Chapter 42: Target Locked
Batman's goal was to establish his own business empire, then cooperate directly with this mysterious organization possessing the Cosmic Cube, thereby gaining access to it.
Before that, a mere agent wasn't worth Batman's time.
Infiltrating the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, Batman focused on searching their internal systems for information about potential supernatural forces and possible space-time travel.
He was currently using a computer inside Manhattan precinct, so Batman didn't bother disguising his IP address. Even if they counterattacked and traced this computer, it didn't matter.
One minute, two minutes...
Searching for information within the Division's internal system, Batman silently counted seconds. He was fully aware the guy who'd turned on the Bat-Signal on the precinct rooftop was an agent from this organization. He'd even obtained the man's complete file.
Not until Batman estimated that the agent named Phil Coulson had likely received word and was about to return inside the precinct did he open a window and slip away soundlessly.
Ensuring no one followed, Batman used his grappling hook's high mobility to traverse between high-rises, heading straight for Queens.
"The listening network I planted at Osborn Manor this morning detected movement—the sound of mechanisms operating in Norman Osborn's study..."
"There's a hidden room in his quarters. It's late at night now—what is Norman doing entering a secret chamber?"
Without a Batmobile, Batman could only continuously swing between buildings.
Passing Queens precinct, Batman glanced down. Among the group he'd bound and dumped at the entrance, Black Cat had already vanished.
Earlier on Roosevelt Island, Batman had deliberately not struck the woman named Ellie hard—not out of mercy, but because he needed her to establish the alternate fact that "Black Cat is a woman, so she wasn't injured by Batman."
He'd use this to confuse Kingpin's judgment of Batman and ensure Black Cat's trust with Kingpin didn't diminish.
Whoosh!
A batarang flew through the air toward the bound drug dealers, embedding firmly in the ground beside them. Batman's figure had already disappeared.
At Osborn Manor, Batman activated his suit's integrated night vision and sonar. Combined with information he'd memorized about various areas while walking the grounds with Harry earlier, Batman located Norman's room without much difficulty.
He concealed himself outside Norman's window, back against the wall, hands pressed to it. The magnetic adhesion function of his gloves combined with Peter's natural adhesion ability kept Batman's form exceptionally stable.
The listening network picked up no sound. Sonar showed the room empty.
Batman wasted no more time. He extracted lockpicks from his belt, opened the window from outside, and flipped in.
"Little bat, little bat~"
While Batman infiltrated Osborn Manor, Norman had already donned his suit to become the Green Goblin, riding his glider through the sky, muttering constantly:
"You killed Spencer, you ruined Otto's experiment, you turned on the Bat-Signal at night... I'm coming for you, little bat~"
The Goblin's face twisted as his glider carved an arc through the air toward Manhattan precinct.
The Bat-Signal's beam projected diagonally upward. The bat symbol in the clouds was exceptionally conspicuous in the pitch-black night. The Goblin flew into the light column, heading toward the source like a moth to flame.
"Eee-hahahaha! So it's the police station? Little bat is a cop?"
The Goblin reached Manhattan precinct's rooftop, circling the empty space. Finding no trace of Batman, he threw caution aside with shrill laughter, casually dropping two pumpkin bombs.
Beep, beep, beep...
The pumpkin bombs rolled several times across the rooftop. Accompanying beeping sounds, green light suddenly bloomed, followed by orange-red flames and searing shockwaves erupting.
BOOM!
On the rooftop, police antennas and radio equipment twisted and shredded like toys under the pumpkin bombs' explosion. Scattered debris accompanied by billowing smoke woke people living near the precinct.
As lights turned on in nearby apartments, the Goblin's mad laughter echoed above the precinct, carrying farther and farther.
Screech!
Agent Coulson rushed into the precinct, discovered Batman had long departed, and could only helplessly leave. But the violent explosion and dazzling firelight behind him made him slam the brakes.
"Director." Coulson stared intently at the exploding Manhattan precinct, anger flashing in his eyes. "Someone's attacking the station. Can't confirm if it's Batman yet."
"Rescuing detained prisoners inside takes priority," the Director's voice came through his earpiece.
"Yes, Director." Coulson jerked the steering wheel while pressing the gas, making the car U-turn and charge back toward Manhattan precinct.
"Beep. Identity verification passed."
Inside Osborn Manor, Batman used the micro-computer on his forearm to crack an encrypted system in Norman's study.
With a beep, the bookshelf filled with business management and financial books slowly shifted aside, revealing a pitch-black void behind it.
Having infiltrated from Norman's bedroom and confirmed the man wasn't home, Batman stepped into the void without hesitation, passing through a dim corridor into a secret chamber.
Eerie green lighting made the place look sinister, but Batman had seen far more terrifying scenes. Expressionless, he surveyed the chamber.
Orange pumpkin bombs, green blades, the glider he'd seen at Oscorp, plus various throwing knives, bullets, and micro-missiles.
This was unmistakably a small armory.
Batman's gaze didn't linger on the weapons but searched for evidence directly linking Norman to the sublevel three massacre.
Inch by inch, Batman missed no corner. Finally in a dim recess, he found a suit with a torn hem.
Thanks to Gotham billionaire Bruce Wayne's discerning eye and knowledge, Batman recognized the suit's material almost instantly upon picking it up—high-grade silk.
"When investigating Oscorp's sublevel three with Black Cat, we found a silk thread at the damaged workstation. The assessment then was that the killer wore an expensive suit and was quite familiar with Oscorp."
"The killer can now essentially be identified as Norman Osborn."
Batman gripped the suit, suddenly realizing something was wrong:
"The Smythe family deaths occurred late at night. If the killer is Norman, is he out tonight to kill again?"
Batman was about to leave when the listening network throughout Osborn Manor suddenly picked up approaching footsteps, heading closer and closer to the study.