At Justice Society Headquarters, Eric was using a microscope and other detection devices to examine the freshly drawn blood of Adam Smith, comparing it simultaneously with blood drawn from the vampires at the sorority house.
Jena of the Wonder Twins, whom he had "abducted" to Justice Society Headquarters, was curiously observing the photos of the previous generation's deceased or retired Justice Society members hanging on the wall.
With a curious expression in her eyes, Jena scrutinized each person in the photographs.
Upon seeing Wildcat's attire, she was curious and prepared to mimic it.
Her hands transformed into cat claws, somewhat resembling the claws on Wildcat's equipment.
She brandished her claws, swiping them through the air.
She seemed to enjoy her superpower of transforming her body features into those of animals.
After waving her cat claws for a while, Jena looked at the paw pads on her transformed cat claws and began to play with them.
Although Eric was quite interested in the Wonder Twins, he only considered using them in the future and had no other special intentions.
Seeing the commotion she was making beside him, he frowned.
"Jena, if you're hungry, go buy something to eat."
Eric directly pulled out a Franklin bill and handed it to her.
He glanced at her cat claws.
Why did it feel like he had picked up a stray kitten on the street?
"Money?"
Upon seeing the money Eric handed her, Jena's eyes immediately lit up.
Besides her abundant curiosity, she possessed an extreme fondness for money.
After sending Jena away, Eric continued to study the blood components before him.
He discovered that the red blood cells in traditional vampire blood were abnormal, and the hemoglobin content was distinctly different from that of ordinary humans.
However, the blood of the vampires from the sorority house seemed to be infected with a type of rabies virus; the virus was constantly attacking red blood cells and creating another substance.
The blood of the female vampires from the sorority house flowed faster and was more vibrant.
They appeared to be two completely different types of vampires.
After putting away the blood samples, Eric fell into contemplation.
It seemed these sorority house vampires, like the infected Green Lantern and Kara, were of the same type: after infection, their strength, endurance, and speed were enhanced, their minds would be controlled, their personalities would drastically change, and they would become mere killing tools obedient only to their master's commands.
Ordinary vampires, on the other hand, did not possess the above characteristics.
Eric recalled what Green Lantern had told him earlier about vampires attacking the human world—a complete fabrication.
He now suspected that Green Lantern was purely trying to mislead him.
After all, they were not normal vampires.
Beings like Green Lantern and Kara were less like vampires and more like victims of a certain virus.
So, who would infect them with this virus?
Eric stroked his chin, lost in thought.
The next day, Gotham.
A manor located on the outskirts of Gotham was bathed in sunlight.
In a sunroom on the top floor of the manor, Batman looked at the various magic world figures standing before him.
These included Constantine, Zatanna, Detective Chimp Bobo, and Circe.
"It's strange that you called us at this hour, Batman."
Constantine, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, asked Batman, "And the place you called us to is even stranger; this place is so bright you don't even need vitamin D."
The group was in a sunroom, with the sun directly shining into the room, giving them the sensation of sunbathing.
"I've prepared coffee for you all; you can try it."
Batman stood in the middle of their seats and said, "Recently, Andrew Bennett visited me. He appeared where I was sure to be, stating directly that he was looking for Batman."
"Your identity has been exposed, Batman?"
Zatanna asked him with some confusion.
"No, that's not the most important thing. The important thing is that he wrote me a letter, and that letter is the reason we are gathered here."
Batman's gaze swept over the group before he continued, "After Mr. Bennett left, I tried to track him. He went to great lengths to cover his tracks, and I believe he was followed during his journey. I know he was preparing to go to Washington."
"Then he vanished without a trace. Likewise, I haven't seen him again in two days."
Batman's deep voice uttered words that made everyone ponder.
"Bennett claimed that a group of unusual vampires was preparing to attack the human world," Batman revealed the information he had gathered, "Their leadership is undergoing some kind of change."
"If I were the new Count," Detective Chimp Bobo stood up and said to the others, "my first decision would be to transform metahumans."
"Yes."
Batman nodded, "Quite a few metahumans with special abilities and supervillains have disappeared. Perhaps they are planning just that."
His brow then furrowed, "In fact, after a period of investigation, I still don't know what I'm facing, so I need your help. Perhaps only you, those of the magical side, can help me see through these hidden conspiracies."
