116: Anna's Secret

Andrew stood on the balcony, holding a glass of exquisite wine in his hand. He had obtained it from Tony as well. Tony's work efficiency was remarkable. After calling J.A.R.V.I.S. to contact the other party, he swiftly flew over to pick it up. In just one afternoon, Andrew had acquired 2kg of Vibranium, and he had also requested two bottles of wine from Tony. He had witnessed the power of the wine during their last encounter. It was perfect timing for another drink with Gwen.

NYPD, underground prison.

Anna, dressed in a white coat, was accompanied by two nurses. Beside them was a medical cart with psychotropic drugs. In front of them lay the homeless man, whom Norman had captured for his transformation experiment. Although he was no longer as manic, he lay quietly on the bed with visible blue and red scars, some of which were bandaged. As Anna gazed at this scene, her eyes betrayed a complex mix of emotions, her brows deeply furrowed.

Footsteps echoed, and Anna turned to speak wearily, "You're here, Uncle George."

George looked at Anna's fatigued appearance and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for your hard work, child. How's his condition?"

Anna removed her mask, and the slightly cool air rejuvenated her spirits. "His condition is not very good. It appears that his body is deteriorating."

George's brow furrowed as he inquired, "What do you mean?"

Originally, George had come to see if Anna could find a way to get the homeless man to testify in court, leading to a warrant for Norman's arrest. However, he was growing increasingly concerned about the situation.

Anna explained, "I was initially able to communicate smoothly with his two personalities, but for some reason, one of his personalities has become unstable. He's been self-harming."

Anna manipulated her phone, showing George a video. George's face darkened as he watched the footage of the homeless man repeatedly bashing his head against the wall and hitting himself in the face.

George glanced around the prison, observing dried bloodstains on the wall. Anna continued, "I administered strong tranquilizers and anesthetics to calm him down. We also took a blood sample for testing."

Anna retrieved a stack of test results from the nearby medical cart, but George promptly handed them back. "You'd better just give me the conclusion. I don't understand this."

Anna clarified, "His cells are dividing at an astonishing rate. The most severe division is occurring in his brain cells, which have nearly doubled."

Observing George's confusion, Anna provided a simplified explanation, "In simple terms, his cells are behaving like cancer cells."

She shook her head and added, "If we can't determine the cause of this transformation, we have no way to treat it. We can only watch as he deteriorates. Based on the rate of cell division, he has about two days left."

A frustrated George punched the wall, which represented the sole evidence for capturing Norman Osborn. If the homeless man died, their case against Norman would crumble.

"Wait, did you say the Green Goblin that night? Could it be..." George's voice trailed off.

Anna nodded, "Yes, judging by his strange behavior that night, it appears to be the same condition, though with some differences. The Green Goblin, capable of generating cold flames, seems to be on a different level than the homeless man before us."

Anna sighed, "Unfortunately, I need to know the medication Norman administered. That might be the key to finding a solution."

However, Anna realized that she couldn't investigate further without a search warrant and an arrest warrant. Attempting to confront Osborn Industries could lead to civil unrest, and they would be forced to back off. The wealthy taxpayers held significant sway in this society, and they made up the very fabric of the social system.

But George's words held a different implication. His eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "I think I know someone who can help us."

Anna was intrigued, "Who?"

"Peter Parker," George answered.

Anna was familiar with Peter's role as Norman Osborn's assistant. "Will he help us?"

George nodded confidently, "He's a good young man, and I believe he will assist us. I'll go find him immediately."

Anna agreed, "If he has any knowledge of the drug, it could provide a way forward."

As they discussed their plan, Anna suddenly felt lightheaded and her footing became unsteady. She almost stumbled but was caught by George, who expressed concern, "Anna, are you alright?"

Anna reassured him, "It's okay, Uncle George. It happens every time I focus intensely. My body gets fatigued."

Observing Anna's pale face, George apologized, "I was too impatient."

Anna moved to George's office with the help of the two nurses, where she could rest. As she gradually recovered, she waved to the nurses and thanked them. They had been borrowed from a friend's hospital.

One nurse mentioned, "Miss Anna, Dr. Zhao is returning to Seoul tomorrow. She sends her regards."

Anna acknowledged, "Tell her we'll meet next time."

Dr. Cho, the skilled doctor from Avengers2 who used Vibranium and tissue regeneration technology to create the Vision body.

To be continued...