Chapter 289: The Ronin's Killing Spree
"Old Bat, you're somewhat abnormal."
Venom Robin observed Batman breaking three criminals' leg bones—after interrogating about Black Widow's whereabouts—while speaking:
"Us thus openly interrogating them—aren't we afraid your Black-Widow-searching information leaking outward?"
From nightfall until now—seven hours passed. Batman led Venom Robin shuttling through New York's various dark corners, asking every encountered criminal about "5.5-feet-tall, good-physique white female."
This completely wasn't proper Black-Widow-searching actions. Venom Robin knew Batman's actions definitely possessed purposes. But he couldn't understand what purposes were.
"If you're police—when you know I'm seeking such one female—what reactions would you have?" Batman counter-asked.
"I'd feel you got dumped." Venom Robin said.
"What if you're Hydra or SHIELD identity? Under our previously-assumed premise 'Black Widow is SHIELD's Hydra-planted undercover'?" Batman asked again.
"Uh?" Venom Robin belatedly reacted. "I'd naturally believe the person you're seeking is precisely Black Widow... But doesn't this return to my previous question—are tonight's actions excessively high-profile?"
"This is precisely my purpose, Robin." Batman explained. "Precisely because I thus openly seeking Black Widow, my identity will make both Hydra and SHIELD unable fathoming."
"They'll possess extremely high probabilities choosing contacting me. Regardless whether arriving people are SHIELD agents or Hydra—we're all one step closer finding Black Widow."
Venom Robin nodded. He possessed partial memories. But thinking patterns remained Robin's. Previously couldn't understand—but currently one point made transparent. Even began drawing inferences:
"Old Bat, are you also seizing this opportunity concentrating both SHIELD and Hydra's attention onto yourself— securing opportunities for Hawkeye executing missions in Japan?"
"You're very intelligent, Robin." Batman said.
Venom Robin crossed arms:
"I know I'm intelligent."
While speaking, he observed beside him three already-unconscious criminals. Under Batman's intimidation and interrogation methods, they'd already been frightened senseless.
''So you don't need to teach me like a child—demonstrating stealth methods through specific interrogation techniques and carefully chosen language."
Tonight from interrogating those Santas on Queensboro Bridge onward, Venom Robin noticed Batman's interrogation methods weren't so concise—mixed with some demonstrative behaviors.
Venom Robin could imagine if he weren't present, Batman's interrogation methods would become more directly effective.
He'd directly immerse those Santas' half-faces into water—making them await that large tugboat's passage in icy river waters.
Rather than empty verbal descriptions of scenarios Santas would encounter.
"Robin, intimidating enemies similarly represents your training portions." Batman's voice remained low. "I hope you'll learn and utilize it—rather than future independent criminal interrogations getting mocked by criminals."
Venom Robin bared fangs:
"Dare mock me—I'll eat them!"
Words barely finished—Venom Robin observed Batman casting ice-cold gazes toward himself. Frightening him into rapidly shrinking neck:
"I'm joking."
"Have you considered why—after removing human-face masks—your appearance is clearly more terrifying than mine. Yet those Santa robbers facing your intimidation could still clamor about diabetes and similar words?" Batman asked.
This problem wasn't just Venom Robin's. Previously Gotham-sheltered several Robins also encountered similar problems.
Batman knew he must resolve this problem. Couldn't let it pressing Robin's hearts—subtly making their behaviors increasingly violent.
"Don't know." Venom Robin honestly shook his head. He'd contemplated this problem but hadn't understood.
"Because fear you bring them emphasizes more strength venting and surface appearances. Wanting making their fear elevate further—this involves psychology and criminology."
Batman patiently explained:
"I don't want you pursuing more terrifying forms. But your tongue-extending mouth-full-of-fangs appearance makes criminals' cognition rapidly categorize: 'This is monster.'"
"Once categorization completes, fear lands. Brains will begin seeking monster-confronting methods—even if merely absurd mockery."
Venom Robin extended his scarlet long tongue, using hands pulling while observing once, then stuffing it back into mouth:
"What about you? Clearly you appear merely armor-wearing human—especially your deliberately-exposed-chin appearance."
Batman extended hands toward Robin. Robin also wiped his just-tongue-pulling hand on moonlight bandage armor, holding Batman's hand.
One large one small, one black one white—both figures rapidly leaped toward New York's tall buildings.
"Did you notice their terms for me? Vampire, ghost, phantom, demon... They don't know what I am exactly—don't know whether I'm human or monster."
"I refuse providing answers. This unresolved state will continuously consume criminals' psychological resources—making them repeatedly entangling in 'Is he human or not?' unsolvable questions, thereby falling into deeper helplessness and fear."
Batman—one hand pulling pitch-black web strands, another hand pulling Venom Robin—voice drifted through New York's night sky.
"Unknown is what's most frightening. That's what you're saying, right?" Venom Robin asked.
"Correct, Robin." Batman swung at hundred-meter-above-ground altitudes. Peter Parker's body's super-strong senses let him rapidly discovering below-alley students bullying youths. "They're yours."
While speaking, Batman swung his hand—tossing Venom Robin outward.
---
Japan, Yokohama.
Currently experiencing torrential rains. Ronin Clint Barton—holding katana—walked through one pleasure district.
Exposed-kimono-wearing dancers, geishas, servers screamed while running toward Ronin Clint's direction. Ronin Clint Barton conversely walked forward slowly against crowds.
As irrelevant personnel ran increasingly distant, Ronin Clint Barton finally met Yami Kaze Group thugs chasing dancers.
Having arrived at Yokohama, Japan two days ago, Ronin Clint clearly knew this location outwardly gathered Japanese traditional cultural performances plus high-end dining traditional pleasure districts.
But actually, this location was Yami Kaze Group-controlled one cross-border child-trafficking filthy place.
Compared to hiding identities secretly investigating Yami Kaze Group trade records but forced ignoring these crimes—Ronin Clint Barton chose another more aggressive method.
Killing all the way through!
One side—over hundred Yami Kaze Group-assembled thugs. Other side—only one-person Ronin Clint Barton.
Under torrential rains, both sides—separated by over fifty meters distance—walked increasingly closer. Not knowing who shouted one "Kill!"
Both sides' distance rapidly shortened—until close-quarters combat!
"Ah!"
The ronin's blade rose and fell. Wherever passing—heads sprayed blood, spinning while falling onto water-accumulated roads.