But having said that, Marcus had to admit that the secret room hadn't yet become the sophisticated base filled with various high-tech equipment that he remembered from his knowledge of Bruce's future.
At this point in its development, it could only be said that the Batcave had just begun to take its initial shape. Apart from the impressive surveillance video feeds monitoring various locations throughout Gotham, very little else existed in terms of advanced equipment or operational capabilities.
This was quite different from the legendary Batcave that Marcus remembered from his understanding of Batman's eventual operations. In his mental image of the future, Bruce wouldn't be fighting his war against crime alone as a solitary vigilante.
As Wayne Manor's butler and Bruce's most trusted confidant, Alfred would serve as Bruce's most valuable assistant and support system. Whether Bruce needed aerial vehicles, armored ground transport, advanced weapons, or emergency medical support, Alfred would be able to quickly deploy whatever resources were required from their underground base of operations.
"It's not bad for a beginning," Marcus said thoughtfully, "but the functional capabilities here are still quite limited, don't you think?"
Hearing Marcus's frank assessment, Alfred nodded repeatedly in complete agreement.
It was indeed a significant waste of potential to use such a strategically located secret base as nothing more than an elaborate monitoring room. However, Alfred felt somewhat uncertain about how to proceed with major improvements and expansions.
After all, this space had been organized and developed primarily by Bruce himself. It was fundamentally Bruce's secret base, and Alfred saw his role as merely providing auxiliary support rather than taking the initiative in major design decisions.
"Looking at your expression, I'm guessing you probably don't have any clear ideas for major transformations," Marcus observed with understanding. "So let me offer you a few practical suggestions that might prove useful."
While speaking, Marcus walked purposefully toward one of the secret room's stone walls, his steps echoing softly in the underground chamber.
After tapping lightly on the cave wall several times to test its structural integrity, Marcus concentrated energy at his fingertips and applied focused pressure to a specific section of the wall.
Whoosh~
The originally solid rock wall seemed to transform into soft mud in front of Marcus's enhanced abilities, breaking apart easily as he carved through it with supernatural precision.
"Here," Marcus said, gesturing toward the newly created opening. "If Bruce truly wants to change Gotham for the better, he's going to need to be extremely active throughout the city, and he'll definitely require substantial logistical support in the future."
Marcus continued his explanation while demonstrating the potential expansion. "You can excavate through this direction. If I remember correctly, there should be an underground lake system in this direction. You could transform the entire distance between here and the water source into Bruce's personal equipment storage and deployment facility, allowing you to provide immediate support whenever he needs it."
This suggestion immediately resonated with Alfred's strategic thinking. Although Bruce was currently operating as a relatively simple vigilante, Alfred could see that within a few years, Bruce would inevitably begin attempting to create systematic change throughout Gotham.
When Bruce eventually escalated his activities to that level, the entire corrupt power structure of Gotham would essentially become his enemy. Criminal organizations, corrupt politicians, dirty police officers, and various other hostile forces would all unite against him.
If Bruce had to rely solely on his own individual capabilities during those future battles, he would be far more likely to encounter various dangers and potentially lethal situations that could end his mission permanently.
Moreover, Gotham's criminal underworld had been developing increasingly dangerous and exotic drugs and enhancement technologies. The opponents that Bruce would face in just a few years would be significantly more powerful and dangerous than anything they were dealing with currently.
But having acknowledged the wisdom of Marcus's suggestion, Alfred also had to consider the practical challenges involved. It would represent an absolutely massive construction project that would require careful planning, significant resources, and a considerable amount of time to complete properly.
Beyond the obvious logistical challenges, there was also the question of Alfred's operational role. He could certainly relay various types of information and intelligence to Bruce from the secret room, but this would mean that he couldn't leave the base casually during active operations. And if he couldn't leave the base, it would be much more difficult for him to provide direct field support when Bruce needed it most.
"Perhaps you're absolutely right about the strategic necessity," Alfred admitted thoughtfully. "But this would represent an enormous engineering project that will take a very long time to complete properly, even with advanced technology and unlimited funding."
Alfred couldn't deny the fundamental logic behind Marcus's suggestions, and he understood that this kind of comprehensive support system was probably the most valuable contribution he could make to Bruce's mission.
As for the possibility of actually fighting alongside Bruce in direct combat situations, while Alfred certainly possessed the physical capability and military training to accompany Bruce on dangerous missions, he lacked the ability to master Zenurik school techniques like his young charges. If Bruce encountered opponents that even his enhanced abilities couldn't handle, Alfred might not be effective even while wearing one of Marcus's advanced battle suits.
Agreeing with Marcus's strategic vision, Alfred made the decision to begin working immediately on transforming this secret chamber into a truly comprehensive operations base designed specifically for Bruce's needs.
After spending additional time in the secret room discussing various technical details and potential improvements, both men eventually left the underground facility. There wasn't much more to observe or plan without beginning the actual construction work.
When they returned to Wayne Manor's garden, they found Bruce and Selina approaching them, both fully equipped in their black combat gear and ready for their nightly patrol activities.
"Teacher, Alfred, we're heading out for tonight's patrol!" Bruce announced with obvious enthusiasm and energy.
"Go ahead," Marcus replied with casual confidence. "Have a productive evening."
