章節 42: CHAPTER 42
The presence of the thieves was a new development of which Batman was not previously aware. He did not care about their actions, as they were not within his jurisdiction. Batman was solely interested in obtaining information about the identity of the group of thieves and the mastermind behind their actions. Considering their capabilities, he could not afford to be ignorant of their existence.
Batman believed that criminals who operated in the shadows and avoided detection, covering their tracks flawlessly, were more dangerous than those who operated openly.
He decided to look into the group, they were related to unsolved police cases he had previously paid no attention to. But at this point, they were the Flash's burden to deal with.
As he continued with his research, Batman picked up an invitation letter that Alfred had left next to his keyboard. The letter was addressed to Bruce Wayne, inviting him to a charity event which would be held in Central City. Batman initially had no plans to attend, but now he had a reason to.
The stolen project, the missing Khandaq diamond, the unsolved cases of grand theft, all revolved around Central City.
He called Alfred and asked him to accept the invitation he had once rejected and make reservations for him. "It seems I will be visiting Central City after all. It's time I had a talk with Barry."
…
Barry received a call from Batman, who informed him that Bruce Wayne would be visiting Central City and would like to discuss a few matters regarding the city.
'Talk about being a master at handling different personas.' Barry thought, before digesting why Bruce had called him.
"Wait, what?" Were the only words that escaped his mouth before Batman hung up the call and started to prepare for his trip.
After receiving a call from Batman, Barry was left wondering. Bruce Wayne rarely participated in events outside of Gotham and almost never left the city. Barry was left to ponder the reason behind Bruce's upcoming visit.
…
[Tom Hendricks POV]
I was at a restaurant enjoying my hot meal, which was perfect for the freezing weather. While I munched on my delicious food, I noticed the news headlines which displayed on the TV screen.
'Another squabble between Metropolis' Golden Boy and the Man of Steel.' *Sigh*. "Aren't they tired of that eternal loop they are both stuck in?" I literally had to ask myself that question because I'm sick of it already.
Growing up, we were all familiar with the rivalry between Superman and Lex Luthor. Although I wasn't a fan of DC comics, I'm aware that Lex had been trying to bring down the Man of Steel for as long as their rivalry had existed.
If only Superman was more like Homelander from that TV series 'The Boys' which my best friend made me binge watch with him at college, then he would have snatched Lex away from his office and to a desert area where he could kill the fucker and end the eternal headache. Or if he wanted the death to look more like an accident, he could fly up to Lex's plane in mid air and destroy the engines then just watch the plane crash into the ocean.
'The End!'
A very simple solution to end the torment of Lex trying his possible best to kill Superman and never accomplishing it.
Then there's Superman. I know killing was against Superman's morals, but this guy has had it coming for a long time now. Whenever Lex got caught, he'd just be thrown in jail which he gets out after cooling off for a week or two.
A week in jail was like a vacation for him to cook up another plan of attack without the distraction from the outside world. When he is done with a promising plan or project, then he'll either get released or just break out from the jail, all to repeat the same cycle.
Another headline was of Bruce Wayne who was confirmed to attend some charity event in Central City.
…
[Barry Allen's POV]
Bruce had arrived in Central City and Barry invited him over to his place for dinner, which he declined and asked Barry to just meet him at the rooftop of the hotel Alfred had booked a room for him.
Iris and Barry were taking a late-night stroll, holding hands and laughing as their voices carried through the streets. Iris held a strawberry ice cream in her other hand and took frequent licks, while Barry munched on a chocolate bar.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he released Iris's hand to answer the call. It was Bruce, who had just finished a meeting and wanted to have the conversation they had mentioned earlier.
"Okay, I'll be there in a sec." He looked at Iris, wishing Bruce hadn't called so he could continue to enjoy that relaxing evening with her.
"I'm guessing that was Batman?" She said as she let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry babe, I promise to make it up to you next time." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
"I understand, but he sure knows how to ruin a beautiful evening." Iris took a step closer to Barry then slowly approached his lips and gave him a kiss. He dropped her off at her doorstep before speeding away to Batman.
…
Batman stood atop a rooftop in Central City, his trench coat fluttering in the chilly night breeze. He had been observing the city from this vantage point for a while, taking in the fresh air of Central City, which was unlike the thick and polluted air of Gotham.
WHOOSH!
A gust of wind swept past Batman, causing his coat to sway dramatically. "Sometimes I think you do that on purpose," he remarked as he turned around to see the Flash standing there with a mischievous grin.
"Maybe I do, maybe I do not." He chuckled.
"Again with the annoying jokes. Peaceful city you've got here."
"Not completely but compared to Gotham, yeah. I gotta ask, what was it you wanted to discuss that was so important you had to come here yourself?"
"I actually came here for a charity event which I know you are well aware of. I'm just using the opportunity to look into something.."
"I was going through the data we retrieved from Lex Luthor's mech-suit the other day, and started to investigate how he was able to manufacture a synthetic Kryptonite. The trail led me to Central City."
"What do you mean? Nothing ever happens in Central City." Barry's expression remained neutral, yet he was curious as to what Bruce meant by that.
