Chapter 169: The Long Easter (Part 4)

In the Cat Getan Police Department, Gordon shook his trench coat, pushed open the door, and walked quickly into his office, finding Schiller and Batman already waiting for him. Gordon said with a headache: "From the reports of my colleagues, the situation is not optimistic."

He walked to his desk and sat down, saying: "Honestly, your trick is indeed very effective, but the problem is, the loss is too great. Cat Getan's entire underground water system has been destroyed, and the building foundations have also been damaged quite a bit."

"Of course, we expected this." Schiller nodded. At this time, Victor walked in with a document, and Gordon stood up and poured a cup of hot coffee for everyone.

The others walked to the table and sat down, drinking hot coffee while chatting. Only Batman stood alone in the corner of the room.

"The loss is indeed great, but it didn't exceed our estimate." Victor pointed to a few lines on the report and said: "The process of condensation from water to ice will produce volume expansion. We thought of this, so the damage to the sewer system is within our estimated range."

"Roughly how much?" Gordon took a sip of coffee and asked.

"It's all of it."

Gordon spat out a mouthful of water and said: "I know the loss is heavy, but you are telling me now that Cat Getan's underground water system is all destroyed?"

Batman's voice came from the side: "Actually, it's more serious than that. It's not just underground buildings; many building foundations on Cat Getan's surface are not low-temperature resistant, and many building bodies have also cracked, all needing to be rebuilt."

"This loss is too heavy. Didn't you consider this point before formulating this plan?" Gordon asked with great confusion: "Our logistics system has finally taken shape, and now we have to start from scratch again."

"We expected this, but there is a saying: you have to break it to build it."

Schiller sighed and said: "Detective Gordon, you should also know that although Cat Getan has improved because of the construction of the logistics system, it is still far from enough."

"This place might have some advantages, but it doesn't have absolute advantages. We don't have any core industries, nor do we have anything that cannot be replaced by other cities."

"What we need to do now is to artificially add an advantage to Cat Getan that no other city in the world can imitate."

"I understand what you mean, but I don't understand what this has to do with the loss caused by freezing Cat Getan?"

Schiller gave Victor a look, signaling him to explain. Victor said to Gordon: "I think you should also be clear that the cryogenic generator that can freeze the entire Cat Getan in an instant cannot be an ordinary ice maker."

"The reason why the cryogenic generator can achieve this effect is because its 'ice' is different."

"Ice? What's different about ice?"

"Have you heard of 'super ice'?"

Gordon shook his head. Victor said: "You don't need to know its principle. In short, what I used in the cryogenic generator is a newly developed super ice."

"After contacting water, its crystallization speed exceeds 1,000 kilometers per hour, and it can still exist at high temperatures above 1,000 degrees. If further improved, I think I might be able to freeze all the oceans on Earth in one day."

Hearing this, Gordon gasped. He re-examined Victor. This scholar-like professor always looked gentle, but the words he said had the momentum of a final villain.

"This is not the kind of small ice cube we usually add to drinks. Whether it is hardness or stability, it is no less than metal. You can actually understand it as a man-made diamond structure, just slightly less hard and possessing the low-temperature characteristics of ice cubes."

"So…" Schiller summarized: "The reconstruction problem you are worried about does exist, but it is not an ordinary reconstruction problem, and it will also bring an unexpected benefit."

"This kind of ice is indeed very difficult to deal with, but at the same time, once we utilize it, the entire Cat Getan underground will turn into a natural giant cold storage."

Next, Schiller revealed the entire Cat Getan reconstruction plan to Gordon.

The subsequent reconstruction of Cat Getan City is not to melt all these ice cubes. In fact, this is also very difficult. The ice cubes created by Mr. Freeze Victor are not ordinary edible ice. This dense ice is extremely hard and requires extremely high temperatures to melt. Compared to ice cubes used for cooling, it is more like a sturdy material.

These ice cubes replaced the rock layer under Cat Getan, which is equivalent to the entire city now sitting on a huge piece of dense ice.

