Osborn Industries ranked among the most powerful corporate empires in the United States, and arguably the world. Its reach extended into weapons manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy production, and countless other fields that generated staggering profits. With resources spread across so many lucrative sectors, the company was unimaginably wealthy.
At this point in time, the corporation was still firmly under the control of Norman Osborn. As both founder and majority shareholder, he exercised overwhelming authority over every major decision within the company.
But despite his enormous power, Norman Osborn currently faced a problem that no amount of money could solve.
The genetic disease haunting the Osborn family line was slowly killing him. According to Ethan Blake's estimation, the man likely had only a few years left to live. Without a solution, his fate was already sealed.
And the spider serum research Ethan possessed represented the key to survival.
Ethan had no doubt that Norman Osborn would be more than willing to shoulder certain… responsibilities if it meant saving his own life.
The Osborn Building stood in Midtown Manhattan, occupying some of the most expensive real estate in the world. Unlike his previous visit to Pioneer Technology, Ethan did not arrive unannounced this time. Instead, he scheduled a formal meeting with Norman Osborn under the identity of Stark Industries' second-largest shareholder.
The appointment had been set for 10:30 in the morning.
Norman Osborn clearly respected the influence attached to Ethan's position. At around 10:20, ten minutes ahead of schedule, Osborn personally greeted him in a private reception room.
Although Osborn was technically only in his forties, he looked far older. His hair had turned almost completely gray, and the lines on his face suggested a man in his late sixties rather than someone still in the prime of his career.
His eyes were gentle most of the time, calm and polite. But occasionally, a flicker of something darker appeared—a brief flash of cruelty and violence that vanished almost instantly.
Has the Green Goblin personality already started forming? Ethan wondered silently.
"Mr. Blake," Norman Osborn said with a polite smile. "I've heard your name many times, but I never expected you to be so young."
The compliment was genuine. As Stark Industries' largest rival in several technological sectors, Osborn Industries naturally monitored its competitor closely. Ethan Blake, as Stark Industries' second shareholder, was someone Norman Osborn had studied carefully.
Ethan returned the smile calmly.
"You're too kind, Mr. Osborn," he replied. "I've admired your achievements for years. Building a corporate empire like Osborn Industries from nothing is something few people in the world could accomplish."
Norman Osborn accepted the praise without false modesty. After all, what Ethan said represented the greatest accomplishment of his life.
Yet even as pride rose in his chest, a darker thought followed immediately.
What good was such success if he wouldn't live long enough to enjoy it?
Richard Parker had destroyed the original spider serum research before his death. If that information had survived, Norman Osborn wouldn't be trapped by the family's genetic disease now.
The thought caused a flash of anger to surge through his mind.
For a brief moment, the gentleness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a trace of violent fury. But the emotion was quickly suppressed and hidden once again.
"I'm curious," Norman Osborn said after a moment. "What brings you here today, Mr. Blake?"
He genuinely couldn't understand Ethan's sudden request for a meeting. As far as he knew, Stark Industries and Osborn Industries had never cooperated on any projects. More importantly, Ethan Blake had never been directly involved in Stark Industries' daily operations.
So why would he suddenly request a private conversation?
Without saying anything further, Ethan reached into his coat.
A document suddenly appeared in his hand.
He placed the file casually on the table between them.
"Why don't you take a look at this first, Mr. Osborn?" Ethan said calmly. "After that, we can discuss the real purpose of today's meeting."
A hint of surprise flashed across Osborn's face when he saw the document appear so suddenly. For a brief second, it almost looked like Ethan had pulled it out of thin air.
But he didn't ask any questions.
Instead, he picked up the file and began reading.
At first, his posture remained relaxed and polite. The expression on his face suggested mild curiosity at most.
But as his eyes moved across the pages, that calm demeanor began to disappear.
His expression slowly hardened.
By the time he finished the second page, Norman Osborn abruptly lowered the document onto the table. A violent glint burned in his eyes, barely restrained beneath the surface.
He stared directly at Ethan.
"Where did you get this information?" he asked in a low voice.
Even after reading only two pages, he had already recognized what he was holding.
The document clearly originated from the preliminary research notes related to the spider serum project—the very same project destroyed by Richard Parker before his death.
Ethan leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Where I got it isn't really your concern, Mr. Osborn," he replied casually.
Norman Osborn's breathing became heavier.
"This research belongs to Osborn Industries," he growled. "It belongs to me. Hand it over!"
For a man standing on the edge of desperation, the spider serum represented his final lifeline.
He had to obtain it.
No matter the cost.
Even if that meant killing the man sitting across from him.
As the thought took hold, the violent impulse in his eyes intensified. The calm, rational personality of Norman Osborn began to waver as something darker surfaced beneath it.
The Green Goblin personality was slowly emerging.
"Sit."
Ethan spoke a single word.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and an invisible pressure swept across the room like a crushing wave.
The overwhelming force of his Conqueror's Haki slammed into Norman Osborn's mind.
The unstable Green Goblin personality that had been rising toward the surface instantly recoiled in terror.
Norman Osborn's body stiffened.
The violent gleam in his eyes vanished, replaced once again by clarity and control.
Ethan watched him calmly.
"Mr. Osborn," he said lightly, "it seems like something unpleasant is developing inside your mind. I'd recommend seeing a psychiatrist before it becomes a serious problem."
Norman Osborn forced an awkward smile as he regained full control of himself.
Before coming here, Ethan had briefly considered solving the situation the same way he handled Killian—by casting the Imperius Curse.
It would have been simple and efficient.
But after meeting Norman Osborn in person, Ethan changed his mind.
Compared with many ruthless corporate executives, Norman Osborn wasn't particularly evil. He had donated enormous sums of money to charities and public welfare programs over the years. In fact, his conscience probably surpassed Tony Stark's back before Stark became Iron Man.
Ethan still had certain personal boundaries.
Of course, that moral restraint only applied to the Norman Osborn sitting here now. If the Green Goblin personality fully took control, the situation would be very different.
At that point, Ethan wouldn't hesitate to use the Killing Curse and turn him into pure summoning energy.
Norman Osborn leaned forward slightly, his voice tense with urgency.
"How much do you want for this research?" he asked.
In that moment, he had already violated one of the most fundamental rules of business negotiation—revealing desperation.
But he didn't care.
The spider serum research in Ethan's hands was simply too important. He had to obtain it.
Ethan shook his head slowly.
"No, Mr. Osborn," he said. "I'm not interested in selling this information."
Norman Osborn frowned deeply.
"Then what exactly do you want?" he asked.
He didn't believe for a second that Ethan had brought such valuable research here without a specific goal.
Ethan didn't bother with dramatic pauses.
"I want Osborn Industries' Biological and Life Sciences Research Center," he said plainly. "In exchange, the Osborn family's genetic disease will become the top research priority."
Norman Osborn's eyes widened slightly.
"No," he replied immediately. "I can separate the biological research center from Osborn Industries and establish a new company. Using your research data, you can take fifty percent ownership."
The Biological and Life Sciences Research Center represented the most important research division within Osborn Industries. Its estimated value exceeded twenty billion dollars.
There was no way he would simply hand it over.
And judging by Ethan's tone, the man didn't even intend to share the research itself.
That was completely unacceptable.
Ethan remained perfectly calm.
"I'm afraid you misunderstand something, Mr. Osborn," he said evenly. "I didn't come here to negotiate."
He looked directly into Osborn's eyes.
"You only need to make one decision."
"Agree… or refuse."
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