Restart, Spider-Man! [14]
However, Xia Luo searched everywhere but couldn't find a cabinet or room that could be opened with the green key.
It seemed difficult for him to discover the key's secret on his own.
The key was old-fashioned, and perhaps Harry knew how to use it.
As the sky darkened, Harry emerged from Norman's room, looking like a lifeless shell.
He entered Norman's study and stayed there for a long time, without turning on the lights.
That night, Harry thought about many things, the weight of his burdens pressing him down, making it hard to breathe.
Helplessness, fear, and loneliness replaced the sadness in his heart.
On the rooftop, Xia Luo lay back with his hands behind his head, gazing up at the moon while quietly listening to the sounds of crying coming from the study.
There was no such thing as true empathy in the world.
Norman's death had hit Harry hard, but for Xia Luo, it was just something to reflect upon.
He was Harry's best friend, but there wasn't much he could do for him.
All he had done was discreetly notify the butler to retrieve Norman's body.
And even if Norman hadn't died at the hands of that mysterious figure, Xia Luo would have had to find a way to stop Norman's actions.
For Norman, death wasn't the most terrifying thing.
The most terrifying thing was that he feared one day he'd go mad enough to hurt Harry.
Even though he had already done so before.
From Xia Luo's perspective, Norman not dying by his hand was the best outcome.
That night, he quietly accompanied his friend through the ordeal.
By the next morning, as sunlight streamed through the window and onto Harry's face, the warmth made him tremble slightly.
After a night of contemplation, he forced himself to pull it together.
Seeing the butler John enter with breakfast, Harry sighed and said, "John, my father's secret must not be revealed. Let's just tell everyone he's recovering from an illness. I'll handle the company's matters from now on."
There was a newfound determination in his eyes.
After being protected by his father for so many years, it was now time for him to protect what his father cherished—Oscorp.
Under John's approving gaze, Harry opened his computer and began searching for all the information related to the Green Goblin.
In the most recent news, the Green Goblin had fought Spider-Man just a few days ago.
"A soldier with a shield, explosive arrows, and that pesky Spider-Man," he muttered to himself as he calmly analyzed the information, trying to find the person who had killed his father.
His father's fatal injury was the hole in his chest. After reviewing the footage, he concluded that neither the soldier with the shield nor Spider-Man possessed the ability to pierce the Goblin suit's defenses in such a way.
So, the killer wasn't them.
Moreover, they hadn't even caught his father that day.
"Harry, the autopsy results are in," John said as his phone rang, bringing new information.
"Your father's chest wound wasn't caused by an explosion. The weapon used seemed to resemble the claws of a beast."
"A beast?"
Harry frowned, "What kind of clue is that?"
"Oh, and this," John said as he pulled out the green key. "I found this beside Norman's bed this morning. It seems like a clue I overlooked."
"What's this?"
Harry took the key, his mind racing with ideas.
Immediately, he began searching the study and eventually found a palm-sized black chest inside a safe.
Seeing the chest, Harry smiled faintly.
"When I was little, my father would often play treasure-hunting games with me. I always found the treasure, but he'd hide the key, always cheating."
The fond memory quickly faded, and Harry's smile vanished. He inserted the key into the chest and found only a phone inside.
Taking a deep breath, he turned on the phone and played the video.
"Harry, my child, I'm sorry. By the time you see this video, I'll already be dead."
"I can no longer control myself and can only leave you this message during a brief moment of clarity."
On the screen, Norman looked haggard, but he smiled warmly as he spoke.
"You've probably never understood why I've poured so much time and energy into my experiments, why I never returned to our family."
"Your mother left me because of this, and you resented me for it, but I had no choice."
"I'm telling you now because of our family's hereditary disease. It begins to torment us after the age of forty, slowly killing us."
"You're no exception, but you still have time."
"I poured everything into developing a gene serum to cure this disease, but it has a significant flaw—it plunged me into darkness, and I'll never find redemption.
"So, you must never use it, but I believe you can perfect it. All the data is in my lab, and you know the password."
"My child, forgive me for leaving so abruptly. I can't hold on any longer."
"I want you to live a happy life, but some things are unavoidable. Please forgive your unworthy father."
"Harry, I love you."
The video ended, with Norman's face forever frozen on the screen.
Harry stared at the phone, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
A hereditary disease in the family—was this the real reason his father took such risks?
His eyes reddened as he finally understood his father.
Meanwhile, as the video ended, Xia Luo also received a video file from an unknown source.
"Xia Luo, congratulations. If you're watching this, it means you've successfully been transformed into a superhuman by the mutated spider."
Norman's first words made Xia Luo's heart skip a beat.
Was he Spider-Man because of Norman?
He continued watching.
"Yes, I knew your father. We were good friends. He once showed me his research, which involved genetically engineering mutated spiders to enhance human genes."
"I was inspired by him and eventually found a way to treat the Osborn family's hereditary disease—through genetic modification."
"The gene experiments were difficult, but I never gave up. Still, I have to admit, I'm not as brilliant as your father. My experiments failed, and I became a madman."
"During my madness, I did something insane."
"After your father disappeared, I stole the mutated spider he'd created. I tried to replicate his research, but I failed."
"So, in my crazed state, I placed the last remaining spider near you and let it bite you."
"You hate spiders, but you didn't have a choice."
"You might have died, or you might have become a monster, but I believed in your father's work. That mutated spider was designed with your genes. It would give you superhuman strength."
"Something I could never achieve."
"I need your successful genetic transformation to help me perfect the gene serum. I need you, Xia Luo."
"Of course, that's what I thought when I was still sane."
"If I completely lose myself, I might see you as an enemy, and only you will be able to stop me."
At this point, Norman's face filled with guilt.
"I know I'm selfish, and I'm sorry. I can't control myself. Harry knows nothing about this, and I hope you two remain the best of friends."
"Lastly, as Harry's father, I must warn you—if someone invites you to join a strange organization, don't accept. It's dangerous, very dangerous…"
The screen abruptly cut off, and the video file deleted itself. Xia Luo fell into deep thought.
A missing father… a strange organization…
S.H.I.E.L.D.!
He instantly thought of the Avengers.
Could the mysterious figure who killed Norman be related to all of this?
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