A Marine Admiral in the Marvel Universe

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Chapter 198 Osborn, the Enemy of the World

Things are getting complicated... Cao Gui's eyes flickered. Now he was not facing one or two specific enemies, but the public opinion controlled by S.H.I.E.L.D., and tens of thousands of people.

Moreover, Cao Gui's counterattack could not reach S.H.I.E.L.D. According to Sitwell, this matter was strictly confidential, and only a handful of people knew about it.

Cao Gui paced anxiously, determined to find a way to permanently sever S.H.I.E.L.D.'s reach towards Osborn.

"Only magic can counter magic. He's the awesome S.H.I.E.L.D., so let's find an organization even more powerful than S.H.I.E.L.D. If he wants to use public opinion against people, then let's use public opinion against him."

"He wants to maintain his dignity, so let him maintain his dignity!"

Cao Gui picked up his phone and dialed a number: "Mr. Norman, do you have time now? Let's talk?"

"Hmm... okay, no problem."

……

At 11 a.m., the sun was shining brightly, the wind was gentle, and the weather was perfect—a great day for a relaxing vacation.

Inside a shopping mall, people were bustling about, coming and going. A large number of people were moving around inside the mall, and the events that had occurred on the Williamsburg Bridge a few days ago had no effect on them whatsoever.

They ate and drank as usual, continued playing music and dancing. S.H.I.E.L.D. had kept the news under wraps, so they had no idea about it.

Of course, even if they knew, given the American people's simple-minded and reckless nature, they wouldn't care. They can ignore a global infectious virus, let alone a little lizard man like you.

Bang!

Suddenly, the ground trembled violently, as if something had struck it hard.

Inside the mall, the people who were laughing and chatting were suddenly startled and stood frozen in place, afraid to move.

"Security, security! There's been an incident in the mall lobby. Come over immediately."

One of the managers immediately pressed the intercom. Although he didn't know what was going on, he figured that as long as he had a gun, the problem could be solved; if not, then he would deal with the person who caused the problem.

Those who were frightened gripped their lower backs, looking wary, as if they were about to draw their guns and shoot each other at the slightest provocation.

"Everyone, get out of here immediately, get out of the lobby!" The manager's lips twitched as he shouted into the loudspeaker. If a large-scale gunfight broke out during his shift, his career would be over.

Bang!

Another loud bang, and the smooth floor tiles began to crack layer by layer, the cracks spreading rapidly.

"Shit!" the manager cursed, grabbing his shotgun and running out quickly.

Bang!

A tall figure suddenly crashed through the ground and sprang up from underground, followed by a cloud of dust.

"Roar--!"

A loud, deep roar came from the smoke and dust, and strong wind pressure emanated from it, blowing the dust outwards.

"Shit shit!"

Startled, the New Yorkers didn't hesitate; they immediately drew their guns and fired, emptying their magazines—an essential survival skill for every New Yorker.

Bang bang bang!

Bang bang bang!

In an instant, Dr. Lizard found himself under a barrage of gunfire from all directions, including above his head, with countless bullets flying towards him and hitting him.

"Awooo—!"

Dr. Lizard howled in pain, but the New Yorkers who fired a burst of bullets turned and ran, leaving behind countless spent shell casings.

It's a joke. They do love to court death, but what they're after is the thrill of hitting and running away.

When Dr. Lizard came to his senses, only a few scattered people remained in the huge shopping mall, along with a team of security guards on their way.

"Gurgle~"

Dr. Lizard stuck out his tongue and flung out two cylindrical containers emitting green smoke.

"Shit!"

Everyone was startled by his action; the billowing green smoke clearly indicated that it was something bad.

A team of eight security guards and a few others ran quickly, trying to avoid the smoke.

However, Dr. Lizard used some unknown method, and the smoke spread extremely quickly, enveloping everyone present in the blink of an eye, turning the entire mall green.

"Ah...hehe..."

Those enveloped in the green smoke collapsed to the ground, clutching their throats and writhing in pain. Scales, like those on Dr. Lizard's face, began to appear on their skin. Their tongues became long and thin, but instead of transforming into lizard-men like Dr. Lizard, they became bizarre half-human, half-lizard figures.

"Gurgle... The inducer isn't working very well..."

Seeing this, Dr. Lizard muttered to himself, "Making the potion into smoke is indeed very suitable for diffusion, but correspondingly, the potion's effect is also reduced."

"Gurgle... This won't do..." Dr. Lizard jumped back into the large hole in the ground and disappeared into the sewer.

……

"Breaking news! A lizard monster attack has occurred in xx shopping mall. This lizard monster not only attacks people, but also spews out a large amount of green smoke, turning normal people into lizard people like itself."

"Oh God, is the whole world going to turn into those ugly lizard people?"

Soon, the New York media learned about it, and all the mainstream media outlets were reporting on it, completely abandoning their previous tacit understanding of keeping quiet.

