not lie to it, that is to say, they really made a strange discovery.

Master Megatron didn't delay, he immediately followed the Decepticon warriors to the containment warehouse of the starship with the sound wave, where a very old Cybertron shuttle that had been disassembled was piled up.

And inside the disassembled shuttle, in the shattered cockpit, lay a strange Cybertronian who had completely lost power and shut down.

It has a very imposing appearance, with a huge body painted in blue, gold, and silver. Like Megatron's old friend Optimus Prime, this huge, powerful robot has a mask that covers the lower half of his face.

Its dull eyes are light blue crystals, and it is taller than Megatron.

Before dying, it still held a sharp mechanical spear in its hand, and threw a solid and heavy shield by its side.

This is clearly not an anonymous character.

Ah, look who this is!

When Megatron saw this strange robot, it stretched out its hands exaggeratedly, like a hug.

It turned to Soundwave and said:

The great natural enemy, the leader of the Autobots before Optimus Prime, is said to go to the stars to find the lost source of fire, in order to save the hometown that was caught in war.

Who would have thought that such a great person would die in a barbaric world not far from the earth...Drag it out and repair it!

If the magical existence in Cybertron can prevent Optimus Prime from dying, then it must also resurrect the Guardian, and this time, the great Guardian will be on the side of the Decepticons...

It will be our friend, with us...

Conquer the Earth!