Marvel: Umbrella Corporation-Chapter 159: The Green Goblin Returns

As Lucifer retreated, the surrounding environment gradually returned to normal. The Ancient One swiftly opened a portal and stepped through.

However, upon seeing that even the portal was tainted with dark energy, a hint of bitterness flashed in her eyes.

She wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer.

Truthfully, if it weren't for the massive disturbance Lucifer had caused, she wouldn't have even bothered with him.

Lucifer had visited Earth several times before, but he had always acted covertly—perhaps indulging in human experiences like romance and leisure. She never cared enough to intervene.

But this time, he had attempted to exploit the nature of the undead to merge the underworld with Earth, something that directly crossed her bottom line.

If Earth became part of the underworld, it would be the first step toward an invasion of the entire universe.

With one final glance at the fading remnants of the underworld, she turned and stepped through the portal.

She still had to suppress the dark energy within herself and search for a successor. There was no time to concern herself with anything else.

....

The crisis in Baghdad gradually subsided.

Meanwhile, due to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s failure to eliminate Cassandra, Director Maria was removed from her position. However, a new director had yet to be appointed.

At the same time, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s annual funding was drastically reduced.

Despite these events, the global balance of power remained largely unaffected.

The Middle Eastern Alliance, after Cassandra's disappearance and increasing pressure from the U.S. military, ultimately relented and ceased demanding the withdrawal of American troops.

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However, the anticipated dissolution of the Middle Eastern Alliance never materialized.

Those in power understood the truth—nations in the Middle East had long suffered under American influence. The only reason they hadn't united before was due to their own internal conflicts and grievances.

Cassandra's emergence had finally given them a reason to form an alliance.

Now that they saw a chance to escape American control, they weren't about to let go so easily.

Meanwhile, the zombie presence in Baghdad mysteriously vanished, leaving only scattered remnants. As a result, the zombie crisis in the Middle East was greatly alleviated.

For the first time in a long while, Earth fell into a state of relative peace.

In April, Umbrella Pharmaceuticals announced the successful development of a vaccine for the Rift Zombies, significantly reducing the Middle Eastern crisis. In response, multiple nations lifted their flight restrictions.

Three days later, Pioneer Tech also announced their own Rift Zombie vaccine.

Shortly after, pharmaceutical companies worldwide began claiming they had developed their own versions as well.

Yet, despite the industry-wide breakthroughs, Oscorp remained conspicuously silent. Its stock price, which had recently begun to recover, plummeted once more—dropping back to $25 per share.

However, mysterious capital continued to prop up the stock, preventing it from falling below the $25 mark.

By May, Umbrella officially announced its entry into the stock market, revealing that it had acquired a 5% stake in Oscorp.

On the same day, Sherlock Fund also disclosed its acquisition of a 5% stake in Oscorp. Just like that, two new names appeared among Oscorp's shareholders.

In June, Life Foundation announced a groundbreaking technological advancement through its collaboration with Blue Origin and Umbrella, paving the way for their first satellite rocket recovery test in 2011.

That same month, Norman was once again charged with the murder of an Oscorp shareholder. The court issued a summons.

However, through his deep connections and vast wealth, Norman avoided an immediate sentence.

....

That night, in the Osborne estate~

Norman sat behind his desk, his expression dark as he read through the documents in his hands.

A moment later, he slammed his fist onto the desk with a resounding *bang*.

"Umbrella! I will never forgive you!"

During his recent arrest, he had immediately sensed that something was wrong. He had already dealt with all loose ends the previous year, ensuring that no evidence remained.

Yet, somehow, Umbrella had unearthed new witnesses, forcing him into a defensive position once again.

[Kill them! Kill them all!]

A sinister voice echoed in his mind, filling him with bloodthirsty rage. This voice had haunted him ever since he injected himself with the Green Goblin serum.

A brilliant man like Norman knew that this was merely a side effect of the serum, a byproduct of its enhancement process.

Thus, he constantly fought to suppress it.

He refused to become the Green Goblin. He refused to be consumed by his own desires.

Veins bulged on his forehead as he struggled to contain his growing fury.

"Silence!"

With a furious roar, the voice in his head finally quieted.

At that moment, the door to his study creaked open. "Father, are you okay?"

A small head peeked in—it was Harry. Dressed in his pajamas, the boy's face was still drowsy, but his large, round eyes were filled with concern.

It was clear that Norman's outburst had disturbed his son's sleep.

Seeing Harry standing there, Norman's anger subsided a little. He walked over and gently ruffled his son's hair.

"Sorry, did I wake you?"

Harry shook his head obediently. "It's okay... but, Dad, are you upset about something?"

At eleven years old, Harry was already quite tall for his age, standing at about 4'9".

Hearing his son's concern, Norman couldn't help but smile slightly, a warmth spreading in his heart, "Just a little. But I'll take care of it soon. Go back to sleep."

"Okay."

As Harry left, Norman's eyes narrowed, his murderous intent resurfacing.

An hour later...

Beneath the moonlit sky, a figure clad in green armor soared out of the Osborne estate, gliding through the air on a sleek, high-tech hoverboard.

The Green Goblin had returned.

Minutes later, he hovered above Umbrella Tower. Yet, instead of attacking, he swiftly passed over it and continued toward Manhattan.

According to his intel, Adam usually returned to his Manhattan residence after 10 p.m. to sleep.

If the lights in the top-floor office weren't on, it meant he was home.

Moments later, the Green Goblin arrived at his target—a towering skyscraper over forty stories high. Though not the tallest, it still offered a breathtaking view of New York City from its penthouse suite.

And Adam lived right at the top.

"So, you like living in a high-rise, huh? Let's see if you still enjoy it when it becomes your tomb!"

With a wicked laugh, the Green Goblin dived toward the building.

Several missiles shot out from his glider, streaking through the night sky.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

A series of explosions erupted instantly.

But as the Green Goblin slowed his approach, a frown formed beneath his mask. Originally, he had expected Adam—being the head of Umbrella—to have bodyguards stationed at his home.

That was why he had launched the missile barrage first, to clear out any obstacles before making his move.

Yet, to his surprise, the missiles had struck their target without any resistance.

"Hah! What a joke! Looks like he was just another weakling after all!" With a sinister chuckle, the Green Goblin turned to leave.