When he was in Gotham, Batman would rather halt the nuclear fusion energy project, abandoning hundreds of millions in invested funds, than let it fall into Bane's hands.
But at that time, he was not proficient in nuclear physics. After self-study and research, Batman overturned his previous views.
Whether it was magnetic confinement fusion or a tokamak device, their final volumes were quite massive.
To transform a nuclear fusion reactor into a weapon, unless it was converted into nuclear fission, which was completely impossible.
Even if a criminal did steal the device, Batman would only need to destroy it. Bombs, firearms... it could be easily ruined without triggering a nuclear fusion reaction.
Controlled nuclear fusion is a very safe and clean energy source, so over these past three days, Batman not only didn't stop Dr. Otto from continuing his research but actually incorporated it into his own plans.
"It's currently 2006. By investing funds and helping Dr. Otto perfect nuclear fusion energy, I expect to complete capital accumulation within two years and build an instrument to locate my original World."
"But before that, I need a Plan B."
Batman shifted his gaze from the New York map to the small computer in the warehouse, which had been re-modified from the computer assembled by Peter Parker.
He intended to find out if supernatural powers existed in this World by hacking into the core classified documents of this country, but this computer could not meet Batman's plan requirements.
In other words, Batman desperately needed money right now.
The Abandoned Shipyard is located in the eastern part of Lower Manhattan. It's not too large in area, but due to various discarded industrial equipment and abandoned ships, the terrain here is quite complex.
No beggars were willing to stay here overnight because they couldn't move the industrial waste, which often weighed several tons, to create shelter, and they constantly had to be careful not to be scratched by various rusty objects.
For the homeless and penniless, contracting tetanus almost meant certain death.
However, the Abandoned Shipyard was not always deserted; some people would always come here for various purposes.
For example, Batman, or two Gangs needing to conduct a transaction.
Caw caw —
As the last fiery cloud of dusk disappeared, the inky blackness of night completely enveloped the Abandoned Shipyard.
A crow squatted on the massive gantry crane, cawed twice, then flapped its wings and flew away, completely unaware that Batman, clad in black stealth gear and with all his presence concealed, was hiding nearby at its perch.
Aside from a towering ship keel, this was almost the highest point of the shipyard, allowing Batman an unobstructed view of the entire area.
"Whoosh."
Three vans successively stopped outside the shipyard wall. Seven or eight men, dressed in ordinary, predominantly black clothing, got out. Their hands were empty, but their waists were bulging, undoubtedly hiding weapons.
Compared to their seemingly unassuming appearance, their leader's attire was quite eye-catching.
It was a woman wearing a black deep V leather outfit, her ample curves almost bursting through the leather. Her exposed skin was so White it seemed to glow, and the White fur collar and equally snow-White long hair made her look wild.
As her steps shifted lightly, her prominently raised curves also trembled slightly.
In Gotham, those dressed in strange attire were almost all 'talented' individuals, and Batman focused almost all his attention on her.
"Search this place thoroughly. I hope you bring me good news: that no one has tampered with anything here," she said.
"Understood, Ms. Black Cat."
Her subordinates responded in low voices, then silently and swiftly searched the areas of the Abandoned Shipyard they could access.
Batman was not worried about them discovering the warehouse he had cleared out and used as a temporary operations base. It had been disguised by him, and no one would notice anything unusual unless they went inside personally.
And his training traces from the past three days had also been dealt with. With Batman's professional methods, no one would discover that those multi-ton counterweights had ever been lifted.
"Ms. Black Cat, everything is normal here."
A very muscular, short-haired man in a black suit quickly consolidated all the other reports, then came to Black Cat's side and bowed his head, saying.
Black Cat nodded slightly, quite satisfied with her subordinate's report.
Batman squatted on the gantry crane, taking everything in, perfectly clear about what was about to happen tonight.
During the day, while gathering intelligence about this World in the streets and alleys of New York, he learned that two Gangs would be conducting an arms deal here tonight, and the timing was now.
Now one group was in position, where was the other?
Almost the moment the thought surfaced in Batman's mind, another ice cream truck slowly pulled up outside the shipyard wall.
"Ding-ding-dong ~"
Accompanied by the pleasant melody of the ice cream truck, what emerged from the vehicle were five or six fierce-looking burly men.
Compared to the silent and orderly subordinates led by Black Cat, this group of burly men seemed to fit the average person's impression of a Gang more closely.
"You're very punctual, Mr. Joseph?"
Black Cat smiled as she greeted the burly man in the baseball cap leading the group.
"Of course, I'm always on time. It's Ms. Black Cat who arrived earlier than us; that's something that could charm any man's heart on a date."
The burly man named Joseph slightly lifted the brim of his baseball cap with one hand, revealing a square face with a forced smile.
"I wouldn't date a man like you," Black Cat curved her lips, throwing a flirtatious glance at Joseph and the burly men behind him.
Joseph was oblivious to Black Cat's flirtatious glance; instead, his subordinates behind him couldn't help but swallow, their gazes fixed on Black Cat.
Their expressions made a flicker of disgust flash in Black Cat's eyes.
"Just a reminder, we're not on a date, Ms. Black Cat," Joseph looked around, "Where's the merchandise I asked for?"
Black Cat beckoned to her silent subordinates, and soon they sprang into action, unloading wooden crates one after another from the van.
From the way these men handled them, the boxes were not light.
"The goods are here, where's the money?"
Black Cat lightly leaped onto a wooden crate, looking down at Joseph.
Joseph whispered something to the person behind him, and soon a briefcase was handed to him.
Watching from a distance as Joseph opened the briefcase to display the neatly stacked banknotes inside, Black Cat smiled sweetly:
"Joseph, do you know? The weight of these goods is not light, so even if we wanted to take the money and run, we couldn't carry them away."
"Besides, you should trust Kingpin's reputation... so give me the money first."
Joseph still wore that forced smile:
"Don't play tricks, little Black Cat, Kingpin's name doesn't scare me."
With that, he forcefully tossed the briefcase, which Black Cat caught steadily.
The smell of ink from the banknotes made Black Cat's smile widen as she checked them. She looked at Joseph:
"You're truly trustworthy, but I have one last question."
"You only brought one car, how do you plan to transport these goods?"
As she spoke, Black Cat drew a handgun and aimed it at Joseph:
"I guess you plan to silence us and then conveniently drive off with our cars. Right?"
end_of_translation_token_for_tests_do_not_remove