Three-stream detection simulator

Robin was startled, but Batman remained indifferent: "What did you say?"

Unfortunately, Hercule has already heard the system prompt:

[Side mission: Bat monster?

Task status: Completed

Task description: For adults, there is no fantasy in the world. The president of the Wayne Group who lives and drinks, the Gotham vigilante who lacks everything on supercars; Bruce who has an underage adopted son from the circus, and Batman who recruits trained child laborers... Your sophisticated brain can only get Come to the conclusion that "Gotham's rich man = Batman". This is certainly not wrong, but the detective has never thought about why Batman can't live next door to Wayne?

Mission reward: Gotham area reputation +300

Gotham area reputation lv.1 (300/400): You have a slight reputation among a specific niche group.

Obtain a medal: Batman's approval (the physical object can be hidden).

Wearing effect: Gotham area reputation +1000

██ Alliance reputation + (to be determined)

Number ██ universe reputation +100

(Note: The above values ​​are bound to Batman’s personal reputation and will increase as Batman’s reputation increases)

The favorability of bat superheroes has been greatly improved: they almost grew up hearing your name.

Bat Heroes Faction Reputation: Friendly

Negative effect: You will more easily attract the attention of Batman’s enemies]

From the player's perspective, the mission reward medal is an unedged batarang about half the size of a palm, and Hercule chose to wear it and hide the actual object.

It takes 800 points to upgrade reputation level from lv.2 to lv.3. Adding the previous 300 points, his Gotham reputation immediately jumped two levels in a row:

[Gotham area reputation lv.3 (100/1200): A considerable number of ordinary criminals will flee after hearing your name. 】

...?

Hercule took off the medal and put it on again several times, and found that the reputation description did not change. Most of the people who had heard of his name were reserve guards at Blackgate Prison, and there were so few potential clients with upright opinions that the system didn't bother to mention him.

How could this be? ! In this case, what is the difference between positive effects and negative effects! Expelling the minions and attracting the criminal bosses at the same time, right?

But Hercule was still reluctant to take it off. Although I don’t know how many so-called bat superheroes there are, what kind of organization the Bat Heroes are, and why Batman keeps saying that he works alone, but his medal of recognition is so influential...

But in short, Hercule felt that he might need to cooperate with these people one day.

There are more and more superheroes and criminals, and they have their own organizations. The future development trend of this world is already obvious.

The ██ League may be Batman's work unit, its full name is unknown, and it is unknown whether it is currently established.

And the universe they live in even has a number.

Hercule felt more and more that the game system had a comprehensive understanding of the world that was independent of time. The information it gives is systematic regardless of whether it conforms to reality or whether it is complete.

For example, with the current level of technology in the 21st century, humans cannot accurately predict the end of the universe, but the system says: Oh, I have seen it, but I just put a code and can't tell you.

Does this mean that the game and players come from a higher dimension? "You don't have to die within forty-two months" really refers to the novice protection period?

Hercule didn't have time to think about it, as Batman in front of him was still arrogant.

Robin, or call him Richard Grayson, is much cuter. It was the first time that this child asked Batman for permission to go on a trip. Before he could show off his skills, he was frightened by the detective's words and thought that he had accidentally exposed his guardian's secret identity.

But Hercule carries the medal "Batman's stamp of approval."

While Dick felt that the detective was so disgusting, how could he bully a child? At the same time, he couldn't help but start thinking about the conversation he had with Bruce and the butler Alfred about Hercule half a day ago.

It was around one in the morning, and the detective and the neighbor went to Stark headquarters. Batman stayed in Aria's apartment with the suitcase containing the Mechanical Heart in his hand. After the function stopped, this thing similar to a small nuclear bomb returned to calm again, and no high energy density and radioactivity could be detected no matter what method was used.

But when Batman faces it, it's hard to ignore the instinctive sense of crisis. Just like humans in primitive times walking alone in the wilderness holding torches, the fire only illuminates a small area in front of them. Only survival instinct will tell you what dangers lurk outside the fire.

How does the Heart of the Machine work? What does it rely on to restore energy? Someone made this miraculous artifact and gave it to Hercule for some purpose. Maybe it's because only Hercules can make it work, or maybe only a few people can tolerate its side effects...

There are too many unknown details, and the first word that comes to Batman's mind is 'technical fault'.

The maker of the Machine Heart will not be the current human being.

It either comes from the future or belongs to a distant alien civilization spanning light years.

In order to make Robin understand the seriousness of this problem, Batman showed him the crawling space cracks under the camera lens and the "Statue of Liberty" that was so huge that it blocked the sky.

