Chapter 94: Vibranium, Project Siegebreaker, and Project Ouroboros
"Barbara, is the energy structure analysis complete?"
In the abandoned City Hall Station, Batman's voice remained low.
"Analysis complete, Bruce," the Prophet AI responded.
"This energy exhibits extremely high entropy rates and a peculiar negative energy signature. It appears to strip away the target's energy and structural stability rather than simply heating or impacting."
"Its external manifestation resembles a photographic negative—primarily black and white in coloration."
Batman stroked his stubbled chin.
Even during those three days when Harry Osborn had forcibly kept him bedridden, Batman had found time for necessary training—muscle memory exercises, conditioned reflex drills, comprehensive physical conditioning.
As his body grew increasingly powerful, the muscle development had transformed Peter's formerly lean, agile frame. Even his jawline had begun developing a cleft.
"According to Schulman, the energy weapons he developed and those Shocker gauntlets—the energy coating them all came from Mr. Negative."
"So this Mr. Negative may be the first individual with extraordinary abilities I'll encounter since arriving in this world."
Batman stood in the station's center, silent and contemplative, his mind rapidly processing every piece of intelligence gathered tonight.
"Schulman wasn't lying. He's never seen Mr. Negative's true appearance. But from his description, the man is around thirty years old with meticulously groomed hair and distinctly East Asian facial features."
"When he appeared before Schulman in his black-and-white negative form, he wore a suit and tie."
"Perhaps that remains his typical appearance in normal form as well."
While Batman contemplated in the station, Schulman huddled in the corner where Batman had left him—eyes and mouth covered with webbing, body wrapped like a dumpling.
He too was thinking:
'Bruce? Batman's human disguise name is Bruce?'
'He converses with someone named Barbara under this identity, having her provide technical support?'
The Prophet AI's voice—completely free of electronic synthesis—naturally led the blindfolded Schulman to assume Barbara was a normal woman.
As for Batman, Schulman now completely believed this creature wasn't human but some unknown monster wearing human skin.
An hour had passed since his battle—or rather, one-sided beating—with Batman in that Queens residential building.
'The trio wasn't captured by Batman. They must have escaped? If they're smart, they'll seek help from Mr. Negative. Mr. Negative needs my technical expertise. He'll definitely find me and rescue me!'
'No, wait. I already told Batman everything about Mr. Negative. When he finds me, he'll kill me.'
'But staying here with Batman doesn't seem ideal either? If he's a man-eating monster, I hope he eats my legs first...'
'No, wait. He hasn't taken me to the police or done anything to me. Batman values my energy weapons development skills? But the energy comes from Mr. Negative. I'll be exposed eventually...'
Batman glanced back at Schulman. The man's breathing had become briefly agitated moments ago.
But Batman ignored him, instead opening the computer. The screen displayed a Queens map with three blinking red dots.
The trio who'd tested weapons and led Batman to Schulman's building—Batman had planted listening devices and micro-trackers on all three during their first contact.
Whether frightened by the Shocker gauntlets punching through the building's ceiling or simply behaving like scared snails, the trio had remained inside that residential building for over an hour since Batman departed with Schulman.
They occasionally moved, but never more than a few feet.
Audio from the listening devices confirmed all three were alive, showing no signs of distress.
From Schulman's confession, Batman knew the trio were "disposable assets" Mr. Negative had provided—meant to be killed after weapon testing.
Batman was using them as bait, hoping to lure the ever-hidden Mr. Negative into the open.
The name "Batman" had spread throughout New York, but few had actually encountered him. Mr. Negative surely wouldn't kill them immediately—he'd keep them alive to interrogate for Batman intelligence.
However, judging from the faint snoring now emanating from the listening devices, Batman's plan had likely failed.
Batman shook his head slightly. Two weblines shot left and right, sealing Schulman's ears.
The sudden deafness startled Schulman.
'Batman realized I accidentally heard his name and quickly blocked my ears! I guessed right!'
Schulman's heart raced with a strange satisfaction, feeling he'd finally discovered something about his captor.
'Schulman's breathing just spiked for six seconds.' Batman noted mentally.
Bringing Schulman blindfolded and gagged to the Batcave had been deliberate. Even letting Schulman overhear "Bruce" and "Barbara" was intentional.
Nobody knew that in this world, Peter was his true name. "Bruce" was merely an alias.
Batman hadn't placed all his bait hopes on the trio. Schulman served as bait too—just not to be released today.
With Schulman's ears sealed, Batman sat before the workbench examining another computer screen's information.
Before heading to Hell's Kitchen to meet Black Cat tonight, he'd tasked the prophet AI with tracing Stark Industries' arms orders based on the confirmed SI-03 gun oil model and compatible weapon types.
After nearly an entire night, the Prophet AI hadn't disappointed—it had compiled every order involving that gun oil and those weapons.
His white lenses retracted, revealing Batman's dark eyes as he began meticulously reviewing the orders without pause.
The deeper Batman looked, the deeper his frown grew. As a military contractor, Stark Industries operated in a way Batman didn't interfere with—precisely because they only sold weapons to military forces, never private organizations.
The Prophet AI's traced orders matched this pattern. Every single order appeared flawless—buyers were either various branches of the armed forces or SHIELD.
SHIELD, as an international organization established by multiple nations, naturally conducted business with Stark Industries.
But therein lay the problem—the seemingly perfect orders meant Batman's leads had hit a dead end.
At Ravencroft Institute, the four men who'd taken Norman Osborn likely used Stark Industries weapons. The gun oil scent came directly from SI-03.
Batman didn't stubbornly fixate on this problem. Instead, he shifted to parallel thinking while remotely operating Parker Industries' computers to place industrial orders.
Unlike his previous memory fiber equipment and materials purchase—which concealed the Arkham suit and cape orders within—this time Batman primarily ordered production equipment for the rescue gear he'd eventually manufacture under Peter's identity in partnership with Silver Sable.
Scattered throughout were automotive components, plus something Batman had noticed during his last procurement in the rare precious metals category but couldn't afford then: vibranium.
Batman needed it for creating a Batmobile capable of switching to combat mode—transforming into a tank—plus the anti-Ant-Man "Project David," and preparations based on analyzing Mr. Negative's "negative energy" abilities.
After establishing any plan, Batman continually enriched it until the plan became a reliable method rather than a forgotten file folder.
"Also, Barbara, establish 'Project Siegebreaker' targeting the Hulk, and 'Project Ouroboros' targeting Professor Lizard." Batman said.