Chapter 61- "Osborn's Gambit: Secrets Amidst the Rain"

1:30 p.m.

The rain poured down, and the streets of New York transformed into a watery stream, with rainwater converging like a gurgling river. In this heavy rain, most people had retreated to the warmth of their beds, and the streets were sparsely populated, with only occasional vehicles braving the downpour.

Among them, a crimson Ferrari 288GTO sped through the rain-drenched streets, weaving through the rare pedestrians and creating an agitated melody with the sounds of the rain. The skilled driver maneuvered the sports car with precision, bringing it to a steady stop in an alley behind the Osborn Industrial Building.

A mysterious woman, adorned in a black knitted hat, trench coat, and shoulder bag, emerged from the sports car. Her face concealed in darkness, she sought refuge under the eaves and observed the lone illuminated house in the alley.

The woman rhythmically knocked on the door, creating a patterned sequence of knocks.

...

Osborn Industrial Building

Three floors underground.

A sharp-eyed, short-haired man approached Norman Osborn and reported, "Natalia is back, and it seems she might have acquired something."

"Really? I hope it's something more useful than the utterly useless dead bodies we've been receiving." Norman Osborn sneered at the petri dish in the distance, emphasizing the mockery.

Ignoring the man's expression, Norman Osborn and the man stood outside a transparent glass wall, overlooking a group of researchers studying a dead body in a petri dish. This was Norman Osborn's private laboratory, situated in the third basement of the Osborn Industrial Building.

Unbeknownst to Murphy, Norman Osborn kept secrets in his basement, just like many powerful individuals. The researchers were diligently studying the dead body, a second-generation tyrant lost by the national strategy. Oddly, it seemed that Osborn, not HYDRA, was responsible for hijacking the tyrant.

"Sir, these are the items I found in Spencer Manor's underground laboratory, along with files downloaded from their computer." Natalia, having removed her hat and windbreaker, arrived at that moment.

With a crimson shawl, wavy hair, green eyes, and an alluring yet dangerous aura, Natalia exuded a lazy demeanor. However, Norman Osborn was solely focused on the shoulder bag in her left hand and the small USB flash drive in her right.

"Give them to me, give them to me!" Norman Osborn eagerly snatched the items from Natalia before she could react. He rushed into the research room without acknowledging her or the short-haired man.

Left alone, Natalia looked at her empty hands in disbelief. She never expected someone to effortlessly snatch something from her. Norman Osborn's display of power and speed left her speechless.

The short-haired man, Clinton, approached Natalia, puzzled by her reaction. She chose not to explain but offered a meaningful statement, "Our employer is not an 'ordinary person.'"

Confused, Clinton commented, "He's the leader of Osborn Industries. Of course, he's not ordinary. You're not stating the obvious."

Natalia shook her head, leaving Clinton in the dark. Trust was scarce between them, and not every detail needed explanation.

In the research room, Norman Osborn inspected the contents of the shoulder bag Natalia brought. Though disappointed, he redirected his attention to the USB flash drive, hoping it contained crucial documents.

With bloodshot eyes, Norman Osborn watched as a researcher carefully inserted the USB flash drive into a computer and began examining the files. The messy files copied from Spencer Manor's underground lab required thorough investigation. After half an hour of scrutiny, the researchers identified some valuable keywords: "Acre Institute, abandonment, production."

Norman Osborn approached Clinton and Natalia, holding a paper with the three keywords. "Based on these, the other party has chosen Acre Mountain for the trade. It's not a random selection; there must be secrets hidden there."

Clinton agreed, "I think so too. We should conduct a thorough search, but it's a large mountainous area. Clinton alone is enough for this exhausting task. Give me a different assignment!" Natalia protested.

"Really? Then infiltrate Umbrella's company undercover. Try to steal useful information, get close to their top leader, and, if possible, eliminate him." Norman Osborn not only accepted Natalia's request but also assigned her a new mission.