Chapter 157: The Bait Plan
After Batman delivered new armor and tentacles to Doctor Octavius on North Brother Island and witnessed the Lizard Professor's birth in his presence—
"Tony, this is Peter." Batman contacted Tony Stark. "How well have you tracked Obadiah's movements during this time?"
"Obadiah went to the Middle East once. After returning, he immediately burrowed into a factory and hasn't emerged since," Tony Stark said.
"That factory—"
Just as Batman was considering whether to reveal the factory location where Obadiah was situated—and that it was actually Obadiah's weapons smuggling channel AIAS Security—Tony Stark spoke first.
"Peter, remember what you mentioned before? About problems appearing inside Stark Industries?"
Batman ceased speaking, driving the Arkham Batmobile back to the Batcave, listening to Tony Stark's long sighs through the communication system.
"You were right about that. Obadiah actually hid an international weapons channel right under my nose." Tony Stark said. "I temporarily can't refute you, but once your Parker Industries reaches sufficient scale, you'll encounter similar problems."
Batman still didn't speak. He'd discovered AIAS Security far earlier than Tony Stark. Not moving against it was precisely to uproot it completely.
As for Tony Stark's latter statement, Batman chose to ignore it directly.
He knew Tony Stark was making excuses for himself. But when enterprises grew to such massive cross-domain behemoths, even Batman himself couldn't maintain one hundred percent control.
Even the Gotham-rooted Wayne Enterprises had experienced the board of directors being half-occupied by the Court of Owls.
Batman didn't blame Tony Stark.
"I have many things requiring face-to-face discussion with you. Can you come to Stark Tower? I'll have Happy pick you up," Tony said.
"Unnecessary." Batman's voice wasn't low. He was currently conversing with Tony as Peter Parker.
"Then fifteen minutes from now. Stark Tower rooftop," Tony Stark said.
Batman deactivated the Arkham armor's simulated phone. He'd already returned to the Batcave.
Fifteen minutes later, having removed the Arkham armor and changed into a tan suit, Batman arrived at Stark Tower as Peter Parker.
Happy Hogan seemed to have received advance notice, waiting alone for him in the deserted Stark Tower first floor.
Seeing Batman, Happy immediately approached.
"Mr. Parker!"
"Happy." Batman smiled at Happy.
Besides Aunt May's occasional mentions, Batman made every effort ensuring his portrayal of Peter Parker closely resembled Parker himself.
Having played playboy Bruce Wayne for nearly forty years, Batman felt no difficulty switching performed roles.
"Mr. Stark is already upstairs. I'll escort you up."
Happy clearly held quite a positive impression of Peter Parker. While speaking, he ran back and forth. Though merely helping press an elevator button, Happy made himself appear quite busy.
Both men rode together to the top floor. Tony Stark's first words weren't directed at Batman but at Happy Hogan.
"Happy, I need you temporarily closing elevator operational authority. Ensure no one can come up."
Happy nodded to Tony Stark, waved goodbye to Batman, continuing his busy routine.
After Happy descended via elevator and the LED screen above displayed "Under Maintenance," only then did Tony Stark pour himself a drink, speaking to Batman.
"Peter, do you realize you're currently quite dangerous?"
Batman made his expression appear confused.
"What?"
Tony Stark shook his head, pulling Batman onto the helipad extending from the rooftop before continuing.
"Not long after returning, I launched an internal audit led by Pepper under the guise of strengthening corporate governance and responding to public scrutiny."
"These internal audits normally occur every few months. My actions attracted no one's attention."
Batman and Tony Stark stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing into the distance from Stark Tower's rooftop.
Tony Stark similarly looked toward the horizon, his voice considerably more composed than before.
"But unlike previous audits, this one's true purpose was coordinating with the Obadiah materials you previously sent me—confirming which company personnel belong to Obadiah's network while knowing he's the bastard who wanted me dead."
"You know what? Through my investigation, besides Happy—someone completely outside Obadiah's calculations—virtually the entire Stark Industries security system consists of his people."
Batman continued appearing confused, seemingly unable to comprehend what Tony Stark was saying.
Batman hadn't forgotten that before Tony Stark, he'd always portrayed a technical genius rather than a business elite with decades of commercial combat experience.
From "Peter Parker's" perspective, Batman currently genuinely shouldn't understand what Tony Stark was saying, even though he now possessed his own Parker Industries.
"I'm not safe, Peter. Neither are you," Tony Stark said. "Once we begin implementing plans moving against Obadiah, he'll inevitably retaliate."
"He possesses Stark Industries' weapons inventory, his own security personnel, the ambition and courage to eliminate me through others' hands."
"Peter, he'll come after you with guns too."
Batman feigned sudden realization, following Tony Stark's logic asking:
"What do you plan to do next?"
Tony Stark smiled confidently, as though everything remained within his control.
"After returning from the Middle East, Obadiah's been inside an AIAS Security factory. Even without hacking that factory, I know what he's doing."
Speaking, Tony turned facing Batman, unzipping his shirt.
"Look at this."
Tony Stark had consistently concealed and hidden this externally. Besides Pepper, Happy, and using the miniature reactor as bait for Obadiah, Tony Stark was exposing his secret for the first time candidly.
"Obadiah will soon come seize my reactor."
"I announced closing the weapons division, but Obadiah's been attempting to build armor in that factory this entire time—new weapons replacing Jericho missiles."
"He went to the Middle East once. With his pathetic intellect, the armor's construction will heavily imitate my Mark I, especially the power source."
"But besides me, no one in this world can manufacture miniature reactors. So Obadiah will inevitably come steal it."
"And I'll record all evidence, switching to a pre-prepared backup miniature reactor for our final confrontation."
Tony Stark appeared supremely confident. Already possessing Mark III armor with complete knowledge of Obadiah's movements, he seemed somewhat eager to thoroughly thrash his opponent.
But Batman only frowned slightly.
"Tony, is your self-perception that of a WWE wrestler?"
***
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