Chapter 274: A Plan That Allows Failure
Norman Osborn's forehead didn't successfully strike the hard autopsy table corner. Batman grabbed his clothing—iron-grip restraining Norman Osborn motionless.
"You won't allow me dying?" Norman Osborn shivered while observing Batman. "Right—I can't easily die. That would be irresponsible toward crimes I've committed."
Batman still didn't speak a word. Simply using those white-glowing eyes coldly observing Norman Osborn.
Norman Osborn didn't continuously seek death. As human, Norman Osborn didn't want this death-seeking "performance" earning this monster Batman's contempt.
He shivered. His exhaled air transformed into white vapor through the morgue's low temperature:
"These are all victims' names, correct? I—I'll memorize all their names. I—"
Batman finally spoke, interrupting what Norman Osborn intended saying:
"Fifty homeless people. Thirty-seven possessed zero relatives or family. Seven were married with children. Six had living parents."
"Your son Harry Osborn's good friend Peter Parker has already provided full compensation."
Norman Osborn froze:
"Peter?"
Norman Osborn—as entrepreneur—had genuinely considered surviving, using Oscorp Group funds compensating for his mistakes.
But he couldn't have imagined Peter Parker would complete these actions one step ahead.
In fact, since Batman returned from New Mexico, instructing Parker Tower CEO Alice establishing comprehensive charity institutions plus full-coverage insurance institutions—
Alice had rapidly executed Batman's plans. After establishment, first actions included medical expense reimbursements for gang members and criminals who'd received Batman's beatings.
Naturally this included those Norman Osborn had killed. Batman—similarly using Peter Parker's identity—exhausted all capabilities helping those still-living people.
For Batman—possessing widely-applied memory fiber technology, Dr. Octavius's unlimited energy, plus not-yet-promoted Professor Connors's prosthetics—money wasn't problems.
Though strictly speaking, Batman had only completed preliminary capital accumulation—transforming zero into one. Parker Industries hadn't become genuinely multinational-level corporation.
But regarding commercial operations easily reaching tens of millions or hundreds of millions—Batman extracting extremely small monetary portions sufficed elevating trauma-suffering people's lives by entire levels.
At minimum, those pitiful individuals needn't living meal-to-meal existences.
"Peter... he's always been good kid." Norman Osborn covered his face, once again sitting on ground. His voice transmitted through fingertips.
Previously when Oscorp Group's underground laboratory incidents caused enormous uproars, when everyone avoided the Osborn family—only Peter Parker was willing proceeding to Osborn Manor, consoling Harry Osborn.
But this way, Norman Osborn's internal guilt nearly reached peaks. Inner self-reproach made him nearly breathless.
Though not knowing how kind-hearted but poor Peter Parker accomplished these things, this further demonstrated how ferocious former Norman Osborn truly was.
"I don't know what else I can do, Batman. Tell me how to proceed, please?" Norman Osborn sought Batman's assistance.
He believed Batman wouldn't inexplicably bring him re-experiencing previous crimes merely for making him regret, awakening his conscience.
"I need you returning to Oscorp Group." Batman's voice remained low. "I need you participating in politics. As independent candidate, becoming New York State Governor."
"What?!"
Norman Osborn couldn't dream understanding why he—blood-stained criminal—would receive Batman's orders becoming New York State Governor.
He couldn't comprehend why Batman would do this. One question rapidly surfaced:
"History contains zero precedents of murderers becoming American governors—even in this anything-is-possible country."
Batman shook his head slightly:
"Precisely because this country allows anything, I need you doing this."
Murderer becoming New York Governor? This sounded excessively fantastical.
But for Batman—who'd personally witnessed American government attempting nuclear-bombing entire Gotham City—this matter wasn't impossible.
"I'll handle your crimes. I know even legally clearing you, morally you'll remain completely tainted."
"But precisely because of this, you'll need paying efforts exceeding normal party candidates thousandfold before becoming independent candidate running for governor."
Batman's voice remained unremarkable. But hearing it in Norman Osborn's ears was like thunderbolts from clear sky.
Speaking simply. But actual execution represented completely impossible achievements.
"This is merely your future effort goal—not missions requiring completion within deadlines." Batman said. "I even allow your failure."
Until Norman Osborn was dropped onto streets, letting him dazedly return to Oscorp Group—he hadn't recovered from consecutive events.
Batman didn't acknowledge him further. Simply synchronizing the restraint—ankle monitor—fixed on Norman Osborn's lower leg positioning and listening signals to Arkham Batmobile.
Batman wasn't insane.
He didn't genuinely want Norman Osborn becoming New York State Governor.
Batman simply used this impossible mission goal guiding Norman Osborn's complete transformation toward positive directions.
"Violent crime history," "severe mental illness," "independent candidate status"—three prerequisite conditions combined meant Norman Osborn wanting striving toward gubernatorial campaigns must directly confront crimes, publicly apologize, plus invest lifelong efforts into victim family assistance, anti-violence charity causes.
Even this represented merely most basic first steps. Because public wouldn't ignore Norman Osborn's previous actions simply due to his repentance.
But this was Batman's plan—one unachievable plan whose process could guide Norman Osborn from all aspects.
Even if Norman ultimately failed becoming governor, during this process he'd necessarily—for passing each psychiatric evaluation and public scrutiny—learn permanently controlling his mental states, avoiding Green Goblin's reappearance.
His redemption actions plus grassroots political work would objectively help many people. He'd be forced researching complex law, public policy, community affairs—applying intelligence toward construction rather than destruction.
Perhaps many years later, Norman Osborn might become one partially-respected social activist or policy advocate. But this remained light-years from becoming New York Governor.
And this was precisely what Batman wanted seeing—using one seemingly-unreachable yet correctly-directed goal regulating his lifetime.
This was Batman's plan—completely transcending everyone's thinking patterns.