Marvel: Master Of Role-Playing

"It's been an exciting night, but the show's over. Norman, get ready. Tomorrow, it's time for you to step down."

Reid wouldn't expose tonight's events outside. That would only give the government and military a reason to target the Oscorp Industries, which didn't align with his interests.

But as long as this incident spread within the company, it would be enough to remove Norman from the chairman's seat.

Taking the chairman's position was just the first step. After that, he only needed to wait for the right moment to seize Norman's shares.

As he finished speaking, Reid stepped into the lab, carefully lifting the unconscious child from the experiment table. Cradling the boy in his arms, he turned and walked out.

Otto watched in silence, a sense of dread creeping over him. Finally, unable to hold back, he asked.

"Luthor... what exactly are you planning to do?"

He had a feeling that whatever Luthor had in mind wouldn't be something he would like.

Reid's answer was straightforward.

"What am I planning? Of course, I'm handling the aftermath. If tonight's events leak, the entire Oscorp will face government scrutiny. Don't be fooled by the serum's success. The government and military are always thinking about how to get their hands on our technology."

"Handling… the aftermath?"

There were many ways to handle things, and similarly, there were many ways to make sure the child didn't spill the truth about what happened tonight. Otto, based on his understanding of Luthor, had a pretty good guess of what he intended to do.

He couldn't bring himself to look, forcing himself to turn away and block the dreadful thoughts from his mind.

Reid didn't waste any more time. He left Oscorp, carrying the unconscious child, and drove straight to the company's warehouse at the port.

Back at the company, the two men left behind stood in a long, heavy silence.

After a while, Norman spoke up.

He grabbed Otto's hand, looking at him with a hopeful expression before speaking.

"Otto, my friend, you'll help me, right? This is Oscorp. We can't let that bastard Lex Luthor take control."

"Norman…"

Otto's expression was complicated as he looked at Norman. He wanted to ask why Norman did this, why he had chosen to conduct such a high-risk human experiment.

But he couldn't bring himself to say it because just a moment ago, when Luthor had said he would handle the child in front of them, Otto had already guessed what would happen, yet he didn't stop it.

It was because of his own ideals. He needed a strong Oscorp as his backing. Only with the company's support could he gather the resources to achieve his goals.

He couldn't let the company face danger, so he chose to remain silent.

And in that silence, Otto realized something about himself—he could no longer help Norman.

"I'm sorry, Norman. At one point, I was truly dedicated to helping you."

Norman's expression immediately changed. If Otto still stood by him, there might still be a chance to fight Luthor's attack at tomorrow's meeting. But if Otto abandoned him…

Norman could already see the future where he lost all power.

"No! Otto, you can't do this! Oscorp is our shared legacy. And if you sell me your 20% stake, I'll have 70% of the shares. Luthor won't be able to do anything. I promise, I will defeat—"

"Is defeating Luthor really the point, Norman?" Otto interrupted Norman, growing impatient with his constant pleading.

Luthor also seeks power and is just as indifferent to life, but he is consistent and true to his word. What he says, he does, and he possesses an extraordinary genius that can only be described as monstrous.

Otto, while having abandoned his own principles and turning a blind eye to the child being discarded, still holds on to his true aspirations. He continues to move toward his goal.

It is Norman who has changed. In the short span of a year since Oscorp's rise, he has transformed in ways Otto never anticipated.

As Norman's friend, Otto knew Norman's original vision. He was one of the few who knew that Emily had a hereditary disease.

Norman's initial decision to establish the Oscorp Industries was to leverage its resources to find a cure for Emily's condition.

At first, Norman's goal was to save lives. But now, he has become hypocritical, power-hungry, and even forgotten his original purpose. He has not only failed to start research on the hereditary disease but has also grown indifferent to life.

Otto, too, is selfish. His own ambition stems from health problems, and now that Norman is no longer trustworthy, Otto has no more doubts. He will act in his own interest, to secure his future.

With that, Otto pulled his hand free from Norman's grip and walked away.

"No! Otto, don't do this!"

Despite Norman's desperate calls from behind, Otto did not turn back. The broken trust had made him give up completely on his old friend.

...

Oscorp's Port Warehouse.

Reid drove in silence, the unconscious child resting beside him.

Upon arriving, he dismissed the guards stationed outside, ordering them to take a break. Then, he carried the child inside and placed him at the warehouse's edge, facing the sea.

"Now that I think about it, it seems that the disaster you're facing is my fault."

Reid murmured as if addressing the child, though it was more like he was talking to himself.

"If I hadn't pressured Norman, you would have died from your illness quietly. At least you wouldn't have killed your parents with the power in your body."

He looked down at the still unconscious child, a hint of regret in his voice.

"Too bad. If you had been a natural-born superpowered being, it would have been perfect."

Just now, Reid remembered the child's true identity.

In the future, this child would become Mister Negative, leader of a powerful criminal organization in New York City, and a major adversary of Spider-Man.

The black and white energy within him, when fully harnessed, could manipulate the minds and bodies of those around him.

But, unfortunately, in this world, Martin Li's powers came from a new serum created by the Oscorp Industries. Though his unusual physique might play a part, the significance of this child in Reid's mind had greatly diminished. There was no longer any need to take the risk of betrayal by recruiting him.

"Hopefully, after you die, you can become a transmigrator and leave this damn world behind, Mister Negative."

Without another word, he injected himself with the Scarlet Serum.

A surge of power coursed through his veins as he gained the temporary ability to emit high-energy lasers.

He then wrapped Martin Li's body in a red laser, choking him with one hand and slowly disintegrating him.

"Ah!!!"

The short, agonized scream from Martin Li was all that was left before everything returned to silence.

Soon after, Reid adjusted his suit and came out of the warehouse.

Before leaving, he stopped a security guard and said, "There's too much dust by the back door of the warehouse. Make sure to clean it up."

"Understood, Mr. Luthor."

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