Chapter 253: I Need Hulk
"If necessary, I can return to that sewer and retrieve the book."
Professor Morbius spoke enthusiastically. Seeing Batman lacked desire personally retrieving the book, he simply planned departing himself.
But his footsteps hadn't shifted half a step before his shoulder was heavily pressed by Batman.
Professor Morbius turned his head bewilderedly, only observing Batman's already-expressionless mask transmitting slight chill.
Not just Batman—even Dr. Octavius with four mechanical tentacles frantically busy, plus Dr. Banner casually chatting with Venom Robin, also looked over simultaneously. Their footsteps faintly showed signs approaching here.
"What's happening?" Professor Morbius immediately felt somewhat confused.
He extended his hand wanting to scratch his cheek. But his face's skin-and-bones sensation plus peripheral vision's observed gray-black claws made Professor Morbius react.
Batman stopping him, Octavius and Banner's vigilance had only one reason: Morbius himself represented a hidden danger.
These past two days—Moon God Khonshu's arrival, Venom Robin's birth, dispatching Lizard Professor to neighboring North Brother Island for garrison duty.
Many matters. But nobody had forgotten Professor Morbius's situation.
Before researching human blood substitutes, nobody could guarantee whether Professor Morbius—entering human society—would again erupt viciously, killing lives.
"Sorry." Professor Morbius's excitement immediately vanished without trace. His expression appeared somewhat dim.
Under gray-black skin plus face skin wrapping skull's gaunt appearance, his gloomy demeanor also appeared somewhat sinister.
"Do you want returning to human society?" Batman didn't console Morbius, instead observing him while asking.
"You want hearing truth or lies?" Professor Morbius asked.
Professor Banner and Dr. Octavius's attention once again looked over.
South Brother Island lacked nothing regarding food and drink, plus possessed complete scientific research environments.
But humans were pack animals. Octavius and Connors also possessed respective families. Banner also missed his ex-girlfriend.
They couldn't possibly remain on this island forever.
Batman didn't speak. Slightly glowing white eyes stared at Morbius.
"Naturally I want." Professor Morbius—stared at uncomfortably by Batman—"But at minimum must wait until I can completely master this current condition, correct?"
Batman nodded slightly:
"Correct. But not limited to that."
Last night inside the Egyptian galleries, Moon God Khonshu's statement still lingered beside Batman's ears: "Darkness approaches like a tide."
Long ago, when settling Dr.Banner and others at North Brother Island, Batman had conceived forming one Justice League-like organization.
This notion had always existed. But last night Moon God Khonshu's words made Batman decide expediting this concept's implementation process.
"Specifically how?" Dr. Banner abandoned Robin, approaching closer.
"After Professor Connors returns, I'll uniformly inquire your opinions." Batman said.
Dr. Banner obviously wasn't satisfied with this answer. Just as he prepared pressing further, Dr. Octavius interrupted:
"Done."
Relying on four mechanical tentacles, Dr. Octavius had already completed moonlight platform construction.
"Then... begin?" Dr. Banner pulled Venom Robin over. "Should we summon Khonshu?"
"Unnecessary." Batman observed Banner. "But I need Hulk."
Dr. Banner's face displayed his unique honest, unassuming smile. Removing his glasses and tossing them aside, he shed his white lab coat.
Beyond the lab coat—inside were jacket, shirt...
Ultimately, throughout his entire body beyond one extremely loose purple shorts, Dr. Banner had removed all other clothing.
Batman observed Banner's loose shorts, frowning slightly. So enormously large they could wrap half of Banner inside.
But accompanied by consecutive bone-growth sounds resembling popping beans, Banner's body acquired green tones. Extremely developed muscles and taut skin made him transform again into Hulk.
Those loose shorts also became fitting as Hulk appeared.
"Big Lizard..."
The instant Hulk appeared, he turned his head searching for Professor Connors. Not seeing him in the laboratory, he looked toward Batman:
"What did you do to my Big Lizard?"
"Your Big Lizard?" Dr. Octavius—from the side—turned his head, chuckling quietly twice.
"He's executing missions." Batman faced Hulk, his face displaying slight smiles never shown to others. "Hulk, currently I need you helping guard here. At necessary moments, act according to my commands."
"Hulk hasn't acted for very long." Hulk snorted twice. "I want finding Big Lizard."
Batman obviously couldn't permit Hulk running to Bat Island fighting Lizard Professor. This would definitely frighten finally-appearing-normal Norman Osborn into stress responses:
"Hulk, do you know nuclear bombs?"
"Hulk isn't afraid of nuclear bombs."
"I know. But for humanity, they represent the ultimate and most powerful final weapons." Batman looked upward at Hulk approaching before him. "For me, Hulk represents nuclear bomb-like existence. Only when absolutely necessary can you act."
Hulk immediately grinned:
"Stronger than Big Lizard."
"Stronger." Batman said.
Receiving satisfactory answers, Hulk clenched his fist, extending it forward, fist-bumping Batman.
"Good judgment."
Dr. Octavius had already been suppressing laughter from the side for considerable time. Currently observing Hulk pacified by Batman once again, he rapidly coughed, stopping his smile:
"Robin, come here."
Venom Robin disliked this researched sensation. But currently his side—one side stood expressionless Batman, opposite side stood arms-crossed-before-chest Hulk, making his arm muscles appear outrageous-level developed.
After merely one second's hesitation, Venom Robin immediately chose running toward Octavius's indicated moonlight platform.
"You don't mind me binding you?" Dr. Octavius held specially-made restraints while smiling.
"I mind." Venom Robin squinted.
"Hmph." Hulk snorted dissatisfiedly.
Already-distanced-from-Hulk Venom Robin extended his scarlet tongue toward Hulk.
"Binding unnecessary. Begin experiments like this." Batman spoke.
With Batman present, Venom Robin needn't being bound.
Summoning Hulk primarily served monitoring Professor Morbius, preventing previous conversation triggering other thoughts.
But Batman wouldn't state this directly. Instead guiding everyone in the laboratory believing Hulk served preventing accidents during Venom Robin's experimental process.
As Dr. Octavius used mechanical tentacles controlling prisms slowly moving, one moonlight beam slowly illuminated Venom Robin.
Venom Robin comfortably emitted one whimper, couldn't restrain exercising his entire symbiote-simulated joint positions.
Within moonlight, Venom Robin's pitch-black symbiote was rapidly wrapped by white bandages. Layer upon layer of bandages wrapped him completely and thoroughly.