Therefore, there is no need to consider melting the ice during reconstruction, but directly opening passages in the ice cubes and transforming the entire Cat Getan underground into a huge natural cold storage.

This kind of ice is difficult to deal with, and the construction progress will be very slow, but fortunately, it can be taken and used as needed, and construction can be carried out in steps.

For example, to build a cold storage, choose a location, build the house on the ground, and then start digging down directly. After digging out a room, you can throw the products in to freeze first, and then slowly dig other rooms.

Although the process will be very slow and consume a lot of manpower and material resources, once completed, it will have a natural cold storage, which not only has almost no maintenance costs but also has sufficient space, fully meeting the storage needs of bulk commodities.

More importantly, Victor's freezing technology has unparalleled freshness preservation ability. In the comics, he froze Batman into an ice cube many times and then chatted with him.

After Batman came out of the ice, he was intact and could beat Mr. Freeze. Besides the reason that Batman has a protagonist halo, the excellent freshness preservation ability of Victor's freezing technology is also one of the important reasons.

The technology of Cat Getan's villain genius is so unreasonable, but if used for serious business, it is simply an unparalleled strong productivity.

When the cost of cold chain storage in a city is reduced to the lowest, it is impossible for it not to want to be a logistics operation center. Producers who want to reduce logistics costs will definitely flock here.

Gordon showed a thoughtful expression and then said: "You mean, we don't repair the sewers, but directly use these ice layers as natural cold storage?"

"Sewers still need to be there, but a set of sewer systems can be rebuilt, and these dense ice layers that can exist at room temperature will become Cat Getan's killer move for development."

"This huge underground cold storage will be able to carry the storage of cold chain products for the entire East Coast, and Cat Getan will become a location that cold chain transportation across the country cannot bypass."

"Jian Lai"

Gordon looked at Batman. Batman was silent for a while and then said: "According to my calculations, this is indeed possible to achieve. Although there are still many problems in technology and reconstruction will take a lot of time, once successful, Cat Getan will become a world-class logistics distribution center."

"It is difficult for other cities to replicate this success. Even if they have Victor's freezing technology, it is difficult to have such a cooperative Court of Owls."

"Their artificial rain technology is indeed not bad. The duration is long and the rainfall is heavy, which can gather enough water to manufacture stable ice layers in a very short time. This is very rare." Schiller commented.

Gordon almost felt that the Court of Owls was a bit pitiful. They were really sold and still helping count the money.

"Originally, I was a bit interested in the Court of Owls' artificial rain technology." Schiller continued: "After all, you have also seen that their technology has good results."

"But I thought about it. Even if we can get the technology, we have to spend a lot of costs to realize it. And in order to build an underground natural cold storage, the federal government will not agree to flood Cat Getan."

"So it is better to let the Court of Owls work for us."

"What they are doing now is not bad. They launched a flood, created the world's largest underground cold storage, and made outstanding contributions to the future development of Cat Getan City. I think it is completely possible to award them an Outstanding Contribution Award or something."

"But there is also a problem." Gordon said with some hesitation: "I don't want to pour cold water, but you just said that this kind of ice layer is very difficult to deal with and is a big project. I am afraid the cost is not cheap, and rebuilding the sewer system additionally also needs money…"

Schiller put his hands on the table. He suddenly changed the topic and said to Gordon: "Detective Gordon, have you handled kidnapping cases?"

"Kidnapping cases? I did encounter a few when I was in Chicago, but after coming to Cat Getan, there are only murders here, no kidnapping cases."

"Even if it is a kidnapping case, before the police arrive at the scene, the hostage is already dead, so naturally there is no talk of any kidnapping."

"It doesn't matter. You just need to know the principle."

"Principle? What do you want to say?"

Schiller took a sip of hot coffee. After the warm current entered his stomach, he let out a satisfied sigh and then said: "Don't worry, let's analyze the current situation first."

