Chapter Nineteen: Returning to the Ordinary

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“One week after the Blue Mist Incident, the internal investigation report from Osborn Industries has yet to be made public. We believe you owe an explanation to the entire public. What do you think, Mr. Norman Osborn?”

“To be honest, Ms. Betty, Osborn is doing everything possible to assist those unfortunate souls affected by this tragedy that touched us all. Our compensation packages are in place, post-incident medical support surpasses that of most hospitals in New York, and according to our findings, the majority have not suffered catastrophic effects. In fact, through our investigation, most have emerged physically stronger.”

Norman Osborn spoke eloquently during the televised interview, appearing unshaken by the disaster that struck Manhattan. On the contrary, he maintained full control throughout the entire broadcast.

Almost every question from Betty Ross was deftly deflected or answered in other ways. For instance, Osborn played a video file during her own program—without her prior knowledge.

The footage featured interviews with many victims, many of whom not only recovered from the leak but also noticed significant improvements in their chronic conditions.

“I’ve never felt this good physically. It’s like I’m seventeen again!” one said.

Lynn watched Osborn on the screen and couldn’t help but admire how Osborn Industries managed to retain control despite such a large-scale incident. They swiftly silenced the media and quickly controlled the spread of information across social networks.

Moreover, the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division (S.H.I.E.L.D.) deliberately orchestrated a massive media campaign around the initial Lizard Crisis. Except for those directly involved, very few were willing to believe the Lizard Crisis had truly happened, especially with the spread of deliberately fabricated, poor-quality imitation videos.

What should have been a crisis watched by tens of thousands was thus shrouded and hidden in the shadows.

“Impressive, really. An event affecting one-tenth of Manhattan ended so quietly and without a trace.”

Lynn switched channels, soon hearing the unmistakable voice of J. Jonah Jameson. His piercing tone was, as always, fiercely criticizing Spider-Man, attempting to sway public opinion against the hero.

But it was clearly ineffective. Peter Parker had become a household name in New York, known as the hero who swooped in to kick away criminals at the most dangerous moments in the city’s street corners.

Switching channels again, Lynn came across an intriguing headline.

“Tony Stark makes a grand return, boldly announcing a major press conference in two weeks. Rumors say Stark Industries will unveil an entirely new development direction.”

Lynn wanted to learn more about the location of Stark’s upcoming event, but a voice interrupted from behind.

“Lynn, do you want toast? Blueberry jam or strawberry?”

“No jam, just plain, please.”

Taking the toast Jessica handed him, Lynn bit into it. It was cheap but tasted alright—the perfect hint of toasted aroma enhancing the bread’s flavor.

Before he finished, Jessica hopped over to sit beside him, her shoulder leaning against his as she watched the Tony Stark news on the screen, holding a toast rolled up with jam.

She had already eaten half.

“Don’t you want it, Lynn?”

Lynn patted her head and said, preparing to get into the car, “Come on, let’s go to school.”

A week was enough time for Midtown High to clear most of the debris. Usually, a school wouldn’t resume classes so quickly, but as part of Osborn Industries’ public relations campaign, Midtown High’s reconstruction was surprisingly efficient. The school recovered swiftly, with no delays or excuses, and funding was surprisingly prompt.

Not to mention, Osborn Industries provided direct assistance.

Exiting the door, Lynn noticed the house behind him had been renovated—it no longer looked so gloomy or terrifying. The faint bullet holes, old appliances, and various makeshift storage partitions embedded in the walls were all gone.

Lynn even thought the house could be sold for a lower price. Considering the remnants of indigenous inhabitants found within the walls, the house could easily serve as the perfect setting for a horror film.

He walked to the garage, started up his unremarkable old car, and drove out of his small yard, ignoring the lurking gang members eyeing him along the way. Lynn drove off from his new home.

Lynn naturally didn’t consider those ordinary gang members a serious threat. To be honest, if a few vampires appeared before him now, he might have entertained scaring them off. But these were just ordinary people.

“I told you, Lynn, I beat up a few of them a couple of days ago. It should be fine, right? They seemed pretty hot-tempered.”

“Oh? Didn’t I tell you not to pick fights with them casually?”

“Well, I just felt really uncomfortable with the way they were looking at me…”

“So you were provoked by those guys and decided to teach them a lesson? Hmm, how badly are they hurt?”

Lynn calmly asked about Jessica’s situation.

The young girl slightly raised her head, her eyes lifting as if recalling something. After finishing the toast in her mouth, she continued.

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“I punched him two or three times. I think it’s just ordinary bruises and scratches. I didn’t go all out.”

“Good job. They won’t brag about losing to a little girl. It’s a disgrace for them.”

“So, Lynn, what would you do?”

“Do what you think is right, Jessica. My methods aren’t exactly a reference for you. Just do what you want. No need to copy me.”

Lynn drove slowly out of the Ebony Street district. The number of patrolling police officers and traffic cops increased, and the surrounding streets began to echo with honking cars.

New York had returned to its usual self, as if yesterday’s events had never occurred. Aside from giving the residents some gossip, it seemed to have left no lasting impact.

Jessica sat in the passenger seat, sucking on a lollipop, watching the bustling pedestrians. Soon, she felt drowsy; after all, it was still early.

