The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics.

Chapter 65: Spider Silk and the Green Goblin

"If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be like this!" Norman's expression was ferocious, and he was obviously extremely angry. Yang Le and Gwen didn't know for a moment whether his face was red because of heat or anger.

"Tell me in detail." Yang Le crossed his arms across his chest to reduce his own heat. He was afraid that if he continued, Norman would get heatstroke and pass out first.

Sandwiched between two superhumans and stripped of all his equipment, Norman had no choice but to honestly explain what had happened.

"It was probably more than two years ago." Norman leaned slowly on the pillow. Since he couldn't refuse, he might as well be comfortable.

"My company, Oscorp, was researching a drug. We hoped that after injecting humans with it, they would gain superhuman strength, speed, endurance, and reflexes, just like Captain America. Do you know Captain America?"

"I know." Yang Le's voice remained calm. "Continue speaking. If you have any questions, we'll interrupt you."

"Okay." Norman nodded and continued.

"We began our research with great confidence, but encountered difficulties right from the start. The drug we developed was simply the strongest poison. Not a single mouse could survive the experiment, and human trials were a distant prospect."

"I invested a lot of money but got no results. Shareholders lost confidence in me and threatened me that if I continued like this, Osborne would have to replace its chairman."

When Norman said this, he tightened the blanket around himself, obviously still feeling frightened.

"During that time, I felt like a taut rope..."

"We don't have time to listen to your inner thoughts. Let's get to the point." Yang Le interrupted Norman's complaint. "Cindy Moon, how did you two meet?"

Norman choked and his face turned ugly, but he continued speaking.

"She came to me on her own initiative. I was in the lab doing experiments when she suddenly appeared in front of me and told me she could solve my problem. Of course, I didn't believe a little brat."

"Who could have imagined that she would take out a syringe filled with green liquid from her bag, inject it into the lab mice right in front of me, and then something incredible would happen."

Norman was so thirsty that his mouth was dry, but when he found that no one had prepared water for him, he could only swallow his saliva helplessly and continue.

"After the injection, the rat began to mutate almost immediately. It grew reptilian scales, its claws became sharper, and its size far surpassed that of an average rat. Its aggressiveness also increased significantly. It bit all the other rats to death and even destroyed the cage, attempting to attack humans."

"That rat attacked you?" Gwen asked.

"No." Norman shook his head.

"The mouse died after breaking out of its cage. The potion's effects were too strong, and it couldn't withstand them, suffering a backlash. She assured me it was simply due to insufficient research funding and inadequate facilities. If I funded her, I could obtain the perfect strengthening potion."

"And so you all got together?" Yang Le frowned, the flames above his head burning even more distortedly. "But how did Cindy Moon know you were researching the enhancement potion, and why did she come to you?"

"I really don't know where she got the information, but I do know a little about why she came to me." Norman said, pointing to Gwen beside him.

"The Radiant Spider, the one exhibited at the expo. Cindy Moon approached me to complete it. She needs my funds to help her, and I also need her strengthening potion."

"So we each got what we needed. Her semi-finished medicine helped me regain my position, and I gave her a large sum of money for medicine development. This delicate balance lasted for about a year."

"But this balance has been broken recently, because after receiving my funding, Cindy Moon did not continue to improve the strengthening potion, but focused on the research of radioactive spiders, and spent all my money on herself." "You can guess what happened next." Norman lowered his head helplessly.

"Because I hadn't produced any results for a long time, the shareholders issued me an ultimatum. In desperation, I secretly stole the radioactive spider from Cindy Moon's laboratory and exhibited it at the expo as my own achievement, hoping to reassure the shareholders."

"Then someone attacked the Expo. This friend must have gained the abilities of the radioactive spider during that attack. I never expected that spider to be so powerful. No wonder Cindy Moon treasured it. Now that I think about it, I really ruined her plans."

Norman suddenly laughed, clearly disgusted that Cindy Moon pleased him.

"Do you know where Cindy Moon is?" Gwen landed on the floor, walked to Norman's bed, and asked anxiously.

After all, it concerns the safety of the people around her, so Gwen can't help but be anxious. She doesn't want something like what happened to Peter to happen again.

"I said it before, I don't know." Norman said firmly.

"She left without saying goodbye a month ago and took away all the research materials. Otherwise, why would I become like this? I can't contact her at all. Believe me, I have no reason to hide it for her."

Gwen looked at Yang Le, and Yang Le nodded. Just as Norman said, he had no reason to lie.

Moreover, Yang Le has been paying close attention to Norman's condition. This is something Yang Le discovered recently. The fire man is a member of the Pyronai race. Perhaps because of his ability to manipulate flames and heat, the fire man is very sensitive to heat.

He can clearly feel the heat changes of people or objects around him. When people lie, the body temperature of certain parts will change significantly. The Flame Man can act as a lie detector.

But Norman's body temperature had been very stable just now. He didn't think that Norman, after becoming an ordinary person, could control his body temperature, so Norman should not have lied.

"The clue is broken again. What should we do next?" Gwen walked to Yang Le and asked for his opinion.

After a long period of experience accumulation, Gwen is no longer affected by such trivial matters. She knows that instead of feeling sorry for herself, it is better to find a way to solve the problem.

"Actually, Cindy Moon's thoughts are easy to guess." Yang Le said after some analysis.

"Since the first Radiation Spider bit you, and she didn't gain the ability, she will definitely create a second Radiation Spider. Having abandoned Norman Osborn and without a source of funding, she will definitely find another person to rely on, and that person will definitely not be weaker than Osborn."

"With all due respect to you two, there is basically no chemical company in the world that is better than Osborne." Norman couldn't help but interrupt.

"Oh, you're still here." Yang Le saw Norman seemed to suddenly remember something.

"Do you have anything else to explain?"

"Well, probably not." Norman said after thinking for a while.

"OK, Olaf, shock him."

"Olaf? Ew! Oooohhhhhhh!"

(End of this chapter)