Soon Barbara called, she said, "I suspect this is some kind of energy shield developed by Batman. I've seen something similar in his Batcave before, but it seems to have been put on hold for a long time due to energy efficiency and output issues. Perhaps he's made new progress."
"Thank you very much for the information," Shiller said, "this thing should be able to completely block network signals, right?"
"Yes," Barbara said with great certainty, "that's the biggest downside of network intrusion. Once the signal is gone, even God can't help."
"What if that electronic life left a backup in something during the base construction process?" Shiller proposed a hypothesis.
Barbara was silent for a long time before saying, "I think you should give Batman a call and remind him. This possibility not only exists, but if true, it would be very terrifying. That unknown entity could directly control the base's electronic systems."
"I don't think Batman would be unprepared," Shiller shook his head and said, "I got a set of architectural designs from my colleagues, would you like to see them?"
"What design? The new base? But I'm really not familiar with this field. Have you sent it over? Let me see... wait. Why is the building structure of this base so strange? Where's the elevator? Parking lot? Airplane hangar? No maintenance workshop either?"
"I believe you've already noticed, Miss Gordon. Apart from the architectural appearance, it's completely a medieval castle, not connected to electricity at all."
"Jesus," Barbara exclaimed, "to prevent electronic life intrusion, Batman directly abandoned modernization? Isn't this akin to cutting off one's nose to spite one's face?"
"Really?" Shiller retorted, "Does the Justice League really need electronic systems that much?"
"Uh..." Barbara hesitated for a moment and then said, "If Batman can give up all equipment and modern methods, it's not impossible for him to live primitively."
"It's a wise choice," Shiller said, "You'll never defeat electronic life on the network, so all you can do is abandon the network. Batman isn't powerful because of those modern means, is he?"
"You do have a point. But even if he can't control the network in the base, he can still stir things up outside. Simply avoiding without researching means to counter him is meaningless. Batman can't possibly just stay in the base forever without coming out, right?"
"You should know that Batman has never been the kind to avoid," Shiller paused for a moment then said, "If he's undertaking actions that seem like hiding in a turtle shell, there must be a reason."
"Are you being sarcastic?"
"I don't have that leisure, Miss Gordon. Now I need you to tell me—if there's a type of energy, I mean, a completely new electrical signal, unlike any before, unlike any kind of signal humans can monitor—could Batman possibly use it to set up a completely new network?"
Barbara was silent again for a while, then said, "This idea sounds like those not-so-rigorous sci-fi movies, assuming there's some kind of all-powerful 'ether power.' But if it truly exists, it's not impossible."
"Is your answer 'possible'?"
"Yes. If this energy truly exists and has the same properties as other electrical signals, then it's certainly possible to create a brand new network. But there's also a problem, if it shares the same properties as other signals, how would he block an electronic life that can freely move through radio waves and signals?"
"Of course, with a firewall," Shiller said. "Just like you block your peers. Batman could also possibly create a special firewall to resist electronic life attacks."
"I'm afraid it's not that easy. If he couldn't code it on the existing network, how can you guarantee he'll be able to do so on a new network?"
"What if he has a reference? I mean, suppose in another cosmos, there's a well-developed firewall..."
"That's pure fantasy," Barbara said, "If you didn't look like the kind who'd visit a bar during the day, I'd almost think you were drunk."
"Haven't you received any invitations?"
"Invitations? Who would send me such a thing? I've never been popular; they call me a 'freak who only taps on keyboards.' I'm not someone who'd participate in parties that require invitations."
"Check your mailbox, miss. Don't let the gates of a new world wait too long."
Just after hanging up the call with Barbara, Shiller received a call from Luther. He sat at his desk, picked up the phone, and held it to his ear, saying, "Hello, Mr. Luthor. You're more efficient than I imagined."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Luther's voice was a bit hoarse, he said, "You almost shot me dead, and you nearly made me and my sister fall out."
"'Almost.' Congratulations."
"I don't want to waste words with you. You've long detected that thing's existence, right? Selina was deceived by it. I admit I didn't teach my sister much about networks. But I must tell you, it's a very bizarre thing. Neither I nor the technicians at Luther Group can figure it out."
"Did you investigate that photo?"
"Of course. Selina told me how she took the photo. According to her, she got into Wayne Enterprises with Abidonis' connections and stood behind an intern from the security info department to direct him to take the photo. Since there wasn't enough time for a selection when the President met Mrs. Romanoff, they just shot one randomly with camera 14."
"Was it Miss Luther controlling it?"
"No, it was that intern. But even that intern can't recall how he operated the camera."
"I'm afraid most likely he didn't operate it at all; someone else did. But that intern might be the only one who had direct contact with that guy."
"I also had contact; he even saved me."
"There's nothing to boast about, Mr. Luthor. If he prefers to expose himself to save you, it means you are of great value to him. And considering his series of actions targeted at the President, he might be aiming to use you against him."
"Why not?" Luther seemed to have finally found some control. He said, "If this thing is intelligent to such an extent, why can't I cooperate with it and show Bruce Wayne a lesson?"
"You obviously cannot. Do you think humanity's level of technology can research such an intelligent form of electronic life? If not, where did it come from? How is it any different from Superman?"
Luther was silent.