Batman certainly knew that the three scientists were willing to help him.
He had built new octopus tentacles and a suit for Dr. Otto, allowed Connors to teach in order to control the Lizard, and provided the Hulk with ample emotional support.
From their research facilities to their food, clothing, and housing, and even down to each individual's psychology, Batman had been subliminally influencing the three scientists on South Brother Island.
Batman needed helpers. Although the three scientists on South Brother Island currently couldn't even be counted as logistics support, if it really reached a point where Batman was out of options, he would not hesitate to ask them for help.
But right now was not the time for them to turn into monsters and strike.
Oscorp Industries had three people missing and one critically injured on the verge of death, and four gamma monsters could go on a rampage and hurt people at any moment.
The current Batman needed the minds of the three scientists on South Brother Island more than he needed their strength.
Facing the exhortations of the three scientists, the face under the mask remained expressionless, but he nodded slightly to them.
"You have already helped."
After leaving the somewhat stunned three scientists behind, the cape behind Batman whipped up, blocking out the light, and in the next second, he had vanished.
He had moved from South Brother Island to North Brother Island—which was also Bat-Island.
Upon arriving here, Batman once again adjusted the construction priorities, making the secure confinement area the first zone to be built.
Batman did not intend to hand over the four gamma monsters brought back from the Gamma Base in New Mexico to anyone else, including S.H.I.E.L.D.
After all, the Cube in Wyoming was still riddled with suspicious points. Even that top-secret location, referred to by code within S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal communications department, was highly suspected of becoming Hydra territory. Batman found it hard to believe that S.H.I.E.L.D. could keep these four monsters secure.
For all he knew, if he sent them to S.H.I.E.L.D. today, the four monsters would fall into Hydra's hands tomorrow.
Furthermore, Batman seriously suspected that three of the four individuals from Oscorp Industries might have undergone changes of varying degrees. Aside from Professor Miles Warren, who was lying in a Metropolis hospital, the others had vanished without a trace.
If necessary, Batman would even send Harry Osborn to the secure confinement area to reunite him with his father.
"I hope that day never comes." Rationality was making cold plans, but sentimentality still made Batman speak silently in his heart.
Construction on Bat-Island was not slow under the control of the Oracle AI subroutine.
However, before heading to New Mexico, Batman had been able to come to Bat-Island from time to time to optimize the construction based on the site conditions.
Now, with the arrival of the four Gamma Goblins and the disappearance of the three from Oscorp Tower, Batman no longer had the time to come over.
Batman had more and more things to handle. He had to ensure that the existence of Bat-Island would save him a massive amount of time, rather than waste it.
The Oracle AI, built on servers purchased for hundreds of thousands of dollars, could no longer meet Batman's needs. It was time to bring out the old butler.
Batman silently noted the setup for the Alfred AI in his mind, then drove the Batmobile back to the Batcave.
Only after confirming that the four gamma monsters showed no signs of waking up did Batman leave again.
Things had to be done step by step. Currently, there were several items on Batman's list of absolute necessities.
The first was to go to Hell's Kitchen, find Daredevil, and ask him for information regarding the other "Batman."
Batman had left New York, and immediately after, an incident occurred at Oscorp Tower with three missing and one heavily injured. Subsequently, another "Batman" appeared in New York.
This series of events was too coincidental. Batman needed to make bold hypotheses and carefully verify them, not letting go of a single clue or possibility.
He suspected that the appearance of the new "Batman" was related to the events at Oscorp Tower. Daredevil, as someone who was at the scene, might be able to provide certain information.
Batman had no leads for the moment on who the new "Batman" actually was, but he knew clearly that Daredevil was the lawyer Matt Murdock.
In the Hell's Kitchen district, in a room within an unremarkable building, a sign hung on the door reading "Nelson and Murdock Law Firm."
Attorney Matt Murdock sat behind a desk wearing a pair of dark red sunglasses. He held a newspaper in one hand, while the fingertips of his other hand moved rapidly over the ink on the paper.
Blindness did not affect his ability to "read" the newspaper in the slightest. Occasionally, he would lift his teacup to take a sip.
His partner, Foggy Nelson, lay on a recliner inside the law office, also holding up a newspaper with both hands to read.
A gust of wind blew past. Foggy Nelson yawned lazily, then covered his face with the newspaper. Just a few seconds later, he fell asleep.
Attorney Matt Murdock sat motionless in his spot, as if he had turned into a statue.
Suddenly, at a certain moment, Matt Murdock's right hand moved. With extreme speed and precise technique, he pinched a flying dart.
Attorney Murdock ran his fingertips along the contour of the dart; a sharp bat symbol immediately presented itself in his mind.
He turned his face toward the window, "looked" expressionlessly for a moment, then put down the newspaper and went to Foggy Nelson's side.
Listening intently to his partner's breathing and heartbeat, Attorney Murdock instantly understood Nelson's condition. He knew he had merely fallen asleep under the effects of some potent hypnotic gas and was in no mortal danger.
Without any delay, Attorney Murdock quickly changed into that dark red night suit, holstered his two billy clubs to his legs, and then leaped out the window, dashing rapidly to the rooftop.
The first thing Daredevil said when he stood before Batman was:
"You discovered my identity? When?"
"Oscorp Tower," Batman said, his voice deep. (Chapter 53)
It was not the first time the two had met. Strictly speaking, Batman had even cooperated once with Daredevil's lawyer identity.
"Why are you looking for me?"
Daredevil asked despite knowing the answer. He could guess with his toes that Batman had come to find him naturally because of the other "Batman" who had appeared on Rikers Island.
Sure enough, Batman spoke just as Daredevil expected: "I need to know information about that person."
"I will tell you everything I know, but you need to promise me one thing," Daredevil said. "Do not hand him over to the police precinct. Kingpin has very likely bought off the New York police."
Batman looked at Daredevil without speaking. The acute senses of this body—Peter Parker's body—could smell the faint scent of blood in every one of Daredevil's breaths.
Daredevil had obviously suffered heavy injuries during the siege on Rikers Island, but he was pretending to be fine at this moment.