At one o'clock in the morning that night, the "Big Three" of Team K, who had completed a short overhaul, crossed the gate of the world and returned to Port Miller.

Mason threw out the Batmobile, which was originally intended to be used for fire support, but the importance of the flightless Batmobile had diminished as Team K's firepower projection levels continued to rise.

However, in order to ensure that the material is used to the best of its ability, Mason, with the help of Dr. Octopus, completed a second modification of it with the equipment in the Osborne Tower.

The space for eight spare tires and some electronic jamming equipment was removed and converted into a passenger seat.

In this way, the sports car model Batmobile, which could only seat two people, lost its style and became an ordinary sedan that could seat four people, and it was okay to squeeze six.

The cool car designed by the wisdom of the Wayne Group's technology research and development department has been reduced to a troop carrier here in the K team, and a driver's license can even play the role of a Didi hitchhiker in Gotham.

If the Batmobile had a mind, it would have probably jumped to its feet and scolded its mother.

But the atmosphere in the car was not active at this time.

Although Selena was sitting in the main driver, she was not driving, and the sad big sister was holding a lady's cigarette and tilting her head to look out the window, the steering wheel full of buttons moving by herself and planning her own route, carrying a carload of people towards Wayne Manor.

The intelligent AI veteran driver Delaman is now the driver.

It wanted to say a few witticisms to liven up the atmosphere, but after observing the expressions of the passengers through the cameras in the car, it was sensible and remained silent.

"It's a good car."

The only one of the four who was in the mood to speak was the guy who was about to be given away as a "gift".

Anim Zola, dressed in a new "suit", sat in the seat lower in the back row with his mechanical feet moving, twisting his camera head to observe the various instruments inside the Batmobile, and a screen on the quadrangular "sandbox prison" that was his stomach projected his face made up of a green data stream.

Mason fulfilled the agreement and gave him the robot body to move freely, but the incarceration protocol imposed by Ott himself ensured that Zora's data awareness would not be able to cross the thunder pool for the next six months.

The weirdest part of the story is that Zola was voluntarily imprisoned by Lady Ott.

He felt that this was an opportunity to show his sincerity to the perfect data being who was one life form above him.

Well, the "licking dog" in the data life doesn't seem to be much different from the licking dog born in flesh creatures.

The guy didn't know what he had talked to Ott in Osborne's database, and he seemed to be in a good mood, not in the slightest bit of imminent prolonged imprisonment or even "torture".

There is even a mood to rate the Batmobile.

"The overall design is tough and atmospheric, without using any out-of-time technology, the integration of resources is the best, and there is no blind stacking of armor and weapons, the designer obviously puts mobility and stealth performance first.

Coupled with this special appearance, it is indeed a masterpiece.

If Red Skull sees this thing, he must find a way to get one to collect, and he also has his own little hobby, and his garage is full of works of art from all eras. ”

Dr. Zola twisted the camera on his body and looked at the expressionless Mason next to him, and said:

"But this self-driving AI is kind of interesting, it's been watching me and monitoring me, and this is your trophy? Or is it an internal 'benefit' from your small organization? ”

"Be quiet."

Mason rubbed his forehead and said:

"Considering your current situation, being so elated always makes me feel that your mental state is very worrying, did Lady Ott cast a 'love spell' on you?"

"I just wanted to warn you, Mason."

Dr. Zora pretended to yawn on the monitor and said in his sharp, dark tone:

"This level of AI already hides its thoughts, and it's really convenient for you to carry it with you, but it will collect your information and data and report it back to its true owner.

So if I'm not mistaken, your superiors should have known about the fact that you left me alive, so be ready to face the question.

Mason, technology is a blessing.

But only in the hands of those who can really harness them can they be used perfectly. ”

His reminder made the expressions of the three people in the car change slightly, and Catwoman, who was sitting in the main driver, glanced at the steering wheel turning in front of her, and she asked:

"Deraman, is what he said true?"

"Huh"

The avatar of a large bald man in a white suit appeared on the Batmobile's on-board screen, and it spoke in a smooth tone peculiar to AI:

"The environmental information collection module has indeed been turned on, but information about the situation in the Caribbean world has not yet been sent to the main server because of the previous blocking of inter-world information and communication channels.

Authorization from Passenger 1 is required to perform this action.

Does Passenger No. 1 need to delete the information before sending? ”

"Can't you just pretend you didn't see it?"

