R Batman Incident (IX)

Behind the wreckage of a car, Natasha rolled aside to dodge a bat’s dive, then raised a strangely shaped gun and fired at it.

In an instant, blue ice crystals crawled over the bat’s body before expanding into a block of ice. The bat, now a specimen frozen in ice, fell from the sky.

Natasha shook her hand and said, "I have to admit, this thing works better than I expected. The ice spikes fly pretty accurately."

On the other side of the road, Hawkeye was working with Quake. Daisy slapped one hand against the wall of a high-rise, and the flock of bats crouching atop the building took off in a flurry.

Hawkeye nocked a specially shaped arrow, aimed at the rising bats, and drew his bow to its fullest. The bright blue arrow whistled through the air amid glittering ice crystals.

In an instant, frigid ice crystals exploded outward, forming a freezing whirlwind. The bats were all frozen solid, and when they crashed to the ground, the shattering ice tore them into pieces.

Hawkeye stepped forward to inspect them, and Quake, Daisy, came over as well. Daisy crouched down and fiddled with the ice blocks. "This is incredible. Their Self-Healing abilities can’t function at all."

"They’re frozen solid. There’s no room for them to heal themselves," Hawkeye said. "Whoever came up with this method is a genius."

Natasha said over the radio, "Director George wants us to support the main battlefield after we finish dealing with the flank. The big lizard’s transformation is about to run out, so we need to get over there and save the day."

As she spoke, she tore off a car door and climbed inside. Hawkeye and Daisy got in with her, and the group hurried toward the main battlefield.

Near the Brooklyn Bridge, as the sun gradually rose, the vampires’ assault began to weaken. The scales on Connors’s body slowly receded, and his form began to shrink.

With one leap, he jumped behind a high-rise to hide and slowly returned to human form.

Spider-Man swung over to his side, tossed him a backpack, and said, "Doctor! Clothes!"

"Thank you," Connors said. His lizard traits had not fully faded yet. His pupils were still slitted, and faint scales flickered along his cheeks, making him look somewhat strange. But Peter said, "Doctor, don’t do anything this dangerous again, okay? Who knows whether that serum might…"

"As a researcher, you should have confidence in the results of your own research. I believe everything is within controllable limits."

Peter scratched his head. "All right. I’ll take you back now. Doctor Schiller seems to have something he wants to discuss with you."

"Did you make that freezing gun?"

"Uh… not entirely. I only made a few improvements."

"I’ve discovered that you have a talent for reducing costs that most people lack," Dr. Connors praised. "You actually managed to mass-produce such a miraculous weapon. How did you do it?"

Peter gave a bitter smile. "Probably because I’m poor."

In the laboratory at Stark Tower, Schiller and Stark were already waiting when Connors entered. Connors said, "The situation on the battlefield has improved because it’s daytime now. But tonight certainly won’t be easy for us."

"From what I can see, the commander behind the vampires still seems to be gathering strength. He has brought in another large batch of bats, probably intending to launch a final assault tonight."

"Nick just called. The vampires are asking for peace talks."

"It’s a delaying tactic," Connors said. "Can’t Nick see that? Peace talks? Then what does it mean that they’re still moving forces into the Brooklyn District?"

"We all know what they want, but there are plenty of humans with bad brains," Stark said.

"They don’t have bad brains. They just see profit in it," Schiller said. "There are people who sell out their species’ interests for their own gain, people who calculate defeat before they calculate victory, and people who are both superstitious and fearful. There are so many humans. It isn’t surprising that a few oddities turn up."

"What did Nick say? Are we really going to hold peace talks with them?" Dr. Connors walked over, sat down, and poured himself a glass of water.

"If this were the past, it might actually work. The fighting has gone on long enough, neither side wants to keep taking losses, and while the vampires started the war and have no moral ground to stand on, humanity is at a disadvantage. That more or less evens things out. What remains is dividing the benefits at the negotiating table."

Connors pursed his lips. "Yes, everyone walks away happy. No one cares about the casualties among those on the front lines."

"But I said that was the past. This time may be different."

"What other turning point could there be? From what I can see, the people sitting in Congress offices don’t want to fight anymore," Connors said. "They’re even demanding that the police stop using blanket firepower. What kind of nonsense is that?"

Schiller took out a remote control and turned on a screen in the laboratory. It was broadcasting live news.

On one side of the screen was a reporter, and on the other was a congressman. The congressman declared passionately, "We will fight these monsters to the very end! Humanity will not retreat a single step! He wants to sit down and talk with us now? Let me tell them, it’s too late! They must pay the price…"

"Hmm, is that one of the pro-war radicals?" Connors asked.

