The Penguin Man waiting outside the hospital spent nearly ten minutes understanding the truth— if Bruce Wayne died, he would become a revolutionary.
Cobblepot was never a coward, not when he was ostracized in the Kolbott family, not when compelled to kill his first person under gangsters, not when he was stealing the Boss's property, not even during the bloody battles with other mob bosses.
But now, he was genuinely scared.
Cobblepot was a product of the Cold War era when information was not as strictly controlled as it is now. Both sides showcased their strengths to their people, so people of that era more easily comprehended the nature of various systems in the world.
Cobblepot never aspired to the invisible red country's system because he knew it was too idealistic and far from him. However, it also didn't mean that he found the system of the cold war victors perfect.
Cobblepot, having climbed from the bottom, understood clearly that class is the foundation of America, which engaged in a cold war with the Red Giant Bear, a country whose ultimate goal was to eradicate classes.
Nothing was a higher priority than class - it was the American bourgeoisie's bottom line. Above the line, one could manipulate and maneuver by various means to get what one wanted, even jumping several ranks to complete class advancement.
Even if the means were not honorable, as long as one crossed the class, one had sufficient flexibility to coat oneself in a beautiful veneer because there was an abyss between classes—there was no hearing, seeing, nor feeling each other.
But the premise was that you crossed the class, not toppled it. If you intended and implemented it, we could only send you off to meet the Soviet Union.
The Penguin man was doing just this; although no one felt he genuinely wanted to topple the class, his means undoubtedly challenged the bottom line.
We indeed kept an eye on Wayne and desired his death for a large part. But this process must not make him an evil capitalist, then be subject to public trial.
No one is qualified to judge us. Everyone beneath us must understand and remember this firmly, even engraving it in their genes, trembling uncontrollably upon hearing such words.
Give no hope, open no backdoors, for they understood better than anyone how a spark ignited a wildfire.
The Penguin Man essentially chiseled a small crack on the solid class barrier built by generations of high society. Although it had negligible impact on the wall, once light seeped out from within the wall, it corresponded to the old saying, "I can get used to darkness because I have never seen the light."
If Bruce Wayne died concurring with the public's will and accepted the public's trial, he must survive, even thrive.
Those who wish him dead must be extinguished.
"Oswald Cobblepot, I am James Gordon."
With a stern face, Gordon displayed his credentials to Oswald and announced, "You are under arrest for commissioning murder, large-scale bribery, and illegal business operations among 116 criminal charges. Come with us."
Cobblepot gawked, looking at Gordon in disbelief, "No, no, you can't arrest me. You have no right. I'm the mayor of Gotham City!"
"In the just-concluded emergency meeting of the State Council, your administrative powers have been temporarily stripped along with your immunity. You are under arrest."
"I need to call the party's leader. We need to discuss internal affairs. Please step back..."
"There's no need for you to do that because the evidence of your bribery was provided by the Democratic Party whip in New Jersey. Extend your hands."
Almost grinding his teeth, Penguin knew that the Batman he knew wouldn't be easy to deal with; he had hit Penguin's weak spot.
Penguin Man was a businessman, and he indeed had many political adversaries assassinated through illegal means. However, this couldn't be said to be without his party's endorsement. Under some circumstances, he served the role of the black glove.
But if he resisted with violence now, he could banish the idea of ever getting close to politics and go back to being the mob boss. But his highest ambition—the superior social status—could only be achieved in a respectable political career.
So he had to surrender in hope that upcoming political maneuvers could help him evade legal Sandman.
What was brilliant about Batman was that Penguin was, in fact, not facing a dead end. On the contrary, he had won public support this time, and his reputation was rising.
The Democratic Party wouldn't waste his reputation and would want to use it to their advantage in the state and even presidential elections. Penguin still had enough value for them to invest resources in gambling.
Politicians were the only uncertainty in the high society since they dared to challenge everything for votes.
Violent resistance led to a single dead end, while surrender gave a ray of hope. Ambitious Cobblepot would always choose to take a gamble.
He took a deep breath, extended his hands and opened his eyes. Looking at Gordon, he said, "Wish me locked up for good. Otherwise, these two cities won't be my end."