The co-pilot asked with a gloomy face, and the image of Draman on the screen maintained a professional smile and said:

"Passenger No. 1 can command the environmental information collection module to be turned off, and I want to clarify to you that this is not a deception, but the factory design of the edge function is turned on by default.

And your captives are trying to sow discord between your passengers and the Dlamain transport service. ”

"There's no need to explain, Delaman, there's no need to delete it, just send it."

Mason in the back seat closed his eyes and said:

"We didn't kill Colypso with the Hunter's knife, the fact itself can't be hidden, and it's better to say it bluntly than to cover it up with time and effort.

I'd love to see how they react to that. ”

"Command received, message being sent."

The on-screen figure of Draman nodded, then vanished, leaving the car quiet again.

"You're tempting them?"

Dr. Zola raised his eyebrows with interest and said to Mason:

"This kind of thing that provokes the bottom line is so skillful, and you usually do it less, right? I'm guessing you're not an exemplary employee. ”

Mason didn't answer.

But Zola seemed to have opened the conversation, and he chattered endlessly:

"Seeing that we're about to part, I think I should give you some reminder, Team K, as your reward for sparing my life.

These reminders are free, do you want to listen to them? ”

"Is there anyone here stopping you from talking? Monster robots! ”

Catwoman, who was sitting in the main driver, said impatiently:

"Say what you want, shut up if you don't want to talk, no one treats you as dumb."

"Yo, this elegant lady looks upset, but it's okay, I was always a gentleman when I was alive."

Dr. Zola chuckled.

The data on the screen of his mechanical body suddenly changed cheeks, as if the resolution had been adjusted, and he returned to the treacherous shape of his round face and bald eyes when he was alive.

He coughed, and said in a tone more akin to that of a living person:

"Team K, the third shock is happening, but it will be over soon, but the next days of the Stellar Society are destined to be difficult, you have to plan ahead.

Lo and behold, the current pattern of parallel worlds is whether accidental or artificial, but all worlds that have the ability to predict the impact have prepared in their own way.

Most of them are stubborn and ready for battle.

The three successive shocks that have lasted for twenty years have washed away all the weak, and the rest are ruthless characters, and you, as the pathfinders, are about to usher in a rather terrible wave of 'attrition'. ”

Dr. Zola grinned and said:

"But isn't that what the stars are all about?

You are pioneers and explorers, our eyes and our scouts.

Except when the impact actually occurs, most of the action at other times will rely on the information you provide, but unfortunately, the loyalty of your mixed group has been a big problem due to the sheer number of people.

It's like a training base for two or five boys!

There have been many egregious betrayals before you, so I wasn't surprised to see you ambush me in that ocean world.

But as I said, the good old days of wanton looting are over, and the rest is all hard bones. They've been raising dogs for twenty years, and it's time for you fat-bodied hounds to really spill your blood.

I should say goodbye to you at this time.

Because maybe we won't get the next chance to see each other. ”

"You mean, the Stars Society's Pathfinder team's next mission targets will be mostly dangerous worlds with unusual circumstances?"

Zakang spat out the smoke ring and asked.

"Don't think so much, dear John Constantine."

Dr. Zola bared his teeth and said unceremoniously:

"You have to recognize your position, you are a group of useful and cheap cannon fodder in the eyes of the higher-ups, and you are given the right to explore and plunder in various worlds to make up for the professional risk that you will die at any time.

Now that you've had enough of the good, you're going to bleed.

Seriously, instead of staying in the precarious Stars Society, I suggest that you really turn your heart into the Cleaner system, at least not be consumed in some strange world for no apparent reason.

You see, if you can make it easier for me here, I can introduce you to it.

The fact that Team K was able to defeat me with various arrangements shows that you are not ordinary people, and you don't have to worry about being used to transform into a cannon fodder army after you surrender.

You're probably going to make good conquerors.

Enjoy a special perk every month, own a territory in the scenic garden world and be a soil overlord, and anyone will send you anything you want as soon as possible.

In the current context of everything dying, it is not bad to give yourself a comfortable life for a while on the journey to the end.

I'm not tempting you.

I'm sure you're not so easily tempted, but smart people know that you always have to leave yourself a way out, and even if you go against the will of your superiors and spare my life, I am willing to give you one more choice. ”

"Thanks, we'll take it to heart."

