Chapter 276: Robin's Exclusive Vehicle?
Actually, Batman making Norman Osborn strive toward New York State Governor directions possessed another layer of intent:
Placing Norman Osborn conspicuously in plain sight—using him as bait attracting Hydra attention.
Norman's ankle restraint contained listening functionality plus data interception functionality. Once Hydra attempted contacting Norman Osborn, Batman would immediately discover and implement targeted measures.
Considering previously General Ross—this Hydra agent—had taken Norman Osborn away, transforming him into Gamma Goblin. Subsequently World Security Council-hidden Hydra layouts encompassed Hawkeye, General Ross, SHIELD plans.
Batman possessed hundred-percent certainty: maximum seven days, Hydra would inevitably appear.
"Tony, I need meeting you plus Max Dillon."
Batman didn't pour all energies onto Norman Osborn. After clarifying Norman's "bait" plans, Batman opened encrypted communications contacting Tony Stark.
"Coincidentally, we're also discussing meeting you." Tony Stark obviously was drinking. While speaking, he produced gulping sounds. "Ten minutes later, Stark Tower."
After speaking, both Batman and Tony simultaneously closed communication channels.
"Batmobile from here to Stark Tower only requires three minutes." Venom Robin spoke meaningfully. "If walking, requires over twenty minutes."
Batman looked toward Venom Robin:
"If maintaining concealment while demonstrating speed, can arrive at Stark Tower within one minute."
Venom Robin—seeing Batman impervious—simply stated directly:
"I also want one Batmobile, please! It's genuinely cool."
"What you need isn't a Batmobile." Batman's voice remained ice-cold. "What you need is one vehicle exclusively belonging to 'Robin.'"
"Right right right! My exclusive vehicle!" Venom Robin's white eyes lifted. "Old Bat... Dad, when will you arrange one for me?"
Last night Batman raising his hand shooting web strands, then following the Batwing stylishly departing—that figure made Venom Robin envious beyond measure.
Though circumstances were urgent then—Batman needing separating operations from Robin—one realistic problem emerged: as Robin, beyond riding Batman's aircraft and vehicles, he possessed zero personal transportation methods.
Though regarding Venom Robin's physical qualities, even long-distance rushing one-two hours wouldn't cause fatigue. Even if fatigued, he could transform into Venom restoring conditions, or absorbing moonlight supplementing stamina.
But imagining Batman's cape fluttering through air while he miserably used two legs running groundward—Venom Robin felt unbearably envious.
No helping it. Who made Old Bat's Batwing and Batmobile so cool!
"Future someday, when you're no longer Batman's sidekick but one independently-capable hero." Batman said.
Venom Robin's just-raised eye corners immediately drooped:
"Oh."
He slowly turned around, back toward Batman, attempting using his lonely back moving the opponent.
But obviously Batman wouldn't fall for this.
Though Batman had absorbed sufficient educational experience from previous Robin generations, this didn't mean unconditionally spoiling Robin.
Currently Venom Robin's mentality ultimately remained adolescent. Once he possessed personal vehicles, Batman could hardly guarantee the little guy wouldn't secretly piloting vehicles sneaking out.
With Batcave level-two's The Leader—possessing mental control capabilities—as precedent, Batman worried whether Hydra internally possessed similar talents. They'd discover the flamboyant little guy, then one mental-control command taking him away.
For Venom Robin—not even learning one-percent of Batman's complete skills—this appeared excessively risky.
Thus Batman didn't console Robin's small emotions. Instead opening another encrypted communication channel:
"I'm Batman."
The communication channel's opposite end remained silent several seconds. Then one somewhat teeth-grinding voice transmitted:
"Damn, how do you know my encrypted communication channel?"
The voice's roughness carried slight fox-like cunning—precisely SHIELD Director Nick Fury who'd previously confronted Batman at one Manhattan safe house.
Batman didn't answer Director Fury's question.
Capable anytime hacking SHIELD systems, face-to-face encountering Nick Fury, even infiltrating SHIELD's New York-distributed safe houses—Batman could hardly not know Nick Fury's encrypted communication channels.
SHIELD's firewall remained that version Batman had crafted for them. Though modified through consecutive SHIELD internal personnel alterations, Batman hacking inside still posed zero problems.
But hacking remained hacking. Batman still hadn't attempted wiretapping encrypted communication channels. First—communication encryption and system firewalls were completely unrelated.
Second—this action's discovery possibilities were relatively large, and would make SHIELD completely classify Batman as terrorist thereby adopting excessive measures.
Knowing back then Wakanda Prince T'Challa's invasion of Batman's communication channels didn't even count.
At most—face-to-face synchronizing Black Cat's held communicator to T'Challa's hand-worn Kimoyo beads—Batman had already classified T'Challa as enormous threat.
If not for this Wakanda prince—whether speech or behavior—appearing refined and accommodating, plus after taking vibranium specifically delivering it to Parker Industries as triple gifts, attitudes and methods being impeccable—
Switching to others, Batman might have long ago knocked them unconscious, taking them elsewhere for interrogations.
Nick Fury—seeing Batman not answering his previous question—decisively skipped it, asking next questions:
"You won't contact me without reason, Batman. Speak. What do you want doing?"
"Norman Osborn has restored normalcy. I need SHIELD assistance—reemploying legal procedures you once used on Otto Gunther Octavius." Batman said.
"WTF?" Nick Fury obviously hadn't expected Batman contacting his encrypted communications for this matter. "Do you want hearing what you're saying?"
"I believe I needn't repeating twice." Batman responded expressionlessly.
"What?" Inside Helicarrier's command room, Nick Fury seemingly was laughed at angrily. "You say Norman restored normalcy. You think I'll believe you?"
"Even if I believe you, why should I listen to you—legally clearing Norman's crimes?"
"You know last time absorbing Dr. Octavius becoming SHIELD scientist—how long I spent persuading World Security Council's individuals?"
"My underground-sleeping-decades-old mother was even greeted once by those politicians! You—"
Batman interrupted SHIELD Director Nick Fury's words:
"They'll agree."
World Security Council members contained Hydra. This represented confirmed facts.
Since Hydra existed, Norman Osborn had once entered Hydra's vision—Batman possessed hundred-percent certainty they'd clear Norman Osborn's crimes.