Chapter 246: Stone Tablet Lead
"Old Bat, you cheated!"
Even Venom Robin didn't know he possessed such easily exploitable weakness. His gaze tracked the vibranium resonance patch in Batman's hand, continuing until that thin object was collected into the utility belt.
"You don't need using vibranium resonance patches. Let's go again!" Venom Robin refused admitting defeat.
Batman raised both fists sequentially before himself. The front fist opened into palm form, beckoning Venom Robin.
"..."
THUNK!
"Doesn't count this time! No explosive sound tools! Restart!"
THUNK!
"Still doesn't count!"
THUNK!
THUNK!
"Stop hitting me!"
Venom Robin sat on ground embracing his head, somewhat collapsing while begging Batman for mercy, attempting awakening some paternal love.
Within merely three-four minutes, Venom Robin had initiated seven-eight attacks. But without exception, Batman employed various methods blocking them.
Batman didn't merely block offensives—he retained capacity bending his index finger, knuckles heavily knocking Venom Robin's forehead, knocking seven-eight consecutive times.
Obviously, despite Venom Robin's pure strength exceeding fifty tons, their capability gap remained too enormous. Venom Robin resembled a toy in Batman's hands.
"Robin, your capabilities haven't manifested completely." Batman observed Venom Robin sitting on ground embracing his skull. "However, before beginning training, I require confirming some questions."
Venom Robin raised his head:
"What questions?"
"Initially when you attacked—that shriek you emitted. I need you repeating it." Batman pointed toward a nearby tree. "Against it."
Venom Robin didn't understand Batman's purpose but still obediently complied, opening his mouth toward Batman's indicated tree.
"SCREECH!"
After finishing one howl, Venom Robin turned toward Batman, only observing Batman currently stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Old Bat, any problems?" Venom Robin asked.
Batman shook his head slightly. He'd just been puzzled—obviously Venom feared high-frequency noise, yet could proactively emit shrieks as attack methods.
Through Venom Robin's second demonstration, Batman understood clearly.
From initially being pure symbiote, Venom Robin's speaking methodology involved air passing through oral cavity, simulating human vocal cord vibrations.
Shrieks were identical. Through compression, Venom Robin's throat and oral cavity symbiote—like gun barrels—launched most energy toward forward conical zones, greatly reducing backward recoil sound wave energy affecting his own torso.
Though Venom Robin's combat methods remained inadequate from Batman's perspective, this small ingenuity indicated Venom Robin wasn't stupid—conversely capable of flexible application based on personal characteristics.
Three consecutive days. Beyond bringing Venom Robin to North Brother Island, having him observe and learn from four scientists' experiments, Batman spent most remaining time conducting rigorous training on Bat Island.
Batman possessed extensive Robin-training experience. Within merely three days, Venom Robin could already easily defeat three-days-prior self through mastered tactics.
But when confidently challenging Batman, his fate of receiving heavy knuckle knocks from Batman still hadn't changed.
Beyond tactical and skill training, remaining minor portions saw Batman bringing Venom Robin to Oscorp Tower.
Norman Osborn and Harry Osborn—father and son together—were confined in the Batcave's underground second level, still dormant.
Before they recovered normally, capable of reassuming Oscorp Group management, Batman chose temporarily managing Oscorp.
But avoiding further misunderstandings after the Osborns awakened, Batman made virtually zero Oscorp decisions—only ensuring normal group operations.
Fortunately, when Batman departed for New Mexico, Oscorp's twentieth floor incident—beyond sole witness Tony Stark—remained unknown publicly.
Superficially, merely unexplained power outage. No turbulence affecting Oscorp Tower.
Under Batman's interference, even twentieth floor's replaced shattered glass hadn't been noticed by anyone.
"Since you're not planning interfering with Oscorp, what's the point bringing me here?" Venom Robin secretly climbed exterior walls reaching penthouse office, crossing arms while asking Batman.
Batman patiently explained:
"You needn't specifically learning business management. But our enemies might possess nation-rivaling wealth. Understanding basic group operations may someday become your method conquering enemies."
Venom Robin possessed partial Batman memories. But fundamentally, he wasn't Batman.
Like students being unable utilizing one hundred percent what textbooks teach, Venom Robin also couldn't always one hundred percent understand Batman.
"Like Yami Kaze Group?"
Venom Robin scratched his head, still somewhat incomprehending why Batman—possessing capability—wouldn't directly accomplish this matter:
"I probably can't. But Dad, you should be capable of directly flying to Japan, completely demolishing that Yami Kaze Group, right?"
Batman still showed zero impatience. Venom Robin asking questions directly beat suppressing them internally, self-contemplating, then potentially walking wrong paths:
"Robin, do you still remember our objective investigating Yami Kaze Group?"
Following this statement, Venom Robin immediately reacted.
Currently his head again wore Batman's specially created human face mask. His face displayed slight realization:
"I remember it relates to that stone tablet theft!"
"Correct." Batman nodded. "This case has two leads. One is the stone tablet itself symbolizing that era. Another is Yami Kaze Group."
"Both leads cannot directly trace hidden employers..." Venom Robin murmured. "So you're not directly going to Japan..."
Batman used encouraging gaze signaling Venom Robin continuing.
Receiving Batman's encouragement, Venom Robin boldly speculated:
"First, Yami Kaze Group cannot obtain complete leads. Second, that stone tablet at the Metropolitan Museum—I know! You returned the stone tablet to original position, using it as bait, seeing whether anyone attempts theft again?"
"Correct." Batman prepared stating his third objective, but alarm sounds prevented his words continuing.
Alarms didn't originate from Oscorp Tower but from the Batcave at City Hall subway station near Parker Tower.
Venom's bandage combat suit had also received comprehensive equipment upgrades from Batman. He similarly received alerts.
Father and son made eye contact, speaking simultaneously:
"Osborn awakened."
---
Wyoming. Cube Prison.
Massive hypnotic, hallucinogenic gases released from every corner. Concentration even plunged the entire prison into white fog.
Under heavy-dose hypnotic gas effects, Cube Prison's caged criminals fell unconscious one after another.
BANG!
Hawkeye Clint Barton was virtually the entire prison's first unconscious criminal. Eyes rolled white, collapsing inside his cage, losing consciousness.
Almost simultaneously as he collapsed, black-and-white tight combat suit-wearing Agent Nineteen "Mockingbird" Barbara Morse—face wearing military-grade-plus respirator—stormed inside holding her weapon.
Behind her, over ten fully armed Cube Prison guards carrying firearms filed inside, rapidly occupying every corner of Hawkeye's cage. Gun barrels aimed uniformly at the completely defenseless Hawkeye on the floor.