manynovel Chapter 104: Nip Foolish Acts in the Bud
Chapter 104: Nip Foolish Acts in the Bud
Chapter 104: Nip Foolish Acts in the Bud
"Oh God."
Lucius said:
"Have you become the god of AI?"
"Of course not."
Chen Tao told him, "The reason I seem to be able to control the equipment in front of you so easily is simply because this is the Batcave, and everything here belongs to Batman."
"Firewalls and such don't exist for me; I have security keys. Actually, my computing power isn't that strong—"
He paused, then continued:
"Unless I physically invade with nanobots, or combine it with Kryptonian technology—"
……
……
……
"Hey Clark, why is billionaire Bruce Wayne so sexually interested in you, yet he completely ignores our hot, sexy Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who's been showering us with attention?"
Sports reporter Steve Lundbold leaned out of the window and saw the stretch Lincoln of Gotham City's famous tycoon parked once again in front of the Daily Planet.
"If you're really free, Lundborg,"
Louis Lane was calmly and detachedly organizing the files on his desk:
"I suggest you go back to your office, finish your donuts, and take a long nap in your recliner, instead of making a racket here and disturbing my work. Bruce Wayne is always running to the Daily Planet; haven't you had enough of your drama yet?"
"Haha, aren't you going to rush up and try to interview them? Let me count what you've been interviewing these past few days."
Sports reporter Steve Lundbold tossed a donut into his mouth with his muscular arms, picked up a piece of scrap paper, coughed dramatically, and began pretending to read his interview notes:
Day 1, Question: Mr. Bruce Wayne, what do you think of Gotham's vigilante Batman? Answer: Batman is awesome, because I am Batman!
"On the second day, I asked: Mr. Wayne, are you coming to Metropolis to cooperate with Lextech? Answer: Yes! Then I asked: What are the specific details of the cooperation? Answer: I don't know. The idea of cooperating with Lextech came to me just a second ago."
"Pfft—" The sports reporter covered his mouth, then continued, feigning seriousness, reading aloud: "Q: Why are you teasing me like this? A: Because I'm Batman!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
The muscular man let out a laugh: "Day 3..."
"That's enough!"
The shrewd and capable female reporter grabbed the coffee next to her with trembling hands and poured it all into her mouth.
She turned to Clark Kent beside her and said, "Clark, forget about those stupid billionaires. We're leaving for the Arctic tomorrow, and we can't let those bastards at U.S. Northern Command cover up the truth!"
The female reporter said, "This is what's meaningful, what a journalist should do."
"That huge unidentified object found beneath the ice?"
Without Clark's permission, Lundborg took the document from his hand, glanced at it, and then casually tossed it back to the flustered farm boy, saying, "What could possibly be worth discovering here? It can't possibly be a giant alien spaceship!"
Louis rolled his eyes, too angry to talk to the other person.
"Hey, Clark!"
A voice called to Clark from outside: "Could you lend a hand? They finally got us a brand new coffee machine, but this thing is so heavy!"
"Oh, okay." Clark hurriedly left the room.
"Once they've plugged that machine in, get me two cups of coffee," Editor-in-Chief White said to Clark as he walked into the room. "And two sugar cubes!"
Beside him was Kate Grant, the columnist in charge of the entertainment gossip section.
The other person, wearing a low-cut V-neck dress, gave Louis a flamboyant greeting.
Editor-in-Chief White then turned to Louis and said:
"Louis, give me that photo from yesterday! Yes, the close-up of Superman standing there with his arms crossed!"
"I want to put that one side-by-side with Kate's 'The Most Powerful Bachelor in Metropolis'!"
"A bachelor? Are you serious? Editor-in-chief, you must be crazy—"
"Louis!"
Louise turned her head sharply and saw the person who had appeared behind her.
"Looks like you received the flowers I sent."
Editor-in-Chief White looked at the two of them from left to right, his gaze lingering on their epaulets.
He said:
"I'll come find you later, Louis."
Louis Lane was in no mood to pay attention to Editor-in-Chief White at that moment.
Her face darkened: "John Coburn. It's you again."
