Batman Incident (VIII)

After about twenty minutes, Stark carefully read through the report, then tossed the stack of papers onto the table and said, "Utter nonsense."

"Anyone with a college-level education in biology or above could tell this is complete rubbish."

"I’m a psychologist, after all. I don’t have any background in biology, and this is only an outline. As for what details should fill it out, that depends on you genius scientists…"

Stark hesitated, then picked up the report again. He said, "To an outsider, it might seem perfectly reasonable, but it’s actually absurd. Still, after thinking about it just now, it does seem a little plausible…"

With a conflicted expression, Stark pinched the report between his fingers and said, "Vampire blood contains an Immortality Factor that humans can use? That’s ridiculous… Forget it. Can you explain this part in detail?"

"Didn’t Dr. Connors already say that their blood contains some magical factor science can’t decipher? So I gave it a name: the ‘Immortality Factor.’ That’s not unreasonable, is it?"

"All right, that barely makes sense. After all, you’re the only one here who understands magic. Besides…" Stark hesitated before asking, "Are you sure this factor can really make people immortal?"

"Whether it can truly make people immortal isn’t important. What matters is, when you saw that conclusion, did you feel any impulse?"

"Or rather, what were you thinking when you just asked that question?"

Stark pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes. Then, pretending nothing had happened, he set down the stack of documents and said, "Fine, I admit it. Any human would have that thought. How wonderful would it be if I could live forever…"

"I’m not greedy, but I truly think that if I had five hundred years… No, just three hundred. If I had a three-hundred-year lifespan, I really could change this world…"

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he turned to look out the window. "You really are a devil. When I saw that sentence, for one moment, I even wanted to use some uncontrollable force to capture and study those monsters…"

"No one can refuse that temptation," Schiller said. "Even a saint, faced with a lifespan of less than a hundred years, would feel a kind of sorrow."

"That is humanity. Humans often live brief yet brilliant lives, and we are often proud of that."

"But if life did not have to be brief, wouldn’t you be tempted?"

Spreading his hands, Stark said, "All right, are you planning to use this to persuade Congress and the Security Council? Make them want immortality, then have them deal with the vampires?"

"No. I’m using this to persuade you."

"Persuade me? Persuade me to do what? Isn’t my resolve to deal with the vampires firm enough? Even without this temptation, I would still want to wipe them all out."

"The problem is the method of eliminating them. Your individual combat armor is not especially effective against them, but mobilizing large-scale armed forces would draw too much suspicion from too many factions. In fact, there is a better path you can take."

"What do you mean?"

Schiller took a pair of earphones from his coat pocket and handed them to Stark. Then he said, "I invited a guest. He should have arrived in the conference room by now."

"Thank you for giving me the highest level of security clearance, allowing me to invite guests here under your identity."

"Wait! Who did you invite?" Stark put on the earphones, only for Schiller to push him out of the laboratory. A very bad feeling rose within him. Stark said, "Don’t tell me you invited some important member of Congress here. My God! I can’t deal with them! No! Wait… I’m not going…"

"Relax. It isn’t one of those politicians."

Stark eyed Schiller suspiciously, but Schiller said nothing. The two stared each other down for a long while before Stark said, "Damn it, you lying Doctor! You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You tricked me into giving you the highest level of security clearance!"

"Don’t make it sound so ugly. You gave it to me yourself."

Ten minutes later, when Stark saw Norman Osborn in the conference room, he covered his forehead and muttered into the earphones, "I’m docking all your pay! I’m not joking!! Why did you invite this old man here?"

"All right, he has already seen you. Even if you don’t want to talk, it’s too late now. Listen, I want you to negotiate a deal with him."

"A deal? Why would I negotiate a deal with Osborn? Their technology is complete garbage…"

"That doesn’t matter. Go shake his hand now, and I’ll tell you what to do."

With a dark expression, Stark reluctantly shook Norman’s hand as though he were walking to the gallows. Norman did not seem to mind. He looked like the model American businessman, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, with some gray at his temples but a vigorous appearance.

Norman spoke first. "Mr. Stark, this is my first time visiting Stark Tower. It is far more advanced than I imagined. It has truly opened my eyes…"

Stark lifted his chin and gave a noncommittal "Mm" through his nose. Schiller said through the earphones, "Look at him. If you could speak half as well as he does, I wouldn’t have to go to so much trouble."

