Chapter 84 Martin Li's Shelter
Unlike when he first crossed over as the destitute Peter Parker—when Batman needed to strip armor from the Spider-Slayer to create his suit—the Batman now crafting his armor was creating the complete suit he'd worn that night in Gotham when Scarecrow united with other villains attempting to destroy the city, and Batman completely suppressed them in one night.
Three layers of synthetic titanium woven surface, inner layer filled with magnetorheological fluid material, plus installed circuits, insulation layers, and thermal/cold protection layers isolating extreme temperatures.
These functions would allow Batman to focus more energy on offense rather than defense.
Moreover, unlike the previous "Spider-Slayer" suit, the new suit completely conformed to Batman's body structure, capable of supporting Batman through various complex tactical maneuvers.
The redesigned bat-claw—combining the web-shooter with grappling gun—had faster initial launch speed, even adding self-cutting webbing and rapid coiling retraction functions.
Since Peter Parker's physical capabilities far exceeded Bruce Wayne's human limits, Batman designed the retraction kinetic energy more aggressively.
The helmet was completely equipped with perspective modules. The eye sections could freely cover or open a protective layer, displaying information received from perspective sonar and infrared comprehensively.
One could say that aside from lacking Alfred's remote tactical support, the Batcave's supercomputer providing computational support, and Lucius's technical support, this suit differed little from what he wore that night.
These were still secondary. Most importantly, Batman's complete cape was finally manufactured. The wide, soft cape could wrap around the body, could harden when electrified for gliding, and could even become Batman's weapon for attacking enemies.
Midnight, atop the Empire State Building.
Clear night sky, moonlight illuminating the earth.
In the cold night wind, Batman's cape danced. Having completely upgraded his armor, he didn't rush to find those two—Dr. Banner and Professor Connors—who'd been staying idle at the hotel for three days.
He had other matters to handle first.
During three days, Batman had never abandoned information gathering on New York's underground forces.
After Kingpin and his other subordinates were imprisoned, that weapons-maker Schulman had yet to be found.
Batman had to remain secretly vigilant. According to driver Walker and Scorpion Mac's previous statements, whenever Kingpin's gang needed to use weapons as leverage—like Black Cat previously selling tampered firearms—Schulman was responsible.
His disappearance meant New York's underground forces would sooner or later develop and expand again.
According to clues Batman investigated, Schulman was likely hiding in Queens.
"The incident at Oscorp three days ago caused countless ordinary employees and Wall Street financial industry members to lose jobs."
"Though Harry actively absorbed these people back into Oscorp, I still noticed some unemployed personnel recently appearing in Queens."
Batman thought silently.
According to collected clues, those unemployed personnel had merely joined a welfare institution named "Food, Emergency Aid, Shelter and Training," abbreviated "FEAST."
But Batman didn't believe things would be this simple, especially when those unemployed personnel should have had better options—even if not returning to Oscorp, they could still choose other companies.
"Something must be attracting them there."
WHOOSH!
Batman jumped from atop the Empire State Building. The cape behind him electrified and spread, making him seem to completely transform into a massive bat soaring through the sky.
He would go to Queens to find Schulman and investigate what this "FEAST" welfare institution truly was.
Queens, inside the "FEAST" shelter.
This was a secluded two-story townhouse. Even at night, it remained brightly lit.
Batman's figure soundlessly landed on the rooftop, listening to voices coming from inside.
"Don't feel guilty about accepting help. We all experience storms. This world is indeed sometimes cruel."
"But remember, your value never depends on what you've lost, but on what kind of person you choose to become."
"We are a whole. Every individual we help reinforces the foundation of society—"
Batman hung upside down, slowly descending from the rooftop, gradually approaching the window. He saw the speaker was a middle-aged man wearing a gray suit.
Before him sat cross-legged over a hundred people—some also wearing suits but looking dejected unemployed personnel, some originally ragged homeless people, some women looking somewhat constrained.
Batman remained motionless, listening to this gray-suited man speak for over ten minutes, meanwhile using his newly configured Bat-computer to identify him.
"Martin Li, successful representative of the 'American Dream,' received the Presidential Medal of Freedom—owns a Wall Street financial company, additionally owns multiple office buildings in Queens."
"Ten-plus days ago purchased this two-story building, originally a clothing store, now converted to a homeless shelter, named 'FEAST.'"
No longer needing to return home to manually sketch target appearances for computer identification to query their complete information.
The new Batsuit's equipped computer already integrated recording, photography, video functions. Batman casually queried all of Martin Li's information.
Only whether Martin Li's personal information, his companies, or this welfare institution—Batman found no abnormalities.
Too clean. Clean to the point of incredibility.
One must know even groups like Stark had dirt about weapons illegally appearing in New York gang hands. Oscorp had human experimentation collusion.
But Martin Li—whether from personal or company angles—showed no problems.
Even his current speech at the shelter to those hundred-plus unemployed personnel and homeless people only contained encouragement, not using them for anything.
Not wasting too much time here, Batman left several listening devices before leaving, wandering Queens' narrow alleys searching for Schulman's clues, incidentally fighting criminals, tossing them before Queens police station.
"Schulman seems to have evaporated. I need to visit Hell's Kitchen tonight."
Batman thought, using the cape's high mobility to fly from Queens toward Manhattan.
Dr. Banner and Professor Connors were still waiting for him at the hotel.
In a military prison, General Ross wore prison clothes, two legs powerlessly dragging on a stool—twisted by Batman when he bent the helicopter propeller.
General Ross currently looked lifeless. He'd been hammered dead by that reporter Eddie Brock's explosive materials released through the Daily Bugle. Awaiting him would be life imprisonment and political rights deprivation.
But as footsteps sounded, several prison guards strode over. Under Ross's gaze they opened the cage, even removing Ross's handcuffs.
"What—"
Before Ross finished his question, a document was handed to him by one guard.
As his gaze slowly swept the document from top to bottom, a smile appeared on Ross's face. Then with one guard's help he sat in a wheelchair, and half an hour later boarded a helicopter to New Mexico.
"Relay my orders. Bring Norman Osborn from Ravencroft Institute."
"Repair the New Mexico gamma radiation device."
"Fully investigate Batman's true identity. Find traces of Professor Connors and Dr. Banner."
"Have the Daily Bugle fire that damned little reporter Eddie Brock. Send an agent to kill him."
As General Ross issued orders, commands transmitted from the helicopter. Invisible power once again enveloped New York.