"Why were the flowers thrown in the trash?"
John Coburn was a burly man standing 1.96 meters tall, dressed in a military uniform.
"I don't have room on my desk. And I've told you four times already, don't send me flowers anymore."
John Coburn stared at her intently, then suddenly broke into a smile.
Louis walked past him and went to his own table to get his things.
"Okay, okay, let's not dwell on the flowers. It's been so long since we last met, and you haven't even hugged or said hello? Louis, I know we've broken up, but—"
"Enough!" Louis turned his head sharply and held up a finger.
"That's hardly a breakup, John. We only dated once, once! We were just acquaintances, like my relationship with my father."
"But your father is right. We're a good match, Louis. Settle down, have a family, have some kids. Maybe that will clear away those crazy ideas in your head, or at least ease your absurd pronouncements about spreading the truth—a journalist can't change the world."
Chen Tao secretly observed the argument between the two.
He quietly took out his notebook, opened it, and glanced at it.
John Cobain. A future Metal Man, a villain with a metal body and a kryptonite heart, and one of Superman's main adversaries.
"I'm very busy, John—"
"Don't give me the cold shoulder."
Their argument seems to have escalated somewhat.
"John, you're pinching me too hard—"
Chen Tao shook his head, stuffed the small notebook back into his pocket, and stepped forward: "I hope I haven't bothered you."
John Coburn turned to look at the man in front of him, sizing up Chen Tao’s flamboyant attire.
"And who the hell are you?"
He then glanced at Alfred, who was standing silently behind Chen Tao: "What is this thing now?"
Chen Tao extended his hand:
"Bruce Wayne. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cobain."
People stopped what they were doing and whispered among themselves. It was the first time they had ever met Mr. Bruce Wayne without paying his way in.
John Coburn noticed the whispers around him.
Bruce Wayne. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't place where he'd heard it before.
In fact, for the past six months, he has spent almost all of his time at the military base, rarely using his cell phone or any other device to contact the outside world.
"It's Sergeant Kurben." He suppressed his displeasure, then reached out and grasped the other man's hand, applying slight pressure—
He thought he would soon see the other person cry out in pain.
But there was no reaction; he only felt as if he had squeezed a piece of car tire rubber.
"Sergeant Kurben, right?"
Then he heard the other person say, "I'll call you that from now on. Let's get straight to the point—"
"If you dare to make me uncomfortable even for a moment longer, I'll make sure you never feel comfortable for the rest of your life."
John Coburn froze. Before he could explode in anger, he heard the other man say in an even faster voice, "I am Bruce Wayne."
The other person emphasized the last name "Wayne," and then John Coburn finally realized what he was dealing with.
"You..." He took two steps back, his lips moved slightly, but in the end he didn't say anything.
coward.
Chen Tao thought to himself silently.
They only dare to be arrogant towards those weaker than themselves, but immediately become cowardly when faced with someone stronger, and don't even dare to say a harsh word.
Such obvious character flaws have always been a hallmark of DC villains.
He watched as the other man slowly backed away, and said to Louis Lane, "I will give my regards to your father." Then he turned his head and saw Clark Kent standing behind him.
"Hello, Mr. Cobain." Clark Kent extended his hand and grasped John Cobain's hand before he could react. "It's a pleasure to meet you..."
Before he could finish speaking, there was a cracking sound, and John cried out in pain. He then clutched his hand and tried to leave Chen Tao's sight without saying a word.
"Don't be in such a hurry, Mr. Cobain," Chen Tao called out to him. "Are you going to Mr. Luther and General Ryan's little gathering?"
Chen Tao received an affirmative answer.
Soon enough, John Coburn disappeared at the entrance of the Daily Planet, along with Chen Tao. Louis and Clark exchanged bewildered glances.
"He didn't rush up to you today to persuade you to continue your career as a movie star and play Superman or Man of Steel," Louis said.
"This isn't a good thing," Clark said, scratching his head. "How about I treat you to lunch, Louis?"
"Sure," Louise said, linking her arm with his. "I'll accept the invitation, farm boy."
……
……
……
At a military base on the outskirts of the metropolis.
