Chapter 39: I'm Rich
"What reasons?"
Silver Sable's interest was immediately piqued. Even putting herself in his position, she couldn't imagine what could motivate her to undertake the thankless task of prosecuting Kingpin.
Batman stood by the window, sunlight streaming from behind him, making his face difficult for Silver Sable to discern.
"Oscorp suffered a series of setbacks. Stock prices plummeted repeatedly. Not only didn't Kingpin sell his shares, he began aggressively acquiring stakes from other shareholders."
"If we let him continue unchecked, he'll transform from gang lord to legitimate businessman. He'll simultaneously control all of Hell's Kitchen's underworld forces and a massive multinational corporation like Oscorp."
"Do you think Kingpin would abandon his criminal empire?"
Silver Sable shook her head. Though she was president of Silver Sable Security, she knew nothing about business competition or money laundering.
Her expertise lay in leading her private mercenaries—now her security company—to solve problems with fists.
"Exactly. Even if Kingpin becomes a legitimate businessman, he won't abandon his criminal network. So he'll need to establish a security company."
"A company that will grow as Kingpin's control of Oscorp increases, until it leaves Silver Sable Security with nowhere to stand."
Silver Sable's heart sank. She could almost visualize the scenario Batman described.
Once Kingpin's gang successfully went legitimate along with him, they could rapidly expand using Oscorp's subsidiaries scattered across America and worldwide.
Under such massive market pressure, her security company would be like a canoe in a tsunami—capsizing at any moment.
Even if she deliberately avoided Kingpin then, he would come for her. She'd face not just Hell's Kitchen gang members, but criminal organizations worldwide.
No other reason was needed. This alone sufficed to convince Silver Sable to willingly help Batman prosecute Kingpin.
She was about to nod in agreement when Batman spoke again.
"That's the downside. Now for the upside."
Silver Sable was completely stunned. In her mind, preventing Kingpin's rapid expansion was already a huge benefit for her company.
"What upside?"
She lowered her feet from the desk, placing them properly on the floor. Her voice lost its edge, tinged instead with anticipation.
"Transforming Silver Sable Security into 'Silver Sable International.'"
Batman's emotionless voice struck like a thunderbolt. Silver Sable couldn't help standing up.
"That requires substantial funding and advanced technology. You're certain?"
Silver Sable stared at Batman intently, not daring to look away for a moment.
If the previous reason merely made Silver Sable passively willing to prosecute Kingpin, the "upside" Batman just mentioned made her heart race, eager to act immediately.
Batman said nothing more. Actions spoke louder than words now.
He opened his arm armor, extracting a portable micro-computer and working it briefly.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
"Alert! Unknown virus intrusion—security firewall compromised!"
The computer screen on Silver Sable's desk suddenly lit up, a massive red exclamation point flashing frantically.
As a security company, employee files and weapons data were highly classified. Silver Sable had complete confidence in her network firewall.
Yet Batman had successfully hacked the system in mere seconds, right before her eyes.
"How did you do that?" Silver Sable was completely convinced.
Batman maintained his emotionless demeanor.
"I'm rich."
Thump!
Silver Sable collapsed back into her chair. Now she didn't need Batman to convince her further—she was the one pressuring him.
"When do we file charges?"
Whoosh!
A communication device about the size of a cigarette pack—but flatter and heavier—flew from Batman's hand toward Silver Sable. She caught it smoothly.
"Wait for my signal."
Silver Sable examined the bat symbol on the device. She was about to say something more, but Batman had already vanished from the window.
"Does this guy's dictionary not include the word 'goodbye'?"
Silver Sable vaulted onto the windowsill with one hand on the desk, looking outside. Bright sunlight greeted her—no sign of Batman anywhere, as if his appearance had been merely an illusion.
...
"Dr. Octavius, your crimes are grave, but your talent is invaluable. We all know your fusion energy research is one step from success."
"The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division's resources can immediately realize your vision on a massive scale."
In Manhattan precinct's holding cell, Agent Coulson worked to convince Otto.
"We'll provide you with the world's finest laboratory, unlimited research budget, and apply your work globally."
"We can eliminate your sentence, provided you offer support for certain special operations when needed."
Otto's hair was even more disheveled now, his eyelids red and swollen, eyes bloodshot. But his rationality remained intact.
"No. I refuse to join you. I'd rather spend the rest of my life in prison."
The mechanical tentacles' loss of control had filled Otto with dread for this thing now fused to his body.
He only wanted to remove and destroy it, not use it for "special operations support."
Coulson sighed. Fortunately, the Director hadn't issued absolute orders to recruit Otto, or he'd have no way to report back.
Leaving Otto's cell, he returned to Captain George Stacy's office.
The Manhattan precinct captain looked troubled, not even looking up when Coulson re-entered.
"Unfortunately, I failed to convince Dr. Octavius to join. Now I just need you to arrange surgery as soon as possible to remove the mechanical arms. I need to take them."
Coulson knocked on George's door, drawing his attention.
"And then?" George looked irritable, asking impatiently.
"Then you can release him. Even without joining us, the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division's directive remains valid." Coulson said.
"Understood, sir."
George returned his attention to materials about the Oscorp sublevel three massacre and the Smythe family deaths.
Otto had been arrested, but he wasn't the killer in either case. The real culprit remained at large. The cases had no progress.
Smack!
After ten-plus minutes, George slammed the materials onto his desk. About to call his assistant Auggie, he looked up to see Coulson still hadn't left.
"Sir, we don't serve dinner here," George said with a frown, subtly ordering him out.
"I'm not planning to dine. Actually, I came for another matter—about the recent New York rumors of 'Batman.'" Coulson smiled. "He's the real target I came to contact."
Captain George Stacy shook his head repeatedly.
"Batman? No offense, sir from whatever the hell multinational organization."
"Currently, we know nothing except the name, and even that only came from Dr. Octavius's testimony."
"Rumors say he can fly, turn invisible, transform into a bat, teleport—like a vampire."
Coulson didn't mind George's profanity, continuing to smile.
"Prepare a searchlight, some garlic, crosses, and silver items for me. I'll figure something out."