"I heard your company has mastered a curative serum technology and intends to sell it."

Stark could only parrot the words Schiller fed him through the earphones. "That’s right, but we can discuss that later. Right now, there is a better deal in front of you. Would you like to hear it?"

Norman’s expression did not change. He said, "So the curative serum technology does not exist. What is it you brought me here to discuss?"

"The technology certainly exists, but before the main course, we should discuss the appetizers."

"You must have heard about the incident at Brooklyn Bridge. Hundreds, even thousands, of vampires are attacking humans."

"Yes. The military has even purchased a batch of weapons from the Osborn Group because of it."

Stark pulled out a proposal and handed it to Osborn. Then he murmured into the earphones, "You’re really showing him that proposal? It’s nonsense from beginning to end. Norman has a doctorate in biology too. You can’t fool him."

"He is different from you. He is a businessman first, and a scientist second."

To Stark’s surprise, after reading the proposal, Norman did not point out its errors like a meticulous scientist. Instead, his expression grew increasingly radiant. "Mr. Stark, I never expected you to be so talented in business as well!"

Stark said, "What? Ah, I mean… you don’t think there’s anything wrong with this proposal?"

"A genius marketing concept!" Norman concluded. "Medicinal value! Yes, exactly… That is the phrase. I love that phrase!"

"This is an enormous opportunity. If we can truly package parts of vampire bodies as nutritional supplements or health products, we will make an absolute fortune."

"Think about it. The raw materials are falling from the sky right now. Whether it is Congress, the military, or any other faction, they will all support us."

"But," Stark said, "I should remind you that we cannot actually decipher the magical factor in their blood, and we cannot be sure whether it really has an immortality effect…"

"Does that matter?" Norman stared into Stark’s eyes. "The fact that it cannot be deciphered is best. If something cannot be deciphered, we cannot completely prove that it works—but no one can completely prove that it does not work either."

Holding the proposal, Norman flipped through it again and said, "Immortality Factor? True, the name may be a little exaggerated, but it is not medicine. It is merely a health product, and its effects should be judged by actual results."

"We won’t even need to promote it. Vampires are living examples. Every one of them can live forever, and they heal rapidly after being wounded."

"What is happening in the Brooklyn District right now is the best possible advertisement."

"The entire world knows that a species capable of living for hundreds or thousands of years is fighting humanity with astonishing healing speed."

"Soon, the aftermath of this will keep spreading. The entire world will learn about the vampire invasion of humanity, and every newspaper will put their characteristics on its front page."

"What is this? It is a worldwide promotional campaign with massive exposure! What advertisement could possibly compare to that kind of publicity?"

"At that time, the two of our companies can join forces. You know, Stark, an industrial giant, and Osborn, a pharmaceutical giant. Together, we can prove that vampire blood contains a mysterious factor capable of extending human life. That is highly possible, isn’t it? After all, they are a long-lived species."

"This could even open up an entirely new industrial field: researching the medicinal value of nonhuman species." Stark repeated Schiller’s words. "Not just vampires. There may be other creatures in the future."

"And what we need to do is use our technological credibility to tell the entire world that these species possess considerable medicinal value."

"Exactly!" Norman clenched a fist. "That is what I was thinking as well. Once this succeeds, everyone will believe that we have the ability to determine the research value of alien species. Just as you said, we can create an entirely new industry, one that will bring unimaginable, staggering profits."

At last, Norman rose without any hesitation and said, "I will organize experts immediately to refine this proposal. Mr. Stark, I have to say, although this idea is brilliant, your proposal is truly not very professional."

Seeing Stark’s expression darken further, Norman continued, "But I understand that you did it deliberately because you wanted to see the sincerity of the Osborn Group. I refuse to believe Stark Industries cannot find a few biology experts."

"Still, that is only proper. This idea of yours alone is worth tens of billions in profit. I never expected Stark Industries and Osborn Biotech to begin cooperating under such circumstances."

"But I must say, this will certainly be a good beginning. You will come to understand that Osborn is one of the few trustworthy partners in this world."

With that, Norman shook Stark’s hand again, then hurried away.

Stark was still somewhat dazed. "What did he mean just now? I think… did he misunderstand something?"

"It doesn’t matter. What he said was not wrong, after all. It is just that the biology experts employed by Stark Industries are busy saving the world…"

"…Saving it in the literal sense."