Chapter 9: A Web of Traps
Committing all data obtained from hacking the CIA to memory, Batman's hands moved continuously, beginning to manufacture tools.
Tools both for dealing with Squid-Man and his frequently used "gel explosives" from Gotham.
This was a liquid formed by mixing multiple chemical substances. Normally quite stable, once exposed to air it would rapidly solidify and become highly explosive.
Manufacturing gel explosives wasn't difficult. The only challenge was the formula composition, but for Batman this wasn't a problem.
Paired with the gel explosives were five or six detonation systems combining miniature signal receivers and ignition devices.
Signal receivers would be positioned before spraying the gel explosives. Their task was continuously monitoring specific wireless signals. When receiving the correct command, they would activate the next component—the ignition device.
Then the ignition device would generate a tiny electrical current, completely detonating the gel explosive.
Due to Batman's extensive experience in Gotham, manufacturing the gel explosives now flowed smoothly without encountering any difficulties.
Hiss...
Batman attached a detonation system composed of signal receiver and ignition device to a steel beam, then sprayed gel explosive onto it.
The remote detonator was modified from a car key. Batman retreated over twenty meters, hiding in a safe location before pressing the button.
With a boom, the gel explosive detonated successfully.
Since the sprayed gel wasn't abundant, the explosion's power wasn't strong, but for Batman it was sufficient.
If he needed greater power, he could increase the amount of gel sprayed.
Following the Bat-Claws and high-spec computer, the third piece of equipment was complete. As for the fourth, strictly speaking it wasn't quite finished.
This was a discharge device modified from an electric baton, capable of releasing current sufficient to instantly paralyze an ordinary person.
Squid-Man's physical capabilities exceeded normal humans. Batman had specifically increased the current's discharge power, but the cost was that the device became single-use.
Everything ready, darkness fell again. Batman still didn't head to the sewers. Instead, he began setting up the abandoned shipyard.
Hiss, hiss...
Subtle sounds occasionally echoed in various corners of the abandoned shipyard. Batman used the Bat-Claws' high mobility to rapidly deploy gel explosives while stringing up webbing he'd changed to black.
The webbing was already extremely fine. Black made it completely invisible in the night.
This was his Plan B, to avoid Squid-Man showing up uninvited while he was unprepared.
Currently no rumors existed about "Batman" externally. If Squid-Man accepted Kingpin's employment, the best method to find Batman would inevitably be coming to the shipyard.
"The abandoned shipyard's sewage pipes have four main lines and over twenty branches. Based on Squid-Man's size, he'll most likely appear in one of the four thickest sewage pipes."
Batman looked toward one location—where Squid-Man had burst from the ground last night. One of the four main sewage lines.
He'd given this area special attention. Gel explosives and webbing were generously woven into a large net.
"If Squid-Man hasn't appeared by nine o'clock tonight, he's more likely hiding in the sewers rather than coming here."
Without delay, Batman finally entered the sewers, continuing to set up gel explosives and web traps.
The sewer system was vast and complex. Batman only laid traps at sewer intersections within a hundred-meter radius of the abandoned shipyard.
After completing everything, Batman stood at the shipyard's highest point—a ship's keel that had been hoisted high.
From now on, waiting for his prey.
Time passed minute by minute. Since the area outside the abandoned shipyard wasn't a commercial street, aside from dim streetlights there were no other light sources.
The shipyard had long since fallen into pitch darkness. Shadows of ships and industrial equipment resembled ferocious beasts in the night, ready to devour all sinners at any moment.
A breeze blew past, carrying a faint fishy stench.
Batman remained motionless. He knew Squid-Man had arrived. The target was the abandoned shipyard.
Now the tactical suit, Bat-Claws, and gel explosives were all worn on Batman's body. The discharge device was also positioned at a location in the shipyard.
He'd prepared for this, locking his gaze firmly on the sewage pipe Squid-Man had broken through yesterday.
Silently, a blue-green tentacle with suction cups quietly emerged from the pipe's rupture.
Then the second, the third... the eighth.
Unlike the humanoid squid seen yesterday, today Squid-Man appeared in thoroughly squid form. This detail wasn't recorded in CIA intelligence at all.
"But I anticipated this." Batman thought.
When Squid-Man crept out of the sewage pipe and cautiously explored in one direction, Batman pressed the gel explosive remote button in his hand.
The controller he'd designed could precisely detonate gel explosives at different locations, avoiding the situation where pressing the button would trigger explosions throughout the entire abandoned shipyard.
The current explosion location was in the opposite direction from where Squid-Man had emerged from the sewage pipe.
With a boom, the instant the gel explosive detonated, Squid-Man reflexively sprinted forward at full speed, successfully entering the route Batman had preplanned for him—a decaying fishing boat.
Five meters, ten meters... Squid-Man's speed was extremely fast. This also meant his speed falling into the trap was fast.
When he reacted and sensed something wrong, black webbing had already tightly entangled his body.
Squid-Man panicked. He instinctively tried breaking free from the webbing on his body. His slippery body let him succeed at this. One tentacle extended with the help of slime, pulling Squid-Man's body toward the decaying hull ahead.
The instant he climbed onto the hull, another explosion. The gel explosive Batman had pre-sprayed on the ship blew apart the already dilapidated hull. Squid-Man's body began free-falling, landing into a web trap.
The trap couldn't hold Squid-Man. Given enough time, relying on his slippery body he'd eventually break free.
"If only I had something sharp to cut through this webbing..." Squid-Man's eyes rolled wildly. He spotted a metal framework originally installed in the hull.
If he could tear it off, the metal's sharp edge would let Squid-Man escape the webbing faster.
But this was also Batman's trap. The instant Squid-Man's tentacle wrapped around the metal framework, powerful current surged into his body. He was instantly electrocuted, eight limbs convulsing, unable to move.
From beginning to end, Squid-Man hadn't even seen Batman's figure. His every step had fallen within Batman's advance planning.
Fear, and physical pain he hadn't felt in a long time, made Squid-Man completely panic. What made him break down further was an oppressive, devil-like voice appearing without warning beside his ear:
"Tell me about the human experiments you underwent at Oscorp. I want to know everything."