Chapter 284: The Person Hacking into the Batcave
Metropolitan General Hospital surveillance footage showed Helen Cho as merely ordinary doctor—treating patients, saving lives, clocking out on time.
She disappeared from Metropolitan General Hospital surveillance footage. Simultaneously, Batman also closed surveillance footage—making monitors re-display those miniature positioning devices and listening bugs Batman had installed throughout various New York locations.
Venom Robin observed clearly from aside. Batman still concentrated half his attention on screen areas symbolizing Dr. Helen Cho.
According to miniature positioner-locked positions, Batman observed Helen Cho departing Metropolitan General Hospital, driving her vehicle merging into Manhattan's heavy traffic, slowly advancing along 42nd Street.
This time without Hawkeye's unexpected interference, listening devices and miniature positioners Batman had quietly placed on Dr. Helen Cho weren't discovered—faithfully transmitting this Korean doctor's information back to the Batcave.
Currently was evening rush hour timing. 42nd Street appeared somewhat congested. Dr. Helen Cho's advancement speed remained relatively slow.
Batman wasn't rushed. He consistently maintained simultaneously writing Alfred AI underlying code while dividing half his energies observing Helen Cho's movements—seemingly never knowing fatigue.
Venom Robin yawned:
"Batman, haven't you investigated her information—knowing where she lives?"
CLACK CLACK CLACK...
Batman didn't acknowledge Robin. Only frowning while glancing at keyboards he'd pounded producing CLACK sounds.
Beyond Alfred AI code writing, Batcave hardware facilities also required upgrading.
Currently Batcave-used various hardware was purchased when Batman had just acquired Parker Industries—funds extremely limited circumstances.
Though sufficient, merely barely sufficient.
Seeing Batman ignoring himself, Venom Robin increasingly felt bored. Turning observing quietly-crouching pitch-black Batmobile inside the Batcave while sighing:
"Old Bat, why don't you directly piloting the Batmobile finding her?"
"Though Dr. Helen Cho has been married many years, she lacks children. Perhaps then I'll call one 'Mom'—she'll feel very happy."
The instant Venom Robin's words finished, Batman's keyboard-pounding sounds immediately stopped.
Even though symbiotes wouldn't sweat, Venom Robin still—WHOOSH—experienced humans' cold-sweat-pouring sensations.
He cautiously, gradually turned his head. Vision also transferred from Batmobile onto Batman's body.
WHOOSH~
Venom Robin sighed with relief. He observed Batman still observing monitors, watching Dr. Helen Cho's movements—seemingly keyboard-stopping reasons were unrelated to him.
But quickly, Batman's cold-tinged voice lowly sounded:
"When you're idle, you should repeatedly practicing various skills I've taught you—not standing here talking."
"Or shall I hand you to Dr. Octavius—letting him conduct some training on you?"
Venom Robin's body stiffened.
He'd fought Hulk, sparred with Professor Morbius, bared fangs with Lizard Professor—
But precisely among North Brother Island's four scientists, the one making Venom most deeply apprehensive was conversely Dr. Octavius—this flesh-and-blood individual merely possessing four rear mechanical tentacles.
Venom Robin recalled that evening's moonlight testing—Dr. Octavius's face full of excitement—couldn't restrain internal trembling.
He'd rather fighting Hulk again than being dragged by Dr. Octavius conducting various research.
"I'll go to level two supervising gamma monsters..." Venom Robin whispered, step-by-step shifting backward.
"Stop." Batman's voice sounded.
Venom Robin's body stiffened again—fearing hearing Batman's mouth producing more frightening words.
"Tonight's training is suspended. I might need departing once." Batman said. "If I haven't returned before dawn, you'll go to North Brother Island—telling Dr. Banner executing Emergency Plan F."
Venom Robin felt somewhat bewildered. Not knowing why Batman merely tracking one ordinary married woman might possibly require activating North Brother Island emergency plans?
"No—if requiring emergency plan activation, at minimum this indicates Dr. Helen Cho isn't as ordinary as appearances suggest." Venom Robin rapidly reacted, nodding toward Batman. "I will."
Venom Robin was preparing seizing opportunities asking about Dr. Helen Cho's situation when he heard listening devices transmitting vehicle-locking CLICK sounds, then TAP TAP TAP footstep sounds.
Judging from sounds, seemingly Dr. Helen Cho was currently walking through one spacious tile-paved metal hall.
Batman gestured silence toward Venom Robin. He himself also stopped code writing.
"Welcome to your arrival, Dr. Helen Cho."
Someone spoke. Voice resembled thirteen-fourteen-year-old girl. Tones filled with genuine vitality belonging to this age children—not like Venom Robin either desiring fighting or desiring possessing one Batmobile.
Batman rapidly glanced at miniature positioner-displayed positions—42nd Street and Madison Avenue intersection in Manhattan district.
"Lunella, I didn't say visiting today. How did you know I arrived downstairs?" This was Dr. Helen Cho's voice.
"I made one small device—capable within extremely short timeframes identifying automobiles and faces, transmitting results to me..." The girl named Lunella said.
"Lunella, those devices were already invented long ago." Dr. Helen Cho's voice sounded somewhat helpless. "I know you're very intelligent. But I feel you should still attend school."
"Schools can't teach me anything anymore." Lunella said.
"No, Lunella. What I want you learning isn't knowledge—rather common sense." Dr. Cho said.
Inside the Batcave, Batman and Venom Robin exchanged glances.
Batman gave Venom Robin one look. Robin immediately pounced before one computer—rapidly opening searches for the Lunella-named girl.
"Can't find her." Venom Robin whispered to Batman.
"Stand by constantly." Batman also whispered instructions.
Listening device's subsequent conversation contents were extremely nutritionless—merely what Lunella ate today, what interesting matters Dr. Cho encountered at hospitals, and similar topics.
Batman remained expressionless. These things didn't even count as intelligence. But Venom Robin listened with great interest.
Four-five minutes later, Batman heard listening device environmental sounds transforming from halls to corridors, then elevators, ultimately arriving at another hall.
Dr. Helen Cho stopped conversing with little girl Lunella about insubstantial contents. Instead greeting other people while speaking:
"Reed..."
BEEP BEEP BEEP!
Dr. Helen Cho had just spoken when listening devices heard externally-transmitted consecutive urgent alarm sounds, then one lowered "Shh" sound emerged.
Two seconds later, miniature positioners and listening devices went offline.
The monitor area symbolizing Dr. Helen Cho no longer displayed maps or signals. Instead replaced by one glaring red "SIGNAL LOST" prompt.
Three seconds later, the Batcave also suddenly produced Batman's deliberately-lowered alarm sounds. Red warning lights rapidly flashed.
Inside the Batcave—due to Oracle AI's offline status, Alfred AI not yet online—this location only carried non-self-counterattacking Bat-firewall systems.
Venom Robin observed screens before himself. Though he couldn't observe what changes occurred within information worlds, he felt one sensation:
Currently, one abnormally-sharp-sensed hunter was rapidly attempting hacking into the Batcave at extreme speeds—following Batman's listening device and positioner signal transmission routes.
"Old Bat..." Venom Robin rapidly called. But his voice stuck in throat.
He observed Batman—not knowing when—had closed Alfred AI writing, opening Batcave's anti-tracking programs. Progress bars madly surged upward from 0%.
Wait.
Venom Robin rubbed eyes. Only then clearly observing Batman hadn't merely opened anti-tracking protection systems—similarly opening Batcave's reverse-tracking systems.
Batman was also attempting hacking the opponent!
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