Chapter 52: Batman VS Kingpin
"Given Mr. Norman Osborn's reckless decisions regarding the so-called 'super soldier serum' causing sustained damage to stock prices."
"The exposure of sublevel two human experimentation, and the appearance of the sublevel three massacre, have caused continuous decline in company reputation."
"The board believes he is no longer suitable to serve as Chairman and CEO of this company."
"Therefore resolved: immediate removal from all positions."
From Valentin introducing Kingpin to Oscorp's board to Kingpin proposing this resolution—barely five minutes had passed.
No one expected this seemingly obese, benevolent-looking Wilson Fisk would immediately propose voting Norman Osborn out.
"Who exactly are you? I've never heard of you."
Scientist director Professor Connors frowned.
His relationship with Norman was decent—he had reason to ask.
"I'm merely a spice merchant." Kingpin told Connors gently. "I simply believe that for Oscorp's better development, removing Norman Osborn is an essential step."
"Additionally."
Kingpin stood at the conference table's head, addressing all board members.
"I hold sixty-seven percent of Oscorp's shares, possessing absolute controlling interest. What I just said was merely notification."
His words fell—uproar filled the conference room.
Valentin quietly breathed easier. Apparently he wasn't the only one Kingpin had forcibly acquired shares from through various means—several other poor bastards existed.
"I don't agree—"
Professor Connors stood with one hand on the conference table to object.
Just then—BAM!
The conference room door was kicked open violently. Silver Sable with silver-gray short hair, wearing a light-colored suit, walked in. Behind her followed lawyer Matt Murdock wearing dark red sunglasses.
"Distinguished directors. I am Matt Murdock, representing my client. We possess conclusive evidence questioning the legality of Mr. Wilson Fisk's funding sources for this Oscorp share acquisition..."
"According to conclusive evidence my client provided, Mr. Wilson Fisk is New York's infamous crime emperor Kingpin."
"And his share purchase funds came respectively from drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and extortion proceeds."
Blind Matt faced Kingpin speaking. With each word from his mouth, Kingpin's expression darkened another shade.
Silver Sable crossed her arms before her chest, watching Matt's performance with interest. She knew nothing about law, but that didn't prevent her from watching the show.
SMACK!
Matt pulled a paper from his pocket, slamming it heavily on the conference table.
"I've already applied to the court for a preliminary injunction, freezing Mr. Wilson Fisk's currently controlled disputed shares."
This meant all the money Kingpin spent acquiring shares had been completely wasted...
The critical issue was that Kingpin, to demonstrate his merchant's magnanimity, had used premium prices to acquire shares while Oscorp's stock price was falling!
His purpose had been to legitimize most of his assets in one move, but now everything was ruined by a lawyer, a woman, and a mysterious client who appeared from nowhere!
WHOOSH!
Kingpin's face lost all gentleness. He once again showed the twisted expression from last night fighting world-class fighters ten-on-one. His hands suddenly grabbed the massive conference table and flipped it!
Papers flew everywhere. The huge, elongated wooden conference table was heaved by Kingpin's brute force like a meteor, carrying howling wind sounds toward Matt and Silver Sable.
"Dodge!"
Silver Sable flashed aside. About to grab Matt, she discovered this blind man's agility exceeded her own—Kingpin's hurled massive table didn't harm him at all.
"Run! Let police handle him!" Silver Sable shouted.
The directors fled the conference room en masse the moment Kingpin erupted, leaving only Kingpin, Silver Sable, and Matt.
Matt moved to leave—he needed to quickly find somewhere to shed this suit and change into Daredevil's costume to fight Kingpin.
Before Matt, Kingpin's muscles bulged in blocks, nearly tearing his suit. Only one thought filled his mind:
"Kill him!"
Matt's injunction had ruined all of Kingpin's plans.
Though he didn't know who orchestrated this, Kingpin now only wanted to kill this lawyer, then flee.
Kingpin believed in his methods and abilities. Even without Oscorp as a springboard to instant success, even without funds accumulated in Hell's Kitchen over a year or two, he could start over!
No one could stop him!
So his foot stamped the floor.
BOOM!
The floor seemed to shake under Kingpin's single step. Enraged Kingpin strode directly toward Matt, swinging a fist larger than the lawyer's head downward.
But just then, wind blew past. A figure entirely shrouded in black armor with two sharp pointed ears atop his head, eyes cold to the point of containing almost no human emotion—blocked Kingpin.
Kingpin's pupils contracted. He couldn't help breathing rapidly, fists clenched so tightly from excessive force his entire body trembled.
Kingpin had heard about this figure too many times recently. Each time, it ignited bone-deep hatred.
Batman!
He'd ruined Kingpin's plan to have Black Cat sell defective guns to Joseph, achieving dominance over more territory during small gang conflicts.
He'd captured Scorpion Mac and Kingpin's personal driver/bodyguard Walker, making Kingpin worry about information leaks, forcing him to accelerate joining Oscorp's board.
And now, this guy jumped out again, wanting to ruin his plan to become Oscorp's absolute controlling shareholder, to become New York's—even the entire world's—underground emperor!
Whether or not Batman participated in ruining Kingpin's plans, Kingpin now viewed Batman as his obstacle. Old grudges and new hatred settled together.
WHOOSH!
Airflow from his fist howled. The conference room seemed to spontaneously whip up a whirlwind. Kingpin's furious punch held nothing back.
This punch could take down any world-class martial arts master, shatter cement walls, bend steel construction pipes, punch through ordinary people's bodies...
He could use this fist to conquer all the world's gangs, then become their emperor!
'His heartbeat hasn't accelerated at all. His breathing is abnormally steady. His posture is full of self-confidence.' Matt hid aside, listening to the familiar heartbeat silently thinking. 'His muscles are exerting force inch by inch... He seems completely unconcerned about losing to Kingpin.'
Silver Sable watched Kingpin's momentum-filled punch, instinctively wanting to draw a gun and shoot. But wearing a suit now, she had no gun.
CRACK!
Silver Sable kicked up a scattered chair beside her, grabbing the chair back to charge help Batman. But Matt quickly extended a hand, pulling her back.
"Not necessary."
His words fell—a sound like an artillery shell exploded inside Oscorp Tower. The instant Kingpin's furious punch contacted Batman, his massive white-suited body was blasted backward, heavily smashing through the conference room wall.