"Cat Getan is in danger of flooding because of several days of continuous heavy rain. We have carried out a series of emergency disposal measures. Although the loss is huge, we have saved the lives and property of countless citizens."

"Now, according to our investigation, this flood is a man-made conspiracy. A group of terrorists used weather disaster weapons against Cat Getan, and now…"

Schiller dragged out a tail sound and then said: "The culprit is being frozen in a huge ice block under Cat Getan. Detective Gordon, what do you think is the most important link in a kidnapping case?"

Gordon recorded for a moment and said: "What is it? Persuading the kidnappers? Protecting the hostages?"

"That's for the police, but now, we are the kidnappers."

Schiller tapped the table and emphasized his tone: "It's demanding a ransom."

"Obviously, the hostage is now in hand, and we can start talking about money, can't we?"

Gordon opened his mouth wide. He scanned Schiller, Batman, and Victor and said: "So this is your ultimate goal? Using the flood triggered by the Court of Owls themselves, freezing them all underground, and then… demanding a ransom????"

Schiller gestured to Victor, and Victor held the stack of materials and said: "The location of the cryogenic generator is carefully designed to ensure that within the range of Cat Getan underground, all rooms and passages connected to the ground will not be missed and will all be filled with hard ice."

"That is to say, if the people trapped want to leave Cat Getan underground, there are only two ways."

"Either, dig down the rock layer, open a tunnel in a place where the low-temperature transmitter cannot radiate, and then dig out of Cat Getan City."

"Or, dig up, break through the hard ice layer, and then leave the underground."

"But actually, they should not have this ability, right?" Gordon heard the implication in Victor's words.

"I am not arrogant." Victor put down the materials and said: "But the road of digging up is absolutely impassable. They cannot destroy the ice layer I made, and digging down…"

Schiller followed: "With the size of Cat Getan City, it will take at least a year to dig out."

"In the final analysis, these people live on conspiracies. In terms of physical strength, they are probably not as good as the thugs who often fight on the street."

"The Claws they raised are assassins, not excavators. Even if there were ten times the number, it would be impossible to dig out by manpower."

"So, we kidnapped the Court of Owls?" Gordon showed a strange expression and said: "I thought they were such a difficult organization to deal with. Now it's good, they are completely trapped."

"So…" Gordon paused, seemingly still uncomfortable with his role, and said: "We are now kidnappers, asking them for ransom?"

Schiller shook his head and said: "This is just a metaphor, Detective. You didn't grasp the essence. We are not kidnappers, just self-defense."

"This group of terrorists named the Court of Owls, yes, they are terrorists."

"They used large-scale weather disaster weapons, threatened the safety of all citizens in the city, and caused such huge losses. We should legally and reasonably claim compensation from them, shouldn't we?"

Gordon looked at Batman. He was still silent and didn't show any surprise at this statement. Obviously, this was what they had planned long ago, and Batman was one of the insiders.

"Speaking of which, Detective, how is the loss of the police station?"

"Uh… the police station didn't have much loss. This wasn't a gang fire. We just helped evacuate the citizens and then adjusted the traffic routes of the engineering team…"

"Is that so? But these terrorists are so vicious, didn't they send assassins to attack you?"

Gordon looked at Schiller and asked tentatively: "Um… did they send them? Oh, they did send them. They sent… two teams of assassins?"

"No, no, no, at least a battalion."

Gordon covered his forehead and said: "This is too exaggerated!"

"They have operated in Cat Getan for hundreds of years. If they didn't even have this kind of manpower, how could they be called Cat Getan's largest and oldest terrorist organization?"

"Fine, but…"

Schiller raised his volume and said with ups and downs: "The heroic warriors of the Cat Getan Police Department fought with them all night, casting Cat Getan's immortal glory with blood! 3,000 police officers sacrificed their lives, and after a night of bloody battles, more than half were killed, and the remaining half were all seriously injured. Their greatness is worth remembering…"

"But… the entire Cat Getan Police Department doesn't even have 300 people…" Gordon touched his chest, feeling a bit guilty in his conscience.