"Maybe that was true. According to what I have seen so far through my research, the amount of successful crimes within the city has increased over the past few months."
"That's a normal thing. People still commit crimes and steal stuff in Metropolis even though it is being protected by Superman."
Bruce sighed. "Barry, you still don't know how to identify a rising criminal organization with expertise. I discovered a series of crimes which had been taking place behind the scenes for over a few months now." He averted his gaze back to the pristine view of the city as he took a couple steps towards an edge.
"People commit crime on a daily basis, you of all people should know that's the basic reason why superheroes don't get days off." Barry took a step closer, standing behind Bruce who was still staring over the city and seemed like he had a lot in mind. "I don't see how the series of crimes that you mentioned, which had been going on for a while now, has anything to do with Central City."
"These series of crimes I mentioned, were all connected and not done at random. There wasn't anything like luck behind any of them, they were done with an extraordinary level of precision." He paused. "I tried connecting the dots and looked for a link between them so I could find a pattern or a loop which would lead me to them, but I couldn't find any. That was why I came here myself to discuss this in person, and ask if you know anything."
Bruce turned to Barry, looked him in the eye and asked. "Have you noticed anything strange going on around Central City lately?"
"Um… Nothing really, just the same old villains trying to ruin the day for everyone." He contemplated telling Bruce about a vigilante who had been brutally beating up thugs but no report had come in since his encounter with Kid Flash and Gar, so he didn't see it as something he needed to tell him. It was his city after all, and was his responsibility to carry.
"Okay Barry, I'll let you know if I find anything."
"Sure, I hope you enjoy your stay here. Relax a little and feel at home… I was referring to Bruce Wayne, not your alter ego." With a sly smile creeping onto his lips, the Flash zipped away and disappeared into the night.
*Ring*
Bruce had his phone to his ear as he answered an incoming call from the Batcave.
Someone he was expecting and whom he had left specific instructions with before leaving Gotham, was calling.
"Found anything?" He asked, without specifying what he asked about.
"I think I found something quite interesting." The voice replied.
"Details."
=============
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章節 43: CHAPTER 43
[Barbra Gordon's POV]
Before Batman left for Central City, he called me over to the Batcave so I could assist him with something. He asked me to look into some criminals who were climbing the ranks behind the scenes of Central City.
There was a group of thieves running around and stealing heavily guarded stuff with extremely high values. They aren't sloppy, they are precise, they don't leave any trail behind and completely disappear once they secure their target.
This has left the police around Central City and its environs with unsolved cases as they had no lead to pursue, almost like they were thieving ghosts.
What worried him was what would happen to Gotham if the likes of Lex Luthor, Penguin, Scarecrow and worst of them all, Joker, ever got those thieves to do some jobs for them. So he wanted to acquire information on them, before they decided to branch out into Gotham which was the motherland of crime.
He had confirmed that Lex Luthor was only able to get his hands on that weapon he almost used to kill the Man of Steel, all thanks to them.
They were discreet with their operations and difficult to trace, like green snakes on a field with tall grasses. He asked me to look into the recent ongoing events in Central City and update him once I found anything suspicious or out of place for a city like that.
I've been doing a thorough dive into the Central City police network and found nothing useful, so I searched around and found something quite unusual.
I didn't know if the information would be helpful to him or not, so I just had to make the call.
*Ring*
He picked up the call and Bruce being his broody old self didn't even exchange pleasantries like normal humans do.
"Found anything?" He asked, without saying another word.
"I think I found something quite interesting." I replied.
"Details."
"While going through the activities in Central City and its environs. I discovered a website the public are getting obsessed over, and it's called 'The Architect'."
"The Architect?" He paused. "What's this website all about?" He asked with a minimum hint of curiosity which someone who didn't know him well enough, wouldn't have noticed.
"It's a website which gives people advice over different situations and also provides solutions to every problem a person might have."
"Every problem?"
"Yes. I used it myself, using a different IP of course, and the results were outstanding."
"Outstanding?" He asked, noticing the enthusiasm in my voice.
"Yes, I asked multiple questions concerning complex scenarios and the results it gave were… Astonishing. They provided perfect solutions to each of them. Isn't that amazing?." I said as I geeked out over the phone before recollecting myself.
"Sounds like a well created customer service website." He paused for a while before asking further. "Did you try asking questions a criminal might ask?"
"I did, and the answers it gave would lead to a successful crime if followed accordingly."
"Try diving deeper into the website and give me an update on whatever you find."
"I already did."
"And?"
"I tried hacking into it b-but…" She stuttered. "I failed."
"You couldn't?" He continued. "What do you mean you failed?"
"I mean for a normal customer service website, their encryption is too sophisticated. I couldn't even pinpoint where the server beams their data to and from…It's like a ghost website." It was nerve racking admitting that I couldn't break through the encryption of the website, yet I was impressed by it. "The coding of the website was absurd. Even though it was a basic language code, the way it was written made it very complex. I couldn't decode it or go through the back door, it was just like a house full of looping doors. Once I manage to open a door it takes me back to where I started, I can't move forward. Only repeating the same unending loop like I was trapped in a systematic matrix program."
