Chapter 78: Exposing the Weapon Expert Identity
On the rooftop, Allen sat on the railing, his legs dangling in the air.
"Watching the sunrise together—isn't it romantic?"
Allen turned to look at the vampire beside him.
"Mmph... mmph..."
The female vampire was tightly bound, her entire body wrapped in ropes, and a knot stuffed in her mouth, preventing her from making a sound. But as the sky gradually brightened, her eyes filled with growing terror.
Vampires couldn't withstand sunlight—not even their progenitor, Lilith, was exempt.
The only exception was Count Dracula, but even he would be burned to a crisp, requiring fresh blood to restore himself.
Allen removed the knot from her mouth. The female vampire immediately pleaded, desperate, "Move us into the shadows! I'll tell you everything I know!"
She had witnessed this punishment before—reserved for traitors.
They would be imprisoned in a deep well, chained so they couldn't escape. As the sun reached its peak at noon, its rays would fill every inch of the well, reducing the vampire to ashes.
"I don't believe you," Allen said, turning his head away in feigned arrogance. "With my intelligence, you think you can trick me?"
"There's no time! I don't want to die! I swear, I'm telling the truth!"
As the sun rose inch by inch, she became more frantic. "Faith has captured over a thousand people and forcibly turned them into vampires! They're locked up in a warehouse on the outskirts, deprived of blood, so their thirst will drive them insane—he's cultivating an army of bloodthirsty berserkers!"
"Tch, still don't believe you."
Allen looked up at the sky, unimpressed, completely indifferent to her words.
"I'm not lying!" She added urgently, "I was personally involved in capturing and transporting them. I can take you to the warehouse!"
She was holding back the exact location, hoping to use it as leverage for her survival.
"Baby, I believe you."
Allen suddenly wrapped an arm around her shoulders, gazing deeply into her eyes. "But all I really want… is to watch the sunrise."
"You're insane!"
She struggled, trying to break free, but the ropes were too tight—layer upon layer bound her securely.
She had considered biting him to turn him into one of them, but the overwhelming stench of garlic made her nose burn.
At first, she hadn't smelled it, but after Allen's chase had made him sweat, the garlic-infused cologne had mixed in, ruining the delicate balance.
"Look, how round the sun is."
Allen pointed at the half-risen sun, his face filled with bliss.
"Ahh—it's burning! What the hell do you want?!"
The ultraviolet rays hit her face, causing white smoke to rise as her skin visibly charred and blackened.
She screamed, cursed, and raged—until the sunlight consumed her completely, turning her to dust.
"Love is always so fleeting."
Allen hugged the empty air, bidding farewell with deep emotion. "Goodbye, my love."
—
At Batman's temporary base, a group gathered around a microscope.
Bruce, Eric, Damian, and Lillian closely examined the sample.
"It's definitely a virus," Lillian concluded, analyzing the mutated cells in the blood sample. "It has the ability to assimilate other cells."
She dripped a sample of Eric's blood into normal human blood—and immediately, the assimilation process began.
It was now clear: vampirism was caused by a viral infection.
"But we don't fully understand its properties. I need an actual vampire blood sample," Lillian said seriously.
Eric could suppress his bloodlust and lacked traditional vampire weaknesses, making his blood unsuitable for research.
To develop a cure, they needed samples from newly turned vampires.
"What equipment do you need? I'll arrange it."
Bruce, though initially skeptical about recruiting criminals, had to admit that Allen's unconventional thinking was sometimes useful.
"I'll make a list," Lillian replied, glancing at Bruce before pretending to focus on the sample again.
The research equipment she needed was worth hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of dollars. Getting them required not just funds but also connections. She couldn't help but suspect Batman's true identity.
Of course, she had no intention of digging further. Even if she did figure out Batman was Bruce Wayne, she wouldn't expose him. They had no personal grudges—her time in Arkham Asylum was due to Gordon, not Bruce.
Besides, she had always gotten along with Batgirl.
If it weren't for Batwoman taking over, Barbara might still be active in Gotham. That thought made her a little nostalgic.
"The equipment's ready."
Damian drove in with a forklift carrying a black crate.
Opening the lid revealed a full set of silver weapons, including silver bullets.
Eric tested the feel of a few weapons, then started pocketing whatever suited him.
"Hey, Bats, couldn't you prepare some garlic gas grenades or UV flashbangs? Killing them one by one must be exhausting."
Everyone looked up—Allen was hanging upside down from the ceiling beams.
"How did you find this place?" Damian asked, confused.
He was sure they hadn't told Allen the address. The base was also highly concealed, making it nearly impossible to find.
"I stopped by Wayne Manor and asked Butler-Man."
Allen indeed had no clue where the base was—so he went to Wayne Manor, where Alfred told him directly.
With a flip, Allen landed on the ground, shaking his head. "Bats, no wonder you don't hang upside down like a real bat. It makes the blood rush to your head—so dizzy."
"We don't have time to make those weapons now," Bruce said, though he found Allen's suggestion tactically sound.
Eric nodded in agreement. He knew how to use weapons but wasn't skilled in designing them. His garlic-based methods were rudimentary at best.
"I happen to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons expert."
Allen grinned smugly. "Remember Hydra's 'Die Screaming 3000'? I made that."
"Who's Hydra?" Eric frowned, never having heard of them.
"I meant Steve Rogers, you know—Captain America. He's famous. Perky ass, too. He only got that perfect body thanks to my modifications to the super soldier serum."
Allen shamelessly boasted about his wartime contributions.
Eric gave him a look as if he were an idiot. They had both worked for S.H.I.E.L.D.—there was no way Allen was telling the truth.
Bruce also suspected Allen was just spouting nonsense again.
"I'm serious! You don't believe me?"
Allen stomped over to the computer. "Bats, connect me to the Avengers. I'll prove it!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
The Justice League and Avengers had a tense relationship. Bruce had no reason to contact them—especially over this nonsense.
"Aww… but I wanna call them! I wanna call them!"
Allen flopped onto the desk, throwing a full-blown tantrum.
"I'll connect you," Damian said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, eager to watch Allen embarrass himself.
Connection established...
On-screen, Steve Rogers' face appeared.
"Batman, this is a first. Calling us directly—need the Avengers' help with something?"
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