Chapter 3: Plan B
Back in Gotham, Batman had been willing to shut down the fusion energy project, abandoning hundreds of millions in invested funds rather than let it fall into Bane's hands.
But at that time, he hadn't been well-versed in nuclear physics. After teaching himself and conducting research, Batman had overturned his previous assessment.
Whether magnetic confinement fusion or Tokamak devices, their final volume would inevitably be enormous.
Trying to convert a fusion reactor into a weapon would require turning it into nuclear fission, which was completely impossible.
Even if criminals did steal the device, Batman would only need to destroy it. Bombs, firearms... it could be demolished quite easily without triggering a fusion reaction.
Controlled fusion was an exceptionally safe, clean energy source. So over these three days, Batman hadn't stopped Otto from continuing his research. Instead, he'd incorporated it into his own plans.
"It's currently 2006. By investing capital to help Otto perfect fusion energy, I estimate I can complete capital accumulation within two years and build the instruments to locate my original world."
"But before that, I need a Plan B."
Batman's gaze moved from the New York map to the small computer in the warehouse, rebuilt from Peter's assembled machine.
He intended to hack into this nation's core classified files to determine whether supernatural forces existed in this world. This computer couldn't satisfy Batman's operational requirements.
In other words, Batman desperately needed money.
The abandoned shipyard was located in the eastern section of Lower Manhattan. The area wasn't particularly large, but due to various abandoned industrial equipment and derelict vessels, the terrain was extremely complex.
No homeless person would shelter here because they couldn't move the industrial refuse weighing several tons to clear a windbreak, and they had to constantly watch for rusty objects that could injure them.
For those without homes or money, tetanus infection was essentially a death sentence.
But the abandoned shipyard wasn't always unvisited. Various people came here for various purposes.
Like Batman. Like two gangs needing to conduct a transaction.
Caw—
As the last burning cloud of twilight disappeared, ink-black night completely shrouded the abandoned shipyard.
A crow perched on the massive gantry crane cawed twice before flapping away, completely unaware that at its landing spot, Batman—dressed in black tactical clothing with all presence concealed—was hiding nearby.
Aside from a ship's keel rising high, this was virtually the highest point in the shipyard, allowing Batman to observe the entire site without obstruction.
Screech.
Three box trucks stopped consecutively outside the shipyard's perimeter wall. Seven or eight men dressed plainly, mostly in black, exited one after another. Their hands were empty, but their waists bulged noticeably. Weapons, without question.
Compared to their unpretentious appearance, their leader's outfit was quite eye-catching.
A woman in a black deep-V leather outfit, her full curves nearly bursting the leather's constraints. Her exposed skin was so pale it seemed to glow. The white fur collar and equally snow-white hair gave her a wild appearance.
As she moved, her prominent curves trembled slightly.
In Gotham, anyone wearing bizarre costumes was usually talented. Batman concentrated nearly all his attention on her.
"Search this place thoroughly. I want you to give me good news: nobody's set any traps here," she said.
"Understood, Miss Black Cat."
Her subordinates responded quietly, then silently and quickly searched the areas of the abandoned shipyard they could access.
Batman wasn't worried they'd discover the warehouse he'd cleared and used as a temporary operations site. He'd camouflaged it. Unless someone physically entered, nobody would notice anything unusual.
His three days of training traces had likewise been handled. With Batman's professional methods, nobody would discover those multi-ton counterweights had been lifted.
"Miss Black Cat, everything here is normal."
A well-muscled, short-haired man in a black suit quickly consolidated everyone's reports, then approached Black Cat and lowered his head.
Black Cat nodded lightly, quite satisfied with her subordinates' report.
Batman crouched on the gantry crane, taking in everything. He knew exactly what would happen tonight.
During the day while collecting intelligence about this world on New York's streets and alleys, he'd learned that two gangs would conduct an arms deal here tonight. The time was now.
One group had already arrived. Where was the other?
Almost the moment Batman formed this thought, an ice cream truck slowly stopped outside the shipyard's perimeter wall.
"Ding-dong~"
Accompanied by the ice cream truck's cheerful melody, five or six fierce-looking thugs exited instead.
Compared to Black Cat's silent, orderly subordinates, these thugs better matched ordinary people's impression of gangsters.
"You're quite punctual, Mr. Joseph?"
Black Cat smiled as she approached the lead thug wearing a baseball cap.
"Of course. I'm always on time. On the other hand, Miss Black Cat arrived before us. In a date, that would touch any man's heart."
The thug named Joseph slightly lifted his baseball cap's brim, revealing a square face with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I'd never date a man like you." Black Cat's lips curved as she threw a flirtatious look at Joseph and the thugs behind him.
Joseph ignored Black Cat's flirtation, but his subordinates couldn't help swallowing, their eyes locked firmly on Black Cat.
Their expressions brought a flash of disgust to Black Cat's eyes.
"Just a reminder—we're not on a date, Miss Black Cat." Joseph looked around. "Where's my merchandise?"
Black Cat waved to her silent subordinates. They quickly moved, unloading wooden crates from the box trucks one after another.
Judging by how they carried them, these crates weren't light.
"The merchandise is here. Where's the money?"
Black Cat leaped lightly onto a crate, looking down at Joseph.
Joseph said something quietly to his people. Soon a briefcase was delivered to his hand.
Watching Joseph open the briefcase from a distance to display neatly stacked bills inside, Black Cat smiled sweetly:
"Joseph, you know what? These goods aren't light. So even if we wanted to take the money and run, we couldn't carry this merchandise away."
"Besides, you should trust Kingpin's reputation... so give me the money first."
Joseph maintained his insincere smile:
"Don't play tricks, Black Cat. Kingpin's name doesn't scare me."
With that, he swung his hand hard and tossed the briefcase. Black Cat caught it steadily.
The ink fragrance of cash made Black Cat's smile widen as she verified the bills. She looked at Joseph:
"You're quite trustworthy. But I have one last question."
"You only drove one vehicle here. How do you plan to transport this merchandise?"
While speaking, Black Cat drew a pistol and aimed it at Joseph:
"I'm guessing you planned to eliminate us, then conveniently drive away in our trucks. Right?"