Circe, elegantly crossing her legs, sipped the coffee Batman had brewed for them and nodded thoughtfully, "So, first, the villains. They commit crimes for a while and then disappear, and it takes us a long time to even realize they're gone."
Beppo echoed Circe's opinion, "And those psychics, anyone who could know their plans."
Batman was silent for a moment, then said, "We shouldn't focus on who they will try to kill, but rather who they will try to convert."
Constantine exhaled a puff of smoke from his mouth. "Theoretically, anyone could be their conversion target. Batman, why do you trust us?"
"No! He doesn't!"
Zatanna looked at the coffee cup she had already tasted, a shocked expression in her eyes.
Beppo next to her also reacted, immediately pouring the coffee in his hand into a nearby flowerpot and asking Batman, "Batman, did you poison us?"
"No, I didn't. I didn't poison your coffee; I just added some substances that would make you spontaneously combust, of course, provided you are vampires."
Batman folded his arms across his chest, revealing his defined jawline, and said, "Likewise, we are holding this meeting in a sunroom right now, so under the ultraviolet light, we can see who gets burned. Now, the fact that you can follow what I'm saying means you are not among those who have been converted."
"Alright."
After hearing Batman's explanation, Beppo exhaled, looked at the cup from which he had poured out all the coffee, and extended it to Batman, "I accidentally spilled my coffee just now. Could I have some more?"
Half an hour later, after the meeting with the magic community, Batman prepared to leave.
As he walked down the corridor, he was stopped by a voice.
"Batman, I think I need to talk to you."
Batman turned around and saw it was his old acquaintance, Zatanna.
He and Zatanna could be considered childhood sweethearts.
During the period after Bruce lost his parents in childhood, he was despondent, uninterested in anything, and became a completely withdrawn child.
Alfred then invited Zatanna's parents to Wayne Manor to perform magic, and it was then that the two became friends.
She had always known Batman's true identity.
"About what, Little Zha?"
Batman narrowed his eyes, looking at the figure of his childhood sweetheart.
"A matter concerning the fate of the entire world."
Zatanna walked closer to Batman and said, "We became friends a long time ago, didn't we, Bruce? You'll choose to trust me, won't you?"
Batman didn't answer directly, but instead stared into Zatanna's eyes, "That depends on what you're talking about, Little Zha."
As he spoke, he turned around, looking at the scenery outside the corridor, "If it's beyond my capabilities, then I won't give you the answer you want."
"Sorry, Bruce!"
Zatanna pressed close to Batman's body and whispered.
"Hiss!"
The sound of a dagger piercing flesh rang out, accompanied by a sharp pain.
Batman turned around in shock, finding a dagger plunged into his lower back.
With pain and bewilderment in his eyes, Batman looked at Zatanna, who had stabbed him in the kidney.
"Sorry, Bruce, I'm the one who was converted. I drank the blood of certain magical creatures beforehand, so you didn't detect my vampire identity."
Enduring the severe pain, Batman abruptly pushed Zatanna away and leaped out of the fourth-floor window.
Thud!
His body hit the ground heavily. Enduring intense pain, Batman stumbled to his feet, ignoring his body's agony, and quickly ran forward.
Zatanna, by the fourth-floor window, did not immediately pursue him but merely watched Batman escape with cold eyes.
Enduring the excruciating pain, sweat beading on his forehead, Batman ran quickly towards the manor's exit.
Falling from the fourth floor, his spine, which had not fully recovered, was injured again. Coupled with the pain in his back, it hurt so much that he felt his soul was being ripped out.
"Vroom! Vroom!"
The roar of a motorcycle engine sounded outside the manor. Catwoman, riding Batman's stolen vehicle, sped towards him.
"Get in!"
Selina, in her Catwoman gear, shouted to Bruce.
Ignoring how she had stolen his Batmobile, Batman endured the intense pain and, with a quick movement, jumped onto the motorcycle.
"No!"
Batman coughed up a mouthful of blood and weakly told Selina, "I—we can't shake her!"
"I know, but I have backup!"
Selina whispered.
Thud!
The sound of feet hitting the ground echoed.
Bruce saw Wonder Woman land on the ground. Amidst the roar of the high-speed motorcycle, their gazes met for a fleeting moment.
Bruce saw the determination in Wonder Woman's eyes.
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