Actually, Batman had another layer of intent in letting Norman Osborn strive for the position of New York Governor:
To place Norman Osborn blatantly in the open, using him as bait to attract Hydra's attention.
The limiter on Norman's calf contained wiretapping and data interception functions. Once Hydra attempted to contact Norman Osborn, Batman would immediately detect it and take targeted countermeasures.
It had to be remembered that previously, General Ross—a member of Hydra—had taken Norman Osborn away and turned him into the Gamma Goblin. Later, the Hydra faction hiding within the World Security Council had orchestrated plans involving Hawkeye, General Ross, and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Batman was one hundred percent certain that Hydra would inevitably appear within, at most, seven days.
"Tony, I need to meet with you, Max, and Dillon."
Batman did not pour all his energy into Norman Osborn. After clarifying the plan to use Norman as "bait," Batman opened an encrypted communication channel and contacted Tony Stark.
"Funny you should say that, we were just discussing meeting you too." Tony Stark was clearly drinking, letting out a gulp sound as he spoke. "See you at Stark Industries in ten minutes."
With that, both Batman and Tony cut the communication channel simultaneously.
"The Batmobile takes three minutes from here to Stark Tower," Venom Robin hinted pointedly. "If we walk, it takes over twenty minutes."
Batman looked at Venom Robin.
"If we utilize speed while maintaining stealth, we can arrive at Stark Tower within one minute."
Seeing that Batman was completely unmoved, Venom Robin simply said it outright:
"I want a Batmobile too, come on! It's really cool."
"What you need isn't a Batmobile," Batman's voice was icy cold. "What you need is a vehicle that belongs exclusively to 'Robin'."
"Right, right, right! A ride exclusively for me!" Venom Robin's white eyes perked up. "Old Bat... Dad, when are you arranging one for me?"
Last night, the sight of Batman firing a grappling line and then dashing away with the Batwing had made Venom Robin incredibly envious.
Although the situation had been urgent and Batman needed to split up from Robin, a very realistic problem had presented itself: As Robin, aside from hitching a ride on Batman's plane or car, he had no transport of his own.
Although considering Venom Robin's physical constitution, he wouldn't get tired even after a long-distance raid of one or two hours—and even if he did, he could transform into Venom to recover or absorb moonlight to replenish his stamina.
But just thinking about Batman's cape fluttering as he flew through the air while he had to miserably run on the ground with his two legs... Venom Robin envied him to no end.
It couldn't be helped; the Old Bat's Batwing and Batmobile were just too handsome!
"One day in the future, when you are no longer Batman's sidekick, but a hero capable of standing on your own," Batman said.
The corners of Venom Robin's eyes, which had just lifted, immediately drooped.
"Oh."
He slowly turned around, keeping his back to Batman, attempting to use his desolate silhouette to move him.
But obviously, Batman wouldn't fall for that.
Although Batman had absorbed enough educational experience from previous generations of Robins, that did not mean he would spoil Robin unconditionally.
At the end of the day, Venom Robin was mentally just a teenager. Once he possessed his own vehicle, it would be hard for Batman to guarantee the little guy wouldn't secretly drive it out for a joyride.
There was the precedent of The Leader—the guy with mind-control abilities—on the second floor of the Batcave. Batman worried that Hydra might have similar talents internally. If they discovered the flamboyant little guy, a single mind-control attempt could take him away.
For Venom Robin, who hadn't even learned one percent of Batman's skills, this was far too risky.
So, Batman did not go to comfort Robin's petty mood. Instead, he opened another encrypted communication channel.
"I am Batman."
The other end of the communication channel was silent for several seconds, and then a voice speaking through gritted teeth came through:
"Motherfucker, how do you know my encrypted communication channel?"
The voice was rough but carried a trace of fox-like cunning. It was none other than S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury, who had previously confronted Batman in a safe house in Manhattan.
Batman did not answer Director Fury's question.
capable of hacking into the S.H.I.E.L.D. system anytime and anywhere, having dealt with Nick Fury face-to-face, and even having infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. safe houses distributed throughout New York, it would be hard for Batman not to know Nick Fury's encrypted communication channel.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s firewall was still the version Batman had created for them. Although it had undergone a series of modifications by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal personnel, Batman still had no issues hacking into it.
However, hacking was one thing; Batman still hadn't attempted to wiretap the encrypted communication channel. First, communication encryption and system firewalls were two completely different things.
Second, the probability of this action being discovered was relatively high, and it would cause S.H.I.E.L.D. to definitively label Batman as a terrorist, leading them to take extreme measures.
It had to be noted that back then, the Wakandan Prince T'Challa merely syncing the communicator in Black Cat's hand to the Kimoyo Beads on his own wrist didn't even count as invading Batman's channel, yet Batman had already viewed T'Challa as a massive threat.
If it weren't for the fact that this Prince of Wakanda was refined and amiable in both conversation and manner, and that after taking the Vibranium, he had specifically sent a triple gift to Parker Industries with impeccable attitude and method...
If it had been anyone else, Batman likely would have knocked them out long ago and taken them elsewhere for an interrogation.
Seeing that Batman didn't answer his previous question, Nick Fury decisively skipped it and asked the next one:
"You wouldn't contact me for no reason, Batman. Speak, what do you want to do?"
"Norman Osborn has returned to normal. I need S.H.I.E.L.D.'s help to reactivate the same legal procedures you once used for Otto Gunther Octavius," Batman said.
"WTF?" Nick Fury clearly hadn't expected Batman to connect to his encrypted channel for this matter. "Do you want to listen to what you're saying?"
"I don't think I need to repeat myself," Batman responded expressionlessly.
"What?" In the command center of the Helicarrier, Nick Fury seemed to have been laughed into anger. "You say Norman is back to normal, and you think I'll believe you?"
"Even if I believed you, why should I listen to you and clear Norman's name legally?"
"Do you know how long it took me to persuade that bunch in the World Security Council just to absorb Dr. Otto as a S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist last time?"
"Those politicians even insulted my old mother who's been sleeping underground for decades! You..."
Batman interrupted the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director:
"They will agree."
There were members of Hydra within the World Security Council; this was already a confirmed fact.
Since Hydra was present, and Norman Osborn had once entered Hydra's field of vision, Batman was one hundred percent certain they would clear Norman Osborn's name.
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