"I'll Slap You So Hard, You'll End Up In The Ming Dynasty."
- James Carter (Rush Hour 2)
...
Kirk's laboratory was quite similar to his home, both were quite basic and lacked the high-tech equipment that one would expect from advanced technology.
There aren't even any surveillance cameras installed in the lab.
Inside the lab, there are about a dozen tables, two of which have computers and monitors, while the rest are filled with all kinds of strange and colorful liquids and test tubes, as well as microscopes and more.
Around the tables, there are several large blackboards covered in written letters and symbols.
It's strange because Dean recognizes every word, but when they are arranged like this, he can't understand them at all.
In the corner of the lab, there are dozens of square cages piled on top of each other, but more than half of them are empty, while the remaining cages are filled with bats.
It's not hard to imagine that these are the sources of bat DNA samples used in Kirk's serum research.
The whole lab looks like a typical biochemical lab seen in movies.
Dean enters the lab and cautiously looks around.
'No one's inside. It seems Batman and Robin went to Kirk Langstrom's house first.'
After confirming that there is no one else in the lab except for himself, Dean breathes a sigh of relief.
Not long ago, he heard the information that the 'Bat Monster' is most likely Kirk Langstrom in Robinson Park.
Since Dean didn't have Kirk's address, he came to the public location of the lab.
The reason why Kirk would reveal the location of his lab is almost understandable when anyone sees the environment inside.
Poor.
Researching DNA serum is not a quick process. It needs a lot of expensive resources, and Kirk's savings alone are not enough.
Just the rent for the lab in the past few years has already consumed most of his budget.
Naturally, Kirk wanted to attract investors for himself, so he made the location of the lab and early research results public.
Unfortunately, so far, no company has been willing to invest in Kirk's project.
Dean walks around the lab, exploring the strange and unknown test tube solutions on the table.
"Hmm? What's this..."
Suddenly, Dean notices three special test tubes standing on the central table, one of which is already empty, while the other two are filled with three-quarters of a sticky, bright red liquid.
It looks like some kind of animal blood.
There's a note attached to the test tubes saying, 'Man-Bat DNA hybrid serum'.
'Man-Bat serum, could this be what turned Kirk Langstrom into a monster?'
Dean thought to himself.
Just then, a voice from the system interrupted Dean's thoughts.
[The system has detected a special liquid that can alter DNA. You can choose to have the system absorb a sample, and a new reward called 'Reverse-Man-Bat Inhibitor' will be generated in the store.]
[Reverse-Man-Bat Inhibitor: Can suppress the effects caused by the Man-Bat Serum, allowing individuals whose DNA has been altered by the Serum to return to normal.]
[Note: However, this effect is not permanent. If the individual injects the Man-Bat Serum again, their DNA will be altered again.]
[Value: 500 amazement points]
Dean was stunned for a moment by this unexpected system notification.
What was going on?
He could exchange the Serum with the system and get his hands on the Reverse-Man-Bat Inhibitor in the store.
Dean hadn't expected that the system had an absorption function.
He quickly thought about the pros and cons of the situation.
The most recent supervillain to appear in Gotham was the huge Man-Bat, whose real identity was Kirk Langstrom, a genetically mutated scientist.
As of now, Dean only knew that Kirk had gained the abilities of flight, super strength, and the ability to emit and receive ultrasonic waves.
He didn't know what kind of person Kirk was.
He didn't know if he was like Two-Face, who turned evil after a terrible accident, or like Penguin, who always wanted to do horrible things, or like Killer Croc, who had chosen a dark path because human society did not accept his appearance.
Regardless of his personality, in Gotham, where danger lurked at every corner, there was always a possibility of encountering someone like him.
The important point was that Kirk was different from the other villains Dean knew.
He was a completely new villain who had never appeared before, and Dean knew nothing about him.
Most of the other villains, like Two-Face, Riddler, Mad Hatter, Penguin, Scarecrow, Mr. Freeze, and Ventriloquist... have either retired from Arkham Asylum or are enjoying their time in Blackgate Penitentiary.
Only a few supervillains and Penguin are still active outside.
The information about these villains in Gotham is publicly available, so every resident knows their strengths, weaknesses, and secrets.
That was why Dean had decided to investigate Kirk in order to have an advantage in case he ever came across him. Dean is no exception.
Dean needed to gather as much information as possible about Kirk Langstrom to prepare for the worst.
Before Dean took on the identity of the Phantom Thief, he didn't have enough abilities in different aspects.
He could only rely on media reports to gather information about supervillains. However, the information he got this way was not very detailed and was more basic.
Now the situation was different. Dean is now considered a super criminal, so he can't just rely on newspapers for information anymore.
The unexpected prompt from the system didn't surprise Dean too much, given the example of the 'Stone of Misfortune.'
"System, absorb a sample of the Man-Bat serum."
Dean picked up a vial of the Man-Bat Serum and called out to the system in his mind.
Soon, the serum in the vial began to decrease little by little, as if it were being sucked away by something invisible.
Quickly, the vial that previously held the red liquid turned transparent.
[Absorption of Man-Bat Serum complete... Generating Reverse Man-Bat Inhibitor... Estimated time for completion: two minutes and thirty seconds...]
Thump! Thump!
At that moment, Dean's ears twitched as he faintly heard the sound of wings flapping coming from outside the laboratory!
He quickly looked around the lab and silently left the spot.
Crash!
Ten seconds later, the laboratory door was violently broken down.
A massive humanoid bat monster burst in and immediately headed for a messy table with unknown chemicals.
For some reason, the way it flew was unsteady, as if it were drunk.
"Naloxone... I remember Naloxone should be here..."
The Man-Bat frantically searched the table, its dizziness growing stronger.
Thunk!
Suddenly, a sharp pain hit the back of Man-Bat's head...
...
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