Mason pouted and said:

"If I am cornered in the future, I will rescue you from Batman's black prison and follow you to the 'free world'.

I promise! ”

"Wait!"

Dr. Zola, who had been indifferent just a moment, suddenly changed his face, his face constantly changing expressions on the screen on his stomach, and his voice returned to the electronic voice of the robot.

He screamed:

"You're going to give me to Batman? Let me ask you first, is it the kind that can laugh? Still won't laugh? ”

"Is there a difference?"

Mason raised an eyebrow and asked deliberately.

Zora stared at him with her webcam head and snapped:

"If it's that laughing and killing madman, I'd rather you tear me down here! The Conqueror sequence of the Cleaners is executed by the Dark Bat Knights.

I know what they are.

Well, you don't seem surprised by your expression. ”

"If an organization that takes advantage of the collapse of parallel worlds to become bigger and stronger, and absorbs people from all walks of life, there is not even a Batman who can laugh, then I will be really disappointed.

Just by looking at your terrible appearance, they probably aren't very likable characters on your side. ”

Mason shook his head and stopped discussing the uncomfortable topic, saying:

"Don't try to persuade you to surrender and run away, I ask you, Zora, before you arrived, the cleaners used a weapon against the gods but it didn't work, do you know what it was?"

"Black Death Sword."

Dr. Zola, who was very upset when he learned that he was going to be given to Batman, did not hide it, saying:

Also known as the Excalibur, it was a trophy from a conflict during the Second Impact, highly damaged but still capable of suppressing all divine creatures, and was often used to capture the Divine.

If I'm not mistaken, you must have recycled that thing somehow.

Listen to my advice, young man, stay away from those evil things, and the person who holds them will not end well. ”

"Thanks for the reminder, I will."

Mason nodded, and after a few seconds of silence, the guy added:

"Actually, you don't need to rush to attack us, you just need to be patient, and maybe we will fall apart in the next impact.

You know why? ”

"John, you answer."

Mason wasn't even interested in answering the question.

He snapped his fingers and designated the clever eggs of Team K to answer for him, and Zakang pursed his lips, spat out the smoke ring and said:

"That's all there is to the earth. After the death of the worlds that have nothing to do with you and that you regard as targets, the suppressed internal contradictions will come to an aggregate flaring up.

If two vassal worlds collide in your organization, who do you prefer?

The worlds that can join you are the ones who don't want to die quietly and choose to fight hard, and the desire to survive alone will make you fight each other to the death. ”

"Clever!"

Dr. Zola grinned and said:

"You see, a lot of people I know in this organization are pessimistic about the future, and that's why. All the unity at the moment is only temporary, there will be a war in the future, and the survivors will have to rely on strength to speak.

It was a darker and more brutal future that could be foreseen, and the world with brains had long been preparing for a brutal civil war.

But that's nothing.

Living is only a process, and death is the end.

For someone like me who has already experienced death, who wins and who loses is none of my business?

All I care about now is what Ms. Ott promised, and she said that as long as I can get through this, she will take me into Cyberspace to help me perfect my form."

Zola sneered a few times, like a complete madman, he manipulated the mechanical body of his sandbox prison, put on a comfortable posture, and said to Mason:

"And I want to thank you for capturing me so that I can live an easy life for a few months, without having to travel from world to world to destroy things I have never heard of."

"So, one last question."

Mason glanced at the time on his watch, sat up straight, stared at Zola, and asked:

"What exactly is the name of the 'parent organization' that we've been talking about?"

"I thought you'd ask more important questions, like the number of conquerors or our Supreme Commander, or the coordinates of our strongholds and the dimensional location of our headquarters.

It's a good thing you didn't ask these sensitive things, so I wouldn't have to answer you at the risk of formatting your data.

It's a real thing to talk to you, Mason Cooper. ”

Dr. Zola, who was on the screen, closed his eyes and complained, and after a few seconds, he let out a sigh of relief and said:

"It's called the Council of Hope, an organization that has hope in its name but always brings despair to others. Be careful, Mason, and your K-Team and all your collaborators.

You want to move away from a mountain, but you're not even ants in front of it. ”

"Council of Hope"

Mason savored the name.

He shook his head, took out his phone, looked at it, and said to the artificial intelligence driving the car:

"Lao De, pull over, I'm going to call our 'consignee'."

(End of chapter)