manynovel Chapter 104 Technology Showcase
Chapter 104 Technology Showcase
The dinner at Wayne Manor unfolded in a subtle atmosphere. Exquisite silverware and crystal glasses were set on the long table, and candlelight cast flickering shadows. Bruce Wayne, as the host, sat at the head of the table, behaving like a typical playboy, casually discussing art collecting and the recent racing series.
"So, Tony, I heard you're quite knowledgeable about engineering?" Bruce asked casually, cutting off a small piece of steak.
Tony put down his glass, his eyes gleaming with excitement: "I've been researching this since I was a child. My father once told me that technology is the ladder of human progress."
"Howard Stark?" Bruce raised an eyebrow slightly. "I remember him, a brilliant scientist. It's a pity that many of his ideas were too ahead of their time."
Chen Haotian astutely caught the probing in Bruce's words. Howard Stark was a renowned scientist in the Marvel universe, but in this DC universe, he shouldn't exist, or at least wouldn't be known in the same capacity. Just as Tony was about to respond, Chen Haotian gently nudged his leg under the table.
"Tony's father is indeed named Howard," Chen Haotian continued, without changing his expression, "but he was just an ordinary engineer, not well-known in academia. Tony's talent is more self-taught."
Bruce nodded thoughtfully and did not press further, but Chen Haotian could sense that the doubt in his eyes had deepened.
After dinner, Bruce led them on a tour of the estate's art collection. The corridors were lined with priceless paintings, but Chen Haotian deliberately stopped when they passed a 17th-century Dutch landscape painting.
"A superb forgery," he said softly, noticing Bruce's shoulders tense slightly. "The original should be in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, right?"
Bruce turned around, his relaxed expression vanishing. "How did you figure that out?"
"The lighting is a little unnatural, even though the imitation is very close," Chen Haotian said with a smile. "But what interests me more is why Wayne Manor would need to hang such a realistic fake."
The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Fury and Tony both sensed the change in atmosphere and stood up straight at the same time.
Bruce stared at Chen Haotian for a long time before slowly saying, "It seems you are not just representatives of an energy company. Please come with me."
He led the three through a hidden corridor and stopped in front of an ancient clock. As he turned the hands, the clock silently moved aside, revealing a staircase leading downwards behind it.
"Wow," Tony whistled, "this is way cooler than my Malibu villa."
As they descended the stairs, the sight before them astonished even the worldly-wise Tony and Fury. Inside the enormous cave, high-tech equipment lined the walls, with the famous Batsuit hanging in the center, and in a display case nearby, Robin's uniform and various other special gear.
"The Bat Cave," Chen Haotian said, looking around with admiration, "is even more impressive than I imagined."
Bruce had already walked to the control panel in the center of the cave. When he turned around, his entire aura changed: "Now, tell me your true identities and purpose."
Chen Haotian calmly walked to an analyzer and gently stroked its surface: "We are indeed representatives of Apocalypse Technology, that's no lie. However, the technology we possess may far exceed your imagination."
Tony pulled a palm-sized metal device from his pocket: "This is our portable arc reactor, capable of providing a medium-sized city with electricity for a week."
Bruce took the device, his eyes sharp: "This energy density... is impossible."
"In our world, this has already become a reality," Chen Haotian said calmly. "We came to Gotham because we know that Wayne Enterprises—or Batman—is one of the few that can understand and make good use of this technology."
Bruce tensed slightly: "You know I'm Batman."
"We know a lot of things," Chen Haotian met his gaze, "such as the truth behind your parents' murder, the Joker's impending prison break, and the threat from outer space."
The cave was silent, save for the soft hum of a computer. Bruce's gaze swept over the three men, finally settling on Chen Haotian: "Who are you? Where are you from?"
Chen Haotian took out a small projector from his pocket, turned it on, and displayed a set of complex energy readings: "We come from another universe, I think you've already guessed that."
The projection shows a comparison of energy fluctuations between two parallel universes, as well as the subtle interactions between them.
“The multiverse theory,” Bruce said in a low voice, “I’ve always thought it was just a theory.”
"This is everyday reality for us," Tony interjected. "We've already traversed three different worlds, including this one."
Fury finally spoke, his voice echoing through the cave: "We are demonstrating this technology because we believe cooperation is more valuable than confrontation. Your world is threatened, and so is ours. Unity may be the only way out."
Bruce walked to the control panel and pulled up a set of data: "Is this why you've established your influence in Gotham's East District? For 'unity'?"
Chen Haotian smiled slightly: "For survival, Mr. Wayne. Survival in different worlds requires resources and intelligence. We cooperated with Cobblestone (the Penguin) to establish ourselves, while cooperating with you is for a greater goal."
He walked to the bat-like computer, tapped the screen to bring up a file: "We know you've collected some... special items. Including a fragment from Krypton and an Amazonian artifact."
Bruce's eyes turned dangerous: "You're investigating me."
"We know a lot about this world," Chen Haotian readily admitted, "just as you will soon be investigating us. What we propose is a fair trade: Arc Reactor technology in exchange for your collection of items that cannot be explained by conventional science."
Bruce remained silent for a long time, carefully examining the data from the Arc Reactor. As Batman, he instinctively distrusted these mysterious visitors; but as a scientist, he couldn't deny the astonishing value of this technology.
"I need time to consider," he finally said, "and more evidence to prove that your technology is real."
Tony grinned. "Want to see a live demonstration?"
Under Bruce's watchful eye, Tony began dismantling a backup generator in one corner of the cave and then connecting it to the portable arc reactor. Minutes later, the energy readings throughout the Batcave surged dramatically, all equipment accelerated noticeably, and even the stalactites on the cave ceiling glowed faintly in the energy fluctuations.
"My God," Bruce murmured, looking at the data on the console, "this is more than the entire power output of Gotham City."
Chen Haotian walked up to him: "Imagine how much the crime rate would drop if Gotham had this kind of clean energy? And imagine if Batman's suit was powered by this kind of energy..."
Bruce shut down the generator, and the light in the cave returned to normal. He turned to the three men, his expression serious: "I agree to explore the possibility of further cooperation. But there are two conditions: first, you must cease your cooperation with Cobblestone and other crime bosses; second, I want to see for myself your so-called 'time travel' abilities."
Chen Haotian exchanged a glance with Tony and Fury, then nodded: "We can implement the first condition step by step; suddenly cutting off contact would attract unnecessary attention. As for the second..."
He took out a small device that glowed blue: "The next journey will take place in 72 hours. You can witness it if you wish."
Bruce took the device and examined it carefully. "I'll consider it. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to study this reactor on my own."
The three left the Batcave and returned to the main part of the manor. As they got into the car, Tony finally couldn't help but ask, "Do you think he's bought it?"
Chen Haotian gazed at the rapidly receding outline of the manor outside the window: "He bought half of it. Bruce Wayne will never fully trust anyone, especially mysterious outsiders. But the allure of technology is irresistible to him."
Fury turned his head from the front seat: "He asked us to cut off contact with the Penguins, which would affect our operations in the East."
"That's why I said 'phased implementation'," Chen Haotian smiled slightly. "Once we acquire Wayne Enterprises' technological resources and those alien items, Copperpot will become less important."
The car drove into the Gotham night, the distant city lights like stars scattered on the ground. Chen Haotian knew they had successfully dropped a pebble into the Batman world, and the ripples were spreading.
Inside the underground caverns of Wayne Manor, Bruce Wayne stood before the Arc Reactor, his brow furrowed behind his mask. He made an encrypted call: "Superman, I need your help. Some...unexpected visitors have arrived on Earth."