At the same time, Hercule has the duality of reason and madness, and a mind far beyond ordinary people. If he did not show a certain sense of justice, Batman would really have to reserve a bed in Arkham Asylum.

Robin got up from bed in the middle of the night and flew himself to New York by plane. He was confused and shocked, and thought it was cool.

Batman is already cool, Detective is simply on par and worth a closer look.

He walked up to Hercule, raised his head and said, "I know it's easy for you to discover this level of secrets (Batman:?), but you and Batman are teammates, and you and I just After shaking hands, we can be considered good friends, so can you keep it a secret for us?"

Hercule looked at him in surprise and promised: "Of course, I didn't intend to tell it."

"Thank you. You not only have a wise mind, but also the virtues of a knight." The little boy said seriously, "I wish our friendship will last forever."

Batman: "..."

**

Enthusiastic Gotham (to be determined) citizen Hercule Hugo reported the real culprit of the arson case to the NYPD.

The police found several incendiary flasks disguised as ordinary alcohol packages in the target's apartment. After testing, they found that they were entropy reversal weapons made with special technology.

When the police questioned the fire investigator about the source of the weapons, he surrendered and calmly admitted to eight murders. Five of them were serial arson cases in New York with the words "This is the Apocalypse" written on them. Two entropy reversal ignition flasks worked, but after neighbors called the police, investigators failed to arrive at the scene immediately and leave the words. The last one occurred in Many years ago.

At that time, the fire investigator had a happy life and a happy family. During his son's elementary school vacation, the family drove to the countryside for a picnic and accidentally ignited a vehicle parked on the roadside.

The fire was difficult to control and eventually led to the death of three innocent people, including the investigator's wife. The accident was treated as an accident by the relevant departments. To this day, the husband personally admitted that it was his manslaughter.

The year after his wife's death, the fire investigator's son dropped out of school and transferred to Xavier Academy for Gifted Youngsters, the mutant school founded by Professor X.

Three more years later, the boy said goodbye to his family companions and his whereabouts were unknown. Meanwhile, the fire investigator devoted all his energy to his career, with colleagues describing him as 'frightening in his enthusiasm for chasing fires'.

Is it really the husband of a family of three who accidentally set the car on fire many years ago? Many people have similar doubts in their minds, but the fire investigators have made the details of the incident very clear. After many years, I am afraid that no one except his son and his wife’s spirit in heaven knows about this dusty past.

"There is an unquenchable fire of hatred in my heart that is always scorching my soul."

The fire investigator who surrendered said to the interview camera:

"Fire gradually becomes beautiful and sacred in my eyes. I firmly believe that when we draw flames in the dark night, we are praying to the spiritual world invisible to the naked eye. The unknown great existence pours wisdom and civilization into the human mind, and also That our eyes may not be stained by the devil in the darkness.

The surface of our entire planet is burning with invisible flames. The gravitational waves generated when space and time are curved are its firelight, and the dark matter that fills the universe is the ashes it throws away when it ignites the stars. When God withdraws His grace, this flame will stop beating, and the future of mankind will fall into boundless emptiness and darkness..."

Reporter: "So you don't regret your actions? You don't think arson is a crime?"

Fire investigator: "I only did what I thought I should do. Thank you. I am always loyal to my profession and try to do my best."

Reporter: “What do you think of ‘the detective’ who exposed your crime?”

The calm facade the fire investigators had maintained was finally shattered. Fear, disgust, avoidance and other emotions flashed in his eyes, and he replied stiffly: "I don't want to talk about this topic."

"Are you afraid of him?" the reporter asked perceptively, "because he easily ruined your seemingly flawless plan? Do you value this opponent more than the New York Police Department? If given the chance, you would retaliate. ?…”

The fire investigator’s arms had veins popping out and his eyes were trembling. He jumped up like a frightened lion and knocked over the microphone angrily: “That’s enough!!”

The interview ended early.

The most eye-catching news headlines of the day were:

"——The only person he fears! 》

"What novel title is this?"

Strategic Homeland Defense Attack and Logistics Agency, referred to as S.H.I.E.L.D.

Director Nick Fury was sitting behind his desk, holding a stack of newspapers in his hand, leisurely crossing his legs and rocking from side to side as he read.

After reading the first article, he turned to the next page, which was titled "Unimaginable Crimes, Fatal Omissions, Can You Understand the Confrontation between Detectives and Criminals?" 》.

"Tsk." He turned another page, followed by "The Well-Dressed Madman: The Murderer Claims to Get Erect at the Firelight," "No serious content?"

The SHIELD agent in a suit stood next to him and made a helpless gesture: "Today's hot spots should be all about these things."

"I thought they would rely on theology, after all, the arsonist has already said that." Fury flipped through the newspaper, "According to the New York Police Department, the media was bribed to imply evil. Have you found the guy from the Cult and Evil God?”

