บท 381: How Did This Happen
Tony Stark landed in the middle of the wrecked venue, his battle armor gleaming even in the smoky haze. The remnants of the explosion painted a grim picture—shattered glass, scorched debris, and panicked voices echoing from a distance. Stark's eyes swept across the scene, and his frown deepened behind the Iron Man helmet.
The head of venue security approached, visibly shaken. His uniform was singed, and he clutched a clipboard that looked more like a prop than a tool in the face of such destruction. "Mr. Stark," he began, voice trembling slightly, "we had security measures in place. Everyone entering was thoroughly scanned—for weapons and infection levels."
The faint but unmistakable smell of gunpowder lingered in the air, clinging to the wreckage like an unwanted guest. The security head continued, "We're still working to figure out what caused the explosion. It's—"
"No," Stark interrupted, his tone clipped. "It's not about your team's work." He was more speaking to himself than to the man in front of him. "How did the attackers get around our safety nets?"
Stark turned away, leaving the security head standing awkwardly. The man lowered his head, muttering apologies that Stark neither heard nor acknowledged.
---
Across the city, Charlie leaned back in his chair, frowning at the screen displaying live drone footage of the venue. The attack had occurred in Grace City, a place he had worked tirelessly to secure. Every street, building, and corner was monitored by his drones, which tracked everything from illegal activity to signs of infection. The city was supposed to be a model of order—his order.
For , the idea that an explosion of this magnitude could happen under his watch was unthinkable. The city's gangsters, criminals, and infected had all been dealt with weeks ago. Any new infections or illegal activity would've been immediately flagged and eliminated. Or so he thought.
Now, staring at the chaotic aftermath on his screen, felt an unfamiliar knot of doubt twist in his stomach. How had someone managed to evade his "ubiquitous eyes"? More importantly, how had they pulled off such a large-scale attack without raising even a hint of suspicion?
---
Back at the venue, Stark moved through the debris, scanning the area with his helmet's advanced sensors. Not far from him, Batman worked methodically, using detective mode to reconstruct the scene. The Dark Knight's sharp eyes missed nothing, and his fingers moved quickly over the holographic controls of his gadget.
"I didn't see anything, Bat," Agent Ivan Petrov said, standing nearby. His clothes were dusted with ash, but he looked otherwise unharmed. "The explosion happened so fast. I wasn't near the podium when it went off. I was... far enough to avoid serious injuries, I guess."
Batman didn't turn to look at him but responded in his usual low, gravelly tone. "It's fine, Agent Petrov. I'll figure out what happened."
Petrov nodded, though it was clear he felt uneasy. Few people were comfortable standing near Batman when he was in full detective mode—his intense focus could make anyone feel like a suspect.
Using his gadgets, Batman recreated the scene as it had been moments before the explosion. A blue holographic model of the podium flickered into view. Professor Prince stood at the center, addressing the crowd with a confident smile. The people below, a mix of locals and dignitaries, clapped and cheered.
Charlie, watching from his drone feed, leaned forward in his seat. The reconstruction was eerily precise, showing every detail leading up to the blast. He rewound the playback, slowing it down frame by frame to analyze the moment of impact.
The holographic model paused just before the explosion. Batman's eyes narrowed as he studied the release of the blast's force, tracing it back to its origin. His gloved hand hovered over a control, fast-forwarding and rewinding the scene from different angles.
---
The Ninth Special Service Division and the city's public security team had also arrived at the venue, led by Director Linton. The director's face was a mix of determination and unease as he surveyed the wreckage. It was his first time seeing Batman in person, though he had worked closely with Cassandra, another member of the Bat family.
Cassandra was known for her silence and efficiency. She rarely spoke unless it was mission-critical, and she never shared personal details. Despite this, Linton had pieced together some clues. Her uniform, with its pointed ears and cape, was clearly inspired by Batman's. He couldn't help but wonder—was she his daughter?
As Linton stood there, lost in thought, Batman moved past him, adjusting his perspective to better analyze the scene. The holographic model overlapped with the real-world ruins, creating an odd blend of past and present.
Linton's thoughts were interrupted when Batman turned to glance at him. The caped figure's piercing gaze made the director's breath hitch. He quickly stepped aside, realizing he'd been standing in the middle of the reconstruction.
Charlie, still controlling Batman remotely, noticed the interaction and found it odd. Normally, Linton was sharp and efficient, someone Charlie respected. Today, however, he seemed distracted, even clumsy. More than once, he had accidentally stepped into Batman's holographic models, disrupting the playback.
Batman's hoarse, no-nonsense voice broke the tension. "If you're not feeling well, you should step back. We'll handle things here."
Linton froze, then nodded quickly. He muttered an apology before retreating, his face flushed with embarrassment. Once outside, he leaned against a wall, his mind racing. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had ruined his first impression with Batman.
---
Back inside, Ivan watched as Batman continued his work. "Anything yet?" he asked.
Batman didn't respond immediately, his focus entirely on the holographic model. After a long pause, he spoke. "Yes."
Ivan straightened. "What is it?"
Batman's cold eyes shifted toward Stark, who had been scanning the scene from another angle. "We have a security breach."
Stark's head snapped up at the words. "No kidding. The question is, how did it happen?"
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