Chapter Fifty-Three: Someone Is Pulling the Strings

"Promise me, don’t go after Harry, and don’t let him know this secret."
Seeing Gwen’s serious expression, Michael agreed.
"I promise you. And I’ll never wear that outfit again."
That outfit had already been branded with the Batman label, and since Michael was not the real Batman, there was no need for him to parade around under that name.
"By the way, Gwen, would you like to own your own company?"
Gwen looked at Michael in surprise, then said, "You want to start a company?"
"No, I want to seize control of Osborne Enterprises."
"Why? Osborne belongs to Harry."
Gwen’s reaction was a bit intense. She felt she had already taken Harry’s father from him; if she took his company too, it would be too cruel.
"Gwen, let me finish."
Michael soothed Gwen’s emotions, then continued, "Osborne Enterprises is a joint-stock company. Norman holds thirty-five percent of the shares, making him the largest shareholder. The rest of the shareholders collectively own about forty-nine percent, and the remaining sixteen percent are scattered shares."
"Previously, the other directors joined forces to drive Norman out of the board, which is why Norman took such risks. Now Harry may not be able to hold things together. This time, Osborne Enterprises has lost so many veterans and is missing a soul who can lead them. These young people, wealthy as they are, will soon be eyed by wolves."
"My idea is to buy up the shares being thrown out and become a shareholder. That way, I can help fend off the wolves while trying to buy other people’s shares, and maybe become the largest shareholder."
"If we become Osborne’s largest shareholder, we can be the boss. Harry can still hold his shares and draw dividends. If it’s someone else, Harry will just be a juicy target in their eyes."
Gwen thought it over and felt Michael’s reasoning was sound.
"Are you serious?"
"I am."
The two immediately returned to Michael’s home, opened the computer, and sure enough, found Osborne shares appearing on the market, though not in large quantities.
Michael was a bit disappointed. "I see there are plenty of savvy people. Although Osborne’s old guard is dead, its industry hasn’t suffered. The stock won’t keep dropping."
Unless it was publicized that the Green Goblin was Norman Osborne, there would be no large-scale crash.
"Looks like your plan’s going to fail," Gwen said with a gloating smile.
Michael felt helpless too; the Green Goblin affair was obviously being suppressed by someone, or else Osborne Tower would have been surrounded by protesters.
"Forget it, if it’s not possible, then it’s not."
Michael had already decided what to call the company in the future.
But Osborne Enterprises, against all odds, seemed to be standing strong.
"Do you want to stay for dinner tonight?"
"No."

Gwen grinned mischievously, ready to leave.
"Why not?"
"My mom says that when a man wants to seduce you, it always starts with dinner."
Michael: "..."
For the first time, he found Mrs. Helen to be such an eyesore.
"I’ll walk you out."
He escorted Gwen, then returned to his lab, ready to continue developing his armor.
As for the temporary armor with the ‘Batman’ features, Michael personally destroyed it.
...
"Boss Kingpin, someone’s competing with us for Osborne’s stock."
Kingpin frowned, his massive body turning around.
"Who?"
"It’s that guy from last time, the young man named Michael."
Kingpin smashed the table in anger. "Him again."
"Should we take him out?"
Kingpin puffed his cigar thoughtfully. "No, let him buy. When he’s got enough, we’ll buy all his shares for a dollar, including Stark’s."
"Brilliant, boss! That way we spend less."
His underling flattered him, excited.
Actually, the Stark Enterprises affair was also tied to Kingpin. As this city’s underworld king, any weapons that flowed out went through his channels.
Even the Ten Rings who kidnapped Tony were contacted by him for Obadiah. Afterwards, he planned to buy Stark’s stock, knowing that once Tony died, Obadiah would restart the military industry, and the stock value would bounce back.
Unexpectedly, he was late to act and Michael bought up the shares first.
And since Stark didn’t die, Kingpin feared Stark would trace things back to him, so he kept a low profile.
Now Michael was appearing again to challenge him, so he’d have to deal with him.
"What about the other minor shareholders?"
By minor shareholders, Kingpin meant those with less than five percent.
"We’ve sent people to threaten them, but they don’t seem to get the message."
Kingpin smiled cruelly. "Teach them a lesson, but we’re businessmen, so we’ll pay a dollar a share. Can’t leave them unable to make a living, can we?"
"Boss, you’re merciful."

"Boss, what about the other shareholders?"
Another underling asked.
Kingpin pondered for a moment, "Leave the family-owned ones alone, leave those with military or political backgrounds alone, for the rest, see if they’ll sell. If not, make an example."
"Yes."
"Boss Kingpin, what about Harry? Norman was self-made; his father was just a small merchant. Can we touch Harry? He has the most shares."
Kingpin thought for a while and said, "No, Harry’s mother is special."
The underlings were puzzled. Wasn’t Harry’s mother long dead? What’s so special about her?
They looked over Harry’s profile again and again, finding nothing about his mother that warranted caution.
"Boss, should we leak the Green Goblin news?"
"Tomorrow."
...
When Michael woke up, he received a call from Gwen. The Green Goblin’s identity had been exposed.
Sure enough, the news headlines were all about the Green Goblin, filled with photos of Norman being taken away by the police and after his death, even footage from the police bodycam as they carried Norman’s body away.
Public opinion was in an uproar. Victims marched and protested at Osborne Tower, demanding compensation.
Michael watched the footage of Norman's body being removed and couldn’t help but marvel at who had the power to get such footage from the police.
He quickly turned on his computer and saw Osborne stock plummeting, with large volumes appearing on the market.
Shareholders were selling; perhaps some old director’s wastrel son was behind it. This would prompt scattered shareholders to follow suit, and soon more shares would flood the market.
Michael rushed to buy, only to find another force competing with him, so he didn’t get much.
Who was it? Someone was manipulating Osborne, buying shares on schedule.
Michael finally realized that a giant hand was covering Osborne Enterprises, aiming to swallow it whole.
What is the most important thing in a company? Of course, technological leadership.
Osborne’s technology, even without Norman, was still twenty years ahead in certain fields. Meaning it would remain an industry leader for two decades; it was only natural that insiders coveted it.
But this shattered Michael’s optimism.
"Damn it, you’re snatching food from the tiger’s mouth."
"Who’s behind the operation?"