Chapter 260: Dr. Helen Cho
Inside Metropolitan General Hospital's intensive care unit, Batman sat beside the bed, observing Professor Warren Miles—eyes tightly closed, requiring respirator assistance for breathing.
One week had passed since the Oscorp twentieth-floor incident. Professor Warren had finally escaped life-threatening danger but still showed zero awakening signs.
"Sir, I must ask you leaving the room. The patient requires continuous observation and treatment."
Batman had barely sat beside Professor Warren's bed for several minutes when one white-coated doctor approached.
Batman stood upright. His gaze imperceptibly swept across this doctor's chest-worn work badge:
"Dr. Cho?"
"Helen Cho. I'm pleased you've addressed me correctly." Helen Cho wore her hair in neat ponytail, observing Batman while smiling. "I'm Warren Miles's attending physician."
"I'm Peter Parker. I've heard your name, Dr. Cho." Batman smiled while extending his hand, lightly shaking Helen Cho's.
"I've also heard of you, Mr. Parker." Helen Cho said. "Parker Industries' memory fibers have been extensively applied to medical fields. Any surgeon would find it difficult not knowing you."
"Really? Appears memory fiber applications are more widespread than I'd imagined." Batman appropriately displayed slight surprise.
"I need requesting you leave the room. If you have anything to say, you can wait three-to-five minutes for me." Helen Cho extended her hand in "please" gesture.
"No problem." Batman nodded, turning to exit the room, watching Helen Cho close the door while conducting comprehensive routine examinations on unconscious Professor Warren.
'Helen Cho. Korean. One of Metropolitan General Hospital's finest surgeons. Simultaneously geneticist and cellular biologist.'
Leaning against corridor walls outside the room, Batman's mind flashed through consecutive information regarding Helen Cho.
Among Oscorp twentieth-floor incident's four individuals, three had experienced physical mutations. Batman maintained highly vigilant states regarding Professor Warren Miles.
Correspondingly, all medical personnel participating in Professor Warren's treatment were also on Batman's monitoring list.
'Married. Husband named Philip Cho. Also Korean. Married to Helen Cho for years but remains childless.'
From Helen Cho's information extending to her family information, Batman rapidly reviewed mentally, then observed Helen Cho pushing open the room door.
"Parker..."
Helen Cho barely began before Batman interrupted:
"Dr. Cho, you can call me Peter."
"Alright, Peter." Helen Cho approached Batman's side, leaning against corridor walls together with him. "Though the hospital has already diagnosed Professor Warren's injuries, believing his primary injuries were fall-related."
"But since you're Professor Warren's surgery authorization relative, I want asking privately: what monster did Professor Warren actually encounter?"
Unlike Octavius and Connors possessing families, Professor Warren lived alone. His surgery authorizations requiring signatures were all signed by Batman.
"I don't know." Batman said.
"But you definitely know he encountered non-human creatures. When he arrived at the hospital, his body's wounds plus claw marks and tooth marks absolutely weren't human-caused." Helen Cho looked toward Batman.
"What have you discovered?" Batman asked.
"I suspect possibly legendary vampires." Helen Cho spoke bluntly.
Batman looked toward Helen Cho. He wanted hearing how this geneticist and cellular biologist had reached this conclusion before understanding any truth.
"When Warren first arrived at the hospital, his body's blood volume was far below normal post-injury bleeding volumes." Helen Cho said. "I've established one model simulating Professor Warren's bleeding situation. This might clarify why he hasn't awakened."
"What did you discover?" Batman frowned slightly.
Helen Cho lowered her voice:
"Over half his blood was lost through neck wounds. Moreover, according to my calculations, loss speed far exceeded normal speeds."
"Therefore I suspect some vampire type. He might not be immortal or fear sunlight like legends. But at minimum, he definitely drinks blood."
Without relying on various on-site evidence from Oscorp Tower—merely relying on her extremely professional surgical knowledge—Helen Cho had already approached truth infinitely.
But her next statement made this nearly-reached truth veer oppositely:
"That blood-drinking individual very likely is Batman."
"That's possible." Batman nodded in agreement.
"I'm just speaking casually. From doctor's scientific perspective, I definitely wouldn't say this." Helen Cho smiled, gently pushing walls while straightening her posture. "At minimum within half a month, Professor Warren won't awaken. For patient considerations, I suggest reducing visitation frequency."
After speaking, Helen Cho turned toward corridor's end, disappearing at corners.
Batman didn't linger excessively. Similarly turning toward corridor's opposite direction, continuing until departing Metropolitan General Hospital, entering sewers through unpopulated alleys, sitting in Batmobile's driver seat.
BUZZ BUZZ...
Through subtle electrical currents, one small screen rose inside the Batmobile. The screen's upper portion was divided by thin lines into hundreds of identically-sized rectangular zones.
Each zone represented one small trajectory map. Some zones' centers displayed red dots—slowly moving. Others displayed blue dots—completely motionless.
These rectangular zones displayed precisely locations including North and South Brother Islands, Batcave levels one-two, Stark Tower, Oscorp Tower, California coastal villa, Parker Tower, Parker Industries, beneath Professor Warren's hospital bed...
Consecutive locations or people Batman considered requiring monitoring and positioning.
Among them, Dr. Helen Cho—who'd just chatted briefly at Metropolitan General Hospital—unmistakably also fell under Batman's monitoring.
Originally Batman wouldn't specifically monitoring and positioning Helen Cho. But previous conversation had already made Batman vigilant.
He didn't believe one doctor, one scientist would—merely through wounds—believe "vampires" existed as supernatural creatures.
Even Octavius and others—after encountering Moon God Khonshu—would attempt explaining and analyzing moonlight energy from scientific perspectives, never attributing their own mutations to supernatural causes.
Batman strongly suspected Helen Cho had already encountered certain supernatural creatures or phenomena.
Sitting in the Batmobile, Batman didn't rush returning to the Batcave.
Venom Robin was at North Brother Island, together with Professor Morbius accepting Dr. Banner's learning regarding controlling emotions and bodies. Dr. Octavius was designing new prosthetic limb programs. Lizard Professor guarded Bat Island.
He prepared visiting Stark Group, meeting Electro Max Dillon.
But precisely then, the red dot symbolizing Helen Cho vanished.
Then within merely two-three seconds, Batman's listening device placed on her also went offline.
***
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