In the comics, Batman was at least somewhat reliable. Sure, he had contingency plans to take down his allies, but he had never actually acted on them—his plans were only dangerous because they were leaked.
Unlike this version of Batman, who was provoked into going rogue by just a few words.
Superman let out a weary sigh. "So, you think this is my fault too?"
"I never said that," Shin replied. "I'm just stating an objective fact."
"Look, it's understandable that people are cautious around you. That's just common sense. But being cautious and actively turning you into an enemy, regardless of your character or morals? That's just stupidity," Shin continued, shrugging.
The meaning was simple: Even if you don't to intend cause harm, they should still take precautions.
Unfortunately, whether in movies or comics, the country's paranoia tended to be extreme.
Realistically, a functioning government would prepare for the existence of a being like Superman. But they wouldn't provoke him for no reason. That would be like picking a fight with a walking nuclear bomb.
Then again, considering some of the decisions world leaders had made throughout history, Shin wasn't entirely sure.
"That would be nice…" Superman muttered, shaking his head. "But I haven't met any of the rational people you're talking about."
He let out a bitter chuckle. "I still don't understand what's driving Luthor. He was so determined to destroy me that he thought he could control Doomsday."
"Do we really have that much bad blood?"
"Speaking of which," Shin said, tilting his head. "What's the status of that bald bastard now?"
Superman blinked in confusion. "Bald? Luthor isn't bald."
Shin stared at him. "Wait. What?"
Superman shrugged helplessly. "He's in prison. Not that it'll last long—someone like him never stays locked up for long."
Shin remained silent for a moment, processing that information.
So this world's Lex Luthor wasn't bald?
Well, that was unexpected. But ultimately, it was just a minor detail. The real takeaway was that Lex Luthor was still alive. Shin couldn't help but smirk at that.
As for Superman's complaints, Shin paid them no mind. He wasn't surprised that Superman understood the situation.
With his intelligence, it was impossible for him not to.
Not to mention, Superman's day job was as a journalist for The Daily Planet.
A good journalist—especially one working for a major newspaper—had to understand how the world worked.
"Well, at least Lex Luthor will be quiet for a while," Shin said. "In the meantime, you should use your super sight and super hearing to keep tabs on these guys. You never know when they'll start causing trouble again."
As he spoke, Shin's gaze naturally drifted toward Bruce, nearly calling him out by name.
Bruce, who had removed his cowl, looked increasingly uncomfortable. He shifted slightly in his seat, his expression turning pale. But he had no way to refute Shin's words.
Even in his low spirits, Superman caught the exchange and couldn't help but smile.
But just as quickly, his expression darkened again. He had already made a decision.
For now, he needed to distance himself from humanity.
After chatting for a while longer, Shin suddenly seemed to remember something. He raised his hand, and black mist swirled around him. A moment later, several massive snails appeared in his palm.
"A gift for you," Shin said with a grin. "These are called Den Den Mushi—or just phone bugs."
He handed them over.
"They work like regular phones, but their resistance to interference is much stronger. Even in places with no signal, electromagnetic storms, or extreme magnetic fields, they'll still function."
"As long as you're on Earth, you'll always be able to contact each other. Only if you go into space will they stop working."
Bruce's expression shifted slightly. He immediately picked up one of the phone bugs and began studying it.
Diana, meanwhile, was fascinated. She poked the snail gently, watching as it blinked its large eyes at her.
Superman hesitated for a moment before taking one as well.
"They eat pretty much anything—meat, vegetables, whatever. Their vitality is insane, and they can survive in most environments. But they love humidity. If you water them occasionally, they'll be happy," Shin added.
"This thing is way more reliable than a phone. At least you won't have to worry about it being traced."
Bruce studied the phone bug in silence for a while. Then, he looked up, his gaze sharp. "Who are you?" he asked. "Are you an alien?"
At those words, Superman and Diana's expressions changed.
Superman's face immediately darkened. As an alien himself, he'd been burned by that accusation too many times.
Diana also looked displeased. She wasn't an alien, but she wasn't human either. And Batman's paranoia toward anyone with powers was becoming increasingly obvious.
Shin, however, just laughed.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not an alien. If anything, I'm more of an Earthling than you are."
Bruce frowned. "That's hard to believe. No Earthling has abilities like yours. And turning Doomsday into a pig? That's not just advanced technology—that's insane technology."
"That wasn't technology," Shin corrected, grinning. "That was a curse."
Then, as if remembering something, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small water gun.
"You could say I'm a traveler from parallel worlds. Everything I've learned and every power I have is the result of my experiences in different planes."
Bruce's eyes narrowed. "Parallel worlds?"
Before he could say anything else, Diana slammed her hand onto the table. "What, are you planning to interrogate everyone now?"
Bruce inhaled sharply, then exhaled. "Sorry. I might be… a little too cautious."
"It's fine," Shin said, waving a hand dismissively. Then, suddenly, his grin widened.
"But I forgive you. Because deep down, you don't think you belong with us, do you? You feel… out of place among superhumans."
Bruce's expression darkened.
"So," Shin continued, "I'll give you a superpower."
Before anyone could react, he pulled the trigger on the water gun. A soft "squirt" filled the air. Bruce's entire body was soaked.
Superman and Diana barely had time to process what had happened before—Poof!
Batman transformed into a bat.
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