Chapter 249: Hawkeye Arrives in New York
Everything Batman told Norman Osborn was truthful—but concealed Norman killing seven-eight scientists and the Spencer family.
He similarly hadn't mentioned anything regarding New Mexico gamma facilities, only glossing over with "a laboratory accident."
Within mere seconds after Norman Osborn's awakening, Batman had observed all his behaviors through monitoring, determining Norman Osborn appeared having lost previous memories.
'But doesn't exclude Green Goblin personality still dominating. This could all be Green Goblin's performance.'
Batman imperceptibly observed Norman Osborn's deeply worried appearance, speaking:
"You're correct. Harry and the other three similarly contain gamma radiation."
"If I directly exit like this, I'll harm others... This is what you said. You're not deceiving me, correct?" Norman Osborn sighed, asking.
"My Dad's too lazy deceiving you." Venom Robin—mouth stuffed with chocolate—mumbled while answering for Batman.
Norman Osborn couldn't spare amazement that Venom Robin could actually speak, rapidly asking Robin:
"Then do you know what I should do?"
Venom Robin pointed at Batman:
"Ask him."
Norman Osborn redirected attention toward Batman.
"I need observing you temporarily until confirming your physiology and psychology both recover normally." Batman said.
"If I refuse?" Norman Osborn tested cautiously.
The instant this question emerged, Norman Osborn immediately regretted it.
He observed Batman—though making zero movements—seemingly merging more thoroughly into Batcave shadows, potentially erupting violently anytime.
He observed Venom Robin no longer devouring chocolate voraciously, jumping to ground level while exercising hands and feet. Pitch-black symbiote continuously writhed across his body—appearing bizarre and disgusting.
Obviously, if Norman Osborn insisted leaving here, what awaited him definitely wouldn't be Batman's so-called "won't restrain him"—rather employing physical methods keeping him.
"I can remain. But can you tell me where this is?" Norman Osborn swallowed saliva.
"Batcave." Batman said.
This wasn't Norman Osborn's desired answer. But Batman obviously lacked intentions explaining Batcave's actual location.
"When can Harry awaken?" Norman Osborn obviously possessed numerous concerns. "Plus my Oscorp Group..."
Batman still answered truthfully:
"Oscorp has Peter Parker helping you manage it. As for Harry... the sedative I injected shouldn't have such prolonged effects. His sleeping duration has exceeded my expectations, but vital signs remain relatively stable."
Unlike The Leader, Ross, and Blonsky—who Batman continuously injected with gamma inhibitors maintaining sleeping states.
Harry Osborn theoretically should've awakened long ago. But he continuously hadn't.
"Peter? He's helping me manage Oscorp?" Norman Osborn was startled hearing this statement.
In his impression, Peter Parker remained Harry's friend. Regarding academic performance and intelligence—naturally needless saying. But having this Queens poor kid helping manage enormous Oscorp—
Norman Osborn smiled bitterly twice. He'd already prepared mentally for recovering normally, then taking over Oscorp in complete chaos.
"Professor Connors?" Norman Osborn asked. "Can you help me contact him, having him maintain overall situation during this period?"
In Norman Osborn's memory, Professor Connors was Oscorp's sole scientist-director possessing sufficient authority beyond himself.
If Professor Connors was willing assisting, at minimum stabilizing Oscorp's situation shouldn't be problematic.
"After you recover, you can attempt contacting him personally." Batman said.
Batman wouldn't say Professor Connors was at North Brother Island, having already departed Oscorp long ago.
Saying this statement would inevitably involve extensive chains regarding General Ross militarily taking over Oscorp plus Professor Warren and others encountering consecutive accidents.
Norman Osborn sighed:
"Currently appears I have no alternative path beyond cooperating with you."
"What do you plan doing?"
---
Oscorp Tower rooftop helipad. A helicopter slowly descended.
Hawkeye Clint Barton carried his backpack, jumping from the cockpit, standing at helipad's edge overlooking New York City.
"If I hadn't maintained continuous consciousness, I'd even suspect certain memory portions had vanished." Hawkeye spoke self-deprecatingly, placing the backpack on ground while loading arrowheads into his quiver one by one.
Equipment left for him on the helicopter included only longbow, arrowheads, and quiver—no arrow shafts. But this didn't stump him.
Casually dismantling everything removable from helicopter cabin, selecting objects among them capable of functioning as arrow shafts and combining with arrowheads.
Within three-four minutes, Hawkeye had created four arrows total.
Three loaded into quiver. One gripped between two fingers at fingertips. Drawing bow with nocked arrow, he aimed at another relatively shorter building not far from Oscorp Tower.
WHOOSH!
The arrow flew through air, tail end connecting to long thin cable. Beginning and end respectively connected Oscorp Tower's rooftop edge and the distant shorter building.
One hand carrying backpack, one hand inverting longbow across thin cable—Hawkeye leaped, rapidly departing Oscorp Tower.
Airborne, not yet reaching the shorter building—his backpack-carrying hand pressed one button.
BUZZ~
That helicopter that had transported him from Cube Prison to Oscorp Tower erupted with consecutive electrical short-circuit sounds.
Within mere seconds, beyond the helicopter's exterior shell maintaining unchanged appearance, all internal electronic components become useless.
"Mission unknown. Objective unknown. Location New York. Duration unknown."
Over ten minutes later, Hawkeye had completely transformed appearance—wearing long-sleeved hoodie, carrying backpack, entering a coffee shop.
Sitting alone in corner seating, Hawkeye imperceptibly scrutinized everything surrounding plus exterior windows.
He didn't know why he'd suddenly been released from Cube Prison, nor why he'd been dropped in New York.
"I was framed by Natasha as Hydra. Being released now has two possibilities:"
"First—Natasha was confirmed as Hydra. My identity underwent whitewashing. They need me in New York re-arresting her."
"Second—SHIELD still doesn't confirm whether I'm Hydra. Deploying me to New York, hoping my actions might expose Hydra hidden in this city."
"Regardless which possibility—both relate to Hydra."
"I need spending two days collecting New York intelligence."
During contemplation, Hawkeye's ordered coffee and pizza had already been delivered by waitstaff.
Drinking coffee, eating pizza—Hawkeye raised his ears, listening to other customers' quiet conversations throughout the coffee shop.
He noticed one frequently mentioned term: "Batman."
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