However, to avoid being caught by Wayne Enterprises' satellites, it was still best to conduct experiments in relatively more secluded locations.
After finishing the experiment with the White Samurai, Hardy returned to his office, turned on the television for background noise, and picked up the files that the accountant had organized on his desk to review.
The direction of Hog United's development had already shifted. No longer blindly expanding, it was now starting to grow by integrating with the development strategies of the Iceberg Club and the Two-Face Gang.
On one hand, they were tapping into industries within their own territory, while also recruiting experts in economic crime to develop through various overt and covert means.
On the other hand, they began to consolidate affiliated forces, much like the relationship between the former Cole Gang and the Two-Face Gang, forming industrial complementarities and drawing strength from these small and medium-sized gangs to bolster themselves.
Additionally, they were working on building relationships with some high-ranking officials in the Gotham Police Department and City Hall, seeking protection from the authorities.
Coincidentally, with the recent inauguration of Gotham's new mayor and the resulting political changes, many people were looking to seize opportunities for advancement, making this a relatively opportune time to operate.
Personnel, finances, industries, relationships—all of these matters were quite complicated to handle.
If the accountant hadn't specifically assembled a reasonably professional team to help Hardy manage these affairs, he certainly wouldn't have had enough time to manufacture puppets.
"This is Vicki Vale, bringing you live coverage. In just a few minutes, Bruce Wayne will arrive and make a statement, explaining to the people of Gotham why this billionaire playboy has suddenly taken an interest in Gotham's political scene…"
On the TV screen, a beautiful blonde reporter in a tight-fitting uniform chattered away into her microphone.
"He's already a multi-billionaire now, sweetheart. Being just a billionaire is old news,"
A handsome man in his thirties, dressed in a black suit, walked past the reporter, gave her a playful pat on the rear, and then strode forward confidently under a barrage of camera flashes, the very image of a playboy.
Hardy had just about finished his work as well.
He tossed his pen into the steel pen holder with perfect accuracy, producing a metallic clatter.
"I don't believe that building a wall to isolate the slums can stop the spread of crime, nor do I believe that dumping all those criminals from Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Prison inside will bring peace to the outside. On the contrary, gathering all the criminals together will only lead to even more severe consequences."
"I, Bruce Wayne, as a citizen of Gotham, formally oppose the construction of Arkham City."
Arkham City?
Hardy picked up the newspaper on his desk.
He hadn't had a chance to read today's paper yet and was unaware of this matter.
It turned out to be a policy just signed and announced last night by the former director of Arkham Asylum, now the new mayor of Gotham.
The plan was to close Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Prison, acquire all the land in the city's slums, transfer all the prisoners there, and then build a high wall to seal off the slum, turning it into a large, open-concept prison facility—Arkham City.
After all, the crime rate in the slums was the highest.
The facility would be managed by Dr. Hugo, a psychologist, Gotham city councilman, and mayoral advisor, with security provided by the privately contracted Tiger Security Group, allowing prisoners to roam freely within Arkham City as long as they didn't attempt to escape.
The order was to take effect at 8 a.m. today.
And the current time was…
8:01 a.m. The high wall sealing off the slums had already been built overnight using technology sponsored by Dr. Hugo.
Hardy's assessment of this was:
"Only in America could a mayor be dumb enough to issue such a policy. What a moron."
Who would believe that a wall could contain the criminals of Arkham and Blackgate? And who would think that a slum covering a quarter of Gotham could satisfy these criminals?
Complaints aside, this idiotic Arkham City plan was still going to affect Hog United.
Hog United had started out on Hog Street in the slums. Even though it was now one of the top two gangs in Gotham, it still controlled large portions of the slums.
At times like this, being a villain had its advantages.
If a hero wanted to oppose this, they'd be bogged down by endless red tape and complications.
As a villain, Hardy could simply assassinate the idiotic Mayor Sharp, then chop up Dr. Hugo—whom he'd also crossed paths with at Arkham—and feed him to the dogs.
Without a ringleader, it wouldn't take much effort to overturn this policy with a bit of maneuvering.
But if you were a heroic superhero…
Hardy grinned at the television.
The Tiger Security Group's Tiger Squad was arriving in helicopters and armored vehicles, surrounding Bruce Wayne with a large contingent of soldiers.
It seemed our Mr. Batman was in trouble.
Hardy couldn't help but laugh.
"Bad news, Boss!"
Aman suddenly knocked on the door.
"What's happened?"
"The Scarecrow and his gang have taken over our chemical plant used to refine Titan formula ingredients!"
Hardy slapped his desk in frustration.
Batman was in trouble, and now he was too!
With Arkham Asylum releasing a horde of criminals, the Scarecrow, Joker, Riddler, and the rest had all escaped.
And just his luck, the Scarecrow had taken over his chemical plant!
To be fair, the plant's equipment was so advanced that it probably drew the Scarecrow's attention for producing fear toxin.
The method for synthesizing the organic compound 27-type propanol needed for Titan III serum was invented by Mr. Freeze, but it was extremely difficult to produce.
Hardy had originally considered building a suitable chemical plant to manufacture it—no matter how low the efficiency, as long as it worked. So he bought a production line and hired spec...
...some pointers, and then tried using the puppet master's methods himself to see if they would work.
But in the end, he still failed.
Ultimately, it was only in the high-end laboratory at Midtown University that he managed to produce a few samples.
However, this also left him with a chemical plant equipped with relatively advanced equipment.
Hogg United doesn't deal in drugs, so Hardy set up a company in his own name, using this chemical plant to produce premium MSG and other seasonings.
It wasn't as profitable as other high-margin businesses, but it was better than nothing. In fact, because the equipment was good enough, the products were of high quality and quite popular.
"Wait, that's not a problem at all! Looks like the Scarecrow is actually delivering me something good!"
Fear toxin is a valuable thing. If he could capture the Scarecrow alive, then...