Chapter 241: KING
"Ptui! I—"
Venom Robin wanted spitting. But he didn't possess saliva secretion functions. Most importantly, Batman gripped him with one hand, holding him aloft—while the other hand conjured a chocolate bar like magic.
The instant he saw chocolate, Venom Robin's eyes locked onto it directly. Words he'd wanted saying swallowed preemptively.
Batman's hand shifted. Venom Robin's gaze tracked the chocolate's movement.
"Robin, even though your body has formed, neither moonlight nor regeneration gel can provide the phenylethylamine contained in chocolate."
"By my calculations, you can endure maximum ten more minutes before requiring definite phenylethylamine intake."
Batman held chocolate where Venom Robin couldn't reach, watching the little guy's body suspended, limbs flailing wildly. His voice carried zero emotion:
"Short-term, you'll require massive chocolate consumption. But conventional chocolate's phenylethylamine content cannot satisfy your needs."
"Returning from North Brother Island, I've already purchased a chocolate factory—specifically producing chocolate meeting your requirements."
Just as Batman prepared saying something like "you choose being Robin or choose being vicious Venom," the little guy he held aloft already spoke:
"Thanks, Dad! I really am your most beloved Robin!"
This statement blocked Batman's subsequent semi-threatening words. He stood in position, allowing Venom Robin to struggle free from his palm, snatching chocolate from the other hand and stuffing it into his mouth.
Only after finishing one chocolate—when Venom extended his hand again requesting more—did Batman cease silence, extracting chocolate from his utility belt and handing it over:
"For the upcoming period, I'm conducting comprehensive training until you completely master your new body's full capabilities and meet my requirements."
Venom Robin chewed chocolate vigorously. Having previously screamed chaotically wanting to club Batman, he'd reverted to well-behaved child, asking through mouthfuls:
"What requirements?"
Batman retrieved the paper he'd just written.
Venom Robin accepted it with both hands, staring wide-eyed for considerable time without comprehending. Scratching his head, he rotated the paper full circle, finally discovering he'd been reading it upside-down:
"First rule: In Batman's presence and during public operations, must use 'Robin' designation with standard tactics, primarily manifesting as Batman's assistant..."
"'Eclipse Knight' form and designation only used during independent operations or supernatural threat missions explicitly authorized by Batman..."
Venom Robin looked up at Batman:
"Dad, are you competing with that bird-guy for custody?"
Batman didn't answer this question, instead maintaining serious expression while gesturing for Venom Robin continuing reading subsequent text.
Venom Robin's mouth corners rose. Though Batman hadn't answered, he already possessed his answer internally. Continuing reading:
''Must systematically study previous Robins' tactics and failure case studies...''
He casually crumpled the paper into a ball, flicking it backward:
"Why should I learn from them?"
Almost immediately—before the paper could land—Venom Robin spun around rapidly catching it, smoothing it out, rereading those two sentences.
While reading, Venom Robin surreptitiously observed Batman, then folded the paper, tucking it like treasure into his bandage combat suit.
"When does training start?"
Venom Robin appeared somewhat impatient.
"Tomorrow night begins." Batman's voice remained characteristically waveless.
Venom Robin snorted:
"Then I'm watching cartoons."
Batman ignored him, allowing Robin fiddling extensively with the workstation computer while throwing himself into work.
Eyes on cartoons, but Venom Robin's thoughts obviously weren't. After observing briefly, he impatiently approached Batman:
"Old Bat, what are you working on?"
"A medieval stone tablet fragment." Batman said. "Tonight, a thief crew went to the Roman galleries stealing this object. But I haven't analyzed this tablet's secrets."
"Need my help?" Venom Robin asked somewhat expectantly.
Batman glanced at Venom Robin, silent for several seconds before speaking:
"Help me locate this tablet's complete images."
"Easy problem!" Venom Robin's left hand—each finger differentiating into two-three tendrils—placed itself on the keyboard. Continuous clicking sounds filled the air.
With Venom Robin sharing workload, Batman immediately redirected his attention elsewhere.
He observed professional instruments taken from the thieves—window-breaching tools and similar equipment.
These weren't commercial products. From Batman's perspective, these tools were completely military-grade standards.
Considering that thief crew's professional expertise, possessing professional window-breaching tools shouldn't represent anything extraordinary.
But Batman always deeply investigated any seemingly insignificant leads. This wouldn't consume excessive time.
This investigation immediately revealed problems.
"The thieves belong to Yami Kaze Group. According to my investigation, Yami Kaze Group is a comprehensive corporation established in Yokohama, Japan..."
"Superficially legitimate enterprise. But based on this company's trade information and local Japanese intelligence, this more resembles a major yakuza corporation."
"...Founder named Oyama Kenji, self-styled 'Dark Wind Lord.'"
Since arriving in this world, Batman had encountered very few Japanese names—beyond handful of Stark Tower and Oscorp Tower Japanese staff members. Regarding crime-fighting-related Japanese individuals, only one existed.
That person's name was Oyama Kenji. Batman had previously hacked American CIA and Immigration, even including SHIELD databases comprehensively searching, ultimately finding zero additional information about this name.
Obviously, Batman had previously existed within something like an "information cocoon." The name Oyama Kenji bore absolutely zero American connection. He was Yokohama's Dark Wind Lord.
Superior memory immediately made Batman recall previous Rikers Island events—when beyond Kingpin, all other prisoners escaped simultaneously.
That very night, Batman had heard the name Oyama Kenji from captured escapees. Due to temporarily finding zero leads, he'd preserved this name alongside Kingpin inside the Batcave within a folder labeled "King." (Chapter 142)
"Morbius destroyed Rikers prison. Kingpin escaped afterward and vanished completely."
"The Metropolitan Museum theft connects to Kingpin?"
"What's his objective for this stone tablet fragment?"
Batman sank into contemplation. But his hands didn't stop, rapidly hacking into Yami Kaze Group's transaction records.