"So, wasn't it supposed to be two kryptonites?"
Lex Luthor said, "Are you kidding me?"
"Watch your tone, Lex," General Sam Lane said.
Then his tone became slightly somber: "I don't know who bought the other smaller one."
"Bought it?" Luther almost laughed at the excuse. "Who else could possibly bribe you?"
"No, he bribed the agent in charge of acquiring the kryptonite."
General Ryan said, "He had already escaped before we discovered he had been bribed."
Luther sighed heavily in front of General Ryan, as if he were truly troubled.
If he didn't orchestrate this incident himself.
Indeed, no matter where the stolen Kryptonite is, Luthor is convinced that it will eventually end up in Batman's hands.
Ever since his underlings in Gotham recently discovered that "Batman left Gotham for Metropolis on business, and Gotham is now under the protection of the Arkham Alliance," he'd been plotting how to use Batman—
"Luther, Luther! Are you listening to me?"
Luther said, "I'm here."
"You can stop Superman?" Then General Ryan heard Luthor say, "Not just stop him, General Ryan, I believe I can kill him—if necessary."
"Each of our report series points out that it not only possesses a range of superhuman abilities, but is also invulnerable to weapons."
General Lane said, "How can you be so sure that this energy source—this rock—can do all that you're talking about?"
"Not a superhuman, but a super alien, Your Excellency."
Luther corrected him, then said, "I conducted experiments during the time when Kryptonite was not allowed into the United States."
"I managed to get a small sample of kryptonite, and then I placed some fine kryptonite powder next to Superman. When he passed by, he was exposed to that radiation, and the isotopes in his body..." Then Luther suddenly realized that no one present could understand what he was saying, so he stopped talking.
"In short, according to the absolute authority in the scientific field—that is, my judgment—his superpowers originate from our world and can be suppressed, or even turned against him, if he is affected by this radiation."
He looked at the exoskeleton armor being assembled on the platform in front of him:
"This is the largest piece of kryptonite we've ever discovered. It's large enough to be a dangerous kryptonite reactor, making this suit of armor a deadly killer."
Luthor said, "We can use it to kill Superman! Of course, we'll need to find someone to control him."
"General Ryan, it is my honor to pilot the Metal Man."
No sooner had Luther finished speaking than John Coburn immediately declared, "I will use it to take Superman's head."
"No one is more trustworthy to me than you, my child," General Ryan said.
"But we prioritize capturing them."
"Don't kill Superman unless absolutely necessary. As things stand, Superman is still on our side."
"Given the current situation? Come on, man," Luther said. "Let's tell a little story."
"Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Superman who found an anthill called Earth at his doorstep."
"The little boy loved the ant nest very much, so he took great care of it."
"But what if one day, the little boy suddenly gets bored..."
Luther said:
"We must plan ahead."
"Yes, I do need to plan ahead."
"Indeed, we must—"
Then Luther suddenly realized that it wasn't his voice or anyone else's voice that had just been heard.
"Who are you?"
With a single glance from General Ryan, the soldiers immediately surrounded and protected the group.
"How did you manage to sneak into this military base?"
"How did you infiltrate the military base? Let me tell you a story—no, I should say a joke."
Then they heard the voice say, "Once upon a time, there was a sheepfold called Earth, filled with lambs, guarded only by a sheepdog."
"One day, a pack of jackals came to the sheepfold and were ready to feast. The sheep inside were still debating whether or not to kill the only sheepdog."
"Don't you think this is funny?"
Nobody could laugh.
"Where are you, you cowardly fellow?"
General Lane, surrounded by a large group of American soldiers in the center, growled in a low voice, "Come out if you dare! Who are you?"
While shouting excitedly to coax the other party into talking to him, he quickly made several tactical hand signals, trying to leave the room under the heavy protection of the soldiers.
Then he felt someone blowing on the back of his neck.
"You ask who I am?"
"I am a mortal, just like you, an ordinary human being, a pure lamb."
"But I wouldn't be stupid enough to try to murder a sheepdog."
"I am Batman, and I'm here to stop your foolish actions."
(End of this chapter)