"Is it an Artificial Intelligence program?" He asked.
"No it isn't. The difference between this website and one using an AI is that, this website provided answers like it understands human logic, human emotions and human experiences. The way it was written, it generates outstanding responses on its own, and the only questions the people behind the program tend to answer themselves are high-level questions. The time spent on that website and the money it must have cost to do so, even the coding too, are way too much for just an ordinary customer service website." I gave him a full breakdown on the things I found while researching that strange website.
"Okay, check where the first few requests on that site came from and the region it is most operational." As he spoke I was already on it and typing away, battling with the firewalls of the website.
"Okay got it, the first few requests came from around Central City." I gave my report and await further instructions.
"Triangulation." The only word he said but I understood what he meant. Batman was a man of few words, he does not say more than needed.
"I created an algorithm and tried to pinpoint the source but it re-pinged over and over again, without giving me a valid location. I used the program to triangulate the multiple false pings it had given me in hopes of it getting a fixed point or area where the real ones might be, but to no avail."
"Okay, just focus on trying to break through the back door. Give me feedback if you find anything." With that he ended the call and I continued the fierce battle I was having with the coding of that website.
…
Few days after that event had taken place and Bruce Wayne was back on Gotham. There was sudden chaos in the city as Killer Frost caused trouble in the middle of town.
While everyone ran away from the chaos, Tom ran towards it. He saw it as a chance to witness another brawl between heroes and villains. So he hid himself at a street corner with the best view of the commotion.
The Flash raced through the streets of Central City, his lightning-fast speed leaving a trail of sparks in his wake.
As he approached the location, he saw Killer Frost standing in the middle of the street, a wicked grin on her face. "Well, well, if it isn't the Flash," she taunted. "I've been hoping for a chance to take you down."
The Flash didn't waste any time. He charged at her, fists at the ready. But Killer Frost was prepared, and she shot a blast of ice at him. The Flash quickly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
'Now that's what I'm talking about, just skip the hero-villian nonsense and get down to it.' He thought to himself as a wide smile made its way to his lips.
The two continued to trade blows, with Killer Frost using her ice powers to create barriers and obstacles, while the Flash used his super speed to dodge and strike back. It was a fierce battle, with neither side gaining the upper hand.
Tom quietly watched from the sidelines, his heart pounding in his chest as he spectacted the fight. He has always been a thrill chaser, and he couldn't believe the destruction that was happening right in front of him. And he couldn't look away. The sheer power and intensity of the battle was like nothing he had ever seen before.
A civilian was almost caught at the cross fight, and the speedster saved the civilian from an incoming ice attack before running him to safety. Killer Frost saw her opportunity and launched a massive blast of ice at him. The Flash tried to dodge, but he was too slow. The ice hit him head-on, sending him flying through the air and crashing into a nearby building.
Tom mused at the sight as he watched the Flash struggle to get back up. But he wasn't out of the fight yet. With much resolve, he launched himself back at Killer Frost, faster than he did before. He landed a powerful punch, knocking her to the ground.
As the dust settled, he watched as the Flash stood triumphantly over Killer Frost as he struck the signature hero pose with both hands on each side of his waist. It was a hard-fought battle, but in the end, the Flash had come out on top. Showing Killer Frost who the boss of the city was. Or so he thought.
Killer Frost wasn't quite finished yet. With a sly smile, she called out to the Flash.
"Hey, speedster, over here!" she shouted, beckoning him with a crooked finger. The Flash, thinking he had the upper hand, turned to face her.
That was all the distraction Killer Frost needed. In a moment of distraction, Killer Frost saw an opening and seized the opportunity to strike. She shot a beam of ice at the ground beneath the Flash's feet, causing him to slip and fall. But the Flash quickly regained his footing and tried to dodge Killer Frost's next attack. Despite his best efforts, her icy beam hit him squarely in the chest, momentarily slowing him down.
As the battle raged on in the middle of Central City, the Flash was well aware of the danger they posed to innocent bystanders. He had to be careful not to cause any collateral damage while fighting.
The Flash ran circles around Killer Frost, trying to find an opening to strike. But she was a skilled fighter and managed to keep up with his speed. She fired icy beams at him, but the Flash dodged them with ease, weaving in and out of the crowded streets.
As the battle intensified, Killer Frost began to realize that she was no match for the Flash. She decided to retreat, using her powers to create a wall of ice between them and make her escape.
The Flash knew he couldn't let her get away, but he also knew that he couldn't risk harming innocent people in the process.
He ran circles around her, creating a powerful vortex that caused debris to fly around the street. Killer Frost was momentarily disoriented, giving the Flash the chance to land a swift punch and knock her out.
The Flash knew he couldn't keep her there for long, so he quickly contacted the authorities to come and collect her as he restrained her with cuffs specially made for metahumans. As the sirens of the police cars approached, the Flash made his escape, leaving Killer Frost securely in their custody.
While he knew that Killer Frost would most likely escape again in the future, the Flash was content with the knowledge that he had protected the citizens of Central City and prevented any major damage from occurring before Christmas.
==========
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