It wasn't, as Eddie had said, his favorite method of ensuring justice, but even Bruce could admit it was effective. What bothered him most was not the moral dilemma but that selfish motivations were the only reason many of Gotham's wealthiest and more powerful would ever do anything to help their city. What good was doing right if it was forced, and not done willingly? It disappointed him. Saddened him, even, but disappointment was stronger of the two. Bitter on his tongue, acrid, but familiar.
He made copies of the flash drive Eddie had given him, of course. And then he visited each and every name upon the list, the people who, like his parents, had the power to bring about change but did nothing unless it benefited them in some way. He was ashamed to be considered one of them. He visited them, and he gave them an ultimatum. They could do what they did best, they could use their influence and their wealth to ensure Blackgate City was closed and the prisoners were sent elsewhere, to other prisons, or they could watch as their dirty laundry was aired for all to see. They had built themselves up so high, the Bat told them, that they now had nowhere else to go but down, and it was a very, very long fall.
Some needed a little convincing. That was fine, he didn't mind. Some needed proof that he had the information he claimed he did. He didn't mind that either.
One by one, in the quiet of night, where city lights cast shadows in million-dollar penthouses, they agreed. Too, they agree to keep quiet, or else they would be ruined.
He was tempted to break his word and release the information regardless, even if they did hold up their end of the deal. These people watched Gotham suffer and did nothing; they didn't care so long as they flourished. He thought he might like to see them burn, to become the very people they had once looked down upon.
Maybe he would. Maybe he wouldn't. But, just then, the Bat had accomplished what he'd set out to do. Events had been put into motion. The rich and powerful would protest, they would call in favors and create a storm, and the government would have no choice but to submit to its public and close Blackgate. Prisoners would be housed elsewhere.
And then, then the League would move. They would take Watchtower and once Selina was safe, once the bomb was no longer a threat, he'd deal with the people who had put it there.
That, however, he kept to himself. No one needed to know.