Anton emerged from the hotel refreshed, boarding the return flight with the satisfaction of victory. Natasha, as always, followed close behind.
The women who had spent the night playing mahjong with him smiled as they left the hotel, heading off to prepare for their next job.
Though they had lost money, they gained something far more valuable: Anton's promise. Each received a film offer from DC. Even a minor role, like playing a decorative "vase," was enough to elevate their careers to the next level.
In the entertainment industry, movies are nearly the pinnacle of success—a step so high that most people can only dream of reaching it.
…
Meanwhile...
Tony had risen early, undergoing a thorough physical examination by his private doctor. Once reassured that his body was in perfect health—especially his brain—he returned to the private lab in his basement to work on his Iron Man suit.
After a recent conversation with Anton, Tony decided, for now, to shelve his curiosity about Batman. Anton's "brilliant performance" had temporarily diverted his attention.
For Tony, the priority was clear: eliminate the ruthless mobs terrorizing Gulmira.
His second priority was a more delicate matter—conducting a covert internal investigation within Stark Industries. Tony was determined to discover who within his company had the audacity to sell weapons to those despicable terrorists.
Though he had a strong suspicion, the thought made him uneasy. Recently, his influence within Stark Industries had waned significantly.
Obadiah Stane, a company veteran and trusted ally, had effectively positioned himself as the dominant force on the board of directors, steering the weapons division's operations.
Tony struggled to accept the possibility that Obadiah might be involved. Still, he resolved to uncover the truth when the time was right. Once his hands were free, he would set out to clarify the facts and settle the matter once and for all.
…
On a private jet flying to New York.
Natasha sat behind Anton, her gaze fixed on the back of his head. Her face remained calm, but suspicion continued to brew in her mind.
Anton's actions didn't align with the image of Batman—a king-like figure descending with authority. Of course, the possibility of a well-crafted disguise couldn't be ruled out.
Carefully, Natasha reflected on her interactions with Anton over the past few days. If he truly was in disguise, then he was undoubtedly an exceptional actor.
Then again, perhaps this was Batman's true nature.
Soon, they arrived at New York Airport.
By the time they reached the DC offices, it was already afternoon, with the workday nearing its end. Anton considered whether to invite Natasha to a bar later that evening when she suddenly knocked on his office door.
"Boss, someone wants to see you," she said in her usual calm tone.
"Who?" Anton narrowed his eyes. Something about Natasha's seemingly neutral tone struck him as unusual.
"He says his name is Phil Coulson—your old friend," Natasha replied.
"Let him in," Anton said, his expression remaining calm, though his gaze was layered with meaning as he gave Natasha a long look.
Moments later, a man with a notably receding hairline entered Anton's office. Natasha, ever the professional, stayed outside, closing the door behind him.
"Anton, it's good to see you again," Coulson greeted with a slight smile. His tone was polite but steady. "This time, I'm here about the Lizard and the Green Goblin."
Anton leaned back in his chair, arms folded, his chin tilted upward in a posture of authority and ease. "You should find Batman for that sort of thing. What does it have to do with me?"
"When can I meet Batman?" Coulson asked, still smiling gently. There was little sign of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s usual forcefulness in his demeanor.
His calm approach spoke to his personal charm—perhaps the same quality that made his "death" during the Battle of New York so meaningful.
In the original timeline, if it had been Nick Fury instead of Coulson, the Avengers—Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and the rest—would likely have been too preoccupied to mourn deeply.
They would have continued fighting over leadership and strategy.
Even in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, when Fury faked his death, only Black Widow and Hawkeye showed personal grief. The others were merely surprised or slightly regretful, but not truly saddened.
"I'll help you meet him," Anton said after a moment of thought, his tone measured. "But he may not be eager to see you right now."
"Understood," Coulson nodded. "I'll be in New York for the next two weeks. I hope Batman reaches out—I have some very important matters to discuss with him."
Two weeks?
Anton's thoughts immediately drifted to Tony's recent party, where Obadiah Stane had mentioned that the public unveiling of the "artificial sun" experiment was scheduled to take place in half a month.
Could S.H.I.E.L.D. have gotten wind of this already? Or was their real focus not the "artificial sun" itself but Obadiah Stane—the man banking on the experiment's success?
After pondering for a moment, Anton glanced at Coulson, sensing that there was more to his words than met the eye.
After a brief and simple exchange, Coulson left, satisfied that his message would reach Batman.
Shortly afterward, Natasha entered the office.
"Boss, Cyborg is doing exceptionally well at the box office! The global earnings have already surpassed $300 million," she reported, her tone bright.
Anton glanced at the fan metrics for Cyborg. The number had reached 12.62 million. With less than 8 million fans to go, Cyborg's debut as a full-fledged hero was just around the corner.
"How has the promotional campaign been doing lately?" Anton asked casually.
Natasha responded promptly, "Cyborg has sparked widespread enthusiasm, especially among the Black community. Many people have been leaving comments online, demanding that Black actors take center stage in superhero movies as a form of respect for the entire race. Public opinion is overwhelmingly optimistic about the film's performance."
She paused briefly before adding, "Several box office trackers have raised their projections. They now estimate the domestic total to reach $700 million and the global gross to exceed $1 billion!"
"Not bad," Anton remarked, his tone calm. Then, he asked, "How's Arrow doing?"
"Thanks to intensive promotions, Arrow has seen a significant boost in performance. The revenue over the past few days is nearly equal to the total of the previous month," Natasha replied.
Though DC was still a fledgling company, its existing works held tremendous potential.
Under the shadow of Batman's immense popularity, even related properties like Arrow were benefiting immensely.
With its partial overlap in themes and tone with Batman, Arrow had begun to thrive, riding the wave of Batman's success.
It was a classic case of "a rising tide lifts all boats."
The Cyborg movie also hinted at even greater things to come. The Easter egg at the end of the film teased the formation of the Justice League, exciting fans who had been following DC's cinematic universe.
The intent was clear: DC planned to link its projects into a shared universe of superheroes. And the Justice League—its name boldly revealed in the Easter egg—was the cornerstone of this vision.
Speculation was rampant: What kind of sparks would fly when Batman and Cyborg crossed paths? And what about the looming alien invasion hinted at in the same teaser?
Darkseid.
Who was he? What kind of villain could command such attention?
The anticipation was palpable. Fans were buzzing with excitement, eager to see what DC would deliver next.
"Well, I get it," Anton said, waving a hand. "You can go now. Let me have some peace and quiet."
Natasha nodded and left the room. Once alone, Anton leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as though weary, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
When Natasha was gone, he returned to his usual composure, his eyes focused on the system panel in front of him. The numbers confirmed what he already knew.
No one could sense the feedback as quickly as he could.
Arrow's fan count had surged to 10.23 million.
This could only mean one thing: his next identity was ready to debut.
….
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