"No," the agent replied, "this group of people is hiding very deep. Moreover, Hercule Hugo thought of the murderer too quickly. The enemy may have fled before they even had time to implement their next plan. They would rather give up the early stage." Be prepared to retract your tentacles as well.”

"That is to say, the clues are still on the detective himself and the entropy reversal flask in front of me." Director Fury raised his head and said thoughtfully to the person sitting opposite him, "As a person with all the knowledge, The United States - perhaps the genius with the most advanced weapons technology in the world, what do you think?"

Tony folded his arms and leaned back on the chair with an expressionless face: "You asked someone to bring me all the way from Aria's apartment to a place like this, just to discuss a broken beer bottle with me and get to know me. No more than two days old?”

Director Fury wasn't angry.

In the original plan, the correct time to meet Iron Man should be a few months later, and SHIELD would also examine the character and abilities of the preliminary members of the Avengers. It’s just that time waits for no one and the situation changes too quickly. In this case, some back and forth testing steps can be omitted as appropriate:

"First of all, this is not an ordinary beer bottle, but a gold wine bottle that has fetched a sky-high price of US$100,000/g on the black market. Secondly, I thought you already regarded Hercule Hugo as a friend."

Tony's face was tense and expressionless.

Director Fury slowed down his tone: "Don't look at me like you're staring at an enemy, Tony. Is there a conflict of interest between us? No. Don't you want to know what secrets your friends have?

You are the one who made the Iron Man suit, and you know better than me how far Earth's technology has developed. When you showed people that little Ark reactor on your chest, most of the U.S. government stood up against you. Why? Because of technical fault! Because the researchers in their hands can't catch up with you anyway!

The excessive power gap leads to unimaginable unknowns, and science turns to theology. Iron Man is like that, Entropy Reversal Weapon is like that, Hercule Hugo's Secret - although I'm not sure what that is - is the same thing in a way.

The only way to relieve the fear of facing the unknown is to understand, deconstruct, and transcend. This is exactly what I want to do. I'm sure you can help, Tony, but the question is, will you? "

He clasped his hands together, wore a black eyepatch over his left eye, and the remaining intact right eye looked straight at Iron Man.

"...You are an outstanding speaker." Tony was silent for a while and then said, "However, since you think Hercule Hugo is my friend, then with all due respect, I will not betray my friends. Use your words to win people over, Fury."

He stood up and left the office of the Director of SHIELD without any hesitation.

The heavy solid wood door closed with a bang.

The agent looked at the director who remained motionless and asked in a low voice: "Do you want another chance?"

"No." Fury woke up from his reverie, turned around and said, "Next, according to the original plan, let Black Widow report to Stark Industries and get close to the No. 2 observation target Anthony Edward Stark."

There is a drawing on his desk, with the title "Black Apple Core" at the top. Below the title is a messy, many-edited, unprofessional, and even child-like drawing. It depicts a chip with sharp edges and as thin as paper. There are channel-like grooves in the middle of the semiconductor of the integrated circuit. The artist used a pencil to blacken these grooves, as if to indicate that some kind of dark liquid flows through it. .

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. copied a copy of this drawing from an ancient underground organization called the Court of Owls in Gotham City and sent it to Director Nick Fury.

Beyond that, no one knows what it is or what it does.

In the office of the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., the agent asked again: "Hercule Hugo's neighbor Oliver Putnam plans to create a thriller crime radio show with the theme of New York's serial arson cases. Do we need to intervene?"

Fury thought for a while and said, "No need. I heard that in order to reasonably fund the detective, the Gotham Police Department specially teamed up with Bruce Wayne to issue a commission. The amount of the transaction was ten times the average price - our 1 Is the observation target really that poor?”

If the rumors are true, letting Hercule Hugo take a cut of the radio show would not be a bad thing for possible future collaborations.

**

At the same time, on the evening of July 18, New York City.

As the sun sets in the west, the crimson glow gildes the hems of the superheroes' cloaks and detective coats with bright gold edges. The night wind blows from afar, carrying cool water vapor, sending away the heat left by the flames and the haze in people's hearts.

Robin handed Hercule's luggage to its owner and said to him and Batman: "Although the arson case has been solved, we still don't know the significance of the copycat crime itself and the origin of those entropy reversal weapons. And don't Forgot that you came to New York to find Shania Fordham's package. Where is the real Marshall? Will the death prophecy be fulfilled?

Hercule easily held down the boy's head to stop him from talking incessantly.

"I think I forgot something." The detective looked at Batman, "Where did you and Robin place the fake Marshall and the guy named Fordham?"