A blue figure, like lightning, sped through the corridor, instantly rushing into the laboratory, the air emitting a sharp sonic boom from its rapid movement.
XLR8 abruptly stopped, his mask snapping up with a "whoosh," and a green light flashed, transforming Benjamin back to his original form.
"Sorry for leaving suddenly, over there, Zombozo suddenly..."
He had just opened his mouth, his words cut short, as if he had been frozen by something, his voice abruptly stopping, his entire body stiff at the laboratory entrance.
The location of the restraint bed was empty, the restraint devices scattered on the floor, only the cold metal bed frame gleamed with a chilling light.
His pupils sharply contracted, and his breathing became rapid.
"Gwen?!" His voice carried an unconcealed panic.
Transforming into XLR8 again, Benjamin frantically searched his Base, ignoring overturned experimental equipment and scattered blueprints.
However, when he checked the garage and saw the familiar old, broken-down car quietly parked in the corner, he finally realized something and stopped his somewhat anxious actions.
He took a deep breath, slowly walked towards the car door, and just as his hand grasped the door handle, he heard conversations coming from inside the car.
The moment he pushed open the car door, warm yellow light spilled onto Benjamin's face.
Grandpa Max and Gwen were sitting inside the car, with two dishes in front of them, eating and chatting casually.
Gwen was intently narrating something, and the wrinkles at the corners of Grandpa Max's eyes deepened with his smile.
He didn't know why, but he felt like he had returned to that summer more than ten years ago, the summer when he found the broken watch.
Grandpa Max chuckled, wiping the sauce from the corner of his mouth, and gestured to Gwen with his chin: "Gwen, tell me another Batman story?"
Gwen was about to speak when her peripheral vision caught sight of a panting Benjamin running over. She told the old man: "There's one last one, and this one is truly exciting."
Taking a deep breath, Gwen's voice instantly became low and mysterious.
"As I said before, Batman has an arch-nemesis named Joker. In this quadrant, Joker discovered his life was being eroded by chemical toxins and decided to play one last 'game' with Batman."
Grandpa Max unconsciously sat up straight. Benjamin, though a bit confused, still leaned in closer.
Joker? Zombozo?
And who is Batman? Ghostfreak?
"He first killed Batman's enemies, eliminating Batman's worries."
"Then he kidnapped all only-child families in Gotham City, re-enacted the 'Crime Alley shooting' in front of Batman – which is where my parents died – made the children inhale the Laughing Toxin, creating a new generation of 'Jokers.' Then he drugged Batman, forcing him to witness tragedies like hospital explosions and child Deaths, mocking him, 'You can never truly stop me.'"
"Batman finally broke free with great difficulty and, in a rage, twisted Joker's neck. But the Laughing Toxin in Joker's heart entered Batman's body with his breath, triggering a genetic mutation."
"Three days later, the toxin erupted. Batman suddenly attacked members of the Bat Family whom he regarded as his own children – Nightwing, Red Robin, and Batgirl – in the Batcave, shooting them in the head or dismembering them. He transformed the infected children into the 'Laughing Robins' and even transformed his own son, Damian Wayne, into 'Robin King.'"
"Finally, he arrived at the Justice League, which is an alliance of superheroes working together."
"Are they all Plumbers from the Milky Way Galaxy Volunteer Army?"
"You could say that. Anyway, when he got there, he slaughtered all the superheroes and eventually ruled the Earth in that quadrant."
Yes, to convince Grandpa Max of the severe consequences if she didn't return, Gwen simply brought up the stories of all the members of the Dark Knights.
And this was just to explain how terrifying her sister's corruption would be.
After finishing, Gwen let out a long breath, leaning back in her seat, as if a huge burden had been lifted, feeling refreshed.
To be honest, these Batman stories had been cooped up in her heart for some years. Now, pouring them out all at once, the pent-up frustrations in her heart also dissipated, and her entire being felt suddenly clear.
Benjamin stood to the side, his brows furrowed, his eyes full of confusion, completely at a loss.
But that's right, someone who doesn't know who Batman is would certainly be bewildered upon hearing this story.
In her helplessness, she could only tell the story of "Batman: Year One" again.
It was a more traditional story of Batman's early days.
Of course, Year One couldn't possibly have happened in her Universe.
After all, in that story, Batman had just started his career, and Gordon had just reported to the Gotham Police Department.
And now, under her arrangements, even if Gordon couldn't become the Deputy Director, he could at least become a trusted Director's captain.
Benjamin stood still, Gwen's story constantly echoing in his mind.
It must be said, before that heap of titles and alien watch fell upon him, he hadn't been unfamiliar with such stories.
A child who lost his parents at eight, who didn't fall into depravity but instead worked hard to save his city.
But in the end, a story is just a story.
And now, the character in this story had become the sister of someone he had interacted with... making him a bit dazed for a moment.
He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say, finally just turning silently and walking out of the old car with somewhat heavy steps.
Silence fell inside the car for a moment; neither Gwen nor Grandpa Max spoke.
Grandpa Max watched Benjamin's departing back, sighed slightly, then turned to Gwen, a kind smile on his face.
He stood up, gently patted Gwen's shoulder, his tone approving: "Girl, the dishes are very good. Quite to my liking."
Gwen followed Grandpa Max's gaze to the dishes on the plate, smiled, unsure if that counted as praise.
After all, according to the original setting, Grandpa Max's dietary preferences were quite peculiar.
And she had merely cooked these various raw ingredients in a way she found acceptable.
For example, stir-fried lamb tongue with scallions, deep-fried dried earthworms, and the like.
After all, these were already considered relatively common ingredients on the old, broken-down car; Gwen couldn't think of how to prepare the others at the moment.
However, she had already recommended century eggs, which this legendary old Plumber had quite liked before his transmigration. She thought that although most foreigners seemed unable to accept them, Mr. Grandpa Max certainly would... In the garage, Benjamin and Grandpa Max sat side by side on two old metal chairs, which creaked slightly under their weight.
Tools and discarded parts were piled haphazardly around them, and the air was filled with the smell of engine oil and rust.
The two were silent, only the intermittent hum of machinery operating in the distance could be heard.
After a long while, Grandpa Max was the first to break the silence. His aged voice carried a hint of weariness as he slowly said: "Ben, I cannot help you persuade that child."
Benjamin opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbed, but in the end, he didn't utter a single word.
He hung his head, his hands unconsciously clasping and unclasping, his eyes filled with loss and unwillingness.
Grandpa Max glanced at Benjamin beside him, sighed, and continued: "Before you came, this child also told me some stories."
"In the stories, her sister was suspicious, calm, always suppressing her true self, treating herself as a mask, and taking the masked vigilante side as her entire being."
He paused, reached out and gently patted Benjamin's shoulder, his tone meaningful, "Just like... you are now."