As far as Gotham's current threat level was concerned, as long as no one was foolish enough to attempt something catastrophically dangerous—like bombing the church, breaking the supernatural seals that had been carefully placed, and reopening the chains that blocked the hellish passage beneath the city—there would never be anyone in Gotham capable of seriously challenging Bruce and Selina's combined abilities.
Besides, even if someone did manage to break those protective seals somehow, they still wouldn't be able to do anything meaningful about the mystical chains that blocked the passage to hell itself. After all, there was no one except Harrow the Exorcist who possessed the specific knowledge and power required to open those particular restraints.
If other individuals wanted to force those chains open, they would need to demonstrate magical or supernatural power that exceeded even Harrow's considerable abilities, and this was definitely not an easy accomplishment. There might be such individuals in the future as supernatural threats continued to evolve, but currently no one in Gotham possessed that level of mystical capability.
Watching his two students depart for their nightly activities, Marcus turned to look directly at Alfred.
"It looks like you're going to be spending quite a bit more time in that secret room," Marcus observed with a slight smile. "As for me, I'm planning to follow them and observe how they conduct their daily operations."
"I'll leave Master Bruce's safety in your capable hands," Alfred replied formally, offering a slight bow that conveyed both respect and trust.
As soon as Alfred finished speaking, he turned around and walked purposefully back toward the secret room to begin his support duties. Bruce's nighttime activities depended entirely on Alfred's coordination and intelligence gathering. It was Alfred's responsibility to notify the two vigilantes as quickly as possible about developing situations so they could reach their destinations in time to prevent crimes or respond to emergencies.
Watching Alfred depart to assume his support role, Marcus smiled quietly and shook his head with gentle amusement. His entire physical form began to dissolve into a cloud of dark energy that drifted away with the evening wind.
"Based on Gotham's current threat level, those two are already strong enough to handle virtually anything they might encounter," Marcus's voice carried on the wind currents. "This should be interesting to observe."
Marcus's consciousness floated through the air currents above Gotham, looking down at Bruce and Selina as they moved efficiently through the city's shadowy streets below.
Both young vigilantes were in excellent spirits after their reunion with their teacher and the comprehensive lesson in advanced Zenurik techniques. They had finally seen Marcus again after his long absence, and they had also learned valuable new abilities that would enhance their effectiveness during patrol operations.
The two students, riding high on their improved mood and renewed confidence, decided to approach tonight's patrol with a lighter, more celebratory attitude, as if they were honoring their teacher's return through their actions.
"Where do you think we should go tonight?" Bruce asked through his black mask, his voice carrying both anticipation and strategic consideration.
"Let's head toward the area near Arkham," Selina suggested without hesitation. "You know, the location where we encountered those enhanced Beastmen during our last major confrontation."
Selina's suggestion referred to their previous encounter near Arkham Asylum, where they had fought against a particularly ferocious and powerful Beastman. That creature had been significantly stronger and more dangerous than any of the enhanced criminals they had encountered in their previous patrol activities.
If it hadn't been for the advanced battle suits and specialized weapons that Marcus had provided them, both young vigilantes might very well have been killed during that intense battle.
"Good choice," Bruce agreed readily. "Let's go there. It just so happens that we've learned new combat techniques from our teacher. Even if we encounter that same type of enhanced Beastman again, we won't be nearly as disadvantaged as we were before."
During their brief conversation, both vigilantes determined their destination for the evening's patrol activities.
But Marcus, who was observing their movements from his position in the air currents above, couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly after seeing the direction they were heading.
"That direction leads to... Arkham Asylum?" Marcus murmured to himself with growing interest.
Marcus, floating invisibly through the night air, rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he considered the implications. He found this particular destination choice quite fascinating from a long-term perspective.
In his understanding of Bruce's eventual destiny, Bruce would develop deep and complex connections with Arkham Asylum that went far beyond simple geography. These connections would include not only Bruce's family history—particularly his mother's tragic connection to the facility—but also the numerous dangerous criminals and psychotic individuals who would eventually be imprisoned within its walls.
Yes, whether in the Marvel universe or the DC universe, the opponents that most superheroes faced could typically be classified as "super villains" with enhanced abilities and criminal motivations.
But Bruce's opponents couldn't be simply described using such straightforward terms. After all, most of these individuals would eventually become frequent residents of Arkham Asylum, making them more accurately described as highly intelligent, completely insane criminals with advanced degrees in chaos and destruction.
When these particular enemies entered their psychotic episodes, they wouldn't hesitate to harm anyone—enemies, allies, or even their own criminal associates. Their unpredictability and complete lack of moral restraints made them far more dangerous than typical super villains.
Following his two students from a safe distance in the air, Marcus observed their progress silently and with growing anticipation.
Bruce and Selina remained completely unaware of Marcus's aerial surveillance as they approached the vicinity of Arkham Asylum. When they reached the general area where they expected to encounter potential threats, both vigilantes drew their weapons in preparation for combat.
Despite their previous dangerous encounter in this location, neither of them chose to immediately deploy the specialized weapons that Marcus had given them. Instead, they each drew their preferred daggers—the familiar weapons they had trained with extensively.
"This time, let's fight using the advanced techniques that our teacher just taught us," Bruce suggested with obvious eagerness to test their new abilities. "This will be a perfect opportunity to see exactly how powerful these enhanced skills really are in actual combat."
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