In a short period of time, panic gripped New York City, as no one knew whether they would be the next to be attacked. The incident quickly escalated, and the entire city of New York was enraged.

"Wang Defa!? Where's our NYPD? Why aren't you taking down that lizard man? Are taxpayers paying to support you guys for nothing?"

"Damn it, I told you there were lizardmen, but you wouldn't believe me. Now you know, right?"

"No, I'm leaving this awful place and never coming back!"

Washington called the New York City mayor's office directly, harshly rebuking him for not being able to quell the matter immediately.

The mayor of New York City called S.H.I.E.L.D., but the entire senior management of the New York branch, the largest S.H.I.E.L.D. branch in the United States, happened to be in a meeting at the Washington headquarters, leaving no one in charge.

The mayor of New York City had no choice but to immediately use his resources to calm the public. At the same time, all police officers canceled their leave and were put on duty in full gear.

Having learned from previous disruptions, the mayor of New York City, though initially flustered, managed to maintain order amidst the chaos, quickly quelling any attempts by dynamic social groups to cause trouble.

By evening, New York had returned to apparent order, but then a news report on television ignited public anger.

"We've just received some big news, folks!" the TV host exclaimed, his face a mixture of mystery and resentment.

"It's Osborne!"

"A biotechnology company, that monster was created by Osborn!"

"Oh my God, what is Osborn Corporation trying to do? Destroy all of humanity? Why would they create such a horrific biological weapon?"

boom!

Public outrage across New York was instantly ignited, with countless people angrily condemning the Osborne Corporation.

"Damn it, I knew big corporations and companies were all shit, all bastards!"

"Osborn Corporation has committed crimes against humanity and must be destroyed!"

"Down with Osborn! Down with the Lizardmen!"

"..."

Guided by certain individuals, anti-Osborne marches began to emerge, with more and more people taking to the streets, shouting and surging towards Osborne Tower. In just half an hour, the brightly lit streets of New York were filled with hordes of people, holding up signs demanding that Osborne be brought to justice.

In response, the mayor of New York City ordered the NYPD to open the passage and not to obstruct it.

An angry people need an outlet to vent their anger; only by venting their anger can they calm down. Unfortunately, Osborne became the target of this venting.

The mayor of New York City doesn't care whether this is true or false. If it is true, then Osborne deserves what he got. If it is false... then only Osborne is hurt. What does it have to do with the mayor of New York City?

Tonight, Osborne is an orphan in New York, abandoned by everyone.

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Chapter 199 General Ross's Doubts

Chapter 199

Somewhere in Washington, General Ross, with his gray hair, stood in front of a large screen, watching the images playing on it with a blank expression.

The image above shows a large-scale protest by New Yorkers against the Osborn Corporation. A small pop-up window next to it plays footage of Dr. Lizard fighting, as well as him distributing drugs to induce mutations in other normal people.

"What did the intelligence department say?" General Ross asked in a deep voice.

"The message came from Menken Balkan, Vice President of the Osborne Group," a civilian officer beside him replied.

"He confirmed that the lizard man was Dr. Curtina Connors, a senior PhD who studies reptiles and whose main research area is cross-species trait inheritance."

"It really is Osborne..."

General Ross frowned, furious. On one hand, it was because of the major accident caused by Osborne, and on the other hand... someone was sabotaging Osborne!

This level of organizational ability is definitely not something that can be achieved through self-motivation; it must be the result of someone guiding and manipulating things behind the scenes.

General Ross wasn't advocating for Osborne's interests; rather, he was simply distressed about the money he had previously invested because the military was the second-largest shareholder in the Osborne Group.

"Sir, both the Governor of New York and the Mayor of New York have banned our soldiers from entering New York territory," another civilian officer said.

General Ross's face immediately darkened. Damn state government.

“However, sir, Norman Osborn recruited an entire platoon of veterans three days ago to serve as the Osborn Group’s security force,” the civilian officer added.

"I see... What has Osborne been up to lately that has led to this targeting of him?"

General Ross asked, noting that he had been focusing on his super-soldier program all this time, and that his attention to Osborn and Stark was the least of any of his predecessors.

"Sir, there are only purely commercial activities; Osborne hasn't even launched any new technologies."

"...This is interesting. Who would target Norman like this?" General Ross murmured, unable to figure out the reason.

……

"Tsk tsk tsk, Mr. Norman, the other party is really not friendly."

On the top floor of the Osborne Building, Cao Gui clicked his tongue as he looked at the holographic screen being projected. Cao Gui hadn't expected that Nick Fury, that old black guy, would actually pull off such a move. It's true what they say, it's not that you're afraid of a thug who knows martial arts, it's that you're afraid of a thug who's cultured. This kind of dragon-slaying technique is something even a black guy can use so skillfully.

"Don't worry, I'm all prepared," Old Green Goblin said calmly, staring at the screen.