Sitting in Lynn’s old car, she started nodding off, resting her head lightly on the passenger seat, drifting into a light sleep.

“Beep—”

With a honk, Jessica jerked awake, though she was still groggy. It was clear the brief nap hadn’t helped much.

“Lynn?”

“Get out. Today’s your first day back at school. If you don’t adjust well, remember to call me. But don’t lie to me—I can see through any nonsense.”

“I’m not lying!”

“Oh? Who was it that snuck into my room at midnight a few days ago, scared of ghosts in her room, and then laid out a mat on my floor, saying she felt uncomfortable sleeping in her own room?”

Lynn exposed Jessica’s secret, making the girl blush furiously. She glanced at the growing crowd nearby and quietly slipped away like she was escaping.

Lynn shook his head, parked in the school lot, and headed to his classroom.

“Margie, long time no see.”

“Mr. Sidis, you’re here so early. There aren’t many teachers as dedicated as you nowadays.”

“People just know how to manage their time well. I live far away, so naturally, I have to come early.”

“Heh, you only teach in the afternoon. You could come later. Want some cookies?”

“Thanks.”

Margie’s cookies tasted good; Lynn quite liked them.

The morning and afternoon classes passed without any unusual incidents.

If anything stood out, it was that Lynn’s first time using an eraser accidentally hit Peter Parker, who was dozing off in the afternoon class. After being made to stand, Peter couldn’t answer the question posed, and the whole class took the opportunity to tease him.

In their memories, Peter had often been scolded privately by teachers for dozing off since the second semester started, but he had never failed to answer a question before.

“Uh... I don’t know.”

Three consecutive times, Peter felt like something was clouding his mind, his thoughts sluggish, and he couldn’t clearly hear Mr. Sidis’s voice.

But once the classmates started laughing, the feeling vanished, and he could think through the questions again, as if emerging from a swamp.

“Um, can I answer again, Mr. Sidis?”

“No need. Get some rest. Daytime is just as important. Not everything has to be done at night.”

Lynn’s words contained no hidden meaning, but Peter felt something odd about them.

The day passed quickly. When Lynn drove up to the school gate, Jessica seemed to have been waiting for several minutes.

She looked bored, kicking stones near the nearby sewer grate.

“Bored, huh?”

“Yeah.”

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Jessica sat in the passenger seat and began chatting about silly things among classmates, like pointless cliques among the girls, the bullying she found dumb, or how one girl slunk off to the bathroom after Jessica gave her a glare.

“Truly boring. The foolishness of youth—so common, yet somehow pure.”

“Yeah, every day it’s just about what’s for lunch, who dyed their hair, the latest gossip about the girl next door, or who went early to some hotel for... you know.”

Lynn’s car slowly entered the Ebony Street district.

The setting sun shone on Jessica’s face.

Lynn glanced at her profile and saw she had fallen asleep again.

He parked the car in the garage, carried Jessica to her room, changed into another outfit, and left the Ebony Street district once more.

—Deacon Tower.

Lynn sat again in the dimly lit room, but this time Connors had been waiting for him for quite a while.

There was no other light, only a television screen glowing, showing a rather adorable little girl.

“Well, Curt Connors, are you planning to become Dr. Goldman Connors, the attending physician at Knossos Charity Hospital?”

“Nancy is the first to receive treatment, right? Maria and I went to see her. Without treatment, she wouldn’t survive three more years.”

“A small but not insignificant condition. You can consider this a gift. So, I take it you agreed?”

Lynn finished speaking and turned to leave.

“Just a small act of kindness, Dr. Connors. But if you can carry out the tasks I assign you well, that would be even better. Think it over.”

Lynn turned back, leaning slightly forward.

“One last thing: you know how precious the data is. Knossos will protect its own property, but if you leak information without authorization, I think it’ll make things very difficult between us. Don’t jeopardize the trust we share.”

Closing Connors’s room door, Karla was already waiting.

“Doctor, the biochemical reaction zone is 45% complete. The functions you need are basically operable. There is only one reactor, but it’s enough for your upcoming experiments.”

“Hm, how is the hospital on this floor coming along?”

“Nurses and labor staff have been arranged, but recruiting doctors is difficult. It’s hard for outsiders to break into this field. But I’m confident this building will be transformed.”

After updating Lynn on daily operations, Karla accompanied him to the basement.

In the underground lab, a biochemical reactor had been constructed. Karla and Maria had done well, and under Lynn’s several instructions and arrangements, the reactor was now usable.

Jacutor was now placed inside.

“Prepare the materials, Karla. I’m about to start a new round of work.”

“I’ll arrange it right away.”

Tom, used by Lynn to simulate Curt Connors, had finally become expendable. As for Jacutor, Lynn had other plans. Although he had many prototypes, producing a large batch of ordinary beast soldiers wasn’t particularly meaningful right now.

These vampires, having been screened by Lynn and controlled by Karla, were ready to be deployed on tasks without further enhancement.

In this world, Lynn didn’t believe ordinary beast soldiers possessed any power beyond their era or realm; at best, they were consumables.

Perhaps others could take over beast soldier production later.

But for now, Lynn wouldn’t waste time manufacturing them.

“Tony Stark is back, with his disaster-ridden press conference. I have other plans.”