Chapter 135: Morbius (The Living Vampire)
'Peter/Tony is intelligent. I only need to use his existing plan to lure Obadiah into the trap, then improvise based on how events develop.'
Batman in the Batcave and Tony Stark atop Stark Tower thought simultaneously.
They hadn't sat down to discuss plans for half a day like ordinary people. After merely confirming they'd use the miniature arc reactor in Tony Stark's chest as bait, both men went to handle their respective business.
Tony casually had Happy wait in Stark Tower's ground floor lobby while he descended to Stark Tower's basement, studying the large arc reactor glowing blue.
He didn't specifically ask Happy to keep secrets. Instead, he intentionally ensured Obadiah would first see Happy upon arrival and learn through Happy that Tony was at the arc reactor.
"I announced closing the weapons division. Obadiah will definitely take action. He might contact the board for another vote to push me out. He might be unable to resist dealing with weapons Stark Industries has manufactured but not yet sold."
"I need to use the miniature arc reactor to attract his attention."
Tony stood before the massive arc reactor, silently contemplating his opponent.
Over ten minutes later, Obadiah hurried back from the press conference. Seeing Happy sitting idly in Stark Tower's ground floor lobby, he asked directly:
"Where's Tony?"
Happy pointed downward.
"Tony's at the arc reactor."
Obadiah patted Happy's shoulder and walked briskly to the elevator, pressing the button.
Before the massive arc reactor, Tony Stark faced away from Obadiah—his expression invisible.
"Tony, you were too reckless." Obadiah didn't hide his arrival, just as Tony hadn't hidden being at the reactor. "Even if you're Stark Industries' largest shareholder, you should have consulted the board beforehand about closing the weapons division. At least you should have discussed it with me."
Tony Stark didn't turn around. During his time in that Middle Eastern cave, he'd learned to hide his emotions. Currently, Tony's face showed no excess expression.
"Sorry, Obadiah."
Obadiah came to stand beside Tony Stark, watching the arc reactor alongside him.
"Your disappearance already lowered Stark Industries' stock price. Your return could barely restore it. But what you announced at the press conference just now... I'm afraid Stark Industries' stock will drop again."
"Corporate transformation inevitably causes stock decline. That's unavoidable." Tony Stark said.
"We're weapons manufacturers. Now you announce we're no longer making weapons?" Obadiah shook his head. "What direction do you want to transform toward?"
After speaking, Obadiah looked at Tony Stark. Seeing his gaze remain fixed on the arc reactor, he couldn't help guessing aloud:
"You don't want to continue with this thing, do you? We've already spent over a decade proving it's completely unsuitable as a corporate profit project."
Tony Stark withdrew his gaze, looking at Obadiah. "But I've found a new direction."
He unbuttoned his shirt, exposing the miniature arc reactor to the air.
Obadiah's gaze was instantly drawn to the glowing blue miniature reactor in Tony Stark's chest. His first reaction:
"Tony, you dug a hole in your chest and embedded this thing in your body?"
Obadiah's face showed obvious concern.
"I need it to attract the shrapnel in my chest." Tony Stark rebuttoned his shirt.
"I see." Obadiah helped Tony Stark straighten his clothing. "Our transformation direction is energy? Relying on this little device you developed in that cave?"
"Perhaps." Tony Stark said. "Though it has one flaw. It uses palladium, which produces unique radioactive decay causing very short reactor lifespan."
Obadiah nodded, encouraging Tony Stark to continue.
"I must develop a second-generation reactor as soon as possible. The new reactor design is extremely complex. I need access to the company's highest-level laboratories and resources." Tony Stark said.
"How can I help you?" Obadiah intimately gripped Tony Stark's shoulder.
"I need you to ensure my safety," Tony said. "I need a security protocol—all operational permissions based on the reactor are bound to the reactor core in my chest."
"That ensures your safety?" Obadiah didn't quite understand the complexity.
"Yes. This way my chest reactor can sustain my life, the reactor's core technology won't leak, and no one can attempt to replicate it."
Obadiah frowned. He didn't reject Tony Stark's request but asked:
"Tony, when you escaped from those Middle Eastern terrorists, you relied on this thing?"
Tony nodded. He knew his bait had been cast.
---
Batman turned off the listening device. He already understood Tony Stark's plan.
Tony was using his own life as bait hidden behind the reactor to wait for Obadiah to take the hook.
Batman didn't act immediately. He knew Obadiah biting required time. He couldn't rush now.
Wearing a dark suit, Batman didn't return to the Batcave. Instead, he drove to Oscorp.
Using his "Development Personnel Clark" identity, Batman entered Oscorp's lobby without alerting anyone and took the elevator directly to the top floor.
In the top floor office that once belonged to Norman Osborn, Harry Osborn was conversing quite pleasantly with two scientists.
Seeing Batman arrive, Harry Osborn immediately stood, embracing Batman quite enthusiastically.
"Peter! Let me introduce you. You already know Professor Miles Warren quite well. But you definitely haven't met this one yet."
Harry Osborn gestured with his palm toward the scientist sitting with Miles Warren—a man with long black hair and quite melancholic bearing.
"This is Michael Morbius, a genius in the biochemistry field. Nobel Prize winner."
Batman's current identity was Peter Parker. Remaining expressionless and silent wouldn't be appropriate for this persona. Therefore, Batman nodded slightly toward Professor Morbius.
"This is Peter Parker, my best friend. I'd give anything for him." Harry Osborn's introduction of Batman contained only one sentence, but that sentence clearly made Professor Morbius' eyes flicker. He actively stood up, extending one hand toward Batman.
"Very pleased to meet you, Mr. Parker."
Professor Miles Warren smiled silently from the side, watching everyone. Seeing Professor Morbius and Batman shake hands, he also rose.
"After Professor Connors left, Harry urgently needed biological field experts to anchor the group."
"I alone felt insufficient, so I recommended Professor Morbius—an expert in biochemistry like myself."
Harry Osborn pulled Batman to the sofa and personally poured him water.
"I hope to join Oscorp not merely to contribute my knowledge," Morbius spoke. "I'm doing this more for myself."
Professor Miles Warren nodded, continuing:
"Professor Morbius suffers from a rare blood disease. He hopes that while serving as Oscorp's scientist, he can simultaneously research how to cure his own illness."