Chapter 178: Professor Warren's Wish
This had minimal impact on Batman. From Tony Stark's scattered words, he judged the man had already made his decision—just hadn't committed to executing it yet.
Whether Tony would completely separate Iron Man from his playboy identity like Batman once had, or had other plans entirely, Batman had prepared sufficient contingencies.
This Stark Industries visit served only to ensure Tony Stark wouldn't make unexpected moves during Batman's absence.
Regarding other matters—comparing his friend's psychological issues against fellow friend Harry Osborn's father Norman Osborn remaining unfound and his safety unconfirmed—clearly the latter required faster resolution.
---
Oscorp Tower. Batman's arrival attracted no attention.
The building had completed reconstruction and reopened. No trace remained of the destruction wrought here by the Hulk and Professor Connors.
Since Batman currently maintained Peter Parker's identity, he naturally took the elevator directly to the twentieth floor, arriving at what had been Professor Connors's laboratory.
It now belonged to Professor Miles Warren.
Batman had barely exited the elevator and walked a few steps when he saw the laboratory expanded several times over. Dozens of glass containers held various biological organs suspended in solution.
Professor Miles Warren sat reading, but immediately rose when Batman arrived.
Professor Warren becoming Oscorp's new Chief Scientist owed partly to Batman's credit—Batman's way of thanking Warren for caring about Professor Connors and helping complete the memory fiber patent application without obstacles.
Warren understood this perfectly. Otherwise, relying solely on scientific knowledge, he might have joined Oscorp but couldn't have reached the pinnacle scientific position immediately upon hiring.
"Peter! Long time no see. Harry mentioned you've been busy with Parker Industries." Professor Miles Warren enthusiastically draped his arm across Batman's shoulders.
"Long time no see, Professor Warren." Batman returned the smile, looking at the biological organs in glass containers. "Professor, these represent your research direction?"
"Yes. Genetics and cloning." Miles Warren said. "My research direction differs from Connors, but our goals are broadly similar."
Batman appropriately expressed curiosity.
Professor Miles Warren explained:
"Curt hopes to use his regeneration technology to eliminate physical defects worldwide, correct?"
"I hope to use my technology to save people with damaged organs. For instance, if a patient develops lung cancer, I hope to clone a perfectly healthy lung from their cells to replace the cancer-infected tissue."
"That sounds remarkable." Batman said. "No wonder you and Professor Connors became friends."
"Kindred spirits, right?" Professor Warren smiled.
Batman nodded.
"Come, let me give you a tour. Though I should warn you—there may be some physiologically uncomfortable sights." Professor Warren said.
"If I see something unbearable, can I run out?" Batman responded to Warren's teasing tone.
"Naturally."
The two conversed while passing container after container.
Beyond organs cloned from human cells, a considerable portion held animal organs.
Most numerous were pigs—because pig organs and even skin found extensive medical applications.
Next came various large and small creatures: wolves, tigers, leopards, reptilian organs.
Worth mentioning—every organ here came from animal cells Professor Miles Warren had legally obtained through proper channels. No illegal activities involved.
Batman maintained his Peter Parker identity, directly voicing confusion when it arose:
"Professor, why are there animal organs completely inapplicable to humans? Why clone them?"
Professor Miles Warren showed no irritation at Batman's question. Quite the opposite—his eyes brightened, seeming pleased Batman asked:
"An excellent question, Peter. Most benefactors only see immediately transplantable hearts or livers. Many cannot understand why replicate a bird's syrinx or an electric eel's electric organ."
He stopped walking, gazing intently at Batman.
"Perhaps getting answers from animals? Like humans mimicking birds to create streamlined aircraft wings—studying birds isn't merely for studying them, but for other objectives?"
Professor Miles Warren clapped his hands excitedly:
"Exactly! Cloning alone doesn't solve problems. Don't forget I'm also a genetics expert. Look at this."
Warren pulled Batman to a palm-sized glass container. Inside floated a bat's severed head.
"I clone bat vocal cords and ears... naturally they must remain attached to the head."
"This definitely isn't for human transplantation. I hope to understand how it generates and withstands such intense ultrasound—from genetic principles."
"This might teach us how to repair human cochlea permanently damaged by noise pollution, or even develop entirely new, non-invasive internal imaging technology..."
Like most scholars encountering their expertise, Professor Miles Warren spoke effusively.
He pulled Batman to a deep-sea fish bioluminescent organ next, launching into another lengthy explanation.
Batman's face never showed impatience. He listened attentively, genuinely interested.
Half an hour later, Batman finally took his leave from Professor Miles Warren, riding the elevator from the twentieth floor laboratory to the penthouse—Harry Osborn's office.
Harry was conversing with the dark-haired, slightly curled, melancholically poetic-looking Professor Morbius. Seeing Batman arrive, Professor Morbius merely nodded acknowledgment.
But Harry Osborn immediately opened his arms, embracing Batman tightly:
"Peter!"
Unlike Tony Stark, fellow Batman friend Harry Osborn had always been enthusiastically warm. Now he repeatedly patted Batman's chest:
"Tell me how you trained. How did you get this hard?"
Peter Parker's body's muscle density made his weight and muscle hardness far exceed normal humans. Silver Sable had once kicked Batman's body, feeling like she'd struck a steel plate.
Having grown up in Gotham where virtually no one embraced him after his parents' deaths, Batman had unconsciously ignored this issue.
But now he needed to reclaim control over muscle presentation—ensuring that when Harry Osborn or Aunt May embraced him, they felt a normal human body, not a perpetually tensed physique even when supposedly relaxed.
***
advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces