[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-169":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Mental Mentor in Marvel",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2322737,4544,"Chapter 169: The Long Easter (IV)","my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-169",169,"\u003Cp>In Gotham’s police station, Gordon tossed his trench coat aside, pushed open the door, and strode into his office to find Schiller and Batman already waiting; he rubbed his temples and said, “According to my colleagues’ reports, the situation is grim.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat down at his desk and said, “To be honest, your move was effective—but the cost is too high. Gotham’s entire underground water system has been destroyed, and many building foundations are damaged.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, we anticipated this.” Schiller nodded as Victor entered with a stack of files; Gordon stood up and poured hot coffee for everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others moved to the table and sat down, sipping coffee and chatting, while Batman stood alone in the corner of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The losses are substantial, but within our estimates,” Victor pointed to several lines on the report. “The phase change from water to ice causes expansion—we accounted for that, so the extent of damage to the sewer system was expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much exactly?” Gordon sipped his coffee and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon spat out his coffee. “I knew the damage was severe, but you’re telling me Gotham’s entire underground water system is destroyed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batman’s voice came from beside him: “It’s worse. Not just underground structures—many surface buildings’ foundations can’t withstand such low temperatures. Numerous structures have cracked and must be rebuilt entirely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This loss is catastrophic. Didn’t you consider this before drafting the plan?” Gordon asked, bewildered. “We’d barely built a logistics framework, and now we’re starting from scratch again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We anticipated this. As the saying goes: no destruction, no creation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller sighed. “Detective Gordon, you know that although Gotham has shown some improvement due to logistics development, it’s still far from enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has minor advantages, but no absolute ones. We lack flagship industries or irreplaceable assets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What we must do now is artificially give Gotham an advantage no other city in the world can replicate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand your intent, but I don’t see how this connects to the damage caused by freezing Gotham.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller gave Victor a glance, signaling him to explain. Victor said to Gordon: “You must realize that a low-temperature generator capable of freezing Gotham instantly cannot be an ordinary ice machine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reason the low-temperature generator achieves this effect is because its ‘ice’ is different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ice? What’s different about ice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you heard of ‘super ice’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon shook his head. Victor said: “You don’t need to know its principles. Suffice it to say, I used a newly developed super ice in the low-temperature generator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Upon contact with water, its crystallization speed exceeds one thousand kilometers per hour. It remains stable even at temperatures over one thousand degrees. With further refinement, I believe I could freeze the entire planet’s oceans within a day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Gordon sucked in a sharp breath and reevaluated Victor. The scholarly professor always appeared mild-mannered, yet his words carried the chilling authority of a final villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t the tiny ice cubes you drop in drinks. In hardness and stability, it rivals metal. Think of it as an artificial diamond structure—slightly less hard, but retaining ice’s low-temperature properties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So…” Schiller summarized, “the reconstruction concerns you have are real—but they’re not ordinary reconstruction problems. They come with an unexpected benefit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This ice is extremely difficult to handle, but once utilized, Gotham’s underground will become a vast natural refrigerator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Schiller revealed the full plan for Gotham’s reconstruction to Gordon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gotham’s reconstruction will not involve melting these ice blocks—in fact, that’s nearly impossible. Victor’s ice isn’t ordinary edible ice; it’s dense, extremely hard, and requires extreme heat to melt. It functions more like a solid material than a cooling agent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ice has replaced Gotham’s subterranean rock layers, meaning the entire city now rests atop a single massive block of dense ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, during reconstruction, there’s no need to melt the ice—instead, tunnels can be carved directly through it, transforming Gotham’s underground into a vast natural refrigerator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Handling this ice is difficult, and construction progress will be slow—but the advantage is that materials can be accessed and used incrementally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, to build a cold storage unit: choose a location, construct the above-ground structure, then dig downward. Once a room is excavated, products can be stored inside immediately, while other rooms are dug later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the process will be slow and labor-intensive, once completed, it creates a natural refrigerator with almost zero maintenance costs and ample space—perfect for bulk commodity storage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, Victor’s freezing technology has unparalleled preservation capabilities. In comics, he’s frozen Batman into a block of ice and chatted with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Batman emerged, he was unharmed—and proceeded to beat Victor senseless. Besides Batman’s protagonist immunity, Victor’s exceptional preservation tech was a major reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The technology of Gotham’s villainous geniuses is absurdly overpowered—but when applied to legitimate purposes, it becomes an unmatched production force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a city reduces cold-chain storage costs to near zero, it cannot avoid becoming a logistics hub. Producers seeking lower logistics costs will flood in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon’s expression turned thoughtful. “You mean we don’t repair the sewers—we just use these ice layers as natural refrigerators?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sewers are still necessary, but we’ll rebuild a new system. These dense ice layers, stable at room temperature, will become Gotham’s ultimate strategic asset.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This massive underground refrigerator can store cold-chain products for the entire East Coast. Gotham will become an unavoidable hub for national cold-chain logistics.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jian Lai”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon turned to Batman. After a moment’s silence, Batman said: “Based on my calculations, this is indeed feasible. Though technical challenges remain and reconstruction will take years, success would make Gotham a global logistics hub.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Other cities would struggle to replicate this. Even if they obtained Victor’s freezing tech, they couldn’t find a co-operative Owl Court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their artificial rain technology is impressive—long duration, heavy volume, capable of generating sufficient water for stable ice layers in a short time. That’s rare,” Schiller commented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon almost felt sorry for the Owl Court—being sold and still helping count the money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Originally, I was interested in the Owl Court’s artificial rain technology,” Schiller continued. “As you’ve seen, their results are effective.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I realized that even if we acquired the tech, implementing it would cost enormous resources. And to flood Gotham to build an underground refrigerator? The federal government would never approve.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it’s better to let the Owl Court work for us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve already done a fine job—triggered a flood, created the world’s largest underground refrigerator, and made an extraordinary contribution to Gotham’s future. I think they deserve an Outstanding Contribution Award.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there’s one problem,” Gordon hesitated. “I’m not trying to dampen spirits, but you said this ice is extremely hard to handle—a massive undertaking. The cost must be astronomical. And rebuilding the sewer system will cost more…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller placed his hands on the desk and abruptly changed the subject. “Detective Gordon, have you handled kidnapping cases?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kidnapping cases? I encountered a few in Chicago, but since coming to Gotham, there’s only murder—no kidnappings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if there were kidnappings, the hostage would be dead before police arrived—so it wouldn’t count as kidnapping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t matter. You just need to understand the principle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Principle? What are you getting at?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller sipped his hot coffee. The warmth spread through his stomach, and he sighed contentedly. “No rush. Let’s analyze the current situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gotham faced a flood threat due to days of relentless rain. We implemented emergency measures. Though losses were heavy, countless lives and properties were saved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our investigation has concluded: this flood was a deliberate conspiracy. A terrorist group deployed a weather-disaster weapon against Gotham. And now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller drew out the pause, then continued: “The masterminds are frozen inside Gotham’s massive underground ice. Detective Gordon, in a kidnapping case, what’s the most critical element?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon blinked. “What? Negotiating with the kidnappers? Protecting the hostage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s for the police. But now, we are the kidnappers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller tapped the desk, emphasizing: “Ransom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clearly, the hostage is in our hands. Now we can talk money, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon’s mouth fell open. He looked between Schiller, Batman, and Victor. “So… this was your endgame? Using the Owl Court’s own flood to freeze them underground… and then demand ransom???”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller signaled Victor. Victor held up the files. “The low-temperature generator’s position was precisely calculated to ensure every room and passage connected to the surface within Gotham’s underground is completely filled with solid ice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meaning, if those trapped wish to escape Gotham’s underground, there are only two options.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Either dig downward through bedrock, beyond the generator’s range, carve a tunnel, and excavate their way out of Gotham.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or dig upward—break through the solid ice layer—to escape underground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But they probably can’t do either,” Gordon realized Victor’s implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not boasting,” Victor set the files down. “But upward excavation is impossible. They cannot break my ice. And downward digging…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller continued: “Given Gotham’s size, it would take at least a year to dig out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ultimately, these people survive on schemes. In raw physical strength, they’re worse than street brawlers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their claws are assassins, not excavators. Even ten times their number couldn’t dig out by hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… we kidnapped the Owl Court?” Gordon gave a strange look. “I thought they were some formidable organization. Now they’re completely trapped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So…” Gordon paused, still adjusting to his new role. “We’re the kidnappers now? Demanding ransom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller shook his head. “It’s just a metaphor, Detective. You haven’t grasped the essence. We’re not kidnappers—we’re acting in legitimate self-defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This group calling itself the Owl Court—yes, terrorists.