Schiller pressed the remote and switched to another channel. A plumper, somewhat overweight politician sat on a sofa and said, "We should view this invasion from a more rational perspective. Certainly, while the vampires were the ones who invaded first, I believe they must have had reasons of their own. They may have their own demands, and humanity ought to take them seriously…"

Before he could finish, the phone in his pocket rang. He said, "Excuse me, I need to take this call."

A while later, the somewhat overweight politician returned and said, "I have just received some deeply distressing news. Yes…"

He waved his fist. "Those horrible monsters have caused thousands of police casualties! This is a terrible atrocity! An unjust war! We must fight them to the bitter end! Listen, you damned monsters, I’ll say it right here: you’re dead…"

"What happened to him? Why…"

Then Schiller changed the channel again. This time, the interviewee was an important figure, since the background was an office in the White House. The person being interviewed said, "We deeply regret this invasion, but the blood of those who sacrificed themselves cannot be shed in vain. The vampires’ violence will surely face the judgment of justice. The President has vowed to stand with all citizens, face this disaster head-on, and never retreat…"

"What exactly is going on?" Connors asked in confusion. "Why have their positions suddenly become so unified? And so hardline?"

Connors was far from the only one puzzled.

In a dim basement, Deacon, the radical vampire leader, said to his subordinate, "Go find out what’s happening! Haven’t our lobbying efforts already been quite effective? Why have those damned humans suddenly changed their attitude completely?"

Then he cursed under his breath. "My plan was already working. As long as we could stall through this day, humanity would have no strength left to follow up. Hurry! Investigate it immediately! What the hell happened?!"

In a S.H.I.E.L.D. office, Nick shook hands with Pierce. Pierce said, "I know we haven’t seen each other in a long time, but we can catch up later."

"Are you confident you can control this industrial chain? My position on the Security Council needs your support. If S.H.I.E.L.D. can possess an industrial chain beyond the control of other forces, it will benefit both of us."

"This industrial chain can only be controlled by us because it concerns superpowered creatures. I’m highly confident I can persuade Osborn and Stark to join us in maintaining it while resisting pressure from other forces."

"It had better be," Pierce concluded. "Even without discussing future development, the vampire and immortality technology industrial chain alone can bring us unimaginable profits. It is an indispensable cornerstone for maintaining world peace. We must seize it with everything we have. I believe you can do it, Nick."

"Of course. We have already obtained a preliminary proposal from Osborn. Honestly, whoever came up with this method is a genius. The mystery surrounding superpowered creatures and the characteristics they display are enough to attract investors carrying piles of cash."

"The plan is set now. We need to hurry and push them into production. Don’t forget, the war is still raging. This is the hottest moment. If we can produce the first batch of samples before the vampires are completely wiped out, everything afterward will be much easier."

Pierce patted Nick’s shoulder. "Don’t worry about excessive initial investment. I think we can be even more aggressive. Feed the swing voters well and use money to shut their mouths. The main objective is getting the plan implemented as quickly as possible."

"Don’t worry. Even if S.H.I.E.L.D. does nothing, those who see the enormous profits in this will voluntarily persuade their colleagues."

"Which factions have confirmed that they’re joining?"

"The South Office…"

Nick Fury pointed to the left. Pierce said, "As expected, them. Those militant radical leftists really are natural allies."

"All right, I won’t keep you. I know you still need to win over more allies."

"Oh, and I heard that a new batch of freezing weapons appeared on the main battlefield. Can you get me one to take a look? I’m rather curious."

"No problem. Stark Industries rushed out a batch of freezing guns, code-named Blizzard. I can get a set sent over. I haven’t seen them myself either."

After Pierce left, Nick took out his phone and called Schiller. "Are you sure the Security Council won’t grow suspicious? No matter how you look at it, the timing of that bat monster’s appearance was too convenient."

"And it only showed itself once before disappearing almost immediately. Won’t that arouse the curiosity of anyone observant?"

"When we made the plan, weren’t you also very much in favor of this arrangement?" Schiller spoke leisurely. Clearly, staying up all night had made him sleepy.

Nick sighed faintly. "After all, if we waited for them all to flood into New York, prepare themselves, and launch a full-scale invasion, we would be far too passive. The casualties would be even greater."

"We could only take the initiative and lure them out. I just feel that this plan was still a little too rushed. It will inevitably leave behind evidence."

"That’s your problem. You’re the chief director of this grand play about Bat God descending. I’m merely a stagehand."

Nick smiled. "A stagehand? That’s really interesting. It’s the first time I’ve heard it put that way. You would probably be the kind of stagehand every director dreams of having."

"You’re a good director too, Director Nick. Happy cooperation."

"Happy cooperation."

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