After hearing Shin's remarks, Batman didn't respond, but like in the previous cases, silence speaks volumes.
"Alright then, keep at it," Shin waved his hand casually. "I'll cover for you and say you're developing a virus to counter Brother Eye."
In truth, Shin had his own methods of dealing with Grid. Hidden within his dark dimensions were living androids previously developed by Connors and Dr. Zora, an advanced artificial intelligence that, after being strengthened by the Soul-Soul Fruit, had merged the advantages of both mechanical and biological systems. In terms of raw computational speed and creative problem-solving, it held overwhelming superiority.
However, the DC Universe was much darker and more treacherous than the Marvel world. Revealing all his trump cards too early would be reckless. He had no idea when someone might attempt to stab him in the back especially someone like Batman.
Since the Dark Knight already had a backup plan, Shin saw no need to expose his own resources. If he revealed his living AI now, Batman would probably spend sleepless nights devising contingency plans to counter it.
Having secured Batman's cooperation, Shin transformed into a streak of light and returned to the Justice League's current operations center.
Due to the EMP device used earlier, Brother Eye's control over the nanorobots had collapsed, and there was no further need to remain in the underground bunker. They had since returned to the League's headquarters.
However, because Grid was still lurking on the network, extra caution was necessary with any digital activity. The League's headquarters, an amalgamation of high-end technology, was almost entirely computer-operated. As a result, the entire structure was now undergoing a dismantling and rebuilding process.
There was simply no choice. Brother Eye had once controlled the entire facility, and the place was riddled with high-tech weaponry. If someone like Green Arrow happened to walk into a restricted zone, it could easily cost him his life.
Even Diana didn't feel safe eating pizza when there was a chance she might get zapped by an automated laser turret.
No one trusted Luthor enough to believe he had fully disabled all of Brother Eye's override systems. So, the League members were forced to tear it all down themselves, one section at a time.
"This is such a pain," Diana muttered, smashing a laser generator with her bare fist. "If only Superman were still active he could finish this whole demolition in minutes with that speed of his."
Back when the League headquarters was first built, Batman had designed the layout and then delegated the actual construction to Superman and the Flash. Superman handled the heavy lifting, while Flash managed the intricate details. In just over ten minutes, the two of them had constructed the entire complex.
"Uhh..." Shazam, who had been tinkering with a paralyzed shock cannon, gave a sheepish grin. Diana's comment stung a little, she hadn't named him, but he felt targeted all the same.
In theory, Shazam was now the strongest person in the League. Unfortunately, while his reaction time was fast, he lacked the superbrain that Superman had or the sheer velocity of the Flash. When it came to construction or technical tasks, he was basically deadweight.
Just then, a flash of light filled the room as Shin reappeared inside the League's headquarters. He glanced around and raised an eyebrow. "What's this? Demolishing your own base?"
"We have to," Green Arrow said with a sigh. "This place was Brother Eye's base of operations. Grid hacked the system from here, and with all the weapons installed throughout the facility... well, none of us are eager to get vaporized by stepping on the wrong tile."
"Got it. Leave this to me," Shin said, grinning. With the enhanced abilities he'd gained from Superman's cells, he was eager to flex his upgraded powers.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned into a beam of light and disappeared into the inner halls of the headquarters.
Using his X-ray vision, he scanned every circuit and mechanical trap. His superbrain parsed the structure's entire layout in seconds, and his steel-like body allowed him to charge through the defenses without hesitation. In mere minutes, he dismantled the entire facility like a storm tearing through scaffolding.
What remained of the once sleek and imposing League headquarters was now a stripped-down concrete husk.
Batman's paranoia had taken physical form here almost every wall had hidden compartments, each floor layered with secret circuits and traps. After Shin was done tearing out the embedded tech, the building looked less like a command center and more like a war-torn shell.
Shazam, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow stared at the devastation in stunned silence. Only Diana and Aquaman looked composed, though even Aquaman couldn't resist a jab.
"This place was a death trap... Was Bruce trying to kill us?"
"Who knows what that guy's thinking?" Diana rolled her eyes. "At this point, I wouldn't even be surprised if he ended up in Arkham."
"Scientists can't be trusted. Mad scientists are the worst," Shazam muttered, not realizing how ironic he sounded.
Batman wasn't exactly a mad scientist, but the youngest League member wasn't wrong. His glance shifted nervously between Luthor, Captain Cold, and the Joker none of whom looked remotely offended.
Luthor, of course, was a world-class genius. Captain Cold and the Joker, though better known for their eccentricities, could still pull off a PhD in chemistry or engineering if they ever bothered.
In the world of comics, Shazam's casual anti-science remark held unfortunate truth, in both hero and villain camps, scientists always seemed to bring catastrophe.
Luthor, ever the calculating observer, studied the gutted building with an appraising eye. The Joker appeared equally fascinated, having always harbored a strange attachment to anything tied to Batman. For him, the League headquarters, designed by his rival, was like a peek into the mind of an old flame.
Captain Cold, however, looked distracted. His mind was clearly elsewhere, most likely on the fate of the Flash, still missing after falling under Brother Eye's control.
After several more minutes, Shin began reassembling the dismembered structure. Though he couldn't restore the internal functions, he managed to reconstruct the frame and patch up the building enough for it to serve as a temporary meeting hall.
When the group filed into the new albeit hollowed-out conference room, Shin addressed them with a calm but serious tone.
"Bruce has a backup plan to counter Brother Eye," he began. "But it's going to take him some time to finish it. So for now, our top priority is finding the Flash."
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