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They deployed a mass weather-disaster weapon, endangering all citizens and causing massive damage. We’re entitled to seek legal and reasonable compensation, aren’t we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon glanced at Batman. He remained silent, showing no surprise—clearly, this had been planned all along. Batman was fully aware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Detective, what’s the damage to the police station?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… the police station suffered no damage. This wasn’t a gang war—we just helped evacuate citizens and redirected construction traffic routes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? But these terrorists are ruthless. Didn’t they send assassins to attack you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon looked at Schiller and asked tentatively, “Uh… did they send any? Oh, yes—they sent… two squads?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, at least a full battalion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon covered his forehead. “That’s absurd!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve operated in Gotham for centuries. If they couldn’t muster such manpower, how could they be Gotham’s largest and oldest terrorist organization?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller raised his voice, dramatic: “Gotham Police Department’s brave warriors fought through the night, forging Gotham’s immortal glory! Three thousand officers sacrificed themselves in a bloody battle—over half died, the rest severely wounded. Their greatness must be remembered…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… Gotham’s entire police force doesn’t even have three hundred officers…” Gordon touched his chest, feeling a pang of conscience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem, Detective Gordon. We’re the victims. We say how many we lost—and that’s how many it was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller suddenly shifted tone. “What about the high-end apartments on Gamo Street?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re excellent—among the best on the southern edge of the wealthy district. I once…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon suddenly choked. His face flushed as he stared at Schiller. “I’m not that kind of man. You can’t bribe me. I’m a cop with conscience…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Save your conscience for those who need it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Mayor Luo Yi burst in, still holding a walkie-talkie, boots caked in mud—he’d clearly just walked through the streets. “Guys! Good news! Casualties are minimal…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yi sounded incredulous. “Gotham citizens’ emergency evacuation capacity is incredible. We issued a warning three hours in advance—and within three hours, nearly everyone evacuated to higher floors. Even Metropolis couldn’t match this mobilization.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yi sighed. “Such a disaster, and fewer than twenty dead—mostly drunkards or drug addicts. Thousands were injured, but most injuries were minor—first-aid kits sufficed. No hospitalization needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon muttered: “You don’t see how many gang wars happen in Gotham every day. The slow ones are already dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schiller tapped the table, displeased. “Mayor Luo Yi, you’ve arrived at a terrible time. We were discussing Gotham’s losses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Isn’t low loss good news?” Luo Yi blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mayor Luo Yi…” Schiller smiled at him. “Do you know what a kidnapping is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon covered his face with both hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten minutes later, Luo Yi grabbed a tissue and blew his nose hard; before him on the table lay a pile of used tissues soaked with snot and tears, as he spoke with profound sorrow: “...This horrific catastrophe has plunged me into unbearable grief! Hundreds of thousands of lives have been slaughtered, and humanity’s great civilizational achievements have been destroyed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These inhuman terrorists carried out a massacre in Gotham City—over ten thousand of our citizens are dead. All hospitals in Gotham are overflowing, and countless civilians are dying from lack of medical care. God, save us...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Yi blew his nose again, crying as he spoke: “This is the largest terrorist attack in federal history! The spirits of hundreds of thousands of dead citizens will forever nail the name of this terrorist organization to the pillory—the Owl Court!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gordon stared at Luo Yi, eyes wide—he had never imagined his acting could be so convincing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think it’s better to build the grief gradually, or to unleash it fully from the start?” Luo Yi pulled another tissue and wiped his tears. “I think the latter will have greater impact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it’s settled. You open the press conference tomorrow. The reporters have already been arranged—all the largest newspapers and media outlets on the East Coast will be there. You have about thirty minutes to express these emotions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Shiler slapped the table, drawing everyone’s attention: “Alright, next, let’s reach out to the victims... I mean, the perpetrators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Batman and said: “They should have a unique signal transmitter to communicate with ground surveillance—if you can intercept that signal...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Shiler finished speaking, Batman said: “Actually, I’ve already intercepted it. I’ve locked their location. I can send them a communication.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batman looked at Shiler and asked: “Do you have anything you want to say to them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiler smiled—a smile that sent a chill through the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dark underground chamber of Gotham, the figures wearing white bird masks still sat around the long table, but their earlier calm was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a radio on the nearby cabinet emitted a burst of static. All heads turned—their eyes fixed on the device as a slightly hoarse voice emerged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to play a game with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2393,"2026-06-20T16:39:12.484Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","13bd5c6c539b976c24c9a62be833679595ff06857a215fccb372be9b4725172a","my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-170","my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-168",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-cover.jpg"]