Chapter 160: Avenger
Everything proceeded according to the trap Batman and Tony Stark had set together. Obadiah arrived at Stark Tower's top floor and extracted the miniature arc reactor from Tony's chest.
But the moment Obadiah left, Tony Stark retrieved another pre-prepared reactor and inserted it into his own chest.
Obadiah had disabled the top floor's surveillance cameras beforehand, but Tony Stark had already activated the workstation computer's webcam before executing the bait plan, positioning it to seemingly accidentally capture himself.
The camera faithfully recorded Obadiah taking the reactor, which Tony packaged together with other evidence of Obadiah's weapons smuggling.
This evidence would be sent to Peter Parker—a trusted friend with technical capabilities who could handle it.
After completing everything, Tony Stark looked toward the helipad:
"Come out. Peter mentioned you. He said with you here, my safety would be guaranteed."
As his words fell, a bat-shaped shadow descended from above, slowly landing on the helipad.
To prevent Obadiah from killing Tony Stark while taking the reactor, "Peter Parker" had summoned his partner Batman to ensure Tony's safety—the result of discussions between Peter and Tony.
As for Tony's personal bodyguard Happy... due to the plan's need for secrecy, Tony hadn't told anyone except Batman's Peter Parker identity.
Even Pepper's reaction when receiving that video call while chairing the board meeting had been completely genuine.
But even so, Tony Stark didn't give the Arkham armor-clad Batman—"summoned by Peter to protect him"—a warm reception.
Although he'd refused to provide weapons against Batman when SHIELD Director Nick Fury asked, that decision had been based on Tony's determination to shut down the weapons division.
Through the information Nick Fury had shown him, Tony Stark knew Batman was absolutely no pushover.
The Hulk, Lizard Professor, Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin—the disappearance of all four was connected to Batman. Tony didn't believe this guy's contact with Peter Parker, his virtually only friend, was merely a simple cooperative relationship.
During the Middle Eastern ordeal, compared to Peter Parker contacting Sable for rescue and sending detailed maps, "Batman's" help had merely been introducing Sable and Peter beforehand.
In Tony Stark's heart, Peter Parker's importance clearly outweighed Batman by a significant margin.
Add to that Tony Stark having never had any contact with Batman before, and instinctive hostility made his voice carry a sharp edge:
"I don't know who you are. Rumors say you're a vampire... but whatever you are, I strongly advise you not to any thoughts about endangering Peter."
Batman looked at Tony Stark. He'd already adjusted his stance to combat posture, every muscle in his body ready to mobilize at a moment's notice. No movement could escape him, couldn't evade Peter's enhanced senses this body provided.
Regarding Tony Stark's words, Batman's expression remained unchanged, his voice low:
"No."
Tony Stark seemed to misunderstand Batman's meaning. He stared at Batman for several seconds, then walked toward an empty space near the top floor workstation while continuing to watch Batman.
The moment Tony Stark reached the open area, the floor rapidly separated and slid apart. Mechanical arms brought red-and-gold armor continuously covering and assembling onto Tony Stark's body.
Crisp metallic collisions, subtle bolt rotations, and dampening sounds from transmission systems—within moments, Tony Stark's entire body except his face was covered in hard metal armor.
He still watched Batman with hostile eyes, his voice no longer sharp but carrying intense animosity:
"Listen, cape freak."
"Maybe your tricks can scare street thugs. Maybe you can take on ten at once and still have energy to spare. Maybe I can't protect Peter every moment."
"But if he's endangered because of you, every injury he suffers, every drop of blood he spills—I'll hold you accountable. Then you'd better prepare to face my revenge."
CLANG!
The metal faceplate snapped shut with a crisp sound. Cold white light blazed from the eye slits. Tony Stark stepped forward several paces, then with help from foot thrusters, floated into the air.
He looked down at Batman standing on the helipad, then his palm repulsors flared as he shot into the clouds.
Batman stood silently in place, watching Tony Stark disappear in his armor into the night.
He thought of his own time wearing that blue cape. If it were him then, Batman would have removed his mask and told Tony he was Peter Parker, his friend in this world.
But the current Batman wouldn't do that. He simply watched Tony Stark silently, then leaped from Stark Tower's helipad, falling straight down and vanishing into the darkness in the blink of an eye.
"Barbara, track the reactor Obadiah took."
Batman spoke to Oracle AI while airborne. Watching Tony Stark fly off in his armor to confront Obadiah, Batman needed to ensure this plan's success.
Obadiah's evidence was already in Batman's hands. Tony's net within Stark Industries was gradually tightening.
They only needed to wait for Obadiah's capture to uproot him completely along with AIAS Security and his network within Stark Industries.
Simultaneously, once Tony Stark fell into danger, Batman would intervene from the shadows.
WHOOSH!
Leaping from Stark Tower's sixtieth floor helipad, Batman waited until only ten meters from the ground before suddenly spreading his cape to slow his descent.
At that same moment—VROOOOM!
The unmistakable roar of the Arkham Batmobile's engine erupted. The Batmobile Batman had pre-positioned in stealth mode surged forward from hiding.
During transit, the Batmobile's roof rapidly slid open, revealing the cockpit. Batman had already adjusted his position, his cape no longer electrified and rigid but returning to softness.
THUD!
Batman's landing inside the Batmobile was masked by the engine's roar. Amid pedestrian shouts on the streets near Stark Tower, the vehicle shot toward the AIAS Security transport factory.
"Making Peter a suit for self-protection has become urgent."
Seven hundred meters above ground, Tony Stark looked through his metal faceplate at the bustling streets below, his mind replaying that sharp-eared dark figure.
Tony Stark didn't believe Batman—notoriously dangerous, rated SHIELD's maximum threat level—contacted Peter purely for funding and memory fiber cooperation. He suspected the guy had deeper motives. Protecting Peter had become something Tony Stark absolutely had to do.
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