"It doesn't matter, Detective Gordon. We are the victims. We say how many there are, there are how many."

Schiller suddenly changed the topic and asked: "How is the high-end apartment on Gammon Street?"

"Of course it's very good. It's top-notch on the outskirts of the southern rich area. I was at that time…"

Gordon suddenly looked like he was choked. His face turned a bit red. He looked at Schiller and said: "I am not that kind of person. You can't bribe me like this. I am a policeman with a conscience…"

"Leave the conscience to those who need it."

Just then, Mayor Luo Yi rushed in in a hurry. He was still holding a walkie-talkie, and his boots were full of mud. Obviously, he had just walked through the street. He said: "Guys! Good news! Personnel loss is very light…"

Luo Yi said with some disbelief: "Cat Getan citizens' emergency evacuation ability is too strong. We issued a danger notice three hours in advance. Within three hours, almost all citizens evacuated to safe high-rise buildings. Even Metropolis can't compare to this mobilization ability, right?"

Luo Yi said with great emotion: "Such a big disaster, less than 20 people died, mostly drunks who drank until they were unconscious or drug addicts who were high. Although thousands were injured, most were not serious injuries and didn't even need hospitalization. First aid kits were enough."

"You don't look at how many gang fires happen in Cat Getan every day." Gordon whispered: "Those who ran slowly were already dead."

Schiller tapped the table and said with some dissatisfaction: "Mayor Luo Yi, you really came at the wrong time. We are discussing the loss of Cat Getan City."

"What's wrong? Isn't it a good thing that the loss is small?" Luo Yi asked with wide eyes.

"Mayor Luo Yi…" Schiller showed a smile to Luo Yi and then asked: "…do you know about kidnapping cases?"

Gordon covered his face with both hands.

Ten minutes later, Luo Yi picked up a tissue and blew his nose hard. On the table in front of him, there was already a pile of paper balls for wiping nose and tears. Only then did he say very sadly: "…This tragic disaster makes me feel very sad! Hundreds and thousands of lives were painted with charcoal, and the great civilization achievements of mankind were destroyed!"

"This group of inhuman terrorists! They carried out a massacre in Cat Getan City. More than ten thousand of our dead citizens, all hospitals in Cat Getan are full, and countless citizens cannot get treatment because of the lack of medicine. God, save us…"

Luo Yi blew his nose hard again and said while crying: "This is the largest terrorist attack in federal history! The heroic souls of hundreds of thousands of dead citizens will nail the name of this terrorist organization to the pillar of shame forever, the Court of Owls!"

Gordon looked at Luo Yi with wide eyes, seemingly not expecting his acting skills to be so outstanding.

"Do you think my gradual sadness is better, or is it better to explode with strong sadness at the beginning?" Luo Yi grabbed another tissue and wiped his tears and said: "I think the latter should be more impactful."

"Then that's it. You open the press conference tomorrow. The reporters have already been contacted. The largest newspaper and media on the East Coast will be present. You have about 30 minutes to express these emotions."

Then Schiller tapped the table, attracting the attention of several people, and said: "Alright, next, let's contact the victim… I mean the culprit."

After speaking, he looked at Batman and said: "They should have a unique signal transmission device used to contact the ground monitoring. If you can intercept this part of the signal…"

Before Schiller finished speaking, Batman said: "In fact, I have already intercepted it and have locked their location. I can send communication to the other party."

Batman looked at Schiller and said: "Do you have anything to say to them?"

Schiller showed a smile, making the remaining few people feel a bit creepy.

In the dark conference room underground in Cat Getan, the people wearing white bird-shaped masks were still gathered around the huge long table, but they had long lost their calmness.

At this time, a radio used for contact on the cabinet next to it suddenly made a few crackling current sounds. Everyone turned their heads. When their eyes fell on the radio, a slightly hoarse voice came from inside:

"I want to play a game with you." ===== CHAPTER 170 =====