"So there really are attackers. How did they pull it off?" Ivan asked, leaning closer to the monitor. "Did they set up a bomb in advance? Or maybe it's someone with the ability to trigger explosions remotely?"
"No," Charlie replied. "He came in."
Charlie paused the playback screen, freezing the moment right before the explosion. He moved Batman toward the rostrum on the digital model. The detective mode lit up the scene, showing a set of footprints embedded in the wreckage. Using these, the system reconstructed the figure of the suspect.
Although Charlie wasn't entirely sure how Batman's system reached its conclusions, the details were clear. A young man, estimated height and weight included, appeared on the screen. Even the faint outline of his hood was visible.
"He was standing right here before the explosion," Charlie said, pointing to the highlighted figure on the projection.
"So close to the rostrum?" Ivan frowned. "How did he do it? Explosives? Some kind of bomb hidden on him? Or…"
"That's impossible," a voice cut in. It was Iron Man, speaking through the communication link.
The metallic clang of Iron Man's suit echoed as he walked closer, his armored joints creaking slightly. His voice carried the unmistakable confidence of Tony Stark.
"If it was explosives or a weapon, my systems would have picked it up. There's no way it could've slipped past my tech."
Tony's drones, equipped with advanced Stark-designed scanners, had been circling the venue during the event. He trusted his tech completely, and the suggestion that someone bypassed his surveillance didn't sit well with him.
"Clearly, they missed something," Batman said dryly, showing no interest in sparing Stark's ego.
Ivan furrowed his brow. "So we're sure someone snuck in to cause the explosion? If that's the case, maybe the venue's surveillance cameras—"
"Already checked them," Batman interrupted curtly. His tone carried just a hint of annoyance. "The scene reconstruction shows a teenager at the center of the explosion, causing it in some form. I tracked his movements step by step—he came in through the main gate, moved through the crowd, and stopped here at the rostrum. I counted back from the moment of the explosion, pinpointed his location at each point in time, and pulled up all the camera footage."
As Batman spoke, multiple camera feeds appeared on the screen, synchronized to match the timeline. He overlaid the reconstructed figure's path with the camera angles.
Each time, the suspect's position—visible in the reconstructed scene—was completely empty in the surveillance footage.
Ivan crossed his arms. "So what we're looking for is…someone who doesn't appear on cameras?"
"Exactly," Batman confirmed.
Charlie, curious, also checked the footage from Tony's drones. The results were the same—nothing but blank spaces where the figure should have been.
"Maybe your system is buggy," Tony muttered. "It's based on guesswork, after all."
"My system is based on scene analysis and hard evidence," Batman countered sharply. "I can provide you with at least a dozen supporting points if you need them."
Tony mumbled something under his breath but didn't push further. Charlie knew this wasn't about logic—it was just Stark's bruised pride. The rivalry between these two geniuses was as legendary as their skills, and neither ever backed down easily.
"The suspect stood here, directly in front of the stage, just before the explosion," Batman continued. "And the only person facing him at the time was Professor Prince. If I can talk to the professor, I might get more information."
This time, Batman didn't speak aloud. Instead, his inner monologue, part of the detective mode interface, appeared in text form. It often served as a hint or conclusion for players in similar investigative scenarios.
"Professor Prince survived?" Charlie asked, glancing at Ivan.
"Barely," Ivan replied. "He was close to the explosion's center but somehow lived. He's in the hospital now, critical but conscious. It's honestly a miracle."
"Or maybe the suspect showed mercy," Batman suggested.
Ivan blinked in surprise. "Mercy? Why would they do that? It doesn't make sense—"
Before Ivan could finish, Batman was already gone.
---
Professor Prince sat propped up in a hospital bed when they arrived. Despite his frail appearance, his sharp eyes showed he was still alert. When he heard Tony Stark was among his visitors, he made an effort to sit a little straighter, though he winced with pain.
Tony left his armor outside the room, where it stood sentinel-like in the hallway. Its sleek, imposing frame immediately drew the attention of passersby, who stopped to admire it. Inside, Tony walked briskly to the professor's bedside.
"I'm sorry I can't greet you properly," Prince said with a weak chuckle. "This is the best I can manage right now. But I've wanted to meet you, Mr. Stark. You're…different. Different from anyone else, even your colleagues."
"Should I be flattered?" Tony asked, his usual smirk in place.
"That depends on how you see yourself," Prince replied, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Your inventions are astonishing. Some of them, I can only dream of understanding. In some ways, I feel like I might understand you. A brilliant mind, countless breakthroughs. But let me guess—your greatest invention isn't what most people think."
He glanced toward the hallway, where Tony's armor stood.
"That," he said, nodding slightly. "That suit of armor. It makes you Iron Man. It's what turns you into the most dangerous force in the room."
"What's your point, Professor?" Tony asked, his voice cooling.
"Just an observation," Prince replied. "Your greatest invention is a weapon. Why? Why is something designed to destroy your proudest achievement?"
Tony stared at him for a moment. "Does this have anything to do with the attack?"
"Maybe," Prince said thoughtfully. "The attacker, the weapon they used—I recognize it. It wasn't random. It was armor. A classified project. Top secret."
"From me?" Tony asked sharply, narrowing his eyes.
"Yes," Prince said with a heavy sigh. "You showed the world what armor can do—what it can turn someone into. It's irresistible. People couldn't stop chasing that idea."
"Technology should be for improving lives," Tony said, his tone firm.
"And yet, we always push for more," Prince replied. "We see the good it can do, but we also crave the power it brings. If you won't give it to us, we'll make it ourselves."
Charlie frowned. "For them to use something this advanced…it shouldn't be possible."
Prince nodded grimly. "It wasn't. The project was stolen."