Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Jonathan "Johnny" Storm, Ben Grimm.
These were the four key names Batman had found based on the Baxter Building, where Helen Cho was located before her tracker went offline.
Unlike Stark Tower, Oscorp Tower, or even the Parker Building, the Baxter Building wasn't the headquarters of some corporate conglomerate, but had been purchased by Reed Richards to serve as his personal laboratory.
Because Reed Richards' performance in the sciences was so dazzling, even if he didn't release any valuable inventions to the public, his existence itself was, in a sense, a strategic asset.
Therefore, Reed Richards could accept funding allocations from the US government with a clear conscience to work on any experiments or difficult problems that interested him.
For someone smart enough, this was obviously one way to stay away from commerce while still having sufficient funds to conduct experiments.
But Reed Richards' case could not serve as a reference for Batman or Dr. Banner; the former could never show his face in public like Reed, and the latter was being hunted by General Ross.
As for Dr. Banner, he likewise couldn't do this.
Until Eddie Brock exposed General Ross's dirt and forced him to step down completely, the government and military had always turned a blind eye to Ross's actions.
It was hard to say whether all of General Ross's actions had the backing of the military and the government.
Since the actions of the four scientists led by Reed, Susan, Johnny, and Ben were almost entirely transparent, Batman had no trouble investigating them.
"None of the data contains information on which of the four might possess superhuman powers."
"I cannot rule out the possibility that I am being overly sensitive, but I still need to be prepared to deal with superhuman powers."
"The little girl Helen Cho encountered in the Baxter Building is named Lunella. There are two hundred and fourteen girls under the age of fifteen with that name in all of New York."
"Unless I can obtain photo information of this Lunella, I cannot determine exactly which one she is."
In the Batcave, Batman was rapidly considering various possibilities:
"This method is actually relatively easy to solve. I can go to the Baxter Building in the identity of Peter Parker, and perhaps I will be able to see that little girl named Lunella."
"The priority of this operation is not high. The thing I need to do most right now is find Black Widow."
Batman did not fixate on that potential superhuman power.
Since there was no answer to this question for the time being, Batman would not devote all his energy to pursuing it.
According to the priorities of the plan, what Batman needed to do now was find Black Widow.
Hawkeye had already arrived in Japan. "Fifteen days" was the deadline Batman gave him, and it was also the deadline for Batman to find Black Widow.
"Robin, let's move out," Batman said to Venom Robin.
"Training?" Venom Robin asked.
"Training, and a bit of practical application," Batman said.
The sky was growing dark. Queens, New York.
Ponce Bank was a typical community bank; wherever there was a stable, high-frequency demand for financial services, one would open there.
At this moment, in a branch in Queens, several men wearing red coats with white trim and snow-white fake beards pushed open the bank's glass doors.
They carried red bundles on their backs, dressed unmistakably as Santa Claus. One of them placed a small Christmas tree by the bank's entrance, while the others laughed heartily at the bank staff who were preparing to get off work, saying:
"Merry Christmas!"
The manager of Ponce Bank walked up to greet them with a face full of smiles:
"Gentlemen, it is currently the end of September. There is still a long time before Christmas, but thank you for coming anyway."
The manager greeted the Santa Clauses while turning to instruct his subordinates:
"Bring out a few cups of coffee. Although Christmas hasn't arrived yet, I'm willing to give these Santa Clauses a proper reception."
The Santa Clauses laughed, took the red bundles off their backs one by one, opened them, and reached inside.
The bank manager had a smile on his face; he wanted to see what kind of gifts these early-arriving Santas would pull out.
Soon, as the Santa Claus's hand slowly emerged from the bundle, the bank manager couldn't smile anymore.
Santa Claus pulled out a double-barreled shotgun and pointed the muzzle at the manager's head.
"G-Gentlemen..." The manager's voice trembled. The threat of death loomed over his head, making it impossible for him to receive these Santas with the same composure as before.
"No police, no resistance," Santa Claus said.
As soon as the words fell, one of the Santas swung his gun stock viciously, smashing it into the bank manager's face and knocking him to the ground.
"Ah!" A female employee behind the counter couldn't help but let out a scream.
Click-clack!
A bullet was chambered. A Santa Claus aimed his double-barreled shotgun at the female employee, scaring her into a trembling ball.
The other employees subconsciously wanted to flee, or even pull out the pistol the bank manager had hidden under the desk to resist.
But as the Santas chambered their rounds one by one, the employees immediately froze, obediently staying put. No one dared to stick their neck out.
Their lives belonged to them. No one was going to lose their life for a job—especially since the few minutes delayed by the Santas meant it was already quitting time.
"Gentlemen, the situation is quite clear now," Santa Claus said. "Fill our gift bags with bills, and we promise we won't hurt you."
Bang!
The Santa Claus who had just spoken pointed his gun down and fired a shot into the leg of the bank manager lying on the ground.
Screams and the sound of shifting chairs rose and fell, but quickly stopped under the intimidation of the Santas' gun muzzles.
"Otherwise, my gun might misbehave, just like it did now," Santa Claus said with a laugh.
"Here, fill it up, just like your husband fills you." Another Santa handed a bundle to the female employee who had screamed earlier.
The female employee was terrified, crying as she begged:
"Please don't do this, I'll lose this job."
"If you don't do it, you'll lose your life." Santa Claus fired a shot at the bank counter's glass, shattering it into countless pieces with a crash.
Then Santa Claus reloaded the double-barreled shotgun and pressed the muzzle against the female employee's chest:
"Do as I say immediately!"
Fighting back sobs, the female employee carefully took the bag and began taking bills out of the safe beneath the counter, while using the opportunity to quietly reach her hand toward the alarm button under the desk.
She thought her movements were secretive, but she was still spotted by the robber dressed as Santa Claus.
"Don't move!"
The female employee froze immediately. She clearly saw the robber's finger already on the trigger, ready to fire and stop her heart at any moment.
"It's over..." The female employee shed tears of despair, and everything before her eyes immediately blurred into a wash of tears.
In this blurred vision, a crash was heard as the bank's skylight was violently shattered. Then, a massive shadow in the shape of bat wings descended from the skylight.
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