"Osborn Group factory attacked; hundreds of high-tech pieces of equipment stolen!"
"Exoskeleton equipment safety questioned; citizens demand restrictions on individuals and companies owning Exoskeleton equipment!"
Harry swirled his wineglass, feeling irritated.
Are these people idiots? We were robbed, yet instead of demanding that the NYPD improve public safety, they're blaming us because our equipment is too advanced?
"Father, has the business been affected?"
Norman had been reviewing documents nearby. At Harry's words, he closed his laptop.
"Yes. Civilian Exoskeleton orders have dropped considerably, and some companies have canceled their orders. Military orders, however, haven't been affected."
"What are the media and officials saying?"
"They want more money. It seems someone had already spoken to them beforehand." Norman's expression darkened as well. "Looks like a big shot."
Of course he was a big shot—the head of every gang in America.
Ring, ring—
Harry's phone rang. Father and son exchanged a glance, then put the phone on speaker.
"Mr. Osborn, I am deeply sorry for your company's misfortune and losses. I called specifically to offer my condolences."
The man's voice was warm and deep, and he spoke with a gentlemanly politeness.
"Thank you for your concern. May I ask who is calling?" Norman asked.
"Ah, yes, my apologies. In my haste, I forgot to introduce myself." The person on the other end paused. "I'm Wilson Fisk."
Harry frowned when he heard that. What did this guy want?
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Fisk. Is there anything else?"
"Actually, I noticed that your company seems to have encountered some trouble recently. I have friends in all walks of life, and perhaps I can help you resolve these problems."
After a moment of silence, Norman replied:
"That sounds good. Then what can we do for you?"
"Haha, there's no need to be so formal. I've always helped friends without asking for anything in return. Also, I noticed that your company seems to be having some financial difficulties. If you run into problems with the municipal power grid project, I can help solve some of your funding issues."
So that was what he was after? The New York power grid?
"Also, I'd like to purchase a batch of Exoskeleton equipment. It's time to provide my employees with some protective measures..."
At that, Harry understood. So this fat bastard was playing them for fools!
If nothing unexpected happened, Kingpin would drive down the selling price of the Exoskeletons, then demand that Osborn Group illegally sell military Power Armor to him, and finally demand a share in the municipal power grid project—this fat bastard had quite an appetite!
Harry was truly angry this time. He lightly shook his head at Norman.
"Hmm... your proposal is very tempting, but the company has had quite a lot happen recently. I'll need some time to think it over."
"Oh, of course. Something this important naturally deserves careful consideration! Then I won't disturb you any longer, Mr. Norman Osborn, and Mr. Harry Osborn."
Click.
"He wants to extort us." Norman shrugged. He had seen too many people like this. Fisk was merely a slightly larger-scale version of them.
"No, Father. He really does have the ability to settle these matters." Harry took out his laptop and began working on it. "Father, do you know Kingpin?"
"A gang leader who controls all the gangs in America? But that's just a legend. You aren't going to tell me it's real, are you?"
"He may not be as godlike as the legends say, but such a person does exist." Harry turned on the projection and continued, "Think about it, Father. A few hours before the attack, all cameras on the roads leading to the factory were shut down. The NYPD arrived late and claimed they were short on manpower. Do you know that the newspapers ran a story yesterday about the NYPD helping an old lady find her pet cat? On that very same day."
"That sounds troublesome... Should we consider using money to settle this? What is this?"
"No. We can't have anything to do with them."
The projection displayed the route taken by Kingpin's trucks after they stole the goods. It was clear they had deliberately made several detours.
"This is... a tracker? You want to solve the problem yourself? That sounds like something a gang would do."
"No... Father, the point of showing you this route map isn't where the tracker stopped. The key is their route."
In fact, the tracker's signal had ultimately stopped on a stretch of road in the suburbs. It was unclear whether it had run out of power or its signal had been blocked.
Harry had specifically marked several sections of the route.
"These areas aren't precincts. Some of them even have police stations nearby. Besides, there was no news of any major cases that night requiring an urgent deployment of officers, yet these police simply refused to help."
"It sounds like... this Kingpin has considerable influence."
"That's true, but most of the methods he uses are underhanded: bribing those at the top, then creating leverage against them; lending money to those at the bottom, threatening them physically, and taking their relatives hostage. If we decide to work with him, sooner or later he'll get leverage on us too."
Norman had nearly become the Green Goblin, so naturally he understood such things. Besides, Osborn Group had also spent no small amount on "entertaining" people.
"Kingpin is nothing, but if we don't deal with the gang order he represents, another Kingpin will still come asking us for benefits."
"So, you aren't about to tell me that I should become this Kingpin, are you?" Norman joked.
"No, Father. I want you to become the US President."
As soon as those words fell, Norman's expression became extremely strange. President? Was that something one could simply decide to become?
"This isn't a joke, Father. First, we need to get you elected Governor of New York State. That shouldn't be too difficult, considering you were already the CEO and Chairman of the well-known Osborn Group..."
Seeing that his son had no intention of joking, Norman gradually got into the spirit of it.
Given the strength of Osborn Group, either party would need such a company as backing.
The Afghanistan War was currently in full swing. Logically, using the military-industrial sector as an entry point and participating in the ruling party's activities would have been a good approach. But Harry was a transmigrator, and he knew that, in the long run, the other major opposition party would suit Norman better.
Tony Stark had already disappeared in Afghanistan. Once he returned, he would abandon most of Stark Industries' military business and advocate anti-war ideas as Iron Man. Meanwhile, the Afghanistan War had dragged on for years, and domestic anti-war sentiment was fierce. The war would become a burden rather than a useful tool for winning votes.
Most importantly, aliens would be arriving soon... In this world, internationalization was inevitable.
After much discussion, Norman Osborn, who should have become the Green Goblin, decided on his future path—he would become the US President.
The next day, Norman Osborn resigned as CEO of Osborn Group, and news that he would participate in this year's New York State Senator election exploded across the media.
Kingpin, was it? Emperor of the Gangs, was it? Just you wait.
Before you continue