After learning the limits of Ben's watch and its DNA-scanning function, Batman didn't press further. Instead, he continued assigning the next phase of the operation.
"Superman. Wonder Woman. You two are going to the Brine Kingdom. Their people respect brave warriors. Find a way to blend in with them."
Both Superman and Wonder Woman accepted the mission with smiles—especially Diana. She was more than happy to test her skills against Atlantean fighters.
"And what about you?" Hal asked.
Noticing Batman hadn't assigned himself to any of the external missions, Hal narrowed his eyes. He had a strong feeling Batman was about to go do something reckless alone.
"I'm going to disguise myself as one of Black Manta's associates," Batman said evenly, "infiltrate Atlantis, and locate the missing missiles."
Batman wasn't hiding the plan at all.
When he and Superman had invited Arthur to join the Justice League, Batman had reviewed the intel Cyborg sent on Black Manta. Years of fighting crime in Gotham had made him exceptionally good at infiltration—getting inside criminal organizations, then gutting them from within.
"What's a 'missile'?" Vulko asked, confused.
He already understood the earlier "attack" had been Orm's staged performance, but he didn't know what Orm had gained from that massive submarine.
"A weapon," Ben answered, "one with an explosion big enough to erase an entire city."
As he spoke, Ben drew a mushroom-cloud shape in the air—an efficient, horrifying summary.
According to the intel "Fungus" had provided, the submarine's missiles were the mushroom kind.
And honestly—why was "Fungus" letting a nuclear submarine roam around the Atlantic with mushroom missiles onboard in the first place? More importantly: how the hell did it get hijacked?!
"We have to stop him from using that weapon," Ben said. "Whether it's on land or underwater."
Vulko's expression froze.
Orm had already been willing to launch torpedoes at negotiators just to force an alliance with the Kingdom of Xebel. If the Brine Kingdom and Fisherman Kingdom refused to join quickly, would Orm escalate to that weapon?
If a land-made weapon of that magnitude detonated in any Atlantean city, it would unify the entire civilization in rage. Everyone would support war. Everyone would rally behind Orm.
In that scenario, even if Arthur obtained the lost trident, he might not be able to suppress the call for blood.
Hal glanced at Batman.
Of course Batman was going to do the most dangerous thing alone.
"Next time, get me a different partner," Hal muttered. "Put Shazam with him. They're closer in age—they'll probably get along."
Ben's transformations were powerful and flexible, but his time limits were real. Sure, in life-threatening situations the watch could extend the transformation time—but nobody knew what the watch counted as "danger," or where the threshold even was.
Hal understood exactly why Batman paired him with Ben: because Hal was being used as the kid's bodyguard.
Batman didn't respond.
No one could predict when the next crisis would hit—or what form it would take. But one thing was consistent: Batman would always choose what he believed was the optimal decision for the circumstances.
Hal needed to protect Ben when he wasn't transformed.
But Superman had no such concern.
Wonder Woman was an elite warrior—she could execute the Brine mission alone if she had to.
"My disguise skills aren't bad," Superman offered. "I can go with you."
Superman genuinely thought he might be better suited for Batman's mission. If the missile got activated, he could launch it into deep space immediately.
"I'm enough," Batman said.
After thinking about the small-town boy's acting range, Batman didn't insult him—he simply rejected the idea. Solo was cleaner.
Wonder Woman frowned.
"Batman, you should consider teamwork. You can't even move freely underwater."
She wasn't belittling him. She just knew Batman's flaw: he always tried to shoulder too much alone. She wanted him to remember that she, Superman, and the others were fully capable of overcoming hardship with him.
"When I designed the suit, I considered deep-sea conditions," Batman replied. "A few modifications, and it becomes an excellent deep-sea diving suit."
He pulled tools and components from his utility belt and began upgrading the Batsuit on the spot.
Hal grinned at Superman and Wonder Woman.
"See why I hate this guy?" he said.
"Batman's an arrogant, stubborn bastard. He always tries to carry everything by himself. Like he's Atlas holding up the sky."
That was why—even after acknowledging Batman during the Apokolips operation—Hal still couldn't stand him.
"No choice," Ben said quietly. "That's Batman."
Ben couldn't really defend him.
Bruce Wayne stayed behind in the alley with the gunshots.
The one who walked out was Batman.
Bruce didn't think he deserved to be alive, so Batman would consider everyone else's safety—except his own.
And because of that… he always ended up hurting the people who cared about him.
Listening to the team's exchange, Vulko spoke up.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Batman, still working on his suit, answered flatly.
"Tell them how to reach the two kingdoms. Then treat me like an intruding surface-dweller—capture me and deliver me to Orm."
Vulko accepted the request without pressing for reasons.
He didn't understand surface-world thinking, but he could tell Batman had his own logic.
This wrecked ship was one of Vulko's safe houses. Once he confirmed what the Justice League needed, he quickly found the navigation pointers leading to the other kingdoms.
"Follow the pointers," Vulko said. "They'll take you there."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 90)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 95)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 80)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter70)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter70)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter50)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter60)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 20
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 20
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