"Fine. Since you put it that way, I'll grant that you, Batman, have the immense capability to handle those politicians."
Nick Fury stopped laughing, lowered his voice, and asked with a veiled threat:
"Then what reason do you have to let me handle this for you?"
Contrary to Nick Fury's expectations, he thought he would hear Batman earnestly begging him, or perhaps presenting some leverage he couldn't refuse... though Nick Fury truly couldn't imagine what Batman could possibly offer.
At the very least, he expected Batman to continue the conversation with the attitude of someone asking for a favor.
But Batman didn't. Instead, he revealed a faint smile, his words far more nakedly aggressive than Nick Fury's veiled threat:
"Green Goblin, The Squid, Doctor Octopus, The Hulk, The Lizard, Kingpin, Abomination, The Leader, Red Hulk, Iron Monger, Crimson Dynamo."
Batman concealed the existence of Green Goblin Jr., Professor Morbius, and Electro (Max Dillon), nor did he mention Mister Negative or Venom.
But with every name Batman spoke, the silence on the other end of the comms channel grew heavier.
"Nick Fury, these are all monsters that appeared in New York and New Mexico within the span of just two months. And without exception, they were resolved by either myself or Iron Man."
"As the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., under the jurisdiction of the multi-nation World Security Council, your global intelligence network, rapid response units, and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents have not contributed once to handling these monsters."
"Oh, I almost forgot. You provided intelligence on Gamma Base. At least that way, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intervention record isn't zero."
In the command center, Nick Fury's face turned completely dark.
It wasn't that he didn't want to solve these problems, but with Batman's existence, these monsters were dealt with too quickly.
So quickly that while S.H.I.E.L.D. was still conducting intelligence analysis, Batman had already finished everything over there, cleaning up the traces so thoroughly that S.H.I.E.L.D. was left with no leads.
The only exception was the Gamma Base incident in New Mexico. Nick Fury had relied on superior intelligence to hold an emergency meeting with the World Security Council members, deciding to dispatch a tactical squad to New Mexico.
But the result was that by the time the tactical squad arrived, aside from a field of ruins, they once again didn't see even a shadow of Batman or the other Gamma monsters.
This time, it was Batman's turn not to stop talking:
"Nick Fury, if S.H.I.E.L.D. turns a blind eye to threats on home soil sufficient to overturn a city's ecology, does this imply your organization has already failed?"
"Is it Hydra, or is it bureaucracy?"
"Are you truly the commander sitting at the console? Or are you just like that Helicarrier of yours—massive in appearance, but internally already crawling with parasites whose numbers you don't even know?"
"You need my help; I do not need yours, Director Nick Fury."
Nick Fury remained silent for a long while, answering Batman with only one sentence:
"Fuck you, Batman."
Clearly, Batman was the one asking him for something. Yet after this conversation, it turned into S.H.I.E.L.D. having to help Batman resolve the issue of Norman Osborn's crimes, while simultaneously owing Batman a favor.
This feeling was stifling. Fortunately, there was one point that gave Nick Fury some relief:
Batman hadn't mentioned Hawkeye. He seemed completely unaware of this secretly dispatched S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
At least "Project Owl" could proceed normally.
"I will resolve Norman Osborn's issues before midnight tonight," Nick Fury said, not wanting to continue speaking with Batman. "Consider this payment for you resolving threats one step ahead of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"But please remember, Batman, the scope of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s duties and its operational logic are not for a masked fellow to evaluate."
"This world is far more complex than what you see. You merely protected a New York City; S.H.I.E.L.D. protects the entire world."
Beep!
Nick Fury immediately closed the communication channel after speaking.
In the Batcave, Venom Robin stared at Batman, dumbfounded, completely forgetting that he had been trying to throw a tantrum just moments ago.
"Old Bat, how did you do that?"
Even if Batman had beaten the Hulk to a pulp, Venom Robin would have thought it only natural—that was Batman, after all!
But now, in just a few words, Batman had achieved his objective and made S.H.I.E.L.D. owe him a "favor."
Venom Robin couldn't understand it; he just felt that Batman was simply too well-rounded.
"This is negotiation, Robin," Batman said.
After hanging up the channel with Director Nick Fury, the smile on Batman's face vanished, returning to his expressionless demeanor.
"This is also one of the skills you need to learn. Whether it is business negotiation or negotiating with enemies and partners, it usually wins you sufficient leverage."
Venom Robin scratched the back of his head, imagining a scene where he stuck out his long scarlet tongue to negotiate with an enemy, and couldn't help but shudder.
"I don't think it's necessary for me to learn this skill."
"It is," Batman said.
Venom Robin quickly steered away from the topic.
"It seems we should get going."
Batman glanced at the time and nodded.
"Get in the car."
Stark Tower.
Tony Stark lowered his head slightly, frowning as he looked at the 1.4-meter-tall Venom Robin beside Batman—completely the height of a brat. His gaze lingered especially long on Venom Robin's pitch-black face.
Batman also frowned, looking at the guy beside Tony Stark wearing a bright yellow windbreaker. The face was familiar, but the temperament was unusually strange.
"Who is he?" Batman and Tony Stark asked in unison.
"You say first." Tony Stark walked toward the bar, looking back every step of the way. He took out three glasses and a bottle of liquor, shaking it at Venom Robin. "Want some booze?"
"Thanks," Venom Robin said, the corner of his eye lifting.
But immediately, Batman's hand pressed down on Venom Robin's shoulder.
"No."
Tony Stark filled his own glass, then used the hand holding the glass to stick out a finger, wagging it back and forth between Batman and Venom Robin.
"You guys...?"
"He is Robin. My partner," Batman said.
Venom Robin also spoke up: "He is my dad."
Tony Stark's expression didn't change as he gulped down a mouthful of liquor.
"Oh?"
He obviously wanted to hear Batman talk about Robin's origins and species, but Batman didn't intend to explain too much, tossing his question out directly:
"If I'm not mistaken, this is Max Dillon?"
Batman was referring to the black man in the bright yellow windbreaker sitting on the sofa with a smile on his face.
Hearing Batman mention the name Max Dillon, the man smiled and stood up, extending a hand toward Batman.
"That's right, it's me."
Unlike his previous image as a senior electrical engineer, and unlike his appearance entirely charged with electricity after the accident on the twentieth floor of Oscorp.
The current Max Dillon looked no different from a normal person on the outside. Where was there any shadow of "Electro"?
Yet, in the analysis of the Arkham suit, Max Dillon's body contained surging energy, proving he had not lost the ability to electrify his entire body.
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