Chapter 277: Batman Is Still Too Comprehensive
"Fine. Since you say so, I'll assume you Batman possess heaven-defying capabilities settling those politicians."
Nick Fury's laughter stopped. He lowered his voice, half-threateningly asking:
"Then what reason do you have making me help you accomplish this matter?"
Beyond Nick Fury's expectations—he'd thought he'd hear Batman earnestly requesting himself, or producing something he couldn't refuse... though Nick Fury genuinely couldn't imagine what Batman could produce.
At minimum, Batman would adopt "requesting favors" attitudes continuing conversing with him.
But Batman didn't. Instead revealing slight smiles, his words more naked than Nick Fury's half-threats:
"Green Goblin, Squid-Man, Doctor Octopus, Hulk, Lizard Professor, Kingpin, Abomination, The Leader, Red Hulk, Iron Monger, Crimson Dynamo."
Batman concealed Green Goblin jr, Professor Morbius, and Electro Max Dillon's existences. He also didn't mention Mr. Negative or Venom.
But as Batman spoke each name, the communication channel's opposite-end silence grew increasingly heavy:
"Nick Fury, these represent monsters appearing in New York and New Mexico within merely two months. Without exception, they were all resolved by me or Iron Man."
"As Director of SHIELD—under the World Security Council jointly established by multiple nations—your global intelligence networks, rapid response forces, and SHIELD agents haven't once contributed toward handling these monsters."
"Oh, I nearly forgot you provided gamma facility intelligence. At minimum this way SHIELD's intervention records won't be zero."
Inside the command room, Nick Fury's expression completely darkened.
He wasn't unwilling resolving them. But with Batman's existence, these monsters were resolved too quickly.
So quickly that while SHIELD was still conducting intelligence analysis, Batman had already handled everything completely—even processing traces cleanly, leaving SHIELD zero leads.
Only at New Mexico's gamma facility that time—Nick Fury relied on intelligence advantages plus World Security Council commissioners holding emergency meetings, deciding dispatching one tactical squad toward New Mexico.
But the result was: after tactical squads arrived there, beyond ruins, they again didn't see Batman or other gamma monsters' shadows.
This time Batman's words didn't stop:
"Nick Fury, if SHIELD turns blind eyes toward homeland-erupting threats sufficient overturning urban ecosystems, does this mean your organization has malfunctioned?"
"Hydra, or bureaucracy?"
"Are you genuinely the commander sitting before control panels? Or like your Helicarrier—seemingly massive, but internally already crawling with parasites whose specific quantities you don't even know?"
"You need my help. Not me needing your help, Director Nick Fury."
Nick Fury remained silent half a moment. Only responding Batman one sentence:
"Fuck you, Batman."
Clearly Batman was requesting him. But after one conversation exchange, results became SHIELD both needing helping Batman resolve Norman Osborn's crime problems while needing Batman.
This feeling was frustrating. But fortunately another point made Nick Fury feel grateful:
Batman hadn't mentioned Hawkeye. He seemingly remained completely uninformed regarding this secretly-dispatched SHIELD agent.
At minimum "Operation Owl" could execute normally.
"I'll resolve Norman Osborn's problem before tonight's midnight." Nick Fury didn't want continuing conversing with Batman. "This represents your preempting-SHIELD-one-step resolving threats compensation."
"But please remember, Batman—SHIELD's responsibility scope and operational logic aren't evaluated by some mask-wearing individual."
"This world is far more complex than what you've observed. You only protected one New York City. SHIELD protects the entire world."
BEEP!
Nick Fury immediately closed communication channels after finishing.
---
Inside the Batcave, Venom Robin observed Batman dumbfoundedly—completely forgetting he'd just been attempting displaying small emotions.
"Old Bat, how'd you accomplish that?"
Even if Batman painfully beat Hulk, Venom Robin would find it natural—that's Batman!
But currently within three sentences, Batman both completed his objectives while making SHIELD owe Batman one "favor."
Venom Robin couldn't understand. Only felt Batman remained too comprehensive.
"This is negotiation, Robin." Batman said.
After disconnecting communication channels with Director Nick Fury, Batman's smile also vanished—restoring expressionless appearance:
"This similarly represents one skill you need learning. Whether commercial negotiations or facing enemies, cooperative partners."
Venom Robin touched his rear skull, imagining himself extending scarlet long tongue negotiating with enemies—couldn't restrain shuddering:
"I feel I lack necessity learning this skill."
"You do." Batman said.
Venom Robin rapidly redirected topics:
"We seemingly should depart."
Batman glanced at time, nodding:
"Get in the car."
---
Stark Tower.
Tony Stark slightly lowered his head, frowning while observing Batman's side—1.4-meter-tall, completely kid-height Venom Robin. His gaze especially lingered on Venom Robin's pitch-black face for extended periods.
Batman similarly frowned observing Tony Stark's side—one individual wearing bright-yellow windbreaker, familiar face yet extremely unfamiliar temperament.
"Who is he?" Batman and Tony Stark spoke simultaneously.
"You first." Tony Stark—three-steps-one-backward—walked toward the bar, extracting three glasses plus one bottle, shaking it toward Venom Robin. "Want drinks?"
"Thanks." Venom Robin's eye corners lifted while speaking.
But immediately Batman's palm pressed Venom Robin's shoulder:
"No."
Tony Stark filled his glass, then using glass-holding hand raising one finger—waving between Batman and Venom Robin:
"...?"
"He's Robin. My partner." Batman said.
Venom Robin also spoke: "He's my dad."
Tony Stark's expression remained unchanged—GULP—one drink down:
"Oh?"
He obviously wanted hearing Batman chat about Robin's origins and species. But Batman didn't plan explaining excessively. Directly throwing out his question:
"If I'm not mistaken, this individual is Max Dillon?"
Batman referenced precisely that bright-yellow-windbreaker-wearing, smilingly-seated-on-sofa Black man.
Hearing Batman mention Max Dillon's name, he smiled while standing, approaching Batman while extending one hand:
"Correct. It's me."
Different from previous senior electrical engineer image. Different from post-Oscorp-twentieth-floor-accident full-body-electrified appearance.
Current Max Dillon—outwardly observing—appeared identical to normal humans. Where remained any "Electro" shadows?
Yet within Arkham suit analysis, Max Dillon's body contained surging energies—proving he hadn't lost full-body-electrified capabilities.
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