Chapter 248: Norman Osborn
Batcave second level temporary detention area. Norman Osborn rubbed his eyes. Awakened.
Soreness, weakness, hunger.
The awakening instant—various negative states surged like tides, causing him nearly losing even eye-rubbing strength.
"How long did I sleep?" Norman Osborn asked himself.
Eyes closed, he recalled extensively. The ultimate answer was—extensively.
The final scene Norman Osborn could recall was Oscorp Group's underground third level, attempting human experiments with the group's veteran scientists. Confined in octagonal cages. Mist-sprayed Super Soldier Serum made his vision completely blurred.
Regarding other memories, Norman Osborn—wracking his brain—recalled nothing. Just hazily felt extensive time had passed. Too many events had occurred.
Those scenes unable recalling specific details resembled dreams in his mind. He only remembered fire, gunshots, and... and a bat!
Norman Osborn immediately shuddered, forcing himself opening his eyes.
"Harry?"
Norman Osborn's first opened-eye scene was rough, completely undecorated "ceiling." Second scene was Harry Osborn sleeping beside him.
Norman Osborn forgot much. But he wouldn't forget who his son was.
Disregarding researching his exact location, Norman Osborn rapidly prostrated himself, attempting awakening Harry Osborn.
"You cannot awaken him temporarily." Low voice emerged beside Norman Osborn's ear.
"Who?" Norman Osborn looked toward the sound's source.
Not excessively bright yet not completely pitch-black—Batcave second level entrance. Shadows enveloped one pitch-black humanoid silhouette. Norman Osborn could barely distinguish the opponent's head bearing paired sharp pointed ears.
Instantly, scenes flashed through Norman Osborn's mind: he stood alone on East River shores. Darkness surrounded everything. Sinister shadows nearly devoured him.
But as entrepreneur single-handedly establishing Oscorp Group-level multinational corporation, Norman Osborn remained relatively calm. He didn't recall those inexplicable scenes in his mind, cautiously scrutinizing that shadowy figure:
"Hello?"
"Who are you?"
Norman Osborn carefully observed the opponent, imperceptibly using his body blocking sleeping Harry Osborn.
Regardless of who the opponent was, at minimum this environment appeared problematic... He'd seemingly been kidnapped?
"I'm Batman." The shadow's voice remained low and powerful.
"Bat..."
Norman Osborn grew more certain the opponent was a kidnapper. This time he shifted his body, completely blocking Harry Osborn's front.
This blocking revealed another new problem Norman Osborn discovered: his eyes had only contained Harry. He'd subconsciously ignored three other people lying beside them.
Two possessed rugged features. One had graying beard—unmistakably U.S. Air Force Major General Thaddeus E. Ross, who'd previously cooperated with Oscorp, forcing Norman Osborn conducting human experiments, even personally participating.
The other two Norman Osborn completely didn't recognize. Especially that green-skinned guy—skull protruding highly, appearing possessing brain capacity three times Norman's size.
"What do you want, Batman? How much money?" Norman Osborn no longer only blocked his son Harry Osborn.
Including that bizarre large-headed individual together—he blocked all four sleeping bodies behind himself entirely, striving to remain calm while asking Batman.
"I'm not a kidnapper." Batman's voice was cold as stone.
"What did you do?" Norman Osborn's heartbeat accelerated. "You don't want money? Then what do you want? I don't recall offending you."
Batman silently observed Norman Osborn without speaking.
"What did you do?" Norman Osborn asked again.
"I saved your life." Batman spoke this time. "You were injured in a serious laboratory accident, triggering deep memory disorder."
Injured? Memory disorder?
Norman Osborn recalled his final memorable scene—Oscorp's underground third level:
"What about Harry? What happened to him? Why is he here?"
"He attempted rescuing you. Similarly injured." Batman said.
"But I see no wounds on him or these three guys." Norman Osborn pointed at The Leader and others. "Except this green large-headed monster."
"As scientist, you should know injury doesn't always manifest wounds." Batman's voice remained unchanged.
Norman Osborn—beyond being entrepreneur—was primarily biological scientist. Hearing this, he nodded. But didn't believe Batman:
"I hope seeing something... evidence-type materials."
"Follow me." After speaking, Batman turned and disappeared into shadows.
Only then did Norman Osborn notice where Batman disappeared had an exit leading upward.
He observed floor-level unconscious Harry Osborn and several others. After contemplating, he struggled upright, somewhat staggering toward the exit.
The exit merely represented Batcave underground second level's exit. When Norman Osborn emerged, arriving at Batcave first level, he stared dumbfounded at Arkham-suited Batman plus not-far-away white bandage-suited, chocolate-devouring Venom Robin—speechless for considerable time.
Norman Osborn steadied himself, asking Batman:
"Evidence? Evidence of me, Harry, and others being injured."
"This is radiation detection equipment. You should know using it." Batman pointed at pre-prepared Batcave equipment. "Use it checking your body."
Norman Osborn approached skeptically, scrutinizing that equipment while using peripheral vision observing Batcave interior distribution.
"If you want leaving, you can anytime." Batman didn't look at Norman Osborn yet seemingly detected his surreptitious surveying. "But given your condition, extreme probability exists—you'll inadvertently cause destruction and harm to everything surrounding."
"This serious?" Norman Osborn looked down at his hands. After hesitating, he still activated detection equipment.
Ten minutes later, Norman Osborn observed equipment-provided data while frowning:
"My body actually has radiation? Judging from wavelength—should be gamma radiation."
Batman observed Norman Osborn. Venom Robin also glanced at him, then continued stuffing chocolate into his mouth, eating until both cheeks puffed up.
After frowning at data extensively, Norman Osborn directed attention toward Batman, asking two questions:
"Can you tell me what actually happened? My current physical condition appears terrible."
"Beyond me—are Harry and the others similarly possessing gamma radiation? I noticed you didn't isolate me from them."