Reid’s annou shocked the pany’s upper ma.

  At present, Oscorp had developed a materials industry based on Otto’s research, but as a new foundational teology, its profitability was retively low.

  The real source of reveill came from Reid’s super soldier serum.

  When Reid id out blueprints for a new line of advanced onry, the entire room fell silent. Since he had already made preparations, none of them had the right to question him.

  At the head of the table, Norman’s face was twisted with rage.

  He didn’t believe for a sed that the serum had reached its limits.

  To him, this was Luthor’s way of keeping him in check. By shutting down the serum projed shifting focus to on development, Luthor was effectively cutting him off from any leverage.

  With biological sce losing its importanorman’s area of expertise would be rendered useless.

  'This is a trap.' Norman thought. 'A carefully pnned move to restrict my ability to gee profits.'

  Still, Reid hadn’t said anything wrong in the meeting. The serum had indeed reached its peak.

  inally developed using Scott’s genes as a research tempte, the serum had granted enhanced abilities to its subjects. While it couldn’t replicate Scott’s ser-like optic bsts, it had achieved perfect trol over the enhanced abilities it did provide.

  Though Norman wasirely wroher.

  This was a calcuted move by Reid.

  If Norman wao prove his value within the pany, he had to make a breakthrough in research. Otherwise, even if he mao keep his shares, he would eventually lose his position as chairman to him, whose administrative and stific expertise were far superior.

  And uhor, Norman wasn’t an all-around genius. That was the harsh reality he was fag.

  He had no choice but to tinue researg in the field of serums. However, the only thi for him was a serum that Reid had already pushed to its absolute limit.

  Even Reid, possessing Luthor’s intelligence, saw little be in further development—it would be a waste of effort with minimal returns.

  So what would happen if someone less capable, like Norman, insisted on achieving breakthroughs in serum research?

  Mistakes were iable.

  And given Norman’s current situation, a single mistake would be enough to strip him of his position as chairman.

  ‘Besides, if my guess is correct...’

  As the meeting ended, before leaving the feren, Reid g Norman, who was hurrying toward the b.

  After yesterday's events, Norman wouldn’t possibly seek his help. That left only Otto, Norman would undoubtedly turn to him, hoping to colborate on serum researd achieve some kind of breakthrough.

  But putting two people with pletely opposite personalities together, especially when one of them was on the verge of obsessioe redictable.

  Reid’s strategy wasn’t just an open, calcuted move to push Norman toward failure. It was also a subtle ploy to drive a wedge between Norman and his st potential ally.

  Returning to his own b, Reid took out the vial of Emily’s blood he had collected.

  Now, all that was left was to wait.

  And to prepare for the final blow that would bring Norman down.

  ……

  Not long after, a specially designed fragrance, created by Reid himself, began cirg through every boratory within Oscorp.

  For ordinary people, this special fragrance had an invigorating effect. It helped clear the mind and relieve fatigue. Lab tests firmed it was pletely harmless to humans.

  But there was one exception.

  Those who carried Emily’s family’s geic disorder.

  Of course, no one in the pany was supposed to know that Emily had such a dition.

  Naturally, no one would suspect that this fragrance could trigger her illness. And even if someoually figured it out, Reid could easily feign ignorance, g he had no idea about her geic disorder.

  Standing at a distance, watg Emily at work in the b, Reid let out a small smile before turning back to his own workspace.

  ‘Poor woman. Don’t worry, you won’t die. Your husband will give up everything to save you.’

  In his hand, he weighed the cure, the only antidote capable of treating Emily’s hereditary disease.

  In the Marvel Universe, g such a rare disht have taken a genius like Reed Richards decades of research.

  But for someone like Lex Luthor, who had access to Kryptonian teology, fragments of Apokoliptian sce, and a perfederstanding of human advas, creating the cure was effortless.

  ……

  Oscorp sooled into a period of calm.

  Everyone focused on their respective projects, and the pany expanded rapidly.

  But there was one key difference.

  Previously, Norman had handled administration while Reid remained in the b.

  Now, the roles had reversed.

  With Norman desperately chasing breakthroughs in serum research, Reid stepped in to oversee the pany’s operations.

  Although Oscorp was still far weaker than the already massive Doom Industries, its rapid growth was undeniable.

  And for Norman, just as Reid had predicted, he mao recruit Otto into his research team, leveraging their past friendship as the excuse.

  As the research progressed, Norman’s impatience cshed with Otto’s methodical approach.

  Many of Norman’s reckless ideas were repeatedly shot down by Otto, leading to growing tensioween them.

  From what Reid could tell, Norman was already beginning to see Otto as an obstacle.

  That said, the two of them did mao develop something new, an altered version of Reid’s serum.

  Uhe inal, which emitted a crimson glow, their new variant produced energy in bd white.

  Still, Reid wasn’t worried.

  Maybe in awenty years, they’d actually create something groundbreaking. In some parallel universe, a powerful Sentinel might eves abilities to an Oscorp serum.

  But right now, in 1993?

  If they rushed to test their serum on live subjects, it would iably lead to disaster.

  ……

  Around the same time, a family from a made their way across the o to America.

  They weren’t here chasing fortune or the so-called “fresh air.”

  They had e in search of a cure for their son, who was dying from an unknown illness.

  At this time, Ameri medie was widely sidered the most advanced in the world. If there ce that could offer a ce at survival for an unknown disease, it was here.

  Carrying their unscious son, the couple traveled from hospital to hospital across New York.

  But in the end, every dave them the same answer—hopeless.

  Not only could they not cure the boy, but they couldn’t eveermihe cause of his a.

  Even so, the parents refused to give up.

  They had heard that America’s cutting-edge corporations possessed teology far beyond what ublicly avaible.

  So, they sold everything they owned, desperately searg for leads.

  Eventually, they found a name.

  Oscorp Industries.

  They learhat Oscorp had developed a miraculous serum, ohat could turn an ordinary human into something more.

  Perhaps their son’s salvation y within Oscorp’s walls!

  **

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